Great Taste Buffet

Food was hot and very fresh! Loved the variety. Staff were also very kind and helpful. I thought…read morethe food was definitely above average for a buffet (the peanut chicken was top tier!) and very delicious. Quiet ambiance, soft music makes it a great place to dine quietly solo or casually with others. There's so many varying reviews because buffets in general can honestly be hit or miss depending on the time of day, but around 5pm on a Tuesday they were on their A-game! I'll definitely come back!

When I first started going to this place, give them a five star now it's horrible if the manager…read moreis not there the Mexican workers don't give a crap they won't fill the bar. I asked her when I got there at 2 o'clock. I asked the Waitress. She said she'd tell him at 2:15. I asked the Mexicans up there would you fill the bar well they weren't feeling that they were looking at it and they said changing soon I said it's 215. It doesn't change till 330. You're gonna let us sit empty for an hour and a half cause I've been asking since 2 o'clock well I started taking pictures and that kind of got him motivated because they knew I was mad. I had asked for shrimp up there. They never got it so I went and had it done on the grill he half ass sloped some teriyaki on it as he was done with it and handed it to me because he was not happy with me. I'm sure because they're always like that when you ask him to cook something I just don't know what's happened to this place. I hate to go in there if the lady manager is not there. She is so sweet and she makes sure they stay on top of things, but if she's not there, it's gonna be a crapshoot.! But the waitress is usually always nice!

Big place

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India Garden

3.9(88 reviews)

2.8 mi

I thought it was really good! You might not expect it from the outside, but the interior of the…read morerestaurant is pretty classy. I was there for dinner on a weeknight, and while there were a few takeout/delivery orders that came through, I was the only dine-in customer, and the man who served me was extremely courteous. I ordered their vegetable malai kofta, plain naan, and Indian tea. I'm pretty sure what I was kadhi kofta instead of malai kofta; the gravy tasted like tangy savoury kadhi rather than creamy malai gravy. I'm not upset about the mistake because this is actually what I would've ordered, but I didn't see it on the paper menu. Anyway, the dish was very flavourful and the medium hot was actually medium hot - no watered down spice level here! Good naan, soft and charred in the right places. The food was reasonably priced and portioned generously. Cumin rice was included with the entree. The Indian tea (chai) was strong, and I felt like the tea itself was actually of good quality, but it was served sweetened and it was too sweet for me. I prefer chai unsweetened but don't mind some tasteful sweetness, but theirs was really strong. It was also pretty small, almost cutting chai size, and didn't come out until I was almost done eating. The tea wasn't expensive, but not so inexpensive that I was expecting it to be so small. Definitely would visit again. The hours are a little weird - they open at 2:30 pm and close between 1 am-2:30 am depending on the night. It would be nice if they were open at normal lunch time, but on the bright side, they're open during the mid-afternoon window when most restaurants close between lunch and dinner and stay open late when most everything else still open is fast food.

My first experience with Indian food in Bloomington. Friendly staff. Food was great and plenty…read morespicy for me as regular. I was most surprised by the portions. Plenty food for two

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Ocean Sports Bar & Indian Restaurant

4.0(20 reviews)

2.5 mi

Elevated to a Five Star. Several reasons why…read more First, the food is really good. We've had several dishes here and all have been very very good. They don't arrive quickly, but they're worth the wait. Secondly, there's a good variety of both vegetarian and meat dishes. Several were tried, including curries as well as tandoori. All were good. Thirdly, this is formal dining, and served correctly. Not plastic plates, not table service in a crowded noisy venue. Although it's a "sports bar", there is no cacophony of noise, although the monitors are distracting. Also distracting is the fact that the Edison lights sit low, and those seated can see these bulbs across their vision too easily. It's actually quieter than its competition, and there is stiff competition. Service is good and not overbearing, also not distracted by whatever the waiter/waitress is looking at on their phones. Parking is downtown, and therefore horrific on a good day, but there's a parking garage nearby. Recommended without reservation.

