Buffet Palace — Restaurant in Austin

I am tempted to give it 1 star but I feel bad because this place is nostalgic to us. We’ve been coming here since the original owners began this restaurant over 30yrs ago. We’ve had big events here bdays, grad events, family gatherings because it’s nostalgic and yes mostly at nights. Even after the Shins sold the place we’d come back mostly evenings and the food was the same. Consistent. Good. The crab and raw crab a favorite along with the sushi and spicy soup and fried chicken wings. The last time we came was in December for dinner and already it was just ok. Passable. Some stale old food. But we thought it was an off day.

Today. It was a big day. I should have trusted my gut. I called for the entire month to try and book the place because my son’s HS graduation is today on a Tuesday morning and coming here with 30 guests seemed like a good nostalgic choice for lunch right after. BUT every time I called to reserve that room that back room where we have had many parties the front person or host would brush me off saying don’t worry it’s a weekday we just opened no one here just come. I emphasized it’s for a party of 30 and we need that room to decorate and seat us all together. He was adamant it’s ok just come.

I called a week later and the phone line kept saying busy. I called the day after during store hours no answers I thought this place was closed. I already sent invites out and guests were to arrive. I almost changed venues. I should have.

We called again this past weekend on a Friday night then Saturday morning then Sunday morning um NO ONE answers the phone! It was busy all day???. I even texted. I asked a question here. No answer. I needed to know this place will be open and ready for 30 guests.

Finally my daughter called yesterday during lunch lol and surprisingly someone answered. What a relief. He yawned while talking to her but he assured yes just come no need to reserve and you can have the room. We asked will you be ready for 30 people and fresh food? He said yes no one here noon on a Tuesday. Um ok.

Well we got there the back room is closed. No AC. They quickly prepared tables for 30 outside. It was done. Fine. BUT the food was such a disappointment. 75% of the food is not fresh. It’s like they reheated old food. Why would you do that? The sushi rice was crunchy. Hard. On some. The fried stuff was stale. Old. The chicken stuff was old and dry. The fried rice was stale. The soups were ok. Beef was gone in many beef dishes and they didn’t replenish the food fast enough for the whole place. The place looked dirty and the tables are sticky. The floors were greasy and slippery. The whole place looked dark and dank and broken. Only the fried fish 2nd batch was good. That’s all I ate!

I can go on and on but it was just not good. And I think the Asian owner and manager knew it too. I overheard and even talked to them saying we’ve been coming here for over 30yrs and no one answered my calls when I wanted to reserve to make sure fresh food is available for 30. I emphasized it was important because I knew my guests are foodies and restaurant owners. I called too many times to warn them and have things ready. That’s all they have to do. Is be prepared.

There are reasons why I ask for this. 2 restaurant owners were in my group. Half the people I invited know the previous owners and knew how good this place used to be. Now all 30 will think twice before they come back. So it was not a smart business move to not be ready for a huge party no matter what time of day we come. It doesn’t have to be a weekend. Lunch buffet still has to be fresh and available. Do not bring our stale old food to get rid of first. Where is the logic on this?

Food has to be fresh. Host and people working in the front has to be attentive and cordial and working. The waitstaff was but not the host or hostess esp not the ones answering phones. They looked tired and checked out. And yes dropping calls for a week was a big warning. I thought they were closed due to health inspections or something. Just not good....

We discovered this place a few years ago and have REALLY enjoyed our trips to this restaurant, that was until a few months ago. As I understand it, the original owners have sold it to another entity/person and this new owner does not have quite the standards as the previous owner did. During my last visit I spoke with a fellow patron, who I found out had been coming to this place for well over a decade and they too noticed the decline in the quality of what it had once been. Having been there during the week as on the weekends I noticed some small changes. During the week they used to have beef bulgogi, which is thinly sliced beef that is marinated, which was absent and with the exception of beef cake (which in my book is NOT beef) was the only beef product on the line. The main reason that I enjoy going on the weekends is that they put Kalbi (beef short ribs) on the line, but the problem is that they put out such a small amount given how busy the restaurant is that it does not last before it is emptied, which was the case this time, and I waited for well over 5 minutes before I asked the guy working the grill about a refill for the pan, all the while I stood there he did not even acknowledge me or ask what I was waiting for. Totally oblivious to everything around him except the flames of the grill and the meat on it. When they did refill it I proceeded to fill up my plate for enough not just myself, but my wife and daughter as well. Prior to leaving I asked to speak with the manager, one employee told me that they were not there and had to go out to get something and another said they (the manager) was busy. I really hope that they read this and take a round turn on the way things are being run, because as I see it I don't know how they can win best buffet in Austin with such a noticeable downturn from what had once been.

• UPDATE* Since my last review there was a huge turnaround to the quality of their buffet. Despite the aforementioned review I have returned to the restaurant several times since and the turnaround is well grounded and being maintained superbly. The issue of the shortage of Kalbi has been rectified and I have not experience a time where there was not adequate replenishment. They also added cold duck to their "salad bar or cold entree line", which is excellent, which my wife and daughter have also enjoyed, besides myself. Things at Buffet Palace are well ahead of where they used to be let alone where they were which prompted my review. Given the turn-around I would expect this place to be around for long haul (which I look forward to enjoying as well as supporting with my patronage as much as I can, I mean you can only eat so much Kalbi before your palate requires a change). Bravo Zulu (for those of you not familiar with the term - which is often used in the Navy - means "Well Done" with regard to actions, operations or performance to the owners and staff of Buffet Palace.

BTW - this is a must stop for those seeking a REALLY good Korean...

My stomach was grumbling while I was cruising around the streets on the outskirts of sunset valley. I look up and see the sign Buffet Palace. My heart skipped a beat and I instantly made the decision that I was going to cease my stomach pains at feet of Buffet Palace. I stroll into the so called “palace” and was instantly disappointed because I had just realized that it is a glorified cafeteria. I decided to send it anyways, so I grabbed a plate and began to walk through the buffet “line” with no one in it. It was then that I made the decision to snag some chicken nuggets. I then sat down and attempted to enjoy the so called “chicken” nuggets. They tasted like rubber, but at least they had a slight crisp to their edges. Then I noticed that I needed some sauce with these nuggets, so I went on a journey back to the buffet line in search of sauce. I took a lap around my potential sauce options and stumbled upon hot and sour soup. I was ecstatic and my heart began to race as I was desperate to delight in some soup. I instantly filled a bowl of what I thought was going to satisfy my tastebuds. Boy was I wrong. My first spoonful was a rush of disappointment, and soon realized it was not only my first spoon full, but my last. At this point in the meal I was pretty down, not only because the food was wildly over rated and tasteless, but solely because my glass of water had been empty for a while, causing me to nearly faint of dehydration. I then asked for my ticket and was shocked at the price. I dropped $16 for an endless buffet of disappointment and poor service. I left the doors of the palace with an angry stomach and empty pockets. I hope to never find myself at the buffet palace again and hope for those that do take the risk of eating there that they don’t have a...