Chef Canton — Restaurant in Colchester

Been going with friends for a couple of years. Food has always been great even though the service can be hit and miss. Havent been for a few months but went again last night and have now been put off going back. One good thing with an all you can eat is you get to try out different dishes. I love it as I always have my "usual" with a takeaway. I shared rice with my friend. One rice bowl was not enough for 2 people, 2 bowls too much. I also ordered noodles. My friend didnt want anyway but I couldnt finish the whole bowl myself. We ate all starters but left some main. First time since going we got told we are not allowed to leave leftovers and would be charged extra. She said she'd let us off this time but also said we shouldnt have ordered so much rice! I felt like I was a child being told off. Last thing I want to do is eat there again and worry throughout the whole meal that I wont finish. How is that enjoyable?! I hate wasted food and as they were funny about it I asked if I could take it home. They said I wasnt allowed but would obviously rather bin it! If Im going to spend £24 I would like to get my moneys worth as its more than I'd spend on a takeaway. If not I may as well go to a non all you can eat as at least I'll be charged for what I chose to order and any leftovers I wont be given the evil eye over and also have the option of taking it home. If they dont like it, maybe they need to do away with the all you can eat and make it a normal chinese, or do a serve yourself buffet so at least the customers can chose their own portion size (e.g. a taster of something new to try rather than be given a large bowl that could be wasted which they now dont like). It's not us who's over filling the dishes, as they chose the quantity that goes in the bowl to serve us. Like they say, if we want more we can order more! So maybe they should be dishing out smaller portions if wastage is an issue. It's a shame as the food is nice, but what was meant to be an enjoyable evening last night left a nasty taste in my mouth. I have now told my other friends who normally go there. They wont be rushing for a visit any time soon. So now you've lost more than one customer through this. Such a shame as it WAS...

Chef Canton isn’t just a restaurant – it’s an experience. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with a warm welcome and an atmosphere that feels both lively and inviting. What really sets Chef Canton apart, though, is the food.

Unlike your typical buffet, everything here is freshly cooked to order, which means every dish arrives piping hot, crisp, and packed with flavour. The variety is incredible – from silky smooth dim sum to perfectly spiced Szechuan dishes, sizzling beef, and the freshest stir-fried vegetables. The sweet and sour chicken is hands down the best I’ve ever tasted, with just the right balance of tangy and sweet. And don’t even get me started on the crispy duck pancakes – absolute perfection.

The portion sizes are generous, but because it’s all-you-can-eat, you can keep trying new things without any compromise on quality. The menu caters brilliantly to every taste, whether you love mild and comforting flavours or want to turn up the heat with something spicier.

On top of that, the service is outstanding. The staff are attentive, friendly, and genuinely make you feel looked after – nothing is ever too much trouble.

For value, quality, and taste, Chef Canton truly raises the bar. It’s not just the best all-you-can-eat Chinese in Colchester, it’s easily the best in the whole of the South of the UK. If you love Chinese food, you simply...

Visited here for a friends birthday back in August, this was my first time visiting an all you can eat Chinese buffet where the food is brought to the table and you can order as much as you like for one set price at £25. Was really impressed with the service, the staff were friendly and they were so level headed at the amount of dishes being ordered by everyone in the restaurant - they knew all the corresponding numbers to the dishes and didn't seem flustered at all! You don't have to order everything in one go either. The food portions were smaller than I expected but this actually works really well as it means that you don't have to worry about having loads left over before you order something else to try off the menu. I really liked the set up as I was able to order things I had never had before or was a little unsure on trying as I was able to share it with my friends. The food quality was excellent, I especially liked the chicken in honey sauce, chicken in lemon sauce (which tastes exactly like sugar and lemon pancakes!!!) and the salt and chilli chips. The satay chicken skewers and salt and chilli chicken wings were also very good. Slight downside is the food does go cold quite quickly unfortunately. I thought this was great value for money and I would definitely...