• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.88-97
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• 2011

The purposes of this study were to understand the influence of perceived service quality in Korean restaurants on customer satisfaction and to empirically analyze whether or not nationality (foreigner vs. Korean) plays a moderating role in the relationship between perceived service quality and customer satisfaction. Based on a total of 2,812 samples obtained from empirical research, the hypothesized relationships in the model were tested simultaneously using a structural equation model (SEM). The SEM results showed that menu quality, value & price, employee service, and physical environment among customers' perceived service quality had significant positive effects on customer satisfaction. In addition, the effect of perceived service quality in Korean restaurants on customer satisfaction was found to be partially moderated by nationality (foreigner and Korean). Limitations and future research directions are also discussed.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.418-428
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• 2011

The survey for this study was conducted in Vietnam, and was based on previous studies concerning Korean restaurant selection criteria and menu selection criteria that were done within Korea. The survey was conducted particularly, among Vietnamese who had eaten Korean food at a local Korean restaurant, in order to gain some perspective on the marketing of Korean restaurants in Vietnam. The results of the survey showed the following: (1) Vietnamese are very interested in Korean food; (2) they prefer unique recipes, and health food; (3) the main factors that affected selection of Korean restaurants were atmosphere, food features, sanitation, menu, and familiarity; (4) the main factors for a selecting dish from a Korean restaurant menu were social factors, menu, variety, recognition, uniqueness, and reasonable price. This study can contribute to the advancement of Korean restaurants in the Vietnamese market, which has been showing great interest in Korean culture and food.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.987-996
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to measure customers' perception of the service quality of Korean restaurants and then compare differences in perceived service quality according to customer nationality. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 2812 subjects, and data were analyzed by frequency, chi-square, t-test, one-way ANOVA, factor, reliability, cluster, and discriminant analysis. Results of the study were as follows. The factor analysis of perceived service quality produced four factors, employee service (5 variables), menu quality (4 variables), price & value (4 variables), and physical environment (4 variables). Cronbach's alpha values for reliability were over 0.8 for all factors. Further, a significant difference was observed in service quality, which was perceived according to customer nationality. A higher mean value of perceived service quality was held by foreigners when compared to Koreans. Especially, the mean value of perceived service quality was significantly low for all items for Japanese compared to foreigners. Cluster analysis divided subjects into two groups based on attitude toward service quality of Korean restaurants: an unfavorable group and favorable group. These two groups differed from each other in general characteristics as well. Limitations and future research directions are also discussed.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.234-240
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to evaluate microbiologically cooking utensils, equipment employees, and environment in 12 large Korean, Western, Chinese, and Japanese restaurant. Microbiological testing was conducted for pathogens including E. coli, Samolnella, L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, E. coli O157:H7, V. parahaemolyticus, B. cereus, and Y. enterocolitica as well as total plate count and coliforms. The results showed cooking water and drinking water in some Korean restaurants and drinking water in some Western and Japanese restaurants were unsatisfactory, especially, barley tea, which was cooled after being boiled, was unsatisfactory. Most cooking utensils such as knives, cutting boards, kitchen towels, tongs, and basket had total plate and coliforms count in excess of standards, and knives and cutting boards at some Chinese restaurant had E. coli. At some restaurant, S. aureus was found on some food worker's hands. Also, the total plate count of the air showed a high count around worktables, inside the refrigerator, and in the kitchen in most restaurants. These result suggest that sanitation needs improvement in the environments in these foodservice establishment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.124-130
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were (1) to analyze price sensitivity, (2) to define the range of acceptable prices for each foreign segment, and (3) to provide a price model for Korean traditional restaurants. From October to November, 2006, a total of 781 foreigners responded to individual surveys. Statistical analyses on the survey data were performed using descriptive statistics and Price Sensitivity Measurement (PSM). Major findings from the study are as follows: First, the ranges of the acceptable prices were $98$\sim$$130 for fine dining/gourmet restaurants, $70$\sim$$90 for theme/ambience restaurants, $40$\sim$$60 for popular/family restaurants, and $18$\sim$$30 for convenience/fast food restaurants. Second, the convenience/fast food restaurants showed the highest price sensitivity. Third, a low stress level and wide range of the acceptable price were observed for the fine dining/gourmet restaurants, suggesting that the price sensitivity of the fine dining/gourmet restaurants was quite low. Finally, the price sensitivity indicated by the Japanese was higher than by the other groups. In consequence, the research findings suggest that the managers of the Korean traditional restaurants should strategically plan prices by understanding different customers' price sensitivity within and between customer segments. Through additional research, marketers can compare perceptions of specific brands, the competition, and variations within a product line.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.72-82
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate workers' perception on the quality improvement of Korean restaurants for the globalization of Korean food. A total of 342 workers at Korean restaurants in Seoul and Gyeonggi province were surveyed using a self-administrated questionnaire. Excluding responses with significant missing data, 250 responses were used for data analysis. In terms of the improvement of service quality attributes, the 'sanitation management (4.51)' category received the highest score, followed by 'service skill (3.93)', 'menu development (3.90)', 'serving method (3.88)', 'facility and ambiance (3.84)', and 'food taste (3.40)'. There were significant differences of workers' perception on the improvement of service quality which were 'menu development (p<0.01)', 'service skill (p<0.001)', 'facility and ambiance (p<0.001)', and 'sanitation management (p<0.01)' by restaurant operation type, and 'service skill (p<0.001)' and 'facility and ambiance (p<0.001)' by workers' position. The mean score of each service quality category showed that Korean restaurants managed by a franchisor were ranked the highest. In each service quality category, the items which showed the highest scores for the improvement were 'developing the finest cuisine (4.08)', 'providing food seasoning according to customer requests (3.70)', 'proving ladles, tongs, and extra plates which enable customers to take as much food as they want (4.12)', 'staff's ability to explain menu (4.08)', 'using tableware appropriate to each dish (4.03)', 'sanitary management of the provided tableware (dishes, spoons and knives) (4.57)', and 'thorough toilet management (4.57)'. This research suggests that Korean restaurants need to improve service quality to globalize Korean food, and the strategies for service quality management should be developed to be applied to each restaurant operation type.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.666-676
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to propose effective marketing communication strategies for overseas Korean restaurants through a multilateral comparison analysis of American, Chinese, and Japanese consumers' attitudes towards communication media and Korean restaurants. The survey was written in English, Chinese, and Japanese, with guideline for surveyors, and conducted using both online and offline methods. Samples were collected from five major cities - Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai, which are the foothold for the globalization of Korean food. When it comes to attitudes towards communication media, word-of-mouth showed a high mean value, indicating it as the most useful and reliable media recognized by consumers who visited Korean restaurants. Furthermore, the necessity of recognizing the importance of visual communication in the physical environment of Korean restaurants and specialized websites, featuring restaurants and gourmet food, was observed. Consumers in all three nations chose word-of-mouth as the most useful and reliable media for learning about Korean restaurants. In addition, American consumers highly depended on signage and restaurant exteriors. Chinese consumers highly recognized the usefulness and reliability of offline media, such as newspapers, magazines, and events, while Japanese consumers considered online media, such as gourmet websites, blogs and social networks, as useful and reliable sources. A significantly positive attitude and high value was observed in all who had visited Korean restaurants. American and Japanese consumers had a significantly higher rate of intention to visit Korean restaurants in the future and to tell others about their satisfaction with Korean restaurants. Meanwhile, the average rate of prior preference for Korean restaurants (when choosing restaurants) was the lowest in all three countries. This study is useful for both the Korean government and food enterprises abroad to plan and develop marketing communication strategies properly for overseas Korean restaurants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1611-1618
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• 2005

