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Pleasant
surprise at Buffet Palace
I
don't like buffets. Book it. Print it. Spread it to the masses. And
I particularly don't like Chinese buffets. They tend to be greasy,
oily and unappealing. But then I had to go and try the Buffet Palace
on Anderson Lane near 183. They had to drag me kicking and screaming
into the place. And after I tried the food, well they almost had to
carry me out. I overindulged. Because, darn it, it was very enjoyable.
Their
goal here is to Mix Chinese, Japanese and Korean into one fixed price
experience. Ever the skeptic, I started with the chicken wings,
some California roll from the sushi bar, their pot stickers
[or pan fried dumplings for you tenderfeet] and some spicy Korean
cabbage or Kimchee. The wings were just about perfect. Succulent,
incredibly tasty. And while the California roll could have been a
bit cooler, with a sauce of Wasabi and soy, it was great. Same with
the melt in your mouth pot stickers. And while the Kimchee was not
the best I'd ever had, [and this is a tough dish to get right] it
wasn't bad.
Emboldened
by my positive experience, I went back and devoured some lovely green
scallion cakes [ a china town staple] some spicy string beans, more
wings, and another helping of sushi, this type fresh shrimp. Again,
it was first rate.
A
third trip took me down to the more traditional Chinese buffet foods
like Sesame Chicken, beef and broccoli, and General Tso's chicken. The Sesame chicken was tough and the beef and broccoli
was OK. The general Tso's was quite good. So, laden with that experience,
I headed back for another helping of wings, string beans, crabmeat
sushi and miso soup. You know there's this Italian neo-realist movie
called the Gran Buffet where Marcello Mastrioanni and his pals attempt
to eat themselves to death. I might have had a moment there as I walked
past the sushi bar one last time where I came precariously close to
buffet valhalla.
But
no, summoning my last remaining strength, I walked out of the Buffet
Palace unassisted, and for the most part, very pleasantly surprised.
They've got one in Round Rock if you live there and don't feel like
driving. Check it out this weekend, and tell them your favorite GAIJIN,
Rob Balon sent you.
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