Back again with some good friends of Asian heritage. They enjoyed the sushi, crabs and other goodies. Steak was much better this time. The chocolate fountain was working. All the food was at least decent. Glad to be back again! The window at the hibachi grill is still broken and covered with cardboard. Tables are worn and need to be re-finished or replaced. read more

Depending on the time of the day their food is excellent. It is best to go there when they are putting out the fresh entrées say 11:30 am -1 PM or 4-4:30 PM depending on what do you want lunch or dinner. read more

Best bang for the buck Chinese/Sushi buffet ever! Sushi bar is great and food tastes good. read more

I really like it here. The food is decent on the bar. The hibachi is even better and the sushi is the best. I really like that the hibachi and sushi is all you can eat and included in your meal price. The service is "eh" but definitely better than some places around Frederick. The selection is fair for the price. read more

The best Asian buffet in Frederick, if not in Maryland! The food here is always great and fresh. Selections are great and the price is well worth it. The staff from the lady that greets you at the door to to servers and cooks are so friendly and they make you feel like family.They always remember to thank you when you leave and when you return again they remember you as well. When you have any special requests at the sushi bar, the chefs are always glad to make it for you with no problem. I wish more places would have great customer service like that. Keep up the great work! read more

We LOVE Chef Lin. Awesomely huge buffet with everything from lo mein to fried chicken and an extensive seafood selection. Sushi is fresh and tasty - get our money's worth from that alone! On weekends you can add crablegs for about $10 more... but the shrimp, oysters, clams, etc are all included. Everything is always hot and fresh... service is remarkable. Mmmm... read more

Do not eat here! If you decide to go here get no raw food. My mother got sushi from here yesterday and has need throwing up since!

Masaharu Morimoto isn't cooking your food, but if you're looking for some bang for your buck while pounding down a ridiculously high amount of calories, then this food trough is for you. The hibachi grill is solid, the sushi adequate, and great hard ice cream(Hersheys) at least that's what it says on the bucket. The buffet items are standard, and not really better or worse than other food troughs that I've been to. The thing that makes it all worthwhile is that it's under 10$ which includes a drink not called water. read more

I love their Sushi selection, Hibachi selection and there authentic Asian foods they cook up. The staff is friendly, the prices are reasonable (especially for lunch)!! One of my favourite places to get Asian food. read more

Best Chinese buffet in Frederick! All of their food is delicious. They have a hibachi grill where you choose the veggies and meats and sauce that you want and they will fry it up for you. Delicious. You can also get them to grill a steak the way you like it. Their sushi bar is so delicious. I get my money's worth in the amount of sushi that I eat there. The Chinese lady that's always there to seat you (I'm guessing she's the owner), is so friendly, and always remembers us. The food is great! I don't know what else to say. It's way better than Tendo or City Buffet. read more

The sushi was dry and flavorless, the servers were angry and most of the buffet food was cold. I really think that the local food inspector needs to pay these guys a visit. Fortunately it's been a week since my visit and I'm still alive. read more

I don't know that this is saying much, but I would agree that this is the overall best Asian buffet in Frederick. Edo (or whatever it's called now) on Thomas Johnson is a little better for sushi, but their other offerings are not great. Tendo has almost no sushi and did not impress me. City Buffet also doesn't quite measure up to Chef Lin. The price is very fair and there is a large selection of items. The sushi is not bad, there are a bunch of cream cheese laden rolls that I avoid, but also pieces of nigiri and even sashimi which are pretty good. There is a Mongolian BBQ that I have never bothered with, but it could be fun. They sometimes offer seafood on the halfshell that scares me a bit in a buffet setting, but actually tasted fine really. Some of the better selections from the hot buffet are crispy duck (when they have it and it comes out fresh), spare ribs, sesame chicken, chicken teriyaki, and grilled chicken wings. Stuff doesn't tend to sit on the buffet for too long and the staff seems quick to keep things fresh. Dim sum is lacking other than a couple of fried dumplings. There are plenty of Americanized type items that I don't usually bother with, but most things I've tried are more than adequate. The only soup I've tried was the hot and sour which was just fine, although they also had wonton and egg drop, possibly among others. For dessert, they have ice cream cases and a soft serve machine and lots of toppings, along with plenty of fruit (not always ripe unfortunately), cakes/cookies (which I didn't like too much), squares of jello, and the newest item: CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN with marshmallows & fresh strawberries to dip. That may be a game changer for me with the dessert, as I was very happy to see it (not that I needed more food after gorging myself, but now I can't help myself with a chocolate fountain in front of me). The service is friendly but the atmosphere is dreary- the place is in dire need of some TLC bringing it into this decade. The dreariness takes away from the experience somewhat, but I guess the run down look fits with the rest of the plaza, sadly. You can take out from this place - they'll give you Styrofoam containers that you can fill up and they weigh them. Not sure what the price is for that, but I've seen a lot of people taking out that way. I should mention that if you want a GREAT Asian buffet, you have to head 30+ miles south to Rockville to go to Tyson. It's unfair to compare this to them, but I just thought I would mention that you probably have to drive 30 miles to get a significantly better Asian buffet. read more

