We went at the end of the lunch rush and everything was still being restocked throughout our entire…read moretime there. The selection was extensive, so by the time we finished with the delicious steam table offerings, there was no room left to try the cook-to-order Mongolian Grill. That will be first on our next visit. We were already full when we accidentally found the sushi bar, so couldn't try much. Look for it. Our service needs were limited, but everybody was pleasant, and we appreciated that the finished plates were promptly removed. When asked for a cup to take the remaining soda with us, we were brought a fresh, filled cup instead. It's a bit out of the way for us, but will definitely be returning soon.

China E Buffet, Round Rock Where Quantity Steamrolls Quality…read more Opa used to recommend China E Buffet the way a proud grandfather shows off wallet-photos: "Look at all those choices, and something for everyone!" Sadly, our visit on Saturday, July 19, proved that even the biggest buffet can shrink in stature when the dishes lose their character. We walked in expecting the familiar clatter of plates and that comforting aroma of sizzling woks. Instead, we were greeted by staff who responded to a cheerful "Good morning!" with the enthusiasm of wax statues. If their smiles had been any tighter, they'd have cracked. Speaking of plates, yes, they were clean, but they glistened with leftover rinse water. Nothing says "Welcome, friend!" quite like the fear of cross-contamination before you even reach the Kung Pao. Once at the steam tables, Opa faced three varieties of chicken, honey, Kung Pao, and "spicy". Hmmm, this was tasting so alike he began to suspect a practical joke. Imagine three identical cousins arguing over who's the most interesting. Pleasant enough, but after a few bites you'd prefer just one cousin with a real personality. The beef with broccoli at least looked distinctive, but the broccoli had been stewed into the texture of soggy something. One bite transported Opa to his childhood in the Netherlands, where well-meaning mothers would lovingly overcook vegetables on Saturday night, leave them warming all through Sunday service, and serve them mashed beyond recognition just in time for lunch. Nostalgia shouldn't arrive disguised as baby food. Flavor shortcuts showed up later, too. Halfway home all three passengers in our car experienced that unmistakable abdominal chorus line an MSG tango, if you will. (Next time we'll bring castanets so the cramps can keep rhythm.) Still, children remain blissfully immune to nuance. Ours were delighted by the deep fried selection, golden, crispy, and unapologetically kid-proof. And credit where it's due, the buffet's breadth of choice remains impressive. If you measure value in linear feet of steam table, China E keeps its crown. But a restaurant's reputation isn't built on cubic yards of chafing dishes. It's built on flavor, freshness, and a smile that tells you your presence matters. Until those return, Opa's enthusiasm will remain parked in the lot outside. I'm begrudgingly leaving three stars for sheer variety and the kids' fried food joy, though my taste buds whisper "TWO." Here's hoping the management remembers that quantity should never be an excuse to drown quality, and that a simple "thank you" is cheaper than any bottle of sauce.

Thanksgiving came around and we had zero desire to cook or clean. Our "plan" (and I use that word…read moreloosely) was Golden Corral. We figured if we got there early, we'd beat the crowd. Cute of us, honestly. We pulled up and that parking lot looked like Beyoncé was performing. Cars everywhere: on the grass, on the curbs, people creating their own imaginary parking spaces. People circling like it was Black Friday. Absolutely not. We left with no backup plan and even less hope. Pulled up Yelp and I remembered that Dimassi's buffet had been on my radar for months, but was it open? Called them up and CHA-CHING!!! Money! They were open, guys. That phone call felt like hitting the lottery. Thanksgiving was saved. We arrived and Dimassi's was calm, clean, and the buffet bar was fully stocked with hot food fresh out of the kitchen. They had your Mediterranean favorites: dips, salads, gyro meat, dolma, chicken kabobs, saffron rice, the good garlicky toum, warm potatoes, fresh pita, everything. They even prepared a turkey for patrons who wanted some. Wow. They understood the assignment. Now a couple things could be tweaked. I like my baba ganoush served warm...and maybe they could have had some lamb options? But, honestly? For a buffet on Thanksgiving at $23 a person ($9 for the 3 yr old with us), they delivered HARD. Dimassi's didn't just feed us...they rescued us from the Golden Corral Hunger Games. Thank you for being open. Thank you for coming through in the clutch. You saved Thanksgiving.

I'd been wanting to check this place out for quite some time. There's another location in Round…read moreRock, but many reviewers said the original spot is much better, so we decided to start with the OG location. Parking is plentiful right in front of the restaurant. We came by on a Saturday around 1 PM, worried it might be packed, but it was actually pretty quiet. You can sit anywhere you like, grab a plate, and pay when you're done. The space is large and open, with three full rows of food and drinks plus a dedicated station for fruit and desserts. Everything was fresh, not overly salty, and there were plenty of options. My favorites were the hummus with eggplant (so flavorful with great texture), the salad and cucumber salad (fresh and refreshing), the dolma (perfectly done), gyro (tender and tasty), baked cauliflower (so good), fried chicken (juicy, crispy, and not salty), falafel (extra crunchy), and the lentil soup (simple but delicious). And don't miss their coffee at the checkout--it has a hint of warm spice and is the perfect finish after a meal. Surprisingly, I ended up loving the vegetable dishes even more than the meats. Overall, yes, $26 per person is on the higher side (what doesn't cost these days, right?!), but it's a great spot to try a variety of Mediterranean dishes that are fresh, simply seasoned, and let the ingredients shine--perfect whether you're new to the cuisine or just want a bit of everything.

i had a wonderful time, my glorious and favorite staff member here named Anthony Sanchez made the…read moretrip worthwhile. This man gave me tips, guided me around, and made the entire experience worthwhile, without him, this would undoubtedly be a four. a great experience only elevated by great staff like this man.

