W China Buffet — Restaurant in Des Moines

Temperature/Freshness

What we generally noticed about the food, is that it needs to be kept hotter. Mind you, I'm aware that no place can predict the volume for the day, so they have to make estimates on how much to prepare. They can't just keep throwing away food every 20 minutes, and coming out with fresh batches, if only a few people are eating. Also, you should start with small samples, then come back when they change out the pan. Even so, some pans never got changed out, and seemed only slightly above room temperature. It should be possible to keep this hotter.

Food

The second thing we noticed, is that a number of their entrees use what seems to be the same ketchup based sauces (e.g. the barbecued ribs, the sesame chicken, the General Tsao chicken, etc.). It has a reddish color to it, like ketchup, and it tastes similar to ketchup. Normally, sauces for sesame chicken, and General Tsao chicken are brownish in color. Whatever the case may be, they all taste almost exactly the same, and they're all too sour tasting, in our opinion, compared to what it used to be under the original owners/management, and compared to what it is in every other Chinese buffet we've eaten. They need to be different, too. Sesame chicken shouldn't taste like General Tsao chicken, and like the ribs. They could improve by changing their sauces to more common, traditional, sweeter sauces. It doesn't have to be sugary sweet, just something that's not sour tasting, and that all looks and tastes like the same ketchup based sauce.

They didn't have Mongolian beef. It's one of the few Chinese Buffets we've ever eaten from, that doesn't have that. I'm not sure if they even had broccoli beef. There were one or two options with broccoli in them, but I'm not sure if either of them included beef. They seem to not have much for the beef options, although they did have salmon, which was good. I'd like to see more beef options at the prices they charge.

The third thing we noticed, is that they've again reduced the offerings in the ice-cream area by the left wall. There is no chocolate fountain during lunch time, and they've done away with the drum-stick ice-cream cones. Those were the last things left that gave them an edge over other Chinese Buffets. They could definitely improve by either bringing back the drum-stick ice-cream cones, and/or the chocolate fountain for lunch.

Prices

Finally, they've evidently jacked up their prices again. For a family of five, after taxes, it averaged out to around $10.00 per person. What? We pay $8 something at the Bamboo Grille, for lunch, and they have 50% more options (6 buffet tables, vs. 4 at China Buffet) and fresher, hotter food.

For the general temperature and freshness of the food, for the taste and quality of the food (the same, sour, ketchup based sauces for many items), and for the number of food options they offer (few beef options), they should be charging $7+, and a maximum of $8+ for the buffet, IMO. At nearly $10 per plate, for lunch, it's not worth it. I'd be willing to eat there for $7.50 per person, the way it is now, but no more. If they fixed everything we noted here, I'd be willing to pay $8+, or maybe $9 per person, max. We won't be back for a while with these prices, and this quality of food.

One other note, is that they use an I-pad and a small "Free Square" card reader to take your money. You hand-scribe your signature on the i-pad. It didn't really cause us any problems, but it just makes it seem like an amateurish operation.

They could improve by making sure their food stays hotter, by offering more beef options, by bringing back their drum-stick ice-cream cones and chocolate fountain for lunch, and by lowering their prices by about $1.00 per plate, at least. We'll check back on them in a couple years, hopefully, and see if...

We've been going there regularly, since they opened. It's definitely one of our favorite Chinese buffets. They have an attractive decor, and keep everything clean. The food is as good as any buffet we've eaten, and they have competitive, if not the best prices. The staff is friendly, without being annoying.

After reading all of the comments to date, I'd like to address several of the complaints below. - - Specifically, the temperature, taste, and freshness of the food.

Yes, there are times when the temperature is not as hot as I like. But I've experienced this at nearly every buffet. If they keep the food too hot for too long, it will soon dry out. The best thing to avoid this, is go during peak times, when there is high turnover on the food. Another trick I use (usually with the fried, battered shrimp), is to sample one piece to guage freshness. If it's not hot and fresh, come back to it later, when they change out the pan, and eat something else you like first. As far as the taste, that may depend on your preference. I love the hot and sour soup they serve, and have not at all found it to taste like soap. Overall, I find the taste of their food to be my favorite. We've tried nearly every buffet in town, and it's often a let-down to eat at other restaurants, since we've been to China Buffet. I haven't tried the raw shrimp, so can't address that specific complaint with authority, but overall the taste is the best to myself and family.

One way I think they could improve, is with the consistency of their music selection and volume. Some days you come in and they're playing pleasant, contemporary Chinese music, or soft, classical music, at a pleasant volume. Other days we've come in, and they've had somewhat loud, rock music, which totally blows the ambience for me. If you have difficulty carrying on a conversation, because the music is too loud to hear the person next to you, then they need to turn it down. Also, I don't go to a Chinese restaurant to get an American ambience. I want to hear Chinese music. It would be nice if they softly played the old, traditional Chinese music you used to hear in Chinese restaurants. The least they could do is keep it soft Asian, and at a low volume. I suspect some of this has to do with staff changing things to their preference, but have also experienced similar things at many other restaurants.

All in all, this is one of our favorite, if not the favorite Chinese buffet in town, and we've tried...

I eat here regularly for lunch and dinner and I have for many years. The new owners are an awesome family and their staff is very friendly and efficient. Just a word to the people whom chose to go here late for lunch (after 2pm or 3pm) and then complain about dry food, picked over food, empty food trays or food not being hot enough, well go figure people, you are plain an simply late for lunch. If your favorite choices are all picked over, or wilted, or cold all you have to do is ask any of the staff and they will have the chefs make a new batch of anything, just for you. In fact they are probably already in the process making more because they keep a watchful eye on everything and constantly bring out new batches. It's a buffet folks and the favorites go fast, the chef's all work their fannys off in that kitchen to keep up with everything. Don't let your first visit be your last visit because you were late to lunch. They constantly cook fresh food and can't possibly make everything all at once. And to all the people whom leave a poor review after a first visit. It's simply very rude and it's not beneficial to anyone. I just had dinner at 4:30pm and it...