As most buffet restaurants go, the food is average, but there was 4 buffet tables to choose from so there is plenty of tastes to be satsified. There was a large table of fruits and salad offerings. There were mussels and various types of shrimp preparations as well as octopus and squid entrees. They had thin rice noodles as well as lo mein style noodles. They had various beef and chicken entrees and I didn't realize I did not check the dessert table to see what they offered.
(3)
Coyote S.
Went to New China Buffet many times but on my last two visits my stomach hurt badly for the rest of the evening and when I went to bed. The next day I had a bad case of diarrhea (sorry). So what's going on here at New China Buffet? Well, there are some serious sanitation issues. The hand dryer does not work in the men's room and there are no paper towels either. The bathroom floor was flooded and it stunk. Looking at the doors and walls, they are scuffed and dirty. Can't imagine what goes on in the kitchen and I suspect the reason the food tasted so nasty and off may have something to do with sanitation issues. The food quality tasted on the cheap side, like seafood they sell at the Dollar Store. It's gross if you asked me. The food in general seems to be rapidly losing it's American cuisine appeal and more toward traditional Asian. But do they really need to add squid to a basic chop suey? Some items tasted particularly funky, like a really nasty tasting gefilte fish. Even something as simple as hard-boiled eggs tasted like they were cured in some strange preservative. Both boiled shrimp options are now loaded with pepper and spices. The only thing that tasted normal were the cucumbers, ice berg lettuce, the ice cream (mostlly artificial), and the chicken kabobs. Is it worth $11.50? No. It's not worth the awful stomach pain.
(1)
La Tonya G.
I just want to find a Buffet that is consistent in their food. The first time I went I loved this place...the salt and pepper shrimp(at least that is what I think I had) was so darn good had me dreaming about lil shrimps all that week. My last visit was ok nothing to write home about the food was average and left me feeling meh. It all kinda tasted the same nothing really stood out for me. Although I have to give it too them...their food is fresh. It felt good hanging with family and just enjoying the day...My grandbaby isn't a big meat eater although she does eat meat...truly enjoyed all the veggie selections. I was having a good time but our waitress peeved me because I was eating...well I was laughing and talking to the people I came with and as I was doing that she came to our table picked up the napkin threw in my plate before I could say..."Hey I'm still eating!" before I knew it I was like "You know you were wrong for that!" I mean how is she just going to take my plate...I mean she said Sorry but can you give me a chance to let you know if I'm done or not. I do like their selection of healthy options...They had a lot fruits and veggies not just greasy stuff. Will I be back...yes but it will be closer to the dinner options because I was not a big fan of the lunch which is only $7.99. I can't remember what the dinner price was but I thinks it's like $13.99. Watch your plate because they are on it...you can't be to slow on the hold back for sure....lol Enjoy!!!
Good choice of chicken and beef but always end up on the toilet for multiple hours after eating. The Mac and cheese was probably the worst food I've ever seen. Here's a picture...
(1)
Chris C.
Don't get me wrong...I love this place. I used to eat here all the time - but for 12-15 bucks depending on when you go, its what you expect from a Chinese Buffet. I'd say slightly above average since I actually find the food to be pretty good (I've had much worse - ie. Buffet Castle on Belmont), but nothing that is too memorable. It certainly hits the spot though. The best thing about this place is the number of options and that the food is pretty consistent/fresh. If you're looking for something quicker and MUCH cheaper, you can go to China Buffet on Pulaski. Buffets are the shit.
(3)
Hugo B.
Wouldn't recommend this place unless if you like eating with cockroaches in and around your food. I told the manager about the problem and he didn't do anything about it so I just got up and left. A couple of hours later my brother got sick from the food. Never going back
(1)
bill r.
I am sad to give New China Buffet such a bad review. I have been a customer for about 15 years and have had some really tasty meals here, but I ate here last night with a friend and our dinners were really bad, and we were both burping and feeling nauseous for hours after our meal. First the good. Diet Coke was fine. Hot and Sour Soup was very good. French Fries were yummy Vanilla Ice Cream (or frozen dessert) was yummy. Now the bad...everything else. Shrimp got smaller and spicer Mussels replaced with very small clams The sauteed dishes (I think I tried a spoonful of all of them) were bad...the meat felt slimy and tasted "OFF" The sliced fruit, cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon tasted chemically. My friend said his hard boiled egg tasted bad also - I think he liked his noodles. It looks like they are cutting corners and it shows. Also the price went up about 5 to 10%
(1)
Alex J.
The good news is (most of) the food seemed relatively fresh - as fresh as mass buffet-produced food can be - and nothing made me sick, a grave concern when eating at a buffet. The egg drop soup was the star of the show, followed by most of the meat and noodle or rice dishes. Things were fine. I will caution against eating any of the healthier options, such as the fruit, as most of it seemed way over ripe and/or old. The price is also super great, at just under $10 a person. For $20, you can tell your significant other just how much you love them by bringing them a plate of mango jello stuff and more water to counteract the sodium she's ingesting.
(3)
Shasonya S.
Yummy.... My fave Northside buffet!!! Place looks a lil dingy but it seems like the best foods comes from a "hole in the wall" My little gem!
(5)
Joshua E.