We went here for a birthday party. I can't say much about the value because we didn't pay but I…read moregathered that it's pretty pricey. The cost of a large pizza is around $40. It is large but sheesh! The pizza itself was fine... nothing to write home about. My kids really enjoyed the rides. The waits weren't too long. The thing that really got to me was the smell in the place. The chlorine smell is overwhelming and I started to get a big headache.

It's great that the consistency of awesome service provided by Angel (knowing our drink and food…read moreorder) and food quality that is always delicious, is on key! My favorite is their volcano roll (sliced thinly) and $4 margarita on the rock! Thanks again Angel

Three of us came to try their all you can eat lunch. The place was quiet when we arrived and were…read moreimmediately seated and approached by staff. Note: They will charge for plates of leftover food so order as you go to avoid additional costs. I found the food to be ok, nothing wowed me but for $24 AYCE for lunch is very good and their menu selections are wide. I found some items to be misleading vs pictures so ask questions to ensure you're getting what you envision. Their tempura batter was disappointing, and the shrimp didn't look authentic, appearance is everything and did not seem appetizing to me. I enjoyed the stir fry udon. Note they are not in broth. The nigiri fish varieties were chewy, not tender and creamy so don't expect high end uchi quality but it seemed fresh ‍ I may give them another try and try other options besides sushi.

I've been to Rockin' Grill many times, and every single visit has been consistently amazing, both…read morein food and service. They've recently renovated the space, and it now feels more upscale while still being comfortable and welcoming. Today I ordered a chicken tandoori-style dish, along with the butter chicken and garlic naan, and everything was absolutely delicious. The flavors were rich, well-seasoned, and clearly made with care. The butter chicken in particular was outstanding, and the garlic naan was the perfect complement. One of my favorite little touches is the adorable robot that sometimes delivers your food--it always makes the experience even more fun. Between the consistently great food, excellent service, and the refreshed atmosphere, this place continues to be a favorite of mine. I'll definitely be returning many more times.

Great Indian food! This place was packed on a Saturday lunch hour. They have a huuuge menu, so…read moremaybe keep in mind roughly what you're interested in, otherwise you'll be looking at the menu all day. Even though it's pretty basic amongst so many other dishes they had, I got the Chicken Tikka Masala, medium spice. The portion size is pretty good, and the dish had a generous amount of chicken in it. It also came with a side of rice. I enjoyed the flavor! I'd say for medium spice it wasn't that spicy - felt more like a mild to me. Honestly, I'm pretty surprised to have found good Indian food in Round Rock. Despite the good food, I'm knocking off a star due to the fairly slow service. We were sitting outside so I'm not sure if at times they forgot about us, but I ended up having to walk in the store to ask someone to take our order because no one had come in a while. Our food also came out at different times; the first few dishes came, and then it felt like there was a solid ~5-8 minutes before the rest of the dishes came.

Kalahari breakfast buffet was surprisingly great! It's always hard to justify the price of these…read morebuffets if you only have a plate but we ensured that we ate enough to avoid the lunch prices inside the waterpark. The omelette station was an anxious hit but I really enjoyed the carving meat station, the large biscuits, and the bread pudding. They had plenty of fruit and cereals for the kids. Along with pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, back , chicken sausage, and much more. It's definitely worth it if you can eat enough to stay full for a day of fun! There can be a rush of people/wait if you go after 9am. We went early one day at 8am and it was empty, so plan accordingly.

Sunday breakfast at the Great Karoo Marketplace…read more Went for a TPS conference held at the Kalahari Resort. Sunday breakfast at the marketplace was easy to find. No wait at 7:30 AM. The restaurant is on the first floor, almost directly below the check in desk in the lobby. Take the elevator or stairs down a level to access the breakfast buffet. Since the buffet gets busy on the weekends, they will escort you to a table. We sat with a colleague and friend who presented the most amazing lectures at the conference. The buffet itself has a lot of classic and kid friendly foods. So many stations. Cereals. Cut up fruits. Pastries and muffins. Corn. Wedge potatoes. Omelettes. The cook at the Bennie station was so nice. When I asked for a Bennie with no meat, she suggested that I grab some smoked salmon from another station to make a salmon Benedict. My favorite...and what I was planning to do once she gave me my meatless Benedict. So thoughtful. Other yummy options at the buffet included the bread pudding and the cheese grits. So many carbs!! The station with smoothies and fruit juices was a very good option. The pinacolada smoothies and the green juice blends were so yummy. Although I didn't use it, the hot sauce bar was so interesting. So many hot sauces. From mild to hot, hot, hot. Check out the Scoville Scale to gauge if you can handle the heat. A nice place for brunch during an annual conference at Kalahari Resorts in Round Rock.

