Mongolian BBQ — Restaurant in Citrus Heights

I only gave them 5 stars because of software limitations.

THIS PLACE IS TOO GOOD FOR SACRAMENTO. I could wreck my own sanity trying to find a single negative thing to say, so in the style of L. Carol and N. Paganini, Out of Context Publications Presents - The Inn of the Seventh Happiness, a Caprice in Seven Mullets D’Or

Star the First: Environment and Ambiance They earned this one by decorating a sad hole in the wall with heirloom quality art. I don’t doubt for a minute that the base by the door, the gigantic hand carved scenery on the wall, the abalone art, the carved golden coral qoi, and so on, were legitimate family treasures. They manage a perfect, comfortable noise level. It is family, having nice conversation. Thier superior decor, quality of food, and quality of service, attract only the best kind of society; read your Emily Post if you’re unclear what I mean by Best Society.

Star the Second: Service On the night I went, they were packed. All the restaurants in the area, on a week night, they were PACKED. I arrived at what I thought was them recovering from a dinner rush...several large parties were just finishing up, and most of the tables were empty. Nope. Just a momentary lull. The service was quick, uncommonly polite and friendly, while also not at all intrusive. The waiting staff popped up like ninja faeries exactly when they were needed, and were otherwise entirely invisible.

Star the Third: Foooooooooooood!!!! Yes, it’s technically a Mongolian Barbeque. Yes, you pick your own ingredients and they toss it on the grill for you. But I issue you this challenge: find a single ingredient on the buffet that wasn’t grown locally, fresh picked, and chopped fresh within the last hour or two. You like lamb? Not really into beef like most American born citizens? Why not, they have that. Everything is so good, you could follow any dietary restrictions you want or need, by selecting what you want or need, then watch a little ballet while your selected favorite ingredients turn into food, using that kind of passion for creating magic that is generally denied everywhere but for the Private Home Kitchens of the finest Grand Mothers in the world.

Gold Star the Fourth: Price Um, I’m seeing a few reviews complaining about the price. Are you people anosmic? Indulge in too many packaged meals? Watch Ratatouille with your kids. In it, there is a horrible villain who gets off on trashing local restaurants with pedantic, condescending reviews that banish food enthusiasts from fine kitchens. A magical Rat summons the ancient power of Mothers Memory, and moves this horrible man to tears With a flashback memory of his mother with a few slices of roasted garden veggies. THATS what the extra dollar is for. It’s not to cover the cost of a second or third plate, but if you don’t remember your own mama, still a bit hungry, and are moved to tears on your first plate, then you have not had Emile and you need to get your Titanic Iceberg ass back in line for another dose of Chinese medicine, because there’s a reason they don’t have chefs...they cover the cost of employing a 500 year old Sorcerer who casts a magic love spell on every plate and lacquered, re-usable chopstick. (Yeah, no splintery disposable bamboo here. Sorry.)

If you’re still nervous about the price, or even the distance, here’s a little Chinese Algebra for ya. Take the price, which I will admit is Slightly higher than average for the kind of generic Asian food place of which we have plenty in California, and divide by 7. And even if you’re no good at math, try and assign a number value to the service, food, and environment. Carry the one, and move decimal to the left. Repeat once for every plate your table gets from the buffet. Yeah. Okay, you see, Youd hafta Be ACTUAL Mandarin Royalty (which these people are for sure) just to MAYBE afford to work there. They’d feed you - on your break.

Psych! Just kidding. They don’t take breaks.

Gold Star the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh: I have exceeded the character limit for this review. Just take your family and...

I have been going to this location for almost 10 years and counting. I have had a lot of bad experiences and a lot of good experiences, which is to be expected from going to one location for so long.

Thankfully, the employees that I had issues with messing with my food have either moved on or have been let go, and the employees that work here now are all good and friendly people.

The food was 10$ for an all you can eat buffet when I first started to going to this location and have since raised their prices to 13.50$, which is still respectable, but is starting to push it into the overpriced range in comparison. For 4$ more you can go across the street to Flaming Mountain for a professional all you can eat sushi bar and grill.

Each meal comes with one small side of rice, a small bowl of soup, and a peanut butter roll and fried dippers with a dessert sauce for the table depending on how many people you have.

They have alcohol available in bottles as well as fountain drinks and other beverages like tea and such, standard in restaurants.

Monday to Friday they have a lunch price of about 9$ for a single bowl, and then they are closed in the middle of the day and reopen again for dinner at 5 pm. Saturday and Sunday have the buffet price of 13.50$ all day and do not offer lunch.

I would say honestly that with the price rising and the quality staying the same, this place is probably worth passing by unless you are in the area and plan on eating at least two or more...

I love the food here and love the idea of a Mongolian BBQ. I have been coming to this location for years and have brought them new customers that now love the place too. I only have one issue with the restaurant. Customer Service. The service here is horrible, the waitresses are rude and give you dirty looks. I know that if you come in for dinner and only have one bowl, you can ask for it in a to go box. I have been doing it for years at this location, and last night i asked the waitress if I may have mine for to go and she screamed at me and got mad, but i told her i have been doing it ever since i started going to this place. She was completely rude to me and a friend and took the food after arguing with me about the situation. When I left and checked my box for the food, she threw away about half of what I had paid for. That is unacceptable and they need to work on their customer service, or just fire the waitresses they have and get new ones that are more friendly and welcoming. This is not the first time i have encountered horrible service from them. I just come for the food and try to not talk to the waitresses because they are not good with service. I know what customer service is supposed to be like, and they fall way under...