In not a big fan of Chinese so I'm a little biased. But ive been to a few and I would say this one is middle of the road. Foods kind of greasy some dirty plates but besides that it pretty ordinary.
(3)
Steve H.
Went here on Chirstmas when the girlfriend and I were stuck in the city away from our families. It cost around $20 for two, all you can eat, which is a deal anywhere in the city. Of course, along with it that price tag and the fact that it's a buffet you should not expect gourmet quality food. It was cheap Chinese American goodness that I would eat again in a heartbeat. The place was clean, the staff was friendly enough and the food was hot and plentiful. What more can you ask for?
(3)
Nancy A.
I love this place. I love coming here for dinner because they have great shrimp. Their green beans are delicious. Great food, great service!
(3)
Gary L.
Got sick. Vomiting, stomach aches and headache for next 3 days. Thank you New China Buffet.
(1)
Mm M.
Good food, nice people. This was our first time here. Almost everything we tried was fresh, hot, and tasty. Good variety from fresh fruit to seafood, to chicken and beef. Flavors are distinctive--food doesn't all taste the same. It's a good place for Asian buffet food. We'll be back.
(4)
Christina G.
I went here for lunch. It cost $7.50 for an all you can eat Chinese food buffet and I had a terrible stomach ache for the rest of the day. The place itself is clean enough. The food is fresh and the buffet is replenished as needed. The chicken dishes were OK, but steer clear of all beef and pork dishes. They were the most suspect to me. The crab rangoons were almost all fried parts and had very little crab-cream cheese mixture. The eggrolls were not good either. Oh, and anything that claims to be "spicy" is mild, at best. There was some non-Chinese food, like pizza, but I didn't try it out. They did have a soft serve ice cream machine. That was nice. They had fresh fruit too. I enjoyed the pineapple. Maybe this is just the time I was there, but it seems that the management doesn't really keep to close an eye on the customers. When I went to use the restroom before I left, there was a mother in there with her two younger girls. The girls were running in and out of the two stalls that were there. I had to say "Excuse me" and let myself into one of the stalls. The two girls proceed to keep running around, screaming, and banging on the stall walls, and the mom leaves the bathroom. Needless to say, the mom should have done something, but there was an employee standing right outside the bathroom when I got out. There was no way she couldn't hear the commotion, and she didn't even check it out. My decision to enter the restaurant was questionable, I admit, but deciding to head back is not something I would ever do. Really though, what did I expect?
(2)
Jillian G.
Close to home so we thought we would give it a shot .Mostly everything was greasy . The chicken was rubbery and over cooked . The best part of the night was the lo mien, and donuts . We were not very impressed
(2)
Jerry C.
The food is good and there is a wide variety The price is affordable. I usually go for lunch on Saturday, occasionally Sunday, and the place is always busy.
(4)
Heather P.
I'm baffled by all the moderate and good reviews this place has. I think I've made my position on pan-Asian buffets clear: I'm for 'em. Inauthentic, greasy, cheap, gluttonous goodness. It's a "sometimes food." This buffet is, in fact, worse than other Chinese buffets. Pair of guys in Starter jackets standing inside the front vestibule selling bootleg CDs? Check. Low-quality key chains, bracelets, and rings being sold by the woman at the hostess stand? Check. Tureens of crusted-over Americanized Chinese and Chinesified American? Check. Families of screaming children? Check. Booths with sagging springs and duct-taped vinyl? Check. Those bananas in pink goop that show up at every single Chinese buffet? Check. Look, this food was just plain not good. I tried as many things as possible and it was all completely flavorless. I found myself wishing they used MORE MSG. The noodles, rice, and chicken dishes were lacking in spice. The fried things were under-salted. The macaroni and cheese was BRIGHT NEON YELLOW and also had no flavor. The crab rangoon tasted funny, and halfway through the meal my boyfriend reported not being able to shake a bitter taste in his mouth. He stopped eating. We tried some fresh fruit, and both pulled horrible faces. The pineapple was SALTY. WHAT. The garlic Texas toast (another bizarre staple of Chinese buffets) was under-done and slightly soggy. And in a nod to the neighborhood, what looks like a bottle of ketchup at your table, is in fact, taco sauce. Not hot sauce. Not mustard. Taco sauce. You're welcome. They seemed slow re-filling dishes, which was a double-edged sword. On the plus side, every time I looked around there was something new! (Where there had been an empty tray.) On the down-side, I waited 20 minutes for them to bring out more of those sugar donuts. (And let's be honest. The noodles, veggies and potato wedges are just an excuse. I'm there for the donuts.) That said, there were some redeeming dishes, although maybe not enough to draw me back. The lo mein was palatable with lots of veg, and it was better than the other rice and noodle dishes. The green beans were tasty. The pot stickers were actually quite good. The garlic chicken wasn't awful. As a final note, as in many restaurants, there are bits of decorative glass between sections and topping the booths. When people are eating all around you is not the time to break out the Windex and wipe them down, clearly insane plate-clearing lady. Nothing goes with mediocre food like a thick whiff of ammonia!
(2)
Seosamh D.
For a Chinese buffet it's pretty decent. Can't expect it to be like Changs or someplace in Chinatown/Bridgeport. But for a quick fix of Chinese for a glutton it's great. They have quite a few different items and stuff for the kids too. Good value and the staff is very good about cleaning up ASAP and are friendly
(4)
Angelo C.
