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Name: The Real Chow Baby
Address: 1016 Howell Mill Rd,Ste A, Atlanta, GA, 30318
Telephone: (404) 815-4900
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.46

The Real Chow Baby

1016 Howell Mill Rd,Ste A, Atlanta, GA, 30318

(404) 815-4900
Store is closed

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The Real Chow Baby Menu

Appetizers

Chicken Potstickers

Calamari

Edamame Japanese Soybeans

Vegetable Egg Rolls

Shrimp Tempura

Vegetable Spring Roll

Crab Rangoon

Thai Beef Salad

Chicken Potstickers

Tomato Basil & Mozzarella Quesadilla

Combo Platter
Veggies

Broccoli

Peppers

Tomato

Kidney Beans

Cheese

Eggplant

Water Chestnuts

Basil

Peas

Zucchini

Potato

Black Beans

Scallions

Garlic

Bok Choy

Cilantro

Onions

Pineapple

Spinach

Peanuts

Thai Cilantro

Jalapenos

Asparagus

Mushrooms
Sauces

Kung Pao

Peanut

Hot Mustard

Sweet Chili Citrus

Teriaki

Plum

Oyster

Red Thai Curry

Coconut Curry

Light Soy

Asian Peanut Pesto

Thai Bbq

Ginger Lime Basil

Dark Soy

Sweet And Sour

Hoisin Lime

Thai Cilantro

Black Bean And Garlic
Desserts

Key Lime Pie

New York Cheesecake

Midnight Torte

B52 Cheesecake

Ice Cream Pie

Sorbet Or Ice Cream

Healthy Meal suggestions for The Real Chow Baby

Appetizers

Chicken Potstickers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Edamame Japanese Soybeans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetable Egg Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Tempura [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetable Spring Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab Rangoon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Beef Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Potstickers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomato Basil & Mozzarella Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Combo Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Veggies

Broccoli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kidney Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Eggplant [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Water Chestnuts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Basil [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zucchini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Potato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Black Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Scallions [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bok Choy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cilantro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Onions [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pineapple [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peanuts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Cilantro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jalapenos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asparagus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sauces

Kung Pao [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peanut [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Mustard [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Chili Citrus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Teriaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Plum [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Oyster [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Red Thai Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coconut Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Light Soy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asian Peanut Pesto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Bbq [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ginger Lime Basil [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dark Soy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet And Sour [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hoisin Lime [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Cilantro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Black Bean And Garlic [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Key Lime Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

New York Cheesecake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Midnight Torte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

B52 Cheesecake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ice Cream Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorbet Or Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Msa A.

I'm giving it 4 stars even though they deserve less sometimes. I go to Chow Baby fairly regularly. I have my 'recipe' down pat now. I've brought a lot of people here with me and their receptions have been hit and miss. Like another reviewer, people who don't cook and don't understand what works well together tend to not like it as much. PRO'S: - All you can eat - so I never get any appetizers. - Lots of healthy options. - Large variety. - Good for groups. - Inexpensive. - Good mojitos. - Great flavors. -Complimentary valet. -Friendly staff. CON'S: - Upkeep has gone down. Need to have someone CONSTANTLY cleaning up the food prep area. It's inevitable that you'll spill. It looks gross when it isn't immediately cleaned up. - I try to never go at peak times. The lines are long and it takes so long for the food to come out. - When I ask the cooks to please use less or no oil - they say "OK" but don't always hold back. - It's to be expected but still gross when something you did NOT put in your bowl shows up in your meal. -It can get loud.
(4)
RN W.

Friendly staff but the place has gone down a bit over the years. I'm a fan but someone there really needs to take a look at whats going on there The food: You select your ingredients, sauce, meat, and seasonings, in sort of an assembly line process ... so the final output and taste is all on you (if you dont like it...it's your fault). Unfortunately, they aren't as as on top of their jobs to keep the assembly area tidy or the ingredient containers full. I've even visited on non-peak times and the assembly line area was a mess. If you're greedy -- its a win because its all you can eat. If you put your food together correctly -- its really good The staff: always friendly and cheerful. No complaints there. They do seem overstaffed at times as you can see staffers just chatting it up...even sitting at tables... with other tables that clearly need to be busted and debris on the floor. Also...have staff to "look at each other" -- our last server had a constant flow of sweat on his face -- tell that guy to clean up managers. Sweat drips. The atmosphere: The howell mill location has a 'nice bar' or boutique restaurant feel to it but they don't keep it as clean anymore as when they first opened. Tables are usually waiting to be busted with servers walking around fast like they're busy and cleaning is someone elses job to do (ever heard of chipping in?). Also it's very common to see debris on the floor (ie napkins eyc) -- just kind of a 'little dirty' feel to it sometimes. Also the kitchen smells like dirty mop water sometimes and that smell can permeate the entire area near the back-kitchen door if you're near it ... they left the door halfway open one day and it was a gross smell. Areas of improvement - Place a hand sanitizer at the BEGINNING of the line as well (you have one at the end i guess for the people that accidentally touched meat or to clean their hands from touching the tongs in general. Get one of those sanitizer stands that would be more noticeable to be placed at both sides of the line - Have a dedicated cleaner working the floor constantly (just a non-clean feel to the place in the last year or so) - Make sure the ingredients manager is more on their jobs - Make sure managers know that managing is more than just smiling and saying hi to customers and overriding cash register inputs --- no way they should feel like their job is done if they are walking around a restaurant with debris. Job as manager in a restaurant (i imagine) would be to crack the whip and make sure stuff is getting done (or do it yourself if you have standards and the person is trying their best) - Dishes and cups dont seem as clean anymore (i know you get those dark red cups to hide dirt and undercleaning -- but they actually seem dirty now). Do a full cup switch-out every 8-12 months -- those feel like the same cups you had from the beginning years ago -- they have that old used look to them -- place just feels like its aging (make sure the dishwater is clean -- i didnt know if that dirty mop smell was from mopping the floor or if it was the dish-water) - Do a full tong switch-out every 2 hours in the winter where people are sickest (ive seen people sneeze into their hands -- wipe their nose, etc -- then grab the tongs). The ingredients staff could easily do that without interrupting the flow - Meat: Holy cross contamination batman. There is no way all that raw meat is saying cool enough (especially at the top during slow hours). Ive personally had to crap my soul out within 30 mins after leaving this place on more than 3 occasions (3-5 out of 100 visits isnt too bad though) I've narrowed it down to possibly the chefs mixing the food with the vegetables too soon (i saw what appeared to be wait staff cooking in my last visit -- there was this girl cooking and she looked totally nervous and discombobulated...sweat and everything (black chick...small natural fro) I'm still a huge fan -- the place just seems to be going down the tubes lately in aesthetics and excellence in presentation. Always have the ethnic that you just opened and the place will stay beautiful. Im still a big fan and my out of town visitors that i take there love it ... its convenient to the office .... love the concept and the food
(4)
Tom C.

It's an old stable of business of Howell mill. Not much to say...get your veggies, meats, rice, bread, and they cook it for you. Nothing special, nothing bad. I give it 3 stars because I think the quality of meats and veggies could be better.
(3)
Maria S.

My husband's the cook in our family, and I wish he had joined me for my first foray into the world of semi-DIY cooking at The Real Chow Baby. I found the whole setup a bit intimidating. Small bowls, myriad options, jostling with fellow diners to reach the bin of red bell peppers in the back under the sneeze guard, plus lots of different colored sticks to indicate various requests to the good people that actually cook your self-made concoction. Whew! About those colored sticks. I have a gluten allergy, and while I found it strange that the white stick for vegetarian is the same one for allergies, I'm happy to report Chow Baby can accommodate GF diners, as I had no issues with my cooked food. How could I? I selected the ingredients, which were cooked expertly -- and safely. Please note: Chow Baby has a separate area to prepare food for people with allergies, so your meal may take a little longer to arrive at the table. Just be patient, and know you'll have a safe meal to eat. For me, selecting my own food, memorizing the GF sauces before I hit the line, and trying not to hold up said line is a lot of pressure. I'm the diner that enjoys a leisurely lunch, with food I select from the menu cooked to order and brought to the table. But for those who know exactly what they want to eat, or know how to cook, or like to overindulge, Chow Baby is a fantastic place for lunch. For just $9.99 - plus any adders for bread, shrimp, etc. - you get unlimited access to the DIY line and can eat as much as you want. Or more. Creative types can experiment with various flavor combinations. Service is a definite plus. Everyone I dealt with, from the hostess to the bartender to our cheerful and helpful server Tony, seemed to genuinely care about my dining experience and answered my many questions with ease. I like the space too -- large and inviting, but still sleek and citified. Unless you can find street parking, the only option is valet. Which isn't too bad, but does add to the cost of your experience at The Real Chow Baby. (The valet itself is free, but who doesn't tip the attendant?)
(3)
Meg E.

This was my favorite restaurant until Saturday. My friend and I planned to meet there and after getting her child out of the car and walking up there we realized they were closed. There was a work crew inside and one of them motioned to a sign on the door that said they are relocating. Walking back to the car we saw several other groups headed up there and we were able to stop them from walking all the way because they too didn't know it was closed. The restaurant needs to post on their website or fb page that they aren't open right now because no one knows. We even looked at store hours before we drove down there that day. I feel like chow baby howell mill doesn't care about their customers. They didn't let the customers know they were going to be closing and now they are relocating to Alpharetta (rumor has it) and abandoning all the local faithful customers. Chow baby why do you do this to us? What did we ever do to you? It would have been five stars but you didn't even show up.
(1)
Phong T.

Love this location! Chow Baby is where your inner chef comes out as I would like to say. You make your own stir-fry meal pretty much. Rice/pasta/noodles, meat, vegetables, spices, sauces etc! Great food and friendly staff. Parking deck is in the back. Park yourself or Valet is available. 98A health inspection as of May 2014
(4)
Diedre R.

IMO if you've gone to one Chow baby, you've gone to them all. I keep it simple when going to the bar to fix my bowls of food. I've gone to others with people and they pile so much stuff in the bowls and the foods don't mesh well together or the food is too spicy. IMO, its pricey for what it is $7 for what is the equivalent of 3 vegetable egg rolls and the all you can eat portion of it is almost $20 in itself. This location could teach the bar staff that its not nice to clear the food bar while people are standing their fixing their bowls, but I guess if they didn't it would always be messing, cause there is generally a line of people prepping their bowls. Its all you can eat, so generally my first bowl wipes me out, but I generally go back for a second round. At some of these Chow Baby restaurants, they won't let you take a to-go box after your second round. I had no desire to bring one home from this location, but heard someone else in my dining party tell another person that he couldn't take one at this restaurant since he had gone up to the bar 3 times. Maybe the other locations have a bar, but this is my first time ever experiencing a bar at one of these restaurant,. so I had the bartender make me a special drink. Something called a Medicine Ball. It was refreshing for a summer evening sitting on the patio, Oh yeah, the covered patio at this location, made this visit earn an extra star. Valet parking and some limited free parking. At the end of the night, keep in mind this location is within walking distance of the world famous Compound, so if you are here late in the evening, you will be commingling the valet and limited parking with club goers. That being said, someone broke into my daughters car using the free parking spots, so don't have any valuables in your car if you are going to be self parking. Does not accept reservations on Saturday nights.
(4)
Paula S.

I don't know what's going on with Chow Baby...but it seems like they are going downhill. The last few times I've gone home I've made sure to stop by Chow Baby and the experience wasn't that great. I went on a Sunday recently and they were out of a lot of ingredients (Kale, Mushrooms, tomatoes, Roti Bread, etc. etc). The wait staff didn't seem interested in refilling/cutting up/preparing more ingredients - so we just had to "deal" with what was left. The ingredient bar was totally nasty and sticky, and it stayed that way the whole hour and a half we were there. Just a little upkeep and attentiveness would give this place back its shine. For now, it's fallen off my "whenever I go home I have to eat there" list.
(3)
Lilly Y.

Build your own stir fry. It's a pretty cool thing if you haven't tried it yet. You can get creative or follow a recipe they already have posted in the restaurant. I chose the latter and tweaked it with ingredients that I like: bamboo shoots, baby corn, sprouts, and bok choy to name a few. It comes out pretty quickly and you can make unlimited trips: you don't like or messed up your concoction, you can go back for more. However, if you want to take your bowl home, you have to use it on your first trip. If you go back for seconds/thirds/whatever, you can't bring those home with you (or so they say. Our server let us take our second bowls home and I'm looking forward to eating it for lunch today!) Some gripes I had with the place: they apparently stopped stocking all their ingredients and didn't update their recipes. I made a Vacation Bowl that calls for lemongrass, but they apparently don't sell that anymore. They also didn't have the bell peppers required for the coconut curry bowl. Also, I was limited to the recipes displayed on the wall because they were completely out of the cards. I wasn't in a creative mood and wanted to follow a recipe, but it's hard to when they don't have many to choose from and are missing advertised ingredients.
(4)
Krishna J.

Good concept. Pick your own ingredients and go crazy. My favorite combo so far has been rice and veggies with the red curry sauce, ginger basil sauce and Thai cilantro sauce with chicken, beef, sausage and egg. I know it sounds like a lot and it is! But totally worth for the money you pay. Lines can be long, parking is valet only so it adds a bit to the total cost and service is just ok. Hence I give them only 4 stars. But no complaints about the food! It's a great place to go if you want to eat as much as you want and then go sleep it off for 2 days!
(4)
Tarah M.

Let me 1st say, that went to the Howell Mill location and did not know that this location had closed. There was nothing indicating this on website I had a party of 10 people an I quickly called the Ponce location and expressed my concerns. After speaking with manager, he expressed to me that we still had plenty of time to eat and to try to come over to the Ponce location as soon we could. When we arrived, the manager quickly sat us down and introduce us to our server Mark. Mark was very pleasant and skillfull to handle such a large party. Within minutes, the manager provided outstanding service recovery. He kept checking on us and so did our servor. We were very pleased; even after our 1st encounter with Howell Mill location. Great job Chow Baby!!!
(5)
Karin B.

Really different fun experience. The food was good and gave us lots of healthy, tasty choices. Did I mention it's all you can eat?? You pick your ingredients and they can make it into a soup, salad, wrap or stir fry.
(4)
Alvin H.

The last time we came here I resolved to never come back again. The wife mistakenly purchased a groupon or whatever coupon site we use. I must say with all my reservations it is like night and day. The food is coming fast. The severs have the best attitude and are so accommodating. The management is engaging and friendly. I was just advised that they have a new management team. I can really see the difference. Keep up the great work guys
(4)
Suzanne J.

If I could give it no stars I would! The service was terrible, it took forever and the food wasn't even good! I brought my son and his friends there for his 13th birthday. They had no desserts that were on the menu they didn't even say happy birthday. Never coming back!!!
(1)
Coltonac76 ..

Excellent choice to come dine in here. The food was freshly prepared as always and immediately brought out to our table. I'm never disappointed when I come here considering you pick and choose your own ingredients. ....I highly recommend coming to this place if you ever have a taste for American Stir Fry
(4)
Noriko B.

BUYER BEWARE! Do not use your credit card at this location. The staff will use your Credit Card information to look up your social media profiles and harrass you. I do enjoy thier food but after this stalking experience, I choose not to visit thier location any further. I cannot believe that managment condones such behavior. I am sure that there is something both ethically, legally, and morally wrong with this. Because I do enjoy thier food; I would suggest using cash if you plan to patronize this location.
(1)
Arielle H.

I love the set up. Everything is cool about this place. The food is great, the service is even better. Chow chow baby!
(4)
Nina T.

Good selection of toppings but I don't care for the sauces too much. Also, the noodles aren't very tasty. I'm not sure if I'd go back here.
(3)
Frederick K.

Chow baby is one of the best places you can eat all the fresh food you want without breaking your bank account ! Highly recommend the Sarachioli sauce . Must try it might be addictive ! They have a great Valet parking service too. Over all if lived closer I'd eat here at least once a week . Service is top notch as well.
(5)
Julie B.

This is alright if you know how to combine sauces, noodles, veggies, and meat into an awesome American stir-fry dish. If not... you may not end up with something you like. This place gets points for originality and the massive range of options of available, but none of the sauces are that remarkable. At $13+tax+tip for all you can eat dinner, the price is reasonable. I only wish our waitress explained how to order/what to do with Popsicle stick. My large party would have been completely lost had it not been for the one person who had been there before. Also, they tack on a 18% tip for parties, even though half of the service is done by the diner.
(3)
Christy M.

Up front, I'll say that Chow Baby is probably not for everyone. Only about half the people I've ever brought here actually enjoyed it, and I'm pretty sure all those were people who like to cook. Non-cooks tend to be overwhelmed with the number of options and feeling like whatever they put in their bowls won't be great. Or maybe I just hang out with too many perfectionists. In any case, I'm here to speak up as firmly pro-Chow. I LOVE all the options, and feeling like I'm eating something that maybe no one else ever thought of. I'm a little bummed that they have started charging for a tortilla, but not enough to stop going. The only drawback for me is that I can't help thinking "ooh, this is good, but I bet I could go for Round 2 and do it even better if I just..." and always end up eating waaaay too much. My only nit-pick this time around was about the squid in the proteins bar - it was wildly frozen when I went, a bummer since it's usually my favorite. Having to chisel off a few pieces to eat it sort of ruined the appeal. Other than that, everything was super fresh and tasty, just as it ought to be. Do try to avoid the place on Friday and Saturday nights. This was my first visit during the week and not having to wait in line for 20 minutes at the buffet was a revelation!
(4)
Nicole S.

I really loved this place! There are so many different options that it can be a little overwhelming the first time, but I'm not complaining. $12.99 for all you can eat, and I put it to use the best I could. I did two separate trips to the "creation line". My second tilapia, calamari combo with ginger lime sauce was awesome! I appreciated that we didn't have to sit and wait for our food to cook. You just put your bowl in the window and it's delivered to your table when it's ready. Fun. Great mojitos, too.
(4)
Kiana M.

Love this place ! This location has more variety than the other locations. Of course it can get messy and the floors get sticky from the messed made by others while preparing food but it's overall awesome !
(4)
Ruben J.

Absolutely love The Real Chow Baby! Love the whole concept of making your own stir fry. The fact that you can get back online and make yourself multiple plates is even better. The suggestions of spices takes your meal selection to another level, I highly recommend it. And just in case if you feel like you didn't have enough. You can take a plate home for an additional charge. Everything about the place is amazing and the price is reasonable. I recommend this place to anyone who wants to take their lunch/dinner out of the normal routine, and expect tasteful results.
(5)
Micheal L.

Love the concept of building your own plate. Been to places similar to this which use freeze dried meats but this place has all fresh meats and ingredients which is so refreshing. I was a bit disappointed that they ran out of beef but I understand just for the fact of keeping it fresh. Service was a little lacking but I feel it's a must have experience if your in town.
(4)
Jason H.

This place is awesome. So many choices so little space in my stomach. You can come back here every day for a month and not eat the same meal, unless you have no imagination. The only thing I think they could improve on is the line itself. Everything is so close together and sometimes hard to maneuver. Other than that this place is awesome.
(4)
Raven T.

I took a vegetarian friend here last week and she thoroughly enjoyed all the options available for her. The food is fresh, the price is great, and its fun trying different concoctions. I love making Pad Thai.
(4)
Lauren E.

I made reservations for a group of 6 and had to move the reservation time back a half hour (Atlanta traffic). The staff had no problems moving the reservation or seating my group. When more people than my reservation showed up, they had no problem moving us to a larger table to accommodate everyone. The service was AWESOME. Our server was attentive and made sure we had a great experience. I know working a larger table of people can be trying, but we were well taken care of. As far as the food goes, it was awesome as always. I think Chow Baby is the best way to go if you are trying to feed a diverse group of people. Our group ranged from vegans to staunch meat eaters. Everyone ate their fill and was completely satisfied with the food selection. In comparison to the Chow Baby that is actually closer to my home (the one on Ponce), this one is FARRR better. The one on Ponce was out of a lot of items and sauces the last time I went in and the service was horrible. Howell Mill is my new Chow Baby home and I can't rave about it enough.
(4)
Sj M.

First time at this location. The food was delicious. The staff was friendly and Chef Trey really made my day. He took time to make sure my mom's birthday was pleasingly fun. If you are a picky eater or like stir fry then this is the best place.
(5)
Meredith R.

Noisy and Fun! If you're looking for a quiet, gourmet evening out -- this place isn't for you. If you're in a hurry, forget it. (You'll probably have to wait for a table.) Granted, a foodie with a nose for Asian, would poo-poo Chow Baby. But me, when I'm in the mood, I like it! The meal is what you make of it: vegetables, rice or noodles, meats, condiments. If you're timid about putting things together, follow the suggestions posted on the wall. This is a modern day mongolian grill. I think the concept works.
(3)
G H.

On 4/3/14 I visited at about 4:30 pm and the waiter Rob was less than helpful. I am disabled to wherein I am unable to stand for long or walk any considerable distance. Usually when I visit this, or any location, I ask for a card and the server will give the filled card to the chef to accommodate me. Rob gave me some song and dance and told me that it would be up to my companion to serve me. Not the best way to provide excellent customer service. Won't be going back.
(2)
Cindy A.

We love Chow Baby! It is perfect for date night or for meeting up with friends. The food is always delicious and I love that I can get exactly what I want. The atmosphere is good and the wait staff is always friendly.
(5)
Josh W.

I maybe exaggerating with the 5 star rating, but what can I say. I love CHOW BABY, and for sure it is at least 4 stars! It's pretty much true to its title, as american stir fry. You star from the front of the serving area, and select your ingredients; meats, vegetables, sauces and seasonings, you name it! They stir fry it for you , and bring it to your table. Very good food. Be careful with what you mix, because your flavors may not always match. Prices are good , but be ware, you can go back for seconds, but they will charge you an extra $5. Parking is available on the street, or you can get your car valeted parked, just up to you. I love chow baby
(5)
Acelyn B.

I love Chow Baby! I specifically chose this restaurant when visiting Atlanta because I missed it so much. Sadly, there is no Mongolian BBQ of this caliber that I know of in Tampa. I like the experience of creating your own recipe, and they have so many ingredients that it seems the combinations are endless. I usually get full at two bowls, but my friends kept going up again and again like bottomless pits. They definitely got their money's worth. The only thing I can complain about from my last visit is that my first bowl was spicy, when I didn't put anything spicy in it. I guess that's the downside of having one large circle grill they use over and over to cook everyone's food.
(4)
Pink O.

We come before the lunch crowd so service is quick! Can't really complain here because you pretty much put together your own meal...they just fry it up. Great place to bring a date;-)
(5)
Alesha B.

Most unique restaurant in Atlanta where u can personalize each dish you eat! I love it here! Get the chow punch as the cocktail then hit the stir fry bar!
(5)
Michael H.

I used to love this place, but between big (slow) line, signs saying they'll charge extra if I use two bowls (to avoid having to go through the slow line twice) and the most grievous problem: they no longer serve bean sprouts. I asked the management about that and was told that they were having problems with the health inspector and keeping sprouts at the right temperature. Very bummed since this is the only Mongolian BBQ in the area. Guess I'll be going up to the new place at perimeter.
(2)
Clare S.

Above all, a very interesting concept! This place combines the make-it-yourself feature of an omelette bar with the all-you-can-eat-ness of a buffet. Because of the huge variety of meats, vegetables, carbs, and sauces, you can create virtually any cuisine you like: Chinese, American, Thai, etc. For that versatility at such a reasonable price, this place is definitely worth checking out. The ambience and atmosphere is very comfortable, and when we were here, they were playing a CD of 2000's pop hits. Needless to say, we were singing along to Britney Spears and BSB the whole time. Such fun! One tip is to take it easy with the sauces. Don't add too much, because you can always go back and add some more if it's not flavorful enough. Don't pile it on otherwise there's no way to get it out! Another great thing about this place is that you can pay $5 extra for a final stir-fry to take home with you. Lunch here costs $9, and you can grab dinner for later for just that extra 5 bucks!
(4)
Maurice D.

There's a ton of reviews for this place so I won't go into too many details, but I absolutely LOVE THIS PLACE! I like to go on a Wednesday evening when they run a promotion called, "Date Night" where you get 2 stir frys, appetizer, and a dessert all for a low price of $28. GREAT! FOOD: Their crab rangoon appetizer is AWESOME! Best crab rangoon EVER! My favorite sauce to put on my stir fry is the Coconut Curry, which just so happens to be the most caloric and fatty sauce they offer. OH WELL! I'm out so I will splurge on a few hundred extra calories LOL! Make sure you get the stick for the ROTI BREAD, it's AWESOME! Their Oreo cheesecake is pretty good also, way better than the cheesecake they sell at the Cheesecake Bistro and Cheesecake Factory. ATMOSPHERE: I love the ambiance of this place, very hip and modern with dim light's. I'm not sure if that's true for the day time, since I have only been here at night. The restaurant is kind of small and tables are close together. I could hear the entire conversation of the 4-person party in the table next to me. The staff is mostly young 20 somethings who are kind of attitudey, but that doesn't bother me much at all. I still tip well. CHOW BABY 5 STARS!!!!!!!!! WooooooHoooooooooooo!
(5)
Bianca K.

I LOVE this place!!!! Yum! A friend took me to Chow Baby a couple months ago and I've been addicted ever since. I've been to some restaurants with the same concept, but Chow Baby gets it sooooooo right. There are so many choices-from meats to veggies and sauces that everyone is satisfied. I usually skip the appetizers because the stir-fry is so filling but they are just as delicious. If you haven't been you're missing out!
(5)
Asma A.

One of my favorite spots. I have been here oh so many times that I cant even count! what's not to love about this place? Unlimited all you can eat. you have a variety to pick and choose from and how you want it cooked (with nan, salad, chicken, beef, tilapia, shrimp, and even if you want it prepared on a veggie wok) I have gone there so many times that now i get creative with what i make.. sometimes make spicy corn, omelets, and different kinds of pasta... And you have nothing to lose.. you dont like what you make, you just go back and re-make it... Downfall: long lines, you have to wait like 15-20 to get your food, and sometimes they run out of the meat you want.. but at the end of the day, i love this place..
(5)
Daniel B.

The Real Chow Baby follows the Mongolian stir-fry concept, except dresses it up in a chic and trendy atmosphere to make it feel fancier. I've been here several times for dinner and created many a custom stir-fry. The food tastes as good as you make it. If you're a good cook, chances are you'll be successful with this. If you're a horrible cook like me, then it might take some experimentation before you find a worthwhile ingredient combination! Dinner is $12.99 for all-you-can-eat create-it-yourself stir-fry. Lunch is less, but I believe there are less ingredients available. At dinner, you can choose from over 70 ingredients and 17 sauces. When you're seated at your table, you're given a small wooden paddle with your table number written on it. You write your name onto your paddle with pencils provided at the table. This way the servers know where and who to serve the dishes to. When you stand in line, you pick up bowls and add ingredients in the following order: carbs (rice, noodles), vegetables, egg, sauces, and protein (chicken, beef, fish, etc.). The veggies, egg, and sauce go in one bowl and the protein goes in another bowl. You stick your wooden paddle into one of your bowls and hand it off to the cooks. It usually takes about 5-10 minutes for your meal to process through the queue and be cooked and brought out to you. I've always found the ingredients here to be generally fresh, mainly because the restaurant is busy and the workers are constantly refilling items. Since The Real Chow Baby is based off an Asian concept, there are a handful of traditional Asian vegetables such as bamboo shoots, bok choy, and water chestnuts. Many of the sauces are also Asian, like oyster sauce, Thai curry, Kung Pao, hoisin, and teriyaki. I enjoy loading up on the thin chow mein egg noodles or brown rice with lots of broccoli, asparagus, leeks, minced garlic, cilantro, and scallions. I mix it up with the meats -- everything from chicken to beef to sausage to fish (tilapia) to scallops to calamari. I'm a fan of the Asian peanut pesto and the oyster sauce. Be careful not to add too much sauce as you don't want your stir-fry to become too "soupy." When trying out new flavor and ingredient combinations (or if it's your first time), I recommend adding very little to your bowls and experimenting. This way, you won't be stuck with a huge bowl of food that doesn't taste good and end up wasting it. You can always go back to the bar for more. One additional customization feature uses colored sticks. Depending on the color of the stick you add, you can turn your bowl into a salad, soup, or wrap. You can also add premium ingredients like roti bread (75 cents), shrimp ($1.75), or salmon ($1.75). The different colors designate the different options. Service is typically on point. The atmosphere is loud and energetic. Both indoor and covered outdoor patio seating is available. If coming on the weekend, it's probably a good idea to make a reservation. Valet parking is complimentary.
(3)
May T.

I visited the second this last weekend. I never realized how much of the ingredients were coming out of a can instead of being freshly cut. I used to go behind the kitchen at my school and saw cans and cans of food and I looked at the content ingredients and I remember being disgusted. All the GMOs, additives, sugar, salt that you can think of. They use the same ones here. Mixing your own sauces and stuff here can be hit or miss. I cook at home but I taste my sauces before I add them so it's hard to do that there. It's a fun place to have dinner, although I've gotten sick of eating here already. Don't know why they don't have tofu anymore?
(3)
Steve B.

It all depends when you go. I can understand the Yelpers that happen to go seen to be on the scene that happen to dive into this place on a Friday or Saturday night. Nuh uh, nope, don't do it. Then you're review will be a 3 star max. You get caught up in the trap. You have to check out The Real Chow Baby during the week or on a Sunday Afternoon - Bam, Bing, Yessir! I am and have always been a fan of The Real Chow Baby. With Google Offers sponsoring the outing, how can you not lose?! This is a guaranteed win!!!! First you hit that line with a George Jefferson walk like you about to get into something like awwwwwwwwww shiz now. Go grab you a black bowl, load it up with rice, noodles, veggies, whatever you want it it to be, chase it with sauces, spices. Grab that red bowl, just stock up on beef, sausage, tilapia, calamari, scallops - ON POINT! Food Itis will be sure to be in sink Words of advice - do not go up there on some Man vs Food tip - you will lose every single time!! Grade: B
(4)
Ryan L.

NOTE: The quality of the food depends mostly on your own judgement. Chow Baby is a modern Mongolian Grill concept in a nice environment. It is AYCE by plate style, and will normally cost about $11-15 per person if you do not get one of the few $2 per plate add-ons like roti, salmon, and shimp. How it works... 1. Sit down, and a waitress gets your drink order, and explains the process; he/she will give you a numbered flat skewer stick in which you write your name and stick into your uncooked dish later. 2. Go up to the self serve bar, pick a black bowl, and fill it with carbs (rices/noodles), vegetables (all kinds, asian/western, herbs), and sauces (asian focused). 3. Grab a smaller red bowl for the meats (chkn, pork, beef, fish, squid, egg, sausage) and spices (all types). 4. Stick the skewer into the two bowls, pass it into the cooking area, sit back down, and wait (7-10 minutes). Generally, if one wants to experiment and try different things, I would go light on each trip. You are allowed unlimited trips. I would not get too much food, especially carbs, and I would not try to mix up too many sauces and spices together. The spices go a long way, so use them sparingly. It is hard to say if the food is good or bad, because you really have the most control over how your food will turn out. So definitely experiment with different combinations. There are so many choices, so I would also give the whole food bar a look before you start. There are some suggestions on the wall. What makes this place great is the transparency, cleanliness, selection, and service that makes this food approachable. It also makes one feel good when the raw food you piled on into the bowls turns into a well plated presentation dish..."pat yourself on the back" type of feeling... Overall, a great place to go with people who have diverse palates, can not agree on what to eat, or want to have a fun experience.
(4)
Michael R.

The food is good but not worth it when you factor in the parking surcharge. My wife works nights and we often meet for dinner. Chow Baby's lack of free parking means adding $5 per car to your spend. I'm not talking about a busy weekend. I'm talking even at 5pm on a weekday. It's just not worth it when they are surrounded by other good restaurants that care enough about their patrons to have a free parking solution. Come on RCB, get real. Valet parking on a weekday when you are already slow?! No thanks.
(2)
Lori J.

When our party of 5 walked into the restaurant there was no hostess to greet us. We proceeded to help ourselves to the buffet because we thought it was self service. Come to find out we were suppose to be seated by someone. Beware in the menu in fine print is a gratuity that we knew nothing about because we did not get menus. If they move 2 tables together or your party is over 6 people there is an 18% gratuity. Even if your service isn't that great. We spoke to a manager about our situation and he said he could not take off the gratuity that the register just puts it on your reciept. so he did take off a meal, but it took some persuading for him to do it. Will not eat here again. Its too bad it seemed like a nice place. You should be able to pay your server for there service.
(1)
Ikem A.

The buisness model is smart because if your food sucks, its your f The buisness model is interesting, if your food sucks is completely your fault
(3)
Collin S.

Reminiscing a bit on Yelp, and I realized that I never reviewed this place. I've been gone from Georgia now for about 2 years, so bear with me, but this place was by far one of my favorite places to visit when I was in Atlanta up from Fort Benning. Fresh ingredients, good price, and tons of variety. I wish I lived in Atlanta, because I never got around to being able to try all of the different creations that I wanted. I've been living in Washington DC going to law school now for the last 2 years, and I have to say, they do not have a mongolian bbq style place that even approaches being half of what The Real Chow Baby is. Damn shame. But hey, if you guys want to franchise or expand, I'm pretty much willing to be the owner up here. Would do incredibly well in a city that's chock full of every other type of falafel, Ethiopian, or otherwise "wordly" food except for some good stir fry barbecue.
(5)
Benjamin T.

Iv been here a few times and really like the place. Its a pretty good deal for all you can eat. It does get pretty crowded sometimes and it sucks waiting in long line o get your food. The buffet can get pretty messy at times, especially when there are children in front of you spilling sauces everywhere. I really wouldn't recommend it for bringing children. I noticed that they have raised their prices recently. I think now ot is $8.99 for lunch and $12.99 for dinner...you can add different meats such a salmon amd shrimp to your plate for a few bucks extra..One tip that I do have is to make sure you wash your hands after every visit to te buffet. If you don't you will get raw meat on your hands and become very sick. Trust me, it happend to me.
(4)
Hussain D.

Great food.. Well it really depends on what you add... But really nice selection of meat, veggies, sauces, spices.. Dinner is @12.99 unlimited..weekday lunch is $9.99. If you go in the evenings in weekends, BE READY TO WAIT.. Atleast ONE HOUR!! I PLACE IS PACKED on WEEKENDS but it is one of a kind experience when you finally get in and start eating.
(4)
Gillian R.

People kept telling me about The Real Chow Baby, and I have to say--I just didn't get it. As a vegetarian who often doesn't feel like a whole lot of cooking at the end of the work day, I tend to eat stir-fry quite often. Why would I pay to stand in line, fill a bowl, and have someone else do the stirring? That said, I clearly ended up here one night. A former co-worker was in town and TRCB was chosen as our meeting place for dinner with a couple of other co-workers. They explained how it worked and we hopped in line, bowls and sticks in hand. Here is what I liked: there is literally something for everyone. Rice, noodles, bread. You dinner can be made into a soup, salad, wrap, or stir-fry. There are TONS of veggie options to choose from. There are some awesomely tasty sauces available for mixing and matching. I greatly appreciated being able to designate my food as vegetarian so that it could be done on a separate part of the grill. (At least, I assume that's what happens--I didn't get a stomach ache.) Here is what could be done better: Sure, we were there on a Friday night, but we had quite a wait in line. If it were a smaller establishment, there would be less of a wait. That said, I only ate two bowls, so the average wait time wasn't that ridiculous. The food did come back to us in just a couple of minutes, so that was a plus. Some of the sauces had a very scary nutritional content, particularly one that I really enjoyed. That didn't stop me from getting it, but did probably stop my meal from being as healthy as I usually shoot for. Oh, and the price. I think I paid over $20 for stir-fry, a beer, and a piece of cheesecake. The cheesecake won over my dining partners, which is why I ended up taking a piece home with me, but it truly wasn't anything to write home about. I could make better. Will I be back? Maybe. But for lunch, not dinner. I'm not keen on paying through the nose for a meal that I can, and often do, make myself.
(3)
Trell S.

Love this location more than the other one. I just wish valet was closer to the front door.
(4)
Michael O.

I always have a good time here! I love the diverse crowd, the ambiance and of course the food! I always sneak in a couple shots of "Bacardi Wolf Berry" Rum to spike my Sprite while waiting on the lines to die sown! lol.
(5)
Ben T.

Its hard to rate this place because if you dont like the food it was your own fault! I have made some things that were not the best but the good thing is that they have recommendations for dishes. Good for lunch or dinner. Will be returning
(3)
Whitney P.

I really like chow baby. For $8.99 you really cant beat this place. My only problem is that they primarily use canned veggies. I'm not really a big fan of this; however, if I want to be ubber healthy I'll eat at home. For a once in a while meal chow baby is a great place to get a good meal.
(5)
Herschel G.

If you are a first-timer and don't know what to construct, I suggest the Wok it Out bowl...
(4)
Ray L.

Yeah, it may be fun to create your own dish, but I wouldn't call the ingredients high quality and the service was horrendous. The food is whatever - you're doing it all yourself so you get what you ask for. Lots of the ingredients seem to be previously frozen. I went with two other people who received their food more than 20 minutes before I got mine. The server never said anything like, "Yours will be coming soon," or "Let me check to see where your food is." Instead, we had to search around for her, and when she did some over, she said matter-of-factly and unapologetically, "Your food is in the next batch." No estimate on the time or anything. When it did come, she set it on the table and walked away. On top of all that, they added 18% gratuity on our check for using Scoutmob. Pretty messed up if you ask me. Your food and your people suck, Chowbaby. Never again.
(1)
Justine D.

This place is amazing!!!! :D food is delicious and well prepared! Also, atmosphere is excellent and fun for friends to hang out! Our waiter Jeremy was phenomenal and very welcoming! He took great care of my friends and I! Go to Chow Baby! It's an experience you'll love!
(5)
Andra F.

The waitress we had for our party of 6 had poor customer service. 1st: she tried to sit us at a table for 4 persons and claimed that's what we told her there were 4 people in our party. 2nd: She was sharp tongued and sassy. No professionalism at all. I couldn't believe she was speaking to us the way she did. We requested to speak to the manager on duty. 3rd: The manager on duty was extremely nonchanlant. He had no solutions and didn't offer any. Maybe an appology would've been good for starters. We weren't looking for free food and drinks. We were looking for acknowledgement that one of your staff members was rude towards us. The food was fine if you had the right combinations. If not, then it woudn't taste all that great. This is not a "Child Friendly" place. Combine all of that, I will never return.
(1)
Rock T.

Enjoyed a nice office luncheon at RCB. Our party of 12 was greeted at the door for our 11:30a.m. reservation and promptly seated. Server took our drink order then clearly explained the drill for first timers: black bowl for veggies and red bowl for meats, etc.. After going through the line, the cooks stir fry it up and the servers bring it to the table. Good selection for vegetarians and vegans as well. Overall, food and service was great! Due to size of our party, gratuity was added to the checks, but they kept it all straight and everyone got their correct change/CC receipts. Will look forward to coming back.
(4)
Catina T.

I like this place especially now since the novelty has worn off. Years ago there were really long waits on a weekend night. This time around we were promptly seated. Drinks are good and strong. Food was great too.
(4)
Cindy W.

Caught between 2 and 3? Everyone loves the concept; grab a stick, write name, pile rice/noodles, vegetables, herbs, sauces, meat, and spices. However the execution always goes wrong... All the ingredients look a little cheap (the vegetables are not the freshest, some are canned, some are bruised and beaten to a pulp, the beef always has a weird grainy texture, the sauces are so frikkin Americanized and nasty). I can't see where I'm piling or adding sauces and it's such a small little bowl it's hard to add the ingredients in the proper manner without a mess. Lines get ridiculous and many times the food arrives without the proper cooking. There IS a difference between rare and undercooked; if my calamari is still slimy when I eat it, I'm not touching it. Dinner prices are a no-go because it's essentially the same thing as lunch, and the appetizers, drinks, and desserts are analogous to how movies make money off of popcorn, sodas, and candy. So suggestion: go during lunch, early one too to avoid lines, and try several combination of sauces and spices to see which one you like. If you're not sure, go with someone who cooks. :) Parking is complimentary valet, but you still need to tip, and they almost ran over the toes of everyone in my party of 4....
(2)
Ashley W.

I wasn't a fan of this restaurant. The food is mediocre, but the mojitos are out of this world. I would go here strictly for the mojitos and this only!
(2)
Annie L.

Build your own meals AYCE style :) They give you this wooden stick with a number on it (number of your table?). You combine everything you want in your dish (rice or pasta or both, wide assortment of veggies, lots of sauces to drown your meal in). Choose another bowl for meats (chicken, steak, fish, scallops, etc.). VOILA! Wait another 5-10 minutes and the server will bring out the dish that you put together. Make it into a stirfry or salad or fried rice or anything your little heart desires. Really good food for an affordable price. Drinks and desserts are separate.
(4)
Janet B.

One of my favorite restaurants when I lived in Chicago was a DIY stir fry/salad/soup/wrap place with delicious martinis and lots of spunk. When I heard that there was a similar place in Atlanta, I was SO EXCITED. When I walked in, I had a deja vu moment. The place was so similar to that in Chicago! From the order of ingredients (rice, noodle, veggies, meat) and fun drink names to the chalkboard, even down to the font! So was I screaming in joy? Well, not really. The Real Chow Baby was less efficient and generous than its twin in Chicago. You get unlimited stir fry for a set price, but they charge extra for you to make wrap/salad. They also charged $1 for roti bread, which is really, really yummy and should be served free with every plate! Still, I enjoyed my experience. I made my plates small at first since I didn't want to get stuck with an utter failure of a plate. You can't really go wrong since you have unlimited chances to make the perfect dish! There was a decent # of people at 4pm-- I was surprised by the line! I can't imagine how busy it must be during the real chow hours. Also, I kind of fear for people with allergies or those who are really picky about ingredients because it does get really messy on the counter. Otherwise, it's a really fun place to try out different combinations of your favorite ingredients and flavors!
(4)
Khoi T.

This place is certainly a hit and miss depending on your ability to cook and understand flavors. With that being said, I have taken many friends here. Those who loves the place, cook a regular basis. If you going with someone who doesn't cook.... you might want to hold their hands through the process. Whether your creation will turn out well is really based on your sauce selection and the amount of sauce you choose. You certainly don't want to turn your dish into a soup, and you certainly don't want to make it bland. 2.5 Ladle is my personal rule. Here are my tips: Time: You want to get there really early (before 6 pm) or really late (after 8pm) to miss the rush. The waiting and line can get crazy. Sauce: My favorite sauce combination are: Kung pao with Peanut and Kung Pao with Coconut Curry. Meat: I suggest you stay away from the beef. Mine always turn out over cooked. Portion: Go small. You can always go back and get more.
(4)
Swetha S.

