 
Darwinism
Member
Username: Darwinism
Post Number: 589
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 6:54 pm: |    |
I used to frequent the Jumbo buffet on Maple Road in Troy near the corner of Stephenson. Since it closed last year, it has been difficult finding a replacement worth patronizing. Does anybody have a good candidate ?
Another question is for wonton soup recommendations. Please share your favorite spot for great wontons. I know many of you cross the border to Windsor for these ..... would appreciate Metro Detroit ideas first and foremost. Thanks. |
Livernoisyard
Member
Username: Livernoisyard
Post Number: 2272
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 7:20 pm: | |
Cannot vouch for its cuisine, but there's a new (less than two months old) "Chinese" buffet (noon & evening) restaurant in the 76xx block of Dix in SW Detroit (formerly El Cabrito) next to a pool hall. Maybe someone could serve as its "official" DY food taster. |
Barnesfoto
Member
Username: Barnesfoto
Post Number: 2960
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 8:48 pm: | |
Chinese buffet recommendations? yes! Don't! |
Jfa
Member
Username: Jfa
Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2007
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 11:32 pm: | |
I enjoy Chinese buffets and have been to many in the area. The best, and the one I always go to, is the Super China Buffet at 8234 Telegraph in Taylor. It is large, has quite a variety, and is cheap during the day ($5.99 if I remember correctly) but still decent during the evenings and weekends ($8.99). I highly recommend it. Most of the others I have been to are small and do not have much variety. |
Cmubryan
Member
Username: Cmubryan
Post Number: 352
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 12:39 am: | |
I think its called "Apple Buffet", I know weird name. It's on 12 and Southfield (NE corner). I've heard a lot of people rave about it. I ate there a long time ago and it was pretty good, although I'm not a huge fan of chinese food period. |
Ha_asfan
Member
Username: Ha_asfan
Post Number: 95
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 6:24 am: | |
I went to the Stephenson/Maple location once, it was an experience. Seemed that the prized attraction were crab legs. Whenever the attendant refilled the bin with fresh legs, there was a stampede to get to those little undersized legs before the next guy. We thought it was an overall bad experience and never went back. |
3rdworldcity
Member
Username: 3rdworldcity
Post Number: 426
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 11:29 am: | |
The Panda Buffet on Orchard Lake Rd, in the back of the Staples (?)Office Supplies bldg. Best I've been to outside Chicago. |
Chitaku
Member
Username: Chitaku
Post Number: 1074
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 11:34 am: | |
Jet Buffet 16 n gratiot/ China 8 gratiot n Frazho |
Patrick
Member
Username: Patrick
Post Number: 3928
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 11:48 am: | |
You'll get the shits. Only buffet I'll eat is in Vegas. |
Warrenite84
Member
Username: Warrenite84
Post Number: 22
Registered: 01-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 2:12 pm: | |
Jumbo Buffet's General Tso's Chicken was the best! Very few places I've been to since make it that good.
Another good place was Ping Ons on Van Dyke at 18&1/2 Mile Rd.
Taiwan Buffet at John R. south of 14 Mile Rd. is pretty good. |
Smogboy
Member
Username: Smogboy
Post Number: 4398
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 2:26 pm: | |
The Taiwan Buffet over on John R is about the only buffet that actually seems to have a FEW (and I do mean a few) dim sum items there. Ordinarily I wouldn't touch ANY buffets, Chinese or otherwise but I'm told that the Taiwan isn't too bad.
It just seems that most buffets can only maintain their momentum for a few years and then the clientele tires of them or discovers better food elsewhere.
What is the longest standing buffet in the area anyway?? |
Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok
Post Number: 3500
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 2:38 pm: | |
Sveden House. (Yuck!) |
Darwinism
Member
Username: Darwinism
Post Number: 590
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 3:31 pm: | |
Ha_asfan and Warrenite84: Yes, indeed. Can't agree more about the madness stampede for crab legs. The General Tso is no doubt a specialty for me as well. Kinda' surprised that they folded without any visible signs of trouble. The place was always doing good business despite being next to Mon Jin Lau. |
Jrvass
Member
Username: Jrvass
Post Number: 28
Registered: 01-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 3:31 pm: | |
It's not a buffet.... but Carrie Lee's on M-59 & Williams Lk. Rd. is the best I've had.
Most Chinese buffet food that I've had in SE MI s*cks the wind. I avoid it. YMMV.