Quality of food and price $10.40 includes tax for dinner buffet! Does not have sushi like other china buffets but not taking a star off for that as sushi is a japanese item, not chinese!
(5)
Dantee A.
Sometimes you just need crappy Chinese food. It's entirely a whole different cuisine. I grew up on this stuff. Over-salted, super greasy, YES PLEASE! It's sort of nostalgic like elementary school cafeteria pizza (soft and tasteless). For some reason, you just start craving it. New China Buffet is my go to chinese buffet in the city. It's cheap, and filling (insert dirty joke here). Sure, it may not be the cleanest of places, or the most attracting - but I always have the best conversations here. it might be the MSG leaking into our brains, who knows, but I always have a good time here.
(4)
Karolina O.
The mac n cheese is literally just the noodles with yellow food coloring on it. All the noodles taste like they've been refrozen and reheated a few times. All the veggies were obviously frozen, some looking like what you get in your 39 cent ramen noodle cup. The desert is disappointing at best. The meat was ok but fills you up before you even get to eat 20% of what you paid for. My body started rejecting the food almost immediately after I finished eating...really, just go somewhere else. We all know chinese buffet food is bad for you, but it doesn't have to taste like it so strongly!! The only reason this place gets two stars is because I've seen worse than even this.
(2)
ron h.
Very good stuff fresh. Very clean when u copere it to other chimes resturants.
(5)
julie q.
For $20 for two people at an all you can eat buffet with veggies, drinks, and simple Chinese food, you can't beat it. You just can't. Very normal Chinese buffet food. Not bad - not excellent either. Inside needs to be spruced up a bit, but it's doable.
(3)
Rocky L.
We stopped at this place thinking that the moderate crowd meant that this place had good Chinese food. Well let me tell you that the food was barely warm. The flavoring was just ok, I have had better at other buffets. One thing that made me give this place one star is the lack of sanitation. I watched the worker take tongs from the food and place them in the dirty water, and then place them back into the food. That grossed everyone out. Another thing is the dishes, they were amongst the dirtiest dishes I have ever encountered. Everyone one in my group grabbed at least one dirty dish. This was not acceptable to me. I will never eat here again.
(1)
Bobby D.
Not bad for a Chinese-American Buffet. The lightly fried rice is quite a treat. The potstickers, Also lightly textured-Are quite a treat too. The stewed Oriental oysters or other shellfish wasn't bad either. Though my qualm was that the battered boneless chicken pieces easily confused me for the tempura or thick battered Oriental shrimp. But nevertheless wasn't too bad. Also the light white rice or vermicelli noodles weren't bad either. My other qualm was the crab rangoon, Which I didn't take. It looked rather out-of-color, In it's texture. The mini-mocha coffee flavored cake roll wasn't that bad at all. Yet somehow, The service at times could be a little funny. Because one of the assistants took my drink away, And misconstrued that I had left already. But nonetheless is still a great experience.
(4)
Mark C.
They have a pretty good selection of foods. My problem is grease. They use so much of fatty oils that if you have a weak stomach, you would not be able to swallow the food. The foods would have been a lot better if they kept the health of their customers at heart. Please do not go there. After I ate their food last time, I had stomach cramps.
(1)
Paul B.
Every time I eat here - I get sick. One day - not here but at a pig roast - I ate his brain right out of his skull and then ate his eye-ball. That was better than this place.
(1)
Veronica P.
Four stars because not all the food is great like the tiny fried crabs and some of the vegetable dishes are super greasy but I do enjoy their salmon, fresh fruit (they use to have lychee but not anymore boo!) and ice cream. I lvoe their sweet and sour chicken (not so much the sauce but the chicken is nice and crispy). The crab ragoons have a sweetish flavor but I like it :) I always come here and always will!
(4)
Daniela F.
If this has 3 stars I am afraid to think about what other buffets In The area having 2 stars look like. It was dirty and small and I still regret going there even 2 days later... The food wasn't fresh for the most parts and it was bad except for the Mongolian pork. The person I had dinner with there had stomach aches and had to run to the restroom less than an hour after eating. Will not go there anymore. FYI it was about $11/pers all you can eat for dinner. Should have known better...
(1)
Demetrio P.
I've ate at New China Buffet several times , don't ask me why! Food is as expected at a sub-par Chinese Buffet, passable. Of course I've had good experiences at others, but this one gets lumped into all the other economical ones...cheap prices and cheap quality. In summary, sub-par food, okay prices, okay service.
(2)
Michael F.
Decided to stop by for lunch today. For two of us it came to $20 even, plus $1 for the person clearing the table. The food was ok, nothing special but not bad. The select was good. I do not understand why Pizza and Fried Chicken were being served, but hey, I didn't touch them so it was ok. This is a decent place to go to if you are not picky, but if you want authentic Chinese food, this is not even close to the place.
(3)
Donovan H.
This place is cheap ($10 all you can eat including tax) and I feel you get what you pay for. The Japanese chicken, krab puffs, and fried shrimp were a few of my revisited items. I saw quite a few people going for the baked fish but I was not that adventous on my first visit.
(3)
Suzy C.