I went to this place for the first time last night and I was hooked. I love the concept of making your own bowl and the options ( both veggie and meat) present are very good. Be careful with the sauces though. I made a couple of weird tasting bowls. On the bright side, it's eat all you can!
(4)
Nicole A.

Decided to try the Real Chow Baby - Howell Mill today for a business lunch and it was a nice experience! I've been to Chow Baby on Ponce and the food I received I believe was 1/2 my creation and 1/2 the creation of the person in front of me. I would give the location on Ponce 2 stars because the restaurant was dirty and the bar was sticky although I was the only person having a cocktail at 12 noon....its never too early for a cocktail! The Howell Mill location was much better!!!! The restaurant was clean and the veggies were fresh! The line moved pretty fast - I could tell that everyone that day was a repeat customer and didn't need time to decide. I received my plate promptly and the food was nice and hot! I appreciated that this location unlike Ponce didn't overcook and burn my food. Nice place for the Creative Souls
(4)
Michael B.

We came here on a suggestion from a friend and I was not disappointed. The atmosphere of the place is causal and chic and the smell is tantalizing. I personally liked the choices for making our stir fry and the end result was delicious. Our waitress was also very personable and helped getting us set up. The one drawback is that my partner's food came with bits and pieces that she didn't want which ruined the experience for her. All in all I liked it, but if you're picky you might want to stay away.
(4)
B B.

I will never go here again! I went last week for takeout. I got there 20 minutes before closing and they refused to serve me. I might understand that if I were trying to dine in but I made it clear that I wanted to get takeout and was still turned away! Horrible customer service has lost them my business forever!
(1)
Amanda T.

I'm only giving Chow Baby 2 stars because the veggies are actually very fresh. The service was absolutely horrible though. I was immediately turned off by the fact that they valet even for lunch, so I'm immediately out a buck before I walk in the door. This was my first time in, so I was unsure of how things worked. I was shown to the bar, where I was handed a little wooden paddle. That's where the service stopped. The process is strange, so they definitely need to offer explanation to first-timers. You place the ingredients you want in separate bowls - one for veggies and rice, one for meat. You're supposed to choose your sauce like you would a salad dressing. This is tricky because there's no option to taste them and there are no descriptions aside from basic names (Teriyaki, Red Curry, etc). So if you choose wrong, your $8.99 meal is ruined. I passed my bowls to the "chef" for him to prepare and proceeded to wait at the bar for 15 minutes. I suppose it normally wouldn't take so long, since the meal was already prepared and only needed to be stir-fried, but the bartender allowed my food to sit directly behind him without checking to see if it was mine. And there was no apology - he actually laughed at his mistake. So I paid $14 for a stir-fry with a by then soggy spring roll and a cup of tea, with $1.30 gratuity included. I'll order in Chinese next time and avoid the hassle.
(2)
Linda F.

I have eaten here a few times, and all but once have been completely satisfied. There was a time when we were seated on the patio, and it was chilly out so they had the heaters on, and I was roasting on my face (sunburn roast), but my back was freezing? Asked to be moved, but we had a big party and seating was tight. It was just a little uncomfortable, I asked for the heater to be reduced and the manager said it was all done by timers - did not believe him? They do need to work on customer service a little, but will definitely go back, great food and very fresh veggies! Fun atmosphere - just will not sit outside in the winter!
(4)
Douglas D.

I love this place. YOU REALLY ARE THE BOSS. The wait can be tough when the food line is long, but that is life at a eatery that operates with a buffet setup. You simply get seated by the staff and they will take your drink and appetizer order, then they give you a wooden paddle (you or they write your name on it)...then head to the buffet line. As you pass down the extensive offerings on the buffet YOU choose what and HOW MUCH you want to have stir fried by the cooks in your meal. Also, you can make as many trips as your stomach can handle. If you mess up, no worries, try again (it can take some time to become a CHOW BABY EXPERT. The parking can be tough and this place can get VERY busy at various times. The price is less at lunch and four dollars more at night. It is worth it. They do play some "loud" great music, too. Come hungry and leave in a food coma!
(4)
Chris T.

The Chow never disappoints, I mean if it does it's kind of your own fault? You pick your stuff, you provide it to the cooks, and they cook it. Brilliant! Unless your a prickly, snobbish, and nose-up kinda person there is nothing to really hate here. I mean the bar can be a bit untidy and sometimes there is a wait to make your dish, but that's just cause so many folks love this place! The staff is friendly and very efficient. Those with severe food allergies may wish to dine elsewhere, however they take mondo efforts to make sure those with diet requirements are handled with care!
(5)
Dina C.

Cool concept...healthy choices, limitless combos. It is an ok quick take-out option from 3-4pm if you are by yourself and you can grab some protein and veggies without the crowds...as it is mostly cafeteria style in its set-up. Overall, the concept is executed poorly. Hosts/Servers are very full of attitude at times. I've had my share of bowls that contained numerous items that I never put into my bowl...this happens during busy times. Getting your food is a 20 minute process during busy times and your friends get their food at different times. The stir fry cooks use these plastic bottles filled with oil and they pour this oil all over the food. It somehow makes all the food taste the same no matter what combo you try. Most patrons of Chow Baby are the "all you can eat" types. Very big and pushy with entitlement issues. They act like divas that are in a 4 star restaurant....they overload their bowls...and they eat till they explode. It is a low class vibe all around. I'll be at La Fonda across the street...sitting down...and enjoying a marguerita and some paella.
(1)
Carlos A.

Came here with wife, 15 month old daughter, and a buddy that was visiting from out of town. We ate enough food to put a small town into a coma. It of course helped that we were pretty famished when we got here so we just mowed through our food. The environment is casual and we ate in their indoor patio area. Perfect for the baby. The greeters and waiters were all very nice. I will say that the lady who served our bowl more or less tossed it on the table but aside from that good service. Will try to come back.
(4)
Andrew C.

Visit Dates: 05.01.2009 & 05.02.2010 When I first came here I just thought it was a one-time self-serve, create your own stir fry rice/noodle/salad place. Then my friends told me it was all you can eat so I quickly went back in line... 2 to 3 additional times. At this place you can definitely have it however you like, but be sure to follow the color coded instructions by keeping your grains and veggies in the black bowl and meats in the red bowl. Also, there are color coded sticks that will notify your cook if you want to turn your dish into a soup or salad, or add shrimp for an extra charge. My main complaints relate to the freshness of the ingredients. If you look along the wall, you can see that a majority of the veggies and sauces come from cans. The raw scallops and seafood was partially defrosted. And the noodles sit out for a while, becoming shriveled as time progresses. That being said, the food is only as good as you make it to be, thus you only have yourself to blame if you added too little sauce or too much meat! Oh and go during lunch time, it's $7.99 as opposed to $11.99 at night!
(4)
brad h.

Great - fun place - Wed night is date night - took my wife - you get a deal on the meal - an appetizer (One to split) at trip through the line (One each) and a desert (one to split) plus a bottle of wine for half price. Think about what you want to create before getting in line. I did a penut/curry theme last time and was pleased. Go easy on the rice and noodles or you won't have room for other stuff. Pile that meat bowl up high - it's going to work out to be just the right amount when you are done. It's an adventure - if you like cooking and "adventure" you owe it to yourself to try this place.
(4)
Juichia C.

Long story short, I was (mis)lead to thinking that this is a good place for Chinese food, and it wasn't. In fact, it is not a good place for ANY food. You know what's really sad? It is not the fact that I spent $50 on borderline inedible "stir fry". It is also not the fact that I didn't like the food there. It is the fact that there were so many patrons there, and I almost feel depressed with the amount of people here on Yelp that have given it more than 1 star. What has the world come to? That enough people can actually enjoy standing in line, trying to put a decent mix of vegetables in your bowl without them falling all over the place, then come to the end of the line only to find tiny little bowls for your "protein". The protein choices were POOR. Really weird fish chunks, scallops, puny pieces of beef and pork. The sauces taste terrible. The "chefs" suck at cooking. They did nothing more than throw everything onto the grill and chop them around for a few seconds. My "stir fry" was the worst plate of food I've ever seen served at a restaurant. The rice were still in big chucks, the veggies were undercooked, and the beef was dry and chewy. The sauce was not evenly distributed either. The Real Chow Baby is a real piece of crap. I literally felt embarrassed to have been a patron there. Our waitress was nice and she tried her best to serve us, but the efficiency just wasn't there. Our appetizer came out at the same time that our entrees did. And she didn't even have the drinks ready after we came back from standing in the buffet line for 10 minutes. Not only was the service and food intolerable, the whole "hip and trendy" vibe of the place just got on my nerves even more! I hate the people who go there thinking it's trendy to be eating some poorly cooked "stir fry". Gosh, I don't think I've ever hated a place so much as TRCB. Sorry. 0 stars.
(1)
Justin G.

Great food and neat experience. Little pricey, but not bad for the amount you get. Service was good.
(4)
Kate S.

I really like this place. It's fun and creative. I think $13 for all-you-can-eat stir-fry dinner is a great deal. They give you lots of nutritional information on their sauces, etc. and recipe suggestions if you're not feeling very creative. I know I'll be back soon.
(4)
Naima W.

This has always been one of my favorite restaurants. I'm surprised this location still gets so crowded even though additional Chow Baby restaurants have opened up around the city. It's a lot of fun putting together new creations. The key is to mix the right combination of sauce and spices. I always include one spoonful of Asian Peanut Pesto Sauce, a spoonful of Teriyaki Sauce, a generous amount of fresh garlic, cilantro, ginger powder and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. This time, I added a spoonful of Thai Cilantro Sauce which was a great addition! I have a great time experimenting and I have always been very pleased with my concoction. I think this is a great date restaurant because you can collaborate and share ideas.
(4)
Kristin B.

For a weekday lunch, it's still as crowded as all the reviews below suggest. However, at a recent midweek dinner around 7pm, it was pretty quiet. Service was attentive, line was 5 minutes long tops, and my dad enjoyed it so much he's actually ASKED to come back to this place again. For a guy who deemed Fox Brothers "not worth the drive," this is saying something! The options are endless, and sure to satisfy even the pickiest eaters, but that doesn't mean that you'll get the perfect combo on your first try. My suggestion is that you add more sauce than you think you'll need. Don't mix and match (except to add a ladle of soy sauce to add some much needed salt), but do add 2-3 ladles of whatever sauce you chose. The beef always seem a little tough and dry, but I've been pleased with the squid and chicken. I can't quite figure out how the sausage goes with stir fry, but it's there if you want it. Overall, a solid four star experience, and one I'm sure to be repeating with my dad soon.
(4)
Christine F.

The best thing about chow baby is that if you don't like your first concoction of ingredients you can keep trying until you get it right. Though they try and dress it up it's just stir fry but I love how you can throw in whatever ingredients you wan then sit down while someone else does the cooking. Of course the downside can be a busy day/night there since you do have to stand in line to get the ingredients. If you don't like buffet style then this probably isn't for you.
(4)
Lydia T.

The food is good, service is good, easy parking most of the time. I must say just how often people complain that there are no children's menu. This is what you do....get an extra plate and you feed the kid from the parents plate. problem solved. As a matter of fact, it is a pleasure to go into a restaurant where children are not considered. As a parent, my kid goes where I go, and he eats what I eat. Please please do not bring your Cadillac size strollers into an establishment. Tacky, and inconsiderate. If you don't like the fact the kid can't have his own menu (sic) then consider staying home.
(4)
Tracie J.

Love this place and go as often as I can, but I hate the set-up of this location. It gets too crowded and when the line wraps around and through the tables, you have to eat your meal with people's butts in your voice or rubbing up against your back. The food is very good and I just love all of the choices. That's what keeps me coming back. Their mojitos are pretty darn good and their desserts are all super delish.
(4)
Monika G.

I like the concept a lot. You make your own meal so you better be inspired to give it a good flavor, otherwise you will be a little dissapointed. It has a large variety of vegetables, leaves, beans, fruits, etc, you choose your pasta or rice and your "protein bowl" which can be chicken, beef, calamari, tilapia or sausage and they will cook it in front of you in a large grill, very yummy and atractive but as I said, better be inspired. Last night I guess I was not, my first round was plain and my second was too salty...oh well, the atmosphere is neat and they have good service.
(4)
Vincent K.

So what happens when you take an entrepreneur, and a avg execution of a simple idea? Well you pretty much end up with The Real Chow Baby. Usually the name of place tells you what kind of food is served, this is the exception. When some buddies called me up for dinner at The Real Chow Baby I had no idea what I was getting. All i knew was that it was $12 for AYCE (All you can eat) dinner and that it was mongolian grill. After getting directions via google maps I made my way over. This location practically a stone's throw away from 6 Feet Under (depending on size of rock, strength of thrower, and wind speed at the time) so you know parking is gonna be a bit hectic. There is garage parking but thats behind the building and the sign is a bit outta the way if ure coming from the south so keep your eyes open. There's also street parking if you trust Atl drivers (which i don't). After meeting up with my buddies we headed on in. The restaurant layout is a bit funky with the 'buffet line' in the back and seating on both sides and a hall way in the middle to the grill area. It was a Wednesday night around 9pm and it was actually quite busy with 80% of the dining room seated so i understood the 10 min or so wait as they cleaned off the table for our party of 6. By this time i was already starving since i hadn't ate since 5. Once seated the waitress took our drink orders right away and introduced the 'theme' of the restaurant which surrounded of course the mongolian grille. Basically u choose your starch, then ure veggies, then ure sauces, then ure meat and its placed on the grill where they combine everything together to make ure stir fried dish. They also give u a menu of suggested sauce combinations so u don't get something way too salty or way too sweet. The concept is good... the execution ehhh not so great. in the line the intial bowl holds ure starch (noodles, rice etc), veggies (40% fresh, the rest are from cans), and sauces (about 10-15, but you can't really taste them without looking like an unsanitary ass). The second (significantly) smaller bowl holds ure meat (chicken, beef, squid, pork included, fish is an extra charge and so is shrimp). From there u put a stick with ure table and name on it and wait for the cooks to take the food and cook it through (always well done). Though i liked the idea of making my own food, the noodles were too stiff so i'd get too much or too little, there were a lot of canned items, i had no idea what the sauces tasted like, and the meat was way overcooked to the point of being dry. Like i said before poor execution of a pretty good idea. I think with some practice i could make the right combination but this is food, there shouldn't be practice involved. Also if you're hungry and its busy, after you turn in ure food for the cooks, i suggest that you go to the back of the line and start ure next concoction or else u risk waiting 20-30 min between plates. Even following this strategy it took 10-15 min from the time i finished my first dish to get my second dish. (Just food for thought) Overall it was good concept that is poorly executed. it was interesting going my first time but unless im in the area for lunch ($8) i don't think i'll be trying it again. Good atmosphere, friendly staff, decent food (if YOU make it correctly and adjust for dry meat), decent price... Happy eats!!
(3)
Lauren C.

IT was OK... we have a place in Chicago that's similar called "Flat Top Grill". The food was good, I don't eat that much.... so a traditional restuarant is better for my taste.
(3)
Amrita R.

Compliments to the chef! Oh wait, that's ME! I've come here many times with friends and family. I hate the long line to make the dishes but I love the food, so I guess good things really do come to those who wait.. You make your own meals so it can go either way... I'm more of a baker than a cook, and this place made me realize that you can't throw ALL your favorite items in one bowl and expect them to taste great together. But the whole point of it is that you can stand in line as many times as you want and try a variety of dishes any number of ways. As a girl, I would recommend getting small portions so you can try different dishes. This is hard to keep up with since you'll keep seeing great options to put on your plate! I like doing the recommendations they have of sauce combinations on the wall in front of the items and then slightly modifying them. They have a really great lime-cilantro sauce, which is my favorite. Another lesser-known great dish there is their soup. It tastes like the Thai coconut soup and it's soooo good! I never would have known if my sister wasn't on a diet and chose that one with a bunch of veggies... Now I get it every time. I wouldn't come here for dinner though, just because of the price. The lunch is the exact same thing and a much better deal. I feel a bit gypped coming at night. PS. Their mojitos are also delish.
(3)
Tig G.

Enjoyed the change from other restaurants. Picking your own custom meal was nice and the 'all you can eat' was even better. Staff was nice and we were sat on time with our reservation. Can't wait to come back again.
(4)
Brian M.

Went here on a Saturday and had a great time. We sat at the bar and caught a couple of pints and lunch. To do this right, I recommend that you get smaller portions and sample your creations. As you might have read, this is a DIY stir-fry joint. So it's easy to maybe mix up something and not be able to try everything. You will be able to go back as many times as you like, so don't worry if you mess something up. Parking can be painfull because they have meetings there, so I recommend that you valet. Overall good experience and excellent date night. Oh yeah, they play nifty dance music in the background. And I thought the pricing was reasonable.
(4)
David B.

DIY Stir Fry, best concept ever.... This place gets extremely busy on the weekends, lines can back up quite a bit (c'mon people, don't dilly-dally in the line, get your stuff and MOVE!) Overall it's still great. Our waitress was on top of her game too. Fresh napkins/refills/clean chopsticks when we returned to the table after getting our second round prepped an on the counter to be cooked.
(4)
Kristine C.

Terrible! Over priced and so not worth your time. Buy a bag of precut veggies and some soy sauce at Publix. Oh! Don't forget some frozen spring rolls. Then you can go home and recreate what my family of 3 wasted $71 on last night. Service was amateur at best. Employees stood around talking about customers. The pictures posted are not the portions that we got. Why go here with so many delicious and authentic Asian restaurants? Gave 1 star because I had to. Guess Ciao Baby earned it for being open when we got there. Lucky, lucky us.
(1)
Yolanda H.

I love this place, dude! I actually live extremely close to it and never bothered to go to it before. I didn't even know what it catered to until I started dating someone who was all about Chow Baby. She took me and my life hasn't been the same since. It's really cozy and dim inside...I like that. Feeling like I'm almost at home but not quite. I've been here twice so far. The first time I was extremely overwhelmed and had no idea what I was supposed to do and the second time around, our waiter was a little MIA (it wasn't really packed for him to be that way) but he was remarkably sweet and so I didn't even care. I love the fact that you pretty much make your own meal. You can pick from chicken, beef, scallops, etc.., the noodles/rice, sauce (my absolute favorite is the peanut sauce, then the Asian peanut pesto, and the coconut curry) and you even have a handful of spices that you can add. I adore it. I would say my only negative is that it's tad bit pricey but it's unlimited trips and yeah. I will still continue to go.
(4)
Pri P.

It'd be a good idea to know how to cook prior to picking which and how many ingredients.
(3)
Adam M.

Some friends of mine introduced me to this place a while back. It's out of the way of our usual stomping grounds, but I'm glad we made the trip. The food is great and there is plenty of it. I can't wait to go back again. It can get very crowded and the wait can be very long, but that's to be expected at a popular place like this. Don't go here if you are in a hurry. Parking can be tricky too, but hey, it's Atlanta so go figure. Overall 5/5 stars in my book.
(5)
Renee B.

I went here for the 1st time last night with 2 of my friends. One of us had been here before so she explained how it worked and also suggested what to add to our plate. Without her, I think the experience would have sucked! I got the Guava Martini which was alright and I added my favorite things to my plate. I think it would be awful if you don't know how to cook because it's not really THAT hard to create a tasty plate. Don't try to add too much spices and veggies or you will regret it! First time, I did white rice, peanuts, shrimp, chicken, basil, garlic, spicy teriyaki and regular teriyaki, chilli powder, crushed red pepper, zucchini, squash and spinach! It was yummy. We took a break and next time, I think I went overboard. I added lo mein and mixed peanut sauce with spicy teriyaki. It was teh nast. Overall, I had fun and I even enjoyed the music that was being played.
(4)
Jennifer B.

So I've been to the Real Chow Baby in vinnings, and the service is way better. This one was better from a meat stand point, this one has scallops which the other does not. We get there on a Thursday at 1pm and it the place was packed we get our drink order in and proceed to the line, we were gone a good 10-15 minutes and when we come back still no DRINKS. Then our food comes and we need a refill on drinks, still no waitress. I'm not so sure what's so difficult, there only real job is to brink drinks and the check. EPIC FAIL. Bottom Line : Food is great, service blows! I will not be back to this one.
(1)
Pamela M.

This has been awhile coming, I've dined at so many different places and sometimes forget to Yelp it! SO, I dig the Chow, its a great thing baby! The mongolian grilled mix is awesome. I've been to the location in Marietta too, and even though its nice, its not the "original" and doesn't have that same feel. The atomosphere at the Howell Mill location is the real deal authentic'o. Its usually crowded so I try to arrive right when they open so I don't have to wait hungry too long. I love the fresh/raw choices and I always overload with calamari and sprouts. I have tried some various sauces and spices but sometimes I can ruin a dish with some of these selections. I feel as though you must be creative and don't know if you like or hate it until its tested. Its very hard for me to get two bowls down, although I've tried..LOL. I also never get desert because I usually have no room left. I like that everything is in front of you including the hot grille'. The atmosphere is funky/kool and so is the music and the people. I describe it as Asian-fusion food. Good stuff and I will always return to this location for sure
(4)
Cara B.

My boyfriend loves this place, and every once in a while I give in to his cravings for it. Having been over and over again, I know to some extent what I like and don't like, but I am never wowed by anything. Because of the setup of the restaurant, you assemble your own plate, so if the food is inedible, you really only have yourself to blame. Luckily if it's really bad, you can keep going back for more as it is all you can eat (if you go once it is slightly cheaper). For the concept, I guess they really excel, but the buffet style thing just kind of turns me off. The service is hit and miss. At this location, they like to give the bartender tables. BIG MISTAKE. Even when he only has two tables, he is too busy making drinks to really pay attention to you. If you get seated in that area in front of the bar and the bartender walks towards you, I would highly recommend asking if you can sit elsewhere. This has happened multiple times to us when we've been here. Poor service is inexcusable. I would give them 2 stars because I am not that impressed, but I think within the concept it is perfectly suited to get 3.
(3)
britton T.

This is the second location for Chow Baby. I fell in love with the other location about a year ago so when I heard that the new location would be near me I went crazy. Be prepared for the process as it can be a little overwhelming for a newbie. You will pick the elements of your plate from the rice to ingredients to the sauce. Something that I have found helpful is to think of a dinner that you already know you enjoy and then play around with the recipe. ex: Beef and Broccoli with rice- this can be made at Chow Baby with additional ingredients. This is a fun place to go with a group and try everyone's creations.
(4)
Ms N.

I love Love this place!! very unique self serve.. and the food is awesome!!! Just went this past Friday.. for the the first time with Friends in ATL.. I plan on visiting again bwhen in town again!! xxo
(5)
Ruksana H.

I've been here a few times and only to this location. Its always been with a bunch of friends as it makes the whole eating out experience a little more fun to be able to go add your own ingredients to your dish. Parking's never been a problem and we have never had to wait for a table even though from the outside the place looks real busy. Service is always good and fast, this is a good choice if you are hungry and want to grab a quick bite. Also a good choice if you are vegetarian as they dole out a whole load of veggie options for you to mix and match. Love their options for spices and sauces as well although not all permutations and combinations work well so sometimes a bit of trial and error may have to be entertained. for this reason, I wish they had some ready recipes there syaing - hey, how about trying this and that - so you knew at least some options that were a sure success.
(4)
Bryant H.

Had a great time. The only complaint I could possibly have is the wait time but that's to be expected on a busy Friday night. The food was good and the staff was friendly. The atmosphere was great as well. Highly recommended for a date.
(4)
Scott S.

People I now either love this place or hate it. The ones who don't like to cook usually will stay clear of this spot. Fortunately for me I like to put together food and experiment with cooking. My issues with the place is the layout, the noise factor and the issue with food quality. I am personally leery of food, especially raw meat which is left in the open. I suppose they have addressed those concerns but I still have them in the back of my head. How it works is that you wait in line, choose from either rice or noodles, vegetables, sauces, toppings at finally the meat. Once you have everything set up and ready. You present the bowls to the cooks who prepare them via Mongolian style stir fry. If you are lucky and follow some of the card descriptions, you can create a pretty unique dish. The good part is, you can revisit the line as many times as you want. The service is decent and the restaurant rates a thumbs up on the cleanliness factor. My personal concerns are the noise level, layout of the dining area and potential quality of the food.
(3)
Olivia T.

Just saying Chow Baby in my head makes my mouth water. By no means is this a fancy restaurant nor is the food out of this world but I love it nonetheless. Every friend that visits from out of town I take to Chow Baby and they always rave about it. The atmosphere is super fun and they have delicious food that you customize yourself so the possibilities are endless! I will definitely be back again and again.
(4)
Nikia Y.

Free valet. Quick seating on a Saturday. Fresh food. Quick serving. Nice waitress. Nice environment. Floor a little sticky. A lil Expensive!!! Look for coupons before you go. If you go for seconds you can't take uneaten food home with you.
(3)
Jennifer J.

I have only been here once so this review is based on a first impression visit. I went to Chow Baby for the first time yesterday for lunch. At first I was a bit overwhelmed by the experience because everything is laid out in buffet style and you pick and choose what ingredients you want and put them in a bowl. Everything goes in a black bowl except meat. The meat goes in a red bowl that you pick up at the end of the line. Once you have your ingredients you choose a sauce. I followed the recipe on the wall for the coconut curry dish and it was fabulous! Everything tasted fresh and the buffet bar was kept very clean. The service is also worth mentioning, because since it was my first time here the server gave me the run down and did a very good job of explaining everything. I WILL be back!
(4)
Shana H.

Cosmopolitan atmosphere with a great variety of meats, veggies, sauces, and noodles cooked to order.
(3)
Izzat A.

I went here almost 4 years ago but I still find myself thinking about this place. It was that good. I'm sure the concept has been explained so I'll focus on other aspects. The ingredients were very fresh. The only downside was how long the wait was to get in and the line to get your food. It wasn't too expensive. Haven't been back but I really need to. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Drew S.

This concept is completely new to me. I was delightfully surprised when I finally understood the pure concept. I loved the ingredient options. You grab a bowl, then you add your choice of rice or noodles, vegetables/fruit or nuts, sauce or spice, protein/dairy, seafood or oil/vinegar. You can also customize it to make it a salad, soup or wrap and add other ingredients. You drop the bowl off with the chefs to grill and then a server brings it out to you. You can make unlimited trips. (Variation taken from their website) They also have some specials: Monday: Follow them on Facebook to get some Monday night specials. Tuesday: "Industry Night" - 2 stir frys, appetizer and dessert for $24. Wednesday: "Date Night" - 2 stir frys, appetizer and dessert for $28 and half off bottles of wine. Thursday: If you bring in your theatre ticket from Fabrefaction you will receive 15% off your dinner bill, and if you bring your Chow Baby Thursday night dinner receipt Fabrefaction will give you a discount at the door. Food is truly delicious if you have a moderate knowledge of combinations. It's not as anxiety-inducing as you might think a buffet style place with a slew of different options would be. It's very simple. My only critical thought would be the borderline smarmy wait staff and the young bartender making eyes at my girlfriend. I couldn't too much blame him though, she is quite a sight. I don't think, however, that you have any similarly redeeming features, guy.
(5)
Felix H.

This place is a big cheat. Sure, there's a novelty to being able to "create" your own food, but the reality is that they're saving a ton of money by laying all the food out there for you to make the mistakes, only to be guilted into eating it anyway while the rest of your party is enjoying their food (taking it back and making another dish will waste time and make you unsocial). The cooks are merely cooks. All they need to do is throw your food onto a hot surface with a *large* splash of oil and there you have it: The Real Greasy Chow Baby. If you do find yourself stuck here with a group of friends, STICK TO THE SUGGESTIONS. Don't be adventurous. Don't overdo the sauce. It's fucking salty. You could very well regret it, especially when you're eating with your eyes.
(1)
Kurt N.

The price point is excellent for what is essentially a fresh all you can eat buffet. We had a massive party for lunch and had no issues with the service.
(4)
Jeremy A.

Finally got a chance to check this place out after I had been meaning to for a long time. The reason for this is my first complaint that they aren't open on the weekend for lunch, bah whats up with that. Anyways we went there on a Saturday night and it was absolutely slammed, surprisingly enough though the food came out pretty quickly. Your experience here is pretty much up to you because you pick what youre going to eat, but with that being said they give you a vast number of ways to make your dinner a dream or a nightmare :) Check it out and have fun creating your dish. Ill be back to see what I can conjure up next time.
(3)
Vida D.

So the crowd is the biggest draw back, that is the reason we don't go most of the time, but we also only think about going on the weekends when the crowd is the worst. It doesn't seem as bad when you have a drink before hand. Try the Mojito's it's hit or miss with the bar though. Great idea, tiny space.
(3)
David Z.

I'm a frequent visitor to Chow Baby, especially for weekday lunches. The line to build your bowl is usually quite long, but overall the wait is not bad. Usually you're eating within 20 minutes of walking in. Theoretically you can return to make another bowl, but generally you end up just making one due to the line. No matter what I put in the bowl, it always tastes good. They have tons of fresh vegetables, spices, sauces, and proteins, as well as a selection of rice and noodles. I've never had a bad meal here, and I always leave happy!
(4)
Dora P.

Great concept...although calling all you can eat is unfair. I had trouble eating my second plate because I was so full after my first. Great deal price wise. Great concept of having the customer pick out all the ingredients and the sauces and the meat and then they will stirfry it for you. It was really cold and loud inside. I was so happy our table was on the enclosed patio so we could talk and actually hear ourselves! Happy eating!
(4)
Debby L.

We had girls night here last night and it was great. Mom, wife, and girlfriend of 3 wonderfully demanding men and 2 adorable kids. But we need get away time too. We decided on Chow Baby because it was downtown, Thai, and do it yourself. You pick the items you want in your bowl, and send it to the grill. It's very similar to Mongolian BBQ. In fact, when I was first told about this place, the girls told be it was make you own food and Mongolian was the first thing that popped in my head. All the seasonings and sauces are Thai, Japanese, or some fusion of Asian. However, the name of the restaurnat is Chow Baby: American Stir Fry. Go figure. The place was packed. Usually there is a huge line and about a 45 minute wait. Today, we had an early dinner, about 630 pm and we barely waited 10 minutes although the host said it was a 30 minute wait. We got seated and got in ANOTHER huge line to get to the food. That line took forever since everyone is still deciding what to include in their plate. We, however, knew what we wanted and was like a machine making our food! The food was good though. I made my delio, and added shrimp skewers, rice, and had the Coconut Curry sauce. I thought the sauce was great and so was the shrimp. I added meat, but the beef was too dry. The girls also got their usuals [they've been here before and perfected their dish]. Drinks were on the sweet side. I'm not sure if it's just the night that we went, but the ice tea was insanely sweet. I was basically drinking sugar. I changed to a lemonade instead. The service was impeccable. Everyone was friendly and helpful, and our waiter was on the ball with everything. We were very happy with our dining experience.
(4)
Roger G.

I guess The Real Chow Baby and I started off on the wrong foot. You see Chow Baby if you are going to have guest frequent your establishment....seat them ASAP. The idea that you have to wait for everyone in a party before you are seated just doesn't well sit well for me. (pun intended) Also I am not a prude by any means, but the wait staff sure let the "F" word fly around as if no one else could hear them....My kids heard it and I am sure there were other kids that heard it as well.....Show some professionalism Chow Baby. The food....Fresh everything....except the fish. Seriously it smelled like it had washed up on shore and baking in the heat for about a week. Stick with the chicken, pork, or beef. Other than the fishy fish it was very good though....wish they had some bean sprouts though...seriously how do you not have bean sprouts on a Mongolian style buffet? : / Maybe if I was in a smaller party my overall experience would have been better...Overall it was enjoyable, but first impressions are hard to get over.
(3)
sK B.

The food is make it yourself, so you get what you pick out. If you don't have an overall flavor in mind the whole time you are making your dish, it will likely suck, but this isn't the restaurants fault. I generally have a good balance of flavors. The ingredient quality is decent, not great. This place has a quantity over quality attitude. Since I don't eat that much, this restaurant is a bad deal for me. I eat here when I want noodle based leftovers in addition to a meal. The service is generally decent but not great. There are a few top notch servers there, but you likely won't get them. No big complaints on my part as far as service on my part though. I am dick enough to flag a server down with an empty glass rather than thirstily wait though.
(3)
Lindy F.

Let me start by saying that if you cannot handle the crowds, don't even try to go to TRCB during rush hours (lunch is insane most work days). That said - I love this place. The concept is quite well executed..build your own stir-fry. I just don't think they knew what a hit they would have on their hands. Once you get a table (it may be a wait), you order drinks from your server and they give you a wooden paddle and direct you to the line. Next you grab a bowl, your starch (rice, noodles) and start building your own concoction. Grab some veggies, meat and then hit the sauces and spices - but spice at your own risk! You must remember that a little goes a long way and if you over do, you have no one to blame but yourself! So the first time, play the conservative. If you are much less of a risk taker, the walls are adorned with "recipes" of how to build some classics - Kung Pao, Mongolian BBQ, Sweet & Sour, etc. For your first time out, this may be the right way to go. Once you do this a couple of times, you will most likely start getting really creative. Once you are done building, you just line up your bowl and walk away. 5 to 6 cooks start stir-frying everything in site on world's biggest flat-top wok. They work with amazing precision - it is like a symphony or well choreographed dance watching them cook. Once they are done, your food (marked with your paddle) will be delivered to your table for you to enjoy! One of the main benefits of this place for me is being in control of what I am eating. I actually suffer from a lot of food allergies, and TRCB accommodates me very well. They offer me an array of swizzle sticks that allow me to mark my food to be cooked separately from everyone else (this ensures no cross-contamination of nuts or seafood). This works for vegetarians and vegans as well. If you can handle waiting, give it a shot and see what you think. Timing is everything, but it certainly is enjoyable once you get to eat your own Asian creation!
(4)
Don B.

Love this place. Make your own stir-fry. It is pretty affordable since you can basically eat as much as you want.. You start with a bowl, get rice or noodles, and go through a long line getting whichever ingredients you want. This includes usually two typed of rice, noodles, lots of veggies, different sauces, and your meats and seasoning. It can be pretty intimidating your first time, especially if you are not super knowledgeable with the flavors and what not. My first few times, I had no clue what I was doing, I would just mix it all together, and it was still great. And oh yeah, they also have little cards that have some recipe ideas for those of us who are unsure. Out of maybe a dozen trips, I think I have had only one bad experience, and it was because they were not cooking the shrimp long enough, and when we complained they took care of it asap. The person with the shrimp issue also ended up getting theirs for free. Other than that, it is a hit. It can sometimes get a little messy when they are crowded. Also, you are counting on other customers to have some social responsibility by not making a mess, and not contaminating the food and what not. If you are ever hanging in ATL, you should give this a try !
(5)
Bonnie L.

Oooh, another somewhat controversial and heavily reviewed place. I love adding my two cents to these debates. I like, Miss S., wish I could give 3.5 stars, because I liked the food. But I can't quite justify 4, so 3 it is. A quick primer on the slightly sophisticated mongolian bbq concept. You sit down and are handed a little wooden paddle with a number on it (that's your table number, btw). You write your name on the paddle. You take the paddle into a line, choose raw stuff to put in a bowl from a massive selection of ingredients, add flavoring. Stick your paddle in, set it on the grill, and go back to your table. Someone will bring the bowl to your table an indeterminate number of minutes later, and will shout the name on the paddle to figure out to whom the bowl belongs. Then, you "chow," as it were. Repeat until nauseous or pants become uncomfortable. I went with a large group on a Tuesday night. They would not seat us until we had all arrived, which to me makes less sense in a buffet or mongolian bbq type setting. I was rather put off upon walking in - I didn't like how trendy it tried to be, and how noisy and slamming it was. The concepts of being in a hip club and smorgasbord don't mesh well in my head. Additionally, mongolian bbq style is generally not my favorite. Then, the line was insanely long. Literally 10-15 minutes. And what do you do with your purse? Seems strange to have to bring it with you, yet you don't want to leave it sitting out for anyone to grab. On my third trip at about 9:30 PM, the crowd had thinned considerably. I started to cheer up once I got to the action. They'll cook vegetarian stuff in a separate wok?! COOL! And OMG LOOK AT ALL THIS STUFF! Eggplant?! Ramen noodles? Pineapple? Whole eggs? Sauces AND spices AND oils?! My combinations turned out pretty well, too. Loved the peanut sauce and the curry, the pesto thing not so much, but worth a try. The main problem was a sensory overload - I kept forgetting things I had wanted to throw in there. Service was strange. There was no telling when the food would arrive, and even if you stood next to someone in line, their meal might arrive ten minutes before yours. The people bringing the food wouldn't shout the names loud enough, so we'd have to ask them to repeat several times. One member of our party received meat that was cold in the center, and he sent it back. There were other issues with food taking forever to arrive, etc. I will say that we received complimentary chocolate covered strawberries for our trouble, and those were very good. Speaking of service, they charged our group 18% gratuity. Normally this practice is never something I would object to, but at a buffet-type place? Really? If I have to spend 1/3 of my dining experience in a ridiculous line, I better not be *forced* to tip you as if I were in a regular sit-down place. Bottom line: if I am going to eat mongolian bbq, it is definitely going to be this. The selection is appetizing, and the experience is FUN. But for me, the chaos is a little much to handle on a regular basis.
(3)
Ben O.

Practical bowl-building: Begin with heavy stuff (rice or noodles). Erect a snowpea fence around the edge of your bowl, tucking the lower tips under the heavy stuff for a cantilever effect. Add medium-weight stuff and sauce, then go back and add leafy greens (which will stick to the sauce). If it's too busy to go back to the leafy greens, add them when you can. There's white and black sesame seeds tucked away in the back of the dry-spice area. Street parking is hard to find, even when the restaurant isn't very busy. Give up and use the valet -- best $1-2 tip you'll ever spend. But make sure you're wearing steel-toed shoes just in case.
(4)
Heather B.

Okay okay I give! From now on if I loved it up North I am not even going to look for it down here. Honestly the only reason this place gets 2 stars instead of 1 is that we got amazing service. First of all NO BEAN SPROUTS?? How can you call yourselves Mongolian? Seriously that is the best part! I felt as a whole the choices on their bar were lacking and the meat definitely looked questionable. The sauces lacked creativity. The places I have been to up north had many more choices of sauces and gave suggestions to creating sauces. Chow Baby it seemed bought their sauces by the gallon and poured them in the containers. The chow mien noodles were super dry and the calamari was rubbery. The dessert (Baily Irish cream and Kahlua cheesecake) was pretty tasty, as was the special cocktail of the evening. The only two good things I can say about this place is the company was awesome (Thanks Candice M. for taking me out to celebrate my grad school acceptance) and the waitress was super nice and helpful.
(2)
Jason N.

Three star food with a five star concept and ambiance makes this a four star review. First of all, you pick your own stir fry here. Basically, walk through a line adding ingredients as you go, they cook it, and bring it out to you. That is making it too simple though. Its fun and a bit of a mystery. It makes the whole process more interesting. It is worth it to come and try a couple bowls just to see what you can create with your choices. I did a simple stir fry the first time around and went really crazy the second time around. It was quite an experience and one that I would love to repeat. The key to this type of concept when it comes to the food is to get the highest quality ingredients that you possibly can. There isn't anything particularly bad about the ingredients but they aren't great either. The end result is an above average stir fry. Stir fry always has a good bit of flavor but the trick is the texture. Some of it is just a bit off due to the buffet type concept and the canned vegetables that they do have in a few of their choices. Overall its great to go for the experience alone and the stir fry is good but not great.
(4)
Ritesh M.

If you're not a foodie, you WILL be overwhelmed here and possibly frustrated. If you love cooking or trying new things, then this is your mecca. The staff is super courteous and well - informed in regards to food allergies especially the vegetarian sauce options, but their menus and signage also help identify these. Out west, these places are considered almost a Mongolian BBQ, but they are horrible compared to The Real Chow Baby. For the vegetarians like myself, they are great about cooking your food separately to avoid cross contamination on the flat tops. There so many options with tons of veggies, choice of noodles or brown/white rice, and tons of sauce/spice combination possibilities. Then you can get it served as a stir fry, soup, wrap, etc. My suggestion is to start small and don't try to stuff your bowl. Oh and don't stick to a theme, be adventurous! If you're with a group, make someone else' s dish for fun. Ambiance is pretty hip and parking is a joke, but this place is fantastic if you are up for trying something different and if at first your combination of elements doesn't succeed, try again!
(4)
Joe L.

At first I was apprehensive about this. You are paying buffet level prices for just a Mongolian style buffet. I mean, don't most Asian buffets already have one in them in addition to all their buffet food? Well, this is definitely better than hot pot. They have a pretty large selection of sauces, a ton of veges to choose from (definitely get the snow peas btw, they add a great crunch to your dish), and a lot of different kinds of proteins (fish, scallops, chicken, beef, tofu, sausage etc). All in all, this is definitely a higher end Mongolian grill than many people (including me) expected. Combine the large amount of possible combination with the super large amount of sauces and noodles and rice (you can also make tacos and quesadillas) and there is definitely something from everybody. AND, if you don't know what the heck you're doing, just follow the direction on the wall behind all the toppings. I can guarantee you that you won't make a bad dish. Now, this place would be a great deal for lunch ($8.00) for all you eat. However, for dinner, $12 is kinda of pushing it. So in the end, a good deal for lunch, an ok deal for dinner. And dont bother getting the appetizers on the menu. Fried cheese rangons for like $6.00? not worth it. In the end, this is a pretty neat place. It wouldn't be the first choice for a buffet for me (Grand Buffet and Grill anyone?), but not a bad choice by any means.
(3)
Elizabeth F.

I really enjoyed this. I liked being able to create our own stir fries, and there were so many selections, the combinations seemed endless. If you're staring at all their ingredients, though, and you're stumped, they also have ideas written up on the wall. But I recommend you mix and match and make your own creation.
(4)
Liz H.

You gotta love the all you can eat. I can do at least 2 medium sized plates. The trick is to be sparse in what you want and try instead to go for a yummy combo of ingredients. My favorite veggies are: mandarin oranges, bamboo shoots, spinach, and mushrooms. Note: larger and harder stuff like broccoli take longer to cook, but they only fry it for a certain amount of time so make sure to take tiny pieces of broccoli if you want it to be soft/cooked all the way. Favorite sauce combo: Asian Peanut Pesto, Peanut Sauce, and some Ginger Lime Basil. Favorite meats: sausage (great flavor for your pasta), squid (I love me some calamari, and it comes out pretty good. The staff here is great - friendly service and checks up on you every so often. My friends and I like to come up with names for each other, which you write on a stick that you put in your bowl to ID it. Go through the line, get what you want, leave it for the cooks to fry (it's super cool how efficiently they cook the orders), sit down and wait for your food to come out, steaming and delish (depending on the ingredients). One time, came here during lunch hour and had to wait a bit over 30mins for a table for a group of 8. Despite this, I'll still give them 5 stars because I had an enjoyable experience. I also appreciate how they split the checks. Tips: -There's complimentary valet parking in the garage next to the place. -Keep your portions small so you can experiment -Expect a long wait if you come during peak lunch/dinner hours
(5)
Karen H.

