Empire Buffet

Locals recommended this restaurant when I asked about Chinese buffet. We hadn't had buffet for…read more3yrs, since Covid19. We were happy with the Flaming Grill. It is a HUGE place, but it was lightly visited while we were there at 5pm on a Thursday. There were ~5 islands of hot food, 1 of cold w salads, a sushi area, an icecream novelty case, 4-6 soups. There was a Hibatchi area in back corner but I didn't try it. There were many types of breaded, fried, sauced chicken...all a bit dried out. The coconut shrimp was a little dried out. The green beans were tasty but limp. The rice noodles were a bit plain. I did not try the fish nor roast beef. BF said the pork was dry but good. But the SHELLFISH was really exceptional. Clams of different sizes, muscles in sauce, cold shrimp, hot shrimp, shrimp boil. My BF was like a bear in honey! Everything was clean but the place smelled oddly of petroleum? Service was quick and we felt relaxed. The bill was OK. Yes, we will come here again, when in the mood for Chinese buffet!

Nice interior and speedy attentive service. I found the lo mein and rice to be pretty bland. I went…read moreright when they open so everything was fresh and hot. The winner for me was the hot and sour soup. It was delicious. The chicken and veggies were decent. Wish there was some more spicy options. Clean interior and bathrooms. Sushi and hibachi options.

For two dinners might as well go to Golden Coral a lot cheaper better food

The well loved table

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Price for 2 on the weekend. Flaming Grill

Smoke Incorporated BBQ

5.0(5 reviews)

2.1 mi

Did exactly what we needed- Showed up on time with delicious food. Definitely recommend.read more

I had Smoke Inc Cater my 40th Birthday and can't say enough good things. The food was excellent,…read morethey provided everything my guests needed and everyone walked away full and happy.

Smoked Up BBQ Beans

Salt Potatoes and Wedding Cake

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Baby Back Ribs

China Pavilion

3.8(70 reviews)

6.6 mi

3.5 stars is a LIE more like FIVE !! 10/10 best Chinese spot I've been to. Affordable, delicious…read moreand just how I like it. I usually get takeout however I sat in 1 time and it was a beautiful experience. They bring out the food on beautiful silver plates you feel like royalty ! The ladies there are so nice. This is my forever spot and I will never go anywhere else!

We went in at about 3:30pm Saturday (odd day as we missed lunch and were hungry for an early…read moredinner.) Open sign was lit / door unlocked and We were greeted promptly as we walked in. There was no one else in the restaurant but I didnt think much of it as this is an off time to eat a meal. We were seated with menus, promptly provided with water and a fried noodle snack dish. I asked for a menu in Chinese (Mandarin) as English is my Chinese Wife's second language but was told they did not have one (NP most American-Chinese restaurants do not but is worth asking i.e. The Red Chili restaurant in the same area provides a traditional Chinese menu). As soon as I started to order, the server interrupted me and told me that the cook had left on an errand and would not be back for at least 30 minutes and asked us if we mind waiting; she did offer to make some appetizers herself but there was enough uncertainly to cause us to decline and leave. My wife use to own a restaurant in Changchun (China) she agreed that the first bad decision was advertising they are open with no chef, the second silly decision was to wait so long before telling us. There are a lot of good reviews so might give it a second try at a different time.

Lunch buffet

Sticky rice and chicken

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Front entrance

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill

2.9(99 reviews)

1.7 mi

Food was very good, hot and diverse but the servers were not attentive for beverages. I did see…read moremanager address this issue. Would eat there again good for groups with diverse preferences. Hubbie enjoyed steak and cornbread while i enjoyed okra, sweet potatoes, chicken salad rotessarie chicken and stuffing.

I'm not normally a fan of buffets and was kinda dreading coming here for lunch on my bus trip but I…read morewas pleasantly surprised after my visit. The buffet areas were clean and the staff wore gloves when serving. We were a large group so they gave us our own room. We had several waitresses so our plates were taken away promptly and drink orders filled right away. I chose the unsweetened iced tea and it was perfect. I tried samples of several things but my favorites were the steak (cooked medium rare) and salad. The salad bar is amazing with so many choices and the steak was a pleasant surprise and tasty. The deserts were just ok but the soft serve ice cream was the best for me. Altogether a great experience and for someone who dislikes buffets I will be back so that is a tribute to how good a job they are doing here at this location.

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Raj Saffron House

4.9(134 reviews)

2.5 mi

We love Indian food and have heard such great things about Saffron House we had to come try for…read moreourselves, and so glad we did! Everything from service to presentation to taste was amazing. It was very quiet inside on a Sunday afternoon but it was nice. Our waiter, might've been the owner, was so kind and caring. He would explain the dish or ingredients to us and brought us pamdam complimentary to start. Everything we tried was very flavorful, made so well, and the presentation was beautiful with edible flower and glitter a top all the dishes we ordered. Their menu is also very big and would love to come back to try some more of their dishes.