Great Happy Hour drink specials and a full bar. $4 High Noon. Wonderful service and clean dining…read moreroom area. The place was slammed with take out orders. I like sitting at the bar or in a booth. Chicken Tikka Masala Medium with Garlic Nann is an easy go to. I recommend trying g the Korma and they have many vegan and vegetarian options.

Chicken Chili Fry

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Chai

Taste Of India

3.7(280 reviews)

2.7 mi

This updated review is still mostly based on the buffet. I've been to the buffet a handful of…read moretimes, and gotten dinner service once. It's not bad food, and some of the items are great, but particularly on my most recent buffet trip, I felt like the curries were the most Midwesterenized take on Indian food you can get, like they've had the pizazz sucked out of them. Out of all the curries on the Sunday buffet, the only ones that really satisfied my craving were the malai soya chaap (this one was great, with big, tender pieces of chaap and a rich gravy) and the saag paneer (theirs is not like any other version of the dish that I've had, but I've come to like it for what it is). The rest of the curries (and this goes for other visits too) were just very stewlike, and the gravy on the shahi paneer was the thinnest I've ever seen. Aside from the underwhelming curries, the other buffet food was fine, but nothing else stood out. I've only tried the saag choley and chai a la carte. Again, the saag dish had kind of an nontraditional texture, but it was good. I ordered spicy and got way more flavour than you get out of any of the buffet dishes. Someone in my group ordered the chili cheese naan, and I didn't have any, but it looked delicious and he said it was great. The a la carte chai was also slightly better than the buffet chai, a little richer. The buffet chai didn't do much for me, but I'd get the a la carte chai again. The pros of the buffet are that you get to try a large variety of comforting dishes for a very good price: $15 with card or $14 with cash. It's very vegetarian-friendly with a wide variety of veg dishes. If possible, go for the Sunday buffet, which is the same price but includes a slightly expanded food selection and drinks (mango lassi and chai). The waiters are polite and keep the buffet stocked. The cons are that it can be very crowded inside (but the patio is more comfortable when weather allows) and the Midwesternness of it. But if you have unadventurous eaters, it might work for them. The place is very popular so evidently it's working for someone. Dinner service is a little better but I still don't think this is the place for very authentic Indian.

It's still the best Indian cuisine in Bloomington…read more Took friends this evening; great food. Oddly, service was yawning at best, and it wasn't crowded. We've also noticed that the carryout portions are larger than the dining portions, all the way around (naan is the same size). It was great; we sat outdoors, and paid cash, because there is a discount. Yeah, we save dimes where we can-- they add up. Tough to go wrong here.

Inside the restaurant.

Vegetable Pakora, Chana Masala, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Pakora, Garlic Naan, Butter Naan

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Amrit India Restaurant

3.8(158 reviews)

2.5 mi

IU is lucky to have this so close to campus! Best Indian in btown. Consistent friendly service,…read morefood is reasonably priced and delicious. If you like Indian food def try it!

Party of four. Saturday night after NK. Place was packed with a line, but we arrived at the last…read moretable for four. We expected medium chaos, and were happily surprised. Orders were mainstream, Malai Kofta, Mushroom Saag, Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka. A side order of vegetable pakora was really good. The Malai Kofta, usually a brown curry with kofta balls, was instead, an orange curry; my partner said it was fine, if different than most we've tried. My Mushroom Saag was five stars. The other diners like their offerings. Food came quickly, an amazing feat given the sheer traffic and line waiting. And there came the only rub. They were a bit insistent about getting our plates and flipping our table. Didn't feel good. No, we weren't dawdling, just getting rushed. Bad idea, and cost them a star. We're happy they've improved from our prior experiences. They were once our go-to Indian Food in Bloomington, then fell from grace. They're improving. They need to take a chill pill, however. Grace under pressure is a desirable skill.

The restaurant.

