INFLUENCE OF AGE ON CUSTOMER DINING EXPERIENCE FACTORS AT U.S. JAPANESE RESTAURANTS

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of age on customer dining experience levels at Japanese restaurants in the United States and to determine if there are differences in influential factors between customers of different ages when they eat at Japanese restaurants. To address the objectives of the study, customers who patronized Japanese restaurants were asked to rank the importance of 20 dining experience factors. Researchers give recommendations for restaurateurs to bridge the gap between customers of different age groups in order to gain a competitive edge in today’s highly competitive restaurant market.