Do you think you would like a 100% self serve restaurant, serving Denny's/Applebee's/TGIF type food?
I've been thinking... when I'm in America and I'm craving some classic American food, I'm craving stuff like:
- a nice club sandwich
- chicken fried steak with sides
- pot pie
- a grand slam breakfast
- mozz sticks, wings, celery/carrot
- chicken alfredo
- new york strip with sides
Etc
But to get any of that, they're almost all "gated" behind a sitdown restaurant like Applebee's or Denny's where you have to deal with waiters (and tipping).
In Japan, you can basically find ALL the traditional Japanese dishes at self serve restaurants. Think katsu curry, ramen, sushi, bento meals, oyakodon etc at chains like Katsuya, Yoshinoya, Matsuya, Gusto, Yoiyoken. You walk in, order at the kiosk, eat your food, return your trays **and leave without tipping**! Easy.
Not that i have the money to start a restaurant in the US, but i think i there's a gaping hole in the market. What if there's a restaurant chain that served all the American classics, but just like Japan you order at a kiosk, pick up your order at the counter, and cut away all the bullshit with waiters/tipping?
Posted Aug 10, 2026, 4:18 PM UTC · locked