Translation guide
A smorgasbord is a buffet-style meal with a wide variety of dishes, or metaphorically a diverse assortment of things. In Japanese, the concept is expressed through specific terms for buffets, or phrases emphasizing variety.
Referring to a meal where many dishes are laid out for self-service, especially in a restaurant or hotel.
The most common term for a buffet-style meal in Japan. Derived from 'Viking', it refers to all-you-can-eat buffets. Widely understood and used in restaurants and hotels.
I had breakfast at the hotel buffet.
That restaurant's lunch buffet is popular.
A loanword from French 'buffet'. Often used for more upscale or Western-style buffets, especially in hotels. Slightly more formal than バイキング.
The wedding buffet was luxurious.
Literally 'all-you-can-eat'. This is a broader term for any meal where you can eat as much as you want for a fixed price. It can be used for buffets, but also for ordering multiple dishes. Often combined with a food type, e.g., 焼肉食べ放題 (all-you-can-eat yakiniku).
This shop has all-you-can-eat cake.
A direct loanword from Swedish 'smörgåsbord'. Rarely used, and only in contexts specifically referring to traditional Scandinavian smorgasbords. Most Japanese speakers will not understand this term.
I experienced a Swedish smorgasbord.
Metaphorically describing a diverse collection of things, not necessarily food.
Means 'assortment of ~'. Commonly used for food (e.g., sashimi assortment), but can be extended metaphorically to a collection of various items. Use with a noun describing the category.
This event is a smorgasbord of cultures from various countries.
The new game is like a smorgasbord of genres.
Literally 'a parade of ~'. Used to describe a dazzling array or succession of things. Slightly more dramatic and often used in entertainment or promotional contexts.
This movie is a smorgasbord of stars.
An adjective phrase meaning 'a wide variety of ~'. More straightforward and less metaphorical than 盛り合わせ. Suitable for formal or written contexts.
Literally 'department store of ~'. Used colloquially to mean a place or thing that has a wide variety of something. For example, 知識のデパート (a walking encyclopedia).
He's like a smorgasbord of hobbies.
バイキング is the most common and casual term for a buffet. ビュッフェ sounds more upscale and is often used in hotels. 食べ放題 emphasizes the all-you-can-eat aspect and can apply to non-buffet settings (e.g., ordering unlimited items from a menu). For a traditional Scandinavian smorgasbord, スモーガスボード is technically correct but rarely understood; use バイキング or explain the concept.
That hotel's buffet is expensive, but has more variety than a typical buffet.
When using 'smorgasbord' metaphorically, do not translate it literally as スモーガスボード. Instead, use phrases like 盛り合わせ, オンパレード, or 多種多様, depending on the nuance. スモーガスボード is only for the literal Scandinavian meal.
The festival was a smorgasbord of music, food, and art.
We went to a smorgasbord for dinner.
The museum has a smorgasbord of exhibits.