Piling it high at the valley's Asian buffets
``All you can eat.'' It's a magical phrase for the bargain-hunting diners who have turned the Asian buffet into one of the South Bay's most popular lunch and dinner venues.
Visions of tables piled high with snow crab legs, jumbo prawns, sushi, dim sum and even steak draw families and young singles alike to these temples of excess. Devotees are willing to trade volume and convenience for the niceties of table service and decor.
Adding to the attraction, most buffets offer free birthday meals with some restrictions.
If the food is not as fresh or the flavors as clear as when it's cooked to order, the price is right. And one picky eater is not going to hold up the show for the whole crowd.
Get a table, order drinks, and head for the steam tables. Experts load up first on the normally pricey crab, prawns, lobster and steak -- generally available only at dinner and on weekends. Vegetables and salads usually are in short supply, but most diners don't gravitate to them anyway. Desserts generally aren't worth the calories.
For the highest quality fare, go at peak dining time -- around 7 p.m. -- when trays are replenished frequently.
Here's the word on five of the best places to stuff your face.
I visited them all at dinner, working my way through the steam tables and weighing price against quality. Although the ambience and decor varied, the food was very similar from one buffet to another. They're listed according to my preference.
Happy Buffet
24 S. Abbott Ave., near Calaveras Boulevard, Milpitas, (408) 945-8888
The vibe: The crowds are so big at lunch that you may have to take a number for a table at this attractive new restaurant. A rock fountain at the entry, Chinese landscape murals on the wall and faux trees overhanging the steam tables contribute to the inviting atmosphere.
The eats: Cooks grill fish and roll sushi at separate stations while you watch. In addition to the traditional Chinese food on the steam tables, there are pizza, french fries and fried chicken for picky eaters as well as Korean dishes such as beef tendon and kim chee. Food moves so quickly at peak hours that most dishes stay hot.
Don't miss: Whole fish hot from the Hawaiian barbecue grill was exceptional, with moist flesh and crisp skin. Grilled teriyaki steak skewers had good charred flavor. Boiled shrimp, attractively arranged on ice, tasted sweet and fresh.
Walk on by: Salt and pepper crab was dry and dull-tasting. Hot and sour soup was bland, and pot stickers were tough and greasy
By Aleta Watson
Visions of tables piled high with snow crab legs, jumbo prawns, sushi, dim sum and even steak draw families and young singles alike to these temples of excess. Devotees are willing to trade volume and convenience for the niceties of table service and decor.
Adding to the attraction, most buffets offer free birthday meals with some restrictions.
If the food is not as fresh or the flavors as clear as when it's cooked to order, the price is right. And one picky eater is not going to hold up the show for the whole crowd.
Get a table, order drinks, and head for the steam tables. Experts load up first on the normally pricey crab, prawns, lobster and steak -- generally available only at dinner and on weekends. Vegetables and salads usually are in short supply, but most diners don't gravitate to them anyway. Desserts generally aren't worth the calories.
For the highest quality fare, go at peak dining time -- around 7 p.m. -- when trays are replenished frequently.
Here's the word on five of the best places to stuff your face.
I visited them all at dinner, working my way through the steam tables and weighing price against quality. Although the ambience and decor varied, the food was very similar from one buffet to another. They're listed according to my preference.
Happy Buffet
24 S. Abbott Ave., near Calaveras Boulevard, Milpitas, (408) 945-8888
The vibe: The crowds are so big at lunch that you may have to take a number for a table at this attractive new restaurant. A rock fountain at the entry, Chinese landscape murals on the wall and faux trees overhanging the steam tables contribute to the inviting atmosphere.
The eats: Cooks grill fish and roll sushi at separate stations while you watch. In addition to the traditional Chinese food on the steam tables, there are pizza, french fries and fried chicken for picky eaters as well as Korean dishes such as beef tendon and kim chee. Food moves so quickly at peak hours that most dishes stay hot.
Don't miss: Whole fish hot from the Hawaiian barbecue grill was exceptional, with moist flesh and crisp skin. Grilled teriyaki steak skewers had good charred flavor. Boiled shrimp, attractively arranged on ice, tasted sweet and fresh.
Walk on by: Salt and pepper crab was dry and dull-tasting. Hot and sour soup was bland, and pot stickers were tough and greasy
By Aleta Watson
