10-07-2025
Man dines and dashes after $27.90 lunch buffet
Local Japanese grilled meat restaurant Hey! Yakiniku has accused a man of dining and dashing after he left the eatery from the back door - but without footing his $27.90 bill.
In a Facebook post uploaded on Monday (July 7), the restaurant, located at Bugis Junction, said that the man "forgot the bill intentionally by walking out via the back door exit".
"Someone enjoyed our (all-you-can-eat) $25.90 lunch buffet a little too much," the business wrote.
Images of the man's order were attached, showing that he had ordered 13 items between 3.51pm and 4.14pm. He left the store at around 4.55pm.
The man ordered eight servings of pork and beef, sides, and green tea. PHOTOS: HEY YAKINIKU/FACEBOOK
A netizen called the man a "cheapskate", while another joked that "he went behind to wash (the) dishes".
The restaurant shared a post the following day to clarify that the photos were not uploaded to shame the man.
Hey! Yakiniku marketing manager Ms Lin, 47, told Shin Min Daily News that the man specifically requested to sit near the back door so that he could go out to smoke.
"He entered the store at 3.49pm and chose the 90-minute lunch buffet. He slipped out through the back door while the staff were busy," she revealed.
"The staff thought he was going to the bathroom, but they waited for more than an hour before they noticed something was wrong."
After reviewing the surveillance footage, the employees noticed that the man left the store after suspiciously making sure that no one was paying attention.
Ms Lin said that the incident was shared online to remind the public that such acts should not be condoned.
"We will not call the police, but we also hope that he will not do it again."
She added: "Running a restaurant is not easy - high rent, manpower shortages, and high expenses. I hope everyone will put themselves in our shoes. If he really has difficulties, he can tell us directly, and we are willing to treat him to a meal."
