Number of choices in a buffet - Best value

[rdx]

Do you agree that chinese buffet offer the most selections (usually over 100 to 200 kinds) ? I can hardly find any other cuisine have anything close. Pricewise is unbeatable too.

That's why I don't understand that when I was having lunch at Mandarin and saw people going into Swiss Chalet across the street.... $10 in Swiss Chalet gets me a quarter chicken plus a side order, but $10 in Mandarin (or other chinese buffets) get me 100+ choices, of course including different kind of chicken which taste better than Swiss Chalet :lol:) , along with choices of desserts.

For Jap AYCE, it is even better -> All you can order from the menu !

[longo]

does the mandarin have rotisserie chicken or ribs? Nothing wrong with swiss chalet, it's good stuff!

Although I do love buffets, don't really feel the need to stuff my face all the time! :cheesygri

[rdx]

Going to buffet doesn't mean you have to stuff yourself especially you are paying the same price as you are going to other non-buffet. You just simply having more choices, and dessert afterwards.


If you are paying $30 (buffet) vs $10 (non-buffet), then it is a different story.
But for chinese buffet lunch $10 vs any other (non-fast food) lunch $10 (if you are in downtown, it can easily go to $20).

[ch1zo]

IMO - China buffet king is the best...for selection and taste

[rdx]

You can try Starwalk Buffet on SilverStar as well. Great selection, including all kind of dim sum.

By the way, Buffet King in Richmond Hills is better than the one at Warden and 401.

[MADster123]

Oh, just went:

Imperial Buffet - $15.99 dinners on weekends, AYCE snow crab legs and prime rib. Not too bad. :)
Dufferin & Steeles

[rdx]

Buffet City dinner buffet has sushi, sashimi, Alaska's crab's legs, Vancouver crabs, and LOBSTER all you can eat for $16.99 !!! It is on Steeles and woodbine, close to that Toyota/Lexus dealer

[h2o-]

Oh, just went:

Imperial Buffet - $15.99 dinners on weekends, AYCE snow crab legs and prime rib. Not too bad. :)
Dufferin & Steeles

Anyone tried Imperial near Warden/Lawrence (south side opposite to the car dealership)? Any good?

[h2o-]

Buffet City dinner buffet has sushi, sashimi, Alaska's crab's legs, Vancouver crabs, and LOBSTER all you can eat for $16.99 !!! It is on Steeles and woodbine, close to that Toyota/Lexus dealer

Just my family experience.... this place was given warning from government some what months ago (could have been in 2004). Went there myself 03 X'mas, not much surprised... not exciting at all...

[eliteblaze]

salty

Anyone tried Imperial near Warden/Lawrence (south side opposite to the car dealership)? Any good?

[kilarney]

Too bad no all you can eat indian or greek food. i want All You can Eat Tandoori Chicken, Rotis, Samosas, Gyros, Souvlaki :mad:

I would choose mandarin as its about $10.99 without tax for lunch buffet Mon-Thurs. I go to the one in Brampton with the banquet hall.

[nano]

Too bad no all you can eat indian or greek food. i want All You can Eat Tandoori Chicken, Rotis, Samosas, Gyros, Souvlaki :mad:

I would choose mandarin as its about $10.99 without tax for lunch buffet Mon-Thurs. I go to the one in Brampton with the banquet hall.there is a all u can eat indian restarant at middlefield and finch

[pauline9_2000]

IMO - China buffet king is the best...for selection and taste

went to the warden/401 location earlier this week for lunch and it was pretty good... way better than starwalk.

[GangStarr]

buffet's suck, id much rather have quality then quantity.

Mandarin happens to be one of the worst buffets imo.

[Hulkster]

Mandarin happens to be one of the worst buffets imo.
At least there is someone else with a brain.

[wanted]

Too bad no all you can eat indian or greek food. i want All You can Eat Tandoori Chicken, Rotis, Samosas, Gyros, Souvlaki :mad:

I would choose mandarin as its about $10.99 without tax for lunch buffet Mon-Thurs. I go to the one in Brampton with the banquet hall.

We all do, there there.
Try any Indian restaurant with a buffet. Eat to your heart's content dear.

Anyone know of falaffel buffets?