This rating is for service alone. The food was great. I wanted to take my team out for a celebration and wanted to go to a place where it would be more interactive and they wouldn't be stuck to their seats all night, so I thought Chow Baby would be perfect. So, I decided to take my team here last week and although I made reservations a week in advance, signed a contract and had a prepaid guarantee where they already had my credit card number, we were treated with the WORST service ever! Even though the restaurant was only less half full, I was told my party could not be seated until everyone is here. So, after buying over 14 Mojitos at the bar, and over 75% (15 out of 20) of my party being present, I asked the hostess and manager (Leslie) again, if we could be seated so we can start eating because they close at 10pm. It is now almost 9pm. I am looking at a more than half empty restaurant and could not believe they were being so difficult. Finally, I said, I'll just have everyone come in as regular customers and just ask for a table on the patio because I've already more than halfway met my minimum at the bar and we have not even eaten yet. We were all seated after that. Needless to say - I will never be going back here with a group of people because they can not handle it. Groups of 2-4, yes.
(2)
Dio S.

Caters to a certain crowd that tends to focus on a fun, social, people-watching experience rather than the food. Selecting the ingredients yourself is not as easy to mess up as you would expect -- the owners have deftly provided condiments that generally complement each other. The all-you-can-eat format also lets you test out numerous combinations. In any case the quality of the ingredients themselves is more important and it is not very good. The meat and seafood are especially poor, certainly not what you would use at home. When a place doesn't have any signature dish, and the only "cooking" done is not more than heating and flipping a plateful of could-be-anything, the ingredients really represent the only constant. Since they range from so-so to awful, that's the best the food can be. It is inexpensive. If you are with good friends who are having a good time, I suppose it might even be an enjoyable meal. But to me this is like cafeteria at the mall, made pretty with a little novelty added to the experience.
(2)
Candice M.

Went here tonight to celebrate Heather's grad school acceptance. I rate this place minus the three screaming kids and the constant crop duster next to us, to be fair. Our server was excellent. She gave great service and helped suggest dessert. We got the Wed night date special that includes a trip to the grill for two people, an app and a dessert for $28. Not too bad for all of that food. However, when got to the grill we noticed there were no bean sprouts! What? Also, the meat looked a little shady but when our food arrived at the table it was better than expected but still average. They do have 3 different gluten free sauces that they note on the menu. Hooray! We had calamari for an app which I did sneak a piece of and it was tasty. The meat was a little on the "rubber" side but at least the batter was light. For dessert we had B52 cheesecake which I also snuck a bite of. The server couldn't even swing by to ask how it was before our party of three inhaled the whole slice. So yea, it was good. The restaurant wasn't busy and we intentionally went in the middle of the week so we could avoid the long grill lines. I am satisfied with the service and feel indifferent about the food but overall it was a 2.5 experience and I had a drink so I'll be kind and round to 3 stars. I'm not inclined to hurry back but I would visit again as long as the screaming babies and crop dusters aren't in site when I walk in the front door.
(3)
Kim H.

Typical Americanized stir fry joint - think "Flat Top Grill". Their selection of rice, noodles, veggies, meat and sauces are overwhelming. Lunch will run you around 10 bucks including tip. You are the chef here so if you have any complaints about the food, blame yourself.
(4)
Donna S.

Love it! Love it! Love it! What a fun place to go with friends. We were Chow Baby virgins and had no idea how making your own stir fry worked, but our waitress was kind enough to show us the ropes. Lots of choices to put in your own personal stir fry with incredible sauces to spice it all up. The cocktails were slow, but good when they arrived. We'll go back again and again.
(5)
Kevin L.

Chow Baby: Where if you don't like your food, fuck you, it's your fault. As a very plain eater, I was very scared eating here for the first time. I was convinced they wouldnt have anything I liked and I would end up with a plate of rice and some chicken. Chow Baby by all means has something for everyone. It is a wild eater's dream and even people like me can find the most delicious of ingredients and sauces. The unlimited plates deal means you get to experiment as much as you want, making it one of the most cost effective, delicious, and fun meals I have had in quite some time.
(4)
Veda R.

It's safe to say that people's love affair with The Real Chow Baby has to do with the wide assortment of everything, but especially vegetables, already cut up and just waiting for you to pack them into your black (or red) bowl. However, for a dining out experience, I'd expect for customer comforts to be placed a little higher up on the scale than it is. There seems to be some sense of inefficiency present at high peak times (note: I've also been here at a non-peak time). We went for an office gathering and arrived a little after 11:45am on a Friday. The line to wait for bowl-packing went around the restaurant, and they actually ran out of complimentary valet spots (already a bad sign, right off the bat). Luckily parking was just around the corner and only a 3 minute walk away. Our server, even though she was a complete sweetheart, was unable to fully accommodate our slightly larger-than-expected party, even though there were several smaller empty tables throughout the area (which never got filled). Our party ended up being split with an overflow just behind at a bar-type seating area, and ended up being fine. Other issues with going at peak times include a 30 minute wait in the s l o w line. That coupled with the above events made the dining experience not completely relaxing, which is something I look forward to when going out. My only huge grudge with The Real Chow Baby is the fact that there is not much guidance with regards to seasoning. The server does remind you that a little goes a long way, but that still doesn't help. There are no opportunities to sample the sauces. There are tiny little menu cards everywhere which provide ample suggestions, but I can't see juggling two bowls, the menu card, and that wooden popsicle stick with your table number/name on it being too easy. Again, you run the risk of oversalting, or under-over measuring (is this part of the "fun"? I can see how this can translate into major food waste, too). The sauces are easier to navigate than the spice powders at the end. I put some red chili powder on mine, and minded the "a little goes a long way" warning, but didn't realize (or was informed) that there is salt in several of these spice powders. Essentially, I was double-salting and not realizing it! It would be helpful to find out which powders had salt in them, and which didn't. The areas do get a little messy too. As I was standing in line, I noticed a piece of raw chicken "chatting" with a piece of raw calamari. A server wiped the area within a few minutes, but the idea of cross-contamination definitely crossed my mind (and what happens to the towel? Is it used to wipe the veggie area too?) Bottom line: If you know what you're doing, familiar with the sauces, and/or have extensive conversations with the server regarding seasoning, and have an idea and execute it well, you can have fun at this restaurant. If you're looking to have a relaxing lunch out and to be waited on, look elsewhere. This is a place that emphasizes personal food experimentation and nothing else.
(2)
Jenn D.

I don't really like the Chow Baby concept, then again I don't cook much so I really have no idea how to make my meals taste good here. They all come out too oily and tasting the same - even if I think I'm following the recipe cards . The good thing is, if you screw it up the first time, you can try again...but my 2nd tries have all been as bad as the first, so I've given up. My dad and his friends are pros and LOVE this place, but unlike me they are great cooks. I think that might be the key. Also, can we give an award for the lamest restaurant name? Ick.
(2)
Befferly K.

This place is...there are no words. Well, no words other than delicious, fantastic, awesome, unique...alright I lied, there are tons of words. The closest thing we have to it in California is Mongolian barbeque, which pales in comparison. Mongolian barbeque places don't even come close to the variety of meats, veggies, sauces, spices, and noodles that Chow Baby has. I was so overwhelmed by all the possible combinations that it's a miracle I got my bowl to the cooking station before the restaurant closed. The combo suggestions on the wall were a big help. Sadly, our party got there about an hour before their lunch closing time. That meant we could only go through the line once. One portion was more than enough for me, and I think it was a pretty good deal at $7.99. (When you think that a sandwich can run upwards of $12, getting a decently sized and fully personalized meal for $8 isn't bad at all.) But considering that this is all you can eat for $7.99 if you get there early enough, that price is amazing. Chow Baby, I miss you so much. One day we shall be reunited, and I will get there as soon as it opens so I can spend hours upon hours stuffing my craw with your stir-fried goodness.
(4)
Michael J.

If you have ever done the American Stir Fry thing and enjoyed it, then you need to check out Chow Baby. It is great food especially for the price. The restaurant is nice inside and the service is top notch. If you are going for lunch be sure to arrive by 1130. Otherwise you will wait in line for quite some time.
(4)
Isabel Y.

Went here for a going-away dinner-- good place for a large group of folks! Lots of seating and nice festive atmosphere. As Maura C. mentioned, if you don't like the food it's your own fault! I just slather everything in peanut sauce anyway so it always turns out fabulous. Yum! Do they have to post those calorie counts in giant writing on the wall!? Guilt guilt guilt!!!! I'm not a huge eater so I wish they had a better discount for one-bowl places. FlatTop Grill in Chicago had a student discount, on top of a single-bowl price, and so it felt really reasonable to eat there on a regular basis. At Chow Baby, I semi-felt like I was paying for other people's gluttony. I haven't been for lunch but I will definitely try that next time I'm in town on a weekend. I would recommend to EVERYONE-- put the stick for Roti bread in your bowl- you will not regret!
(3)
David K.

Great restaurant and I always enjoyed it, especially when I was the manager at M-Street Apartments down the street. That was until the day that I treated my assistant to lunch and the valet ran over my foot. Yes, RAN OVER MY FOOT!! Two years later I am still having pain and no one from the restaurant ever called me back. I miss the food, but in this city it's a dime-a-dozen. Good service and integrity are hard to come by and this place definitely does not have either. I guess there's a reason the valet is free...
(1)
Willie D.

Got there at around 8p.m. and place was kind of crowded but not packed up and waiter was nice and funny but explained to a few new comers about how this place works and from there it fun and smooth the rest of the night! Drinks were to me aboutg the norm in prices and bartender was mixing them real strong and great.Food was good you make it how you want it and I did my usaul 2.5 plates I nev er do apps or dessert.Great food and fun-Enjoy it :)
(5)
Michelle B.

I love the concept: pick your ingredients, sauces and such and have it cooked and delivered to your table. Chow Baby is soooooo popular that the concept gets ruined. Finding a parking spot is hazardous to your health. Go ahead and valet; it will save you a headache or road rage that will ruin your dinner. It is always so busy here, especially on the weekends, that you end up waiting forever for your table. This just adds to the road rage issue. The food is wonderfully fresh, and the combinations are endless. Keep in mind that it IS all-you-can-eat here; suppress the urge to fill your bowls so high they tumble. Also keep in mind that there is only so much room on the grill. If you're with a large group, chances are you won't get your food at the same time...and its always the fast eaters who get served first, don't ask me why. It is always loud; the servers always have that "I wouldn't speak to you on the street" attitude, and like I said before, it is always busy that I've seen, but for the money and the quality, I'll just have another margarita and get over it!
(3)
Andi G.

Our group of 6 chose this restaurant to celebrate a friends birthday, we came on Monday at 8pm as we had heard that the experience wouldn't be as fun if the place was packed. We were seated in this odd indoor/outdoor sort of area off to the right of the front door- no big deal, we can get boisterous at times and appreciated the privacy. Our server Kevin did an alright job explaining most things to us (and helping me navigate my way around my shellfish allergy with the white vegetarian stick) however he neglected to tell us that we could go back for seconds and thirds. As a result our group assumed we only got one red bowl and one black bowl and piled them as high as we could. One person in our group was annoyed. Had he known we could have returned he would not have put all of his proteins together in the red bowl! Thanks for NOT explaining the full experience to us KEVIN! My poor hub-to-be was starving and finished his food before most of us were halfway through. Again- had Kevin done his job he would not have left still hungry. Kevin did have a *few* redeeming features though- he was very nice, took a a picture of our group and put a candle in the chocolate torte for the birthday girl. He was a decent enough guy, not so much as a server. As for the rest of the employees F them! As we were eating they were noisily stacking chairs upside down on tables all around us as if to say "Are you done yet? Cause obviously we're ready for you to leave so we can go home". What a bunch of jerks! We were not drinking, not holding down the table for the sake of chit-chatting. Show some couth Chow Baby- we're trying to take our friend out for her birthday. Talking above the clatter of chairs was annoying to put it nicely. I will not be recommending this restaurant to anyone due to my experience. That was the most expensive bowl of noodles I've ever had in my life- I would have had a better meal and experience at the H-Mart cafeteria.
(2)
Harrison H.

I knew I was in trouble when I walked in and heard Boy George on the radio. I could make better stir-fry at home. In fact I did tonight.
(1)
James H.

If you're unfamiliar with Mongolian BBQ, then you might like Chow Baby. The novelty, the suggested combinations, the general prettiness of the space. If, however, you're familiar with Mongolian BBQ, then you'd best stay away. The basic concept is the same, load your bowl full of all the veggies, starches, meats, and sauces that you like, and the person you hand it to will cook everything on a large griddle. Repeat. Rinse. Chow Baby's execution, however, leaves much to be desired. Chow Baby dresses up the restaurant space with a fancy bar to make everything a little trendier, thus inviting more people to crowd the line. Couple this with either smaller cooking stations or basically-skilled cooks, and you'll find the line backs up significantly when the restaurant is crowded. I don't know if this is by accident, where the owners didn't think they'd attract such crowds, or by design, where the restaurateurs potentially sought to minimize the number of return trips to the buffet. Either way, you should temper your expectations for all-you-can-eat food here.
(2)
Yaanik D.

I like the concept of Chow Baby a lot. You pick all the ingredients in your meal from a bar, and the chefs prepare and serve it to you. The meat and veggie choices are fresh and excellent. The sauces, on the other hand, are lackluster. Take, for example, the "Thai Cilantro" sauce. It works great as a side chutney, but horrendously as a sauce. The flavor is entirely unidimensional, and you feel pretty sick of it after a few bites.The same is true for many of the sauces that I tried, but perhaps I just need to try more. I must reiterate how expansive the choice of vegetables is, however. You can add everything from chinese celery to leeks! It's best to go late. If you're at Chow Baby during peak hours, I could see it being very tough to try more than 1 or 2 dishes.
(3)
M G.

We finally tried this place tonight.... and um.. meh. I don't know. We won't be back. First, the line you see when you pass by in a car is deceiving. Not only is there a line to 'get a table' but there's a longer line waiting for you when you get seated. The place is cramped and it's just a lot of hoopla and production. Do this, grab that, take this bowl, put your name here, grab the meats with one hand, pass with the other, yada yada. As other's have said - the meat 'station' is just disturbing. This portion should be left up to the restaurant/line cooks, imo. I saw people try to stuff the "protein" bowl so full that the raw meat overfloweth on to the ledge of the counter. So they also list the sauce nutritional info in what seems to be 200pt Comic Sans font on the wall before the line starts... normally I'd be all for this. But really? 135 calories PER SCOOP of the Thai Curry sauce? When you'd need at least 4 scoops to even taste the sauce in the stir fry. The food flavors were just off. Between both of us we tried at least 7 of the sauces... they just were muddled and did not taste the greatest. If I want a Thai meal, I'll stick to a place that specializes in Thai. I can see how people would enjoy this place. But, it's not for us. Have fun with the raw chickenbeefsausagemahimahiscallops station!
(2)
T. M.

I have been here twice now and I really enjoy it. Choice is the name of the game here. So many different ingredients. It seemed a bit overwhelming the first time I came. Fortunately there are receipe guides that direct you on the proper veg,meat, and sauce combo to make something familiar like kung pao chicken. I more of a free spirit so i just throw stuff together. Today it was calamari with bean sprouts, brocoli,carrot, bok choy, and the thai pesto sauce. The calamari was cooked nicely so was the veg. The total composition of the meal seemed a bit bland. A little siracha perked it right up. Second bowl around and I went with the talapia. Keeping with the thai theme, I wanted to spice it up. Get some fire in my taste buds. Using a combo of thai coconut curry and thai bbq along with a egg and veggies. The end result was quite tasty but no where near the heat factor I was wanting. The fish was also a let down. I guess it was chopped up too much by the cooks because it wasnt really a part of the dish. This bowl seemed to be a thai veggie scramble instead of talapia. Overall, I like this place. Its pretty loud in here so dont expect intimate dining. I'd call it hipster cafeteria. Love the choices and the concept. If you can stop after one bowl then it definately a healthy choice. There is a full bar and the service was pretty good as well. Everyone was friendly. I think that that could vary the proteins a bit. Maybe a different fish or cut of meat now and then.
(3)
Frank L.

Here's the thing with Real Chow Baby. If your food is jacked up, you have no one to blame but yourself. Went there for lunch, typical of most places it was crowded, but the food came out rather quickly. Personally I am a big fan of these types of places. I use to go to a place called Mongolian BBQ in Norcross, same concept. Pick your stuff, they cook it, you eat it. Not a hard concept. Any expectation above that, you are bound to be disappointed. The difference with Real Chow Baby is, it looks like the Lettuce Surprise You joints and not a typical Chinese place. Food was good, mainly cause I made it, so if your experience is anything but good, you need to take me and buy me lunch. I'll pick your stuff for you.
(4)
nikhil b.

This used to be my favorite restaurant and for good reason. Its a stir fry bar, so how good your food tastes, is dependent on your choice of food. Surprisingly the food usually turns out pretty good, if it doesn't, you can always get a new bowl. The bar is pretty nice too, with delicious mojitos. The music also adds to the complete feel of the place. The reason why its not my favorite anymore is because of this one experience i had where there was meat in my vegetarian food. This was not handled very well by the restaurant and had me very upset. If there is an issue, make sure you let them know its a problem, cause my situation was handled very poorly. I had decided not to go back to the restaurant, but eventually did. My server, this time was Alex i think, and he definitely made a good impression and insured my food was made on the vegetarian pan. Now Chow Baby is back on my list again and I enjoy going back there every now and then.
(4)
Antony C.

As far as Mongolian BBQ's go, I've had way better. Most of the veggie ingredients were fresh, the rest coming from large cans on display behind the buffet line. Meat selection was nice, but the only problem is that they cook the heck out of all the meat until it's dry (1 degree of separation from jerky). In talking with our server, she said the kitchen manager requires everything to be cooked well-done. I can understand given the size of the place that things have to be turned around quickly. But I've been in Chinese restaurants of comparable size with only a few woks that churn out tasty food cooked to order. So that's not a really good excuse in my book. Plus, they only have one grill. In my humble opinion, a place that size should have at least two grills. You find single grill in mall food courts. The atmosphere was neat. Price was reasonable. Server staff was very nice. But all that isn't any good if the quality of food is going to be average.
(3)
Carol K.

Many swear by this place, but I so don't see it. I realize the mass appeal of big portions and having control of your ingredients, but it is noisy, crowded and is overwhelmed with cooking smells. I personally like it when these are contained to the kitchen. It's a lot of work to create your own masterpiece of a dish and in a rushed atmosphere, too. But worst of all is scooping out your own choice of RAW meat. Chicken next to beef next to squid and all raw. After all that work, you might as well cook at home. Perhaps once it's all said and done, the final result is a big tasty bowl of stuff, but the flavors are on par with an Asian inspired Lean Cuisine. Is that worth having raw meat hands and smelling like stir fry for the rest of the day? I guess it's just not up my alley!
(1)
M A.

I was able to come here for lunch recently, and it was much better than when I came with my large group over a year ago. Lunch is also cheaper but you can eat just as much. Bingo! Everything was still fresh, and it was fun trying to put together unique bowls of food. I don't know if it's because it's not as crowded as it once was, but I felt like there were more filings and sauces to choose from. It was a deilcious two bowls for me, and I tried some of the soup my boyfriend created - yum! My favorite sauces are the coconut curry and the ginger-lime. If you love cooking or experimenting with flavors, Chow Baby delivers and does all the clean up for you. What could be better? I definitely had a better grasp on how much food to put in my bowl this time around, so I was able to solidly eat two plates by myself. If you can't eat a lot in one sitting but want to try a variety of dishes, less is more!
(4)
Stephanie S.

If you can cook, this is like heaven. Endless amounts of vegitables, spices, noodles, meats, sauces, and garnishes to choose from. If you know how to balance amounts and flavors, than you are sure to fix up several delicious bowls. For the rest of us, who know nothing about cooking and can't make decisions and pile on everything, this is a nightmare. Everything I tried to mix from rice noodles with chicken, mushrooms, peanut sauce, to tofu and squash with rice in a lite soy sauce tasted awful. By the end of the night, I deemed myself hopeless. If I come here again, I'll follow one of the pre-made recipes they have on the wall. But then I wonder, what's the point of going out if you have to make the dish?
(1)
David W.

My girlfriend and I met some friends at The Real Chow Baby on 8/21 and I have to give it mixed reviews. The quality of the food and the prices are good, leaning towards excellent. However, the restaurant was very crowded and noisy, between the crowd and the music that they turned up the volume on in an attempt to make it audible over the crowd. This distracted us from the atmosphere, so instead of enjoying the food, we felt claustrophobic and rushed. Instead of a pleasant evening of conversation over food with friends, we ended up having to yell across a small table. They need better traffic control on the line as well. The first time through the line, it took 20 min before we were able to put our bowls down to be cooked. The second trip was even longer, close to 45 min!!! We also have a problem with their policy of adding an 18% gratuity based on the number of tables your party occupies, not the number of people in the party. There were 5 of us in our party at two tables (one seating 4 and one seating 2) pushed together. So when they added in the 18% gratuity because we took up 2 tables, none of us gave any additional tips. We did not feel that a party of 5 warranted that kind of policy. The service was acceptable, but not exceptional, warranting an extra tip over and above the 18% we were required to pay. On another note, the bathrooms were disgusting. I would have rather used the porta-potty down the street at the construction site.
(2)
Big Rex J.

What else is there to be said about Chow Baby. This place is great for lunch and/or dinner. It gets pretty packed and occasionally there is a substantial wait time to prepare your meal, but once you get that first plate into your system, you tend to forget all about the preparation line. The food is EXCEPTIONAL, and based mostly on your own selection of the variety of starches, veggies, meats and spices. I have been for both lunch and dinner, and have left considerably stuffed each time. It's probably not somewhere you'd want to eat if you're considering heading to a second location for drinks, or a night on the town dancing, as you'll probably be too stuffed to do anything but relax and/or sleep. LOL They have a bar in Chow Baby, but it's not a social bar, more like a staging location for customers waiting to be seated. I've found that the drinks are not considerably strong. I'm not sure if this is good or bad, but I've never had more than 1 drink during my wait, so maybe I'll have to go back and just hang out to give a better review of the bar area. I would definitely recommend Chow Baby to friends, if they were seeking asian fusion or general mongolian styled grille dining. I enjoy myself every time I go to Chow Baby!
(4)
Meg S.

The food is pretty good; I have no complaints. They have a set of colorful plastic sticks that stand for options such as vegetarian (cooked on a separate grill), add shrimp or salmon, "make it a wrap", make it a soup (coconut broth, YUM!), allergy indicators, etc. You choose from a bed of white or brown rice, lo mein, chow mein or italian-style pasta, and then load up on veggies and sauces, which they provide recommendations for mixing. Then you choose your meat (or tofu) and seasoning, leave your bowls and go back to your table where your server will deliver it to you. Enough really can't be said for how crowded it gets, both during lunch - around noon - and during dinner, when the crowd lasts from 6pm til about 10. The atmosphere is loud and crowded at all but opening times. I've tried to come here with a group (10-15) for dinner at 7, and it's nearly impossible. The times we've actually waited it out, we've had to sit around for an hour before enough tables opened up. At the time they didn't take reservations, but according to a large sign on the wall they now do, so we'll have to try again. Service is great; you won't be wanting for drink refills. Overall good eats, and if you time it right you can actually have a conversation with table-mates.
(3)
Megan F.

this place is really great! it reminds me of a place back home, and it isnt too expensive. you pick out whatever you want and put it all in a bowl... then they cook it for you and bring it straight to your table! the only down side for me was that i didnt get a change to try their sauces before i put it on my food. the teriyaki was great though! i highly recommend this place for a date or to spend some time with friends. they play good music and its really close to atlantic station.
(5)
Ashley P.

Hm, part of me *loves* chow baby and part of me is seriously annoyed and frustrated by it! I love it for pretty much the same reasons that I love Hot Stix-- 1. I love the variety 2. I love choosing from all the sauces and coming up with different combinations 3. I love being able to choose stuff that *I* like and leaving out gross stuff like mushrooms and huge pieces of chicken And in these respects, I think Chow Baby is actually a good deal better than Hot Stix. More ingredients, and a lot of them are cooler. Like asparagus and basil. HOWEVER, there is one *major* drawback to Chow Baby. If you ever go at any time before 9:30 or so, the place will be more crowded than you could ever imagine and you will spend FOREVER in line. Seriously, waiting in line when you're already hungry and then being rushed to make your selections is pretty much my special version of hell. Plus, part of the appeal of these kind of stir fry places is being able to go back up to the bar and try new things. Why bother if you can only stand to go up there once??! Grrr.. I'm getting annoyed just thinking about it! Maybe someday they'll figure it out and put in a second bar.... But despite my annoyance, I actually really like this place and I rarely encounter the long lines as I prefer to eat dinner pretty late anyway!
(4)
JOY T.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! I am a total sucker for places that I can make/create my own food...thats probably the little kid in me. =) On top of that, it's a buffet and you can have make more than one creation??!! ***swoons*** The options are endless, and if you don't like your creation you can always make another one! It's also has a great, reasonable price of 7.99 for lunch and 11.99 for dinner. The only downside about this place is that its ALWAYS crowded, and the place is too small for all the chaos. It sucks when you have to wait to get a table, then have to wait in line to make your food, and after that wait for the food to come out. The real chow baby is a fun, different restaurant to go to and experiment with foods!!!!
(4)
J. W.

I had a fun time and making your own creation and having someone cook what you concoct in your mind is great.
(3)
missy g.

Another overrated restaraunt. I think the concept of Chow Baby is fun and unique, but the marks stop there. Long lines prevent anyone other than a hungry man from getting in the food line more than once. Food's not that great, everything I've made always tastes the same. Not the best
(2)
Adrienne T.

Hmm. Not much to say here. Horrendous wait time for a table, and then a looooooooong line to pick your ingredients. In Boston, we have Fire & Ice, which is the same concept as Chow Baby. I dunno, I guess I'd just rather order from the menu and have it come from the kitchen to me. My friends love the place, though. So, oh well.
(3)
Lexi E.

Great vibe , fresh ingredients, happy staff, good music, outdoor space, involved owners and managers, great value, second cobb location a plus, great take out deal:) Vegan, allergy friendly and good cocktail list!
(5)
Cat N.

Food is OK, it's a great concept but they are seriously raping wallets with their prices. The pricing would be better justified if their Service was out of this world...but unfortunately is was not. It was actually HORRENDOUS. It was a terrible experience that was made even worse by their management. I am not going to put most the blame on our actual server..he tried and there was only so much he can do...It all started with me ordering a Dirty Martini..yes Chow Baby if you are reading this you probably know exactly who I am ...So back to the Dirty Martini- It was a longggg day; it was a Friday- I needed a nice and strong good ol' dirty martini...what did I get?- A Dirty Mojito....yea ick, and who has ever heard of a Dirty mojito?? Needless to say I sent it back because there was clearly a misunderstanding- Martini, Mojito...they sound the same..kinda. So I finally get my Dirty Martini...oh and it is Dirty..it was pretty much the color of Apple Juice..and for those of us who drink Dirty Martinis we know they for the most part they are CLEAR- maybe a bit foggy, but for the most part Clear....This one also tasted like Robotussin with a splash of Apple Juice- or maybe it was the Dirty Mojito and they just poured it in to a Martini glass.. I tell our waiter " I am so sorry I hate to be picky but this just does not taste right, can I please have a glass of chardonnay and you can take this back?" ** Waiter give me a weird look, says alllright, and leaves my drink on the table*** About 5 minutes later what I am assuming is the manager for the night walks up and asks what was wrong with my martini. I told him that it does not tastes at all like a dirty martini. This is where the man went wrong... I don't think he has ever heard "The customer is always right"... He kept asking me if I wanted another shot of Vodka, I said, "No it is not more vodka I want, it is the taste of this that is wrong. More vodka will not change the taste. If this is going to be such an issue I would really just like you to take this drink off my tab". He went on to tell my husband and I that he cannot take alcoholic beverages off of tabs.. ARE YOU SERIOUS???..at this point my husband was beyond irritated and tells the manager to just forget it and keep the Dirty Martini on our bill and just bring her a glass of chardonnay. Which is RIDICULOUS. We get our bill and both drinks are on there....I had to step out of the restaurant because I was so irritated/shocked/annoyed by the way this manager handled our issue..I guess while I was out there the manager came back to our table and removed the Dirty Martini (Which was still sitting on our table, untouched) from our bill. REGARDLESS of the fact that the drink was finally removed from our tab, the only thing I am going to remember about my visit to Chow Baby is this experience. We will not be returning nor will we be recommending this to people.
(1)
Nichole N.

SO MUCH FUN! This place has a great concept. Create your own meal idea. Choose your ingredients and they cook it for you. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is fun, and the staff is super friendly. We will be coming back!
(5)
Maura C.

If you don't like the food, it's your own fault...heh. This is a Mongolian BBQ-style place, and they do have a nice selection of veggies, meats and sauces with which to make your meal. One trip through the buffet is quite enough food for one person, although I found myself wanting to go again just because I knew I could do *better.* In addition to my brown rice/mahi-mahi/black bean sauce bowl, I had the pot sticker appetizer, which came out direct from the fryer, just the way it should be. I also had the guava mojito, and I could have drank those all night, though guava is kind of like the bacon of fruit juices. Here's the problem with this place: it doesn't scale. I had to wait for a table on a Friday night, and then I had to wait in a long line to go through the buffet. The crowd died down closer to 10, but who wants to wait until that late to eat?
(3)
Melissa T.

I feel a bit indifferent about this place. The Mongolian BBQ concept gives you a lot of variety. The all-you-can-eat concept gives you a lot of food. I say I feel indifferent because personally I didn't like it but my dinner companions really enjoyed themselves. I get overwhelmed and want to try everything, so a little bit of everything goes into my bowl and at the end, I had a weird hodge podge dish. The sauce and combination of foods I chose turned out to be a bit too salty and soupy. I do like that they have a TON of vegetable selections. And as for the all-you-can-eat part, since I cannot eat a lot, I feel a bit cheated at places like this. However, as for my friends, they know how to compose their dishes tastefully and also able to go up 3-4 times. I'm sure they will be going back some more but without me.
(3)
Brantley W.

"Wait...I don't know how to cook/boil/fry." Chow Baby was definitely a new experience for me when my now girlfriend introduce me there. The first time we went we didn't have that much time. So of course I had to go again. Well parking is no joke as you may find yourself vaulting but the dude was not that forceful on tips (that why I gave him a five dollar tip but its up to you). Coming in its not that big really, I can see on crowded days how someone can juss go off..anyways its like a buffet expect that you have to sit first, tell them you eating buffet (oh yeah, drinks...I forgot) and then you can get in line. But you have to sent up your on meal to be cooked (that means you have to put rice/noodle in ya bowl, peas, pinapple?...and raw meat in another). Kid friendly? The place is but you may have to help the kids set their food up (as...my now girlfriend did). Atmosphere? Cool, relax. People feel so close but that could be me. Food? Depends...on you. Can say they have some good recommendations and no one complains about how they cook it. Overall? four out of five. It was different from the normal Ryan's, Corral (eww), and chinese's buffet. Unique, worth the price and a good dating spot. Too tight for friends but if you want to buddy cop to dinner (that means a reliable number 2). Go for it. Peace.
(4)
Sarah E.

UPDATED (1-27-09): After writing this review, I decided to give Chow Baby another try for lunch yesterday. The lines were nowhere near as bad as I had remembered. My friend and I got there somewhere around 1 pm, and there was almost no line. We were able to make two trips through the line and only be away from the office for a little over an hour. The quality of the food is still about how I remember it. Sadly, I had forgotten that stir fry always tastes better if you add lime wedges! There, now you know my secret. Because it was actually possible to eat lunch here without having to beg my boss's forgiveness when I got back, I am upgrading my rating from a "3" to a "4". ORIGINAL REVIEW: When this place first opened, I used to go here ALL THE TIME with my co-workers. I love the idea of making my own stir fry, and the selection of ingredients was really good. The ingredients appear to be of good quality, and you can make something you like regardless of whether you want to eat healthy, unhealthy, vegetarian, or meaty. However, I haven't been to Chow Baby in forever for the following reasons: 1. The wait is INSANE. No, seriously. In-freaking-sane. One time, I went to Chow Baby for TAKEOUT because I had to be at a meeting in an hour and every lunch I've had there has run much longer than that. I waited over 45 minutes for my stupid takeout to be ready. That's ridiculous. 2. It's too loud to actually have a conversation with your lunch partner. That said, Chow Baby's food is so tasty that I am salivating a little just thinking about it. Maybe I can give it another chance sometime soon.
(4)
Kasey N.

This place was fun and I want to give it a better review, but I'll have to go back before I can give it more than three stars. The only reason it's gets that high of a rating is the good food. The wait staff was slow, forgot about us and not very friendly. They did redeem themselves by putting our order in and bringing it to us once rather than having to stand in line. But it didn't make up enough for the rest of the night and being forgotten. When I go back, I'll go earlier and probably on a weeknight in order to avoid the wait and the crowd. On a more positive note, the food was good and the various selection of choices was great! You can choose ingredients to make anything your heart desires. That's impressive! All in all, great food, not so great service, but I'll give them another chance.
(3)
Layne B.

The food is good here; but i have never eaten here and not felt sick after. Only take one trip to the build your own bar. I feel ill just writing about this place. If you do have to go here, they have great vegetarian options- since you build your own meal. Beware the wait as well. It gets really crowded here on the weekends, because it seems people love all you can eat- meh.
(2)
Kara G.

I LOVE Chow Baby. I don't live very close to here so I don't go here often, but I have been several times and it is so good. Great simple food. I stay away from weird sauces, that is the only way you can ruin the food here otherwise it is very standard. It does get crowded, but there are some cuties that eat here so it is the perfect place to do some guy watching.
(5)
Josh B.

I've only been to Chow Baby once, not because i didn't like it but because for now its really out of my way. The time i went i was a little nervous. This odd make-your-own stir fry concept was a bit foreign to me. It was a good thing that i went with a couple of veterans because i would have been a little lost. Once you figure out how things work you can really make some amazing combinations though. The veggies are fresh and crispy, the meats are great but what really makes it are the sauces. I tried several combinations of veggies, meats, and sauce and was never let down. The only bad part about this place is how buys it gets. It can be super hard to get in on the weekends if you don't go early. I hear lunch isn't as bad. I guess this is a good problem to have though.
(5)
Dean S.

You will never stop having fun making your stir-fry dishes with each visit. Great food, environment, and service. Had a 5 hour long dinner there one night and it felt like a half hour.
(4)
adrian w.

I would have liked to have given this place a higher star count, but the crowdedness and the feeling of being rushed made me shilly-shally. The food was quite good and I love the options. I am a huge fan of a place where you can choose from such a vast variety of meats and sauces. I will go back, preferable at an earlier time to avoid the crowds.
(3)
Keith C.

I know I am very new to yelp but I started eating here back when it first opened. I love this place. The atmosphere reminds of SF, and the food is always great since I make it myself. I always try something new and different and since i like to cook the same way it is perfect for me. The guilty pleasure here is the desserts. The desserts are just sinful and should eaten with guilty pleasure. I just love the feel of the place and the food is always the best since I made it. ciao
(4)
Liz L.

I'm in a three star kind of mood today. I think I've just been bitter toward this city since getting back from NYC, but that's a story for another time... This place is overpriced. I know, me? Saying something is overpriced? I'm the queen of NOT shopping the sale racks because I'm worried that there just has to be something wrong with it if it's discounted/cheap/not over $100. Trust me, I know, ridiculous. Anyway - for once I'm saying it, so it must be true. So it's an assembly line, and we all know my feelings about buffet style restaurants (they are g-r-o-s-s). Basically, you have to figure out what to put in your bowl without really knowing how anything is going to taste once mixed together, which is frustrating for people who actually care if their food tastes good. I mean, I'm all for DIY and personal responsibility, but for god's sake, how is it fair to subject someone to the possibility that their food might taste like pig manure? (I'm being polite) Right - long story short, my stuff tasted fine, but what if!? WHAT IF!?? Oh, and they also play this TOTALLY LOUD AND OBNOXIOUS techno music the entire time you're eating, causing you to wonder if a) you are actually eating at a Ru San's without realizing it and b) the place is going to transform into some bizarre Atlanta version of Studio 54 (albeit without the cocaine and rampant sex).
(3)
Chris P.

Great concept, fresh food and unique place to take people who aren't from the area.
(4)
LenÃ©e Y.

Seriously, how can one NOT love this place? This is the only buffet you'll ever catch me at. I bring all of my out-of-town guests here, and they love it too! The only reason that they're losing a star is because of the RIDICULOUS crowds. I mean, it's pretty crazy. It's frustrating because they're closed from like 3-5 on weekdays, and they open at 5 on the weekends - which makes the crowds even worse because everyone is trying to get there at the same time. They really need to improve on the hours. Also, when the buffet line is wrapped around the restaurant, it really makes the people eating uncomfortable with patrons hovering over them in line. But the food? It's great! Maybe the new location in Cobb will be bigger and have less crowds? One can only hope...
(4)
Vy A.

If I've learned one thing from this restaurant, it is all your favorite ingredients added together do not necessarily make the best dish. I'm an okay cook at home, but I get carried away at this place. It is like a challenge...I go up there and start with one idea in my head, then I get sidetracked by other ingredients that I like. I know that they don't go well together, but plop...they go into my bowl anyway. The product is me looking longingly at the food of everyone else at my table. My second go around much better when I refrain from just sticking anything in my bowl. In any case, this place is fun and the service has generally been pretty good. Go easy on the sauces here. Since they use one big platform, the spices and sauces of all the dishes before yours will already salt and flavor your dish. Add the amount of sauce that they suggest, and it will be so salty that you can't even eat your creation. In summary, go there for the fun of it once but that is about all I can recommend it for.
(3)
Rick D.

Went here tonight between a dance lesson and a group dance class. Had heard good things and had high hopes. We were seated fairly quickly at around 6:45ish, the server knew his stuff and explained the concept and then we went up to get our food. The line was already forming so we had to wait and the line moved pretty slow but we got our bowls filled and handed it over to the grill conductor. We arrived back to our tea on the table and awaiting the appetizers (considering that I saw them sitting out ready for delivery for about 8 minutes while I was in line they were a little cold but still good (Gyoza)). Our food came out and it smelled good! I had gotten LoMein noodles with mushrooms, spinach, basil, water chestnuts, 5 spice powder and chicken. My dish was a lot of meat (didn't seem to be that much when I got it!) and the spinach and basil were almost nowhere to be found. It was good, flavorful but nothing overwhelming (I guess my picks weren't over the top either!) We also tried the Ice Cream Pie of the day which was chocolate decadence or something like that. It was good but the ice cream was crystallized and had been frozen for what seemed to be too long of a time. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't out of the park either! Ill give it another try to see if it improves...
(3)
Erin D.

I couldn't agree more with Ashley D. I love this place, but it can definitely be pretty frustrating. If you're really tired and looking for a relaxing, quiet meal, go elsewhere. I've been 6-7 times and always at different hours and days in an attempt to find the ideal, less crowded time to go... but no luck. Here are my rants and raves: Rants: 1.) It's REALLY crowded. ALL the time. Although it's "all you can eat", I haven't known anyone willing to wait in the 30 minute line again for another trip. 2.) The line is really long, and waiters are constantly saying, "excuse me", guests are pushing by you to go to the restroom, etc., and it can get really annoying. 3.) Sometimes your dish comes out bland, but you have no one to blame but yourself - eventually you will find the perfect combo! 4.) It's really loud, and it can be pretty difficult to have a conversation with the person you're with. 5.) You may find a piece of someone else's meat in your bowl. If you're a vegetarian, I definitely recommend putting the "vegetarian" stick in your bowl to let the cooks know to prepare yours separately. Raves: 1.) The variety is great (different kinds of rice, noodles, vegetables, spices, sauces, and meats). 2.) The ingredients are always fresh and the selection is never running low. 3.) The vegetables are the best! There are so many that it's hard for me to fit them in one bowl. 4.) The nutritional facts of the sauces are hugely displayed on the wall. 5.) Food always comes to you piping hot. 6.) The price is awesome 7.) They have sriracha sauce for you to bring to your table. Overall, I really like this place. I love controlling what goes into my meal, so the concept is right up my alley. I recommend going with a friend rather than a date, and I don't suggest going alone; you will be way too bored and impatient in line by yourself!
(4)
Alicia K.

It was ok, but only got an 83 on its sanitation review and it showed. Think I like the one on Ponce better.
(2)
Andre S.

So, imagine this, you're tired, hungry, and feet hurt from a long day being a "tourist" at the New World of Coke, and all you want to do is eat until you have to adjust your belt buckle and roll yourself back to the car. Well, last Saturday, my friend and I went to The Real Chow Baby, to do exactly This. Being my vigin experience, I was really excited to try TRCB out, especially since I'm a big fan of the whole eat until you burst concept. When we walked in, there was a line to the buffet portion of the restaurant, and this wasn't your ordinary wait for 5 minutes to pick out your food, it was a 1 hour long wait! To appease the situation, and our hungry stomach, they did attempt to serve us fried cheese appetizers, that only lasted 1.5 seconds. If the US is looking for new torture techniques, I think food deprivation, along with smelling roasting meat/veggies is a good way to make some one spill the beans, because after standing in line for an hour, I was ready to kill. The service was pretty good, however, one of the servers did yell at me for breaking the "stick to one bowl, one protein bowl" concept. But in my defense I told them there's no way in hell am I waiting in line for another hour for a second bowl, if they wanted to serve me, they'd figure it out. After that all was good in the land of Oz, and my belly felt nice and happy. One star off my review because of the hour wait.
(2)
Maxine C.

No doubt, the concept is great. The food is whatever you want to make it (sans bean sprouts. WHYYYYYYYY Real chow baby? Gimme the bean sprouts) and there's a huge selection of veggies and meats and sauces. Off the top of my head, here's what I remember as far as selection: brown or white rice, some spiraly pasta, lo mein, glass noodles, one other type of noodle but it wasn't popular. Veggies: potatoes, cilantro, thai basil, egg, tomatoes, pineapple, zucchini, onions, garlic, lime, red and green peppers, jalepenos, baby corn, carrots, spinach, napa cabbage, red cabbage, scallions, peas, water chestnuts, blac, beans, peanuts, bamboo shoots, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms and probably at least 10 more I didn't try. As far as sauces there must have been about 20 different kinds. Calamari, shrimp, mahi mahi, beef, chicken, pork and sausage and maybe one other fish. To finish it off, you can sprinkle 1 of about 12 different spice mixes. Hand the bowls to someone, they cook it up, you eat it up. Our server was FANTASTIC. I didn't catch his name but he had very muscular arms. Very nice guy. The hostess - meh. L says she's just repeating the company policy. It's one of those 'we can't seat you until your whole party is here' places. Me: Ok, there's 5 of us, the other two are parking. Reply: Ok, we can seat the 5 of you and IF your other party arrives we will try and seat them next to you. If there's room. Me: I look around at about 30 empty tables and laugh. Ok lady, we'll just hover here until they get here then. Then something happened, probably I embarassed L, and we got seated. I get told again IF your 7th person gets here we can add a chair. If. Ok lady. Recommendations for a first timer: Go small. You need to see how much sauce it takes to make YOU happy. And go really easy on the spices unless you know what you want. You can go back as much as you want but if you see a big group of Tech students walk in run up there ahead of them no matter where you are in your meal. I personally wouldn't bother with appetizers because there's so much to choose from on the bar but they looked good. Fancy drinks too, I guess, i don't drink. Plus, 8 bucks for lunch and 12 bucks for dinner? get out of here. Best deal in Atlanta I think.
(4)
Yvette J.