A friend was really excited to try Raj Saffron after seeing the wonderful reviews. Her first…read moreexperience with Indian food was not so good, but I had been here before and told her it was really good. She was looking for advice from me, but I was very happy when the owner came by and said he could select our food and we trusted him.He asked us a few questions about spice level, proteins, etc. He said he would bring us an appetizer, a chicken entree and a vegetable entree. He also brought us 2 hot chai drinks. We agreed it was the best chai we've ever had....it was mildly sweet and the spices were perfect. We were brought as an appetizer...fried cauliflower with a Manchurian sauce which was sweet, mildly spicy and a touch sour..... perfect. We got 4 beautiful veggie balls..... finely minced veggies with paneer in a very creamy sauce. The taste was a little sweet and when eaten on the super hot and fresh naan it was delicious. Our last dish was chicken kebabs, I believe made in the tandoori oven with spices and served with a beautiful sweet, creamy tomato sauce. We didn't ask for dessert but we're brought a complementary rice pudding to share... heavenly! We were checked on several times and water glasses were kept filled. We are both big water drinkers. I was so impressed with both service and food. If I could rate it more than 5 stars, I would do it!!

Chicken Korma

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Chai Tea

KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot

4.0(98 reviews)

0.9 mi

•$$$

You can't go wrong with this spot. I couldn't eat as much as I wanted to, but I was able to try a…read morefew different meats, and everything was delicious. I think the marinated beef was my favorite, especially when dipped in the sweet soy sauce. It was packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. The variety of meats and sauces made for a great dining experience, and I'll definitely be back to try more next time.

I really enjoyed everything about my first time coming here! Everything was delicious and fun! Our…read morewaitress was super kind and gave us a walk through and guided us through the experience since it was our first time. She was also so sweet to write down everything on a sticky note that had anything I'm allergic to which is always appreciated. We did both Kpot and BBQ and glad we got to do both. I really enjoy the buffet/all you can eat style since you're in total control of how much or how little you choose, especially when trying something new. I did try a lot of new things while here and I think it's the perfect way to do it! I made a ramen bowl and also grilled a lot of different meats - our favorite was the spicy pork belly! We got up for seconds, thirds, and fourths bc it was so good!! There is also a section of creating your own sauce which was fun too! You could definitely make a variety of different sauce creations, maybe some sweet, some spicy, some more or less flavorful, there are no limits! They also had a guide above the sauce line to help you follow the ingredients if you're looking for some inspiration. I would definitely come back again! I wish they had more dessert options.

Entrance

BBQ cooking - pork belly and ribeye

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Restaurant front

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

4.3(2.7k reviews)

4.2 mi

What a hidden gem! Santiago's Garden serves incredible Dominican comfort food. The fried chicken…read morewas perfectly golden, juicy, and flavorful, and the drinks were refreshingly authentic. The garden atmosphere with fairy lights makes it such a fun and unique spot for dinner with friends. Warm service and delicious food. I will definitely be returning!

Came here a couple of months ago on a work trip. The last time I was here was about 2 years ago and…read morethis place is still amazing. The food and atmosphere is a vibe. My first time here, I played it safe with the food. This time I had a sampler and it will be my go to if I ever come back. It was a packed house and we had a large group but the waiters made sure we had everything we needed. I don't normally suggest BBQ places for dinner, but this place is a must try.

The bar

A great mixed plate with ribs, pork belly and greens.

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Chicken Wing sampler - Devil's Duel BBQ sauce!

Texas de Brazil

We took my son and a couple of his friends yesterday for my son's BDay.The food is always good and…read moreit has a fun atmosphere. The three teenage boys like it because the food just keeps coming. I do love the salad bar and like I said the food is good. If you have never been you should always try it, you will eat your moneys worth!

This was a real special treat. My sister and I stopped here before she dropped me off at the…read moreSyracuse Airport. We didn't have a lot of time , and we let the people at the front know and everyone took amazing care of us. We got the delicious salad bar very crisp fresh greens and other amazing sides. When they came around for the meats we let them know to just stick to certain foods like all the steak for me personally. Everything was cooked to perfection! They really crushed it and took care of us so well the whole time. I really enjoyed my visit. And when I'm back flying to go see my family in upstate New York I will be sure to go here again. It really is an amazing space for gluten free eating people. My sister and I both are so most of what they serve is perfect even down to the rolls which were so delicious and gluten free - wow I was so impressed! Thank you Texas De Brazil the best way for my sister and I to have our last little moment together before I flew back to Denver

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Firekeepers Restaurant

4.0(82 reviews)

7.2 mi

Firekeepers is an amazing little gem of a diner. The breakfast menu has some great food options. I…read morereally like the Frittata: $11.75 Scrambled eggs, sausage, peppers , onions, mushrooms, broccoli,pepperoni , and home fries. Served with toast. The portions are large, prices are great and has a diner like atmosphere. The waitstaff is attentive. And friendly.. just remember that they are a cash only establishment.

