We've been to King Buffet countless times in the last 4 years we've lived in the area. This past Sunday we went to King with friends, because this is a place where you can satisfy every palate (we had a child in our group and were meeting a friend of our friend for the first time).
Our one complaint remains the same....NOTHING IS HOT. Food is lukewarm at best, so if you prefer HOT food, hot the hibachi. King Buffet has a great hibachi chef. He comes and goes from his post, so sometimes there's a 10+/- wait for him to return and start on preparing your food. Which is kind of gross, because all that time your plate is just sitting there, uncovered, waiting for the chef.
Anyhoo, selection of the Sunday buffet was excellent. There were the usuals (soup, ribs, green beans, pizza, fried rice, rice noodles, salmon, sushi, General Tso's and sesame chicken, egg rolls, wonton, dumplings, etc, etc, etc......!) as well as a variety of other choices. This day King had frog legs. I like to eat unusual things. And they were magnificent! Typically, if this particular fare is even available at a buffet, it tastes swampy. These frog legs were lightly battered and absolutely delicious.
Our group had chicken, beef, pork, fish and shrimp, green beans all around, mushrooms, salad, jell-o, ice cream, etc, etc, etc. We were finished eating and just chatting/catching up, when a woman approached our table. She was accompanied by 2 small, quiet children. The woman asked for money, she pointed to the cashier @ the entrance and said "They won't feed us." We politely declined her request and continued the conversation she interrupted, watching her as she went from table to table asking for money. Initially I thought staff wasn't aware of what she was doing, but I saw her approach a table occupied by 2 older gentlemen as the waitress was refilling their drinks and the waitress did NOTHING. The two older gentlemen took the woman and her sons to the register and paid for them to eat. How quickly things changed. Mom parked herself in a booth and the kids took off, RUNNING all over the restaurant. They both piled their plated high with food and took them back to the table. From there they grabbed plates @ the hibachi, loaded them up (I'm talking OVERFLOWING) and threw them down for the hibachi chef to prepare (these kids have been here before). The younger boy apparently changed his mind on his choices and RETURNED all of the raw food he'd selected to the respective containers with his BARE hands (they did not visit the restroom AT ALL, so I know their hands weren't clean - as if an unattended 5 year old would even use soap anyway.....). I alerted staff and they removed the containers of contaminated food. The boys went on to load up 2 more plates from the buffet hot tables and take them where Mom was sitting. The hibachi chef returned and prepared the food. About 10 minutes after the chef finished, one boy retrieved the hibachi food and took it to Mom's table. Both boys immediately returned to the hibachi and LOADED their plates with more food for the chef to cook. I should add, each time the boys SCREAMED across the restaurant to their mom, asking if she wanted eggs, rice, etc. So much for the silent beggars. My husband (6'2", 21 year retired disabled Army Veteran had had enough and approached the boys at the grill. He asked them if they were going to EAT all the food they'd loaded up, and told them it WASN'T OK to put it back if they changes their mind. From that point on, Mom (finally!) accompanied her children to the hibachi. Sad that my husband disciplining HER children was her only incentive to control her OUT OF CONTROL boys....
Anyway, between 5 hibachi plates and countless trips to the buffet, this LOUD uncouth family ate. Mom stayed seated except for one trip to the buffet and to accompany her sons to the hibachi on their 3rd load up (after my husband talked to them). And then? The woman asked for and received TAKE OUT CONTAINERS from the staff. She loaded up enough food for at least 4 days, and I'm being modest. I don't know about you, but I've yet to visit a buffet that allows patrons a "free doggy bag."
I don't know that I'll be back based on this one incident. The kid putting RAW food back with his BARE, UNWASHED hands disturbed me. That staff allowed a woman and 2 children to go from one table to another to solicit paying customers disturbed me. And that after this woman got her meals paid for, the restaurant afforded her the luxury of taking home 5 hibachi plates plus whatever else they loaded up on from the buffet.....I don't know. We were full price paying customers (party of 5) who had our Sunday upset by a raucous family who clearly meant more to staff than honest, well-tipping return customers.
On our way to King Buffet I happened to notice a different Chinese restaurant. I think we'll stop there next time, instead. Watch for my review to see if that's a worthwhile venture. read more