I dig the concept and it was fun to pick out my own veggies, sauce and protein but like stated below unless you are a cook or are familiar with the flavors you can end up creating a bowl of yuck. Mine was OK and edible but I'd rather not create it again for a meal. I didn't like the noise level or the pretentious acting servers. I'd rather the place have several food runners than actual servers who really aren't doing much more than the little Asian grandma at your local chinese buffet.
(3)
Alex C.

I was taken here for my surprise birthday party one year. It was a spot that kept a line at its door and I had heard about. I was impressed with the space, and doubly impressed with the volume they did! The food was not all that great. Going through a line where you pull together items to make your dinner, kinda bothers me. I usually don't like buffets and this gave me the feeling of just that. But, I have since been back (several times) and have grown to enjoy the whole process (more when its not crowded) and have come to accept the food for being a step above fast food, a healthy option for fast food. All and all not bad, and with its full bar and patio it is even better!
(4)
Harrison C.

I caught this popular place on a friday just before the lunch rush hit, and it really impressed me as a great twist on a classic Mongolian cooking and a buffet eating experience! The variety of the vegetables and sauces, and even the meats aren't just your typical beef and chicken. With sausage, swordfish, calamari, talapia coupled with the 20 or so sauces, you really have an opportunity to create some good stuff. My suggestion would be to first try to make something you know, or at least can vaguely remember the ingredients from your favorite chinese takeout dish. But don't be afraid to venture out and try other things. One catch is that during the busy rush, there can be a little line to get your bowl built and cooked, so I suggest if you have been before make things quick and have a little plan each time you go. The Atmosphere is that of a bistro mixed with a flare for the subtle artistic. Nothing to fancy, music is simple yet catchy, the wait staff are pretty attentive even in a rush and can always suggest a good combo for your tastes, and of course the food is always fresh and hot. If you can sit outside I suggest it, nice and calm, and if you have a say in the carpool for lunch, go early so the valet line isn't longer than the food one. All in all it's a nice food experience, less than $10 a piece for lunch, and not much more for dinner, and with the choices and variety, (not too be cheesy but...) the possibilities are endless!
(4)
R P.

Definitely go with a huge appetite! Think buffet with almost complete control over your options. The food was cooked well and the wait staff was attentive and efficient. I'd recommend this place for dinner.. peak lunch hours probably gets pretty busy.
(4)
David H.

I LOVE this place! Atmosphere is great. It's always busy and very electric. So much better than your typical mongolian bbq (this place is clean, decorated nicely, and the clientele is much more upscale). The service at the Midtown location is much better than the Cumberland location. Same great food at both places. If you don't like it, it's your own fault, go make another plate! There's no reason to get their overpriced appetizers - you'll get plenty full on the main course. Drinks are average. I try to get my wife to eat here about once a week.
(5)
Tia S.

You cant really complain about the food because you make it yourself. The staff is very friendly, It was my first time eating here and they showed me the ropes. The food was great. I hated the parking and the location is hard to find
(4)
Ron G.

I've only been to this place once. A friend of my brother took us there. Overall, the experience was a good one. You literally choose the type of meal you desire, you select the meat, sauces, spices, rice, noodles, eggs, they have a large variety to select. I'll be real, if it's busy in there, you can feel a little pressured because you don't want to hold up the line. Also, if you're not much of a cook, then you may have trouble selecting meals.
(4)
Tuna D.

I love this place, went to lunch with the Captain and Gilligan, I went as Ginger....anyways, my first time there at lunch on a weekday, I was impressed and was thinking how a concept like this in New Orleans was go.... Excellent choice of rice, noodles, sauces, meets, veggies, and sauces. You basically pick out what you want in your own dish and put everything in the bowl, bring your bowl up and the guys wil stir fry everything on a flat grill and you can go back to your seat. Food does not take long and was there in a flash. I was impressed, although it was a bit greasy and I hate greasy food. Overall, you can go back as many times as you want for the 1 price. Our waittress was amused at our names, good service, parking during lunch can be a hassle considering how crowded it gets, we sat outside on a wonderful sunny day so it was nice.
(3)
Rebecca O.

Outstanding concept: make your lunch/dinner as healthy as you want it to be. You go through the line and put ingredients of your choice into a bowl. They stir-fry it. No matter what sauce I use or which ingredients I include, my food always ends up tasting like the char off the huge cooking surface. It's not awful, but it's not my favorite thing in the world. It's a good place to go if you want tons of food (you can go back as many times as you want), but be forewarned, you'll smell like it for the rest of the day. Weigh the pros and cons and decide for yourself.
(3)
Aisha I.

I love this place because there are so many options. It's true the food can come out tasting sub-par but I've found that if I stick to the suggested recipe cards they have when you first begin preparing your meal you really can't go wrong. I love the different options to make salads, wraps, soups, etc and each time I leave I look forward to the next time I will be back!
(4)
Justin M.

All you can eat for 12 bucks?! I went with 6 people and everyone loved every bite. The atmosphere was great and customizing your own "Asian Fusion" is downright fun. No one should miss this hands on experience.
(5)
Victoria A.

I loved the concept and all the food that I picked turned out great combined. Prices are reasonable and I am definitely taking my friends here. The cheesecake with the liqueur was *awesome*.
(4)
Miss S.

I wish I could give 3.5 stars. I went for dinner when it first opened and it was a mad house, but I went for lunch today and rather enjoyed it. 5 of us were seated promptly, the line wasn't bad, and we got our food quickly. I think you have to go at 11:45 or 12:45-- the in between is the bad part. I love that you get to pick your own combos, so you can be as healthy as you'd like to be and you can't beat $7.99 for lunch these days...
(3)
Gloria W.

I love this place, but I am torn between this and hot stix. The roti bread I love. The appetizers here do kick the stix's ass! Way more variety. I would be more inclined to take my picky eater friends here than hot six. Oh the patio is great and the music is always really good. Over all I really do like it!
(4)
Colin D.

This is a very fun, urban, and tasty restaurant located right in downtown atlanta! Food is great, and YOU are in charge! If you dont like your food, there is no one to blame but yourself because you make it all (except the grilling process). I have been to both Chow Baby locations, and love both. The main con of the Howell Mill location is the wait- Oh my God. The first time I went there it took 65 minutes to get a table, then an additional 40 to stand in line to make our food. But once we got our food it was well worth it. I wouldn't recommend going here on a weekend- it WILL be very crowded. The Pro about this location is the decor and service. The decor beats the other location by far (I dont know why though. Maybe the intimacy) and the servers are all very friendly and professional. So if you dont mind a wait, but want a fun dinner, go here! The main con of the Cobb Galleria location is the the uncleanliness of the food bar. Every time I went to scoop something out on my bowl, there would be a different vegetable in it that would over flow from the container next to it. The staff needs to work on this! The pro is there are TWO serving lines, so there is not a huge wait to make your food. But keep in mind, even with few people at the bar fixing their food, it can still take 15 minutes for your food to be brought out to you. So overall, this is a very good restaurant and I highly recommend it.
(4)
Kristi B.

I was in ATL for work and my assistant loves this place so she took me for dinner. The first disappointment was that we tried to order their "award winning signature cocktail" and they "were out of it". Hmmm.... Anyway, I liked my food, but why wouldn't I, since I basically made it myself to my own specifications? I added a piece of naan to my dinner which was really good (extra charge) but not really authentic. Service was sssllllooooowwww.....and it was not packed. Hence, the mediocre star rating. I thought it was OK but on the next trip to Atlanta I will do the restaurant choosing!
(2)
Jalisa N.

Okay, went there recently and my husband and I got food poisioning. The place was packed on a Saturday night and they were just throwing raw meat and fish on without taking time to clean. Restaurant has a nice concept, but they need to consider running a healthy restaurant.
(2)
D G.

I have been here a couple of times for lunch. I like the concept, one price and as many second plates you want. The food is good but if you don't like it you can only blame yourself since you created the concoction in the first place:) I like the fact that they have the calorie information for the sauces on the wall, which is great for health conscious people. From the appetizer menu, the chicken potstickers are great. The only thing I may dislike about the restaurant is the parking, there is a small parking garage but the spots are tight and limited to just he first level. Also, it can get crowded because the place isn't that big but the Real Chow Baby at the Cobb Galleria is bigger, if one wanted to opp and go there instead. I think this is a great place for any type of social outing and a good place to take out-of-towners.
(4)
Kowanna B.

Yep, I love it! I keep coming back!
(4)
Sha A.

This place was great! My husband & I checked it out for the first time this past Saturday night. We had to park on the street but we were able to find a good spot. There was a 45 minute wait but The Real Chow Baby made it worth it! They served 2 rounds of appetizers while we waited - I was impressed! That really made us feel like TRCB appreciated its customers being patient & waiting to eat at their restaurant :o) ! Last but not least, the choices on the 'choose it yourself' bar were great & my end dish was SO yummy! Just remember to pack your patience. We are definitely planning to visit again soon! :o) Just in case you were wondering my dish contained the following ingredients: white rice, little bit of chow mien noodles, spinach, carrots, red onions, broccoli, corn, scallions, minced garlic, chicken, peanut sauce, ginger spice, curry spice and Thai spice - bet you're hungry now!
(5)
Nicole R.

The Real Chow Baby on Howell Mill Road is fabulous! The customer service is wonderful and if you haven't visited before the employees make you feel comfortable and explain to you how Chow Baby operates :) So go have some fun and add lots of ingredients to your bowl!
(5)
Kay T.

OMGGGGGG This was awesome. It was a fresh spin on an old favorite; stir fry. I first of all was impressed byt the price, lunch 7.99- all you can eat, say what? To a eatn sista like myself that would be 2 snaps in a circle and a high five. CLEAN AND FRESH are the only words to describe the atmosphere and food. The server Asia was excellent too. They had every asian sause you can think of PLUS a seasonings bar. I mean a bar of seasoning salt, chillie pepper, sesame seeds- needn't I say more. Parking is valet so tip em cause they are quick@! If you are vegetarian you can enjoy tofu as a toss in. Also they have brown and white rice, egg noodles, rotini, and rice noodles. I heard it can very busy for dinner. It is very believeable because we went to lunch at about 11:45 it wasn't busy but by 12 it was over 75% capacity. Great place for a date, eating alone and or friends just chillin. Its worth the try!
(5)
Adrianne T.

My friend and I stumbled on to The Real Chow Baby after a day of furniture hunting and antiquing, so it was about a quarter to 5: Taqueria del sol was closed and we didn't want figo. We figured what the hell, we'll give this place a try. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. We stood in line outside for the last few minutes before they opened along with a couple of couples and a big family party. We watched in amazement as the line behind us steadily grew and grew and GREW! So being at the head of the line, we got a table outside which we found out is a must (because who wants to eat inside when the monstrous line begins snaking around your tables and your view is obscured by elbows and asses - just no) The make-your-own stir fry is cool enough considering both of us like to cook and it's cute and kinda fun. Because we were at the front of the line, everything was laid out nicely and clean and people had not begun reaching across the veggies with their overstuffed bowls and shirt sleeves. I had a ginger mojito which was delicious. And we both enjoyed our dessert. Return trips have proven to be less exciting as you realize you have made better stirfry on your own in your dented wok at home. Overall, I'd say it's worth a trip and something a little different. Kids like it and it is all-you-can-eat if you feel like standing in line again.
(3)
Eric G.

I ate here today with low expectations because I heard it was kind of like a salad bar which that was kind of exactly what is was like. I was fine putting my own sticky rice in a bowl with veggies and sauces, Once I had to pick up my red bowl and put the raw chicken in there i was a bit grossed. I sucked it up and went for it. Scooping up slimy chicken is not very appetizing. Of course once it was cooked it tasted great but I could not stop thinking about the chicken in the bin. Great sweet tea. My suggestion would be to have the staff serve the meats, chicken and fish for the guests and we can do the rest. That would make me come back. Sorry for the not so amazing review but I dont want to see the raw meats in containers.
(3)
Ken L.

chow baby is where you would get the moment to be a master-chef-extraordinaire.. and you would always has an idea to improve your dish... next time. thats when they get you to come back again and again. in my opinion, you need to be careful of the people you go there with... and its kinda hard. dont think you could bring a group cause the music is so loud i cant even hear what the person across me is saying. if you go with a first-timer then you'll have to explain to the already impatient and confusing friend how it works and answer the questions like "why are they saying 'baby' after everything?", ie. "take a bowl here, baby" and then there is the impatient one who would be sick of the ridiculous crowds that is always there... and dont get me to start on the anorexic one who is hungry for food and full after half a plate and look at you til you are done... so you see, i always have a nerve-wracking experience here what i like about this place is that they have lots of unique sauces to choose from to flavor your dish. ingredients are fresh and appetizing.. (raw meat dont gross me out).. effort is always made to make sure the buffet is full and tidy.. but they need to brush up their service sometimes though.. and my advise to you is to pack up lots of patience cause this would be a 3 hour meal :)
(3)
Brad W.

The Real Chow Baby is the sort of place that some rave over and hype to no end. I was first brought here by one of those passionate devotees. Upon entering, the atmosphere is fine, nothing to write home about, but it is good considering the price point. I admire the concept, combining ingredients and trying new combinations, if you so desire, but limit yourself. Case in point, several "newbies" that I have brought to Chow Baby thought everything looked delicious and decided to combine multiple sauces, the result was, as you might expect, appalling. Sure, you can go back for another plate and waste a ton of food, does your conscience bother you? If your looking for a talented chef to create a delicious entree, skip Chow Baby, but if your feeling adventurous and on a bit of a budget, check it out and you may become a fan. Note, I hate that they are not open for lunch on the weekends. I once tried to go there for lunch one Sunday with a friend, they were closed, so such much for me "knowing the area"! My pride has since recovered. Another time, I was seated by the entrance to the kitchen/dish washing room (to the left when you enter the front door) and my two guest commented several times on the unappetizing smell radiating from the nearby kitchen doors. In summary, this place seems to wow some and not impress others, but it is generally a reliable choice. I'd say you need to check it out yourself at some point and see what you think.
(3)
Chase C.

I'm a condiment/sauce addict, & at Chow Baby I can get what I want. After all, you put your ingredients in the bowl, sauce & all. And you can put whatever or however much you want. Not only is everything clearly labeled vegetarian, but also vegan - hard to find even these days. People are talking on here about if you screw up... they might not know that if you make a creation that tastes bad, you just take it back & go at it again! Chow Baby is one of those "I can't make up my mind where I want to eat... ok go to Chow Baby" places. Mmm!
(5)
Jody N.

This place is great! I dare you to find a place with all you can eat (good) food for $8 during lunch. The mix'n'match deal can be confusing but its really hard to go wrong with the variety of options they have. The wait staff was helpful in keeping our heads on straight with the little wooden markers and they described the process very well to me since it was my first time. I would, like other said, suggest that they offer a optional "guide" on what goes well together. The random paintings on the wall are cool but when you are in line with 20 people behind you, it can be hard to stay focused.
(4)
Darnell S.

It was a bit crowded and I had definitely not had an experience where I had to get my food in such a way. The food wasn't too bad, but I have definitely had better. I think it is still a good back for the old buck though, and I would recommend it for someone who has never been before. Just try to find it on a less crowded evening!
(3)
Lori T.

good for a picky eater as you can choose your ingredients from noodles/rice, to veggies to proteins, etc. fun to come up with combinations or use what they recommend. one time my meal was over cooked when i was getting it to go. other than that no problems. love the food - the dessert was overpriced and didn't taste that good (despite recommendations from the staff to try it). i had the key lime pie and didn't enjoy it at all.
(4)
D M.

this place was great. the prep area for choosing your contents looked good and fresh. when it was brought to me it looked and tasted great. the best thing was the price. just over 10 bucks. that included the drink. the wait staff was friendly and attentive. they had many ingredients to choose from.
(5)
Tee C.

This place is AWESOME..........but always crowded. SO BAD they are not open for more hours on the Sat and Sun. I saw this news bit on Fox 5 in the am about 3 yrs ago and ever since I've been treating myself to this place. only problem I've ever had was that one time the waitress was not particularly attentitve and a little bit on the nasty side when it came to the drinks but that was my only experience and I havent had a bad experience since. I'd recommend this place to anyone. LUV IT!!!!!!
(5)
Lori F.

It's not complicated, really. Real Chow Baby is basically a mongolian bbq dressed up to be a modern, chic restaurant. Gloss and glitz added doesn't change the fact that you're the cook. If you screw up, it's your fault. Rice, veggies, meats, and sauces are laid out for you to make your own concoction. They do have some suggestions on what you should include in your stir-fry (try those first - I find most people aren't used to any of the ingredients available). I do think it's cool that you don't always have to get stir-fry: you can make yours into a soup or wrap at no extra charge.
(3)
mind your b.

Chow Baby was an ok dining experience. I would say that the concept is neat. I liked the idea that you get to make your own dish(es), at least you know when the dish isn't great, it's your own fault. The down fall of it is waiting in the long line to prepare your food. I would not recommend ordering any of there appetizers. We order two items off their appetizer menu and it was not great-bbq ribs and pot stickers. Another thing I didn't like is the parking situation.
(2)
Johnny D.

Okay, Yes I am a fan of The Real Chow Baby. Now that I live around the corner they see me almost every week. If I didn't have some kind of self control I would be there weekly. Yea, I may be a fuddy duddy but, I do enjoy choosing what I want to put in my dish. Also, it's funny watching others in line, esp. the first timers, you know the ones whose bowls are full before the past the first section of veggies. OMG! please instruct your first timers so I won't talk about them in line. lol. I've not had a bad visit yet. We always get a cute server. My only issue, the mojitos! are good but if I wanted a plate of mint leaves I would request that as a side not 15 leaves in one drink. Lastly, keep the $8.99 happy hour special going guys. It helps me enjoy my MINT-jito a little more.
(4)
Julia S.

This is just another Mongolian BBQ place. I'm not really into it - it's a little too gimmicky for me. It also is more expensive than I honestly feel it's worth. It also somehow bothers me that my food is being cooked right along side everyone else's, although I know it's probably not logical. Overall, the meal you get here is decent, but nothing to write home about. I'm not crazy about their sauces and the like, either. I guess it's an all right place to go if you're in the area and no one can come to a consensus as to what to get, but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way for this place.
(3)
Claire Y.

interesting buffet
(3)
Amy B.

Very good. I just moved back to Atlanta from Chicago a few weeks ago, and I was happy to find this place. Flat Top Grill is one of my favorites in Chicago, and Chow Baby is extremely similar. I wish that they had tomatoes for a veggie selection, but everything else was great. It's a fun place to go on a first or any date. If you like this place and ever find yourself in the Windy City, check out Flat Top Grill!
(4)
Nicholas R.

I really dont know how to write this review since Ive never tried the food. Ive made a total of 4 attempts. The first 3 I never got to sit at a table because the wait was an hour plus. Ok its popular Ill let that slide. Last night I made a fourth attempt to go. They said 20-25 mins I thought Finally!!! I get to try Chow Baby. Ive been to wok style places in LA before but it has been a long time. So we wait at the bar have a few drinks and enjoy watching the storm roaring outside. 25 mins passes we order more drinks and continue to wait and try to keep the enjoyment level high and spirited. After they tried to pawn 6 of us off on a table that would be tight for 4 we continue to wait for a bigger table. We reach the 1 hour mark (ugggggh again) and finally get a table outside (well two tables no where near the same height) I let it slide and we get in a line (great more waiting) to grab some food. The line is all over the place! everyone is bumping into everyone and everything else. Even the servers do the same without much care. We wait in line for 20 mins and are still no where near the start of the buffet section. OK this place has been nothing but a problem since people have first started to bring me here. I had enough so very upset we left. You can say its unfair to judge a place that you have not tried. I think even if I did I still form opinions about service and cleanliness and so on. Ok I did try the mojitos, pretty lame they cant even muddle the sugar, water, mint, and so on but maybe Im being too hard because the overall experience was very lacking. I will try this place again and attempt to actually eat here but probably not for awhile. I dont feel like wasting a night on a "chance" I may actually get to try this place.
(1)
E X.

I went there for the first time for dinner (6pm or so) on a Friday night. There is only one "buffet" line to gather all the food you want the cook to stir fry for you. The rice in the cooker looked awful. It looked chunky and not fresh. The line was long and we were hungry, and the food choices were not that great. We ended up leaving the place and decided not to eat there. Don't go here if you are starving and wanting food fast. There are several Chinese restaurants that can offer more food and much quicker at a lower price than Real Chow Baby. I only went there once and would not go back again.
(1)
Rilindo F.

I like this hipped up mongolian-style buffet - and for a price, it is pretty reasonable. They are not open all hours, though (only around lunch and dinner). Also, if you don't know what you are doing, it might be best to follow the recipes that is on the wall. I didn't and what I had was a mess. :P
(4)
Flip C.

I like this place, been here twice. Located in the Midtown West area. Basically you pick your pasta, veggies, meats, sauces and spices, and one of their cooks will either stir fry it, soup it or fry it in rice. Quite popular both times I've been, and I've gone during lunch and dinner. Can be as meaty as you want it or an immaculate vegetarian dish. Be careful though. Things that look neat at the food bar might not taste so great after it's fried up into a meal. Put some thought into your creation before you just load up your bowl with stuff.
(4)
Carole F.

I went with a party of five to Chow Baby. This was our first time. My friend's co-worker recommended this place. I would like to say it was an experience. I would suggest to make reservations because it took an hour for us to be seated. We got there at 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday night. When we asked how many groups are in front of us, they stated two. However, I saw as many as six groups to be seated. The male hostess was not very friendly about the situation when we asked him about this matter. I give the other employees an A in customer service (bartender, female hostess, cooks, and the smiling waitress) and I give the male hostess an F. That is the only reason for 3 stars. As soon as you are seated the waitress will fill you in about what to do once you get in line and the different sauces and etc. She took our drink order. Another thing I didn't like is that our drinks are left unattended on our table while we get our food. I would suggest that lids are placed on the glasses once we sit down. The waitress will give you a wooden stick to write your name on it with the table #. You would grab a black bowl and place all your desired brown/white rice, vegetables, sauces, and etc. Then grab a red bowl for your meat (beef, chicken, calamari, talipia, and etc.) and seasoning for your meat (garlic, seasoning salt, pepper, and etc.). Don't forget to place your wooden stick in the black bowl. After that, place your bowls down for the cooks to retrieve them. The waitress will bring your food to you. We were able to see the cooks cook the food. It was amazing!!!! My arms would get a work out if I had to cook like that everyday. My food was sent out nice and hot. I put too much teriyaki sauce which somewhat ruined my food, but it was okay. I would suggest to make your plate look colorful (carrots, beans, brocoli, and etc.). Everything was outstanding except for the male hostess. I would go back again and get a wrap next time.
(4)
J. D.

Choose your own Stir fry is not a new concept, in fact this style of "Mongolian BBQ" has been popular in other cities for quite awhile. The concept and flow of things takes a few tries to get your food right. Essentially you are the master of your bowl, whereby you select raw ingredients and sauces and then hand it over to the stir fry cook to finish your concoction. The restaurant has posted suggested combinations for your culinary guidance. The problem is not everyone is a cook, and if you put too much of something your dish will be ruined. If you truly mess up, its okay you can return to the line and start over as the restaurant is basically all you care to eat. A nice touch here is the full service bar. The staff is very helpful, especially toward newbies to the concept of choose your own stir fry. My friend Michael is militant about not eating carbs, and swears by The Real Chow Baby has his lunchtime goto spot. Parking is valet but free, there is also limited street parking. Personally I prefer to go to more autentic Asian restaurants, but this is a fun spot to try. the ingredients are indeed fresh, and some of the combinations I came up with were really tasty. Easy does it on some of the sauces, they contain quite a bit of sodium and the general rule of a little goes a long way applies here.
(3)
erich l.

i love this place. if you are creative you can make the best stirfry you've ever tasted. but.. this also means you can make the worst. the reason why i don't go back: it's an open air grill and i always leave smelling so bad i feel like i need to take a shower.
(3)
Keisha M.

LOVE IT!!! LOVE IT!!! This place is only what you make of it, the food is only good, if you make it good!! This is another one of my good date spots. It is a buffet where you create your own dish...choose your meats, veggies, rice or noodles and sauces!! And it is only around $11.50, and you can go back as many times you want. It is definitely an excellent look!! And for you over the age of 21....the mojitos are the best I ever consumed!! So maybe one day after work....grab some friends and head to The Real Chow Baby, it's worth it!!
(5)
Ari W.

If you can manage to get a seat in this place, the food is not bad at all, especially at their price. The assembly line to build your bowl is usually long, but the wait isn't bad. It great that you can choose from plenty of vegetables, and although it's an Mongolian BBQ inspired concept, you can make it asian, mexican, and/or even mediterranean dishes if you know what you are doing. (Well, the secret is all in the sauce) They are "fairly" clean. Occasionally you see the staff wiping off the spills on the buffet counters with some questionable mop that might or might not contains the cleaning agent. You might ponder on if you want to have germ-free buffet counter with poisoned food, or if you want some bacteria communities happily neighboring your food,.... or, you can simply just tell yourself "As long as I don't drop the food onto the counter, I should be okay. Besides, they will cook these. This shouldn't be any problems" My favorite sauce is Thai Pesto. It goes great with everything. Unfortunately, it also happened to have the highest calories amongst all other sauces.
(4)
Trey L.

big fan of the concept, and its great when you figure out a good combination of of sauces and etc. I do feel slightly stupid for thinking its healthy, its carb based but still better than burger and fries, maybe. Really like this place but quit going after I discovered Hannkook. I think they raised the prices too.
(4)
Caitlin L.

It's a great idea--a stir fry place where YOU get to choose what you want and how you want it. If you and your someone can't decide what they want for supper it's a great place because it can satisfy everyone. The only cons are the crazy crowds and, honestly, every time I leave there I think to myself "it all tasted the same". The prices are decent and unlike most places, parking exists. Give it a try, just maybe not on a Saturday night at 8pm.
(2)
Falicia G.

It's all about the hype. And they hype here is good. But, it's all hype. The food is as stimulating as you make it. That's the thing about Mongolian BBQ spots, if you can't mix the sauces and spices right, then you probably won't like your dish. But, if you're good at mixing it up then you'll probably like the chow, baby. The parking situation here is surprising bearable. They have complimentary valet and parking on the streets if you can find a space. Inside, there's a bar just to the right, which is needed because the wait on a Wednesday night was about 40 minutes! We all had a drink to pass the time. We sat on the patio which was covered as the sun went down but I imagine great in the summer time. Our waitress was quick and efficient, keeping in mind that she really didn't have to do anything or take orders. One thing that I didn't like was that when my friend was on his second bowl, she started refilling the soy sauce containers, and restocking our table, while we were still sitting there. Not cool. She could have waited until we left. I prefer Hot Stix. It's newer and fresher and just better.
(2)
Shannon H.

I enjoyed dinner here, but then I didn't even start to want seconds after I had my "side" salad, which was huge and incredibly tasty, so I ended up eating that and about 5 bites of my yummy hot dish. Which was good because the line was kind of annoyingly long to get through and I'm not sure I could have done it again even if I'd wanted to. We arrived fairly early on a Friday (6pmish) and by the time we left there was a line around the building to get in, and the parking garage we parked in was full. So I suggest you go, but go early!!
(4)
Scott M.

I used to pass this place all the time when I first came to Atlanta during one of many intoxicated nights at Compound, and honestly, could never really figure out what the hell it was. I finally made the connection somehow, and have been a fan ever since. I have done the whole Mongolian BBQ deal before (at least thats what they call it in Detroit), and honestly, really wasnt that impressed with the end result (after the 1st place, the food starts sucking). But Chow Baby is different, its a lot cleaner, the service is a lot better, and they have alcoholic drinks that are reasonably priced, although they could be a bit stronger. I like their different flavors of margaritas/mojitos (cant remember which one it is). There is a huge variety, so if you want to have a few drinks with your meal, it actually makes sense. The sauces that they provide for flavoring are plentiful and unique, so it makes for a better mix when it comes to the preparation of your food. Lastly, I really like the wall next to the bathroom...I know, weird, but take a look the next time you go. On the wall are signatures of celebrities that frequent the spot in Atlanta...Andre 3000 for sure is on that wall, so you have to respect it! Great place to go...cheap lunch...good food! :)
(4)
Rachel H.

The people that work here were really helpful so the bad review is just for the food. Wow.. it's bad. My mouth was watering anticipating my custom stir fry. Tons of veggies, rice noodles and squid. Yum. Unfortunately, it was poorly executed. Really salty, greasy, and heavy even though it shouldn't have been. Nothing more to say about it really. And valet parking, seriously?
(2)
Laura H.

Wow, there are a lot of varying opinions on Chow Baby! I for one, love it. I used to work nearby and visited all the time. I went again last night. I think it's a super fun place to grab a cheap lunch or dinner. I enjoy making my own bowl and controlling what goes in to my food. I hate eating out sometimes because it's all so unhealthy, but with Chow Baby you can make it as healthy or as indulgent as you want. My fave bowl goes something like this - brown rice, chicken, pineapple, water chestnuts, red onion, black beans and a mix of yummy sauce. Mmm.
(4)
Sonya S.

This place was packed at lunch and at dinnertime. No problem for us! We loved the food and the drinks, at dinner :). I made the mistake of overseasoning my first bowl and it was way salty! I ate it anyways because it was so good. I like the fact that you can order things off the menu as well as make your own custom bowl. The calamari was good, too. Parking was tricky due to the mass of humanity trying to get in there. At night, you can park across the street if the parking deck is full.
(4)
Kieshawn F.

This is a great place for groups, I like to have Girl's Night here with about 9-15 of my friends. Be careful though because its ALWAYS packed. The price is great considering you can get unlimited food (not on all items). Going back for seconds can be quite a wait, but don't let the long line fool ya, it moves quick and its worth the wait. The selection of ingredients at the bar gives you a way to be creative and there are even recipes located on the wall to help you out if you get stuck. Try the bread too, its amazing!! They have free valet so be sure to have some cash you, considering the crowds it doesn't take them long to get your car. They don't open on most days until 5pm so plan ahead of time, they do not take reservations unless you have a large party attending. The food selection is great... its good for vegans, heath addicts and meat lovers! All the food looks and tastes fresh, the bar is never sloppy or messy and I love watching them cook the food. The drinks are great as well. If you love stir fry then this is the place to eat your heart out! Come hungry and enjoy!
(4)
Syretta H.

This is the place that my brother chose for his graduation celebration dinner. It was more like lunchtime when we got there. It was packed but they were very considerate of our party of 17 and trying to keep us sitting as close together as possible. The concept of this restaurant is like a Benihana's or BD Mongolian ...you pick your veggies, meats, seasonings, sauces and then they cook it for you. Nothing super different or better about it, the food was good, the service was fast, which to me was surprising 'cause the line was long! The only difference in this place was that they give you this little wooden stick. Before you go up and pick out your food, you write your name on the stick and at the end of the line, when you leave your food to be grilled, you put the stick in your plate, so they know what dish goes to who....pretty neat concept. Overall, I liked Chow Baby. The area had little to no parking. There is complimentary valet, but the minute we got there, of course, it was full. We had to park across the street and the street was really busy, not very easy to cross with children (just a note). But the ambiance was nice and the food was good...another place I would go when in GA!
(4)
bean c.

I always have great food cooked from the ingredients that I pick out at this place. They do a pretty good job at keeping the ingredients fresh and the cooking suitable to the stuff I pick. I prefer this place over Hot Stix in Buckhead. The only drawback from a 4 or 5 star rating is that I have yet to have a pleasant experience with the staff from the ~10 times that I've eaten there. The person who greets at the door isn't always clear about how long and where you should wait. I was told rudely on one visit that I was in the way while I was waiting. Its a buffet so I suppose you just can't coincide that with good/friendly service. Its no big deal as long as you don't expect it. The wait is indeed long during dinner rush and doesn't quite make it conducive for going back for more since it is suppose to be a buffet...
(3)
Wallace S.

I've always found Mongolian BBQ to be gimmicky, so I'm really surprised that it seems to be so popular here in Atlanta. My thing is this: if I knew how to cook, I'd go this stuff at home instead of paying someone to heat my creation. Surprisingly, the stuff I threw together managed to taste alright, and the price for an all you can eat buffet isn't that bad. There's nothing there that really compels me to go back though.
(3)
Nadia M.

fun place. This was my second time and I really enjoyed it. If you have ever been to Fire and Ice, this place is quite similar except a much smaller selection. chow Baby is much more hip. Its basically a place where you choose exactly what you want down to the spices and they stir fry it for you. Cool concept. If you are looking for a fun place to have lunch or dinner you should definitely try it out but do not expect a quite, intimate, relaxing meal.
(3)
Sarah H.

I heard this place is good for dates... and I really don't think so. I went there on a date, and we waited for maybe 20 minutes to get a table in a packed bar area. It was hard to have a conversation because for some reason the music was club-blaring loud. Then we got our table and the waiter was very attentive and then we made our way to the line. The looooong line. Standing in the actually is a little nerve-wracking. You're constantly moving, dodging and avoiding various rushed waitstaff and customers (they should really have that place re-arranged). Meanwhile, you get to watch delicious food get cooked, and your stomach just aches! When you're finally picking what you want, you're so hungry your bowl gets way too packed! But then there's that glorious moment when your food arrives and you dive in (and burn your tongue). It was amazingly delicious. I don't think I'd go back. The food and service was excellent, but I have a low tolerance for standing in line!
(2)
Talib K.

Who named this place?!?!? Maybe it was Costanza applying the "opposite rule." Well, much like approaching a woman at a diner and saying, "I'm unemployed and I live with my parents," this too seems to have worked. It really is about the chow.....baby. The food is not great, but it is good enough. And the fact that you essentially create your own, given the selection of veggies, meat, and sauce makes it seem better somehow....it's pretty much a Mongolian Bar-B-Que Redux. After a couple of experiences, I don't think I would go back; but many people like this place......not that there is anything wrong with that.
(2)
Chip P.

I have started to discover I'm obessed with stir fry. Yes you have to get up and make your own but that is part of the fun. Lot's of options to place in your bowl before passing it off to the stir fry. I have tried the Ponce location as well and enjoy both. The service is better at this location. Crystal is very attentive and sweet. I will ask for her again. This trip brown rice, chicken and shrimp with tomato, bok choy, red pepper, and jalopeno showered with cilantro and stired in the coconut curry. The only downfall is Ponce is now open all the way through lunch and dinner. Howellmill closes around 2:30pm and re-opens later. Also Ponce is a little light on the to-go box charge. If you don't eat all of your first bowl you can take it with you. But, if you go up twice and get a second bowl of stir-fry and want to take it with you it's a $5.00 charge.
(4)
Victor A.

Heaven for vegetarians......and I'm not a vegetarian....so you get to customize your own dish by choosing your carb (rice/noodle), then your veggies/sauces, then finally your meat/seafood if desired.....then the chef cooks and you can relax.....and if you messed up in your concoction, you can try again since it's a buffet........go during lunch as it's cheaper ($8).......can get crowded/busy at nights since it's next to TECH.......relaxed vibe inside and no need to valet, you can park on the sides behind for free and walk........
(4)
Tressi J.

i was not so impressed with this place. I love buffets, and I love cooking. But I do not love standing in line for a buffet that has been sloppily dug through, and if I want seconds, knowing I will have to wait in line another hour. All this for faux Asian food that is pretty bland. No thanks.
(2)
ADAM V.

The real chow has some real service issues. Just dropped by for dinner and was told it would be a fifteen minute wait. There were at least six empty tables and four servers at the hostess stand. And it's a build your own dish kind of place! What a bunch of laziness....we left and went next door to buckhead pizza.
(1)
Malloy M.

I love the chow baby!!!! Great service and food!
(5)
Jennifer B.

Ok, so aside from the fact that you are dropped off in this location with a plethera of fillings, toppings, sauces, & spices you also get their desert menu which I'm just sayin' might have been my favorite part. The B-52 cheesecake was simply...ah...devine! Getting the perfect combo's with your meal is a little difficult at times, but keep going, keep trying your hand at it. You'll get better; I promise! : )
(4)
Peyton S.

The Real Chow Baby is one of my favorite places for lunch. Know someone picky?....definitely take them here because there's no way that their meal can be screwed up! Anyone who tells you that their meal was horrible is really telling you two things: A) they can't cook...AT ALL and b) they didn't know that the policy is that if you don't like it, return it and start all over again, without any charge. This is one of my favorite places to take people from out of town or folks who just need a little injection of fun. The lunch line can be a little daunting, so it's best to get there at the earlier part of lunch. 1pm will make you want to hurt somebody. Don't forget to add a stick for the nan bread....always a nice addition to your meal, but if you forget, waiter can always hook you up.
(4)
Anisha H.

This place is fun and cute!!! I totally love this place!!! Its great family place as well as a girls night out!!! I would recommend this place for anyone who wants to go to a fun chill place!!!
(4)
V B.

I love this place! The concept of build your own cuisine and the prices are excellent! Everytime I go to ATL I have to stop and get either lunch or dinner. Its delicious.
(4)
Richie C.

This place is my favorite lunch spot since its close to work, you can eat as healthy or as worse here as you want. On the weekends its a party also with the lounge feel with music, drinks, and food. The only complaint I've had about this place and why I couldn't give it more than 3 stars is the wait time. This place is so popular its always packed and if your a picky eater and get something you don't like you have to wait 10-20-30 minutes to get another dish. However if your someone who can't choose and love options this is awesome. Fresh vegetables and the sauces make this place whatever you want it too be. Heck you can even get a wrap and turn it into a burrito depending on what you get in your bowl.
(3)
Chinika T.

I honestly don't get the appeal of this place. I've only been once because the experience was just meh. After standing in an obscenely long lunch hour line I got to pick and choose ingredients so someone could prepare my meal. For some people like my sister this is right up their alley. They have the ability to pick and choose things to make the perfect meal. Me...I need the help of a cook book or a Food Network personality. My meal came out ok but I would have much preferred to be able to pick something off of the menu.
(2)
Deanna J.

The concept and execution of the 'Americanized Mongolian BBQ' is well done here at The Real Chow Baby. You can either go one of two ways here: 1. out on a limb: haphazardly throw whatever strikes your fancy into your bowl - no matter if you have peanut sauce on your cranberries. Who knows, it could be amazing! This is also a good option if you are culinarily inclined and know what flavors work well, and what flavors are such polar opposites they have no chance of harmony. On the other end of the spectrum, you could end up creating something un-edible-ly disgusting and guiltily pick at your 'creation' for the remainder of your meal. At least it's all you can eat. 2. play it safe: Follow the guides on the back of the wall for tried and true dishes, leaving out anything that you don't like and putting in whatever amount you desire. Whatever you pick, if you visit at a busy time, you'll spend a lot of time in line, which can be a bit frustrating if you're really hungry. I'd tend to favor this place at times that are less busy and I can spend more time. It can also be hard to have conversations here, since you're essentially getting up and down a lot to go through a buffet line.
(4)
Carl C.

I can tell that Chow Baby has become one of the darlings of the new Atlanta restaurant scene. I was there on a Wed. afternoon around lunch and it was absolutely PACKED. But to be honest, I'm not really a fan. I don't know where this new wave of "do-it-yourself" dining came from, but I personally don't have the culinary acumen to pull it off. In a nutshell, Chow Baby is set up as a fast-casual Asian cuisine spot that lets customers create their own meal from an assortment of raw ingredients. You stand in a salad bar-like line piling on all the ingredients you want for your meal, then you drop them off at the grill for a cook to prepare for you. 15 min later the finished product is delivered to your table. I like to eat. I know how to eat. Do I know how to cook? Heck no. That's why I'm spending good money to go out and pay someone else that does know what they're doing to feed me. Needless to say, the spicy thai chicken concoction I put together with peanuts and spouts was less than stellar. How do I know what tastes good together? I applaud the owners of the restaurant for thinking outside the box to create a "fresh" experience for customers. But for someone old-fashioned such as myself, I'd rather just sit at my table and get fed.
(2)
Seth R.

This place is definitely fun, and it is a good lunch, but with the combination of 1) You have to put your own food together, and I can't cook=bad food, and 2) It now is popular enough that it is tough to go through the line more than once-- I have to downgrade it a bit. I have to say, I have never had unbelievable experiences at Mongolian BBQ - so if it is your thing, you may find it excellent (and if you can throw food together reasonably) I'll go back when I have a spare teenager who can get the most out of the all-you-can-eat component, and will enjoy that it is not your usual dining experience.
(2)
Bill S.

EDIT 12/30/2007: I'm downgrading my review from 4 stars to 2. The crowds at The Real Chow Baby very often border on ridiculous, and parking is still a hassle because the garage next door fills up. When I come in for a late lunch (145pm) on a weekday but still have to wait almost 30 minutes for food, and then come back for lunch another time and the parking lot is full... sorry... I love your food, but you are just not worth the hassle anymore TRCB. There's a new place in town called Hot Stix which is the same type of restaurant, with the same great food but a lot less of a wait. Its located in the new retail complex at Lindbergh. === Original review: Recently, Atlanta finally got a real mongolian BBQ. Way to catch up with the rest of the country! (Don't try to claim that roach motel up in Cobb is a mongolian bbq) I've eaten at numerous Mongolian BBQ places in other cities, including chains like BD's, and several independent restaurants. The Real Chow Baby beats them all on the dizzying array of vegetables, sauces and noodles/rice available for your dish, plus they offer several options such as making your dish into a wrap or serving warm bread with it, etc. The one place where I felt TRCB was weaker is in the selection of meat. Last time I went there it was beef, chicken, sausage, and something seafood (forgot what)... but no sliced pork?! Regardless I've always been pleased with the dishes I've made. :) The other thing I like less about TRCB is the wait time. The lines can seriously be 20 minutes or more just to get your food to the cook, then you add in the time waiting. Its a reasonably cheap meal, always exactly what you wanted, and free valet parking.
(2)
Blake B.