Hyderabadi chicken biryani and yogurt

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Rasamalai

Mr Pot Hot Pot

3.6(51 reviews)

4.2 mi

I've never had hot pot before and this was so fun! It's definitely an experience. First you check…read moreout the menu and pick out your broth, they have a variety of options. It's all you can eat so then you pick your meat, base, and veggies. We chose almost all of the meat options (split between 3 people) and then we tried the rice noodles and potato noodles. We also tried a variety of veggies. After ordering you can make your own sauce! They have many add ins to make your perfect sauce which was really fun. Then out comes of the pot and he showed us how to turn on our burner. Service was awesome. The first thing they asked was if we had tried hot pot before and when we said no they explained the whole process which was so helpful and helped us make the most of our experience! After we ate most of our food, the waiter asked if we needed anything else and we ordered a couple more things that we wanted seconds of. Overall a really fun experience!

This place gets 4 stars for food, 2 stars for service and 1 star for the HIDDEN 18% service fee!!…read moreI'm fuming about this! We had already promised our child that we would take them and their friends there so we couldn't leave once we found out. But I'll never go back due to this deceptive practice. As for the service, we told our server it was our first time there. She didn't explain anything to us at all. We had to figure out how the warning plate worked, we had to figure out how to order, we only figured out that there was a little bar with extra sauces and other toppings when we were almost done. Honestly, just a very disappointing experience overall, that cost us over $150 by the time the service charge and tip were figured in (yes, we still tipped 20% - we're not monsters). we didn't even get any drinks. Never again.

Lobster ball, meat balls, baby corn, tree eat (black mushroom), cauliflower, mushrooms, squid, and quail eggs.

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Beef and pork!

Anyetsang Little Tibet Restaurant

4.2(225 reviews)

2.8 mi

Momos, when done well, always hit the spot. They are definitely done well here. I had those and the…read moretraditional stew dish. I was pretty much alone in the restaurant on the Monday early evening, and the food arrived quickly. The staff are friendly and polite. They have some outdoor seating as well. I was only on campus for an event but if I lived there locally I would frequent this place. If you're reading this trying to decide whether to try it... you should.

I really like Little Tibet! I have tried all sorts of stuff from the menu and I think the dumplings…read moreand the Thai are the best choices. Their vegetarian dumplings are all tasty but each is a little different. I've only tried the steamed so far because I really like the tenderness of the steamed version. The dumplings come with soy sauce and chili sauce for dipping, which are not optional - you need to dip them for the best experience. The chili sauce isn't too hot, so you can and should be generous with it. The Tibetan tea is interesting - it's a smooth milk tea, kind of like a milder version of Indian chai, but it does have its own unique taste that I can't totally put my finger. Other drinks are all good too, thought some aren't exactly as you might expect. The iced Indian tea is a little milky for my taste but the hot version is stronger. The Thai iced coffee is great but it's less sweet than the usual ones (not inherently good or bad, just depends on your preference). The mango lassi tasted closer to mango juice, but it was really refreshing. All of the food is kind of different from the usual restaurant style food from the various cuisines represented on the menu; it feels more like home cooking, so more subtle flavours, less salty and a little lighter, but very wholesome and hearty. The hotter spice level comes from a chili paste they add, and I recommend getting at least a level 2 (level 1 is no spice), because the chili paste also flavours the dish and level 2 is still pretty mild. The people are very kind and I love the calming atmosphere. I have seen them get busy in the evening on weekends, but usually you can count on being able to get a table.

Inside

Salad, lentil soup, iced chai

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Inside

Lucky Express

4.3(195 reviews)

2.7 mi

Stopped by here for some take out on the way back from a trip, and it did not disappoint. First, I…read morewant to say that it is CASH ONLY. This was not made clear anywhere online that I saw, so it was lucky we had cash on us. The interior is pretty simple with some seating. The parking lot is not the greatest. There are several small businesses located in the same strip and less than 10 parking spots. The food was good. I will say that it is very much not Americanized Chinese. Which is good, however, the spice levels were far beyond what is typical for the dishes I normally get. It was so good but so, so spicy. The chili chicken had me SWEATING. So delicious, but I wasn't able to actually taste anything after the first 4 bites, haha.

I got food delivered using Door Dash. The General Tso was amazing! Very flavorful and crispy. The…read morechicken lo mein was soooo good! Portions were huge! I ate off it for 3 meals. Also, please get the pork eggrolls. They were delicious!

