# Transparent Dining Barriers Penguin Eat Shabu Boasts Safety Measures During Restaurant Reopening By Kalin Ned | Published 2020-05-29 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/restaurant-reopening References: [coconuts.co](https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/with-pvc-and-plastic-bangkok-hot-pot-restaurant-reopens-with-diner-cubicles-photos/) & [facebook](https://www.facebook.com/pg/penguineatshabu/photos/?ref=page_internal) More and more restaurant reopenings are happening as government restrictions due to [COVID-19](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/athome-covid19-pcr-kits) are lifted in some countries. Businesses seek to answer the post-lockdown concerns of patrons and in this light, many establishments rethink the way they invite guests to dine-in, with appeal to protective equipment and social distancing measures. One major retaurant reopening is that of popular [Japanese-style hot pot](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ginza-41) in Bangkok, which happened in early May. Dubbed '[Penguin Eat Shabu](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pudgy-party),' the business has opened the doors of its Ari and Ratchapruek branches for patrons who want to dine-in. The restaurant has incorporated "zig-zagging barriers made from PVC pipes and plastic sheets" in order to maintain the safety of both staff and guests. Open to reservations only, the safety solution proves to be accessible in terms of price, as well. Image Credit: Facebook @PenguinEatShabu ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.8/10 - Popularity: 98% | Activity: 97% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [New Ventures](https://www.trendhunter.com/newventures) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Protective Barriers:** The use of PVC pipes and plastic sheets as dining barriers can inspire the creation of more affordable and creative options for other industries. - **Post-lockdown Dining:** More restaurants are rethinking dining arrangements to accommodate social distancing, which presents opportunities for innovative furniture and interior design solutions. - **Reservation-only Dining:** The implementation of reservation-only dining can lead to more customized and personalized dining experiences, as well as streamline the customer journey. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Hospitality:** With post-lockdown dining concerns, the hospitality industry should create safer accommodations for guests similar to the PVC pipe and plastic sheets used in 'Penguin Eat Shabu.' - **Artificial Intelligence:** AI can be used to help restaurants accurately predict guest numbers and manage reservations, preventing overcrowding and helping establishments maintain social distancing regulations. - **Retail:** Retail businesses can take inspiration from the PVC and plastic dining barriers when creating similarly protective yet visually appealing barriers to ensure staff and customer safety. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Contactless Robot Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beijing-winter-games-restaurant.md) - [Contactless Dine-In Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/contactless-dine-in.md) - [Flaming Fare Dining Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flaming-grill-dining-experience.md) - [Interactive Digital Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tabmeal.md) - [Conceptually Transformed Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nami-restaurant.md) - [Pop-Up Dining Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/niseko-confidential.md) - [Warped Acrylic Bar Interiors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/awt-bar.md) - [Two-Dimensional Japanese Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/waku-waku.md) - [Strategic Dining Concept Updates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pepper-lunch-menu-updates.md)