I dig Chow Baby even though, yeah, the name couldn't be much worse and yes, you are essentially preparing your own meal. It's a stir fry sty restaurant where you put everything you want into a plate from a large selection of meats and vegetables and sauces and then it is cooked up for you and delivered to the table. Basically, you control your own fate here. If you don't have a good grasp of what things taste good together, or at least what you like, then you're going to end up with something gross. Though if you use good sense and don't put too many ridiculous items in together you should turn out with something good. There are so many sauces here and each one is described on the board above the selection area based on caloric and fat content, so you can make your meal good or bad for you, depending on how adventurous you feel. Yes, this place gets packed out pretty fast on nights and weekends so either come early or be prepared for a bit of a wait. But all you can eat for one less than $10 price and an endless array of option? It's a good deal if you ask me.
(4)
Amanda S.

This place is based on an excellent concept: letting the customers deciding exactly what they want! The variety of items to choose from to include in your dish is very impressive, as is the long list of sauces you can add. If you enjoy your creation as much as I did, you won't make it up to the bar for seconds (which is included in the price). Our waitress was very friendly and helpful, and when she didn't know the answer to one of our questions (about one of the sauces), she ran back to ask one of the chefs. Overall, I had an excellent experience here and can't wait to go back!
(4)
Msa A.

I'm giving it 4 stars even though they deserve less sometimes. I go to Chow Baby fairly regularly. I have my 'recipe' down pat now. I've brought a lot of people here with me and their receptions have been hit and miss. Like another reviewer, people who don't cook and don't understand what works well together tend to not like it as much. PRO'S: - All you can eat - so I never get any appetizers. - Lots of healthy options. - Large variety. - Good for groups. - Inexpensive. - Good mojitos. - Great flavors. -Complimentary valet. -Friendly staff. CON'S: - Upkeep has gone down. Need to have someone CONSTANTLY cleaning up the food prep area. It's inevitable that you'll spill. It looks gross when it isn't immediately cleaned up. - I try to never go at peak times. The lines are long and it takes so long for the food to come out. - When I ask the cooks to please use less or no oil - they say "OK" but don't always hold back. - It's to be expected but still gross when something you did NOT put in your bowl shows up in your meal. -It can get loud.
(4)
RN W.

Friendly staff but the place has gone down a bit over the years. I'm a fan but someone there really needs to take a look at whats going on there The food: You select your ingredients, sauce, meat, and seasonings, in sort of an assembly line process ... so the final output and taste is all on you (if you dont like it...it's your fault). Unfortunately, they aren't as as on top of their jobs to keep the assembly area tidy or the ingredient containers full. I've even visited on non-peak times and the assembly line area was a mess. If you're greedy -- its a win because its all you can eat. If you put your food together correctly -- its really good The staff: always friendly and cheerful. No complaints there. They do seem overstaffed at times as you can see staffers just chatting it up...even sitting at tables... with other tables that clearly need to be busted and debris on the floor. Also...have staff to "look at each other" -- our last server had a constant flow of sweat on his face -- tell that guy to clean up managers. Sweat drips. The atmosphere: The howell mill location has a 'nice bar' or boutique restaurant feel to it but they don't keep it as clean anymore as when they first opened. Tables are usually waiting to be busted with servers walking around fast like they're busy and cleaning is someone elses job to do (ever heard of chipping in?). Also it's very common to see debris on the floor (ie napkins eyc) -- just kind of a 'little dirty' feel to it sometimes. Also the kitchen smells like dirty mop water sometimes and that smell can permeate the entire area near the back-kitchen door if you're near it ... they left the door halfway open one day and it was a gross smell. Areas of improvement - Place a hand sanitizer at the BEGINNING of the line as well (you have one at the end i guess for the people that accidentally touched meat or to clean their hands from touching the tongs in general. Get one of those sanitizer stands that would be more noticeable to be placed at both sides of the line - Have a dedicated cleaner working the floor constantly (just a non-clean feel to the place in the last year or so) - Make sure the ingredients manager is more on their jobs - Make sure managers know that managing is more than just smiling and saying hi to customers and overriding cash register inputs --- no way they should feel like their job is done if they are walking around a restaurant with debris. Job as manager in a restaurant (i imagine) would be to crack the whip and make sure stuff is getting done (or do it yourself if you have standards and the person is trying their best) - Dishes and cups dont seem as clean anymore (i know you get those dark red cups to hide dirt and undercleaning -- but they actually seem dirty now). Do a full cup switch-out every 8-12 months -- those feel like the same cups you had from the beginning years ago -- they have that old used look to them -- place just feels like its aging (make sure the dishwater is clean -- i didnt know if that dirty mop smell was from mopping the floor or if it was the dish-water) - Do a full tong switch-out every 2 hours in the winter where people are sickest (ive seen people sneeze into their hands -- wipe their nose, etc -- then grab the tongs). The ingredients staff could easily do that without interrupting the flow - Meat: Holy cross contamination batman. There is no way all that raw meat is saying cool enough (especially at the top during slow hours). Ive personally had to crap my soul out within 30 mins after leaving this place on more than 3 occasions (3-5 out of 100 visits isnt too bad though) I've narrowed it down to possibly the chefs mixing the food with the vegetables too soon (i saw what appeared to be wait staff cooking in my last visit -- there was this girl cooking and she looked totally nervous and discombobulated...sweat and everything (black chick...small natural fro) I'm still a huge fan -- the place just seems to be going down the tubes lately in aesthetics and excellence in presentation. Always have the ethnic that you just opened and the place will stay beautiful. Im still a big fan and my out of town visitors that i take there love it ... its convenient to the office .... love the concept and the food
(4)
Tom C.

It's an old stable of business of Howell mill. Not much to say...get your veggies, meats, rice, bread, and they cook it for you. Nothing special, nothing bad. I give it 3 stars because I think the quality of meats and veggies could be better.
(3)
Maria S.

My husband's the cook in our family, and I wish he had joined me for my first foray into the world of semi-DIY cooking at The Real Chow Baby. I found the whole setup a bit intimidating. Small bowls, myriad options, jostling with fellow diners to reach the bin of red bell peppers in the back under the sneeze guard, plus lots of different colored sticks to indicate various requests to the good people that actually cook your self-made concoction. Whew! About those colored sticks. I have a gluten allergy, and while I found it strange that the white stick for vegetarian is the same one for allergies, I'm happy to report Chow Baby can accommodate GF diners, as I had no issues with my cooked food. How could I? I selected the ingredients, which were cooked expertly -- and safely. Please note: Chow Baby has a separate area to prepare food for people with allergies, so your meal may take a little longer to arrive at the table. Just be patient, and know you'll have a safe meal to eat. For me, selecting my own food, memorizing the GF sauces before I hit the line, and trying not to hold up said line is a lot of pressure. I'm the diner that enjoys a leisurely lunch, with food I select from the menu cooked to order and brought to the table. But for those who know exactly what they want to eat, or know how to cook, or like to overindulge, Chow Baby is a fantastic place for lunch. For just $9.99 - plus any adders for bread, shrimp, etc. - you get unlimited access to the DIY line and can eat as much as you want. Or more. Creative types can experiment with various flavor combinations. Service is a definite plus. Everyone I dealt with, from the hostess to the bartender to our cheerful and helpful server Tony, seemed to genuinely care about my dining experience and answered my many questions with ease. I like the space too -- large and inviting, but still sleek and citified. Unless you can find street parking, the only option is valet. Which isn't too bad, but does add to the cost of your experience at The Real Chow Baby. (The valet itself is free, but who doesn't tip the attendant?)
(3)
Meg E.

This was my favorite restaurant until Saturday. My friend and I planned to meet there and after getting her child out of the car and walking up there we realized they were closed. There was a work crew inside and one of them motioned to a sign on the door that said they are relocating. Walking back to the car we saw several other groups headed up there and we were able to stop them from walking all the way because they too didn't know it was closed. The restaurant needs to post on their website or fb page that they aren't open right now because no one knows. We even looked at store hours before we drove down there that day. I feel like chow baby howell mill doesn't care about their customers. They didn't let the customers know they were going to be closing and now they are relocating to Alpharetta (rumor has it) and abandoning all the local faithful customers. Chow baby why do you do this to us? What did we ever do to you? It would have been five stars but you didn't even show up.
(1)
Phong T.

Love this location! Chow Baby is where your inner chef comes out as I would like to say. You make your own stir-fry meal pretty much. Rice/pasta/noodles, meat, vegetables, spices, sauces etc! Great food and friendly staff. Parking deck is in the back. Park yourself or Valet is available. 98A health inspection as of May 2014
(4)
Diedre R.

IMO if you've gone to one Chow baby, you've gone to them all. I keep it simple when going to the bar to fix my bowls of food. I've gone to others with people and they pile so much stuff in the bowls and the foods don't mesh well together or the food is too spicy. IMO, its pricey for what it is $7 for what is the equivalent of 3 vegetable egg rolls and the all you can eat portion of it is almost $20 in itself. This location could teach the bar staff that its not nice to clear the food bar while people are standing their fixing their bowls, but I guess if they didn't it would always be messing, cause there is generally a line of people prepping their bowls. Its all you can eat, so generally my first bowl wipes me out, but I generally go back for a second round. At some of these Chow Baby restaurants, they won't let you take a to-go box after your second round. I had no desire to bring one home from this location, but heard someone else in my dining party tell another person that he couldn't take one at this restaurant since he had gone up to the bar 3 times. Maybe the other locations have a bar, but this is my first time ever experiencing a bar at one of these restaurant,. so I had the bartender make me a special drink. Something called a Medicine Ball. It was refreshing for a summer evening sitting on the patio, Oh yeah, the covered patio at this location, made this visit earn an extra star. Valet parking and some limited free parking. At the end of the night, keep in mind this location is within walking distance of the world famous Compound, so if you are here late in the evening, you will be commingling the valet and limited parking with club goers. That being said, someone broke into my daughters car using the free parking spots, so don't have any valuables in your car if you are going to be self parking. Does not accept reservations on Saturday nights.
(4)
Paula S.

I don't know what's going on with Chow Baby...but it seems like they are going downhill. The last few times I've gone home I've made sure to stop by Chow Baby and the experience wasn't that great. I went on a Sunday recently and they were out of a lot of ingredients (Kale, Mushrooms, tomatoes, Roti Bread, etc. etc). The wait staff didn't seem interested in refilling/cutting up/preparing more ingredients - so we just had to "deal" with what was left. The ingredient bar was totally nasty and sticky, and it stayed that way the whole hour and a half we were there. Just a little upkeep and attentiveness would give this place back its shine. For now, it's fallen off my "whenever I go home I have to eat there" list.
(3)
Suzanne J.

If I could give it no stars I would! The service was terrible, it took forever and the food wasn't even good! I brought my son and his friends there for his 13th birthday. They had no desserts that were on the menu they didn't even say happy birthday. Never coming back!!!
(1)
Coltonac76 ..

Excellent choice to come dine in here. The food was freshly prepared as always and immediately brought out to our table. I'm never disappointed when I come here considering you pick and choose your own ingredients. ....I highly recommend coming to this place if you ever have a taste for American Stir Fry
(4)
Lilly Y.

Build your own stir fry. It's a pretty cool thing if you haven't tried it yet. You can get creative or follow a recipe they already have posted in the restaurant. I chose the latter and tweaked it with ingredients that I like: bamboo shoots, baby corn, sprouts, and bok choy to name a few. It comes out pretty quickly and you can make unlimited trips: you don't like or messed up your concoction, you can go back for more. However, if you want to take your bowl home, you have to use it on your first trip. If you go back for seconds/thirds/whatever, you can't bring those home with you (or so they say. Our server let us take our second bowls home and I'm looking forward to eating it for lunch today!) Some gripes I had with the place: they apparently stopped stocking all their ingredients and didn't update their recipes. I made a Vacation Bowl that calls for lemongrass, but they apparently don't sell that anymore. They also didn't have the bell peppers required for the coconut curry bowl. Also, I was limited to the recipes displayed on the wall because they were completely out of the cards. I wasn't in a creative mood and wanted to follow a recipe, but it's hard to when they don't have many to choose from and are missing advertised ingredients.
(4)
Krishna J.

Good concept. Pick your own ingredients and go crazy. My favorite combo so far has been rice and veggies with the red curry sauce, ginger basil sauce and Thai cilantro sauce with chicken, beef, sausage and egg. I know it sounds like a lot and it is! But totally worth for the money you pay. Lines can be long, parking is valet only so it adds a bit to the total cost and service is just ok. Hence I give them only 4 stars. But no complaints about the food! It's a great place to go if you want to eat as much as you want and then go sleep it off for 2 days!
(4)
Tarah M.

Let me 1st say, that went to the Howell Mill location and did not know that this location had closed. There was nothing indicating this on website I had a party of 10 people an I quickly called the Ponce location and expressed my concerns. After speaking with manager, he expressed to me that we still had plenty of time to eat and to try to come over to the Ponce location as soon we could. When we arrived, the manager quickly sat us down and introduce us to our server Mark. Mark was very pleasant and skillfull to handle such a large party. Within minutes, the manager provided outstanding service recovery. He kept checking on us and so did our servor. We were very pleased; even after our 1st encounter with Howell Mill location. Great job Chow Baby!!!
(5)
Karin B.

Really different fun experience. The food was good and gave us lots of healthy, tasty choices. Did I mention it's all you can eat?? You pick your ingredients and they can make it into a soup, salad, wrap or stir fry.
(4)
Alvin H.

The last time we came here I resolved to never come back again. The wife mistakenly purchased a groupon or whatever coupon site we use. I must say with all my reservations it is like night and day. The food is coming fast. The severs have the best attitude and are so accommodating. The management is engaging and friendly. I was just advised that they have a new management team. I can really see the difference. Keep up the great work guys
(4)
Noriko B.

BUYER BEWARE! Do not use your credit card at this location. The staff will use your Credit Card information to look up your social media profiles and harrass you. I do enjoy thier food but after this stalking experience, I choose not to visit thier location any further. I cannot believe that managment condones such behavior. I am sure that there is something both ethically, legally, and morally wrong with this. Because I do enjoy thier food; I would suggest using cash if you plan to patronize this location.
(1)
Arielle H.

I love the set up. Everything is cool about this place. The food is great, the service is even better. Chow chow baby!
(4)
Nina T.

Good selection of toppings but I don't care for the sauces too much. Also, the noodles aren't very tasty. I'm not sure if I'd go back here.
(3)
Frederick K.

Chow baby is one of the best places you can eat all the fresh food you want without breaking your bank account ! Highly recommend the Sarachioli sauce . Must try it might be addictive ! They have a great Valet parking service too. Over all if lived closer I'd eat here at least once a week . Service is top notch as well.
(5)
Julie B.

This is alright if you know how to combine sauces, noodles, veggies, and meat into an awesome American stir-fry dish. If not... you may not end up with something you like. This place gets points for originality and the massive range of options of available, but none of the sauces are that remarkable. At $13+tax+tip for all you can eat dinner, the price is reasonable. I only wish our waitress explained how to order/what to do with Popsicle stick. My large party would have been completely lost had it not been for the one person who had been there before. Also, they tack on a 18% tip for parties, even though half of the service is done by the diner.
(3)
Christy M.

Up front, I'll say that Chow Baby is probably not for everyone. Only about half the people I've ever brought here actually enjoyed it, and I'm pretty sure all those were people who like to cook. Non-cooks tend to be overwhelmed with the number of options and feeling like whatever they put in their bowls won't be great. Or maybe I just hang out with too many perfectionists. In any case, I'm here to speak up as firmly pro-Chow. I LOVE all the options, and feeling like I'm eating something that maybe no one else ever thought of. I'm a little bummed that they have started charging for a tortilla, but not enough to stop going. The only drawback for me is that I can't help thinking "ooh, this is good, but I bet I could go for Round 2 and do it even better if I just..." and always end up eating waaaay too much. My only nit-pick this time around was about the squid in the proteins bar - it was wildly frozen when I went, a bummer since it's usually my favorite. Having to chisel off a few pieces to eat it sort of ruined the appeal. Other than that, everything was super fresh and tasty, just as it ought to be. Do try to avoid the place on Friday and Saturday nights. This was my first visit during the week and not having to wait in line for 20 minutes at the buffet was a revelation!
(4)
Nicole S.

I really loved this place! There are so many different options that it can be a little overwhelming the first time, but I'm not complaining. $12.99 for all you can eat, and I put it to use the best I could. I did two separate trips to the "creation line". My second tilapia, calamari combo with ginger lime sauce was awesome! I appreciated that we didn't have to sit and wait for our food to cook. You just put your bowl in the window and it's delivered to your table when it's ready. Fun. Great mojitos, too.
(4)
Kiana M.

Love this place ! This location has more variety than the other locations. Of course it can get messy and the floors get sticky from the messed made by others while preparing food but it's overall awesome !
(4)
Ruben J.

Absolutely love The Real Chow Baby! Love the whole concept of making your own stir fry. The fact that you can get back online and make yourself multiple plates is even better. The suggestions of spices takes your meal selection to another level, I highly recommend it. And just in case if you feel like you didn't have enough. You can take a plate home for an additional charge. Everything about the place is amazing and the price is reasonable. I recommend this place to anyone who wants to take their lunch/dinner out of the normal routine, and expect tasteful results.
(5)
Micheal L.

Love the concept of building your own plate. Been to places similar to this which use freeze dried meats but this place has all fresh meats and ingredients which is so refreshing. I was a bit disappointed that they ran out of beef but I understand just for the fact of keeping it fresh. Service was a little lacking but I feel it's a must have experience if your in town.
(4)
Jason H.

This place is awesome. So many choices so little space in my stomach. You can come back here every day for a month and not eat the same meal, unless you have no imagination. The only thing I think they could improve on is the line itself. Everything is so close together and sometimes hard to maneuver. Other than that this place is awesome.
(4)
Raven T.

I took a vegetarian friend here last week and she thoroughly enjoyed all the options available for her. The food is fresh, the price is great, and its fun trying different concoctions. I love making Pad Thai.
(4)
David B.

DIY Stir Fry, best concept ever.... This place gets extremely busy on the weekends, lines can back up quite a bit (c'mon people, don't dilly-dally in the line, get your stuff and MOVE!) Overall it's still great. Our waitress was on top of her game too. Fresh napkins/refills/clean chopsticks when we returned to the table after getting our second round prepped an on the counter to be cooked.
(4)
Lauren E.

I made reservations for a group of 6 and had to move the reservation time back a half hour (Atlanta traffic). The staff had no problems moving the reservation or seating my group. When more people than my reservation showed up, they had no problem moving us to a larger table to accommodate everyone. The service was AWESOME. Our server was attentive and made sure we had a great experience. I know working a larger table of people can be trying, but we were well taken care of. As far as the food goes, it was awesome as always. I think Chow Baby is the best way to go if you are trying to feed a diverse group of people. Our group ranged from vegans to staunch meat eaters. Everyone ate their fill and was completely satisfied with the food selection. In comparison to the Chow Baby that is actually closer to my home (the one on Ponce), this one is FARRR better. The one on Ponce was out of a lot of items and sauces the last time I went in and the service was horrible. Howell Mill is my new Chow Baby home and I can't rave about it enough.
(4)
Sj M.

First time at this location. The food was delicious. The staff was friendly and Chef Trey really made my day. He took time to make sure my mom's birthday was pleasingly fun. If you are a picky eater or like stir fry then this is the best place.
(5)
Meredith R.

Noisy and Fun! If you're looking for a quiet, gourmet evening out -- this place isn't for you. If you're in a hurry, forget it. (You'll probably have to wait for a table.) Granted, a foodie with a nose for Asian, would poo-poo Chow Baby. But me, when I'm in the mood, I like it! The meal is what you make of it: vegetables, rice or noodles, meats, condiments. If you're timid about putting things together, follow the suggestions posted on the wall. This is a modern day mongolian grill. I think the concept works.
(3)
G H.

On 4/3/14 I visited at about 4:30 pm and the waiter Rob was less than helpful. I am disabled to wherein I am unable to stand for long or walk any considerable distance. Usually when I visit this, or any location, I ask for a card and the server will give the filled card to the chef to accommodate me. Rob gave me some song and dance and told me that it would be up to my companion to serve me. Not the best way to provide excellent customer service. Won't be going back.
(2)
Cindy A.

We love Chow Baby! It is perfect for date night or for meeting up with friends. The food is always delicious and I love that I can get exactly what I want. The atmosphere is good and the wait staff is always friendly.
(5)
Josh W.

I maybe exaggerating with the 5 star rating, but what can I say. I love CHOW BABY, and for sure it is at least 4 stars! It's pretty much true to its title, as american stir fry. You star from the front of the serving area, and select your ingredients; meats, vegetables, sauces and seasonings, you name it! They stir fry it for you , and bring it to your table. Very good food. Be careful with what you mix, because your flavors may not always match. Prices are good , but be ware, you can go back for seconds, but they will charge you an extra $5. Parking is available on the street, or you can get your car valeted parked, just up to you. I love chow baby
(5)
Acelyn B.

I love Chow Baby! I specifically chose this restaurant when visiting Atlanta because I missed it so much. Sadly, there is no Mongolian BBQ of this caliber that I know of in Tampa. I like the experience of creating your own recipe, and they have so many ingredients that it seems the combinations are endless. I usually get full at two bowls, but my friends kept going up again and again like bottomless pits. They definitely got their money's worth. The only thing I can complain about from my last visit is that my first bowl was spicy, when I didn't put anything spicy in it. I guess that's the downside of having one large circle grill they use over and over to cook everyone's food.
(4)
Pink O.

We come before the lunch crowd so service is quick! Can't really complain here because you pretty much put together your own meal...they just fry it up. Great place to bring a date;-)
(5)
Alesha B.

Most unique restaurant in Atlanta where u can personalize each dish you eat! I love it here! Get the chow punch as the cocktail then hit the stir fry bar!
(5)
Clare S.

Above all, a very interesting concept! This place combines the make-it-yourself feature of an omelette bar with the all-you-can-eat-ness of a buffet. Because of the huge variety of meats, vegetables, carbs, and sauces, you can create virtually any cuisine you like: Chinese, American, Thai, etc. For that versatility at such a reasonable price, this place is definitely worth checking out. The ambience and atmosphere is very comfortable, and when we were here, they were playing a CD of 2000's pop hits. Needless to say, we were singing along to Britney Spears and BSB the whole time. Such fun! One tip is to take it easy with the sauces. Don't add too much, because you can always go back and add some more if it's not flavorful enough. Don't pile it on otherwise there's no way to get it out! Another great thing about this place is that you can pay $5 extra for a final stir-fry to take home with you. Lunch here costs $9, and you can grab dinner for later for just that extra 5 bucks!
(4)
Michael H.

I used to love this place, but between big (slow) line, signs saying they'll charge extra if I use two bowls (to avoid having to go through the slow line twice) and the most grievous problem: they no longer serve bean sprouts. I asked the management about that and was told that they were having problems with the health inspector and keeping sprouts at the right temperature. Very bummed since this is the only Mongolian BBQ in the area. Guess I'll be going up to the new place at perimeter.
(2)
Christine F.

The best thing about chow baby is that if you don't like your first concoction of ingredients you can keep trying until you get it right. Though they try and dress it up it's just stir fry but I love how you can throw in whatever ingredients you wan then sit down while someone else does the cooking. Of course the downside can be a busy day/night there since you do have to stand in line to get the ingredients. If you don't like buffet style then this probably isn't for you.
(4)
Daniel B.

The Real Chow Baby follows the Mongolian stir-fry concept, except dresses it up in a chic and trendy atmosphere to make it feel fancier. I've been here several times for dinner and created many a custom stir-fry. The food tastes as good as you make it. If you're a good cook, chances are you'll be successful with this. If you're a horrible cook like me, then it might take some experimentation before you find a worthwhile ingredient combination! Dinner is $12.99 for all-you-can-eat create-it-yourself stir-fry. Lunch is less, but I believe there are less ingredients available. At dinner, you can choose from over 70 ingredients and 17 sauces. When you're seated at your table, you're given a small wooden paddle with your table number written on it. You write your name onto your paddle with pencils provided at the table. This way the servers know where and who to serve the dishes to. When you stand in line, you pick up bowls and add ingredients in the following order: carbs (rice, noodles), vegetables, egg, sauces, and protein (chicken, beef, fish, etc.). The veggies, egg, and sauce go in one bowl and the protein goes in another bowl. You stick your wooden paddle into one of your bowls and hand it off to the cooks. It usually takes about 5-10 minutes for your meal to process through the queue and be cooked and brought out to you. I've always found the ingredients here to be generally fresh, mainly because the restaurant is busy and the workers are constantly refilling items. Since The Real Chow Baby is based off an Asian concept, there are a handful of traditional Asian vegetables such as bamboo shoots, bok choy, and water chestnuts. Many of the sauces are also Asian, like oyster sauce, Thai curry, Kung Pao, hoisin, and teriyaki. I enjoy loading up on the thin chow mein egg noodles or brown rice with lots of broccoli, asparagus, leeks, minced garlic, cilantro, and scallions. I mix it up with the meats -- everything from chicken to beef to sausage to fish (tilapia) to scallops to calamari. I'm a fan of the Asian peanut pesto and the oyster sauce. Be careful not to add too much sauce as you don't want your stir-fry to become too "soupy." When trying out new flavor and ingredient combinations (or if it's your first time), I recommend adding very little to your bowls and experimenting. This way, you won't be stuck with a huge bowl of food that doesn't taste good and end up wasting it. You can always go back to the bar for more. One additional customization feature uses colored sticks. Depending on the color of the stick you add, you can turn your bowl into a salad, soup, or wrap. You can also add premium ingredients like roti bread (75 cents), shrimp ($1.75), or salmon ($1.75). The different colors designate the different options. Service is typically on point. The atmosphere is loud and energetic. Both indoor and covered outdoor patio seating is available. If coming on the weekend, it's probably a good idea to make a reservation. Valet parking is complimentary.
(3)
May T.

I visited the second this last weekend. I never realized how much of the ingredients were coming out of a can instead of being freshly cut. I used to go behind the kitchen at my school and saw cans and cans of food and I looked at the content ingredients and I remember being disgusted. All the GMOs, additives, sugar, salt that you can think of. They use the same ones here. Mixing your own sauces and stuff here can be hit or miss. I cook at home but I taste my sauces before I add them so it's hard to do that there. It's a fun place to have dinner, although I've gotten sick of eating here already. Don't know why they don't have tofu anymore?
(3)
Maurice D.

There's a ton of reviews for this place so I won't go into too many details, but I absolutely LOVE THIS PLACE! I like to go on a Wednesday evening when they run a promotion called, "Date Night" where you get 2 stir frys, appetizer, and a dessert all for a low price of $28. GREAT! FOOD: Their crab rangoon appetizer is AWESOME! Best crab rangoon EVER! My favorite sauce to put on my stir fry is the Coconut Curry, which just so happens to be the most caloric and fatty sauce they offer. OH WELL! I'm out so I will splurge on a few hundred extra calories LOL! Make sure you get the stick for the ROTI BREAD, it's AWESOME! Their Oreo cheesecake is pretty good also, way better than the cheesecake they sell at the Cheesecake Bistro and Cheesecake Factory. ATMOSPHERE: I love the ambiance of this place, very hip and modern with dim light's. I'm not sure if that's true for the day time, since I have only been here at night. The restaurant is kind of small and tables are close together. I could hear the entire conversation of the 4-person party in the table next to me. The staff is mostly young 20 somethings who are kind of attitudey, but that doesn't bother me much at all. I still tip well. CHOW BABY 5 STARS!!!!!!!!! WooooooHoooooooooooo!
(5)
Bianca K.

I LOVE this place!!!! Yum! A friend took me to Chow Baby a couple months ago and I've been addicted ever since. I've been to some restaurants with the same concept, but Chow Baby gets it sooooooo right. There are so many choices-from meats to veggies and sauces that everyone is satisfied. I usually skip the appetizers because the stir-fry is so filling but they are just as delicious. If you haven't been you're missing out!
(5)
Asma A.

One of my favorite spots. I have been here oh so many times that I cant even count! what's not to love about this place? Unlimited all you can eat. you have a variety to pick and choose from and how you want it cooked (with nan, salad, chicken, beef, tilapia, shrimp, and even if you want it prepared on a veggie wok) I have gone there so many times that now i get creative with what i make.. sometimes make spicy corn, omelets, and different kinds of pasta... And you have nothing to lose.. you dont like what you make, you just go back and re-make it... Downfall: long lines, you have to wait like 15-20 to get your food, and sometimes they run out of the meat you want.. but at the end of the day, i love this place..
(5)
Steve B.

It all depends when you go. I can understand the Yelpers that happen to go seen to be on the scene that happen to dive into this place on a Friday or Saturday night. Nuh uh, nope, don't do it. Then you're review will be a 3 star max. You get caught up in the trap. You have to check out The Real Chow Baby during the week or on a Sunday Afternoon - Bam, Bing, Yessir! I am and have always been a fan of The Real Chow Baby. With Google Offers sponsoring the outing, how can you not lose?! This is a guaranteed win!!!! First you hit that line with a George Jefferson walk like you about to get into something like awwwwwwwwww shiz now. Go grab you a black bowl, load it up with rice, noodles, veggies, whatever you want it it to be, chase it with sauces, spices. Grab that red bowl, just stock up on beef, sausage, tilapia, calamari, scallops - ON POINT! Food Itis will be sure to be in sink Words of advice - do not go up there on some Man vs Food tip - you will lose every single time!! Grade: B
(4)
Ryan L.

NOTE: The quality of the food depends mostly on your own judgement. Chow Baby is a modern Mongolian Grill concept in a nice environment. It is AYCE by plate style, and will normally cost about $11-15 per person if you do not get one of the few $2 per plate add-ons like roti, salmon, and shimp. How it works... 1. Sit down, and a waitress gets your drink order, and explains the process; he/she will give you a numbered flat skewer stick in which you write your name and stick into your uncooked dish later. 2. Go up to the self serve bar, pick a black bowl, and fill it with carbs (rices/noodles), vegetables (all kinds, asian/western, herbs), and sauces (asian focused). 3. Grab a smaller red bowl for the meats (chkn, pork, beef, fish, squid, egg, sausage) and spices (all types). 4. Stick the skewer into the two bowls, pass it into the cooking area, sit back down, and wait (7-10 minutes). Generally, if one wants to experiment and try different things, I would go light on each trip. You are allowed unlimited trips. I would not get too much food, especially carbs, and I would not try to mix up too many sauces and spices together. The spices go a long way, so use them sparingly. It is hard to say if the food is good or bad, because you really have the most control over how your food will turn out. So definitely experiment with different combinations. There are so many choices, so I would also give the whole food bar a look before you start. There are some suggestions on the wall. What makes this place great is the transparency, cleanliness, selection, and service that makes this food approachable. It also makes one feel good when the raw food you piled on into the bowls turns into a well plated presentation dish..."pat yourself on the back" type of feeling... Overall, a great place to go with people who have diverse palates, can not agree on what to eat, or want to have a fun experience.
(4)
Michael R.

The food is good but not worth it when you factor in the parking surcharge. My wife works nights and we often meet for dinner. Chow Baby's lack of free parking means adding $5 per car to your spend. I'm not talking about a busy weekend. I'm talking even at 5pm on a weekday. It's just not worth it when they are surrounded by other good restaurants that care enough about their patrons to have a free parking solution. Come on RCB, get real. Valet parking on a weekday when you are already slow?! No thanks.
(2)
Lori J.

When our party of 5 walked into the restaurant there was no hostess to greet us. We proceeded to help ourselves to the buffet because we thought it was self service. Come to find out we were suppose to be seated by someone. Beware in the menu in fine print is a gratuity that we knew nothing about because we did not get menus. If they move 2 tables together or your party is over 6 people there is an 18% gratuity. Even if your service isn't that great. We spoke to a manager about our situation and he said he could not take off the gratuity that the register just puts it on your reciept. so he did take off a meal, but it took some persuading for him to do it. Will not eat here again. Its too bad it seemed like a nice place. You should be able to pay your server for there service.
(1)
Ikem A.

The buisness model is smart because if your food sucks, its your f The buisness model is interesting, if your food sucks is completely your fault
(3)
Collin S.

Reminiscing a bit on Yelp, and I realized that I never reviewed this place. I've been gone from Georgia now for about 2 years, so bear with me, but this place was by far one of my favorite places to visit when I was in Atlanta up from Fort Benning. Fresh ingredients, good price, and tons of variety. I wish I lived in Atlanta, because I never got around to being able to try all of the different creations that I wanted. I've been living in Washington DC going to law school now for the last 2 years, and I have to say, they do not have a mongolian bbq style place that even approaches being half of what The Real Chow Baby is. Damn shame. But hey, if you guys want to franchise or expand, I'm pretty much willing to be the owner up here. Would do incredibly well in a city that's chock full of every other type of falafel, Ethiopian, or otherwise "wordly" food except for some good stir fry barbecue.
(5)
Benjamin T.

Iv been here a few times and really like the place. Its a pretty good deal for all you can eat. It does get pretty crowded sometimes and it sucks waiting in long line o get your food. The buffet can get pretty messy at times, especially when there are children in front of you spilling sauces everywhere. I really wouldn't recommend it for bringing children. I noticed that they have raised their prices recently. I think now ot is $8.99 for lunch and $12.99 for dinner...you can add different meats such a salmon amd shrimp to your plate for a few bucks extra..One tip that I do have is to make sure you wash your hands after every visit to te buffet. If you don't you will get raw meat on your hands and become very sick. Trust me, it happend to me.
(4)
Hussain D.

Great food.. Well it really depends on what you add... But really nice selection of meat, veggies, sauces, spices.. Dinner is @12.99 unlimited..weekday lunch is $9.99. If you go in the evenings in weekends, BE READY TO WAIT.. Atleast ONE HOUR!! I PLACE IS PACKED on WEEKENDS but it is one of a kind experience when you finally get in and start eating.
(4)
Tig G.

Enjoyed the change from other restaurants. Picking your own custom meal was nice and the 'all you can eat' was even better. Staff was nice and we were sat on time with our reservation. Can't wait to come back again.
(4)
Brian M.

Went here on a Saturday and had a great time. We sat at the bar and caught a couple of pints and lunch. To do this right, I recommend that you get smaller portions and sample your creations. As you might have read, this is a DIY stir-fry joint. So it's easy to maybe mix up something and not be able to try everything. You will be able to go back as many times as you like, so don't worry if you mess something up. Parking can be painfull because they have meetings there, so I recommend that you valet. Overall good experience and excellent date night. Oh yeah, they play nifty dance music in the background. And I thought the pricing was reasonable.
(4)
Gillian R.

People kept telling me about The Real Chow Baby, and I have to say--I just didn't get it. As a vegetarian who often doesn't feel like a whole lot of cooking at the end of the work day, I tend to eat stir-fry quite often. Why would I pay to stand in line, fill a bowl, and have someone else do the stirring? That said, I clearly ended up here one night. A former co-worker was in town and TRCB was chosen as our meeting place for dinner with a couple of other co-workers. They explained how it worked and we hopped in line, bowls and sticks in hand. Here is what I liked: there is literally something for everyone. Rice, noodles, bread. You dinner can be made into a soup, salad, wrap, or stir-fry. There are TONS of veggie options to choose from. There are some awesomely tasty sauces available for mixing and matching. I greatly appreciated being able to designate my food as vegetarian so that it could be done on a separate part of the grill. (At least, I assume that's what happens--I didn't get a stomach ache.) Here is what could be done better: Sure, we were there on a Friday night, but we had quite a wait in line. If it were a smaller establishment, there would be less of a wait. That said, I only ate two bowls, so the average wait time wasn't that ridiculous. The food did come back to us in just a couple of minutes, so that was a plus. Some of the sauces had a very scary nutritional content, particularly one that I really enjoyed. That didn't stop me from getting it, but did probably stop my meal from being as healthy as I usually shoot for. Oh, and the price. I think I paid over $20 for stir-fry, a beer, and a piece of cheesecake. The cheesecake won over my dining partners, which is why I ended up taking a piece home with me, but it truly wasn't anything to write home about. I could make better. Will I be back? Maybe. But for lunch, not dinner. I'm not keen on paying through the nose for a meal that I can, and often do, make myself.
(3)
Trell S.

Love this location more than the other one. I just wish valet was closer to the front door.
(4)
Michael O.

I always have a good time here! I love the diverse crowd, the ambiance and of course the food! I always sneak in a couple shots of "Bacardi Wolf Berry" Rum to spike my Sprite while waiting on the lines to die sown! lol.
(5)
Ben T.

Its hard to rate this place because if you dont like the food it was your own fault! I have made some things that were not the best but the good thing is that they have recommendations for dishes. Good for lunch or dinner. Will be returning
(3)
Whitney P.

I really like chow baby. For $8.99 you really cant beat this place. My only problem is that they primarily use canned veggies. I'm not really a big fan of this; however, if I want to be ubber healthy I'll eat at home. For a once in a while meal chow baby is a great place to get a good meal.
(5)
Herschel G.

If you are a first-timer and don't know what to construct, I suggest the Wok it Out bowl...
(4)
Ray L.

Yeah, it may be fun to create your own dish, but I wouldn't call the ingredients high quality and the service was horrendous. The food is whatever - you're doing it all yourself so you get what you ask for. Lots of the ingredients seem to be previously frozen. I went with two other people who received their food more than 20 minutes before I got mine. The server never said anything like, "Yours will be coming soon," or "Let me check to see where your food is." Instead, we had to search around for her, and when she did some over, she said matter-of-factly and unapologetically, "Your food is in the next batch." No estimate on the time or anything. When it did come, she set it on the table and walked away. On top of all that, they added 18% gratuity on our check for using Scoutmob. Pretty messed up if you ask me. Your food and your people suck, Chowbaby. Never again.
(1)
Justine D.

This place is amazing!!!! :D food is delicious and well prepared! Also, atmosphere is excellent and fun for friends to hang out! Our waiter Jeremy was phenomenal and very welcoming! He took great care of my friends and I! Go to Chow Baby! It's an experience you'll love!
(5)
Andra F.

The waitress we had for our party of 6 had poor customer service. 1st: she tried to sit us at a table for 4 persons and claimed that's what we told her there were 4 people in our party. 2nd: She was sharp tongued and sassy. No professionalism at all. I couldn't believe she was speaking to us the way she did. We requested to speak to the manager on duty. 3rd: The manager on duty was extremely nonchanlant. He had no solutions and didn't offer any. Maybe an appology would've been good for starters. We weren't looking for free food and drinks. We were looking for acknowledgement that one of your staff members was rude towards us. The food was fine if you had the right combinations. If not, then it woudn't taste all that great. This is not a "Child Friendly" place. Combine all of that, I will never return.
(1)
Rock T.

Enjoyed a nice office luncheon at RCB. Our party of 12 was greeted at the door for our 11:30a.m. reservation and promptly seated. Server took our drink order then clearly explained the drill for first timers: black bowl for veggies and red bowl for meats, etc.. After going through the line, the cooks stir fry it up and the servers bring it to the table. Good selection for vegetarians and vegans as well. Overall, food and service was great! Due to size of our party, gratuity was added to the checks, but they kept it all straight and everyone got their correct change/CC receipts. Will look forward to coming back.
(4)
Catina T.

I like this place especially now since the novelty has worn off. Years ago there were really long waits on a weekend night. This time around we were promptly seated. Drinks are good and strong. Food was great too.
(4)
Cindy W.

Caught between 2 and 3? Everyone loves the concept; grab a stick, write name, pile rice/noodles, vegetables, herbs, sauces, meat, and spices. However the execution always goes wrong... All the ingredients look a little cheap (the vegetables are not the freshest, some are canned, some are bruised and beaten to a pulp, the beef always has a weird grainy texture, the sauces are so frikkin Americanized and nasty). I can't see where I'm piling or adding sauces and it's such a small little bowl it's hard to add the ingredients in the proper manner without a mess. Lines get ridiculous and many times the food arrives without the proper cooking. There IS a difference between rare and undercooked; if my calamari is still slimy when I eat it, I'm not touching it. Dinner prices are a no-go because it's essentially the same thing as lunch, and the appetizers, drinks, and desserts are analogous to how movies make money off of popcorn, sodas, and candy. So suggestion: go during lunch, early one too to avoid lines, and try several combination of sauces and spices to see which one you like. If you're not sure, go with someone who cooks. :) Parking is complimentary valet, but you still need to tip, and they almost ran over the toes of everyone in my party of 4....
(2)
Ashley W.

I wasn't a fan of this restaurant. The food is mediocre, but the mojitos are out of this world. I would go here strictly for the mojitos and this only!
(2)
Annie L.

Build your own meals AYCE style :) They give you this wooden stick with a number on it (number of your table?). You combine everything you want in your dish (rice or pasta or both, wide assortment of veggies, lots of sauces to drown your meal in). Choose another bowl for meats (chicken, steak, fish, scallops, etc.). VOILA! Wait another 5-10 minutes and the server will bring out the dish that you put together. Make it into a stirfry or salad or fried rice or anything your little heart desires. Really good food for an affordable price. Drinks and desserts are separate.
(4)
Janet B.

One of my favorite restaurants when I lived in Chicago was a DIY stir fry/salad/soup/wrap place with delicious martinis and lots of spunk. When I heard that there was a similar place in Atlanta, I was SO EXCITED. When I walked in, I had a deja vu moment. The place was so similar to that in Chicago! From the order of ingredients (rice, noodle, veggies, meat) and fun drink names to the chalkboard, even down to the font! So was I screaming in joy? Well, not really. The Real Chow Baby was less efficient and generous than its twin in Chicago. You get unlimited stir fry for a set price, but they charge extra for you to make wrap/salad. They also charged $1 for roti bread, which is really, really yummy and should be served free with every plate! Still, I enjoyed my experience. I made my plates small at first since I didn't want to get stuck with an utter failure of a plate. You can't really go wrong since you have unlimited chances to make the perfect dish! There was a decent # of people at 4pm-- I was surprised by the line! I can't imagine how busy it must be during the real chow hours. Also, I kind of fear for people with allergies or those who are really picky about ingredients because it does get really messy on the counter. Otherwise, it's a really fun place to try out different combinations of your favorite ingredients and flavors!
(4)
Khoi T.

This place is certainly a hit and miss depending on your ability to cook and understand flavors. With that being said, I have taken many friends here. Those who loves the place, cook a regular basis. If you going with someone who doesn't cook.... you might want to hold their hands through the process. Whether your creation will turn out well is really based on your sauce selection and the amount of sauce you choose. You certainly don't want to turn your dish into a soup, and you certainly don't want to make it bland. 2.5 Ladle is my personal rule. Here are my tips: Time: You want to get there really early (before 6 pm) or really late (after 8pm) to miss the rush. The waiting and line can get crazy. Sauce: My favorite sauce combination are: Kung pao with Peanut and Kung Pao with Coconut Curry. Meat: I suggest you stay away from the beef. Mine always turn out over cooked. Portion: Go small. You can always go back and get more.
(4)
Swetha S.

