China Harbor — Restaurant in Austin

Giving 1 star because even though the sever lady was nice, the food was terrible.

I have had my fair share of buffets, including Asian buffets. This was the first time where I wasn’t full, because I didn’t know what to get, since everything tasted bad, both texture and taste-wise.

So when I go to a buffet, I get a bite size of (almost) every menu offered there, then go back to get more of what I like. I hated every single thing I tried and wanted to just leave to go to a Chinese restaurant. I paid $36 ($31.xx + tips) for 2 adults dinner, and with the same amount of money I could get two nice, satisfying dishes at a Chinese restaurant.

I don’t know where to begin. All the fried food looked fried but the breading was soggy and the meat inside was rough and rubbery, not even a glimpse of crispiness was found. I get what other reviewers meant by “blandness.” No seasoning to actual meat inside. I wouldn’t give this kind of food even to animals, let alone to people.

The seafood quality was BAD. They masked the expired seafood with strong and salty seasoning (clams, crawfish, shrimp). Baked fish didn’t have strong seasonings but was overbaked, so it was extremely dry. There were different kinds of shrimp, but both were overcooked and chewy- you know shrimp can be soft and juicy when cooked just right, but hard and chewy when overcooked, imagine the latter.

Meat… okay so I tried all the meat (beef and pork) they offered, but they were all Super dry, chewy, and bland. We went in around 5pm and it felt like all the meat was just sitting there from today’s opening or from yesterday or something. There was no moist to be found in any of the meat. All dry and chewy with blandness. None of them were juicy or tender. Texture- terrible, taste-terrible.

No Mongolian grill option, either.

Do I need to go to desserts? They all looked like cardboard boxes, so I only got flan and it was hard (How can it be possible? Hard flan? Lol) and I couldn’t finish it. Hard texture and stale flavor.

Some might ask what I would expect at a cheap buffet place. Well, not all buffets are the same. At least at Buffer Palace (by Westgate) there are food that I actually enjoy and like. The East Buffet (across the I-35) got Mongolian grill to replace some mediocre food. Here? Food is worse than mediocre. It’s official- the worst buffet I’ve ever been to my entire life.

I got so upset that I wasn’t even half full, so before we left I tried cheese pizza they had, and guess what? That cheese pizza (which some people complain is the worst pizza) was a lot better than all the other food they had. I filled my stomach with three slices of small pizza at an Asian buffet. This should tell you something. I could probably get the same pizza at a grocery store for 5 bucks.

Will we come back? Absolutely not. Do we recommend this place? Absolutely not.

Oh, btw there was not over 150 dishes like they advertise online. Not even close, not even half the variety even for...

I like the Salmon, stir fried rice, egg rolls, and some of the chicken options here. I like that they don't leave their salmon in a tub of water with the skin still on it like at other places. I do usually peel the topping off this salmon, but i enjoy that it was seasoned by that topping. It is cool that they have mozzarella cheese sticks as well. This place is at it's best in the afternoon. I wouldn't go at night. I feel that maybe they should consider replacing 90 percent of their desert options with something simpler, but more desirable.The desert is important because it is the last finishing touch of the meal. It will be the lingering taste that you will remember about the place that can decide whether to come back or not. It can make or break a place. Something on the lines of pies, lemon bars, brownies, or a moist softer texture cookie. A good cake can be a winner. The ice cream is a good idea, but it probably shouldn't be self service as convient as it is, it raises sanitation questions. Alot of people scoop and have thier hands in that ice cream including kids, some with no gloves. If it comes from a self service machine that is not so bad because often it is poured into a bowl or cone. I really enjoy the stir fried rice from here. It has so...

If coming in a large party, be careful because they will try to double charge you! Our party of 9 decided to meet here for dinner to celebrate a birthday. We were coming in different cars, so the first group of 5 that arrived payed for all 9 entries. They informed the cashier that we were still waiting on 4 more people.

When my group of 3 arrived, we spotted some of our party and began to make way to their table. The host and cashier both asked us to stop and pay first. We told them we were with the large party, and they responded that we had to pay for our own group. Our total was about $36 dollars or so. They had just charged the first group for our whole party of 9, but told us the previous group had not paid for us. This was a lie.

Later on, the final member of our group arrived to check in with the front desk staff. He told them he was with our group of nine and was the 9th person. They also deceived him into thinking we had not paid for him.

We all paid and joined the rest of the group that had been waiting for us. It wasn't until we left the restaurant that night and compared receipts that we learned the first group had been charged for all 9 entries. The establishment knowingly and deliberately...