Super Buffet 2000

441 Tucker St.

Fall River, MA 02721

(508) 676-5678

I should explain something. I was laid off from my job a while back and am currently looking for work. Having said that, Mom and I have been choosing our restaurants very carefully this month. We've been visiting places that we know are going to give us a lot of food for a little bit of money, and on today's adventure, there was no place that better fit that description than Super Buffet 2000 in Fall River. With the weather being dreary and our stomachs growling, we pulled into the parking lot at around 3 p.m.

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Mom loves this particular buffet, and we were both looking forward to having Chinese food because we don't have it often. When we walked in, we headed toward the area closest to the buffet (God forbid we have to walk around with full plates). A nearby Asian waitress in a black and white uniform motioned us over to her and asked us if we would like a table or booth. We choose a booth as she asked us what we would like to drink - two Diet Pepsis. After the waitress walked away to get our drinks, Mom and I put our purses on the seat (carefully "hidden" under our jackets) and proceeded to the buffet steam tables.

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The inside of this restaurant is very pretty and unique. It has a very art deco look, with its light grey wallpaper with pink touches and a dark green rug. Wood and glass panels with a V-shaped design separate the diners from the steam tables, while large crystal chandeliers hang above the cashier and the buffet area. There is a soda machine next to the cashier area, along with some Asian inspired decorations and a variety of faux plants. With a mixture of both tables and booths, the dining room here is fairly large, which is good because this restaurant always fills up fast. There are lights in the ceiling tiles, and venetian blinds in every window. Napkins and silverware are set up on each table, while a row of Styrofoam containers wait next to a scale for those who are going to be getting take-out from the buffet. The floor around the buffet is of a linoleum texture, which tends to get a bit slippery when the steam tables are at their hottest. I've had to hold onto the tables while making my rounds on a few occasions, and Mom has also mentioned the same thing. Unfortunately I could not get a picture of the steam tables, as there would have been a lot of people wondering why I was photographing them while they were picking out food.

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NOTE: If you don't know how a typical Asian buffet works, here are the rules:
1) You either seat yourself, or someone will show you to a table.
2) You place your drink order with the waiter or waitress. They will be at the table when you get back.
3) You leave your seat, and head over to the buffet tables.
4) You grab a plate and/or silverware from the head of the buffet table (although most restaurants have the silverware already at the table for you).
5) You fill your plate, sit down, stuff your face, and then go back for more. It's all you can eat!

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There are three large steam tables here, along with a fourth table which has homemade desserts at one end and an ice cream freezer at the other. With so much to choose from, I had to make the difficult decision of what to choose on my first trip, and what to come back for the second time around. As I weaved in and out of the other patrons mulling over the different varieties of chicken, I spotted Mom doing the same. We met by the fruit chicken (our favorite) and I informed Mom that I was done filling my plate and was headed back to the table. A few minutes after taking my seat, Mom joined me. This first time around, Mom chose the fried chicken wings, chicken fingers, a Chinese malasada (a fried dough with sugar), and a cup of chow mein (with sauce that she strained). I chose the crab rangoon, fruit chicken, chicken fingers, sesame chicken, General Tso's chicken, teriyaki beef, a dumpling, and a Chinese malasada. Everything was so good that when our plates were empty, Mom and I headed over to the buffet for round two. This time, Mom chose the mashed potatoes and fruit chicken, while I went with a cup of chow mein (also with strained sauce). When we arrived back at our table, we noticed that a waitress had taken away the empty plates. Again, everything was delicious. Both Mom and I feel that every Chinese food meal should be followed by ice cream, so that is exactly what we did. We went up to the ice cream freezer and each selected a flavor. I chose black raspberry, while Mom chose coffee (no surprise there). It is a scoop-it-yourself kind of thing, so we were both there for a while trying to get the frozen ice cream out of its tub. However, all that work paid off because both cool treats were great. In Mom's opinion, of the Chinese buffets in our immediate area, Super Buffet 2000 has some of the best tasting food. The staff keeps the trays well stocked, and everything is always nice and hot. I completely agree. Everything really hit the spot.