I went to this place for the first time last night and I was hooked. I love the concept of making your own bowl and the options ( both veggie and meat) present are very good. Be careful with the sauces though. I made a couple of weird tasting bowls. On the bright side, it's eat all you can!
(4)
Nicole A.

Decided to try the Real Chow Baby - Howell Mill today for a business lunch and it was a nice experience! I've been to Chow Baby on Ponce and the food I received I believe was 1/2 my creation and 1/2 the creation of the person in front of me. I would give the location on Ponce 2 stars because the restaurant was dirty and the bar was sticky although I was the only person having a cocktail at 12 noon....its never too early for a cocktail! The Howell Mill location was much better!!!! The restaurant was clean and the veggies were fresh! The line moved pretty fast - I could tell that everyone that day was a repeat customer and didn't need time to decide. I received my plate promptly and the food was nice and hot! I appreciated that this location unlike Ponce didn't overcook and burn my food. Nice place for the Creative Souls
(4)
Michael B.

We came here on a suggestion from a friend and I was not disappointed. The atmosphere of the place is causal and chic and the smell is tantalizing. I personally liked the choices for making our stir fry and the end result was delicious. Our waitress was also very personable and helped getting us set up. The one drawback is that my partner's food came with bits and pieces that she didn't want which ruined the experience for her. All in all I liked it, but if you're picky you might want to stay away.
(4)
B B.

I will never go here again! I went last week for takeout. I got there 20 minutes before closing and they refused to serve me. I might understand that if I were trying to dine in but I made it clear that I wanted to get takeout and was still turned away! Horrible customer service has lost them my business forever!
(1)
Amanda T.

I'm only giving Chow Baby 2 stars because the veggies are actually very fresh. The service was absolutely horrible though. I was immediately turned off by the fact that they valet even for lunch, so I'm immediately out a buck before I walk in the door. This was my first time in, so I was unsure of how things worked. I was shown to the bar, where I was handed a little wooden paddle. That's where the service stopped. The process is strange, so they definitely need to offer explanation to first-timers. You place the ingredients you want in separate bowls - one for veggies and rice, one for meat. You're supposed to choose your sauce like you would a salad dressing. This is tricky because there's no option to taste them and there are no descriptions aside from basic names (Teriyaki, Red Curry, etc). So if you choose wrong, your $8.99 meal is ruined. I passed my bowls to the "chef" for him to prepare and proceeded to wait at the bar for 15 minutes. I suppose it normally wouldn't take so long, since the meal was already prepared and only needed to be stir-fried, but the bartender allowed my food to sit directly behind him without checking to see if it was mine. And there was no apology - he actually laughed at his mistake. So I paid $14 for a stir-fry with a by then soggy spring roll and a cup of tea, with $1.30 gratuity included. I'll order in Chinese next time and avoid the hassle.
(2)
Linda F.

I have eaten here a few times, and all but once have been completely satisfied. There was a time when we were seated on the patio, and it was chilly out so they had the heaters on, and I was roasting on my face (sunburn roast), but my back was freezing? Asked to be moved, but we had a big party and seating was tight. It was just a little uncomfortable, I asked for the heater to be reduced and the manager said it was all done by timers - did not believe him? They do need to work on customer service a little, but will definitely go back, great food and very fresh veggies! Fun atmosphere - just will not sit outside in the winter!
(4)
Douglas D.

I love this place. YOU REALLY ARE THE BOSS. The wait can be tough when the food line is long, but that is life at a eatery that operates with a buffet setup. You simply get seated by the staff and they will take your drink and appetizer order, then they give you a wooden paddle (you or they write your name on it)...then head to the buffet line. As you pass down the extensive offerings on the buffet YOU choose what and HOW MUCH you want to have stir fried by the cooks in your meal. Also, you can make as many trips as your stomach can handle. If you mess up, no worries, try again (it can take some time to become a CHOW BABY EXPERT. The parking can be tough and this place can get VERY busy at various times. The price is less at lunch and four dollars more at night. It is worth it. They do play some "loud" great music, too. Come hungry and leave in a food coma!
(4)
Chris T.

The Chow never disappoints, I mean if it does it's kind of your own fault? You pick your stuff, you provide it to the cooks, and they cook it. Brilliant! Unless your a prickly, snobbish, and nose-up kinda person there is nothing to really hate here. I mean the bar can be a bit untidy and sometimes there is a wait to make your dish, but that's just cause so many folks love this place! The staff is friendly and very efficient. Those with severe food allergies may wish to dine elsewhere, however they take mondo efforts to make sure those with diet requirements are handled with care!
(5)
Dina C.

Cool concept...healthy choices, limitless combos. It is an ok quick take-out option from 3-4pm if you are by yourself and you can grab some protein and veggies without the crowds...as it is mostly cafeteria style in its set-up. Overall, the concept is executed poorly. Hosts/Servers are very full of attitude at times. I've had my share of bowls that contained numerous items that I never put into my bowl...this happens during busy times. Getting your food is a 20 minute process during busy times and your friends get their food at different times. The stir fry cooks use these plastic bottles filled with oil and they pour this oil all over the food. It somehow makes all the food taste the same no matter what combo you try. Most patrons of Chow Baby are the "all you can eat" types. Very big and pushy with entitlement issues. They act like divas that are in a 4 star restaurant....they overload their bowls...and they eat till they explode. It is a low class vibe all around. I'll be at La Fonda across the street...sitting down...and enjoying a marguerita and some paella.
(1)
Carlos A.

Came here with wife, 15 month old daughter, and a buddy that was visiting from out of town. We ate enough food to put a small town into a coma. It of course helped that we were pretty famished when we got here so we just mowed through our food. The environment is casual and we ate in their indoor patio area. Perfect for the baby. The greeters and waiters were all very nice. I will say that the lady who served our bowl more or less tossed it on the table but aside from that good service. Will try to come back.
(4)
Andrew C.

Visit Dates: 05.01.2009 & 05.02.2010 When I first came here I just thought it was a one-time self-serve, create your own stir fry rice/noodle/salad place. Then my friends told me it was all you can eat so I quickly went back in line... 2 to 3 additional times. At this place you can definitely have it however you like, but be sure to follow the color coded instructions by keeping your grains and veggies in the black bowl and meats in the red bowl. Also, there are color coded sticks that will notify your cook if you want to turn your dish into a soup or salad, or add shrimp for an extra charge. My main complaints relate to the freshness of the ingredients. If you look along the wall, you can see that a majority of the veggies and sauces come from cans. The raw scallops and seafood was partially defrosted. And the noodles sit out for a while, becoming shriveled as time progresses. That being said, the food is only as good as you make it to be, thus you only have yourself to blame if you added too little sauce or too much meat! Oh and go during lunch time, it's $7.99 as opposed to $11.99 at night!
(4)
brad h.

Great - fun place - Wed night is date night - took my wife - you get a deal on the meal - an appetizer (One to split) at trip through the line (One each) and a desert (one to split) plus a bottle of wine for half price. Think about what you want to create before getting in line. I did a penut/curry theme last time and was pleased. Go easy on the rice and noodles or you won't have room for other stuff. Pile that meat bowl up high - it's going to work out to be just the right amount when you are done. It's an adventure - if you like cooking and "adventure" you owe it to yourself to try this place.
(4)
Juichia C.

Long story short, I was (mis)lead to thinking that this is a good place for Chinese food, and it wasn't. In fact, it is not a good place for ANY food. You know what's really sad? It is not the fact that I spent $50 on borderline inedible "stir fry". It is also not the fact that I didn't like the food there. It is the fact that there were so many patrons there, and I almost feel depressed with the amount of people here on Yelp that have given it more than 1 star. What has the world come to? That enough people can actually enjoy standing in line, trying to put a decent mix of vegetables in your bowl without them falling all over the place, then come to the end of the line only to find tiny little bowls for your "protein". The protein choices were POOR. Really weird fish chunks, scallops, puny pieces of beef and pork. The sauces taste terrible. The "chefs" suck at cooking. They did nothing more than throw everything onto the grill and chop them around for a few seconds. My "stir fry" was the worst plate of food I've ever seen served at a restaurant. The rice were still in big chucks, the veggies were undercooked, and the beef was dry and chewy. The sauce was not evenly distributed either. The Real Chow Baby is a real piece of crap. I literally felt embarrassed to have been a patron there. Our waitress was nice and she tried her best to serve us, but the efficiency just wasn't there. Our appetizer came out at the same time that our entrees did. And she didn't even have the drinks ready after we came back from standing in the buffet line for 10 minutes. Not only was the service and food intolerable, the whole "hip and trendy" vibe of the place just got on my nerves even more! I hate the people who go there thinking it's trendy to be eating some poorly cooked "stir fry". Gosh, I don't think I've ever hated a place so much as TRCB. Sorry. 0 stars.
(1)
Justin G.

Great food and neat experience. Little pricey, but not bad for the amount you get. Service was good.
(4)
Kate S.

I really like this place. It's fun and creative. I think $13 for all-you-can-eat stir-fry dinner is a great deal. They give you lots of nutritional information on their sauces, etc. and recipe suggestions if you're not feeling very creative. I know I'll be back soon.
(4)
Naima W.

This has always been one of my favorite restaurants. I'm surprised this location still gets so crowded even though additional Chow Baby restaurants have opened up around the city. It's a lot of fun putting together new creations. The key is to mix the right combination of sauce and spices. I always include one spoonful of Asian Peanut Pesto Sauce, a spoonful of Teriyaki Sauce, a generous amount of fresh garlic, cilantro, ginger powder and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. This time, I added a spoonful of Thai Cilantro Sauce which was a great addition! I have a great time experimenting and I have always been very pleased with my concoction. I think this is a great date restaurant because you can collaborate and share ideas.
(4)
Kristin B.

For a weekday lunch, it's still as crowded as all the reviews below suggest. However, at a recent midweek dinner around 7pm, it was pretty quiet. Service was attentive, line was 5 minutes long tops, and my dad enjoyed it so much he's actually ASKED to come back to this place again. For a guy who deemed Fox Brothers "not worth the drive," this is saying something! The options are endless, and sure to satisfy even the pickiest eaters, but that doesn't mean that you'll get the perfect combo on your first try. My suggestion is that you add more sauce than you think you'll need. Don't mix and match (except to add a ladle of soy sauce to add some much needed salt), but do add 2-3 ladles of whatever sauce you chose. The beef always seem a little tough and dry, but I've been pleased with the squid and chicken. I can't quite figure out how the sausage goes with stir fry, but it's there if you want it. Overall, a solid four star experience, and one I'm sure to be repeating with my dad soon.
(4)
Lydia T.

The food is good, service is good, easy parking most of the time. I must say just how often people complain that there are no children's menu. This is what you do....get an extra plate and you feed the kid from the parents plate. problem solved. As a matter of fact, it is a pleasure to go into a restaurant where children are not considered. As a parent, my kid goes where I go, and he eats what I eat. Please please do not bring your Cadillac size strollers into an establishment. Tacky, and inconsiderate. If you don't like the fact the kid can't have his own menu (sic) then consider staying home.
(4)
Tracie J.

Love this place and go as often as I can, but I hate the set-up of this location. It gets too crowded and when the line wraps around and through the tables, you have to eat your meal with people's butts in your voice or rubbing up against your back. The food is very good and I just love all of the choices. That's what keeps me coming back. Their mojitos are pretty darn good and their desserts are all super delish.
(4)
Amrita R.

Compliments to the chef! Oh wait, that's ME! I've come here many times with friends and family. I hate the long line to make the dishes but I love the food, so I guess good things really do come to those who wait.. You make your own meals so it can go either way... I'm more of a baker than a cook, and this place made me realize that you can't throw ALL your favorite items in one bowl and expect them to taste great together. But the whole point of it is that you can stand in line as many times as you want and try a variety of dishes any number of ways. As a girl, I would recommend getting small portions so you can try different dishes. This is hard to keep up with since you'll keep seeing great options to put on your plate! I like doing the recommendations they have of sauce combinations on the wall in front of the items and then slightly modifying them. They have a really great lime-cilantro sauce, which is my favorite. Another lesser-known great dish there is their soup. It tastes like the Thai coconut soup and it's soooo good! I never would have known if my sister wasn't on a diet and chose that one with a bunch of veggies... Now I get it every time. I wouldn't come here for dinner though, just because of the price. The lunch is the exact same thing and a much better deal. I feel a bit gypped coming at night. PS. Their mojitos are also delish.
(3)
Vincent K.

So what happens when you take an entrepreneur, and a avg execution of a simple idea? Well you pretty much end up with The Real Chow Baby. Usually the name of place tells you what kind of food is served, this is the exception. When some buddies called me up for dinner at The Real Chow Baby I had no idea what I was getting. All i knew was that it was $12 for AYCE (All you can eat) dinner and that it was mongolian grill. After getting directions via google maps I made my way over. This location practically a stone's throw away from 6 Feet Under (depending on size of rock, strength of thrower, and wind speed at the time) so you know parking is gonna be a bit hectic. There is garage parking but thats behind the building and the sign is a bit outta the way if ure coming from the south so keep your eyes open. There's also street parking if you trust Atl drivers (which i don't). After meeting up with my buddies we headed on in. The restaurant layout is a bit funky with the 'buffet line' in the back and seating on both sides and a hall way in the middle to the grill area. It was a Wednesday night around 9pm and it was actually quite busy with 80% of the dining room seated so i understood the 10 min or so wait as they cleaned off the table for our party of 6. By this time i was already starving since i hadn't ate since 5. Once seated the waitress took our drink orders right away and introduced the 'theme' of the restaurant which surrounded of course the mongolian grille. Basically u choose your starch, then ure veggies, then ure sauces, then ure meat and its placed on the grill where they combine everything together to make ure stir fried dish. They also give u a menu of suggested sauce combinations so u don't get something way too salty or way too sweet. The concept is good... the execution ehhh not so great. in the line the intial bowl holds ure starch (noodles, rice etc), veggies (40% fresh, the rest are from cans), and sauces (about 10-15, but you can't really taste them without looking like an unsanitary ass). The second (significantly) smaller bowl holds ure meat (chicken, beef, squid, pork included, fish is an extra charge and so is shrimp). From there u put a stick with ure table and name on it and wait for the cooks to take the food and cook it through (always well done). Though i liked the idea of making my own food, the noodles were too stiff so i'd get too much or too little, there were a lot of canned items, i had no idea what the sauces tasted like, and the meat was way overcooked to the point of being dry. Like i said before poor execution of a pretty good idea. I think with some practice i could make the right combination but this is food, there shouldn't be practice involved. Also if you're hungry and its busy, after you turn in ure food for the cooks, i suggest that you go to the back of the line and start ure next concoction or else u risk waiting 20-30 min between plates. Even following this strategy it took 10-15 min from the time i finished my first dish to get my second dish. (Just food for thought) Overall it was good concept that is poorly executed. it was interesting going my first time but unless im in the area for lunch ($8) i don't think i'll be trying it again. Good atmosphere, friendly staff, decent food (if YOU make it correctly and adjust for dry meat), decent price... Happy eats!!
(3)
Lauren C.

IT was OK... we have a place in Chicago that's similar called "Flat Top Grill". The food was good, I don't eat that much.... so a traditional restuarant is better for my taste.
(3)
Yolanda H.

I love this place, dude! I actually live extremely close to it and never bothered to go to it before. I didn't even know what it catered to until I started dating someone who was all about Chow Baby. She took me and my life hasn't been the same since. It's really cozy and dim inside...I like that. Feeling like I'm almost at home but not quite. I've been here twice so far. The first time I was extremely overwhelmed and had no idea what I was supposed to do and the second time around, our waiter was a little MIA (it wasn't really packed for him to be that way) but he was remarkably sweet and so I didn't even care. I love the fact that you pretty much make your own meal. You can pick from chicken, beef, scallops, etc.., the noodles/rice, sauce (my absolute favorite is the peanut sauce, then the Asian peanut pesto, and the coconut curry) and you even have a handful of spices that you can add. I adore it. I would say my only negative is that it's tad bit pricey but it's unlimited trips and yeah. I will still continue to go.
(4)
Pri P.

It'd be a good idea to know how to cook prior to picking which and how many ingredients.
(3)
Adam M.

Some friends of mine introduced me to this place a while back. It's out of the way of our usual stomping grounds, but I'm glad we made the trip. The food is great and there is plenty of it. I can't wait to go back again. It can get very crowded and the wait can be very long, but that's to be expected at a popular place like this. Don't go here if you are in a hurry. Parking can be tricky too, but hey, it's Atlanta so go figure. Overall 5/5 stars in my book.
(5)
Renee B.

I went here for the 1st time last night with 2 of my friends. One of us had been here before so she explained how it worked and also suggested what to add to our plate. Without her, I think the experience would have sucked! I got the Guava Martini which was alright and I added my favorite things to my plate. I think it would be awful if you don't know how to cook because it's not really THAT hard to create a tasty plate. Don't try to add too much spices and veggies or you will regret it! First time, I did white rice, peanuts, shrimp, chicken, basil, garlic, spicy teriyaki and regular teriyaki, chilli powder, crushed red pepper, zucchini, squash and spinach! It was yummy. We took a break and next time, I think I went overboard. I added lo mein and mixed peanut sauce with spicy teriyaki. It was teh nast. Overall, I had fun and I even enjoyed the music that was being played.
(4)
Monika G.

I like the concept a lot. You make your own meal so you better be inspired to give it a good flavor, otherwise you will be a little dissapointed. It has a large variety of vegetables, leaves, beans, fruits, etc, you choose your pasta or rice and your "protein bowl" which can be chicken, beef, calamari, tilapia or sausage and they will cook it in front of you in a large grill, very yummy and atractive but as I said, better be inspired. Last night I guess I was not, my first round was plain and my second was too salty...oh well, the atmosphere is neat and they have good service.
(4)
Pamela M.

This has been awhile coming, I've dined at so many different places and sometimes forget to Yelp it! SO, I dig the Chow, its a great thing baby! The mongolian grilled mix is awesome. I've been to the location in Marietta too, and even though its nice, its not the "original" and doesn't have that same feel. The atomosphere at the Howell Mill location is the real deal authentic'o. Its usually crowded so I try to arrive right when they open so I don't have to wait hungry too long. I love the fresh/raw choices and I always overload with calamari and sprouts. I have tried some various sauces and spices but sometimes I can ruin a dish with some of these selections. I feel as though you must be creative and don't know if you like or hate it until its tested. Its very hard for me to get two bowls down, although I've tried..LOL. I also never get desert because I usually have no room left. I like that everything is in front of you including the hot grille'. The atmosphere is funky/kool and so is the music and the people. I describe it as Asian-fusion food. Good stuff and I will always return to this location for sure
(4)
Cara B.

My boyfriend loves this place, and every once in a while I give in to his cravings for it. Having been over and over again, I know to some extent what I like and don't like, but I am never wowed by anything. Because of the setup of the restaurant, you assemble your own plate, so if the food is inedible, you really only have yourself to blame. Luckily if it's really bad, you can keep going back for more as it is all you can eat (if you go once it is slightly cheaper). For the concept, I guess they really excel, but the buffet style thing just kind of turns me off. The service is hit and miss. At this location, they like to give the bartender tables. BIG MISTAKE. Even when he only has two tables, he is too busy making drinks to really pay attention to you. If you get seated in that area in front of the bar and the bartender walks towards you, I would highly recommend asking if you can sit elsewhere. This has happened multiple times to us when we've been here. Poor service is inexcusable. I would give them 2 stars because I am not that impressed, but I think within the concept it is perfectly suited to get 3.
(3)
britton T.

This is the second location for Chow Baby. I fell in love with the other location about a year ago so when I heard that the new location would be near me I went crazy. Be prepared for the process as it can be a little overwhelming for a newbie. You will pick the elements of your plate from the rice to ingredients to the sauce. Something that I have found helpful is to think of a dinner that you already know you enjoy and then play around with the recipe. ex: Beef and Broccoli with rice- this can be made at Chow Baby with additional ingredients. This is a fun place to go with a group and try everyone's creations.
(4)
Ms N.

I love Love this place!! very unique self serve.. and the food is awesome!!! Just went this past Friday.. for the the first time with Friends in ATL.. I plan on visiting again bwhen in town again!! xxo
(5)
Ruksana H.

I've been here a few times and only to this location. Its always been with a bunch of friends as it makes the whole eating out experience a little more fun to be able to go add your own ingredients to your dish. Parking's never been a problem and we have never had to wait for a table even though from the outside the place looks real busy. Service is always good and fast, this is a good choice if you are hungry and want to grab a quick bite. Also a good choice if you are vegetarian as they dole out a whole load of veggie options for you to mix and match. Love their options for spices and sauces as well although not all permutations and combinations work well so sometimes a bit of trial and error may have to be entertained. for this reason, I wish they had some ready recipes there syaing - hey, how about trying this and that - so you knew at least some options that were a sure success.
(4)
Bryant H.

Had a great time. The only complaint I could possibly have is the wait time but that's to be expected on a busy Friday night. The food was good and the staff was friendly. The atmosphere was great as well. Highly recommended for a date.
(4)
Scott S.

People I now either love this place or hate it. The ones who don't like to cook usually will stay clear of this spot. Fortunately for me I like to put together food and experiment with cooking. My issues with the place is the layout, the noise factor and the issue with food quality. I am personally leery of food, especially raw meat which is left in the open. I suppose they have addressed those concerns but I still have them in the back of my head. How it works is that you wait in line, choose from either rice or noodles, vegetables, sauces, toppings at finally the meat. Once you have everything set up and ready. You present the bowls to the cooks who prepare them via Mongolian style stir fry. If you are lucky and follow some of the card descriptions, you can create a pretty unique dish. The good part is, you can revisit the line as many times as you want. The service is decent and the restaurant rates a thumbs up on the cleanliness factor. My personal concerns are the noise level, layout of the dining area and potential quality of the food.
(3)
Olivia T.

Just saying Chow Baby in my head makes my mouth water. By no means is this a fancy restaurant nor is the food out of this world but I love it nonetheless. Every friend that visits from out of town I take to Chow Baby and they always rave about it. The atmosphere is super fun and they have delicious food that you customize yourself so the possibilities are endless! I will definitely be back again and again.
(4)
Nikia Y.

Free valet. Quick seating on a Saturday. Fresh food. Quick serving. Nice waitress. Nice environment. Floor a little sticky. A lil Expensive!!! Look for coupons before you go. If you go for seconds you can't take uneaten food home with you.
(3)
Kristine C.

Terrible! Over priced and so not worth your time. Buy a bag of precut veggies and some soy sauce at Publix. Oh! Don't forget some frozen spring rolls. Then you can go home and recreate what my family of 3 wasted $71 on last night. Service was amateur at best. Employees stood around talking about customers. The pictures posted are not the portions that we got. Why go here with so many delicious and authentic Asian restaurants? Gave 1 star because I had to. Guess Ciao Baby earned it for being open when we got there. Lucky, lucky us.
(1)
Jennifer J.

I have only been here once so this review is based on a first impression visit. I went to Chow Baby for the first time yesterday for lunch. At first I was a bit overwhelmed by the experience because everything is laid out in buffet style and you pick and choose what ingredients you want and put them in a bowl. Everything goes in a black bowl except meat. The meat goes in a red bowl that you pick up at the end of the line. Once you have your ingredients you choose a sauce. I followed the recipe on the wall for the coconut curry dish and it was fabulous! Everything tasted fresh and the buffet bar was kept very clean. The service is also worth mentioning, because since it was my first time here the server gave me the run down and did a very good job of explaining everything. I WILL be back!
(4)
Shana H.

Cosmopolitan atmosphere with a great variety of meats, veggies, sauces, and noodles cooked to order.
(3)
Izzat A.

I went here almost 4 years ago but I still find myself thinking about this place. It was that good. I'm sure the concept has been explained so I'll focus on other aspects. The ingredients were very fresh. The only downside was how long the wait was to get in and the line to get your food. It wasn't too expensive. Haven't been back but I really need to. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Drew S.

This concept is completely new to me. I was delightfully surprised when I finally understood the pure concept. I loved the ingredient options. You grab a bowl, then you add your choice of rice or noodles, vegetables/fruit or nuts, sauce or spice, protein/dairy, seafood or oil/vinegar. You can also customize it to make it a salad, soup or wrap and add other ingredients. You drop the bowl off with the chefs to grill and then a server brings it out to you. You can make unlimited trips. (Variation taken from their website) They also have some specials: Monday: Follow them on Facebook to get some Monday night specials. Tuesday: "Industry Night" - 2 stir frys, appetizer and dessert for $24. Wednesday: "Date Night" - 2 stir frys, appetizer and dessert for $28 and half off bottles of wine. Thursday: If you bring in your theatre ticket from Fabrefaction you will receive 15% off your dinner bill, and if you bring your Chow Baby Thursday night dinner receipt Fabrefaction will give you a discount at the door. Food is truly delicious if you have a moderate knowledge of combinations. It's not as anxiety-inducing as you might think a buffet style place with a slew of different options would be. It's very simple. My only critical thought would be the borderline smarmy wait staff and the young bartender making eyes at my girlfriend. I couldn't too much blame him though, she is quite a sight. I don't think, however, that you have any similarly redeeming features, guy.
(5)
Felix H.

This place is a big cheat. Sure, there's a novelty to being able to "create" your own food, but the reality is that they're saving a ton of money by laying all the food out there for you to make the mistakes, only to be guilted into eating it anyway while the rest of your party is enjoying their food (taking it back and making another dish will waste time and make you unsocial). The cooks are merely cooks. All they need to do is throw your food onto a hot surface with a *large* splash of oil and there you have it: The Real Greasy Chow Baby. If you do find yourself stuck here with a group of friends, STICK TO THE SUGGESTIONS. Don't be adventurous. Don't overdo the sauce. It's fucking salty. You could very well regret it, especially when you're eating with your eyes.
(1)
Kurt N.

The price point is excellent for what is essentially a fresh all you can eat buffet. We had a massive party for lunch and had no issues with the service.
(4)
Jeremy A.

Finally got a chance to check this place out after I had been meaning to for a long time. The reason for this is my first complaint that they aren't open on the weekend for lunch, bah whats up with that. Anyways we went there on a Saturday night and it was absolutely slammed, surprisingly enough though the food came out pretty quickly. Your experience here is pretty much up to you because you pick what youre going to eat, but with that being said they give you a vast number of ways to make your dinner a dream or a nightmare :) Check it out and have fun creating your dish. Ill be back to see what I can conjure up next time.
(3)
Vida D.

So the crowd is the biggest draw back, that is the reason we don't go most of the time, but we also only think about going on the weekends when the crowd is the worst. It doesn't seem as bad when you have a drink before hand. Try the Mojito's it's hit or miss with the bar though. Great idea, tiny space.
(3)
David Z.

I'm a frequent visitor to Chow Baby, especially for weekday lunches. The line to build your bowl is usually quite long, but overall the wait is not bad. Usually you're eating within 20 minutes of walking in. Theoretically you can return to make another bowl, but generally you end up just making one due to the line. No matter what I put in the bowl, it always tastes good. They have tons of fresh vegetables, spices, sauces, and proteins, as well as a selection of rice and noodles. I've never had a bad meal here, and I always leave happy!
(4)
Dora P.

Great concept...although calling all you can eat is unfair. I had trouble eating my second plate because I was so full after my first. Great deal price wise. Great concept of having the customer pick out all the ingredients and the sauces and the meat and then they will stirfry it for you. It was really cold and loud inside. I was so happy our table was on the enclosed patio so we could talk and actually hear ourselves! Happy eating!
(4)
Debby L.

We had girls night here last night and it was great. Mom, wife, and girlfriend of 3 wonderfully demanding men and 2 adorable kids. But we need get away time too. We decided on Chow Baby because it was downtown, Thai, and do it yourself. You pick the items you want in your bowl, and send it to the grill. It's very similar to Mongolian BBQ. In fact, when I was first told about this place, the girls told be it was make you own food and Mongolian was the first thing that popped in my head. All the seasonings and sauces are Thai, Japanese, or some fusion of Asian. However, the name of the restaurnat is Chow Baby: American Stir Fry. Go figure. The place was packed. Usually there is a huge line and about a 45 minute wait. Today, we had an early dinner, about 630 pm and we barely waited 10 minutes although the host said it was a 30 minute wait. We got seated and got in ANOTHER huge line to get to the food. That line took forever since everyone is still deciding what to include in their plate. We, however, knew what we wanted and was like a machine making our food! The food was good though. I made my delio, and added shrimp skewers, rice, and had the Coconut Curry sauce. I thought the sauce was great and so was the shrimp. I added meat, but the beef was too dry. The girls also got their usuals [they've been here before and perfected their dish]. Drinks were on the sweet side. I'm not sure if it's just the night that we went, but the ice tea was insanely sweet. I was basically drinking sugar. I changed to a lemonade instead. The service was impeccable. Everyone was friendly and helpful, and our waiter was on the ball with everything. We were very happy with our dining experience.
(4)
Roger G.

I guess The Real Chow Baby and I started off on the wrong foot. You see Chow Baby if you are going to have guest frequent your establishment....seat them ASAP. The idea that you have to wait for everyone in a party before you are seated just doesn't well sit well for me. (pun intended) Also I am not a prude by any means, but the wait staff sure let the "F" word fly around as if no one else could hear them....My kids heard it and I am sure there were other kids that heard it as well.....Show some professionalism Chow Baby. The food....Fresh everything....except the fish. Seriously it smelled like it had washed up on shore and baking in the heat for about a week. Stick with the chicken, pork, or beef. Other than the fishy fish it was very good though....wish they had some bean sprouts though...seriously how do you not have bean sprouts on a Mongolian style buffet? : / Maybe if I was in a smaller party my overall experience would have been better...Overall it was enjoyable, but first impressions are hard to get over.
(3)
sK B.

The food is make it yourself, so you get what you pick out. If you don't have an overall flavor in mind the whole time you are making your dish, it will likely suck, but this isn't the restaurants fault. I generally have a good balance of flavors. The ingredient quality is decent, not great. This place has a quantity over quality attitude. Since I don't eat that much, this restaurant is a bad deal for me. I eat here when I want noodle based leftovers in addition to a meal. The service is generally decent but not great. There are a few top notch servers there, but you likely won't get them. No big complaints on my part as far as service on my part though. I am dick enough to flag a server down with an empty glass rather than thirstily wait though.
(3)
Lindy F.

Let me start by saying that if you cannot handle the crowds, don't even try to go to TRCB during rush hours (lunch is insane most work days). That said - I love this place. The concept is quite well executed..build your own stir-fry. I just don't think they knew what a hit they would have on their hands. Once you get a table (it may be a wait), you order drinks from your server and they give you a wooden paddle and direct you to the line. Next you grab a bowl, your starch (rice, noodles) and start building your own concoction. Grab some veggies, meat and then hit the sauces and spices - but spice at your own risk! You must remember that a little goes a long way and if you over do, you have no one to blame but yourself! So the first time, play the conservative. If you are much less of a risk taker, the walls are adorned with "recipes" of how to build some classics - Kung Pao, Mongolian BBQ, Sweet & Sour, etc. For your first time out, this may be the right way to go. Once you do this a couple of times, you will most likely start getting really creative. Once you are done building, you just line up your bowl and walk away. 5 to 6 cooks start stir-frying everything in site on world's biggest flat-top wok. They work with amazing precision - it is like a symphony or well choreographed dance watching them cook. Once they are done, your food (marked with your paddle) will be delivered to your table for you to enjoy! One of the main benefits of this place for me is being in control of what I am eating. I actually suffer from a lot of food allergies, and TRCB accommodates me very well. They offer me an array of swizzle sticks that allow me to mark my food to be cooked separately from everyone else (this ensures no cross-contamination of nuts or seafood). This works for vegetarians and vegans as well. If you can handle waiting, give it a shot and see what you think. Timing is everything, but it certainly is enjoyable once you get to eat your own Asian creation!
(4)
Don B.

Love this place. Make your own stir-fry. It is pretty affordable since you can basically eat as much as you want.. You start with a bowl, get rice or noodles, and go through a long line getting whichever ingredients you want. This includes usually two typed of rice, noodles, lots of veggies, different sauces, and your meats and seasoning. It can be pretty intimidating your first time, especially if you are not super knowledgeable with the flavors and what not. My first few times, I had no clue what I was doing, I would just mix it all together, and it was still great. And oh yeah, they also have little cards that have some recipe ideas for those of us who are unsure. Out of maybe a dozen trips, I think I have had only one bad experience, and it was because they were not cooking the shrimp long enough, and when we complained they took care of it asap. The person with the shrimp issue also ended up getting theirs for free. Other than that, it is a hit. It can sometimes get a little messy when they are crowded. Also, you are counting on other customers to have some social responsibility by not making a mess, and not contaminating the food and what not. If you are ever hanging in ATL, you should give this a try !
(5)
Jennifer B.

So I've been to the Real Chow Baby in vinnings, and the service is way better. This one was better from a meat stand point, this one has scallops which the other does not. We get there on a Thursday at 1pm and it the place was packed we get our drink order in and proceed to the line, we were gone a good 10-15 minutes and when we come back still no DRINKS. Then our food comes and we need a refill on drinks, still no waitress. I'm not so sure what's so difficult, there only real job is to brink drinks and the check. EPIC FAIL. Bottom Line : Food is great, service blows! I will not be back to this one.
(1)
Bonnie L.

Oooh, another somewhat controversial and heavily reviewed place. I love adding my two cents to these debates. I like, Miss S., wish I could give 3.5 stars, because I liked the food. But I can't quite justify 4, so 3 it is. A quick primer on the slightly sophisticated mongolian bbq concept. You sit down and are handed a little wooden paddle with a number on it (that's your table number, btw). You write your name on the paddle. You take the paddle into a line, choose raw stuff to put in a bowl from a massive selection of ingredients, add flavoring. Stick your paddle in, set it on the grill, and go back to your table. Someone will bring the bowl to your table an indeterminate number of minutes later, and will shout the name on the paddle to figure out to whom the bowl belongs. Then, you "chow," as it were. Repeat until nauseous or pants become uncomfortable. I went with a large group on a Tuesday night. They would not seat us until we had all arrived, which to me makes less sense in a buffet or mongolian bbq type setting. I was rather put off upon walking in - I didn't like how trendy it tried to be, and how noisy and slamming it was. The concepts of being in a hip club and smorgasbord don't mesh well in my head. Additionally, mongolian bbq style is generally not my favorite. Then, the line was insanely long. Literally 10-15 minutes. And what do you do with your purse? Seems strange to have to bring it with you, yet you don't want to leave it sitting out for anyone to grab. On my third trip at about 9:30 PM, the crowd had thinned considerably. I started to cheer up once I got to the action. They'll cook vegetarian stuff in a separate wok?! COOL! And OMG LOOK AT ALL THIS STUFF! Eggplant?! Ramen noodles? Pineapple? Whole eggs? Sauces AND spices AND oils?! My combinations turned out pretty well, too. Loved the peanut sauce and the curry, the pesto thing not so much, but worth a try. The main problem was a sensory overload - I kept forgetting things I had wanted to throw in there. Service was strange. There was no telling when the food would arrive, and even if you stood next to someone in line, their meal might arrive ten minutes before yours. The people bringing the food wouldn't shout the names loud enough, so we'd have to ask them to repeat several times. One member of our party received meat that was cold in the center, and he sent it back. There were other issues with food taking forever to arrive, etc. I will say that we received complimentary chocolate covered strawberries for our trouble, and those were very good. Speaking of service, they charged our group 18% gratuity. Normally this practice is never something I would object to, but at a buffet-type place? Really? If I have to spend 1/3 of my dining experience in a ridiculous line, I better not be *forced* to tip you as if I were in a regular sit-down place. Bottom line: if I am going to eat mongolian bbq, it is definitely going to be this. The selection is appetizing, and the experience is FUN. But for me, the chaos is a little much to handle on a regular basis.
(3)
Ben O.

Practical bowl-building: Begin with heavy stuff (rice or noodles). Erect a snowpea fence around the edge of your bowl, tucking the lower tips under the heavy stuff for a cantilever effect. Add medium-weight stuff and sauce, then go back and add leafy greens (which will stick to the sauce). If it's too busy to go back to the leafy greens, add them when you can. There's white and black sesame seeds tucked away in the back of the dry-spice area. Street parking is hard to find, even when the restaurant isn't very busy. Give up and use the valet -- best $1-2 tip you'll ever spend. But make sure you're wearing steel-toed shoes just in case.
(4)
Heather B.

Okay okay I give! From now on if I loved it up North I am not even going to look for it down here. Honestly the only reason this place gets 2 stars instead of 1 is that we got amazing service. First of all NO BEAN SPROUTS?? How can you call yourselves Mongolian? Seriously that is the best part! I felt as a whole the choices on their bar were lacking and the meat definitely looked questionable. The sauces lacked creativity. The places I have been to up north had many more choices of sauces and gave suggestions to creating sauces. Chow Baby it seemed bought their sauces by the gallon and poured them in the containers. The chow mien noodles were super dry and the calamari was rubbery. The dessert (Baily Irish cream and Kahlua cheesecake) was pretty tasty, as was the special cocktail of the evening. The only two good things I can say about this place is the company was awesome (Thanks Candice M. for taking me out to celebrate my grad school acceptance) and the waitress was super nice and helpful.
(2)
Jason N.

Three star food with a five star concept and ambiance makes this a four star review. First of all, you pick your own stir fry here. Basically, walk through a line adding ingredients as you go, they cook it, and bring it out to you. That is making it too simple though. Its fun and a bit of a mystery. It makes the whole process more interesting. It is worth it to come and try a couple bowls just to see what you can create with your choices. I did a simple stir fry the first time around and went really crazy the second time around. It was quite an experience and one that I would love to repeat. The key to this type of concept when it comes to the food is to get the highest quality ingredients that you possibly can. There isn't anything particularly bad about the ingredients but they aren't great either. The end result is an above average stir fry. Stir fry always has a good bit of flavor but the trick is the texture. Some of it is just a bit off due to the buffet type concept and the canned vegetables that they do have in a few of their choices. Overall its great to go for the experience alone and the stir fry is good but not great.
(4)
David K.

Great restaurant and I always enjoyed it, especially when I was the manager at M-Street Apartments down the street. That was until the day that I treated my assistant to lunch and the valet ran over my foot. Yes, RAN OVER MY FOOT!! Two years later I am still having pain and no one from the restaurant ever called me back. I miss the food, but in this city it's a dime-a-dozen. Good service and integrity are hard to come by and this place definitely does not have either. I guess there's a reason the valet is free...
(1)
Ritesh M.

If you're not a foodie, you WILL be overwhelmed here and possibly frustrated. If you love cooking or trying new things, then this is your mecca. The staff is super courteous and well - informed in regards to food allergies especially the vegetarian sauce options, but their menus and signage also help identify these. Out west, these places are considered almost a Mongolian BBQ, but they are horrible compared to The Real Chow Baby. For the vegetarians like myself, they are great about cooking your food separately to avoid cross contamination on the flat tops. There so many options with tons of veggies, choice of noodles or brown/white rice, and tons of sauce/spice combination possibilities. Then you can get it served as a stir fry, soup, wrap, etc. My suggestion is to start small and don't try to stuff your bowl. Oh and don't stick to a theme, be adventurous! If you're with a group, make someone else' s dish for fun. Ambiance is pretty hip and parking is a joke, but this place is fantastic if you are up for trying something different and if at first your combination of elements doesn't succeed, try again!
(4)
Elizabeth F.

I really enjoyed this. I liked being able to create our own stir fries, and there were so many selections, the combinations seemed endless. If you're staring at all their ingredients, though, and you're stumped, they also have ideas written up on the wall. But I recommend you mix and match and make your own creation.
(4)
Liz H.

You gotta love the all you can eat. I can do at least 2 medium sized plates. The trick is to be sparse in what you want and try instead to go for a yummy combo of ingredients. My favorite veggies are: mandarin oranges, bamboo shoots, spinach, and mushrooms. Note: larger and harder stuff like broccoli take longer to cook, but they only fry it for a certain amount of time so make sure to take tiny pieces of broccoli if you want it to be soft/cooked all the way. Favorite sauce combo: Asian Peanut Pesto, Peanut Sauce, and some Ginger Lime Basil. Favorite meats: sausage (great flavor for your pasta), squid (I love me some calamari, and it comes out pretty good. The staff here is great - friendly service and checks up on you every so often. My friends and I like to come up with names for each other, which you write on a stick that you put in your bowl to ID it. Go through the line, get what you want, leave it for the cooks to fry (it's super cool how efficiently they cook the orders), sit down and wait for your food to come out, steaming and delish (depending on the ingredients). One time, came here during lunch hour and had to wait a bit over 30mins for a table for a group of 8. Despite this, I'll still give them 5 stars because I had an enjoyable experience. I also appreciate how they split the checks. Tips: -There's complimentary valet parking in the garage next to the place. -Keep your portions small so you can experiment -Expect a long wait if you come during peak lunch/dinner hours
(5)
Karen H.

This rating is for service alone. The food was great. I wanted to take my team out for a celebration and wanted to go to a place where it would be more interactive and they wouldn't be stuck to their seats all night, so I thought Chow Baby would be perfect. So, I decided to take my team here last week and although I made reservations a week in advance, signed a contract and had a prepaid guarantee where they already had my credit card number, we were treated with the WORST service ever! Even though the restaurant was only less half full, I was told my party could not be seated until everyone is here. So, after buying over 14 Mojitos at the bar, and over 75% (15 out of 20) of my party being present, I asked the hostess and manager (Leslie) again, if we could be seated so we can start eating because they close at 10pm. It is now almost 9pm. I am looking at a more than half empty restaurant and could not believe they were being so difficult. Finally, I said, I'll just have everyone come in as regular customers and just ask for a table on the patio because I've already more than halfway met my minimum at the bar and we have not even eaten yet. We were all seated after that. Needless to say - I will never be going back here with a group of people because they can not handle it. Groups of 2-4, yes.
(2)
Dio S.

Caters to a certain crowd that tends to focus on a fun, social, people-watching experience rather than the food. Selecting the ingredients yourself is not as easy to mess up as you would expect -- the owners have deftly provided condiments that generally complement each other. The all-you-can-eat format also lets you test out numerous combinations. In any case the quality of the ingredients themselves is more important and it is not very good. The meat and seafood are especially poor, certainly not what you would use at home. When a place doesn't have any signature dish, and the only "cooking" done is not more than heating and flipping a plateful of could-be-anything, the ingredients really represent the only constant. Since they range from so-so to awful, that's the best the food can be. It is inexpensive. If you are with good friends who are having a good time, I suppose it might even be an enjoyable meal. But to me this is like cafeteria at the mall, made pretty with a little novelty added to the experience.
(2)
Jenn D.

I don't really like the Chow Baby concept, then again I don't cook much so I really have no idea how to make my meals taste good here. They all come out too oily and tasting the same - even if I think I'm following the recipe cards . The good thing is, if you screw it up the first time, you can try again...but my 2nd tries have all been as bad as the first, so I've given up. My dad and his friends are pros and LOVE this place, but unlike me they are great cooks. I think that might be the key. Also, can we give an award for the lamest restaurant name? Ick.
(2)
Candice M.