Don't judge me, it's not nice. Yes, you are reading correctly, I went to a China buffet and I'm writing about it for the public to see. Now, one does not go to a Chinese buffet looking for good food. You go looking for something greasy, cheap, and something to gorge yourself on. You already expect that the second you leave the restaurant, you will regret ever having gone through the process in the first place, and that 10 bucks could have better served you at subways where you can now get 2 foot long sandwiches. Yet still, people find themselves at a Chinese buffet sometime in their lives, so for such people, I write this review. The food was not horrible, there were some to be avoided, and some that were better than others. I avoided most of the meat with the exception of the mongolian pork, which I thought was pretty good. Fried rice and chow mein noodles were the way to go, but the American dishes they put out were to be avoided with the exception of the hot dogs wrapped in a butter bread. Yum. They also had these little fried banana things that were good. The dessert area should be avoided at all costs, it's pretty gross. This place was no better or worse than the typical chinese restaurant you're gonna find at some strip mall. The only huge minus was the lack of any dishes with tofu! The biggest downside is the crowdedness. There were so many people here, mostly with several children, and it made for a noisy eating experience. There were also children crawling on the dirty greasy floor, which made me lose my appetite in general. So- unless you are STRAPPED for cash (I'm talking like unemployed and near starvation) or you're a college student who thinks the best way to cure a hangover is with greasy chinese food, I would skip this place. There's just no need to go all you can eat for greasy Chinese food. I don't give this place one star, b/c in the world of buffets, it's not the worst. I'm still recovering from my visit to Old Country Buffet that left me depressed to have witnessed a side of humanity that could be so sad and dismal, and this place did not do that to me. It deserves 2 stars for that.
(2)
Bill M.
The location of New China Buffet at Elston and Addison used to be a Shoney's many moons ago, and I think it was some sort of tropical chicken place too. Now it draws customers with a pretty low price for a decent Chinese buffet spread. I'd give it more of a 3-star rating, but my grandma enjoyed her food so I have to round it up. The selection is not as diverse as other Chinese buffets, but it is not bad (though I wonder what the heck was in the "meat loaf"). We are notoriously slow eaters, so it was a bit annoying at the end when the waitress would try to take our not-empty plates away from us.
(4)
tony p.
We've been here several times,we like it,I think for the price,you get a decent selection.we haven't tried every single dish,but the ones we did was good,especially the hot dog wrapped with butter bread (very addicting),even the garlic bread was soft and buttery.we would've given this place five stars,but we're turned off by the plate clearers,they're angling for a tip,which we understand,but damn,do you have to make it so obvious?
(4)
Morris F.
Four stars means "for the price, you're not likely to find better." I've been twice for lunch and had good experiences both times. The place is busy, including a significant number of Asian-heritage folk (which seems like a good sign to me), and this helps assure that the food on the buffet is fresh and hot. Some things are definitely better than others, and some might prefer a greater variety of vegetarian dishes. I like the lo mein, the mongolian pork, the beef with broccoli, and the teriyaki chicken. The pineapple chicken, general tso chicken, and sesame chicken are all pretty much the same with a slight variation on the sauces and the breading does tend to get a little mushy. Better to stay with the sweet and sour chicken, where you add the sauce yourself. The shrimp and vegetable dish is good, and the fried shrimp is surprisingly good given that lunch is less than $10 including tax. My only "serious" complaint is that the "hot mustard" is the kind that comes in little plastic packets and isn't very good. Don't forget to tip the person who clears your dishes between courses. She's working pretty hard for not very much.
(4)
Kea K.
As Chinese buffets go, this one is a notch or two above others I have tried in Chicago. I believe it is part of a chain or a franchise unless most Chinese automatically name their resturants "New China". I have been to a few other "New China's" around town and the Addison street location is by far, the best! The selection is extensive, usually loaded with shrimp dishes...The crab rangoon is excellent, even if it is more cheese than crab. A few of the dishes stand out...the rest are just OK. I find sticking with the sea-food fare is the best bet! Caveats: Stay away from the "American" food. It's got to be there only to appease children, which are another big caveat. Don't go on weekends if you can't tolerate dozens of screaming children milling about. My favorite time to go is weekdays, mid-afternoon...and sitting in the small room behind the cashier is safer than in the big room or the window tables. Caveat #3: The desert table is a disaster and the salad bar is right next to it and equally appalling. The staff is friendly and tries to be efficient, grabbing your plate while you are in mid-bite, which can be annoying. Conveying your annoyance through facial expression and body language sometimes works...but don't expect them to understand your American. The cashiers, however, are the exception and will run interference if needed. Ah, whaddaya want for a few bucks!
(3)
Jonathan C.
Well, I had my yearly craving for a Chinese buffet and I always drive by this place when I go grocery shopping, so finally made it here. And I gotta admit, I like the food here. Size wise this buffet is not as big, nor is its selection as wide, as its nearest chinese buffet competitor on Belmont and Kimball, but I do like the food here a little bit more (texture, seasoning was good). Seating is nice, since they have huge booths here. I liked it, the staff were pleasant. I can imagine though that if this place was packed to the brim, it may not be so pleasant, because of the layout of the place (it looks like a converted mexican restaurant) it probably suffers "buffet congestion" if there are too many customers.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : No
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Lisa A.
