Autumn Moon Chinese Buffet — Restaurant in Mesa

This place is almost as old as me and it shows. I used to come here in my teens and twenties as it was and really still is one of the few Chinese buffets in Mesa. I was craving a Chinese buffet and I was in North Mesa so found it on a search and decided to see how it had changed in 20 years. I took my friend with me - his first time here. I don't know who or what they are paying for the five star reviews but let's put it this way - my friend thought the place was abandoned when we parked in the parking lot. The building is dilapidated and appears to not have had a coat of paint or even power wash since the last time I was here. We still gave it a shot hoping the food was as good as i remembered 20 years ago.....unfortunately it was not. $15 for lunch, very small selection - mostly variations of over breaded chicken. I love egg foo young but this grey blob they called egg foo young (you can see it in some of the other 5 star reviews pics), was so scary I couldn't bring myself to take a bite. The hostess was very friendly but she literally asked me if I would be needing refills on my fountain soda because they would charge me up front for each refill! This place should be condemned - I honestly don't know how they are in business unless they own the land and don't have to make rent. They obviously aren't spending money on building maintenance, cooks, or...

just now

I only gave this one star because its physically impossible to go lower. I don't want to call anyone a liar....but the reviews that gave this more than a 1 are liars. You are committing perjury.

Where do I start? I've seen graveyards with more life. The actual restaraunt itself is dingy and cozy like the drawers of the city morgue. There was minimal interaction with the staff except we didn't get our drinks and when we asked them about it they told us to go sit back down.

There were very limited choices in this "buffet". There were six choices. "Fried rice" which was white rice and peas. "Chow mein" which was plain spaghetti. Beef and broccoli but that was gone...so just broccoli swimming in a vat of hot water. Orange chicken and lemon chicken....they're exactly the same. Flavorless fried flour. Egg rolls were ok but keep in mind the bar was so low at this point I was desperate to find something passable. They also had wonton chips for soup but no soup.

I spent a grand total of $20 to sit in that place for 10 minutes and contemplate my life choices....I now write this review at a sizzler a little ways...

Topically the place was clean. No frills but good food for the money. $7.00 inc tax. Egg rolls and Lemon Chicken were my favorites. They had their version of fried rice, which included peas and carrots, no egg nor soy sauce. Didn't taste bad, just not how I know fried rice. Lo mein was white with pieces of cabbage in it. Again, not bad tasting, just different. "Beef" & Broccoli, tasty but different. The "beef" was pale, never saw beef that color, in a watery sauce. Kung pao chicken was moderately hot, saw no peanuts. They had fried wontons, sweet and sour pork, which I did not try. Overall, the food had a good taste. None of the vegetables were over or under cooked. None of the meat was tough or fatty. They serve chicken wings too but they had run out before I got there. Take out is generous and only $6.50 inc. tax. This is definitely not Chinese food as I know it, but overall it was good! If you eat there, leave your notions of what "Chinese" food tastes like at home and just enjoy it for what it is ...hot, tasty,inexpensive, good food. Non-refillable sodas come in a 10 oz glass for $1.00. Try this place. You...