Buffet vs. Smorgasbord — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on November 2, 2023
A buffet is a self-service meal with various dishes; a smorgasbord is a Swedish buffet with a wide array of hot and cold dishes.
Difference Between Buffet and Smorgasbord
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Key Differences
A buffet is a serving system where meals are displayed on a table, allowing diners to serve themselves from a variety of dishes. It is known for its convenience and is commonly used in various events and restaurants. Smorgasbord, originally a Swedish tradition, refers to a type of buffet with a wide selection of hot and cold dishes, including bread, butter, and cheese, often starting with cold fish dishes and followed by hot ones.
Buffets are characterized by their large assortment of food, ranging from appetizers to desserts, all laid out for guests to choose from. A smorgasbord, while similar in concept, traditionally begins with bread, herring, and other cold fish dishes, moving on to warmer foods, and is often a festive or holiday meal in Sweden. Both buffet and smorgasbord offer a casual dining experience where guests can create their own plates.
While buffets are a worldwide phenomenon and not tied to a specific cuisine, a smorgasbord is specifically associated with Swedish cuisine and culture. A buffet might be found at a wedding reception or a casino, serving an array of international dishes. In contrast, a smorgasbord will typically feature Scandinavian fare and is particularly associated with celebrations like Christmas in the form of a 'julbord.'
Buffets and smorgasbords both encourage guests to sample a little bit of everything. However, a smorgasbord is often considered more of a culinary experience with a specific sequence of dishes, especially in its country of origin. Buffets are more about variety and abundance, with the idea that guests will return multiple times to fill their plates with a range of foods.
The terms buffet and smorgasbord can sometimes be used interchangeably outside of Sweden due to their similarities. However, a true smorgasbord has a distinct progression of dishes and is steeped in tradition, while a buffet is more about the style of dining, regardless of the particular sequence or type of food offered.
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Comparison Chart
Origin
French
Swedish
Types of Dishes
International variety
Traditional Swedish, sequence-based
Service Style
Self-service, casual
Self-service, with traditional sequence
Occasions
Various events, restaurants
Festive occasions, especially in Sweden
Cultural Association
Not specific
Strongly tied to Swedish customs
Compare with Definitions
Buffet
A self-service meal setup with diverse food options.
The hotel offers a breakfast buffet with international dishes.
Smorgasbord
A Swedish buffet-style meal with a specific set of courses.
The restaurant’s smorgasbord featured an array of traditional Swedish dishes.
Buffet
A system of dining where guests serve themselves.
We decided to have a buffet to facilitate easy serving at the party.
Smorgasbord
A culinary spread featuring cold fish, cheeses, and hot dishes.
Our Christmas smorgasbord includes herring, gravlax, and meatballs.
Buffet
An arrangement of food where diners can eat unlimitedly.
The all-you-can-eat buffet had a long line of eager customers.
Smorgasbord
A festive meal arrangement in Swedish culture.
The smorgasbord at Midsummer included various pickled herring.
Buffet
A buffet can be either a sideboard (a flat-topped piece of furniture with cupboards and drawers, used for storing crockery, glasses, and table linen) or a system of serving meals in which food is placed in a public area where the diners serve themselves. A form of service à la française, buffets are offered at various places including hotels, restaurants, and many social events.
Smorgasbord
A diverse collection or range, often used metaphorically.
The conference offered a smorgasbord of workshops and seminars.
Buffet
A large sideboard with drawers and cupboards.
Smorgasbord
An assortment of open-faced sandwiches typically found at a smorgasbord.
He piled his plate with different kinds of open-faced sandwiches from the smorgasbord.
Buffet
A counter or table from which meals or refreshments are served.
Smorgasbord
A buffet meal featuring a varied number of dishes.
Buffet
A restaurant having such a counter.
Smorgasbord
A varied collection
"a smorgasbord of fashionable paranormal beliefs" (Martin Gardner).
Buffet
A meal at which guests serve themselves from various dishes displayed on a table or sideboard.
Smorgasbord
A Swedish-style buffet comprising a variety of cold sandwiches and other dishes; (by extension) any buffet with a wide selection of dishes.
Buffet
A blow or cuff with or as if with the hand.
Smorgasbord
(figuratively) An abundant and diverse collection of things.
Buffet
Informally served
A buffet luncheon.
Smorgasbord
A collection containing a variety of sorts of things;
A great assortment of cars was on display
He had a variety of disorders
A veritable smorgasbord of religions
Buffet
To hit or beat, especially repeatedly.
Smorgasbord
An assortment of foods starting with herring or smoked eel or salmon etc with bread and butter; then cheeses and eggs and pickled vegetables and aspics; finally hot foods; served as a buffet meal
Buffet
To strike against forcefully and especially repeatedly; batter
Winds that buffeted the tent.
Buffet
To cause repeated difficulty or harm to (a person or group)
Was buffeted about from job to job by the vagaries of the economy.