Exterior

Chili Chicken, Bokchoy with Garlic, House Special Lo Mein, 6 Piece Crab Rangoon, 2 Piece Spring Rolls

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China Star Restaurant

3.4(56 reviews)

3.6 mi

Solid food, decent selection and all for a reasonable price. Was asked for a tip by one of the…read morebussers which I didn't think was very professional, especially for a buffet.

My friend and I love coming here, as it's probably the best Chinese buffet location in Indiana. For…read more2 people at around 1pm was $24. We got a decent amount of food (teriyaki chicken, chicken on a stick, vegetable lo mein, fried rice, etc.) All of it tasted amazing! Would definitely recommend this place!

Chicken in a stick, potatoes, and sweet and sour chicken

Vegetable lo mein, chicken on a stick, dumplings, and sugar puffs

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My dessert selections

The Tudor Room

3.6(37 reviews)

3.0 mi

This is mediocre university slop wearing a fake tuxedo…read more I'll give them some credit for the food being generally edible and even having a decent flavor (despite the mushy buffet texture), and I guess the atmosphere is fine. The waitstaff seemed very confused by us wanting hot tea. However, I had a very upset stomach within 2 hours. Not quite a "1-star" horrific stomach, but it was unpleasant enough, and the food bad enough, that I will avoid returning.

I've checked out this room several times in passing, since I've started my job as an Alumni…read moreCounselor and have a majority of my students at IU. Finally, during my spring trip to see my alumni, I had a chance to stop in for lunch, and treat one of them to lunch as well. It was a pleasant experience! Once we sat down we were greeted and our drink orders. Then we checked out the buffet, and for a buffet, it is pretty tasty! I had a salad, polenta, pasta, and some chicken (I didn't have breakfast, please don't judge) and I loved that they had tiny desserts, cheese cakes, and other tasty treats! I enjoyed myself, so did my IU student, I hope I had the opportunity to treat more of my students to a meal here during their time as IU students.

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Tudor Room IU

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Ben M.

0

1

0

2 years ago

Absolutely phenomenal! Great Taste Buffet exceeded all my expectations in every possible way. From the moment I walked in, the welcoming atmosphere and the friendly staff made me feel right at home. The array of Asian dishes was nothing short of spectacular - everything from savory stir-fries to delectable desserts. The stir-fried dishes were bursting with flavors, perfectly cooked, and presented beautifully. Each bite was a delightful explosion of taste, showcasing the skill and care put into every dish. The range of desserts was the perfect ending to an amazing meal. What truly sets Great Taste Buffet apart, though, is their impeccable customer service. The staff was attentive, courteous, and always ready to assist. They made sure my dining experience was flawless, from start to finish. Great Taste Buffet is a gem that I highly recommend to anyone looking for an exceptional dining experience. I can't wait to return and indulge in their delightful offerings again! read more

Adam L.

0

1

0

2 years ago

Three homies and I were in search of an all-you-can eat haven. Great Taste Buffet delivered. I don't think I've ever seen a better price : food ratio in my life. If I loved here I'd eat here every week. 10/10 Food. 10/10 Price. Kind lady at the front made sure we had an enjoyable experience. Had 4 plates plus desert. Final Review: 10/10. read more

Tavia P.

233

4

0

8 years ago

I don't understand why there are so many bad reviews. I've been to this restaurant many many times over the years and I've only ever had pleasant experiences and great food!!? read more

Ty S.

0

12

0

15 years ago

From the outside it looks a little rough but the food is really good.

Spynn C.

2

20

0

14 years ago

They could do so much better... I am disappoint.

Great Taste Buffet - chinese - Updated September 2026

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People who viewed Great Taste Buffet also viewed

China Star Restaurant

3.4

(56 reviews)

Solid food, decent selection and all for a reasonable price. Was asked for a tip by one of the…read morebussers which I didn't think was very professional, especially for a buffet.

My friend and I love coming here, as it's probably the best Chinese buffet location in Indiana. For…read more2 people at around 1pm was $24. We got a decent amount of food (teriyaki chicken, chicken on a stick, vegetable lo mein, fried rice, etc.) All of it tasted amazing! Would definitely recommend this place!