As most buffet restaurants go, the food is average, but there was 4 buffet tables to choose from so there is plenty of tastes to be satsified. There was a large table of fruits and salad offerings. There were mussels and various types of shrimp preparations as well as octopus and squid entrees. They had thin rice noodles as well as lo mein style noodles. They had various beef and chicken entrees and I didn't realize I did not check the dessert table to see what they offered.
(3)Coyote S.
Went to New China Buffet many times but on my last two visits my stomach hurt badly for the rest of the evening and when I went to bed. The next day I had a bad case of diarrhea (sorry). So what's going on here at New China Buffet? Well, there are some serious sanitation issues. The hand dryer does not work in the men's room and there are no paper towels either. The bathroom floor was flooded and it stunk. Looking at the doors and walls, they are scuffed and dirty. Can't imagine what goes on in the kitchen and I suspect the reason the food tasted so nasty and off may have something to do with sanitation issues. The food quality tasted on the cheap side, like seafood they sell at the Dollar Store. It's gross if you asked me. The food in general seems to be rapidly losing it's American cuisine appeal and more toward traditional Asian. But do they really need to add squid to a basic chop suey? Some items tasted particularly funky, like a really nasty tasting gefilte fish. Even something as simple as hard-boiled eggs tasted like they were cured in some strange preservative. Both boiled shrimp options are now loaded with pepper and spices. The only thing that tasted normal were the cucumbers, ice berg lettuce, the ice cream (mostlly artificial), and the chicken kabobs. Is it worth $11.50? No. It's not worth the awful stomach pain.
(1)La Tonya G.
I just want to find a Buffet that is consistent in their food. The first time I went I loved this place...the salt and pepper shrimp(at least that is what I think I had) was so darn good had me dreaming about lil shrimps all that week. My last visit was ok nothing to write home about the food was average and left me feeling meh. It all kinda tasted the same nothing really stood out for me. Although I have to give it too them...their food is fresh. It felt good hanging with family and just enjoying the day...My grandbaby isn't a big meat eater although she does eat meat...truly enjoyed all the veggie selections. I was having a good time but our waitress peeved me because I was eating...well I was laughing and talking to the people I came with and as I was doing that she came to our table picked up the napkin threw in my plate before I could say..."Hey I'm still eating!" before I knew it I was like "You know you were wrong for that!" I mean how is she just going to take my plate...I mean she said Sorry but can you give me a chance to let you know if I'm done or not. I do like their selection of healthy options...They had a lot fruits and veggies not just greasy stuff. Will I be back...yes but it will be closer to the dinner options because I was not a big fan of the lunch which is only $7.99. I can't remember what the dinner price was but I thinks it's like $13.99. Watch your plate because they are on it...you can't be to slow on the hold back for sure....lol Enjoy!!!
(3)Chris Q.
The buffet In this location are not maybe the best. but they have such as a nice selection on meat, seafood, pizza and also a long table of dessert, also the rice noodle and lo mein its one of the option that I really enjoy. however its impossible to don't stop by the chicken and beef section they have really nice entrée.
(3)Gavin O.
Good choice of chicken and beef but always end up on the toilet for multiple hours after eating. The Mac and cheese was probably the worst food I've ever seen. Here's a picture...
(1)Chris C.
Don't get me wrong...I love this place. I used to eat here all the time - but for 12-15 bucks depending on when you go, its what you expect from a Chinese Buffet. I'd say slightly above average since I actually find the food to be pretty good (I've had much worse - ie. Buffet Castle on Belmont), but nothing that is too memorable. It certainly hits the spot though. The best thing about this place is the number of options and that the food is pretty consistent/fresh. If you're looking for something quicker and MUCH cheaper, you can go to China Buffet on Pulaski. Buffets are the shit.
(3)Hugo B.
Wouldn't recommend this place unless if you like eating with cockroaches in and around your food. I told the manager about the problem and he didn't do anything about it so I just got up and left. A couple of hours later my brother got sick from the food. Never going back
(1)bill r.
I am sad to give New China Buffet such a bad review. I have been a customer for about 15 years and have had some really tasty meals here, but I ate here last night with a friend and our dinners were really bad, and we were both burping and feeling nauseous for hours after our meal. First the good. Diet Coke was fine. Hot and Sour Soup was very good. French Fries were yummy Vanilla Ice Cream (or frozen dessert) was yummy. Now the bad...everything else. Shrimp got smaller and spicer Mussels replaced with very small clams The sauteed dishes (I think I tried a spoonful of all of them) were bad...the meat felt slimy and tasted "OFF" The sliced fruit, cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon tasted chemically. My friend said his hard boiled egg tasted bad also - I think he liked his noodles. It looks like they are cutting corners and it shows. Also the price went up about 5 to 10%
(1)Alex J.
The good news is (most of) the food seemed relatively fresh - as fresh as mass buffet-produced food can be - and nothing made me sick, a grave concern when eating at a buffet. The egg drop soup was the star of the show, followed by most of the meat and noodle or rice dishes. Things were fine. I will caution against eating any of the healthier options, such as the fruit, as most of it seemed way over ripe and/or old. The price is also super great, at just under $10 a person. For $20, you can tell your significant other just how much you love them by bringing them a plate of mango jello stuff and more water to counteract the sodium she's ingesting.
(3)Shasonya S.