Went here tonight to celebrate Heather's grad school acceptance. I rate this place minus the three screaming kids and the constant crop duster next to us, to be fair. Our server was excellent. She gave great service and helped suggest dessert. We got the Wed night date special that includes a trip to the grill for two people, an app and a dessert for $28. Not too bad for all of that food. However, when got to the grill we noticed there were no bean sprouts! What? Also, the meat looked a little shady but when our food arrived at the table it was better than expected but still average. They do have 3 different gluten free sauces that they note on the menu. Hooray! We had calamari for an app which I did sneak a piece of and it was tasty. The meat was a little on the "rubber" side but at least the batter was light. For dessert we had B52 cheesecake which I also snuck a bite of. The server couldn't even swing by to ask how it was before our party of three inhaled the whole slice. So yea, it was good. The restaurant wasn't busy and we intentionally went in the middle of the week so we could avoid the long grill lines. I am satisfied with the service and feel indifferent about the food but overall it was a 2.5 experience and I had a drink so I'll be kind and round to 3 stars. I'm not inclined to hurry back but I would visit again as long as the screaming babies and crop dusters aren't in site when I walk in the front door.
(3)
Befferly K.

This place is...there are no words. Well, no words other than delicious, fantastic, awesome, unique...alright I lied, there are tons of words. The closest thing we have to it in California is Mongolian barbeque, which pales in comparison. Mongolian barbeque places don't even come close to the variety of meats, veggies, sauces, spices, and noodles that Chow Baby has. I was so overwhelmed by all the possible combinations that it's a miracle I got my bowl to the cooking station before the restaurant closed. The combo suggestions on the wall were a big help. Sadly, our party got there about an hour before their lunch closing time. That meant we could only go through the line once. One portion was more than enough for me, and I think it was a pretty good deal at $7.99. (When you think that a sandwich can run upwards of $12, getting a decently sized and fully personalized meal for $8 isn't bad at all.) But considering that this is all you can eat for $7.99 if you get there early enough, that price is amazing. Chow Baby, I miss you so much. One day we shall be reunited, and I will get there as soon as it opens so I can spend hours upon hours stuffing my craw with your stir-fried goodness.
(4)
Isabel Y.

Went here for a going-away dinner-- good place for a large group of folks! Lots of seating and nice festive atmosphere. As Maura C. mentioned, if you don't like the food it's your own fault! I just slather everything in peanut sauce anyway so it always turns out fabulous. Yum! Do they have to post those calorie counts in giant writing on the wall!? Guilt guilt guilt!!!! I'm not a huge eater so I wish they had a better discount for one-bowl places. FlatTop Grill in Chicago had a student discount, on top of a single-bowl price, and so it felt really reasonable to eat there on a regular basis. At Chow Baby, I semi-felt like I was paying for other people's gluttony. I haven't been for lunch but I will definitely try that next time I'm in town on a weekend. I would recommend to EVERYONE-- put the stick for Roti bread in your bowl- you will not regret!
(3)
Veda R.

It's safe to say that people's love affair with The Real Chow Baby has to do with the wide assortment of everything, but especially vegetables, already cut up and just waiting for you to pack them into your black (or red) bowl. However, for a dining out experience, I'd expect for customer comforts to be placed a little higher up on the scale than it is. There seems to be some sense of inefficiency present at high peak times (note: I've also been here at a non-peak time). We went for an office gathering and arrived a little after 11:45am on a Friday. The line to wait for bowl-packing went around the restaurant, and they actually ran out of complimentary valet spots (already a bad sign, right off the bat). Luckily parking was just around the corner and only a 3 minute walk away. Our server, even though she was a complete sweetheart, was unable to fully accommodate our slightly larger-than-expected party, even though there were several smaller empty tables throughout the area (which never got filled). Our party ended up being split with an overflow just behind at a bar-type seating area, and ended up being fine. Other issues with going at peak times include a 30 minute wait in the s l o w line. That coupled with the above events made the dining experience not completely relaxing, which is something I look forward to when going out. My only huge grudge with The Real Chow Baby is the fact that there is not much guidance with regards to seasoning. The server does remind you that a little goes a long way, but that still doesn't help. There are no opportunities to sample the sauces. There are tiny little menu cards everywhere which provide ample suggestions, but I can't see juggling two bowls, the menu card, and that wooden popsicle stick with your table number/name on it being too easy. Again, you run the risk of oversalting, or under-over measuring (is this part of the "fun"? I can see how this can translate into major food waste, too). The sauces are easier to navigate than the spice powders at the end. I put some red chili powder on mine, and minded the "a little goes a long way" warning, but didn't realize (or was informed) that there is salt in several of these spice powders. Essentially, I was double-salting and not realizing it! It would be helpful to find out which powders had salt in them, and which didn't. The areas do get a little messy too. As I was standing in line, I noticed a piece of raw chicken "chatting" with a piece of raw calamari. A server wiped the area within a few minutes, but the idea of cross-contamination definitely crossed my mind (and what happens to the towel? Is it used to wipe the veggie area too?) Bottom line: If you know what you're doing, familiar with the sauces, and/or have extensive conversations with the server regarding seasoning, and have an idea and execute it well, you can have fun at this restaurant. If you're looking to have a relaxing lunch out and to be waited on, look elsewhere. This is a place that emphasizes personal food experimentation and nothing else.
(2)
Willie D.

Got there at around 8p.m. and place was kind of crowded but not packed up and waiter was nice and funny but explained to a few new comers about how this place works and from there it fun and smooth the rest of the night! Drinks were to me aboutg the norm in prices and bartender was mixing them real strong and great.Food was good you make it how you want it and I did my usaul 2.5 plates I nev er do apps or dessert.Great food and fun-Enjoy it :)
(5)
Andi G.

Our group of 6 chose this restaurant to celebrate a friends birthday, we came on Monday at 8pm as we had heard that the experience wouldn't be as fun if the place was packed. We were seated in this odd indoor/outdoor sort of area off to the right of the front door- no big deal, we can get boisterous at times and appreciated the privacy. Our server Kevin did an alright job explaining most things to us (and helping me navigate my way around my shellfish allergy with the white vegetarian stick) however he neglected to tell us that we could go back for seconds and thirds. As a result our group assumed we only got one red bowl and one black bowl and piled them as high as we could. One person in our group was annoyed. Had he known we could have returned he would not have put all of his proteins together in the red bowl! Thanks for NOT explaining the full experience to us KEVIN! My poor hub-to-be was starving and finished his food before most of us were halfway through. Again- had Kevin done his job he would not have left still hungry. Kevin did have a *few* redeeming features though- he was very nice, took a a picture of our group and put a candle in the chocolate torte for the birthday girl. He was a decent enough guy, not so much as a server. As for the rest of the employees F them! As we were eating they were noisily stacking chairs upside down on tables all around us as if to say "Are you done yet? Cause obviously we're ready for you to leave so we can go home". What a bunch of jerks! We were not drinking, not holding down the table for the sake of chit-chatting. Show some couth Chow Baby- we're trying to take our friend out for her birthday. Talking above the clatter of chairs was annoying to put it nicely. I will not be recommending this restaurant to anyone due to my experience. That was the most expensive bowl of noodles I've ever had in my life- I would have had a better meal and experience at the H-Mart cafeteria.
(2)
Harrison H.

I knew I was in trouble when I walked in and heard Boy George on the radio. I could make better stir-fry at home. In fact I did tonight.
(1)
James H.

If you're unfamiliar with Mongolian BBQ, then you might like Chow Baby. The novelty, the suggested combinations, the general prettiness of the space. If, however, you're familiar with Mongolian BBQ, then you'd best stay away. The basic concept is the same, load your bowl full of all the veggies, starches, meats, and sauces that you like, and the person you hand it to will cook everything on a large griddle. Repeat. Rinse. Chow Baby's execution, however, leaves much to be desired. Chow Baby dresses up the restaurant space with a fancy bar to make everything a little trendier, thus inviting more people to crowd the line. Couple this with either smaller cooking stations or basically-skilled cooks, and you'll find the line backs up significantly when the restaurant is crowded. I don't know if this is by accident, where the owners didn't think they'd attract such crowds, or by design, where the restaurateurs potentially sought to minimize the number of return trips to the buffet. Either way, you should temper your expectations for all-you-can-eat food here.
(2)
Joe L.

At first I was apprehensive about this. You are paying buffet level prices for just a Mongolian style buffet. I mean, don't most Asian buffets already have one in them in addition to all their buffet food? Well, this is definitely better than hot pot. They have a pretty large selection of sauces, a ton of veges to choose from (definitely get the snow peas btw, they add a great crunch to your dish), and a lot of different kinds of proteins (fish, scallops, chicken, beef, tofu, sausage etc). All in all, this is definitely a higher end Mongolian grill than many people (including me) expected. Combine the large amount of possible combination with the super large amount of sauces and noodles and rice (you can also make tacos and quesadillas) and there is definitely something from everybody. AND, if you don't know what the heck you're doing, just follow the direction on the wall behind all the toppings. I can guarantee you that you won't make a bad dish. Now, this place would be a great deal for lunch ($8.00) for all you eat. However, for dinner, $12 is kinda of pushing it. So in the end, a good deal for lunch, an ok deal for dinner. And dont bother getting the appetizers on the menu. Fried cheese rangons for like $6.00? not worth it. In the end, this is a pretty neat place. It wouldn't be the first choice for a buffet for me (Grand Buffet and Grill anyone?), but not a bad choice by any means.
(3)
Kevin L.

Chow Baby: Where if you don't like your food, fuck you, it's your fault. As a very plain eater, I was very scared eating here for the first time. I was convinced they wouldnt have anything I liked and I would end up with a plate of rice and some chicken. Chow Baby by all means has something for everyone. It is a wild eater's dream and even people like me can find the most delicious of ingredients and sauces. The unlimited plates deal means you get to experiment as much as you want, making it one of the most cost effective, delicious, and fun meals I have had in quite some time.
(4)
Michael J.

If you have ever done the American Stir Fry thing and enjoyed it, then you need to check out Chow Baby. It is great food especially for the price. The restaurant is nice inside and the service is top notch. If you are going for lunch be sure to arrive by 1130. Otherwise you will wait in line for quite some time.
(4)
Michelle B.

I love the concept: pick your ingredients, sauces and such and have it cooked and delivered to your table. Chow Baby is soooooo popular that the concept gets ruined. Finding a parking spot is hazardous to your health. Go ahead and valet; it will save you a headache or road rage that will ruin your dinner. It is always so busy here, especially on the weekends, that you end up waiting forever for your table. This just adds to the road rage issue. The food is wonderfully fresh, and the combinations are endless. Keep in mind that it IS all-you-can-eat here; suppress the urge to fill your bowls so high they tumble. Also keep in mind that there is only so much room on the grill. If you're with a large group, chances are you won't get your food at the same time...and its always the fast eaters who get served first, don't ask me why. It is always loud; the servers always have that "I wouldn't speak to you on the street" attitude, and like I said before, it is always busy that I've seen, but for the money and the quality, I'll just have another margarita and get over it!
(3)
Yaanik D.

I like the concept of Chow Baby a lot. You pick all the ingredients in your meal from a bar, and the chefs prepare and serve it to you. The meat and veggie choices are fresh and excellent. The sauces, on the other hand, are lackluster. Take, for example, the "Thai Cilantro" sauce. It works great as a side chutney, but horrendously as a sauce. The flavor is entirely unidimensional, and you feel pretty sick of it after a few bites.The same is true for many of the sauces that I tried, but perhaps I just need to try more. I must reiterate how expansive the choice of vegetables is, however. You can add everything from chinese celery to leeks! It's best to go late. If you're at Chow Baby during peak hours, I could see it being very tough to try more than 1 or 2 dishes.
(3)
M G.

We finally tried this place tonight.... and um.. meh. I don't know. We won't be back. First, the line you see when you pass by in a car is deceiving. Not only is there a line to 'get a table' but there's a longer line waiting for you when you get seated. The place is cramped and it's just a lot of hoopla and production. Do this, grab that, take this bowl, put your name here, grab the meats with one hand, pass with the other, yada yada. As other's have said - the meat 'station' is just disturbing. This portion should be left up to the restaurant/line cooks, imo. I saw people try to stuff the "protein" bowl so full that the raw meat overfloweth on to the ledge of the counter. So they also list the sauce nutritional info in what seems to be 200pt Comic Sans font on the wall before the line starts... normally I'd be all for this. But really? 135 calories PER SCOOP of the Thai Curry sauce? When you'd need at least 4 scoops to even taste the sauce in the stir fry. The food flavors were just off. Between both of us we tried at least 7 of the sauces... they just were muddled and did not taste the greatest. If I want a Thai meal, I'll stick to a place that specializes in Thai. I can see how people would enjoy this place. But, it's not for us. Have fun with the raw chickenbeefsausagemahimahiscallops station!
(2)
T. M.

I have been here twice now and I really enjoy it. Choice is the name of the game here. So many different ingredients. It seemed a bit overwhelming the first time I came. Fortunately there are receipe guides that direct you on the proper veg,meat, and sauce combo to make something familiar like kung pao chicken. I more of a free spirit so i just throw stuff together. Today it was calamari with bean sprouts, brocoli,carrot, bok choy, and the thai pesto sauce. The calamari was cooked nicely so was the veg. The total composition of the meal seemed a bit bland. A little siracha perked it right up. Second bowl around and I went with the talapia. Keeping with the thai theme, I wanted to spice it up. Get some fire in my taste buds. Using a combo of thai coconut curry and thai bbq along with a egg and veggies. The end result was quite tasty but no where near the heat factor I was wanting. The fish was also a let down. I guess it was chopped up too much by the cooks because it wasnt really a part of the dish. This bowl seemed to be a thai veggie scramble instead of talapia. Overall, I like this place. Its pretty loud in here so dont expect intimate dining. I'd call it hipster cafeteria. Love the choices and the concept. If you can stop after one bowl then it definately a healthy choice. There is a full bar and the service was pretty good as well. Everyone was friendly. I think that that could vary the proteins a bit. Maybe a different fish or cut of meat now and then.
(3)
Kim H.

Typical Americanized stir fry joint - think "Flat Top Grill". Their selection of rice, noodles, veggies, meat and sauces are overwhelming. Lunch will run you around 10 bucks including tip. You are the chef here so if you have any complaints about the food, blame yourself.
(4)
Donna S.

Love it! Love it! Love it! What a fun place to go with friends. We were Chow Baby virgins and had no idea how making your own stir fry worked, but our waitress was kind enough to show us the ropes. Lots of choices to put in your own personal stir fry with incredible sauces to spice it all up. The cocktails were slow, but good when they arrived. We'll go back again and again.
(5)
Frank L.

Here's the thing with Real Chow Baby. If your food is jacked up, you have no one to blame but yourself. Went there for lunch, typical of most places it was crowded, but the food came out rather quickly. Personally I am a big fan of these types of places. I use to go to a place called Mongolian BBQ in Norcross, same concept. Pick your stuff, they cook it, you eat it. Not a hard concept. Any expectation above that, you are bound to be disappointed. The difference with Real Chow Baby is, it looks like the Lettuce Surprise You joints and not a typical Chinese place. Food was good, mainly cause I made it, so if your experience is anything but good, you need to take me and buy me lunch. I'll pick your stuff for you.
(4)
nikhil b.

This used to be my favorite restaurant and for good reason. Its a stir fry bar, so how good your food tastes, is dependent on your choice of food. Surprisingly the food usually turns out pretty good, if it doesn't, you can always get a new bowl. The bar is pretty nice too, with delicious mojitos. The music also adds to the complete feel of the place. The reason why its not my favorite anymore is because of this one experience i had where there was meat in my vegetarian food. This was not handled very well by the restaurant and had me very upset. If there is an issue, make sure you let them know its a problem, cause my situation was handled very poorly. I had decided not to go back to the restaurant, but eventually did. My server, this time was Alex i think, and he definitely made a good impression and insured my food was made on the vegetarian pan. Now Chow Baby is back on my list again and I enjoy going back there every now and then.
(4)
Antony C.

As far as Mongolian BBQ's go, I've had way better. Most of the veggie ingredients were fresh, the rest coming from large cans on display behind the buffet line. Meat selection was nice, but the only problem is that they cook the heck out of all the meat until it's dry (1 degree of separation from jerky). In talking with our server, she said the kitchen manager requires everything to be cooked well-done. I can understand given the size of the place that things have to be turned around quickly. But I've been in Chinese restaurants of comparable size with only a few woks that churn out tasty food cooked to order. So that's not a really good excuse in my book. Plus, they only have one grill. In my humble opinion, a place that size should have at least two grills. You find single grill in mall food courts. The atmosphere was neat. Price was reasonable. Server staff was very nice. But all that isn't any good if the quality of food is going to be average.
(3)
Carol K.

Many swear by this place, but I so don't see it. I realize the mass appeal of big portions and having control of your ingredients, but it is noisy, crowded and is overwhelmed with cooking smells. I personally like it when these are contained to the kitchen. It's a lot of work to create your own masterpiece of a dish and in a rushed atmosphere, too. But worst of all is scooping out your own choice of RAW meat. Chicken next to beef next to squid and all raw. After all that work, you might as well cook at home. Perhaps once it's all said and done, the final result is a big tasty bowl of stuff, but the flavors are on par with an Asian inspired Lean Cuisine. Is that worth having raw meat hands and smelling like stir fry for the rest of the day? I guess it's just not up my alley!
(1)
M A.

I was able to come here for lunch recently, and it was much better than when I came with my large group over a year ago. Lunch is also cheaper but you can eat just as much. Bingo! Everything was still fresh, and it was fun trying to put together unique bowls of food. I don't know if it's because it's not as crowded as it once was, but I felt like there were more filings and sauces to choose from. It was a deilcious two bowls for me, and I tried some of the soup my boyfriend created - yum! My favorite sauces are the coconut curry and the ginger-lime. If you love cooking or experimenting with flavors, Chow Baby delivers and does all the clean up for you. What could be better? I definitely had a better grasp on how much food to put in my bowl this time around, so I was able to solidly eat two plates by myself. If you can't eat a lot in one sitting but want to try a variety of dishes, less is more!
(4)
Stephanie S.

If you can cook, this is like heaven. Endless amounts of vegitables, spices, noodles, meats, sauces, and garnishes to choose from. If you know how to balance amounts and flavors, than you are sure to fix up several delicious bowls. For the rest of us, who know nothing about cooking and can't make decisions and pile on everything, this is a nightmare. Everything I tried to mix from rice noodles with chicken, mushrooms, peanut sauce, to tofu and squash with rice in a lite soy sauce tasted awful. By the end of the night, I deemed myself hopeless. If I come here again, I'll follow one of the pre-made recipes they have on the wall. But then I wonder, what's the point of going out if you have to make the dish?
(1)
Keisha M.

LOVE IT!!! LOVE IT!!! This place is only what you make of it, the food is only good, if you make it good!! This is another one of my good date spots. It is a buffet where you create your own dish...choose your meats, veggies, rice or noodles and sauces!! And it is only around $11.50, and you can go back as many times you want. It is definitely an excellent look!! And for you over the age of 21....the mojitos are the best I ever consumed!! So maybe one day after work....grab some friends and head to The Real Chow Baby, it's worth it!!
(5)
David W.

My girlfriend and I met some friends at The Real Chow Baby on 8/21 and I have to give it mixed reviews. The quality of the food and the prices are good, leaning towards excellent. However, the restaurant was very crowded and noisy, between the crowd and the music that they turned up the volume on in an attempt to make it audible over the crowd. This distracted us from the atmosphere, so instead of enjoying the food, we felt claustrophobic and rushed. Instead of a pleasant evening of conversation over food with friends, we ended up having to yell across a small table. They need better traffic control on the line as well. The first time through the line, it took 20 min before we were able to put our bowls down to be cooked. The second trip was even longer, close to 45 min!!! We also have a problem with their policy of adding an 18% gratuity based on the number of tables your party occupies, not the number of people in the party. There were 5 of us in our party at two tables (one seating 4 and one seating 2) pushed together. So when they added in the 18% gratuity because we took up 2 tables, none of us gave any additional tips. We did not feel that a party of 5 warranted that kind of policy. The service was acceptable, but not exceptional, warranting an extra tip over and above the 18% we were required to pay. On another note, the bathrooms were disgusting. I would have rather used the porta-potty down the street at the construction site.
(2)
Big Rex J.

What else is there to be said about Chow Baby. This place is great for lunch and/or dinner. It gets pretty packed and occasionally there is a substantial wait time to prepare your meal, but once you get that first plate into your system, you tend to forget all about the preparation line. The food is EXCEPTIONAL, and based mostly on your own selection of the variety of starches, veggies, meats and spices. I have been for both lunch and dinner, and have left considerably stuffed each time. It's probably not somewhere you'd want to eat if you're considering heading to a second location for drinks, or a night on the town dancing, as you'll probably be too stuffed to do anything but relax and/or sleep. LOL They have a bar in Chow Baby, but it's not a social bar, more like a staging location for customers waiting to be seated. I've found that the drinks are not considerably strong. I'm not sure if this is good or bad, but I've never had more than 1 drink during my wait, so maybe I'll have to go back and just hang out to give a better review of the bar area. I would definitely recommend Chow Baby to friends, if they were seeking asian fusion or general mongolian styled grille dining. I enjoy myself every time I go to Chow Baby!
(4)
Nadia M.

fun place. This was my second time and I really enjoyed it. If you have ever been to Fire and Ice, this place is quite similar except a much smaller selection. chow Baby is much more hip. Its basically a place where you choose exactly what you want down to the spices and they stir fry it for you. Cool concept. If you are looking for a fun place to have lunch or dinner you should definitely try it out but do not expect a quite, intimate, relaxing meal.
(3)
Meg S.

The food is pretty good; I have no complaints. They have a set of colorful plastic sticks that stand for options such as vegetarian (cooked on a separate grill), add shrimp or salmon, "make it a wrap", make it a soup (coconut broth, YUM!), allergy indicators, etc. You choose from a bed of white or brown rice, lo mein, chow mein or italian-style pasta, and then load up on veggies and sauces, which they provide recommendations for mixing. Then you choose your meat (or tofu) and seasoning, leave your bowls and go back to your table where your server will deliver it to you. Enough really can't be said for how crowded it gets, both during lunch - around noon - and during dinner, when the crowd lasts from 6pm til about 10. The atmosphere is loud and crowded at all but opening times. I've tried to come here with a group (10-15) for dinner at 7, and it's nearly impossible. The times we've actually waited it out, we've had to sit around for an hour before enough tables opened up. At the time they didn't take reservations, but according to a large sign on the wall they now do, so we'll have to try again. Service is great; you won't be wanting for drink refills. Overall good eats, and if you time it right you can actually have a conversation with table-mates.
(3)
Ashley P.

Hm, part of me *loves* chow baby and part of me is seriously annoyed and frustrated by it! I love it for pretty much the same reasons that I love Hot Stix-- 1. I love the variety 2. I love choosing from all the sauces and coming up with different combinations 3. I love being able to choose stuff that *I* like and leaving out gross stuff like mushrooms and huge pieces of chicken And in these respects, I think Chow Baby is actually a good deal better than Hot Stix. More ingredients, and a lot of them are cooler. Like asparagus and basil. HOWEVER, there is one *major* drawback to Chow Baby. If you ever go at any time before 9:30 or so, the place will be more crowded than you could ever imagine and you will spend FOREVER in line. Seriously, waiting in line when you're already hungry and then being rushed to make your selections is pretty much my special version of hell. Plus, part of the appeal of these kind of stir fry places is being able to go back up to the bar and try new things. Why bother if you can only stand to go up there once??! Grrr.. I'm getting annoyed just thinking about it! Maybe someday they'll figure it out and put in a second bar.... But despite my annoyance, I actually really like this place and I rarely encounter the long lines as I prefer to eat dinner pretty late anyway!
(4)
JOY T.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! I am a total sucker for places that I can make/create my own food...thats probably the little kid in me. =) On top of that, it's a buffet and you can have make more than one creation??!! ***swoons*** The options are endless, and if you don't like your creation you can always make another one! It's also has a great, reasonable price of 7.99 for lunch and 11.99 for dinner. The only downside about this place is that its ALWAYS crowded, and the place is too small for all the chaos. It sucks when you have to wait to get a table, then have to wait in line to make your food, and after that wait for the food to come out. The real chow baby is a fun, different restaurant to go to and experiment with foods!!!!
(4)
J. W.

I had a fun time and making your own creation and having someone cook what you concoct in your mind is great.
(3)
Cat N.

Food is OK, it's a great concept but they are seriously raping wallets with their prices. The pricing would be better justified if their Service was out of this world...but unfortunately is was not. It was actually HORRENDOUS. It was a terrible experience that was made even worse by their management. I am not going to put most the blame on our actual server..he tried and there was only so much he can do...It all started with me ordering a Dirty Martini..yes Chow Baby if you are reading this you probably know exactly who I am ...So back to the Dirty Martini- It was a longggg day; it was a Friday- I needed a nice and strong good ol' dirty martini...what did I get?- A Dirty Mojito....yea ick, and who has ever heard of a Dirty mojito?? Needless to say I sent it back because there was clearly a misunderstanding- Martini, Mojito...they sound the same..kinda. So I finally get my Dirty Martini...oh and it is Dirty..it was pretty much the color of Apple Juice..and for those of us who drink Dirty Martinis we know they for the most part they are CLEAR- maybe a bit foggy, but for the most part Clear....This one also tasted like Robotussin with a splash of Apple Juice- or maybe it was the Dirty Mojito and they just poured it in to a Martini glass.. I tell our waiter " I am so sorry I hate to be picky but this just does not taste right, can I please have a glass of chardonnay and you can take this back?" ** Waiter give me a weird look, says alllright, and leaves my drink on the table*** About 5 minutes later what I am assuming is the manager for the night walks up and asks what was wrong with my martini. I told him that it does not tastes at all like a dirty martini. This is where the man went wrong... I don't think he has ever heard "The customer is always right"... He kept asking me if I wanted another shot of Vodka, I said, "No it is not more vodka I want, it is the taste of this that is wrong. More vodka will not change the taste. If this is going to be such an issue I would really just like you to take this drink off my tab". He went on to tell my husband and I that he cannot take alcoholic beverages off of tabs.. ARE YOU SERIOUS???..at this point my husband was beyond irritated and tells the manager to just forget it and keep the Dirty Martini on our bill and just bring her a glass of chardonnay. Which is RIDICULOUS. We get our bill and both drinks are on there....I had to step out of the restaurant because I was so irritated/shocked/annoyed by the way this manager handled our issue..I guess while I was out there the manager came back to our table and removed the Dirty Martini (Which was still sitting on our table, untouched) from our bill. REGARDLESS of the fact that the drink was finally removed from our tab, the only thing I am going to remember about my visit to Chow Baby is this experience. We will not be returning nor will we be recommending this to people.
(1)
Nichole N.

SO MUCH FUN! This place has a great concept. Create your own meal idea. Choose your ingredients and they cook it for you. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is fun, and the staff is super friendly. We will be coming back!
(5)
Maura C.

If you don't like the food, it's your own fault...heh. This is a Mongolian BBQ-style place, and they do have a nice selection of veggies, meats and sauces with which to make your meal. One trip through the buffet is quite enough food for one person, although I found myself wanting to go again just because I knew I could do *better.* In addition to my brown rice/mahi-mahi/black bean sauce bowl, I had the pot sticker appetizer, which came out direct from the fryer, just the way it should be. I also had the guava mojito, and I could have drank those all night, though guava is kind of like the bacon of fruit juices. Here's the problem with this place: it doesn't scale. I had to wait for a table on a Friday night, and then I had to wait in a long line to go through the buffet. The crowd died down closer to 10, but who wants to wait until that late to eat?
(3)
Melissa T.

I feel a bit indifferent about this place. The Mongolian BBQ concept gives you a lot of variety. The all-you-can-eat concept gives you a lot of food. I say I feel indifferent because personally I didn't like it but my dinner companions really enjoyed themselves. I get overwhelmed and want to try everything, so a little bit of everything goes into my bowl and at the end, I had a weird hodge podge dish. The sauce and combination of foods I chose turned out to be a bit too salty and soupy. I do like that they have a TON of vegetable selections. And as for the all-you-can-eat part, since I cannot eat a lot, I feel a bit cheated at places like this. However, as for my friends, they know how to compose their dishes tastefully and also able to go up 3-4 times. I'm sure they will be going back some more but without me.
(3)
Brantley W.

"Wait...I don't know how to cook/boil/fry." Chow Baby was definitely a new experience for me when my now girlfriend introduce me there. The first time we went we didn't have that much time. So of course I had to go again. Well parking is no joke as you may find yourself vaulting but the dude was not that forceful on tips (that why I gave him a five dollar tip but its up to you). Coming in its not that big really, I can see on crowded days how someone can juss go off..anyways its like a buffet expect that you have to sit first, tell them you eating buffet (oh yeah, drinks...I forgot) and then you can get in line. But you have to sent up your on meal to be cooked (that means you have to put rice/noodle in ya bowl, peas, pinapple?...and raw meat in another). Kid friendly? The place is but you may have to help the kids set their food up (as...my now girlfriend did). Atmosphere? Cool, relax. People feel so close but that could be me. Food? Depends...on you. Can say they have some good recommendations and no one complains about how they cook it. Overall? four out of five. It was different from the normal Ryan's, Corral (eww), and chinese's buffet. Unique, worth the price and a good dating spot. Too tight for friends but if you want to buddy cop to dinner (that means a reliable number 2). Go for it. Peace.
(4)
Sarah E.

UPDATED (1-27-09): After writing this review, I decided to give Chow Baby another try for lunch yesterday. The lines were nowhere near as bad as I had remembered. My friend and I got there somewhere around 1 pm, and there was almost no line. We were able to make two trips through the line and only be away from the office for a little over an hour. The quality of the food is still about how I remember it. Sadly, I had forgotten that stir fry always tastes better if you add lime wedges! There, now you know my secret. Because it was actually possible to eat lunch here without having to beg my boss's forgiveness when I got back, I am upgrading my rating from a "3" to a "4". ORIGINAL REVIEW: When this place first opened, I used to go here ALL THE TIME with my co-workers. I love the idea of making my own stir fry, and the selection of ingredients was really good. The ingredients appear to be of good quality, and you can make something you like regardless of whether you want to eat healthy, unhealthy, vegetarian, or meaty. However, I haven't been to Chow Baby in forever for the following reasons: 1. The wait is INSANE. No, seriously. In-freaking-sane. One time, I went to Chow Baby for TAKEOUT because I had to be at a meeting in an hour and every lunch I've had there has run much longer than that. I waited over 45 minutes for my stupid takeout to be ready. That's ridiculous. 2. It's too loud to actually have a conversation with your lunch partner. That said, Chow Baby's food is so tasty that I am salivating a little just thinking about it. Maybe I can give it another chance sometime soon.
(4)
Kasey N.

This place was fun and I want to give it a better review, but I'll have to go back before I can give it more than three stars. The only reason it's gets that high of a rating is the good food. The wait staff was slow, forgot about us and not very friendly. They did redeem themselves by putting our order in and bringing it to us once rather than having to stand in line. But it didn't make up enough for the rest of the night and being forgotten. When I go back, I'll go earlier and probably on a weeknight in order to avoid the wait and the crowd. On a more positive note, the food was good and the various selection of choices was great! You can choose ingredients to make anything your heart desires. That's impressive! All in all, great food, not so great service, but I'll give them another chance.
(3)
Layne B.

The food is good here; but i have never eaten here and not felt sick after. Only take one trip to the build your own bar. I feel ill just writing about this place. If you do have to go here, they have great vegetarian options- since you build your own meal. Beware the wait as well. It gets really crowded here on the weekends, because it seems people love all you can eat- meh.
(2)
Wallace S.

I've always found Mongolian BBQ to be gimmicky, so I'm really surprised that it seems to be so popular here in Atlanta. My thing is this: if I knew how to cook, I'd go this stuff at home instead of paying someone to heat my creation. Surprisingly, the stuff I threw together managed to taste alright, and the price for an all you can eat buffet isn't that bad. There's nothing there that really compels me to go back though.
(3)
Josh B.

I've only been to Chow Baby once, not because i didn't like it but because for now its really out of my way. The time i went i was a little nervous. This odd make-your-own stir fry concept was a bit foreign to me. It was a good thing that i went with a couple of veterans because i would have been a little lost. Once you figure out how things work you can really make some amazing combinations though. The veggies are fresh and crispy, the meats are great but what really makes it are the sauces. I tried several combinations of veggies, meats, and sauce and was never let down. The only bad part about this place is how buys it gets. It can be super hard to get in on the weekends if you don't go early. I hear lunch isn't as bad. I guess this is a good problem to have though.
(5)
Dean S.

You will never stop having fun making your stir-fry dishes with each visit. Great food, environment, and service. Had a 5 hour long dinner there one night and it felt like a half hour.
(4)
adrian w.

I would have liked to have given this place a higher star count, but the crowdedness and the feeling of being rushed made me shilly-shally. The food was quite good and I love the options. I am a huge fan of a place where you can choose from such a vast variety of meats and sauces. I will go back, preferable at an earlier time to avoid the crowds.
(3)
Keith C.

I know I am very new to yelp but I started eating here back when it first opened. I love this place. The atmosphere reminds of SF, and the food is always great since I make it myself. I always try something new and different and since i like to cook the same way it is perfect for me. The guilty pleasure here is the desserts. The desserts are just sinful and should eaten with guilty pleasure. I just love the feel of the place and the food is always the best since I made it. ciao
(4)
Liz L.

I'm in a three star kind of mood today. I think I've just been bitter toward this city since getting back from NYC, but that's a story for another time... This place is overpriced. I know, me? Saying something is overpriced? I'm the queen of NOT shopping the sale racks because I'm worried that there just has to be something wrong with it if it's discounted/cheap/not over $100. Trust me, I know, ridiculous. Anyway - for once I'm saying it, so it must be true. So it's an assembly line, and we all know my feelings about buffet style restaurants (they are g-r-o-s-s). Basically, you have to figure out what to put in your bowl without really knowing how anything is going to taste once mixed together, which is frustrating for people who actually care if their food tastes good. I mean, I'm all for DIY and personal responsibility, but for god's sake, how is it fair to subject someone to the possibility that their food might taste like pig manure? (I'm being polite) Right - long story short, my stuff tasted fine, but what if!? WHAT IF!?? Oh, and they also play this TOTALLY LOUD AND OBNOXIOUS techno music the entire time you're eating, causing you to wonder if a) you are actually eating at a Ru San's without realizing it and b) the place is going to transform into some bizarre Atlanta version of Studio 54 (albeit without the cocaine and rampant sex).
(3)
Chris P.

Great concept, fresh food and unique place to take people who aren't from the area.
(4)
LenÃ©e Y.

Seriously, how can one NOT love this place? This is the only buffet you'll ever catch me at. I bring all of my out-of-town guests here, and they love it too! The only reason that they're losing a star is because of the RIDICULOUS crowds. I mean, it's pretty crazy. It's frustrating because they're closed from like 3-5 on weekdays, and they open at 5 on the weekends - which makes the crowds even worse because everyone is trying to get there at the same time. They really need to improve on the hours. Also, when the buffet line is wrapped around the restaurant, it really makes the people eating uncomfortable with patrons hovering over them in line. But the food? It's great! Maybe the new location in Cobb will be bigger and have less crowds? One can only hope...
(4)
Vy A.

If I've learned one thing from this restaurant, it is all your favorite ingredients added together do not necessarily make the best dish. I'm an okay cook at home, but I get carried away at this place. It is like a challenge...I go up there and start with one idea in my head, then I get sidetracked by other ingredients that I like. I know that they don't go well together, but plop...they go into my bowl anyway. The product is me looking longingly at the food of everyone else at my table. My second go around much better when I refrain from just sticking anything in my bowl. In any case, this place is fun and the service has generally been pretty good. Go easy on the sauces here. Since they use one big platform, the spices and sauces of all the dishes before yours will already salt and flavor your dish. Add the amount of sauce that they suggest, and it will be so salty that you can't even eat your creation. In summary, go there for the fun of it once but that is about all I can recommend it for.
(3)
Rick D.

Went here tonight between a dance lesson and a group dance class. Had heard good things and had high hopes. We were seated fairly quickly at around 6:45ish, the server knew his stuff and explained the concept and then we went up to get our food. The line was already forming so we had to wait and the line moved pretty slow but we got our bowls filled and handed it over to the grill conductor. We arrived back to our tea on the table and awaiting the appetizers (considering that I saw them sitting out ready for delivery for about 8 minutes while I was in line they were a little cold but still good (Gyoza)). Our food came out and it smelled good! I had gotten LoMein noodles with mushrooms, spinach, basil, water chestnuts, 5 spice powder and chicken. My dish was a lot of meat (didn't seem to be that much when I got it!) and the spinach and basil were almost nowhere to be found. It was good, flavorful but nothing overwhelming (I guess my picks weren't over the top either!) We also tried the Ice Cream Pie of the day which was chocolate decadence or something like that. It was good but the ice cream was crystallized and had been frozen for what seemed to be too long of a time. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't out of the park either! Ill give it another try to see if it improves...
(3)
Erin D.

I couldn't agree more with Ashley D. I love this place, but it can definitely be pretty frustrating. If you're really tired and looking for a relaxing, quiet meal, go elsewhere. I've been 6-7 times and always at different hours and days in an attempt to find the ideal, less crowded time to go... but no luck. Here are my rants and raves: Rants: 1.) It's REALLY crowded. ALL the time. Although it's "all you can eat", I haven't known anyone willing to wait in the 30 minute line again for another trip. 2.) The line is really long, and waiters are constantly saying, "excuse me", guests are pushing by you to go to the restroom, etc., and it can get really annoying. 3.) Sometimes your dish comes out bland, but you have no one to blame but yourself - eventually you will find the perfect combo! 4.) It's really loud, and it can be pretty difficult to have a conversation with the person you're with. 5.) You may find a piece of someone else's meat in your bowl. If you're a vegetarian, I definitely recommend putting the "vegetarian" stick in your bowl to let the cooks know to prepare yours separately. Raves: 1.) The variety is great (different kinds of rice, noodles, vegetables, spices, sauces, and meats). 2.) The ingredients are always fresh and the selection is never running low. 3.) The vegetables are the best! There are so many that it's hard for me to fit them in one bowl. 4.) The nutritional facts of the sauces are hugely displayed on the wall. 5.) Food always comes to you piping hot. 6.) The price is awesome 7.) They have sriracha sauce for you to bring to your table. Overall, I really like this place. I love controlling what goes into my meal, so the concept is right up my alley. I recommend going with a friend rather than a date, and I don't suggest going alone; you will be way too bored and impatient in line by yourself!
(4)
Alicia K.

It was ok, but only got an 83 on its sanitation review and it showed. Think I like the one on Ponce better.
(2)
Andre S.

So, imagine this, you're tired, hungry, and feet hurt from a long day being a "tourist" at the New World of Coke, and all you want to do is eat until you have to adjust your belt buckle and roll yourself back to the car. Well, last Saturday, my friend and I went to The Real Chow Baby, to do exactly This. Being my vigin experience, I was really excited to try TRCB out, especially since I'm a big fan of the whole eat until you burst concept. When we walked in, there was a line to the buffet portion of the restaurant, and this wasn't your ordinary wait for 5 minutes to pick out your food, it was a 1 hour long wait! To appease the situation, and our hungry stomach, they did attempt to serve us fried cheese appetizers, that only lasted 1.5 seconds. If the US is looking for new torture techniques, I think food deprivation, along with smelling roasting meat/veggies is a good way to make some one spill the beans, because after standing in line for an hour, I was ready to kill. The service was pretty good, however, one of the servers did yell at me for breaking the "stick to one bowl, one protein bowl" concept. But in my defense I told them there's no way in hell am I waiting in line for another hour for a second bowl, if they wanted to serve me, they'd figure it out. After that all was good in the land of Oz, and my belly felt nice and happy. One star off my review because of the hour wait.
(2)
Ari W.

If you can manage to get a seat in this place, the food is not bad at all, especially at their price. The assembly line to build your bowl is usually long, but the wait isn't bad. It great that you can choose from plenty of vegetables, and although it's an Mongolian BBQ inspired concept, you can make it asian, mexican, and/or even mediterranean dishes if you know what you are doing. (Well, the secret is all in the sauce) They are "fairly" clean. Occasionally you see the staff wiping off the spills on the buffet counters with some questionable mop that might or might not contains the cleaning agent. You might ponder on if you want to have germ-free buffet counter with poisoned food, or if you want some bacteria communities happily neighboring your food,.... or, you can simply just tell yourself "As long as I don't drop the food onto the counter, I should be okay. Besides, they will cook these. This shouldn't be any problems" My favorite sauce is Thai Pesto. It goes great with everything. Unfortunately, it also happened to have the highest calories amongst all other sauces.
(4)
Trey L.

big fan of the concept, and its great when you figure out a good combination of of sauces and etc. I do feel slightly stupid for thinking its healthy, its carb based but still better than burger and fries, maybe. Really like this place but quit going after I discovered Hannkook. I think they raised the prices too.
(4)
Falicia G.

It's all about the hype. And they hype here is good. But, it's all hype. The food is as stimulating as you make it. That's the thing about Mongolian BBQ spots, if you can't mix the sauces and spices right, then you probably won't like your dish. But, if you're good at mixing it up then you'll probably like the chow, baby. The parking situation here is surprising bearable. They have complimentary valet and parking on the streets if you can find a space. Inside, there's a bar just to the right, which is needed because the wait on a Wednesday night was about 40 minutes! We all had a drink to pass the time. We sat on the patio which was covered as the sun went down but I imagine great in the summer time. Our waitress was quick and efficient, keeping in mind that she really didn't have to do anything or take orders. One thing that I didn't like was that when my friend was on his second bowl, she started refilling the soy sauce containers, and restocking our table, while we were still sitting there. Not cool. She could have waited until we left. I prefer Hot Stix. It's newer and fresher and just better.
(2)
Shannon H.

I enjoyed dinner here, but then I didn't even start to want seconds after I had my "side" salad, which was huge and incredibly tasty, so I ended up eating that and about 5 bites of my yummy hot dish. Which was good because the line was kind of annoyingly long to get through and I'm not sure I could have done it again even if I'd wanted to. We arrived fairly early on a Friday (6pmish) and by the time we left there was a line around the building to get in, and the parking garage we parked in was full. So I suggest you go, but go early!!
(4)
Scott M.

