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The 5pm Restaurants blog is always keen to blether about hot dogs/ceviche/pickles/whatever being the latest hot trend on the food front.

But while we get all excited about whatever novelty happens to be this week’s new black, it seems that what the paying public really want is choice, convenience and clear pricing.

Global gourmet

Hence the boom in buffet restaurants which offer food from around the world for a set price. A couple of weeks back, we blogged about the Cosmo chain bringing their world restaurant concept to Edinburgh.

Cosmo were following hot in the footsteps of Charan Gill who is behind The Quay World Banquet restaurant in Musselburgh.

Over on Scotland’s west coast, the Cook and Indi group of World Buffet restaurants is expanding rapidly.

World buffet

They recently opened a new branch of Cook & Indi’s World Buffet on Kirkintilloch Road in Bishopbriggs. It’s the fourth branch to open since June 2011.

The 300 cover restaurant offers Indian, Japanese, Chinese and Italian dishes. Over one hundred different choices are said to be available at any one time.

Prices start at £5.99 per person.

New Thai in Edinburgh

Back in Edinburgh, The Port of Siam is expanding from its waterfront location on Pier Place and opening a new restaurant and Bangkok Bar on Broughton Street.

Taking shape in the premises formerly used by Hamburger Heaven and The Blue Moon Cafe, the renovations for the new venture look to be at a fairly advanced state.

We wouldn’t be surprised if they are open in time for the weekend. We’ll get more info when they open their doors and we get a peek inside.