Yummy.... My fave Northside buffet!!! Place looks a lil dingy but it seems like the best foods comes from a "hole in the wall" My little gem!
(5)Joshua E.
In not a big fan of Chinese so I'm a little biased. But ive been to a few and I would say this one is middle of the road. Foods kind of greasy some dirty plates but besides that it pretty ordinary.
(3)Steve H.
Went here on Chirstmas when the girlfriend and I were stuck in the city away from our families. It cost around $20 for two, all you can eat, which is a deal anywhere in the city. Of course, along with it that price tag and the fact that it's a buffet you should not expect gourmet quality food. It was cheap Chinese American goodness that I would eat again in a heartbeat. The place was clean, the staff was friendly enough and the food was hot and plentiful. What more can you ask for?
(3)Nancy A.
I love this place. I love coming here for dinner because they have great shrimp. Their green beans are delicious. Great food, great service!
(3)Gary L.
Got sick. Vomiting, stomach aches and headache for next 3 days. Thank you New China Buffet.
(1)Mm M.
Good food, nice people. This was our first time here. Almost everything we tried was fresh, hot, and tasty. Good variety from fresh fruit to seafood, to chicken and beef. Flavors are distinctive--food doesn't all taste the same. It's a good place for Asian buffet food. We'll be back.
(4)Christina G.
I went here for lunch. It cost $7.50 for an all you can eat Chinese food buffet and I had a terrible stomach ache for the rest of the day. The place itself is clean enough. The food is fresh and the buffet is replenished as needed. The chicken dishes were OK, but steer clear of all beef and pork dishes. They were the most suspect to me. The crab rangoons were almost all fried parts and had very little crab-cream cheese mixture. The eggrolls were not good either. Oh, and anything that claims to be "spicy" is mild, at best. There was some non-Chinese food, like pizza, but I didn't try it out. They did have a soft serve ice cream machine. That was nice. They had fresh fruit too. I enjoyed the pineapple. Maybe this is just the time I was there, but it seems that the management doesn't really keep to close an eye on the customers. When I went to use the restroom before I left, there was a mother in there with her two younger girls. The girls were running in and out of the two stalls that were there. I had to say "Excuse me" and let myself into one of the stalls. The two girls proceed to keep running around, screaming, and banging on the stall walls, and the mom leaves the bathroom. Needless to say, the mom should have done something, but there was an employee standing right outside the bathroom when I got out. There was no way she couldn't hear the commotion, and she didn't even check it out. My decision to enter the restaurant was questionable, I admit, but deciding to head back is not something I would ever do. Really though, what did I expect?
(2)Jillian G.
Close to home so we thought we would give it a shot .Mostly everything was greasy . The chicken was rubbery and over cooked . The best part of the night was the lo mien, and donuts . We were not very impressed
(2)Jerry C.
The food is good and there is a wide variety The price is affordable. I usually go for lunch on Saturday, occasionally Sunday, and the place is always busy.
(4)Heather P.
I'm baffled by all the moderate and good reviews this place has. I think I've made my position on pan-Asian buffets clear: I'm for 'em. Inauthentic, greasy, cheap, gluttonous goodness. It's a "sometimes food." This buffet is, in fact, worse than other Chinese buffets. Pair of guys in Starter jackets standing inside the front vestibule selling bootleg CDs? Check. Low-quality key chains, bracelets, and rings being sold by the woman at the hostess stand? Check. Tureens of crusted-over Americanized Chinese and Chinesified American? Check. Families of screaming children? Check. Booths with sagging springs and duct-taped vinyl? Check. Those bananas in pink goop that show up at every single Chinese buffet? Check. Look, this food was just plain not good. I tried as many things as possible and it was all completely flavorless. I found myself wishing they used MORE MSG. The noodles, rice, and chicken dishes were lacking in spice. The fried things were under-salted. The macaroni and cheese was BRIGHT NEON YELLOW and also had no flavor. The crab rangoon tasted funny, and halfway through the meal my boyfriend reported not being able to shake a bitter taste in his mouth. He stopped eating. We tried some fresh fruit, and both pulled horrible faces. The pineapple was SALTY. WHAT. The garlic Texas toast (another bizarre staple of Chinese buffets) was under-done and slightly soggy. And in a nod to the neighborhood, what looks like a bottle of ketchup at your table, is in fact, taco sauce. Not hot sauce. Not mustard. Taco sauce. You're welcome. They seemed slow re-filling dishes, which was a double-edged sword. On the plus side, every time I looked around there was something new! (Where there had been an empty tray.) On the down-side, I waited 20 minutes for them to bring out more of those sugar donuts. (And let's be honest. The noodles, veggies and potato wedges are just an excuse. I'm there for the donuts.) That said, there were some redeeming dishes, although maybe not enough to draw me back. The lo mein was palatable with lots of veg, and it was better than the other rice and noodle dishes. The green beans were tasty. The pot stickers were actually quite good. The garlic chicken wasn't awful. As a final note, as in many restaurants, there are bits of decorative glass between sections and topping the booths. When people are eating all around you is not the time to break out the Windex and wipe them down, clearly insane plate-clearing lady. Nothing goes with mediocre food like a thick whiff of ammonia!
(2)Seosamh D.