[remmuh]

i don't understand people who go to buffet and eat pizza and french fries.

[rdx]

Too bad no all you can eat indian or greek food. i want All You can Eat Tandoori Chicken, Rotis, Samosas, Gyros, Souvlaki :mad:



Not sure about Greek buffet, but there are many Indian Buffets. One on Woodbine, north of Steele (close to Frankie Tomato). It is pretty good, but in general, don't expect too many selections in Indian buffet. I have tried 4 Indian Buffets (3 in Downtown, one in Markham). They usually have 4-6 kinds of curry, a couple kinds of deep fried stuff (like samosa), salad bars, butter chicken (main dish), and the indian breads/wraps, desserts are usually just ice creams and the coconut milk mixture (not sure the name).

I don't have too many experience on Greek food, but from what I had in the past and what I see from the Greek restaurants patio on Danford Greek town, people are usually having caesar salad and different kind of Souvlaki (one pc on per order), or lamb chops. But in general, expect to spend $12 to $20 each on that.

[rdx]

i don't understand people who go to buffet and eat pizza and french fries.

Exactly, I saw people even having steam rice in the buffet :cheesygri

[rdx]

Quote:
Originally Posted by GangStarr
Mandarin happens to be one of the worst buffets imo.


At least there is someone else with a brain.

If they are the worst, how can they have 17 locations just in Ontario http://www.mandarinbuffet.com/locations.html (http://) . They must have their market. I would say in general are non-chinese. I am not saying Mandarin are the best, but I am sure they have better quality and way better in price than lots of restaurants.

To me, if I am in the east end, I would not go to Mandarin since there are many other choices of chinese/Japanese buffets (if I am looking for buffet type of meal). But when I am in the west end with not much choices, I think Mandarin offers a decent selections and quality.

Anyway this thread is not about Mandarin particularly. It is about the value and selections of a buffet in general.

[kilarney]

We all do, there there.
Try any Indian restaurant with a buffet. Eat to your heart's content dear.

Anyone know of falaffel buffets?

I just found one down the street from my place and I ate to my heart's content. :D

I want to have some falaffels too. All You Can eat Falafels is so good. :D

[wanted]

I just found one down the street from my place and I ate to my heart's content. :D

I want to have some falaffels too. All You Can eat Falafels is so good. :D

do they exist?
if they do....omg.

[kilarney]

do they exist?
if they do....omg.

Well I have a lebanese friend and his mom makes the best falafels. Not all you can eat but large quantities. :D

[remmuh]

Exactly, I saw people even having steam rice in the buffet :cheesygri


pointless.. oh well.. more for us.

[bananaman]

If you're asian, some people can't stand eating a meal without eating plain rice. Myself, I would not eat curry unless I had rice somewhere.

[wanted]

If you're asian, some people can't stand eating a meal without eating plain rice. Myself, I would not eat curry unless I had rice somewhere.

hmmm...
are you sure you don't mean, roti, naan, ?

[porphyra]

hmmm...
are you sure you don't mean, roti, naan, ?

What's wrong with eating curry with rice. FYI its only in North and western India that bread consumption is greater than rice. However all of central southern and eastern Indians are primarily rice eaters. And its bad that Indian food outside India is synonymous with North Indian-Mughlai cuisine. There are some many variations to Indian cuisine...

[remmuh]

What's wrong with eating curry with rice. FYI its only in North and western India that bread consumption is greater than rice. However all of central southern and eastern Indians are primarily rice eaters. And its bad that Indian food outside India is synonymous with North Indian-Mughlai cuisine. There are some many variations to Indian cuisine...

but...... at a buffet!?!?

gonna pay $15 to eat rice?

[kilarney]

but...... at a buffet!?!?

gonna pay $15 to eat rice?
Might as well bring your own.

[porphyra]

but...... at a buffet!?!?

gonna pay $15 to eat rice?

No that is not what i was implying. I was simply retorting to wanted's post about how curry should be accompanied by Roti or naan, and not rice.

Regardless, if I go to a buffet, I will eat rice or breads (naan or roti) but as a side to accompany the main dish. I find it enhances the taste personally.

[remmuh]

No that is not what i was implying. I was simply retorting to wanted's post about how curry should be accompanied by Roti or naan, and not rice.

