A Koreatown employee in his 30s typically eats lunch alone about twice a week in Los Angeles. While he enjoys dining with friends or colleagues, he often opts for solo dining when he needs a break.
During these solo lunches, he relaxes by eating and watching videos on his smartphone, without communicating with anyone. He describes this quiet, solitary dining experience as a form of “healing.”
The trend of people dining alone is becoming increasingly visible in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
Restaurant industry professionals in the area have noticed a rise in solo diners. Alex Sohn, CEO of ALMG Hospitality, which operates various dining establishments in Koreatown, observed, “We’ve seen a significant increase in solo diners, particularly in places that serve simple meals like bagels and sandwiches.”
Tae-Sun Sohn, CEO of Goobne Chicken in Koreatown, noted, “While the number varies depending on the type of restaurant, around 15% of our customers dine alone.” This trend is also spreading to Korean restaurants such as Olympic Cheonggukjang and Namwon Gol. One food court in Koreatown has even introduced tables specifically for solo diners.
According to a recent report by the Associated Press, the growing number of solo diners has prompted restaurants to adapt to this trend. Data from the restaurant reservation platform OpenTable revealed that solo dining reservations in the U.S. increased by 29% between 2021 and 2023.
This trend is not limited to the U.S., with solo reservations rising by 18% in Germany and 14% in the U.K. during the same period.
A 2020 survey conducted by Seoul City indicated that 70% of respondents in Korea eat alone at least once a week. In Japan, over 20% of restaurant customers are now solo diners.
Several factors are contributing to the rise of solo dining, including the widespread use of smartphones, shifting social perceptions, the growth of single-person households, and the impact of COVID-19.
Anna Mattila, a professor at Penn State University who has published research on solo dining, explained, “Using a smartphone while eating can create a sense of connection, even when dining alone.” She added that as societal views on solo dining have shifted, the fear or stigma around eating alone has significantly diminished.
The increase in single-person households has also played a major role. A 2019 Pew Research Center survey found that 38% of U.S. adults aged 25 to 54 live alone, up from 29% in 1990. With more people living alone, dining alone has become a natural part of daily life. The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to this trend, as many people became accustomed to eating alone during lockdowns.
Restaurants are responding to this shift by catering specifically to solo diners. Drew Brady, COO of Overthrow Hospitality, which operates 11 restaurants in New York, remarked, “While the rise in solo diners may seem like a short-term loss, they tend to be highly loyal customers, which makes it a long-term gain.”
His company has increased the number of tables suitable for solo diners and introduced smaller portioned, lower-priced single-serving menu items, which have been well received by customers.
BY WONHEE CHO, YOUNGNAM KIM [cho.wonhee@koreadaily.com]
