I've visited this buffet restaurant many times since their Grand Reopening a few years ago. My latest visit was on a Friday around 2:00 pm for the lunch buffet which is as of May 2025 priced at $12.49 (weekday lunch price). When I first started coming here, it was 11.49 I believe, so a dollar increase over the last few years isn't bad (it was incremental over time, it didn't jump all at once).
The restaurant is in a big plaza (Indian Village) so parking is easy. I am usually able to get the same spot close to the entrance every time I go since I usually visit between 2 and 4 pm on a weekday.
The place is usually clean, service staff pleasant and quick to refill drinks, and the food this time was good/better than last time I visited a couple of months ago. I can't comment on any meat dishes, but the seafood and veggie dishes were slightly above average compared to other Chinese buffets in this price range such as the different Hibachi Grills, Super Hibachi Grill, Supreme Hibachi Grill, etc around the area.
Although it didn't happen during this visit (thank GOD the TV close to me was muted), the one thing I am usually NOT happy about at this place and pretty much other buffets like this is the noise level. The TVs and music are usually too loud, it seems they don't have designated "family" sections to keep patrons with young children out of earshot from adult-only guests who may not want to deal with the crying screaming and various other noises that come from "children being children", and they make no effort to regulate phone/device usage to prevent audio from disturbing others while they are trying to enjoy their meal (if you're the type that HAS to listen or watch something while eating and you know you're going to a restaurant where obviously there will be others, why can't you just do the respectful thing and use earbuds? There are plenty of inexpensive Bluetooth ones that sound good and wired ones are even cheaper, it won't cost you much and you'll be doing your fellow human beings a much-appreciated favor).
I keep returning to this particular buffet for its competitive pricing and slightly better-tasting food. If the price was any higher or the food taste/quality any lower, I wouldn't keep coming back because the service and variety is about the same at any other buffet of this type in the surrounding area, with food quality being only slightly lower at those other places. The pricing is all within a couple of dollars of each other.
I would like to see sashimi added to the buffet (especially salmon sashimi) and popcorn shrimp. I'd also like a wider selection of drinks such as a diet orange drink and/or a sparkling water option.
I hope the owner can do something about the noise. Perhaps they can designate a "family" section for those with young children, keep their TVs muted, and place "no phones/audible devices allowed" signs (and actually...
Read moreChow Time is a top notch Asian-American style buffet restaurant, the best I've seen in the entire Lilburn/Duluth/Norcross area when it comes to the three main categories: food selections, cleanliness, and dining atmosphere.
Concerning food selections, they carry a well balanced variety to satisfy your appetite, whether you're into American cuisine consisting of BBQ spare ribs, buffalo wings, bourbon chicken, ribeye steak, pizza, fries, baked sweet potatoes; or Asian cuisine consisting of steamed/fried rice, lo mein, mungbean noodles, steamed flounder, ginger-scallion tilapia, fried blue crabs, Cajun seafood mix, spicy/coconut/fried shrimps, boiled mussels, Shanghai cucumbers, and an impressive variety of sushi. And then there's a Hibachi menu consisting of raw meats and veggies you can select to have cooked in your choice of sauce. They also have hot & sour, spicy shrimp, and egg drop soups, along with a comprehensive dessert menu with fresh fruits, sweet coconut-sago drink, and many pastry items. Holidays will include items like lobster and roast turkey. They had even more items back when they were Chow King that truly made them a unique location, but adjustments were made in accordance to business traffic. Still, overall a wide variety that I've observed nearby restaurants imitate, which of course is a statement of flattery.
Concerning cleanliness, I've personally seen an impressive degree of attention to the prevention of cross-contamination at the buffet bars and utensils, along with the availability of hand-sanitizing liquids. And I've yet to find their restroom in bad shape. As one afflicted with contamination OCD, I especially appreciate their efforts this long after Covid.
Lastly, their dining atmosphere is highly ornate, with Asian decor on display and even complimentary televisions showing news and sports. Their dining area is huge with segregated rooms. The scenery may not look like much from outside due to the age of the shopping complex, but once you step inside it's a...
Read moreI do not recommend and I will never come back!! This is a very good buffet very fresh great food BUT the waitresses let your drinks get empty get upset when ask for refills. Talk about you when you don’t leave a decent tip well you let 4 of us go thirsty while eating you don’t deserve more than $3 when all you have to do is make sure we have drinks and the guy in the front (manager) is horribly rude!!! Went to get a Togo plate for the first time he tells me by the LB I said ok came back to get rung up to check out I sat the ONE Togo box on the weight he weighs it types something on the computer then goes and OPENS MY TOGO BOX I said sir why did you open my food right now(that’s gross looking over a persons food) then tells me the extra part and says it depends by WHAT FOOD as well that is being weighed. I said you should have been more clear on that from the beginning. He gets loud with me then tells me I don’t have to take it I said sir ring my food up so I can go. I’m done. Then starts running his mouth again I said are you still talking. I was done a minute ago. Tells me I don’t have to take the food(for the second time). He said I’ve never had a customer like you! lol yea right big liar 🤥 now I’ve read the lowest reviews and they all sound like me. I told myself if I didn’t want it I would have been walked out.
Should have read the reviews before coming here. This was our favorite spot to come to.
I’m 39 yrs old and I have NEVER BEEN SOMEWHERE THAT OPENS UP YOUR TOGO TO SEE WHAT IS BEING PURCHASED WHEN ITS A BUFFET! If you don’t enjoy your job get a new one and learn how to communicate to...
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