Regardless, if I go to a buffet, I will eat rice or breads (naan or roti) but as a side to accompany the main dish. I find it enhances the taste personally.

hey, you do what you gotta do.
RESPECT.

[wanted]

No that is not what i was implying. I was simply retorting to wanted's post about how curry should be accompanied by Roti or naan, and not rice.

Regardless, if I go to a buffet, I will eat rice or breads (naan or roti) but as a side to accompany the main dish. I find it enhances the taste personally.

they way he said it, was as if he has it all the time with curry.

[rdx]

but...... at a buffet!?!?

gonna pay $15 to eat rice?

That's what I meant ! It costs $10 or less for 16 pounds of rice. All you can eat at home :cheesygri If I have to have rice, then I will pick the fried rice instead :lol: I guess items like curry with sauce, that's hard to avoid having rice together. That's why I don't usually pick those stuff in buffet (If I am having Indian buffet, then I usually pick naan). In chinese buffet, I usually stick with the seafood and sashimi (if available). But I have some Indian coworkers, they don't eat lobsters though. It is fine with me, I can take care of their shares. :cheesygri

I guess there are always lovers for steamed rice and mashed potatos as they are usually regular items in buffet. :lol: I totally agree that eat what you like to eat. But if the day I feel like having curry, I simply won't go to buffet. I will just order a curry and rice lunch box in food court for $3.99 to at most $7 in a restaurant. :lol:

[Iron Chef Ajax]

Exactly, I saw people even having steam rice in the buffet :cheesygri
I usually have steam rice @ buffet. What is wrong with that!

[coolCAT]

The Host on Hwy 7/East Beaver Creek

[keanefan]

I usually have steam rice @ buffet. What is wrong with that!

rice makes you full.

get your money's worth by eating only meat, seafood, etc

[CSR]

rice makes you full.

get your money's worth by eating only meat, seafood, etc

Now thats a true buffet vetern.

[rdx]

The Host on Hwy 7/East Beaver Creek

What are you talking about ???

[wanted]

What are you talking about ???

indian

[munch]

there's nothing wrong with eating rice at buffets...as long as it's on the side as an addition to a main dish of meat, seafood, etc. i never get it when i see people eating fried rice as a main dish...what a waste of money

[rdx]

I guess that's how the buffet makes money. If all of us are aiming on the seafood, they will be closed by now. We need someone who take the rice and mash pototas/fries as the main course :cheesygri

[remmuh]

I guess that's how the buffet makes money. If all of us are aiming on the seafood, they will be closed by now. We need someone who take the rice and mash pototas/fries as the main course :cheesygri


yeah.. more meat for me!
let the old ladies fill up on rice and bread and pizza and fries.

[gamovafan]

Mandarin is nasty, all the food are dry and tasteless. Only good thing is the ice cream.

I'd rather go to a place, doesn't have to be fancy, where the food tastes good and I could take leftovers home. When I'm inviting large people to eat I usually choose Mandarin because I don't want to spend $500 at other places.

[rdx]

Mandarin is nasty, all the food are dry and tasteless. Only good thing is the ice cream.

I'd rather go to a place, doesn't have to be fancy, where the food tastes good and I could take leftovers home. When I'm inviting large people to eat I usually choose Mandarin because I don't want to spend $500 at other places.

We are talking about average quality food in buffet, not comparing to fine dining. Like you can spend $3.99 a meal in a chinese food court or spend $50-80 per person in a fine chinese restaurant !!! No comparison.

You can only compare the items within the same quality or within the same price range. For example, fish and chips costs you $6-7 for a couple pcs of fish and some fries, I am sure you can find the same kind of deep fried fish as one of the regular item in Mandarin and other chinese buffet.

[JustMike]

IMO - China buffet king is the best...for selection and taste

And last time I was there, they had deep-fried bacon :)

[JustMike]

Too bad no all you can eat indian or greek food. i want All You can Eat Tandoori Chicken, Rotis, Samosas, Gyros, Souvlaki :mad:

There's a decent AYCE Indian place at Gordon Baker and Victoria Park. They have tandoori. I only ate there once, but I'd definitely go back. I think it was <$10.