Absolutely horrible. First off the drinks all tasted like water. The soda was flat, watered down & disgusting. The tea tasted like it had been left out all night, gross. The food was flavorless, cold and overall looked like leftovers from a week ago. Even the grill food was disgusting. Chicken & Shrimp just sitting in their own juices, when it came out it tasted cheap, flavorless and old. Good thing I went here for a family function & did not spend my own money. I will never be back. FYI to buffets...just because your a buffet does not mean your food has to be lazy & cheap. There are plenty of fantastic buffets in the Frederick area & this is NOT one of them. read more

My family and I love this place. It is a great buffet that is always freshly stocked with many tempting tastes. They have someone making sushi and setting it right out there to take, you can request a specific kind if you don't see it there. They have entrees for everyone. Including General Tso's Chicken, Crunchy Shrimp, Mixed Lo Mein, Mussels on the half shell, and a variety of soups. The dessert offerings have a great selection as well including pudding, petit fours, and ice cream. You definitely get your money's worth, the service is great and it's fun for the kids too. One of my little girls does not like chinese that much, and they have no problem with her bringing a happy meal in with her. read more

The perfect place for the Frederick palate,,, a lot of ordinary food to fill up on, why have a little great food when you can have a s--t load of cheap food ,, perfect for Frederick,, read more

The lunch buffet is 8.50 and let me tell you they have a lot on the buffet I wish I would have taken pictures but next time I will. The sushi tasted very fresh. They have hibachi and a plethora of food options and it's diverse. If your looking for good Chinese buffet I would say try this. read more

Chef Lin wasn't the best buffet I've ever been too. The food was ok but not the best quality which I guess is to be expected from a buffet. The service was very friendly and helpful. I might be back in the future for an inexpensive decent meal. read more

We got the chance to eat here while visiting our daughter. I will have to say that for a buffet they have to be one of the best we have experienced. I've never seen such a wonderful array of choices at any buffet and they were fresh, and delicious. The fried rice was so flavorful and terrific! The staff was friendly, kept up with drink refills and clearing the table. Main dishes, side dishes, salads, desserts. If you leave hungry then it's your own fault. They have a choice for everyone and every like. The only thing I might improve is more room around the buffet table where the food sit. This place seems very popular and when it gets busy you are bumping into everyone and not a lot of room for customers and staff to walk around. Overall though a great and pleasant experience, will return when in the area. read more

Moldy Jello. Yes, there was moldy jello on the dessert buffet. Any other comments I may have had about this place went out the window when I saw that. read more

I eat here a few times a Year and eveytime the Hostess will tell the staff our exact order even down to the drinks, Food is Great and the staff is always awesome, been coming here for 11 years now. read more

Aweful, just aweful. I was so hungry so I went to the first place I got to. I knew it was a buffet and I could eat right away. I don't know who these people are that claim this to be authentic Asian. None of the chefs are Asian. You can not pick the sushi up with chopsticks without it falling apart. The sushi is laid out on a slab of wood like a pile of shoes in a closet. No labels just thrown about in a messy manner. The place is old and it's hard to understand the waiters. The food on the bar is also just thrown about. The carpet looks old and dirty...I could go on and on. In an international area so close to D.C., I expect better. read more

Came here with co-workers while we were in the local area for business. Can't say I was thrilled with the food. But you come to these chinese food buffets with a low level of expectation anyways. I would say that the bar was lowered after coming here. You live to eat or eat to live? This is probably the latter. It was bland food that just filled up my lunch block for the day. Sushi? You mean those rolls that are made and look like crap? Even the Chinese food is just straight grease. It's far removed from "americanized" chinese food, and is in it's own category of miscellaneous chinese buffet food. Won't be coming back here if I can help it. read more

