King's Wok Chinese Restaurant — Restaurant in Brookings Township

I’ve been going to this place on occasion for over 2 decades, and I’ve seen it change over that time. Maybe around the 2010s they made the teriyaki chicken less crispy and removed the stick, eventually stopped serving chocolate (and thus twist) ice-cream, and during COVID they switched to disposable tableware and haven’t changed back since. I wish they could undo at least some of those things, but I assume they’re doing what’s needed to stay open, and I’m glad they’re still around.

The food is at least more than functional for what I know about Chinese restaurants. I’m always appreciative of when food is labeled so I know what I’m getting into. To specifically note though is the teriyaki chicken, which while I’ve said before has changed a bit away from my preference, is still a primary reason I come here. The chicken doesn’t taste like much of the “teriyaki” I’ve had at other places such as Hy-Vee, as this has what I think is a plainer salty taste with a meat similar to pork, instead of the sweeter and tangier chicken that seems like.. chicken I’ve found more commonly elsewhere. (I’m not a fan of chicken, so it’s a big deal when I like it) This and another restaurant in Pipestone, MN (which I believe closed during COVID) had been the only places I’ve found so far to serve this particular style of teriyaki chicken, and I hope one day to find or receive a recipe to make it on my own.

I’ve either filled my own plate or styrofoam box to go, so I have little experience with ordering off the menu, but I assume the staff will put in good effort to serve you, with the wait time being related to how many employees are available. They also have stamp cards that for your 9th buffet it’s $5 off, which at perhaps $15 normally (with self-serve soda pop) is nice but it’s not a huge draw for me.

For atmosphere, it’s OK, but it’s not too much more besides. They managed to fit quite a few tables inside, and navigating can feel a bit cramped even when there’s not a large crowd. There is some artwork and such around, but you’d likely need to be looking through someone else’s space to admire it.

Maybe if I wasn’t as personally attached to this restaurant, I’d only rate it overall as just 3 stars. (which is not bad from me, that means it at least serves food decently) But I’ve had history with it, and I prefer it to the micro Asian restaurants that serve the newer, “healthier”, harder, less salty, and less oily cuisine. So 4 stars from me overall, even though my other ratings would indicate only 3.3 stars. (I don’t know how Google organizes that) Here’s to hoping many more people can enjoy the food here for a long time to...

This buffet has some unique items that other buffets do not have, for example a crab rangoon that has real crab flavor in it rather than the cream cheese version you typically find and a really sweet syrupy sesame chicken. This chicken can sometimes be really tough however. Their fresh egg rolls they include with a meal you order, not the ones they use on the buffet, are some of the best I've ever eaten although the ones China Moon in Madison puts out on their lunch buffet are very good. During the dinner buffet they also have coconut shrimp which is a staple of mine along with an imitation crab entree and they've recently added fried Fish! I love seeing that on a chinese buffet.

I'd rate it anywhere from 3 to 4 stars depending on my mood. I really like take out chinese and sometimes I'm in the mood for this place, sometimes not. I'd like to see them add another variety of sweet chicken such as orange chicken to the buffet along with a cream cheese based crab rangoon/wonton to the menu. The Watertown and Brandon places just trump this place in chicken selection.

Friendly atmosphere. Popular amongst the local businesses in town whose employees order quite a bit from them. Popular amongst the college students due to good location. Can't go wrong with the sesame chicken. Arguably they have the most friendly employees manning the register of any Chinese place I've visited and this particular family has run this establishment quite a long time.

Bottom line... I like it, I'll go there and get take out and take it home with me, but I enjoy a number of other places more because of their larger chicken selection. As a whole chinese buffets are my favorite way to eat out somewhere. I try to visit every one I can...

So sad really. This used to be a great place. I used to go here every week, then food declined a little and we got busy. But each time we returned it was a bit worse than the previous. I wonder what happened to their good cooks. This most recent time, Sep 7th, 2022, it was TERRIBLE. All the fried food was cold. Someone put way too much cornstarch into the soup to thicken it so it was gelatinous, and all but one main dish was bad. I have given them second chances so many times now in hopes they get a good cook again. This is the last time. Heartbreaking really. It was such a great...