Dragon Chinese Restaurant

3.3

(64 reviews)

the best General tso chicken I've ever had this is the first place I've ever had to in excellent…read moretaste and also great experience with the staff next time you want to go to this one

Dined in; party of two on a Saturday night…read more Upsides: Food was fast, and reasonably tasty. We ordered small portions of egg fried rice, chicken lo mein, crispy beans, and crab rangoon. Fresh from the wok. We noted the MSG and cornstarch. It was reasonably good Chinese-American food. Downsides: Had to wipe the table ourselves; it was pretty sticky. Prices we felt, were a little high, especially for the crab rangoon. They do MUCH carry-out/doorcash business at this location. Although the food was tasty, we're not compelled to return. The dining area has eight tables of four, sort of cafeteria-style. Someone said "cozy"; that person needs to get a new job in real estate. Shopping center parking.

Chow Bar

3.8

(125 reviews)

The quality of the food at this restaurant is consistently exceptional. The establishment maintains…read morean impressive level of cleanliness, which is evident even while observing the food preparation process. On multiple occasions, I have watched the chefs carefully prepare meals while diligently sanitizing their workspaces after each dish, ensuring a high standard of hygiene is consistently upheld. The menu offers an extensive and diverse selection, which I greatly appreciate. While I have several favorite dishes, I am continually encouraged to explore new options thanks to the wide variety available. The restaurant caters to a broad range of tastes, featuring not only American-style Chinese cuisine but also a rich selection of authentic Chinese, Korean, and Japanese dishes, along with a few American offerings. The staff is courteous and attentive, providing excellent service with every visit. The food is always served hot, flavorful, and in generous portions. There is often so much so that it is difficult to finish a meal in a single sitting. I confidently recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking a high-quality experience, and it has even earned the approval of our native Chinese friends, which speaks volumes about its authenticity and overall excellence.

Came for an early-ish dinner and it was pretty quiet. The service and atmosphere were both kind of…read morebare bones. There was no music so it was almost silent. I was had someone come to my table to take my order and bring my food but no one came by again after I got the food, so I went to the register to pay. Maybe a bit of a language barrier with the staff. I asked for jelly in my drink and got tapioca boba instead and generally felt like they didn't really understand what I was saying. I got a tofu rice bowl with miso sauce and a green milk tea with boba. The rice bowl was the perfect size for one meal, and there was a lot of tofu which made it filling. It was simple, with just the protein and sauce over steamed greens and rice, and I felt like it was pretty healthy. It didn't blow me away but it was good! The green milk tea was also good, strong but not too sweet. Some versions of the menu call it matcha but it very much tasted like green tea, not matcha. I think it was from a powder mix but that's fine. Reasonable prices. If I remember correctly, the rice bowl was about $13 and the boba was about $6 including the topping. I liked the food and would definitely eat here again.

China Wok

3.8

(18 reviews)

Food is always great, delicious! Sadly they don't offer dine-in anymore, but they do offer takeout!…read moreWe order every once in a while, it's mid priced I'd say. The reason I gave them 4/5 is because sometimes the customer service isn't great. They could get your order wrong, not understand you, be rude, or just not answer the phone at all. So that's not great but everything else I'd say is okay! 4 out of 5 Stars!

The food is mostly good and fresh. They have the best sweet n sour soup I've tasted and their…read morecrispy strips. The crab Rangoon is good and the spring rolls are the best.

Red

4.0

(92 reviews)

Having prepared Chinese for 30 years, the chef is exceptional. The place to go to try new foods…read more The pork intestines were crisp and flavorful. I tried this in China and Red is better. Pork belly in brown sauce great on white rice. I've been looking for scallion pancakes everywhere. These are the best. Don't be conservative go for crazy sounding things. No liquor, wine or beer but 6 different teas. Seated with Chinese students who crave real Chinese cuisine. Our go to place for food adventure. Service, one server, place order, chef cooks, enjoy! Ambiance- mom and pop, sit anywhere, paper towels for napkins, fork and spoon, the extensive menu is the thing. You can go every day for a month and never have the same thing twice but once you taste the food , you will want it again. Ding How!

