Saturday, October 6, 2007
Can Someone Tell Me Why Chinese Buffets In Springfield Suck?
Seriously, tonight I had to make my own General Tso's Chicken. I've been to almost all of the Chinese buffet joints here and I left feeling like maybe they owed ME money. Springfield is a huge restaurant town and a test market for chains, so why the lack of quality? Every time I try a new joint that opens, I want to see it closed. I feel like the next time I get a fortune cookie it will say, "Sorry Charles, got screwed again...Your lucky numbers are 666 and 13." Springfield needs help and I'm running out of hope.
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12 comments:
Fried chicken, all white meat, with cashews is our idea of chinese food. Throw in some vanilla pudding and vanilla wafers, some sliced bananas in strawberry glaze and you yourself an ideal Ozark chinese dinner. Oh, and some sweet tea.
Mmmmm, that's delicious.
I believe I will have another big arnj.
Kansas City only has one. It's on Blue Ridge between 87 and 95 street. It has the best chinese buffet ever. Only 6.95 aperson
What timing, I'll be in KC mid Oct. Thanks for the tip.
But does Springfield have decent dim sum? If so, I could maybe forgive the lack of decent Chinese buffet....
Perhaps the problem is that you're seeking good Chinese food at a buffet. Good Chinese buffet is an oxymoron. Perhaps a small Chinese restaurant would be better?
Sunny
"Perhaps the problem is that you're seeking good Chinese food at a buffet."
Actually I'm glad you brought that up. When I lived in Conway, AR. I found 2 places that were buffet and I didn't have to go Mongolian in order to get good food. I found 3 places like this in Nashville. Quality is about pride not price. A good owner knows this and will have the place packed at all hours of the day when they take such an approach. Having said that I must disagree with your "oxymoron". I would try the small route you suggested, but I like variety when I'm doing Chinese.
All of my favorite Chinese buffets in Springfield have closed. I enjoy the Chinese buffet because I can see what I'm eating before I get it on my plate (and I'm kind of picky--there are some things I don't like...). I have noticed that since my favorites (Jun's and Silk Road) have closed, that the buffets in town do suck. They suck bad. There's a great variety at the one up on Glenstone just south of Chestnut, but you're sitting practically on top of your neighbor, and the staff yells at you if you need something or when you go up to pay your bill.
The best Asian buffet Springfield has ever had was Kim's Korean BBQ. There's a mini-version of that buffet at Kim's Korean Inn on West Chestnut, but I highly recommend ordering from the menu. You'll get the vegetable pancakes that way!
I haven't had good Chinese food since I left Duluth, MN back in the late 90s. There was an old Chinese woman who came over to the US in the early 90s and she made the best I've ever eaten.
The highest quality Chinese food (not a buffet) is Mr. Yins. Yes, it costs more, but you pay for good food. They have the best cashew chicken (as the sauce is real, dark and thick). They also have some excellent other meals.
Have you tried Century Buffet yet, CDM? It's the only buffet style Chinese joint I'll do anymore. The staff seems to strive to keep fresh product out, and depending on the night of the week you go, lots of seafood options, which you don't often see on a buffet.
I must agree with Jack, that Mr. Yen's is the place to go for a higher quality chinese experience, especially since the closings of Leong's and Gee's.
And, in reference to Complain Away, Yen's has fine dim sum, but I believe only on Sunday afternoons.
If you're looking for more affordable fare, you might try the Korea House on St. Louis street. LOVE their Sweet & Sour Chicken (Korean style, with a teriyaki based sauce, not the scary day-glo orange you're used to seeing 'round here) and their Mandu.
Sweet, it's 10 am, I know what I'm doing for lunch now!
I tried Century in Ozark, not impressed. Haven't tried the one in Springfield. I would do Yen's but I like variety in my Chinese food. When I get there, I get hungry for seasame chicken, general's chicken, chicken teriyaki...etc. I can't make up my mind, so buffet is the way to go for me. I appreciate every single person who commented, this is what I'm talkin' 'bout...feedback.
By the way, I hate vegetables, I know...I know, I should eat them, but I can't get past the gag reflex. To be honest I wished I was a vegetarian, the grocery bill would be so much cheaper. Again, thanks everyone!
Try a roadtrip to West Plains or Mountain Home AR and eat at Diamond Head. (The WP one is better IMO.)
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