Lin's Grand Buffet — Restaurant in Murrieta

We were very excited that a Chinese Grand Buffet opened in Murrieta, CA. Unfortunately there was nothing Grand about this experience. I really can care less about the service if the food is good...but this buffet is no bueno. Most of the items are just straight out of a box and felt institutional vs home cooked. They might have heated the items but they really can't make tasty Chinese food. Even if you tried to screw up Chinese food it's hard but Lin's definitely succeeded. How do you mess up fried rice? Simple....you don't use quality ingredients like (rice, soy sauce, veggies and sesame oil). How do you mess up sweet and sour chicken...heck even Panda does it better and that's pretty much straight up out of bags and a little prep. Everything looked lazy and they were really busy when we arrived for lunch. The salad bar items were pitiful. Most good Chinese buffets have a decent salad bar in case customers want some healthy options. Soups were unedible. Good grief they were bad. I've eaten at over 100 Chinese buffets all across America and man, Lin's was bad. For as hyped up a Lin's was they disappointed and we will not return. I've talked to our neighbors and friends and told them the same. Food is bad. Don't go there. You will be disappointed. Don't let the low price fool you...I would rather pay more for better quality and tastier Chinese food. My assumption is that more people would agree vs disagree with my assessment on the cost to quality/taste analysis. Don't understand what Lin's is doing this. They will just be another casualty to the beautiful location and the good people of Murrieta/Temecula area looking for a decent Chinese Buffet. Lin, you can do better and need to do better or your customers...

I had high hopes walking into this newly opened Chinese restaurant, especially given all the buzz it’s been getting. But unfortunately, most of that noise came from the crowd inside. The place was packed—not in a lively, exciting way, but in a chaotic, disorganized one. Tables were crammed too close together, the waitstaff looked overwhelmed, and the noise level made it hard to hear the person sitting across from me.

Now, let’s talk about the food—or rather, the rollercoaster ride that is their menu. Every dish we tried sat at one of two extremes: either drenched in salt to the point of being inedible or so bland it felt like chewing wet paper. There was no middle ground, no balance—just a confusing jumble of poor seasoning and guesswork.

One chicken and shrimp dish in particular stood out, and not in a good way. The chicken had a rank, off-putting taste. I had to spit it out, which is not something I do lightly. It made me question how fresh—or safe—any of the ingredients were.

And speaking of safety, let’s talk hygiene. I was shocked to see raw meats stored and displayed dangerously close to cooked items. There should honestly be a law against this setup. It’s a food poisoning and parasite fest waiting to happen, and frankly, it’s irresponsible.

As for dessert, don’t bother. What they offer is nothing more than sad slices of box cake and premade pudding cups that taste like they came from the back shelf of a grocery store. It felt like an afterthought—much like the rest of the...

One Star Experience – Very Disappointing

I visited Lin’s Grand Buffet for the first time, and unfortunately, it was a horrible experience. Upon entering, I paid and was handed a numbered ticket to be seated. I was dining alone. When my number was called, a waitress verified my ticket and brought me to a table everything seemed fine.

After I had already gotten my food and sat down, a different waitress approached me and told me I needed to speak with a manager because I had the “wrong number.” I’m not sure how that was even possible since my ticket had already been verified by a staff member. Regardless, instead of sorting it out internally, they told me to talk to the manager, as if I had done something wrong.

To make matters worse, I was told to wait while they figured everything out after I had already served myself and my food was sitting on the table. The whole thing was disorganized and embarrassing.

This business clearly lacks professionalism, and so does the staff. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone. A restaurant experience should never make a customer feel like a problem. I won’t be returning, and frankly, I hope they treat future customers with more respect but I’m not...