Chow King Grill & Buffet — Restaurant in Decatur

Update: it has been almost a year since I last wrote this original review and it is well overdue an update. By that, I mean the establishment as much as this review. My husband, daughter and I thought we'd give Chow King another try.

Disappointment. Nothing about this establishment has changed whatsoever. As far as buffets go, it's the typical self-serve but many of the serving utensils have handles that were falling apart so badly I almost pulled it off and threw it in the garbage myself. Silicon handles that hang into the food, and in pieces, should be a red flag that particular utensil is done and shouldn't be used with food. But that's not what you'll first notice when you walk into the restaurant.

It's that smell of urine soaked carpet and hints of Americanized-Asian food swirling about. I don't know how this restaurant is still open as a restaurant. I did, however, notice that the atmosphere was not only bad lighting, old decor that probably will never change, but that the type of people frequenting this establishment were not of blue collar type people. After this last visit I'm absolutely certain I know why. We won't be back, either.

Original: Food is pretty good but the flow of the restaurant and how they are handling dining in is hardly worth the risk. Although the tables open are "spaced for social distancing" you may be seated near a table on the opposite side of a shorter wall which is not social distanced. Also, there are signs that say to use a new plate for each visit, to wear gloves, but there were only 2 boxes of gloves in the buffet area and they were in random areas. People were walking around the restaurant without masks, not wearing gloves, as if the pandemic was not going on and they know nothing of how communicable diseases are caught or spread. I don't believe I'll be back for a very long time. Personally, I feel like this particular buffet isn't just a buffet for humans. FDA should make a random...

The food has always been pretty decent. But my husband & I went there for lunch yesterday, I was in my work uniform since I just got off work & the man who seated us asked me if I was EMS & was reading my shirt. I told him I worked for Fire & Rescue & he walked off without saying anything. During our meal, our waiter not once came to our table to refill our drinks or even speak to us. We were pretty over the whole thing, so we went to pay out & the same man that seated us was the one at the register. As we were standing there, my husband noticed a sign on the wall that said Discounts for SENIOR CITIZENS, EMS, & POLICE ONLY!! I wasn't upset that I wasn't getting a discount..I was upset that they don't think our firefighters deserve the same treatment, considering the fact they are EMT's as well as everything else they do. You give SENIOR CITIZENS a discount, but not a FIREFIGHTER who saves lives & would be the one to the rescue if your building was burning to the ground, or giving you medical care if you were in need. I just think it's really shot out & I'm down right disappointed in this place for that! Have always liked this place, but everything about our experience yesterday & that included just left a really bad taste in my mouth and I lost all respect for them. Not sure we...

Arrived at 8:30pm Tuesday night. Google and the door stated closed at 9:30. Expected the food to at least be fresh. Nope. 85% of the buffet was empty. I asked if any food was going to be coming out, they said no. The 4 of us made our plates. Went to eat and everything was tough or cold. Only thing that was good was the Hot and Sour soup. Probably the best H&S soup I have ever got at a buffet. When I went to pay I let the guy know how dissatisfied we was. With not only the quality but the lack of options.(I did praise the H&S) He said he knows and apologized for it. He said they close at 9:30 but when they are slow they close as early as 8:30. I told him he could ha e warned us. I also made a suggestion he warn people. Hey we are in the process of closing for the night. Foods about gone. And at least offer lunch prices for dinner. He gave us lunch prices after my suggestion. 4 people was $53.00 after he discounted it was $27.00. I accepted and went on my way. Just beware. CHECK THE BUFFET...