Dined with my brother and our wives for lunch. Ordered the fried haddock sandwich with…read moremac-n-cheese. So good. Next time I'll order up a hot turkey sandwich. So tempting. Support local. Go here.

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8 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Jim F.

9 years ago

We have been eating here for years and have always found the food and service decent for the price. The restaurant appears to have changed hands though as we no longer see any familiar faces. The change has NOT been a positive one and quality has declined noticeably. We stopped in for dinner last Thursday evening at 6 PM and this proved to be the last straw. The food was worse than awful. Every dish from every buffet table was cold and stale. The Pepper Chicken (usually a favorite) was greasy. The Lo Mein was dried out and disgusting as was the fried rice which was actually crunchy. During the course of our meal, two waitresses at opposite ends of the restaurant were hollering loudly (in Chinese) back and forth because evidently, it would have required too much effort to communicate privately. In the 35 minutes we spent in the restaurant, not a single employee from the kitchen (or anywhere else) refreshed or replenished ANYTHING on the buffet. When we went to pay the check, the young woman at the register (engaged in a cell phone conversation) took my credit card, presented me with a receipt which required a signature, took the signed receipt and returned my card - all without uttering a single word. After a few moments passed, she finally noticed that we weren't leaving and halted her phone call long enough to look enquiringly in our direction - whereupon I asked if she was the manager. She finally spoke and indicated that she was the manager and asked if she could be of help. I explained that we had been coming there for years and that our experience that evening was the worst we had ever encountered. I politely explained that all the food was cold and stale. Her response was total and complete silence with a look that resembled a deer caught in the headlights. When it became apparent that she would offer no apology or explanation or even acknowledge our complaint, we turned to leave and heard her resume her cell phone call before we were out the door. If you were on the verge of starvation, desperate for a meal and this place is your only alternative - please, do yourself a favor and go hungry. read more

Richard T.

8 years ago

Try and avoid this buffet unless you are partial to food poisoning and wish to spend your afternoon on the toilet either sitting or barfing . The food when they first opened was decent but then the city riff raff took it over . Oh word if you do go avoid their version of New England Clam Chowder . Think of flour and milk heated with no seasoning in it and if you find a clam in it save it it might not be a clam . People from the city and i mean the inner city who either do not have clean clothes or deodorent . You will be dining in close proximity to some . Even the oriental music does not drown out the nearby conversations . Which on one particular visit last year a woman was describing in great detail her orgasms from the night before with children at table . And her kids proceeded to pick boogers out of their noses and then physically touch food when i mentioned this to the wait staff they removed it thru one door and brought it out another sort of smoothed over so to speak . I have reported them to health dept . Unless of course you like mucus in your food read more

Mark E.

12 years ago

I love this buffet! :) First, I'd have to say that the customer service is overall better and friendlier than in other Chinese restaurants that I've been to in the Syracuse area. Also, their food selection is a little different from the other restaurants I've been to, having a wide variety of different dishes that you won't find in other places (among these I recommend the peanut-butter chicken and Black Pepper chicken), as well as the basic Chinese and American dishes you would expect to find, all well-prepared. The restaurant has also been very clean when I've gone into it, and I've always had a good experience in this restaurant. I recommend it to anyone interested in trying it! read more

Danial H.

14 years ago

It's good Chinese buffet that we try in our trip when we passing from here . The price of the buffet is 7$ for lunch and they have seafood , beef , chicken , sushi , ... read more

Kate M.

9 years ago

Ewww please do not eat here. My family has gotten sick and they are constantly in the paper for health violations.

Da L.

10 years ago

Delicious food. And the service was great. Fair prices. It was worth it. I will eat here again.

Angel L.

4 years ago

chicken was raw class mate threw up smh never again

Maria W.

4 years ago

got food poisoning after eating here

Empire Buffet - chinese - Updated September 2026

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Lin Li's Chinese Restaurant

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Pretty good for a Syracuse area greaser. If you're in the mood for good "bad Chinese food," look no…read morefurther.

Beijing Chinese Food

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Really good and cheap take out Chinese. Exactly what I want and some of the better tasting I've…read morefound around town. The orange chicken and Singapore noodles were my favorite. Dumplings were a little too doughy for me and the springs rolls were good though could use a little more filling. Definitely my go-to Chinese food place.

We order Chinese food once every couple of months and since our usual place was closed for the day…read morewe decided to try Beijing on a whim. Very glad we did! First off, this place is largely a take out spot, they have a couple small tables. The interior is what you'd expect from a take out spot, nothing super appealing but fine. They could clean it up a bit and take down the old entree pictures up top that are discolored and decades old. There is a small step down from front door to side walk, that can take you off guard if not aware. The service was nice and efficient even on a busy Friday evening. The food was excellent. The lo mein was cooked perfectly, not too oily and firm texture. The house fried rice was excellent, a lot of shrimp. My spouse raved about the general tsos chicken, which he liked a bit better than our usual spot. The prices are more than reasonable, we'll definitely be back soon.

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