Yao buffet-sushi-grill — Restaurant in Asheville

LET ME TELL Y'ALL WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!!! I AM LIVID!!!!!! Was at YAO'S CHINESE BUFFET on Smokey Park Hwy. Arrived at 3 pm. We will have a business lunch, discuss business, eat, and mind our business. Finished the first round of plates. Got up for the second round and saw that they had put out a crab boil. Fixed my plate, sat down. My colleague noticed my plate and got up and fixed him a plate. I ate one crawfish, and this lady came speed walking past the table, and swiped up our receipt. Before we could ask any questions, she was on the other side of the restaurant checking the other patrons' tables. My colleague and I looked at each other, confusedly wondering what's going on. We continued eating. I ate my corn quarter, bit down on my crab claw to crack the shell and discovered no meat inside when the waiter came by. My colleague inquires, "Excuse me, sir. Can you tell us why that lady came and took our receipt?" He says, “Hold on." He hastens off to the front desk. He shakes his head, walks back, and tells us they have switched from lunch to dinner. The speed walking receipt -snatching bandit walks up behind him and explains again that we would have to pay the dinner price because we fixed a plate of the crab boil they just put out. My head tilted to the left, and I blinked my eyes for a few seconds trying to understand. I asked her why we were not informed about this? She was trying to explain that there's signage that says...I cut her off. I said, "that is not how you do business!" in an agitated tone. I did not raise my voice, but my blood pressure began to boil. She said, “Well, I will take this off your bill and you can pay the regular lunch price” while snatching our plates off the table. Whew!!!! BREATH RAMONA!!!!!. We said, “Ok! Thank you!” We got up, walked to checkout, paid the bill, and left. It would have been one thing if she had walked up to the table and told us that they were switching over to the dinner pricing and that certain dishes would be billed at the dinner prices. But, to speed walk through the restaurant snatching receipts off the tables like a thief snatching pocketbooks and chains off people's shoulders and necks and then running away with no explanation or allowing us to decide to pay the upcharge is incorrect. That is not good customer service, and I don’t care what kind of signage you have. I have never seen any signage in that establishment stating that policy. I am soooooo disappointed in Yao’s disregard for business acumen. So, if YOU choose to patron their business make sure you are aware of when they switch over meal services so you can prepare for the receipt-snatching thug to come running through to upcharge your bill without your knowledge nor allow you to make that decision for yourself to pay the upcharge for some watery, bland, no meat having crab legs. They will never receive a swipe, tap, chip, or cash from me again. Thank you for making it to the end of my...

My family has visited this establishment several times even recently and it's overpriced and the food is nasty! Pricing is ridiculous especially for the slop you are served. Most times the food is old and over heated, lacks freshness and is mediocre at best. When Yao opened, I would only go in for the vegetable sticks they served it was the only edible item on the bar and the hibachi grill. Now they no longer serve the veggie sticks and I refuse to pay 10.00 for just the grill when I can taste the freezer burn in the meat and nothing on the bar is worth trying to eat! They switched to self serve Ice cream, where everyone that wants Ice cream leans over the bin and sticks their nasty hands down in it and scoops it out. I find that revolting and unsanitary. If you want excellent food go somewhere else! I refer you to Yoshida's off Patton Ave next to Sams it's a little pricey but so worth it or Asaka's off Biltmore ave. very affordable and we always bring food home. The sushi is also very fresh and tasty. It is located next to Moe's and the train crossing. 2013

UPDATE: My family recently tried this place once more to give it a try. We was there the evening of 1-30-2017 for our Anniversary. They continue with their bad service. We spent 42.00 for 3 plates , 3 drinks, nothing special. The food again was barely warm, leathery or spongy, less than mediocre at best. We also found a lot of cross contamination of foods. Such as shrimp in a chicken roll, Chicken in a veggie roll, etcetera. The sushi section is laughable. You mostly receive a roll of rice and a splash of something in the middle. The rolls have a rubbery texture to them.It is not fresh by any means. I've honestly had better grocery store sushi.

We left not only hungry but also very sick. We would have been better off getting a 5.00 hot and ready pizza from little ceasars' , or some sort of fast food. It is Thursday 2-2-2017, and my family is still suffering from the food borne illness we received from this place.

We will not be back. I will be sure to let everyone I can, know not to eat here. It is not worth the risk for a less than par, overpriced meal.

It is sad because when they were Asiana, my family loved dining here. We were regulars. I highly recommended them. I do not know what happened to this place, but it is not worth the money or the...

We went on a Monday which seem to be a slow day for them. No hostess just sat where ever we wanted. The food was old even though lunch just changed over to dinner. I did not see crablegs or froglegs some reviews did say on weekends only. They are probably right. The service from the staff and the owner were good from our interactions with them. Our waitress did just get us drinks and disappeared; however, if you needed help the staff responded. The food got refill while we were eating so they do make fresh food as people come in. The sushi was fresh not hard, buffet was refill with new food, and the chicken pho noodles were the best I've had for a buffet. Even the Pad Thai tasted like actual Pad Thai from a sit down restaurant. They had some items that I was surprised to fine at a buffet including Vietnamese Springs Rolls, Taro Buns, Tum Yum Soup, and a whole ice cream topping section with ice cream already souped for you in a bowel. They have lots of vegetarian choices too. All in all, they run a business and cooks to the demands and needs of the customer. It was a pleasant experience. I took one star for the old food but fresh food was good and place is clean. Personally prefer this buffet over Asiana in Skyland. Covid precautions is a plus! Glad there is a decent buffet on this side of town in convenient ...