For a Chinese buffet it's pretty decent. Can't expect it to be like Changs or someplace in Chinatown/Bridgeport. But for a quick fix of Chinese for a glutton it's great. They have quite a few different items and stuff for the kids too. Good value and the staff is very good about cleaning up ASAP and are friendly
(4)Angelo C.
Quality of food and price $10.40 includes tax for dinner buffet! Does not have sushi like other china buffets but not taking a star off for that as sushi is a japanese item, not chinese!
(5)Dantee A.
Sometimes you just need crappy Chinese food. It's entirely a whole different cuisine. I grew up on this stuff. Over-salted, super greasy, YES PLEASE! It's sort of nostalgic like elementary school cafeteria pizza (soft and tasteless). For some reason, you just start craving it. New China Buffet is my go to chinese buffet in the city. It's cheap, and filling (insert dirty joke here). Sure, it may not be the cleanest of places, or the most attracting - but I always have the best conversations here. it might be the MSG leaking into our brains, who knows, but I always have a good time here.
(4)Karolina O.
The mac n cheese is literally just the noodles with yellow food coloring on it. All the noodles taste like they've been refrozen and reheated a few times. All the veggies were obviously frozen, some looking like what you get in your 39 cent ramen noodle cup. The desert is disappointing at best. The meat was ok but fills you up before you even get to eat 20% of what you paid for. My body started rejecting the food almost immediately after I finished eating...really, just go somewhere else. We all know chinese buffet food is bad for you, but it doesn't have to taste like it so strongly!! The only reason this place gets two stars is because I've seen worse than even this.
(2)ron h.
Very good stuff fresh. Very clean when u copere it to other chimes resturants.
(5)julie q.
For $20 for two people at an all you can eat buffet with veggies, drinks, and simple Chinese food, you can't beat it. You just can't. Very normal Chinese buffet food. Not bad - not excellent either. Inside needs to be spruced up a bit, but it's doable.
(3)Rocky L.
We stopped at this place thinking that the moderate crowd meant that this place had good Chinese food. Well let me tell you that the food was barely warm. The flavoring was just ok, I have had better at other buffets. One thing that made me give this place one star is the lack of sanitation. I watched the worker take tongs from the food and place them in the dirty water, and then place them back into the food. That grossed everyone out. Another thing is the dishes, they were amongst the dirtiest dishes I have ever encountered. Everyone one in my group grabbed at least one dirty dish. This was not acceptable to me. I will never eat here again.
(1)Bobby D.
Not bad for a Chinese-American Buffet. The lightly fried rice is quite a treat. The potstickers, Also lightly textured-Are quite a treat too. The stewed Oriental oysters or other shellfish wasn't bad either. Though my qualm was that the battered boneless chicken pieces easily confused me for the tempura or thick battered Oriental shrimp. But nevertheless wasn't too bad. Also the light white rice or vermicelli noodles weren't bad either. My other qualm was the crab rangoon, Which I didn't take. It looked rather out-of-color, In it's texture. The mini-mocha coffee flavored cake roll wasn't that bad at all. Yet somehow, The service at times could be a little funny. Because one of the assistants took my drink away, And misconstrued that I had left already. But nonetheless is still a great experience.
(4)Mark C.
They have a pretty good selection of foods. My problem is grease. They use so much of fatty oils that if you have a weak stomach, you would not be able to swallow the food. The foods would have been a lot better if they kept the health of their customers at heart. Please do not go there. After I ate their food last time, I had stomach cramps.
(1)Paul B.
Every time I eat here - I get sick. One day - not here but at a pig roast - I ate his brain right out of his skull and then ate his eye-ball. That was better than this place.
(1)Veronica P.
Four stars because not all the food is great like the tiny fried crabs and some of the vegetable dishes are super greasy but I do enjoy their salmon, fresh fruit (they use to have lychee but not anymore boo!) and ice cream. I lvoe their sweet and sour chicken (not so much the sauce but the chicken is nice and crispy). The crab ragoons have a sweetish flavor but I like it :) I always come here and always will!
(4)Daniela F.
If this has 3 stars I am afraid to think about what other buffets In The area having 2 stars look like. It was dirty and small and I still regret going there even 2 days later... The food wasn't fresh for the most parts and it was bad except for the Mongolian pork. The person I had dinner with there had stomach aches and had to run to the restroom less than an hour after eating. Will not go there anymore. FYI it was about $11/pers all you can eat for dinner. Should have known better...
(1)Demetrio P.
I've ate at New China Buffet several times , don't ask me why! Food is as expected at a sub-par Chinese Buffet, passable. Of course I've had good experiences at others, but this one gets lumped into all the other economical ones...cheap prices and cheap quality. In summary, sub-par food, okay prices, okay service.
(2)Michael F.
Decided to stop by for lunch today. For two of us it came to $20 even, plus $1 for the person clearing the table. The food was ok, nothing special but not bad. The select was good. I do not understand why Pizza and Fried Chicken were being served, but hey, I didn't touch them so it was ok. This is a decent place to go to if you are not picky, but if you want authentic Chinese food, this is not even close to the place.
(3)Donovan H.
This place is cheap ($10 all you can eat including tax) and I feel you get what you pay for. The Japanese chicken, krab puffs, and fried shrimp were a few of my revisited items. I saw quite a few people going for the baked fish but I was not that adventous on my first visit.
