Royal Buffet & Grill — Restaurant in Philadelphia

Okay so let's talk about this place because I feel like three stars is actually very generous for what happened here. First the place is very beautiful the atmosphere makes it seem like you're kind of a banquet hall it's very nicely decorated I like the fixtures I like the colors I like the seating everything in there was nice and that's pretty much where the good part of this review ends. It was very very loud inside this place. I guess that was to be expected because they had a bunch of people who graduated so they came there and they were very excited. But the music was loud. The people were loud. They had two big happy birthday explosions of noise so that wasn't very nice to eat against but it was a celebration so I guess it's okay. There was a huge selection of food everything from American food, Chinese food, Korean food and desserts. Although the selection was huge all the food was meh at best. Nothing really stood out and I went down the line tasting everything minus the shellfish because I'm highly allergic. Speaking of which they had a ton of seafood options and a lot of the seafood was pressed against the non seafood items. Which was scary for me because I'm allergic to shellfish and it was very easy to have some cross-contamination in there. they sent us in the front and there was no AC in the front of the restaurant, or it just didn't reach to the front of the restaurant. So it was very hot and uncomfortable and loud. I tasted everything from the meat dishes to the breads and the desserts. Early enough the American food tasted the best. The chicken was super hot and I actually really enjoyed the cornbread its flavor and texture was nice. From the Korean food the vegetable salad was the star. The kimchi was impossibly spicy but still good. A lot of the meat was hit or miss. Good for a few bites but not that great. The cakes were super dry even for buffet standards but.. the carrot cake was super good, even though the ice and tastes like it was out of a jar, I like it but it had a nice flavor. Now I know you're wondering why am I being so harsh on the food because this place called itself Royal and they charge the Royal prices to be here. I didn't see anywhere in the entrance where they had the price of the place so I assumed it wasn't going to be too expensive but for two people to eat there during their dinner service it cost $84!!. So I'm being picky about it. If the food was better I wouldn't mind that price, but for what I paid for I don't see myself coming back...

Service /atmosphere - Whoa. This place is beautiful ! For it to be a buffet style restaurant, they have definitely added a “Luxe” feel to it. Everything is clean,neat, and well-kept (from my many experiences being there). The workers come by and clean up your plates, every so often, or atleast when they notice a plate is “trash”. Sometimes, you do have to sort’ve flag them down to get service (I,e. A drink/refill, extra utensils, plate removal,etc.). They stay pretty busy in there, so the workers are constantly moving around the restaurant and you may have to get their attention. I’ve never personally felt rushed there, but there is a feeling that someone is always eyeballing your table. It’s not necessarily a bad thing as a business, but as a customer, it can be a little unsettling to feel like every time you look up, someone is looking at you. Overall- I give it an 8.5/10. I love the cleanliness and ambience of the place, however there are a few things they could work on as far as customer service goes.

Food- Follow @citycriticfiles on IG for more reviews around the city! Let’s start off by saying that the variety of food that they have here is incredible! They have a little something for everyone. Some traditional American foods, American-Asian foods, Asian foods, and Seafood. This is one of those spots where you come when you want a little bit of everything, or don’t know what exactly you want to eat. For quality, I’d say that it depends on the busyness of the day. They usually do a fantastic job at refilling the food stations, and keeping everything hot & fresh. However, on some days, it feels as though the food has been sitting out for a little too long, making it room temperature or slightly cold. Another thing is that on some days (or a certain time of day) the cooking process is rushed. There are some days where I’ve had some seafood that taste like it was boiled in the finest of herbs & water, and then there are times where it has lacked flavor or acceptable presentation. They have to stay consistent throughout every day, all day. A few of my favorites from their menu is : Grilled Salmon, Grilled Pineapple, Honey Chicken, & Sweet Lava Bun. I will definitely be back & hope to see some improvement!...

This establishment offers a fantastic buffet with a wide variety of delicious options, including all-you-can-eat lobster, snow crab legs, and one of my personal favorites—soft-shell crab. They truly have almost everything you can think of! Normally, I avoid crab legs at buffets, but here, they are always served fresh, flavorful, and packed with juicy meat.

I also appreciate the thoughtful presentation of desserts like banana pudding, which is served in small individual cups instead of a large pan that quickly turns messy. The restaurant has a modern layout, though I believe incorporating food islands instead of a single long buffet line would help manage crowds more efficiently, especially during peak hours.

Cleanliness is generally well-maintained, but there are a couple of areas that could use improvement. The bathrooms need proper soap dispensers, and the faucet water is always ice-cold, which isn’t effective for proper handwashing—an important factor at a buffet where guests touch multiple shared surfaces.

My only major complaint is the service from one particular waitress with reddish hair, who consistently rushes me. I often dine solo after long workdays providing behavioral support to children in various settings, and sometimes I just want to enjoy a meal in peace. Despite always being mindful of my dining time (keeping it under two hours), she frequently asks if I’m finished instead of asking if I need anything such as another beverage, making me feel unwelcome. Given that I pay the same $42 as everyone else, I’d appreciate a more hospitable experience.

Overall, this buffet offers excellent food and a clean, modern atmosphere, but service and bathroom amenities could be improved. Upon improvement I will gladly...