Check County Health violations before dinnng: http://apps.co.marion.or.us/RIS/Restaurant.aspx?rid=242542A
Seems this place continues to slide downhill. I use to eat here a couple of times a month but less often as the food seems to be less fresh and of lower quality. Yesterday I went for lunch and after getting a plate of food I noticed an unusual and offensive smell that was practically strong around the the front service station that to me and my dining partner smelled strongly of urine and spoiled food, possibly meat or fish.
I Know to expect loads of MSG in these sorts of places and asked the hostess what does not have MSG? and she barked "I don't know!" as I get a reaction to MSG I tried to stick to just steamed rice, Salmon, non-fish sushi, some fried egg stuff and rice noodles, but soon after I noticed the classic symptoms of MSG reaction. I would say the other dishes may be loaded with MSG and likely made from only the cheapest indigents. Dishes are heavy coated and seasoned, dry and on the whole not very fresh or healthy.
The dining, restroom, and service areas are becoming increasingly dirty and grimy, and from a couple views I glimpsed of the food preparation areas they appear pretty neglected as well. Right in the center of of the dining area was a 5 gallon bucket full of smelly and filthy water with an equally appalling mop in plain view. Right beside it was a chuck-full waste bin full of old refuse and dried food. My table and seat with plenty of food scraps under and around the booth.
Service used to be ok and now seems understaffed and neglectful, and can even be unfriendly.
Having lived in China and Southeast Asia I'm willing to overlook and even risk some marginal standards of cleanliness, and quality if the food or service is decent but China Buffet has fallen below what I would feel comfortable patronizing even in less modern areas of China.
The food seems totally unhealthy and the careless attitude of the staff and neglect of the most basic aspects of cleanliness are appalling, and this leaves me to question if anyone at Marion County Health is active in enforcing standards.
I looked online and see that China Buffet continually failed state health inspections. I do recall they were closed for weeks a year or two ago and I wonder if they were closed for health reason and as hey again failed only three months ago if they should be again. It appears that even on re-inspectinon after failure some of the same "CRITICAL" issues still remain.
3/15/2012
Violation = 35A VIOLATION OF SECTION 6-501.111C *CRITICAL* The presence of insects, rodents, and other pests is not minimized or controlled, specifically:
10 dead roaches by dishwasher. Raid spray present nearby. Raid in sushi area.
Violation = 01M VIOLATION OF SECTION 3-202.18 *CRITICAL* Shellstock is not properly labeled or tagged, specifically: No tags present for oysters. Tags not kept for 90 days, no record keeping system.
Violation = 12D VIOLATION OF SECTION 2-301.14 *CRITICAL* Food employees are not washing their hands as often as necessary, specifically: Employee scraped soiled dishes in dining room then handled clean silverware and placed on table.
3/22/2012
Violation = 03G VIOLATION OF SECTION 3-501.16 *CRITICAL* Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: Walk-in cooler is holding at 48F. According to PIC walk in was observed not holding temp yesterday. Oyster 48F; Chicken 48F; Salmon 48F; Mussels 48F.
Violation = 07A VIOLATION OF SECTION 3-302.11 *CRITICAL* Raw or ready-to eat food is not properly protected from cross contamination, specifically: Raw shrimp over peppers in walk-in cooler. Raw meats over sauces in walk-in cooler.
6/5/2012
Violation = 03G VIOLATION OF SECTION 3-501.16 *CRITICAL* Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: Filling in sushi refrigerator 46F. Raw meats in reach in refrigerator across from woks 46F. Cut melon, crab salad on buffet line 44F.
Violation = 41C VIOLATION OF SECTION 7-201.11 *CRITICAL* Poisonous or toxic materials are not properly separated or located, specifically: Can of WD40 on prep surface along with raw chicken being cut.
12/16/2011
Violation = 20H VIOLATION OF SECTION 4-602.11 *CRITICAL* Food-contact surfaces are not cleaned between different raw animal foods, between raw to ready-to-eat foods, or as frequently as necessary,
12/21/2010
Violation = 07A VIOLATION OF SECTION 3-302.11 *CRITICAL* Raw or ready-to eat food is not properly protected from cross contamination, specifically: Raw chicken stored above ready to eat foods in Sushi prep area
Violation = 11D VIOLATION OF SECTION 2-401.12 *CRITICAL* Food employees experiencing persistent discharges from the eyes, nose or mouth are improperly working in the establishment, specifically:Employee coughed directly on raw chicken did not cover mouth read more