James |
Bma
Member
Username: Bma
Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 8:32 pm: | |
I'ts not a buffet, but the best szechuan chinese food you will have, and it's been run by a family for years. It's Szechuan
Empire on 5 Mile in Livonia. If you want good food in a nice atmosphere-go there. |
Matt
Member
Username: Matt
Post Number: 1161
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 28, 2007 - 11:24 am: | |
I'll second Taiwan Buffet. It's on John R between 13 and 14 Mile. In the same strip mall as the Target |
Darwinism
Member
Username: Darwinism
Post Number: 591
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 2:55 pm: | |
Warrenite84: Ping On at Van Dyke and 18&1/2 Mile Rd may be gone. The parking lot is empty and the building is up for sale. |
Courtney
Member
Username: Courtney
Post Number: 110
Registered: 06-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 9:48 pm: | |
We were fans of Taiwan Buffet (the only one we'd ever risk, but also the only one that had some "authentic" things that weren't labeled for the gringos - and really good kimchi) but the in-laws reported a month or two ago that they stopped going because the quality was getting spotty.
Anyone care to confirm/deny this? Hopefully they are full of it and it was just their poor tastebuds not used to something totally bland. |
Chitaku
Member
Username: Chitaku
Post Number: 1080
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 12:40 am: | |
i went to taiwan 2 weeks ago and i must say it was average at best. Jet buffet and China 8 on Gratiot are the best ones. The wontons are insane.
For quality/uperscale chinese the place is dragon pheonix on hall and romeo plank. the best wontons/rangoons ever! |
Smogboy
Member
Username: Smogboy
Post Number: 4403
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 2:05 am: | |
That's the thing about buffets in general. I think once you go to it a few times, the novelty of discovery wears off. There's no more mystery about the food you're getting- it's ALL laid out in front for you to see. I think that's what separates buffets from real restaurants is that when one goes to a real sit down establishment, there's a bigger payoff when the food gets there.
So I can't say if the quality at Taiwan Buffet has dropped any but it could just be your familiarity.
For real Chinese food, I still say the best is in Windsor. |
Barnesfoto
Member
Username: Barnesfoto
Post Number: 2988
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 9:15 pm: | |
When I go to buffets, I visualize farm animals bellying up to the trough...
Windsor is the place, but with the weaker US dollar and the border hassles, Madison Hts might be a good idea. |
Enduro
Member
Username: Enduro
Post Number: 49
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 11:22 pm: | |
Fortune Buffet
29583 Five Mile Road at Middlebelt Road, Livonia, (734) 524-8383
Sometimes I take the folks over there so they can get their feet wet in the world of sushi... and yes, it's actually pretty good! Plus they can always fall back on typical Chinese-American fair if the Japanese food doesn't suit them. Read some of the reviews. I just wish it was closer to downtown. |
Detroitduo
Member
Username: Detroitduo
Post Number: 799
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 - 11:17 am: | |
Szechuan Empire rules! Still my favorite in the Metro area. Also, General Tsao's Chicken at Dynersty in Ann Arbor is my absolute fave.
What about Dim Sum? I know the place in Windsor used to be the best, but is there anything this side of the river? Good Dim Sum is hard to find... |
Darwinism
Member
Username: Darwinism
Post Number: 594
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 3:11 pm: | |
Taiwan Buffet mentioned above is gone. The same location on John R between 13 Mile and 14 Mile is now occupied by East Sea Buffet.
On a different note, that particular strip mall appears to be losing many tenants. Sports Authority has closed, Stone Computer moved, Walden's Bookstore closed, Mervyn's closed, Ryder Hobby is going out of business by the end of this month too. |
Livernoisyard
Member
Username: Livernoisyard
Post Number: 2417
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 3:25 pm: | |
Are those the shops in that strip mall on the east side of John R around (just south of?) 13 1/2 that has a number of Asian import and gift stores? The same mall where there is/was a mom-and-pop computer-parts shop? Just wondering because I shop there once in a while.
It seems that the Asians that own those stores there have been hard hit with insufficient business in Madison Heights the past few years, as they have been closing much of their various stores in that one particular strip mall.
The last time I was there, they only had open the store at the very south end of the strip mall in order not to have to pay the utilities on their other stores (maybe eight all told). They had combined some three or four stores into that one shop and weren't very optimistic about their continuing in business when I last talked to them. At least one of those closed shops was an Asian restaurant. |
Beadgrl
Member
Username: Beadgrl
Post Number: 114
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 3:30 pm: | |
The bf and i went out to dinner for Chinese this past Saturday. We like The Great Wall on Grand River and Drake in Farmington. We got over there and the place was gone. I know they've been there for at least 35 years. Anyone know what happened?
We ended up at Gourmet Garden at 12 and Middlebelt. It was ok. I'll miss Great Wall though. *sigh* |
Chitaku
Member
Username: Chitaku
Post Number: 1109
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 6:00 pm: | |
Sports Authority is not closed and I just ate at Taiwan Buffet 2 weeks ago |
Softailrider
Member
Username: Softailrider
Post Number: 3
Registered: 02-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 8:55 pm: | |
Sports Authority on John R closed shortly after Christmas . |