We have gone to Chef Lins' for years. The food was good and the service was excellent when the older couple was there. Two years ago, the older couple left. Now, the food is cold and left over from lunch at the beginning of the dinner hour. The steam trays are not refilled promptly. The selections are not cooked as well as before; and the sushi is sometimes stale tasting. We went about two months ago, and the place was empty on a normally busy night, at the evening rush time. We will not go back. read more

A group of us came here because they were craving Chinese. It was located in a strip mall and was very clean inside and out. Food selection was impressive: hibachi, sushi and the general selection of items. Great value for 10$ read more

Great place for a buffet! I go here often with my family and their food selection is amazing. Their selection on the fruit bar is a treat! Very fresh pineapples! Try their hibachi too. Many selections at this place! Give it a try!!! read more

This buffet is very good. Though I'm not a fan of sushi, the Chinese food is delicious, the salad bar is great, and the fruits are very delectable. The environment is very friendly, and the staff treats you like family. I usually get my food to go because the buffet gets crowded from time to time, especially on weekends. Other than that, the buffet is great!!! read more

Food was good BUT I personally saw 2 costumers complain about a soda and the soft serve icecream being sour. Carpet needs to be REPLACED ASAP! CURTAINS look horrible they need to be thrown away TODAY! OK people we don't want perfect but when the GIANT mirror that runs the lenght of the restaurant is dirt and super smeared come on do I the customer have to tell u this. read more

I went to this place a few years ago, and was not too impressed, but they seem to have improved a great deal. I took my friend with me at lunch one day, and the food was fresh and hot. The place was busy, and they seemed to have plenty of everything. I was impressed with the wings and ribs bar, and all of the other choices. I will go back, and try the hibachi grill the next time. read more

I've been to a lot of buffets, and this one is just decent. I mean, they do have a good selection of food, but not as extensive as the other ones I have been to. And some of the food are not as good as the other ones I have been to. Somehow I could compare the coconut chicken I've had at another buffet place, and that was better than the one they have over here. But the waitresses are pretty nice and very fast with giving you your drinks and keeping them filled up. read more

I Complain to chef and service help and to management about cocktail sauce or clams being bad cocktail sauce had extremely fizzy burning case on tongue ate 3 clams but just a little sauce on first 1,first 15 min ok, then gastric in upper stomach area, cramp like,15 min later told them, the chef smile,said it's hot sauce ok,service said I make mistake in judgement,i told mgmt i am a retired Chef,sic 2 day, cramps mild but steady, not one said we check,or thank u,we left complaint to mgmnt after we paid and tip, read more

This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in Frederick. The food always taste fresh, the staff is friendly, and there is always a wide variety of food to choose from. read more

LOVE the food AND the staff. It's our favorite restaurant in Frederick. : } read more

Had the Buffet lunch there today. For an out of the way place, it was possibly one of the best Chinese buffets I've been to. They had a great selection of food, and the sushi bar alone was worth the trip, with a huge selection of freshly prepared sushi and rolls. The Hot and Sour soup could have been a little spicier, but then most american Chinese food could be spicier. Never got to the hibachi grill but it looked awesome. There was no way to even begin to sample all the various options so it will take multiple trips to try them all. And if you weren't completely stuffed with all the various entrees, the dessert bar was great with a large selection for every taste. read more

Tried this place on a whim this evening and was delighted at the superb selection of items, all very well cooked and presented. Sushi pieces were gigantic and super fresh. Green beans were tasty....and I normally avoid them. Efficient and courteous service, and a dessert section that dazzles. A solid delicious bargain. read more

We were really pleased with the buffet. For $11.99, there is quite a bit of food! Lots of sushi, cooked dishes, shrimp, mussels, soup, and desserts. The food was very fresh. We have been to plenty of Chinese buffets and this was a good one! read more