The microbiological examinations were conducted for the hygienic evaluation on three Korean restaurants during summer season in Busan, Korea. Total one hundred and sixty swabbed samples using sponge were collected from the surface of facilities and utensils at restaurants and total and coliform counts were measured. Also thirty- six air samples were collected at inside of three restaurants for measuring total, coliform, Staphy-lococcus and mold and yeast counts. All collected samples kept in an ice-packed box were transported to the laboratory and analyzed. The results demonstrated that most swabbed samples were highly contaminated with microorganisms and coliforms. The degree of contamination depended on the sampling sites. Averages of total counts of surface swab samples were ranged from not detectable to 2.14$\times\10^{9}$/200 $cm^{2}$, while those of coliforms from not detectable to 8.34$\times\10^{7}$/200 $cm^{2}$/200 $cm^{2}$. Microorganisms also detected from most agar strips of air samples for total, coliform, Staphylococcus and mold and yeast counts. The severely contaminated sites were floor, trench, water bottle, plastic drainer, rubber gloves, shelves, and unsealed wet towel. Those sites should be focused and controlled according to control Points of sanitation standard operating Procedures. Also, periodic microbiological examination in addition to visual examination should be applied on those highly contaminated sites for reducing risk of foodborne disease outbreak at restaurants

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-29
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of job satisfaction on job performance and to examine the moderating effects of employment type of the employees in franchised Korean restaurants. The questionnaire was distributed to the employees in Korean restaurants having abroad branches of the 300 distributed questionnaire, and 271 copies were used in the analysis by exploring factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, multiple regression and hierarchical moderated regression analysis through SPSS ver. 18.0. The results of the study were as followed; First, job satisfaction, the work and superior factor have positive influence on job performance, but wages and promotion factor have negative influence. Second, the employment type has the partially moderating effects between job satisfaction and job performance with interactive term(superior$^*$ employment type). On the basis of these results, it is suggested that the company has fair criteria for evaluating systems and reward program to the employees regardless of employment type. This study has the limitations of simple variable and employment type.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.92-102
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to research recognition and preference of university students in Brisbane on Korean food and provide basic data for globalization of Korean food. For analysis methods, frequency analysis and T-test were conducted. The period of the research was from May 3 to June 18, 2010. The study result are summarized as follows: First, they recognize Korean food as delicious, hot and spicy, healthy, using exotic ingredients, having various menu, and using grains and vegetables as main ingredients. For the difference in recognition of Korean food, there were significant differences in the items of: 'Korean food is good for health,' 'There are many fermented Korean foods' and 'Korean food is grains and vegetables oriented.' Second, for preferred taste, sweet taste was the most liked one and bland taste was disliked the most. The most preferred dishes are in the order of bulgogi, bibimbap, kimchi jjigae and gimbap. For expected effects, this study will be helpful for the government and educational institutions related to Korean food and restaurateurs who service Korean restaurants in Australia to establish strategies for globalization and business sales of Korean food.