Taiwanese Buffet Battle: Is 500 NTD Too Much for Two Bento Boxes?

A Diner's Dilemma: High Prices and the Cost of a Yakult in Taitung's Buffet Scene.

A recent post on social media has sparked a debate regarding the pricing of a Taiwanese buffet meal in Taitung. The user, posting in a Facebook group, shared their experience of purchasing two bento boxes from a local buffet restaurant. The total cost reached a staggering 500 NTD, prompting the diner to question the value.

The diner highlighted specific price points, noting that each serving of white rice was priced at 40 NTD. Furthermore, the addition of a Yakult, a popular Taiwanese yogurt drink, incurred an extra 20 NTD charge. This prompted the original poster to ask online if this was "acceptable".

The original poster in the Facebook group "台東大小事 (Taitung Affairs)" detailed the contents of their two bento boxes. Each contained meat, vegetables, and a braised egg (滷蛋), along with a small packet of meat sauce. Excluding the 80 NTD for the two portions of white rice, the remaining items in the two boxes, plus the meat sauce, totaled 420 NTD. The post has generated considerable discussion about the value of the meal and the pricing practices of Taiwanese buffet restaurants.