I used to pass this place all the time when I first came to Atlanta during one of many intoxicated nights at Compound, and honestly, could never really figure out what the hell it was. I finally made the connection somehow, and have been a fan ever since. I have done the whole Mongolian BBQ deal before (at least thats what they call it in Detroit), and honestly, really wasnt that impressed with the end result (after the 1st place, the food starts sucking). But Chow Baby is different, its a lot cleaner, the service is a lot better, and they have alcoholic drinks that are reasonably priced, although they could be a bit stronger. I like their different flavors of margaritas/mojitos (cant remember which one it is). There is a huge variety, so if you want to have a few drinks with your meal, it actually makes sense. The sauces that they provide for flavoring are plentiful and unique, so it makes for a better mix when it comes to the preparation of your food. Lastly, I really like the wall next to the bathroom...I know, weird, but take a look the next time you go. On the wall are signatures of celebrities that frequent the spot in Atlanta...Andre 3000 for sure is on that wall, so you have to respect it! Great place to go...cheap lunch...good food! :)
(4)
Rachel H.

The people that work here were really helpful so the bad review is just for the food. Wow.. it's bad. My mouth was watering anticipating my custom stir fry. Tons of veggies, rice noodles and squid. Yum. Unfortunately, it was poorly executed. Really salty, greasy, and heavy even though it shouldn't have been. Nothing more to say about it really. And valet parking, seriously?
(2)
Caitlin L.

It's a great idea--a stir fry place where YOU get to choose what you want and how you want it. If you and your someone can't decide what they want for supper it's a great place because it can satisfy everyone. The only cons are the crazy crowds and, honestly, every time I leave there I think to myself "it all tasted the same". The prices are decent and unlike most places, parking exists. Give it a try, just maybe not on a Saturday night at 8pm.
(2)
Laura H.

Wow, there are a lot of varying opinions on Chow Baby! I for one, love it. I used to work nearby and visited all the time. I went again last night. I think it's a super fun place to grab a cheap lunch or dinner. I enjoy making my own bowl and controlling what goes in to my food. I hate eating out sometimes because it's all so unhealthy, but with Chow Baby you can make it as healthy or as indulgent as you want. My fave bowl goes something like this - brown rice, chicken, pineapple, water chestnuts, red onion, black beans and a mix of yummy sauce. Mmm.
(4)
Sonya S.

This place was packed at lunch and at dinnertime. No problem for us! We loved the food and the drinks, at dinner :). I made the mistake of overseasoning my first bowl and it was way salty! I ate it anyways because it was so good. I like the fact that you can order things off the menu as well as make your own custom bowl. The calamari was good, too. Parking was tricky due to the mass of humanity trying to get in there. At night, you can park across the street if the parking deck is full.
(4)
Kieshawn F.

This is a great place for groups, I like to have Girl's Night here with about 9-15 of my friends. Be careful though because its ALWAYS packed. The price is great considering you can get unlimited food (not on all items). Going back for seconds can be quite a wait, but don't let the long line fool ya, it moves quick and its worth the wait. The selection of ingredients at the bar gives you a way to be creative and there are even recipes located on the wall to help you out if you get stuck. Try the bread too, its amazing!! They have free valet so be sure to have some cash you, considering the crowds it doesn't take them long to get your car. They don't open on most days until 5pm so plan ahead of time, they do not take reservations unless you have a large party attending. The food selection is great... its good for vegans, heath addicts and meat lovers! All the food looks and tastes fresh, the bar is never sloppy or messy and I love watching them cook the food. The drinks are great as well. If you love stir fry then this is the place to eat your heart out! Come hungry and enjoy!
(4)
Syretta H.

This is the place that my brother chose for his graduation celebration dinner. It was more like lunchtime when we got there. It was packed but they were very considerate of our party of 17 and trying to keep us sitting as close together as possible. The concept of this restaurant is like a Benihana's or BD Mongolian ...you pick your veggies, meats, seasonings, sauces and then they cook it for you. Nothing super different or better about it, the food was good, the service was fast, which to me was surprising 'cause the line was long! The only difference in this place was that they give you this little wooden stick. Before you go up and pick out your food, you write your name on the stick and at the end of the line, when you leave your food to be grilled, you put the stick in your plate, so they know what dish goes to who....pretty neat concept. Overall, I liked Chow Baby. The area had little to no parking. There is complimentary valet, but the minute we got there, of course, it was full. We had to park across the street and the street was really busy, not very easy to cross with children (just a note). But the ambiance was nice and the food was good...another place I would go when in GA!
(4)
bean c.

I always have great food cooked from the ingredients that I pick out at this place. They do a pretty good job at keeping the ingredients fresh and the cooking suitable to the stuff I pick. I prefer this place over Hot Stix in Buckhead. The only drawback from a 4 or 5 star rating is that I have yet to have a pleasant experience with the staff from the ~10 times that I've eaten there. The person who greets at the door isn't always clear about how long and where you should wait. I was told rudely on one visit that I was in the way while I was waiting. Its a buffet so I suppose you just can't coincide that with good/friendly service. Its no big deal as long as you don't expect it. The wait is indeed long during dinner rush and doesn't quite make it conducive for going back for more since it is suppose to be a buffet...
(3)
Sarah H.

I heard this place is good for dates... and I really don't think so. I went there on a date, and we waited for maybe 20 minutes to get a table in a packed bar area. It was hard to have a conversation because for some reason the music was club-blaring loud. Then we got our table and the waiter was very attentive and then we made our way to the line. The looooong line. Standing in the actually is a little nerve-wracking. You're constantly moving, dodging and avoiding various rushed waitstaff and customers (they should really have that place re-arranged). Meanwhile, you get to watch delicious food get cooked, and your stomach just aches! When you're finally picking what you want, you're so hungry your bowl gets way too packed! But then there's that glorious moment when your food arrives and you dive in (and burn your tongue). It was amazingly delicious. I don't think I'd go back. The food and service was excellent, but I have a low tolerance for standing in line!
(2)
Talib K.

Who named this place?!?!? Maybe it was Costanza applying the "opposite rule." Well, much like approaching a woman at a diner and saying, "I'm unemployed and I live with my parents," this too seems to have worked. It really is about the chow.....baby. The food is not great, but it is good enough. And the fact that you essentially create your own, given the selection of veggies, meat, and sauce makes it seem better somehow....it's pretty much a Mongolian Bar-B-Que Redux. After a couple of experiences, I don't think I would go back; but many people like this place......not that there is anything wrong with that.
(2)
Chip P.

I have started to discover I'm obessed with stir fry. Yes you have to get up and make your own but that is part of the fun. Lot's of options to place in your bowl before passing it off to the stir fry. I have tried the Ponce location as well and enjoy both. The service is better at this location. Crystal is very attentive and sweet. I will ask for her again. This trip brown rice, chicken and shrimp with tomato, bok choy, red pepper, and jalopeno showered with cilantro and stired in the coconut curry. The only downfall is Ponce is now open all the way through lunch and dinner. Howellmill closes around 2:30pm and re-opens later. Also Ponce is a little light on the to-go box charge. If you don't eat all of your first bowl you can take it with you. But, if you go up twice and get a second bowl of stir-fry and want to take it with you it's a $5.00 charge.
(4)
Victor A.

Heaven for vegetarians......and I'm not a vegetarian....so you get to customize your own dish by choosing your carb (rice/noodle), then your veggies/sauces, then finally your meat/seafood if desired.....then the chef cooks and you can relax.....and if you messed up in your concoction, you can try again since it's a buffet........go during lunch as it's cheaper ($8).......can get crowded/busy at nights since it's next to TECH.......relaxed vibe inside and no need to valet, you can park on the sides behind for free and walk........
(4)
Tressi J.

i was not so impressed with this place. I love buffets, and I love cooking. But I do not love standing in line for a buffet that has been sloppily dug through, and if I want seconds, knowing I will have to wait in line another hour. All this for faux Asian food that is pretty bland. No thanks.
(2)
ADAM V.

The real chow has some real service issues. Just dropped by for dinner and was told it would be a fifteen minute wait. There were at least six empty tables and four servers at the hostess stand. And it's a build your own dish kind of place! What a bunch of laziness....we left and went next door to buckhead pizza.
(1)
Malloy M.

I love the chow baby!!!! Great service and food!
(5)
Jennifer B.

Ok, so aside from the fact that you are dropped off in this location with a plethera of fillings, toppings, sauces, & spices you also get their desert menu which I'm just sayin' might have been my favorite part. The B-52 cheesecake was simply...ah...devine! Getting the perfect combo's with your meal is a little difficult at times, but keep going, keep trying your hand at it. You'll get better; I promise! : )
(4)
Peyton S.

The Real Chow Baby is one of my favorite places for lunch. Know someone picky?....definitely take them here because there's no way that their meal can be screwed up! Anyone who tells you that their meal was horrible is really telling you two things: A) they can't cook...AT ALL and b) they didn't know that the policy is that if you don't like it, return it and start all over again, without any charge. This is one of my favorite places to take people from out of town or folks who just need a little injection of fun. The lunch line can be a little daunting, so it's best to get there at the earlier part of lunch. 1pm will make you want to hurt somebody. Don't forget to add a stick for the nan bread....always a nice addition to your meal, but if you forget, waiter can always hook you up.
(4)
Anisha H.

This place is fun and cute!!! I totally love this place!!! Its great family place as well as a girls night out!!! I would recommend this place for anyone who wants to go to a fun chill place!!!
(4)
V B.

I love this place! The concept of build your own cuisine and the prices are excellent! Everytime I go to ATL I have to stop and get either lunch or dinner. Its delicious.
(4)
Richie C.

This place is my favorite lunch spot since its close to work, you can eat as healthy or as worse here as you want. On the weekends its a party also with the lounge feel with music, drinks, and food. The only complaint I've had about this place and why I couldn't give it more than 3 stars is the wait time. This place is so popular its always packed and if your a picky eater and get something you don't like you have to wait 10-20-30 minutes to get another dish. However if your someone who can't choose and love options this is awesome. Fresh vegetables and the sauces make this place whatever you want it too be. Heck you can even get a wrap and turn it into a burrito depending on what you get in your bowl.
(3)
Chinika T.

I honestly don't get the appeal of this place. I've only been once because the experience was just meh. After standing in an obscenely long lunch hour line I got to pick and choose ingredients so someone could prepare my meal. For some people like my sister this is right up their alley. They have the ability to pick and choose things to make the perfect meal. Me...I need the help of a cook book or a Food Network personality. My meal came out ok but I would have much preferred to be able to pick something off of the menu.
(2)
Deanna J.

The concept and execution of the 'Americanized Mongolian BBQ' is well done here at The Real Chow Baby. You can either go one of two ways here: 1. out on a limb: haphazardly throw whatever strikes your fancy into your bowl - no matter if you have peanut sauce on your cranberries. Who knows, it could be amazing! This is also a good option if you are culinarily inclined and know what flavors work well, and what flavors are such polar opposites they have no chance of harmony. On the other end of the spectrum, you could end up creating something un-edible-ly disgusting and guiltily pick at your 'creation' for the remainder of your meal. At least it's all you can eat. 2. play it safe: Follow the guides on the back of the wall for tried and true dishes, leaving out anything that you don't like and putting in whatever amount you desire. Whatever you pick, if you visit at a busy time, you'll spend a lot of time in line, which can be a bit frustrating if you're really hungry. I'd tend to favor this place at times that are less busy and I can spend more time. It can also be hard to have conversations here, since you're essentially getting up and down a lot to go through a buffet line.
(4)
Carl C.

I can tell that Chow Baby has become one of the darlings of the new Atlanta restaurant scene. I was there on a Wed. afternoon around lunch and it was absolutely PACKED. But to be honest, I'm not really a fan. I don't know where this new wave of "do-it-yourself" dining came from, but I personally don't have the culinary acumen to pull it off. In a nutshell, Chow Baby is set up as a fast-casual Asian cuisine spot that lets customers create their own meal from an assortment of raw ingredients. You stand in a salad bar-like line piling on all the ingredients you want for your meal, then you drop them off at the grill for a cook to prepare for you. 15 min later the finished product is delivered to your table. I like to eat. I know how to eat. Do I know how to cook? Heck no. That's why I'm spending good money to go out and pay someone else that does know what they're doing to feed me. Needless to say, the spicy thai chicken concoction I put together with peanuts and spouts was less than stellar. How do I know what tastes good together? I applaud the owners of the restaurant for thinking outside the box to create a "fresh" experience for customers. But for someone old-fashioned such as myself, I'd rather just sit at my table and get fed.
(2)
Seth R.

This place is definitely fun, and it is a good lunch, but with the combination of 1) You have to put your own food together, and I can't cook=bad food, and 2) It now is popular enough that it is tough to go through the line more than once-- I have to downgrade it a bit. I have to say, I have never had unbelievable experiences at Mongolian BBQ - so if it is your thing, you may find it excellent (and if you can throw food together reasonably) I'll go back when I have a spare teenager who can get the most out of the all-you-can-eat component, and will enjoy that it is not your usual dining experience.
(2)
Bill S.

EDIT 12/30/2007: I'm downgrading my review from 4 stars to 2. The crowds at The Real Chow Baby very often border on ridiculous, and parking is still a hassle because the garage next door fills up. When I come in for a late lunch (145pm) on a weekday but still have to wait almost 30 minutes for food, and then come back for lunch another time and the parking lot is full... sorry... I love your food, but you are just not worth the hassle anymore TRCB. There's a new place in town called Hot Stix which is the same type of restaurant, with the same great food but a lot less of a wait. Its located in the new retail complex at Lindbergh. === Original review: Recently, Atlanta finally got a real mongolian BBQ. Way to catch up with the rest of the country! (Don't try to claim that roach motel up in Cobb is a mongolian bbq) I've eaten at numerous Mongolian BBQ places in other cities, including chains like BD's, and several independent restaurants. The Real Chow Baby beats them all on the dizzying array of vegetables, sauces and noodles/rice available for your dish, plus they offer several options such as making your dish into a wrap or serving warm bread with it, etc. The one place where I felt TRCB was weaker is in the selection of meat. Last time I went there it was beef, chicken, sausage, and something seafood (forgot what)... but no sliced pork?! Regardless I've always been pleased with the dishes I've made. :) The other thing I like less about TRCB is the wait time. The lines can seriously be 20 minutes or more just to get your food to the cook, then you add in the time waiting. Its a reasonably cheap meal, always exactly what you wanted, and free valet parking.
(2)
Blake B.

I dig Chow Baby even though, yeah, the name couldn't be much worse and yes, you are essentially preparing your own meal. It's a stir fry sty restaurant where you put everything you want into a plate from a large selection of meats and vegetables and sauces and then it is cooked up for you and delivered to the table. Basically, you control your own fate here. If you don't have a good grasp of what things taste good together, or at least what you like, then you're going to end up with something gross. Though if you use good sense and don't put too many ridiculous items in together you should turn out with something good. There are so many sauces here and each one is described on the board above the selection area based on caloric and fat content, so you can make your meal good or bad for you, depending on how adventurous you feel. Yes, this place gets packed out pretty fast on nights and weekends so either come early or be prepared for a bit of a wait. But all you can eat for one less than $10 price and an endless array of option? It's a good deal if you ask me.
(4)
Amanda S.

This place is based on an excellent concept: letting the customers deciding exactly what they want! The variety of items to choose from to include in your dish is very impressive, as is the long list of sauces you can add. If you enjoy your creation as much as I did, you won't make it up to the bar for seconds (which is included in the price). Our waitress was very friendly and helpful, and when she didn't know the answer to one of our questions (about one of the sauces), she ran back to ask one of the chefs. Overall, I had an excellent experience here and can't wait to go back!
(4)
Maxine C.

No doubt, the concept is great. The food is whatever you want to make it (sans bean sprouts. WHYYYYYYYY Real chow baby? Gimme the bean sprouts) and there's a huge selection of veggies and meats and sauces. Off the top of my head, here's what I remember as far as selection: brown or white rice, some spiraly pasta, lo mein, glass noodles, one other type of noodle but it wasn't popular. Veggies: potatoes, cilantro, thai basil, egg, tomatoes, pineapple, zucchini, onions, garlic, lime, red and green peppers, jalepenos, baby corn, carrots, spinach, napa cabbage, red cabbage, scallions, peas, water chestnuts, blac, beans, peanuts, bamboo shoots, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms and probably at least 10 more I didn't try. As far as sauces there must have been about 20 different kinds. Calamari, shrimp, mahi mahi, beef, chicken, pork and sausage and maybe one other fish. To finish it off, you can sprinkle 1 of about 12 different spice mixes. Hand the bowls to someone, they cook it up, you eat it up. Our server was FANTASTIC. I didn't catch his name but he had very muscular arms. Very nice guy. The hostess - meh. L says she's just repeating the company policy. It's one of those 'we can't seat you until your whole party is here' places. Me: Ok, there's 5 of us, the other two are parking. Reply: Ok, we can seat the 5 of you and IF your other party arrives we will try and seat them next to you. If there's room. Me: I look around at about 30 empty tables and laugh. Ok lady, we'll just hover here until they get here then. Then something happened, probably I embarassed L, and we got seated. I get told again IF your 7th person gets here we can add a chair. If. Ok lady. Recommendations for a first timer: Go small. You need to see how much sauce it takes to make YOU happy. And go really easy on the spices unless you know what you want. You can go back as much as you want but if you see a big group of Tech students walk in run up there ahead of them no matter where you are in your meal. I personally wouldn't bother with appetizers because there's so much to choose from on the bar but they looked good. Fancy drinks too, I guess, i don't drink. Plus, 8 bucks for lunch and 12 bucks for dinner? get out of here. Best deal in Atlanta I think.
(4)
Yvette J.

I dig the concept and it was fun to pick out my own veggies, sauce and protein but like stated below unless you are a cook or are familiar with the flavors you can end up creating a bowl of yuck. Mine was OK and edible but I'd rather not create it again for a meal. I didn't like the noise level or the pretentious acting servers. I'd rather the place have several food runners than actual servers who really aren't doing much more than the little Asian grandma at your local chinese buffet.
(3)
Alex C.

I was taken here for my surprise birthday party one year. It was a spot that kept a line at its door and I had heard about. I was impressed with the space, and doubly impressed with the volume they did! The food was not all that great. Going through a line where you pull together items to make your dinner, kinda bothers me. I usually don't like buffets and this gave me the feeling of just that. But, I have since been back (several times) and have grown to enjoy the whole process (more when its not crowded) and have come to accept the food for being a step above fast food, a healthy option for fast food. All and all not bad, and with its full bar and patio it is even better!
(4)
Megan F.

this place is really great! it reminds me of a place back home, and it isnt too expensive. you pick out whatever you want and put it all in a bowl... then they cook it for you and bring it straight to your table! the only down side for me was that i didnt get a change to try their sauces before i put it on my food. the teriyaki was great though! i highly recommend this place for a date or to spend some time with friends. they play good music and its really close to atlantic station.
(5)
Harrison C.

I caught this popular place on a friday just before the lunch rush hit, and it really impressed me as a great twist on a classic Mongolian cooking and a buffet eating experience! The variety of the vegetables and sauces, and even the meats aren't just your typical beef and chicken. With sausage, swordfish, calamari, talapia coupled with the 20 or so sauces, you really have an opportunity to create some good stuff. My suggestion would be to first try to make something you know, or at least can vaguely remember the ingredients from your favorite chinese takeout dish. But don't be afraid to venture out and try other things. One catch is that during the busy rush, there can be a little line to get your bowl built and cooked, so I suggest if you have been before make things quick and have a little plan each time you go. The Atmosphere is that of a bistro mixed with a flare for the subtle artistic. Nothing to fancy, music is simple yet catchy, the wait staff are pretty attentive even in a rush and can always suggest a good combo for your tastes, and of course the food is always fresh and hot. If you can sit outside I suggest it, nice and calm, and if you have a say in the carpool for lunch, go early so the valet line isn't longer than the food one. All in all it's a nice food experience, less than $10 a piece for lunch, and not much more for dinner, and with the choices and variety, (not too be cheesy but...) the possibilities are endless!
(4)
R P.

Definitely go with a huge appetite! Think buffet with almost complete control over your options. The food was cooked well and the wait staff was attentive and efficient. I'd recommend this place for dinner.. peak lunch hours probably gets pretty busy.
(4)
David H.

I LOVE this place! Atmosphere is great. It's always busy and very electric. So much better than your typical mongolian bbq (this place is clean, decorated nicely, and the clientele is much more upscale). The service at the Midtown location is much better than the Cumberland location. Same great food at both places. If you don't like it, it's your own fault, go make another plate! There's no reason to get their overpriced appetizers - you'll get plenty full on the main course. Drinks are average. I try to get my wife to eat here about once a week.
(5)
Tia S.

You cant really complain about the food because you make it yourself. The staff is very friendly, It was my first time eating here and they showed me the ropes. The food was great. I hated the parking and the location is hard to find
(4)
Ron G.

I've only been to this place once. A friend of my brother took us there. Overall, the experience was a good one. You literally choose the type of meal you desire, you select the meat, sauces, spices, rice, noodles, eggs, they have a large variety to select. I'll be real, if it's busy in there, you can feel a little pressured because you don't want to hold up the line. Also, if you're not much of a cook, then you may have trouble selecting meals.
(4)
Kara G.

I LOVE Chow Baby. I don't live very close to here so I don't go here often, but I have been several times and it is so good. Great simple food. I stay away from weird sauces, that is the only way you can ruin the food here otherwise it is very standard. It does get crowded, but there are some cuties that eat here so it is the perfect place to do some guy watching.
(5)
missy g.

Another overrated restaraunt. I think the concept of Chow Baby is fun and unique, but the marks stop there. Long lines prevent anyone other than a hungry man from getting in the food line more than once. Food's not that great, everything I've made always tastes the same. Not the best
(2)
Adrienne T.

Hmm. Not much to say here. Horrendous wait time for a table, and then a looooooooong line to pick your ingredients. In Boston, we have Fire & Ice, which is the same concept as Chow Baby. I dunno, I guess I'd just rather order from the menu and have it come from the kitchen to me. My friends love the place, though. So, oh well.
(3)
Lexi E.

Great vibe , fresh ingredients, happy staff, good music, outdoor space, involved owners and managers, great value, second cobb location a plus, great take out deal:) Vegan, allergy friendly and good cocktail list!
(5)
Tuna D.

I love this place, went to lunch with the Captain and Gilligan, I went as Ginger....anyways, my first time there at lunch on a weekday, I was impressed and was thinking how a concept like this in New Orleans was go.... Excellent choice of rice, noodles, sauces, meets, veggies, and sauces. You basically pick out what you want in your own dish and put everything in the bowl, bring your bowl up and the guys wil stir fry everything on a flat grill and you can go back to your seat. Food does not take long and was there in a flash. I was impressed, although it was a bit greasy and I hate greasy food. Overall, you can go back as many times as you want for the 1 price. Our waittress was amused at our names, good service, parking during lunch can be a hassle considering how crowded it gets, we sat outside on a wonderful sunny day so it was nice.
(3)
Rebecca O.

Outstanding concept: make your lunch/dinner as healthy as you want it to be. You go through the line and put ingredients of your choice into a bowl. They stir-fry it. No matter what sauce I use or which ingredients I include, my food always ends up tasting like the char off the huge cooking surface. It's not awful, but it's not my favorite thing in the world. It's a good place to go if you want tons of food (you can go back as many times as you want), but be forewarned, you'll smell like it for the rest of the day. Weigh the pros and cons and decide for yourself.
(3)
Aisha I.

I love this place because there are so many options. It's true the food can come out tasting sub-par but I've found that if I stick to the suggested recipe cards they have when you first begin preparing your meal you really can't go wrong. I love the different options to make salads, wraps, soups, etc and each time I leave I look forward to the next time I will be back!
(4)
Justin M.

All you can eat for 12 bucks?! I went with 6 people and everyone loved every bite. The atmosphere was great and customizing your own "Asian Fusion" is downright fun. No one should miss this hands on experience.
(5)
Victoria A.

I loved the concept and all the food that I picked turned out great combined. Prices are reasonable and I am definitely taking my friends here. The cheesecake with the liqueur was *awesome*.
(4)
Miss S.

I wish I could give 3.5 stars. I went for dinner when it first opened and it was a mad house, but I went for lunch today and rather enjoyed it. 5 of us were seated promptly, the line wasn't bad, and we got our food quickly. I think you have to go at 11:45 or 12:45-- the in between is the bad part. I love that you get to pick your own combos, so you can be as healthy as you'd like to be and you can't beat $7.99 for lunch these days...
(3)
Gloria W.

I love this place, but I am torn between this and hot stix. The roti bread I love. The appetizers here do kick the stix's ass! Way more variety. I would be more inclined to take my picky eater friends here than hot six. Oh the patio is great and the music is always really good. Over all I really do like it!
(4)
Colin D.

This is a very fun, urban, and tasty restaurant located right in downtown atlanta! Food is great, and YOU are in charge! If you dont like your food, there is no one to blame but yourself because you make it all (except the grilling process). I have been to both Chow Baby locations, and love both. The main con of the Howell Mill location is the wait- Oh my God. The first time I went there it took 65 minutes to get a table, then an additional 40 to stand in line to make our food. But once we got our food it was well worth it. I wouldn't recommend going here on a weekend- it WILL be very crowded. The Pro about this location is the decor and service. The decor beats the other location by far (I dont know why though. Maybe the intimacy) and the servers are all very friendly and professional. So if you dont mind a wait, but want a fun dinner, go here! The main con of the Cobb Galleria location is the the uncleanliness of the food bar. Every time I went to scoop something out on my bowl, there would be a different vegetable in it that would over flow from the container next to it. The staff needs to work on this! The pro is there are TWO serving lines, so there is not a huge wait to make your food. But keep in mind, even with few people at the bar fixing their food, it can still take 15 minutes for your food to be brought out to you. So overall, this is a very good restaurant and I highly recommend it.
(4)
Kristi B.

I was in ATL for work and my assistant loves this place so she took me for dinner. The first disappointment was that we tried to order their "award winning signature cocktail" and they "were out of it". Hmmm.... Anyway, I liked my food, but why wouldn't I, since I basically made it myself to my own specifications? I added a piece of naan to my dinner which was really good (extra charge) but not really authentic. Service was sssllllooooowwww.....and it was not packed. Hence, the mediocre star rating. I thought it was OK but on the next trip to Atlanta I will do the restaurant choosing!
(2)
Jalisa N.

Okay, went there recently and my husband and I got food poisioning. The place was packed on a Saturday night and they were just throwing raw meat and fish on without taking time to clean. Restaurant has a nice concept, but they need to consider running a healthy restaurant.
(2)
D G.

I have been here a couple of times for lunch. I like the concept, one price and as many second plates you want. The food is good but if you don't like it you can only blame yourself since you created the concoction in the first place:) I like the fact that they have the calorie information for the sauces on the wall, which is great for health conscious people. From the appetizer menu, the chicken potstickers are great. The only thing I may dislike about the restaurant is the parking, there is a small parking garage but the spots are tight and limited to just he first level. Also, it can get crowded because the place isn't that big but the Real Chow Baby at the Cobb Galleria is bigger, if one wanted to opp and go there instead. I think this is a great place for any type of social outing and a good place to take out-of-towners.
(4)
Kowanna B.

Yep, I love it! I keep coming back!
(4)
Sha A.

This place was great! My husband & I checked it out for the first time this past Saturday night. We had to park on the street but we were able to find a good spot. There was a 45 minute wait but The Real Chow Baby made it worth it! They served 2 rounds of appetizers while we waited - I was impressed! That really made us feel like TRCB appreciated its customers being patient & waiting to eat at their restaurant :o) ! Last but not least, the choices on the 'choose it yourself' bar were great & my end dish was SO yummy! Just remember to pack your patience. We are definitely planning to visit again soon! :o) Just in case you were wondering my dish contained the following ingredients: white rice, little bit of chow mien noodles, spinach, carrots, red onions, broccoli, corn, scallions, minced garlic, chicken, peanut sauce, ginger spice, curry spice and Thai spice - bet you're hungry now!
(5)
Nicole R.

The Real Chow Baby on Howell Mill Road is fabulous! The customer service is wonderful and if you haven't visited before the employees make you feel comfortable and explain to you how Chow Baby operates :) So go have some fun and add lots of ingredients to your bowl!
(5)
Kay T.

OMGGGGGG This was awesome. It was a fresh spin on an old favorite; stir fry. I first of all was impressed byt the price, lunch 7.99- all you can eat, say what? To a eatn sista like myself that would be 2 snaps in a circle and a high five. CLEAN AND FRESH are the only words to describe the atmosphere and food. The server Asia was excellent too. They had every asian sause you can think of PLUS a seasonings bar. I mean a bar of seasoning salt, chillie pepper, sesame seeds- needn't I say more. Parking is valet so tip em cause they are quick@! If you are vegetarian you can enjoy tofu as a toss in. Also they have brown and white rice, egg noodles, rotini, and rice noodles. I heard it can very busy for dinner. It is very believeable because we went to lunch at about 11:45 it wasn't busy but by 12 it was over 75% capacity. Great place for a date, eating alone and or friends just chillin. Its worth the try!
(5)
Adrianne T.

My friend and I stumbled on to The Real Chow Baby after a day of furniture hunting and antiquing, so it was about a quarter to 5: Taqueria del sol was closed and we didn't want figo. We figured what the hell, we'll give this place a try. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. We stood in line outside for the last few minutes before they opened along with a couple of couples and a big family party. We watched in amazement as the line behind us steadily grew and grew and GREW! So being at the head of the line, we got a table outside which we found out is a must (because who wants to eat inside when the monstrous line begins snaking around your tables and your view is obscured by elbows and asses - just no) The make-your-own stir fry is cool enough considering both of us like to cook and it's cute and kinda fun. Because we were at the front of the line, everything was laid out nicely and clean and people had not begun reaching across the veggies with their overstuffed bowls and shirt sleeves. I had a ginger mojito which was delicious. And we both enjoyed our dessert. Return trips have proven to be less exciting as you realize you have made better stirfry on your own in your dented wok at home. Overall, I'd say it's worth a trip and something a little different. Kids like it and it is all-you-can-eat if you feel like standing in line again.
(3)
Eric G.

I ate here today with low expectations because I heard it was kind of like a salad bar which that was kind of exactly what is was like. I was fine putting my own sticky rice in a bowl with veggies and sauces, Once I had to pick up my red bowl and put the raw chicken in there i was a bit grossed. I sucked it up and went for it. Scooping up slimy chicken is not very appetizing. Of course once it was cooked it tasted great but I could not stop thinking about the chicken in the bin. Great sweet tea. My suggestion would be to have the staff serve the meats, chicken and fish for the guests and we can do the rest. That would make me come back. Sorry for the not so amazing review but I dont want to see the raw meats in containers.
(3)
Ken L.

chow baby is where you would get the moment to be a master-chef-extraordinaire.. and you would always has an idea to improve your dish... next time. thats when they get you to come back again and again. in my opinion, you need to be careful of the people you go there with... and its kinda hard. dont think you could bring a group cause the music is so loud i cant even hear what the person across me is saying. if you go with a first-timer then you'll have to explain to the already impatient and confusing friend how it works and answer the questions like "why are they saying 'baby' after everything?", ie. "take a bowl here, baby" and then there is the impatient one who would be sick of the ridiculous crowds that is always there... and dont get me to start on the anorexic one who is hungry for food and full after half a plate and look at you til you are done... so you see, i always have a nerve-wracking experience here what i like about this place is that they have lots of unique sauces to choose from to flavor your dish. ingredients are fresh and appetizing.. (raw meat dont gross me out).. effort is always made to make sure the buffet is full and tidy.. but they need to brush up their service sometimes though.. and my advise to you is to pack up lots of patience cause this would be a 3 hour meal :)
(3)
Brad W.

The Real Chow Baby is the sort of place that some rave over and hype to no end. I was first brought here by one of those passionate devotees. Upon entering, the atmosphere is fine, nothing to write home about, but it is good considering the price point. I admire the concept, combining ingredients and trying new combinations, if you so desire, but limit yourself. Case in point, several "newbies" that I have brought to Chow Baby thought everything looked delicious and decided to combine multiple sauces, the result was, as you might expect, appalling. Sure, you can go back for another plate and waste a ton of food, does your conscience bother you? If your looking for a talented chef to create a delicious entree, skip Chow Baby, but if your feeling adventurous and on a bit of a budget, check it out and you may become a fan. Note, I hate that they are not open for lunch on the weekends. I once tried to go there for lunch one Sunday with a friend, they were closed, so such much for me "knowing the area"! My pride has since recovered. Another time, I was seated by the entrance to the kitchen/dish washing room (to the left when you enter the front door) and my two guest commented several times on the unappetizing smell radiating from the nearby kitchen doors. In summary, this place seems to wow some and not impress others, but it is generally a reliable choice. I'd say you need to check it out yourself at some point and see what you think.
(3)
Chase C.

I'm a condiment/sauce addict, & at Chow Baby I can get what I want. After all, you put your ingredients in the bowl, sauce & all. And you can put whatever or however much you want. Not only is everything clearly labeled vegetarian, but also vegan - hard to find even these days. People are talking on here about if you screw up... they might not know that if you make a creation that tastes bad, you just take it back & go at it again! Chow Baby is one of those "I can't make up my mind where I want to eat... ok go to Chow Baby" places. Mmm!
(5)
Jody N.

This place is great! I dare you to find a place with all you can eat (good) food for $8 during lunch. The mix'n'match deal can be confusing but its really hard to go wrong with the variety of options they have. The wait staff was helpful in keeping our heads on straight with the little wooden markers and they described the process very well to me since it was my first time. I would, like other said, suggest that they offer a optional "guide" on what goes well together. The random paintings on the wall are cool but when you are in line with 20 people behind you, it can be hard to stay focused.
(4)
Darnell S.

It was a bit crowded and I had definitely not had an experience where I had to get my food in such a way. The food wasn't too bad, but I have definitely had better. I think it is still a good back for the old buck though, and I would recommend it for someone who has never been before. Just try to find it on a less crowded evening!
(3)
Lori T.

good for a picky eater as you can choose your ingredients from noodles/rice, to veggies to proteins, etc. fun to come up with combinations or use what they recommend. one time my meal was over cooked when i was getting it to go. other than that no problems. love the food - the dessert was overpriced and didn't taste that good (despite recommendations from the staff to try it). i had the key lime pie and didn't enjoy it at all.
(4)
D M.

this place was great. the prep area for choosing your contents looked good and fresh. when it was brought to me it looked and tasted great. the best thing was the price. just over 10 bucks. that included the drink. the wait staff was friendly and attentive. they had many ingredients to choose from.
(5)
Tee C.

This place is AWESOME..........but always crowded. SO BAD they are not open for more hours on the Sat and Sun. I saw this news bit on Fox 5 in the am about 3 yrs ago and ever since I've been treating myself to this place. only problem I've ever had was that one time the waitress was not particularly attentitve and a little bit on the nasty side when it came to the drinks but that was my only experience and I havent had a bad experience since. I'd recommend this place to anyone. LUV IT!!!!!!
(5)
Lori F.

It's not complicated, really. Real Chow Baby is basically a mongolian bbq dressed up to be a modern, chic restaurant. Gloss and glitz added doesn't change the fact that you're the cook. If you screw up, it's your fault. Rice, veggies, meats, and sauces are laid out for you to make your own concoction. They do have some suggestions on what you should include in your stir-fry (try those first - I find most people aren't used to any of the ingredients available). I do think it's cool that you don't always have to get stir-fry: you can make yours into a soup or wrap at no extra charge.
(3)
mind your b.

Chow Baby was an ok dining experience. I would say that the concept is neat. I liked the idea that you get to make your own dish(es), at least you know when the dish isn't great, it's your own fault. The down fall of it is waiting in the long line to prepare your food. I would not recommend ordering any of there appetizers. We order two items off their appetizer menu and it was not great-bbq ribs and pot stickers. Another thing I didn't like is the parking situation.
(2)
Johnny D.

Okay, Yes I am a fan of The Real Chow Baby. Now that I live around the corner they see me almost every week. If I didn't have some kind of self control I would be there weekly. Yea, I may be a fuddy duddy but, I do enjoy choosing what I want to put in my dish. Also, it's funny watching others in line, esp. the first timers, you know the ones whose bowls are full before the past the first section of veggies. OMG! please instruct your first timers so I won't talk about them in line. lol. I've not had a bad visit yet. We always get a cute server. My only issue, the mojitos! are good but if I wanted a plate of mint leaves I would request that as a side not 15 leaves in one drink. Lastly, keep the $8.99 happy hour special going guys. It helps me enjoy my MINT-jito a little more.
(4)
Julia S.

This is just another Mongolian BBQ place. I'm not really into it - it's a little too gimmicky for me. It also is more expensive than I honestly feel it's worth. It also somehow bothers me that my food is being cooked right along side everyone else's, although I know it's probably not logical. Overall, the meal you get here is decent, but nothing to write home about. I'm not crazy about their sauces and the like, either. I guess it's an all right place to go if you're in the area and no one can come to a consensus as to what to get, but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way for this place.
(3)
Claire Y.

interesting buffet
(3)
Amy B.

Very good. I just moved back to Atlanta from Chicago a few weeks ago, and I was happy to find this place. Flat Top Grill is one of my favorites in Chicago, and Chow Baby is extremely similar. I wish that they had tomatoes for a veggie selection, but everything else was great. It's a fun place to go on a first or any date. If you like this place and ever find yourself in the Windy City, check out Flat Top Grill!
(4)
Nicholas R.

I really dont know how to write this review since Ive never tried the food. Ive made a total of 4 attempts. The first 3 I never got to sit at a table because the wait was an hour plus. Ok its popular Ill let that slide. Last night I made a fourth attempt to go. They said 20-25 mins I thought Finally!!! I get to try Chow Baby. Ive been to wok style places in LA before but it has been a long time. So we wait at the bar have a few drinks and enjoy watching the storm roaring outside. 25 mins passes we order more drinks and continue to wait and try to keep the enjoyment level high and spirited. After they tried to pawn 6 of us off on a table that would be tight for 4 we continue to wait for a bigger table. We reach the 1 hour mark (ugggggh again) and finally get a table outside (well two tables no where near the same height) I let it slide and we get in a line (great more waiting) to grab some food. The line is all over the place! everyone is bumping into everyone and everything else. Even the servers do the same without much care. We wait in line for 20 mins and are still no where near the start of the buffet section. OK this place has been nothing but a problem since people have first started to bring me here. I had enough so very upset we left. You can say its unfair to judge a place that you have not tried. I think even if I did I still form opinions about service and cleanliness and so on. Ok I did try the mojitos, pretty lame they cant even muddle the sugar, water, mint, and so on but maybe Im being too hard because the overall experience was very lacking. I will try this place again and attempt to actually eat here but probably not for awhile. I dont feel like wasting a night on a "chance" I may actually get to try this place.
(1)
E X.

I went there for the first time for dinner (6pm or so) on a Friday night. There is only one "buffet" line to gather all the food you want the cook to stir fry for you. The rice in the cooker looked awful. It looked chunky and not fresh. The line was long and we were hungry, and the food choices were not that great. We ended up leaving the place and decided not to eat there. Don't go here if you are starving and wanting food fast. There are several Chinese restaurants that can offer more food and much quicker at a lower price than Real Chow Baby. I only went there once and would not go back again.
(1)
Rilindo F.

I like this hipped up mongolian-style buffet - and for a price, it is pretty reasonable. They are not open all hours, though (only around lunch and dinner). Also, if you don't know what you are doing, it might be best to follow the recipes that is on the wall. I didn't and what I had was a mess. :P
(4)
Flip C.

I like this place, been here twice. Located in the Midtown West area. Basically you pick your pasta, veggies, meats, sauces and spices, and one of their cooks will either stir fry it, soup it or fry it in rice. Quite popular both times I've been, and I've gone during lunch and dinner. Can be as meaty as you want it or an immaculate vegetarian dish. Be careful though. Things that look neat at the food bar might not taste so great after it's fried up into a meal. Put some thought into your creation before you just load up your bowl with stuff.
(4)
Carole F.

I went with a party of five to Chow Baby. This was our first time. My friend's co-worker recommended this place. I would like to say it was an experience. I would suggest to make reservations because it took an hour for us to be seated. We got there at 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday night. When we asked how many groups are in front of us, they stated two. However, I saw as many as six groups to be seated. The male hostess was not very friendly about the situation when we asked him about this matter. I give the other employees an A in customer service (bartender, female hostess, cooks, and the smiling waitress) and I give the male hostess an F. That is the only reason for 3 stars. As soon as you are seated the waitress will fill you in about what to do once you get in line and the different sauces and etc. She took our drink order. Another thing I didn't like is that our drinks are left unattended on our table while we get our food. I would suggest that lids are placed on the glasses once we sit down. The waitress will give you a wooden stick to write your name on it with the table #. You would grab a black bowl and place all your desired brown/white rice, vegetables, sauces, and etc. Then grab a red bowl for your meat (beef, chicken, calamari, talipia, and etc.) and seasoning for your meat (garlic, seasoning salt, pepper, and etc.). Don't forget to place your wooden stick in the black bowl. After that, place your bowls down for the cooks to retrieve them. The waitress will bring your food to you. We were able to see the cooks cook the food. It was amazing!!!! My arms would get a work out if I had to cook like that everyday. My food was sent out nice and hot. I put too much teriyaki sauce which somewhat ruined my food, but it was okay. I would suggest to make your plate look colorful (carrots, beans, brocoli, and etc.). Everything was outstanding except for the male hostess. I would go back again and get a wrap next time.
(4)
J. D.

Choose your own Stir fry is not a new concept, in fact this style of "Mongolian BBQ" has been popular in other cities for quite awhile. The concept and flow of things takes a few tries to get your food right. Essentially you are the master of your bowl, whereby you select raw ingredients and sauces and then hand it over to the stir fry cook to finish your concoction. The restaurant has posted suggested combinations for your culinary guidance. The problem is not everyone is a cook, and if you put too much of something your dish will be ruined. If you truly mess up, its okay you can return to the line and start over as the restaurant is basically all you care to eat. A nice touch here is the full service bar. The staff is very helpful, especially toward newbies to the concept of choose your own stir fry. My friend Michael is militant about not eating carbs, and swears by The Real Chow Baby has his lunchtime goto spot. Parking is valet but free, there is also limited street parking. Personally I prefer to go to more autentic Asian restaurants, but this is a fun spot to try. the ingredients are indeed fresh, and some of the combinations I came up with were really tasty. Easy does it on some of the sauces, they contain quite a bit of sodium and the general rule of a little goes a long way applies here.
(3)
erich l.

i love this place. if you are creative you can make the best stirfry you've ever tasted. but.. this also means you can make the worst. the reason why i don't go back: it's an open air grill and i always leave smelling so bad i feel like i need to take a shower.
(3)

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Address : 1016 Howell Mill Rd,Ste A
Atlanta, GA, 30318
Phone (404) 815-4900
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Opening Hours

Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Valet
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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The Real Chow Baby

1016 Howell Mill Rd,Ste A, Atlanta, GA, 30318

The Real Chow Baby Menu

Appetizers

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Desserts

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Appetizers

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