Name: Is it the end of the modern buffet as we know it? Daly City's Moonstar Buffet weighs its options
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Is it the end of the modern buffet as we know it? Daly City's Moonstar Buffet weighs its options

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This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateIt had been about a month into Moonstar Buffet’s switch to takeout and delivery when it was clear that things weren’t adding up. June sales plummeted, and when everything was counted, Moonstar Buffet barely earned the amount spent by a single reservation.The shift to takeout has been a bumpy ride for Daisy Li, CEO of Moonstar Buffet in Daly City, but with the pandemic looming overhead, Li has looked for ways to keep the nearly 30-year-old business alive.“We’re new to the takeout business,” Li said. “But at this point, I can tell you that I don’t even make enough money to pay my staff with takeout alone.”On March 15, Moonstar Buffet closed its doors and hasn’t reopened to its full capacity since. Throughout the state, buffets face a unique challenge as they’ve been in a post-coronavirus world. The culprit being self-service stations that can help spread COVID-19.ALSO:With a new model on deck, Moonstar has continued to offer popular items like sushi to traditional Chinese barbecue, though the menu has been scaled back. Now, items are cooked to order rather than in bulk.The challenge for Li is how to change customer behavior and persuade them to order takeout from the buffet.“We are not a regular restaurant that has a signature dish — our signature is the buffet itself,” Li said. “[Customers] want to be able to select what they want and pick pieces within the pan.”Li has considered her options and shared that Moonstar could eventually do table service similar to what are doing now. The Washington Post that the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace has undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation and will soon offer tableside service with “mini-composed plates” once it opens in August.ALSO:&nbsp;If Moonstar takes that approach, it would need to significantly reduce its 400-seating capacity to something much less, all while keeping up with the latest dine-in guidelines. On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newson ordered that restaurants terminate . (Daly City falls within the San Mateo County line where dine-in service had just begun in mid-June.)“Whatever we do, it’s not going to financially sustain the decision, because you lose your volume as a buffet,” Li said. “Buffets will be the hardest food industry to sustain.”Things were much different before the shutdown.Moonstar Buffet was often the setting for red egg and ginger parties, known as traditional Chinese celebrations for 1-year-olds, and could host up 200 guests at a time. Throughout the year, Li could also count on tour buses that would stop by and pay about $17 for weekday lunch to $32 for weekend dinner per guest.Funds from the Paycheck Protection Program have helped Moonstar Buffet keep its lights on, pay rent and support many of its staff. And despite the stress of the buffet, Li shared that she feels fortunate, because she’s been able to keep her staff employed through her side business, Moonstar Chef.A team of about 40 employees has worked hard to prepare meals for seniors in need, and that effort has produced about 5,000 meals a day. Li says that she also wants to participate in the state-funded program .Li isn’t sure what the future holds for Moonstar Buffet but retains a level of optimism on the phone as she details the struggles she’s faced in the past four months.“I don’t want to say I certify my business is dead, but I don’t think I can do anything right now,” Li said. “It could all change tomorrow if we have a vaccine. It could change the entire world again.”is located at 383 Gellert Blvd. in Daly City&nbsp;is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email:&nbsp;&nbsp;| Twitter:&nbsp;

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateIt had been about a month into Moonstar Buffet’s switch to takeout and delivery when it was clear that things weren’t adding up. June sales plummeted, and when everything was counted, Moonstar Buffet barely earned the amount spent by a single reservation.The shift to takeout has been a bumpy ride for Daisy Li, CEO of Moonstar Buffet in Daly City, but with the pandemic looming overhead, Li has looked for ways to keep the nearly 30-year-old business alive.“We’re new to the takeout business,” Li said. “But at this point, I can tell...

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Susana Guerrero

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Is it the end of the modern buffet as we know it? Daly City's Moonstar Buffet weighs its options

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