Report Bangkok Japanese Restaurant Criticised Over Misleading Birthday Promotion

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

A Japanese à la carte restaurant in Bangkok is facing mounting criticism after a birthday promotion left a customer deeply dissatisfied. On May 26, a story highlighting the incident began circulating on social media, thanks to a prominent Thai consumer rights Facebook group.

 

The controversy arose when the customer visited the well-known restaurant, lured by an online promotion promising a complimentary salmon rice cake for birthday celebrants. The appealing promotional image showcased a beautifully presented rice cake topped with fresh salmon slices. However, the reality fell short of expectations.

 

Upon receiving the actual dish, the customer was disappointed by its stark contrast to the advertised version in both quality and appearance. Expressing dissatisfaction, they stated that the experience was almost tear-inducing. Taking to social media, the customer shared, “I saw a birthday promotion offering a free salmon rice cake, which looked beautiful and delicious. But what I got was so disappointing; I felt like crying.”

 

Further frustration ensued when the customer attempted to express gratitude through a Facebook comment on the restaurant’s page, only to have the comment deleted, and subsequently, find themselves blocked. “I genuinely wanted to thank them. Why wouldn’t they want other customers to see that?” the customer pondered.

 

The post rapidly gained traction, igniting a social media debate. Responses ranged from empathy for the customer's plight to more critical takes on the situation. Comments varied widely, with some users downplaying the issue, saying it was a harmless gesture, while others criticised the dish's apparent quality and safety.

 

The incident has refuelled discussions about the accuracy of promotional advertising and the responsibilities businesses bear in meeting consumer expectations. Questions about corporate accountability and the authenticity of advertisements are being scrutinised, as the public reflects on the balance between marketing allure and product reality.

 

This episode serves as a reminder of the power of social media in holding businesses accountable and the importance of transparent communication, especially when promotions do not meet consumer expectations. As businesses navigate the complexities of advertising and customer satisfaction, this case stands as a clear example of the potential pitfalls when the two are misaligned.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-27

 

 

[worgeordie]

There can be a lot of disappointments in Thailand ,nothing seems quite

like it really is 

 

regards worgeordie

[ignore it]

Yeah,

 

Disappointing

 

You get what you pay for.

 

Oh, it was free?

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, worgeordie said:

There can be a lot of disappointments in Thailand ,nothing seems quite

like it really is 

 

regards worgeordie

A bit like the glossy holiday brochures showing Pattaya Thailand... and the reality is ?

[connda]

Up Next?

"A prominent Thai consumer rights Facebook group arrested for defamation."  

[connda]

Sorta like those big beautiful beef-on-a-bun products which normally don't look anything like their advertisements (names not to be mentioned due to defamation laws as we're not in Kansas anymore Toto)

[digger70]

Bangkok Japanese Restaurant Criticised Over Misleading Birthday Promotion ..

 

Isn't that common knowledge that advertisements are never the same as the Real product that is for sale or free.

[phil2407]

In Japan if the packaging doesn’t match the product the authorities come after you 

[impulse]

13 minutes ago, phil2407 said:

In Japan if the packaging doesn’t match the product the authorities come after you 

 

That must be hell on ladyboys.

 

Oops.  Are we still allowed to call them that?

 

[worgeordie]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

A bit like the glossy holiday brochures showing Pattaya Thailand... and the reality is ?

It's a photo of Barra Island in Scotland with some palm trees photo shopped in,

TAT actually did that years ago......

 

regards Worgeordie

[Sydebolle]

I never went for all this "free" stuff for good reason. More than once the staff in restaurants told me about "free", "promotion" etc. Seeing what happened on the next table was sufficient. 

 

[NoDisplayName]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

That must be hell on ladyboys.

 

Oops.  Are we still allowed to call them that?

 

 

Oh, gosh no!

That's a double miss gendering!

 

The accepted term is now "personpersons", unless they also identify as a furry, then it's either "furrypersons" or "personfurries" or "furryfurries", depending on which of their identities takes precedence.

[impulse]

26 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

Oh, gosh no!

That's a double miss gendering!

 

The accepted term is now "personpersons", unless they also identify as a furry, then it's either "furrypersons" or "personfurries" or "furryfurries", depending on which of their identities takes precedence.

 

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not about to see if they're furry down there.  I still can't get that scene from The Crying Game out of my little pinhead.  And that was what, like 20 years ago?

 

[watchcat]

On 5/27/2025 at 11:05 AM, snoop1130 said:

The appealing promotional image showcased a beautifully presented rice cake topped with fresh salmon slices. However, the reality fell short of expectations.

 

Like some burgers you'll see...