(3)Suzy C.
Don't judge me, it's not nice. Yes, you are reading correctly, I went to a China buffet and I'm writing about it for the public to see. Now, one does not go to a Chinese buffet looking for good food. You go looking for something greasy, cheap, and something to gorge yourself on. You already expect that the second you leave the restaurant, you will regret ever having gone through the process in the first place, and that 10 bucks could have better served you at subways where you can now get 2 foot long sandwiches. Yet still, people find themselves at a Chinese buffet sometime in their lives, so for such people, I write this review. The food was not horrible, there were some to be avoided, and some that were better than others. I avoided most of the meat with the exception of the mongolian pork, which I thought was pretty good. Fried rice and chow mein noodles were the way to go, but the American dishes they put out were to be avoided with the exception of the hot dogs wrapped in a butter bread. Yum. They also had these little fried banana things that were good. The dessert area should be avoided at all costs, it's pretty gross. This place was no better or worse than the typical chinese restaurant you're gonna find at some strip mall. The only huge minus was the lack of any dishes with tofu! The biggest downside is the crowdedness. There were so many people here, mostly with several children, and it made for a noisy eating experience. There were also children crawling on the dirty greasy floor, which made me lose my appetite in general. So- unless you are STRAPPED for cash (I'm talking like unemployed and near starvation) or you're a college student who thinks the best way to cure a hangover is with greasy chinese food, I would skip this place. There's just no need to go all you can eat for greasy Chinese food. I don't give this place one star, b/c in the world of buffets, it's not the worst. I'm still recovering from my visit to Old Country Buffet that left me depressed to have witnessed a side of humanity that could be so sad and dismal, and this place did not do that to me. It deserves 2 stars for that.
(2)Bill M.
The location of New China Buffet at Elston and Addison used to be a Shoney's many moons ago, and I think it was some sort of tropical chicken place too. Now it draws customers with a pretty low price for a decent Chinese buffet spread. I'd give it more of a 3-star rating, but my grandma enjoyed her food so I have to round it up. The selection is not as diverse as other Chinese buffets, but it is not bad (though I wonder what the heck was in the "meat loaf"). We are notoriously slow eaters, so it was a bit annoying at the end when the waitress would try to take our not-empty plates away from us.
(4)tony p.
We've been here several times,we like it,I think for the price,you get a decent selection.we haven't tried every single dish,but the ones we did was good,especially the hot dog wrapped with butter bread (very addicting),even the garlic bread was soft and buttery.we would've given this place five stars,but we're turned off by the plate clearers,they're angling for a tip,which we understand,but damn,do you have to make it so obvious?
(4)Morris F.
Four stars means "for the price, you're not likely to find better." I've been twice for lunch and had good experiences both times. The place is busy, including a significant number of Asian-heritage folk (which seems like a good sign to me), and this helps assure that the food on the buffet is fresh and hot. Some things are definitely better than others, and some might prefer a greater variety of vegetarian dishes. I like the lo mein, the mongolian pork, the beef with broccoli, and the teriyaki chicken. The pineapple chicken, general tso chicken, and sesame chicken are all pretty much the same with a slight variation on the sauces and the breading does tend to get a little mushy. Better to stay with the sweet and sour chicken, where you add the sauce yourself. The shrimp and vegetable dish is good, and the fried shrimp is surprisingly good given that lunch is less than $10 including tax. My only "serious" complaint is that the "hot mustard" is the kind that comes in little plastic packets and isn't very good. Don't forget to tip the person who clears your dishes between courses. She's working pretty hard for not very much.
(4)Kea K.
As Chinese buffets go, this one is a notch or two above others I have tried in Chicago. I believe it is part of a chain or a franchise unless most Chinese automatically name their resturants "New China". I have been to a few other "New China's" around town and the Addison street location is by far, the best! The selection is extensive, usually loaded with shrimp dishes...The crab rangoon is excellent, even if it is more cheese than crab. A few of the dishes stand out...the rest are just OK. I find sticking with the sea-food fare is the best bet! Caveats: Stay away from the "American" food. It's got to be there only to appease children, which are another big caveat. Don't go on weekends if you can't tolerate dozens of screaming children milling about. My favorite time to go is weekdays, mid-afternoon...and sitting in the small room behind the cashier is safer than in the big room or the window tables. Caveat #3: The desert table is a disaster and the salad bar is right next to it and equally appalling. The staff is friendly and tries to be efficient, grabbing your plate while you are in mid-bite, which can be annoying. Conveying your annoyance through facial expression and body language sometimes works...but don't expect them to understand your American. The cashiers, however, are the exception and will run interference if needed. Ah, whaddaya want for a few bucks!
(3)Jonathan C.
Well, I had my yearly craving for a Chinese buffet and I always drive by this place when I go grocery shopping, so finally made it here. And I gotta admit, I like the food here. Size wise this buffet is not as big, nor is its selection as wide, as its nearest chinese buffet competitor on Belmont and Kimball, but I do like the food here a little bit more (texture, seasoning was good). Seating is nice, since they have huge booths here. I liked it, the staff were pleasant. I can imagine though that if this place was packed to the brim, it may not be so pleasant, because of the layout of the place (it looks like a converted mexican restaurant) it probably suffers "buffet congestion" if there are too many customers.
(3)