China Lake Buffet — Restaurant in Ridgecrest

This place is fantastic. Probably the best Chinese buffet I've ever been to, and that seems strange, given its location in an unassuming spot in a tiny little town in the middle of nowhere. But this place is a local treasure, and if passing through the area this is the place I'd choose to eat every time. It is all you can eat, just don't take more than you can eat, they do get a bit upset if you waste food here. Everything was delicious besides the orange chicken (was too dry and stringy, and the citrus flavor was too overpowering). Everything else was fantastic. Some standouts were the coconut shrimp, sauteed stuffed mushrooms, and their sushi bar. I remember coming here a few years ago and thought that their sushi wasn't quite up to par, but this time around it was fantastic. Rice was soft, and ingredients were all quality. Don't come here planning to eat just sushi, though, as there's really only enough for each person to take a couple of pieces of each roll, but still I felt like I got a good share. I had to fill up my plate a second time and just barely was able to finish everything on my plate. Don't go too ham the second time around and fill your plate up full again the second time, I walked out feeling like my body surely hated me for stuffing it too full. But that was only done because the food here is so dang delicious. I will be coming back here any time I'm in the area, I'd suggest you...

Maybe in the past this place was good, but we ate there today, and I must say it was awful.  I have to give it one star.  I tried several entrées on my first plate, and there was nothing good.  It was a disaster. All the items were dried out and either overcooked or undercooked.  We were ready to pack up and go somewhere else for lunch but stuck around to try additional items in search of at least one edible thing.  We tried everything on the serving line and found that the sushi was the only item worth eating, and it was only average.  I witnessed the staff working hard; nobody was loafing or goofing off.  My complaint was all about the food.  Sorry, China Lake Buffet, you...

Found a slice of cucumber on the table. We never ate any cucumber and it wasnt there before. Can only guess it was stuck to the bottom of one of our plates 🤮 We also alerted staff that the mens room was in dire need of attention as there was a puddle of urine under the urinal and no soap. We received an "oops" about the cucumber and they went to investigate bathrooms. They came back to tell us that water was running down the walls and puddling in both bathrooms and that it was not pee. That isnt reassuring. Used to be one of our favorite places to eat, but something has clearly changed in regards to management. Very sad and we wont be back for a...