A truly unforgettable experience, without a doubt! Staying solo overnight in a nearby hotel, my penchant for Chinese buffets and the fact that it was Mother's Day led me to this place. Figured it would be dead, I mean what mom wants to eat at a Chinese buffet on the one day a year it's her choice, right?! Apparently I overestimated our dear South Philly moms! After the short walk from the hotel through the quaint Society Hill and Head House Square neighborhoods, I approached the strip mall that housed the restaurant and got my first clue what was in store for me. A hoard of people were gathered outside the front of the restaurant. Were they really waiting? At 5:30p on a Sunday? Mother's Day, really?! Indeed they were. Unwilling to wait even a couple minutes, I considered walking a few storefronts down to the Pho restaurant I passed but thought, well, maybe since it's just me and not mom and her whole extended family, I can get a seat. I was right and a harried hostess quickly found a two seater in the front corner for me. First off, it was packed. I give them credit for the modest effort made to at least acknowledge that there was still a pandemic going on but make no mistake, this was an all-you-can-eat COVID buffet, no if, ands or buts about it. If even just one of the dozens of patrons had COVID we all were gonna have it. Live and let live, I suppose! I chuckled as I approached the buffet and watched people fumble with the plastic gloves provided that were depleted almost as fast as the plates. There was no order to the rotation around the buffet, just hands everywhere, some gloved, some not, some people masked, others not, nearly hysterical in their frenzied efforts to load as much as possible on their plates despite the fact that you can return as many times as you want, hence the whole buffet concept. Areas where you were most likely to catch an elbow were, of course, the seafood items: some type of crab, mussels, shrimp, crawfish and the requisite cheesey crab meat. There were your classics: sesame chicken, general tso's, chicken on a stick, pot stickers, beef and broccoli, among others. All were on par with your favorite local takeout joint. There was the "American section" as I like to call it: pizza, garlic toast, wings, ribs, etc. There was an attempt at sushi rolls which was a nice touch. A very sad and very overcooked rib roast sat untouched with no carver in sight next to some surprisingly good crispy duck. I think if they put shovels in the lo mein and fried rice, people would have gladly taken shovel fulls of both. The easiest area to access, of course, was the salad bar with the usual iceberg and accompaniments, jellos, fruits. There was a dessert table but once I saw all the kids swarming around, hands on everything, I quickly blocked it from my mind. As I sat and enjoyed modest helpings of this and that, I couldn't help but gaze in awe at the circus around me. Eating by yourself, without the distraction of conversation, though a little lonely, allows you to take in the true spectacle that is a Chinese buffet during the dinner rush. I wondered what the staff, dutifully racing around clearing half-full plates and refilling sodas with the stereotypical efficiency you'd expect at a Chinese buffet, thinks about all these overweight Americans stuffing their faces with calarie-laden food that, although called "Chinese," clearly resembles nothing they knew growing up or even now as evidenced by their tiny physiques. They see dollar signs, no doubt. Good on them, they're living the American dream! I put down a few plates and went to pay my bill at the front desk which was, as expected, fast and easy. I walked out as throngs continued to pour in, unphased by the now 20+ minute wait. I overheard conversations that I assume are typical in this part of town. I was surprised I hadn't beared witness to a brawl over crab legs or a shouting match over proper mask wear. Overall a perfectly fine meal that, at least on this evening, came with a free entertainment, compliments of South Philly. A truly American experience! read more