I frequent sushi bars and Chinese buffets throughout the area, and throughout the country while traveling. I can honestly say that Chef Lin is one of the best and is the best in its respective class/price range. The sushi is authentic and of a high quality. It goes above what would be expected from a "Chinese" restaurant. The sushi is of a traditional Japanese preparation. All of the standard choices are included along with a few chef's specialties. While the selection is not as great as what would be found at a sushi-specific establishment, they are glad to accommodate special orders. Although it is not commonly pre-made on the bar, I have never left without several servings of masago. The hibachi is on par with most, and they do not object to letting customers add buffet items to their hibachi plates. Grilled steak is available as well, and rivals that of chain-restaurants that specialize in steaks on their buffets. The raw bar is definitely trustworthy. I have frequented this establishment for over ten years now (previously as Dragon Buffet), and have never even had so much as a churning stomach after consuming the raw seafood here. The buffet itself offers several isles with a superb selection. They keep the food stocked and fresh. All of the expected dishes are available, along with many restaurant-specific specials. They offer an American comfort-food selection to calm the woes of picky eaters who would otherwise keep the rest of the family or group from enjoying an Asian meal. A well stocked desert selection (with soft-serve ice cream) and salad bar tops off the experience. They offer free refills on the soft drinks (purchased separately from the buffet) and do keep the glasses full. A selection of American and Asian beers and wines are also available. The employees seem to really appreciate the business that patrons bring, and go out of their way to greet their repeat customers. My only complaint is that the "Ginger Lobster" is no longer available on the buffet. I have been told by the management that they will still gladly prepare this dish with advanced notice. At one point in time, breaded and fried chunks of lobster tail and claw (still in an opened shell) in a sweet and spicy ginger sauce had restaurant patrons loitering in the buffet isle anxiously awaiting the next batch to come out. However, with the quite affordable price of the buffet, it comes as no surprise that guests can no longer gorge on lobster tail. The lack of this dish does not stop me from going back time and time again. Overall, you get more than you pay for when you visit Chef Lin. I highly recommend it, and will be departing for this restaurant momentarily. I am just waiting for my wife to get done preparing herself to go out. -AE read more

I have tried the other Chinese buffets...but Chef Lin (CL) always is very good! I have never had any issues with food quality. I personally love the salmon, sesame chicken and the noodles! The hostess, whose name on her badge is Donna, knows her regulars. She always ask about my girlfriend (who I brought to CL twice now). I admit she is very good in her role & speaks at least three languages. She says "good to see you my friend!" I am moving out of state - but the next time I pass through Frederick, I will be hungry for the best Chinese buffet in the Frederick area. I like the one in Hagerstown, but CL is the better & willing to pay extra to get all my items! read more

Outsider review 3 in 1 Chinese Buffet review I'm in town in Frederick a few times for business. Considering myself a conissere of Chinese Buffets hare's a break down of three well reviewed Frederick Chinese Buffet's Id like to add price wise there all about 13 and change with a coke. 1. Flaming Grill not a bad variety and good quality. There desert selection was outstanding for a Chinese buffet. Atmosphere was by far the best from all three. Their quality was number 2, Variety a 2 read on and see why they are overall number 1. 2. Chef Lin. Variety was over the top more selections than Ive ever seen number 1. Quality was through the floor number 3. Lets consider this, quality has a direct correlation to time on the buffet. Maybe I caught a bad night but the food appeared and tasted to be on the buffet since last week. 3. China Chef. Quality was by far the best number 1 however variety was very low number 3. Think 10 maybe 12 choices in a store the size of a subway, maybe smaller. Honestly how many people eat everything on the buffet. Am I right of course I am. Dont waste time here. All things considered lets look at geography. I'm in a hotel that must be a geographical Mecca. My GPS shows everything within an 8 minute drive. Why are you asking me anyway I'm from out of town. Considering your reading this you are to. So my duty to you my fellow carrier of the suitcase, and Chinese buffet admirer head to Flaming Grill. Disclaimer: At the writing of this post it has been 2 hours since my last buffer dining experience. At this time I am not violently Ill, but may be subject to change. To my local hosts: Your overall Chinese Buffet offerings are second rate to most. I recommend expanding your horizons, or traveling further to engage in such fare. Thank you good night, and your welcome Frederick MD read more

Best AYCE buffet around. Staff is very efficient and food is always hot. A nice variety of foods from sushi to hibachi to a traditional Chinese, fresh fruit, a chocolate fountain, some American/child friendly choices as well. We take my husband's family there once a month. They love it! Extremely affordable too! read more

Great buffet. A large variety of food, but also a sushi bar, "make your own plate" grill, and 6 flavor ice cream bar. The steak on the buffet table was surprisingly good. Good selection of kid friendly items too. All for 10 bucks, a few bucks extra for crab legs. Service was prompt and very friendly. read more