Survey of 500 by "Last Love" App: Do Middle-Aged and Older Singles Like Chain Restaurants? Opinions on First Dates Are Mixed, but 73.1% Are "Happy" After a Relationship Begins

Last Love Inc. (Isaac Group / HQ: Shibuya, Tokyo / CEO: Kosei Yamaguchi), which operates the matching app "Last Love" connecting people through life experience, conducted a "Survey on the Dating Realities of Middle to Senior Age Groups" in June 2026, targeting 516 app users. This release discloses the results concerning how middle-aged and older adults perceive the use of chain restaurants for dates.

The survey found that opinions were divided on being invited to a chain restaurant for a first date (52.9% positive impression, 47.1% negative impression). However, for everyday dates after a relationship has started, 73.1% responded they would be "happy" about it. This suggests a trend where chain restaurants are received more favorably as a relationship deepens. The number one chain restaurant considered "acceptable" for a date was "Royal Host" (43.8%).

■ Survey Overview
Survey Name: Survey on the Dating Realities of Middle to Senior Age Groups
Survey Period: June 5 (Fri) - June 7 (Sun), 2026
Survey Target: 516 users aged 40-70
Survey Method: In-app questionnaire on "Last Love"

■ Survey Results (Summary)
- Opinions on chain restaurants for a first date are mixed: 52.9% positive impression vs. 47.1% negative impression.
- A total of 52.9% were positive ("happy" 25.8%, "somewhat happy" 27.1%), while 47.1% were negative ("a little disappointed" 32.9%, "disappointed" 14.1%).
- A stark gender divide was observed: 82.9% of men were positive, compared to only 40.4% of women.
- For everyday dates after becoming a couple, 73.1% responded they would be "happy".
- This is a total of "happy" (28.9%) and "somewhat happy" (44.2%).
- This marks a 20.2 percentage point increase from the 52.9% positive response for first dates, indicating that casualness becomes a positive trait as relationships deepen.
- The top "acceptable" chain restaurant for a date is "Royal Host" (43.8%).
- It was followed by "Kisoji" (40.5%) in 2nd place and "Gyu-Kaku" (34.5%) in 3rd.
- Preferences differed by gender, with women favoring Royal Host and Kisoji, while men tended to choose Gyu-Kaku.

■ Survey Results (Details)
[1] Mixed Opinions on Chain Restaurants for First Dates, with a Clear Gender Divide
To the question, "How would you feel if you were invited to a chain restaurant for a first date (before starting a relationship)?", the overall positive response was 52.9% ("happy" 25.8% + "somewhat happy" 27.1%), while the negative impression was 47.1% ("a little disappointed" 32.9% + "disappointed" 14.1%), splitting the evaluation almost in half.
However, the difference becomes clear when viewed by gender. While 82.9% of men responded positively, only 40.4% of women did, meaning 59.6% of women did not have a good impression of chain restaurants for a first date.

[2] A Turnaround After the Relationship Starts: 73.1% Respond "Happy"
For the question, "How would you feel if you were invited to a chain restaurant for an everyday date after starting a relationship?", 73.1% responded positively ("happy" 28.9% + "somewhat happy" 44.2%). This is a 20.2 percentage point increase from the 52.9% positive response for first dates.
Focusing on women, the positive response jumped significantly from 40.4% for first dates to 65.4% after becoming a couple. This suggests an emotional shift in adult women, who may want to make a special effort for a first meeting but can show their true selves in a more casual setting once the relationship deepens.

[3] Top "Acceptable" Chain Restaurant for a Date is "Royal Host"!
When asked, "Which chain restaurants do you think are acceptable for a meal on a date?" (multiple answers allowed), the results were: 1st "Royal Host" (43.8%), 2nd "Kisoji" (40.5%), 3rd "Gyu-Kaku" (34.5%), 4th "Shabuyo" (32.6%), and 5th "Torikizoku" (31.8%).
Royal Host, a leading high-end family restaurant, and the Japanese restaurant Kisoji ranked at the top. Gender preferences were also visible, with women showing a strong tendency to choose Royal Host (47.3%) and Kisoji (44.0%) for their authentic menus, while more men chose the yakiniku chain Gyu-Kaku (40.8%).