Visiting Bloomington for the night. We decided to get dinner here. We got fried rice and special…read morelomein. Service was good and food was excellent! Fried rice was right up there with fancy places we been at. Noodles were delicious too. Highly recommend this place.

Lucky Express

4.3

(195 reviews)

Stopped by here for some take out on the way back from a trip, and it did not disappoint. First, I…read morewant to say that it is CASH ONLY. This was not made clear anywhere online that I saw, so it was lucky we had cash on us. The interior is pretty simple with some seating. The parking lot is not the greatest. There are several small businesses located in the same strip and less than 10 parking spots. The food was good. I will say that it is very much not Americanized Chinese. Which is good, however, the spice levels were far beyond what is typical for the dishes I normally get. It was so good but so, so spicy. The chili chicken had me SWEATING. So delicious, but I wasn't able to actually taste anything after the first 4 bites, haha.

I got food delivered using Door Dash. The General Tso was amazing! Very flavorful and crispy. The…read morechicken lo mein was soooo good! Portions were huge! I ate off it for 3 meals. Also, please get the pork eggrolls. They were delicious!

Uncle Wangs Allley

4.2

(27 reviews)

Easily the best authentic Chinese restaurant in Bloomington. The inside is spacious and has some…read moreroundtables for bigger parties. The server was quick to take our order and the food came out at a reasonable time. Food: The sweet and sour pork is so crispy and the sauce is well balanced. Normally, restaurants skimp out on the meat to make it crispier, but not here. I also really liked the fish stew. The fish was tender and the soup was a good combo of sour with a numbing spice sensation. I've also had the peking duck here, no picture, and it is great. Not as good as what you could get on the east coast or California, but it's close.

The food was absolutely fresh and delicious. Super authentic atmosphere and cuisine. Highly…read morerecommend

Mr Pot Hot Pot

3.6

(51 reviews)

I've never had hot pot before and this was so fun! It's definitely an experience. First you check…read moreout the menu and pick out your broth, they have a variety of options. It's all you can eat so then you pick your meat, base, and veggies. We chose almost all of the meat options (split between 3 people) and then we tried the rice noodles and potato noodles. We also tried a variety of veggies. After ordering you can make your own sauce! They have many add ins to make your perfect sauce which was really fun. Then out comes of the pot and he showed us how to turn on our burner. Service was awesome. The first thing they asked was if we had tried hot pot before and when we said no they explained the whole process which was so helpful and helped us make the most of our experience! After we ate most of our food, the waiter asked if we needed anything else and we ordered a couple more things that we wanted seconds of. Overall a really fun experience!

This place gets 4 stars for food, 2 stars for service and 1 star for the HIDDEN 18% service fee!!…read moreI'm fuming about this! We had already promised our child that we would take them and their friends there so we couldn't leave once we found out. But I'll never go back due to this deceptive practice. As for the service, we told our server it was our first time there. She didn't explain anything to us at all. We had to figure out how the warning plate worked, we had to figure out how to order, we only figured out that there was a little bar with extra sauces and other toppings when we were almost done. Honestly, just a very disappointing experience overall, that cost us over $150 by the time the service charge and tip were figured in (yes, we still tipped 20% - we're not monsters). we didn't even get any drinks. Never again.

Fish and Beef

3.0

(2 reviews)

Highly recommend! We tried the spicy Fish and Shrimp dual-pot, with super generous portion and…read moreauthentic taste. With the all-you-can-eat snacks, including tea-boiled eggs and dim sum, you cannot go wrong!

I went to try the lunch buffet and was extremely disappointed. Everything was pretty much out and…read morethey showed no effort in refilling any of the dishes (despite being there for an hour, none of the food was replenished). Any food that was there was barely warm and looked and tasted like it had been sitting out for a while. Terrible. Would NOT recommend especially with so many other good lunch buffet options in town.

Longfei

4.3

(164 reviews)