Hotel Supplies · Cebu
EnglishBuffet equipment list for a new restaurant
A buffet needs more equipment than plated service, because every dish sits out on its own station and guests take several plates each. This list covers what to buy, and how many, for a new restaurant or hotel buffet.
1. Hot food
- Chafing dishes: one for every hot dish on the line, plus one or two spare for refills. A typical breakfast buffet runs 6 to 10 hot dishes.
- Round chafing dishes for soups, sauces and congee; rectangular for rice, mains and vegetables.
- Electric soup kettles if you serve soup all service, so it stays hot without a burner.
2. Drinks
- Juice dispensers: a double dispenser holds two flavours side by side. Plan one double for every 60 to 80 breakfast guests.
- Hot water urn for coffee and tea.
- Cups and saucers: 1.5 per seat for breakfast.
3. Serving utensils
Count one utensil per dish, plus 20 to 30 percent spare, because they get dropped and taken to the dish area during service.
- Tongs: 10 in for most dishes, 12 in for deep trays.
- Ladles: 12 oz for soups and sauces.
4. Plates and cutlery per seat
Buffet guests go back two or three times and take a clean plate each time. Plan stock against seats, not covers:
| Item | Per seat |
|---|---|
| Dinner plates, 10.5 in | 2.5–3 |
| Side or dessert plates, 7 in | 2 |
| Bread plates, 5 in | 1 |
| Bowls, 9 in | 1.5 |
| Dinner fork, knife and spoon | 2 of each |
| Soup spoons and teaspoons | 1.5 of each |
5. Back of house
- Dish dollies move clean plates from the dish area to the line. Our JD-ADC1 holds 400 plates, JD-ADC2 300 and JD-ADC3 200.
- Three-tier service carts for clearing tables and moving trays.
6. The buffet table itself
- Table skirting around the buffet tables, so cables and storage are hidden.
- Table cloths and napkins for the dining tables.
Example: an 80-seat restaurant breakfast buffet
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Chafing dishes | 8 (6 rectangular, 2 round) |
| Double juice dispensers | 1–2 |
| Hot water urn | 1 |
| Tongs and ladles | 12 |
| Dinner plates | 240 |
| Side plates | 160 |
| Bowls | 120 |
| Cups and saucers | 120 |
| Forks, knives, spoons | 160 of each |
| Dish dolly | 1 (JD-ADC2, 300 plates) |
| Service carts | 2 |
Get a quote for your buffet
Send us your seat count, how many hot dishes you plan, and your opening date. We will check stock in Cebu and quote within one working day.