This little hole in the wall restaurant has amazing food! We continue to go back and each time…read moretheir food is delicious. Love the chicken kabobs and their sisig is delicious.

Made the trek out since I was craving some of my own mom's recipes!…read more Unfortunately, the chicken adobo was not my mom's but it was good! Definitely leans salty but it works with the garlic fried rice. They're more of a to-go operation, but that works in my favor since their meals are made to share.

We seemed to be the first customers on their Friday lunch. The service was very attentive and…read moreeveryone was nice and welcoming. They now have more appetizer options with their AYCE. We tried kimchi stew and cheese corn. We went with option A and, although overall good, the quality of the meat will be comparable to the price tag and the fact that this is an AYCE.

Good k bbq spot with lots of meat choices and sides. Quite a good deal in lunch special. It was…read moresurprisingly there was not that many people there on a Friday. So we had good attentive service. The sauces they gave could of had a bit more seasoning but still usable. Most of the steak buts are just chuck so it's nothing much special.

I placed a order online and when I walked into the establishment to pick up my food I was NOT…read moregreeted by friendly employees. The ladies that were at the front counter looked at me with disgust as if I was some bum off the street. I even asked her why she looked at me in that manner. As the terrible interaction continue I informed her that I was picking up an order that I placed online and then she had the audacity to say that they don't do phone in orders or online orders. After repeating my name to her the other lady made her way over to what I'm guessing to be the staging area for to go orders and that's when she seen my name Total lack of customer service and I felt as if my business wasn't appreciated. If I had not paid online I would have turned around and walked out. From my visit I noted these short comings. 1. Lack of training, how do you not know that your company does online orders? 2.The greeting was one of the worst that I have ever encountered. No smile, no acknowledgement of me as a customer, but when people walk in as I was leaving and they looked liked her, everything changed. 3. The facial expression that she gave when I ask where do I pick up my order. I didn't get their name, but I was there around 3:19 - 3:23. It was 2 Hispanic girls , the one at the desk was the rudest one.. You all have cameras, you need to review them. I will sent this complaint to your corporate office as well.

The last time I've been to a Golden Corral was in 2019 in Puyallup, Washington. This location is…read moretraditionally huge and just the way I recall it in California. The one in Washington is small. I came in with my Austin family today 10/27/24. They were generous to treat me. Yayyyy!! The weekend lunch price is $14.29 per person. Senior citizens price is $13.29. We all go the sweet tea which is $2.99 each. The restaurant packed a pretty great crowd. An abundance of food and pastries, grill station, seafood station, salad bar and much more! They no longer have the chocolate fondue, however, what is offered are the chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate covered marshmallows and semi chocolate covered rice krispies. I ate a good amount of food and ended with desserts: cheesecake, banana pudding, bread pudding, churro, chocolate pudding and banana icee, strawberry icee mixed with vanilla ice cream. The icee machine scared the heck out of me as it sprayed the both icee'son my bowl. LOL! The servers were very nice and attentive. They picked up the used plates timely and provided refills when low. I would return back here when back in Austin.

There's nothing fine, nor Maharashtrian about the cuisine at Tulsi. We made the mistake of trusting…read morea few (probably paid) influencer videos on social media absolutely raving about this restaurant and decided to give it a try. There were barely any people on a Saturday night which made us feel a little apprehensive after stepping in. The restaurant was dimly lit and restrooms were dirty. We were a group of 4 people, two of whom are Maharashtrian and know what the food tastes like. Comments for individual dishes: Vada pav - Not served with Mumbai pav but slider buns which is as unauthentic as can be. Sabudana vada - Crispy, tasted good, served with sweet yogurt. Pithla bhari - The worst I have ever had. Pithla was too runny, bhakri was downright stale/unedible. Pomfret fry - Fish skin was burnt, but taste was better than some of the other dishes. Puran poli - It was super thin, barely any puran filling and seemed to have been served after quick heating rather than fresh, the edges were unedible. Saoji chicken curry - Too much garam masala Triple Schezwan fried rice - This was the best dish among all those we ordered. It was served with manchurian gravy. A humble request to the restaurant management - please serve edible, authentic Maharashtrian dishes or remove them from the menu rather than misleading people.

Large menu with lots of food originating from the Maharashtra state of India. However, there are…read moresome huge problems with both the food and service. Nothing stood out to me as amazingly delicious like some other Indian cuisine around Austin. The surmai fry had a piece of plastic on the plate (no it was not a bone). Ran out of the jhunka bakri so I ordered a kothimbir wadi which they had forgot. They also forgot my mango lassi. The buffet was not served during the time I was there but it seemed like just a small selection in the corner of the restaurant. I'm happy that a place like this is in Austin, but the service was so lackluster and the food was mediocre so I couldn't imagine myself going back.