Buffet
To force (one's way) with difficulty.
Buffet
To force one's way with difficulty
A ship buffeting against the wind.
Buffet
A counter or sideboard from which food and drinks are served or may be bought.
Buffet
Food laid out in this way, to which diners serve themselves.
We'll be serving supper buffet style.
Buffet
A small low stool; a hassock.
Buffet
(countable) A blow or cuff with or as if with the hand, or by any other solid object or the wind.
Buffet
The vibration of an aircraft when flying in or approaching a stall, caused by separation of airflow from the aircraft's wings.
Buffet
(transitive) To strike with a buffet; to cuff; to slap.
Buffet
To aggressively challenge, denounce, or criticise.
Buffet
To affect as with blows; to strike repeatedly; to strive with or contend against.
To buffet the billows
Buffet
To deaden the sound of (bells) by muffling the clapper.
Buffet
A cupboard or set of shelves, either movable or fixed at one side of a room, for the display of plate, china, etc., a sideboard.
Not when a gilt buffet's reflected prideTurns you from sound philosophy aside.
Buffet
A counter for food or refreshments.
Buffet
A restaurant containing such a counter, as at a railroad station, or place of public gathering.
Buffet
A meal set out on a buffet[2], arranged so that guests may serve themselves and choose those items that they desire; as, a buffet dinner. Diners usually take a plate provided and move in a line past the items on the buffet[2], placing those items they desire on the plate, to be eaten at some convenient place.
Buffet
A blow with the hand; a slap on the face; a cuff.
When on his cheek a buffet fell.
Buffet
A blow from any source, or that which affects like a blow, as the violence of winds or waves; a stroke; an adverse action; an affliction; a trial; adversity.
Those planks of tough and hardy oak that used for yeas to brave the buffets of the Bay of Biscay.
Fortune's buffets and rewards.
Buffet
A small stool; a stool for a buffet or counter.
Go fetch us a light buffet.
Buffet
To strike with the hand or fist; to box; to beat; to cuff; to slap.
They spit in his face and buffeted him.
Buffet
To affect as with blows; to strike repeatedly; to strive with or contend against; as, to buffet the billows.
The sudden hurricane in thunder roars,Buffets the bark, and whirls it from the shores.
You are lucky fellows who can live in a dreamland of your own, instead of being buffeted about the world.
Buffet
To deaden the sound of (bells) by muffling the clapper.
Buffet
To exercise or play at boxing; to strike; to smite; to strive; to contend.
If I might buffet for my love, or bound my horse for her favors, I could lay on like a butcher.
Buffet
To make one's way by blows or struggling.
Strove to buffet to land in vain.
Buffet
A piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers
Buffet
A meal set out on a buffet at which guests help themselves
Buffet
Usually inexpensive bar
Buffet
Strike against forcefully;
Winds buffeted the tent
Buffet
Strike, beat repeatedly;
The wind buffeted him
Buffet
A meal offering multiple dishes to choose from at once.
The buffet at the wedding was lavish and included seven types of cuisine.
Buffet
A furniture piece used to display and serve food.
The antique buffet was laden with appetizers and desserts.
Common Curiosities
Are drinks included in a buffet?
Drinks may or may not be included in a buffet, depending on the establishment's policy.
Is a smorgasbord only served during holidays?
While it’s popular during holidays like Christmas, a smorgasbord can be served at any festive occasion.
What is a smorgasbord?
A smorgasbord is a Swedish buffet offering a spread of traditional hot and cold dishes.
Do I need to follow a certain order when selecting food from a smorgasbord?
Yes, traditionally you start with cold fish dishes and progress to warm dishes.
What is a buffet?
A buffet is a self-service meal with a variety of dishes to choose from.
Can a smorgasbord include foods from other cultures?
Traditionally, a smorgasbord features Swedish dishes, but variations may include international foods.
Are buffets cost-effective for restaurants?
Buffets can be cost-effective due to reduced staffing and quick turnover.
Is there a dress code for smorgasbord restaurants?
Dress codes vary, but many smorgasbord restaurants are casual.
How do I choose between buffet and smorgasbord for my event?
Choose a buffet for a wide variety, or a smorgasbord for a Swedish traditional meal with a set sequence.
Is it acceptable to take multiple servings from a buffet?
Yes, part of a buffet's appeal is the ability to return for additional servings.
What types of food are staples at a smorgasbord?
Staples include herring, salmon, meatballs, and cheeses.
How long can I stay at a buffet?
Duration can vary by establishment, but diners are typically not rushed.
Can I take leftover food home from a buffet?
Most buffets do not allow taking food home due to health regulations.
Are reservations required for smorgasbord dining?
It depends on the venue, but reservations are recommended, especially during holidays.
Is a smorgasbord an all-you-can-eat meal?
Yes, similar to a buffet, a smorgasbord typically allows for unlimited servings.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
