Shan’s Chinese Buffet — Restaurant in Monteagle

I rarely post reviews, but I too do not understand some of the negative reviews, I thought I’d post a slightly more in depth review with my two cents. I discovered this place just over 2 years ago, I have been here probably 25-30 times. In that time I think I’ve had consistently had the same 3 or 4 waitresses. Super tightly run family restaurant, and I always know what I will get before I get here. Wonderful service, and the food always TASTES GREAT, and the prices are very cheap...All of this, without compromising anything. Ingress/egress is easier than most truck stops, parking is so spaced out and easy you don’t have to worry about rookies pulling off your bumper, the area is quiet, parking lot front and back is clean, no trash blowing all over and overfilled trash cans that haven’t been changed in days, dumpster on site, and the dining experience is consistent...Not luck of the draw, not a coin flip, all the usual stuff truckers deal with on the road. It’s hard to find a quality place to eat that is accomodates the trucks...the truck stops are what they are, sometimes days on end, either the food or the service at some of the truck stops is a toss up. I don’t even know the exact prices for the buffet, but I think it’s about $10 for lunch...the food always tastes great, the buffet is shined up, and the staff here doesn’t sit still for a second...always cleaning, wiping, the second you finish a plate it’s picked up...Iced tea or my coffee is halfway down, it’s topped off. Yesterday I stopped at a truckstop and asked 3 times for a menu, each time response was “I thought you wanted the buffet,” The service here is IMPECCABLE. I’m not writing this after one experience, but coming here since end of 2015/beginning of 2016. I expect a good eat, good service, and CLEANLINESS. I stop in here because I get all of the above, plus a place for the truck, and for a few bucks more than I would spend at McDonalds. What is there to complain about? I have never once had a single issue with anything. Like another review said, they accomodated me twice at the very end of the night where I barely pulled in before closing. Another time they moved me over to a booth as soon as one opened up because I wanted one initially. The waitresses are kind, hard working and clearly very appreciative.

As someone who grew up in my family’s restaurant, then was in the business for another 15 years, this place is a gem. To borrow the from another reviewer, a “glorious little nugget” indeed. And if something is amiss, address with the staff before coming on here saying negative things with wildly overblown expectations from a $10 buffet. This place gets packed, and if you so much as look up the waitresses make eye contact and come over to see what you need...This is a buffet ladies and gents, other buffets drop off a coke never to return.

I don’t understand the wildly exaggerated expectations. And yes, the staff obviously doesn’t speak English as their primary language. It doesn’t stop them from giving me a hard time and having a good laugh at times, so don’t let that be an issue, there is no language barrier here. I stop at plenty of places where they speak better English and the food and service is terrible.

Stop in, enjoy a nice meal, thank me later. Every time I’m rolling through here, I never...

My brother and I went in this Dilapidated filthy EstablishmentAbout 7 p.m.Where all the food had looked like it had been Sitting on The steam table all day long.Stepped outside to grab my telephone off my Touring Harley-Davidson and the cook pulled so close to my motorcycle I had a difficult time mounting it and couldn't even get in the bags.Mind you I do have a handicap plate but the is No visible handicapped parking so I pulled close to the front door. Explained my situation with their response "was there any damage "?if not don't complain. Explained my situation again to be cussed and threatened. The cook finally came out and threatened to hit my bother with the big pan he was holding. They wanted to respond to us with Violence. If the cook would have hit my bother with that pan I was well prepared to defend the both of us ,that cook would have shot. There was a small handful in the restaurant who could have been witnesses at trial. So that's how they treat a handicap customer going though cancer treatment. Then again the way the place looked(GROSS),they would have no problem taken your money and giving you a food borne illness. Your just traveling through,the won't see you again. Go 1 exit toward Nashville, there's much cleaner,better restaurants off that exit. You've...

I saw the sign advertised on i-24 in tennessee, they had truck parking so I decided to give them a try! When I got there the first negative thing was the service...the little chinese guy there and the little thin lady had very bad nasty attitudes! After being seated, I went to the buffet, the food looked good at first until I noticed the flies swarming around the food at the buffet! I decided to try the food anyway... not only was the food cold and nasty, but the people watch you as you fix your plate! They have signs on each table(3) that say,"Don't waste food". If your like me, and you go to buffet to sample different dishes....THIS IS NOT THE PLACE! They complained about me wasting food because I left a little on my plate when I got up to leave! They told me next time I come, THEY WOULD CHARGE ME DOUBLE! I POLITELY TOLD THEM, "THERE WON'T BE A NEXT TIME....BECAUSE THE FOOD WAS NOT GOOD, THE RESTAURANT IS NASTY, AND THE SERVICE IS TERRIBLE! I don't expect them to be in business that long....ill give it a year at most before the locals their decide to boycott! Hungry truckers like me, who are tired of the truckstop food, are probally the only ones keeping the lights on and the doors open at this terrible definition of a BUFFET...