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Mom's first plate

My first plate

Super Buffet 2000 is a Chinese restaurant that serves Szechuan, Hunan, and Cantonese cuisine. Aside from their large buffet, they also have a regular menu available. For the buffet, the price is $6.50 Monday through Friday, and $7.50 Saturday and Sunday for lunch, and $9.75 daily for dinner. These prices include soda and ice cream. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, while dinner is served from 4 p.m. until close. Children under two eat free, and between the ages of two and 10, lunch is $.50 per year while dinner is $.70. Over 120 items are served at this buffet, including all the usual Chinese favorites like chow mein, crab rangoon, egg rolls, lo mein, and General Tso's chicken. Regular menu lunch specials include plates such as teriyaki beef ($4.55), Moo Goo Gai Pan ($3.90), and pepper steak ($4.05). Dinner specials are all $7 and include pork fried rice. Combinations include boneless ribs, teriyaki beef, and chicken fingers; egg roll, chicken wings, and boneless ribs; and golden fingers, egg roll, and crab rangoon. Combination plates are available, and each plate comes with pork fried rice and an egg roll. Prices for the plates are between $5.20-7.15. The chef's specials are served with white rice and include a seafood combination plate ($10.55), shrimp and pork Szechuan style ($8.55), shrimp and scallop with garlic sauce ($8.90), and the Happy Family, which is fresh shrimp, lobster, chicken, roast pork, and beef blended with mixed vegetables ($8.90). There are also several varieties of appetizers ($1.05-9.55), soups ($1-2.45), fried rice ($2.75-7.95), chow mein ($1.50-8), chop suey ($2.65-8.20), egg foo young ($4.80-6.80), lo mein ($3.55-7.55), mei fun ($6-7.55), vegetables ($3-6.20), seafood ($4.80-8.75), beef ($3.80-7.50), roast pork ($3.70-7.40), chicken ($3.95-7.90), and moo shu ($6.20-7.05). Serving beer and wine, Super Buffet 2000 has gift certificates available, and a banquet facility that seats up to 200 guests for anniversaries, parties, and business meetings.

Stuffed from having "all we can eat," Mom and I waited for the bill. Our waitress soon arrived with the bill on a silver holder, accompanied by two fortune cookies. The servers don't really interact with the customers here, but sometimes that is a nice change from the restaurants where the servers are taught to socialize to the extreme. Our waitress was very polite, and we've never had anything less here. The bill came to:

*2 @ $7.50 each = 15

Tax - .75

TOTAL = $15.75

*this is the lunch price and includes our soda

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We left $19 on the table for our waitress, which included a 20% tip. Some people don't tip at buffets, but we always do. After all, buffets tend to be really busy. Those people work hard! Before leaving, I decided to use the restroom. The restroom here is usually OK, but today it was on the disorganized side. It is never dirty, but it always seems that - because of the traffic - it is hard to keep a handle on the restrooms.

After returning to the table, Mom and I left the restaurant. She grabbed a take-out menu before leaving, and as we were walking out of the building we spotted a sign that informed patrons that they will be charged an extra 20% for wasted food. We couldn't agree more. Both Mom and I hate to see people fill up their plates with food, take two bites of something, leave it there, and then go up for more. All-you-can-eat does should not mean that people should be wasting food. If you can't eat a lot, don't take a lot. The tables aren't going anywhere. You can always get up for more.

Super Buffet 2000 also happens to be one of my father's favorite restaurants. He loves their lo mein and the egg foo young, and always offers to take Mom here on their nights out. Whether you chose something off the menu or take advantage of their delicious buffet, you will definitely leave this restaurant with a full stomach, and a full wallet.

Super Buffet 2000 is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and again on Sunday. On Friday and Saturday, the restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. If you live in the Somerset area, visit their sister restaurant - the New York Chinese Buffet on Slades Ferry Avenue. Super Buffet 2000 is open on all holidays.

Raynham Mandarin Restaurant

275 Route 44
Raynham, MA 02767

(508) 977-0406

We read about this place on SouthcoastDining.com and decided to give it a try. It's set up like a typical Chinese buffet with three large steam tables, a dessert section, and a sushi bar. The dining room is a good size, and the place is nicely decorated and clean. The first two times we went, we were bowled over by the food. Everything was fresh, hot, and very well prepared. Laura tried the crab rangoon, which she said were the best she's ever eaten. We both fell in love with the honey chicken. Oh my God - I couldn't stop eating them. The chicken was moist and the honey glaze added just the right touch of sweetness. I wish I had some right now. They also had the typical egg foo young, crab legs (a big hit), chicken fingers, fried dumplings, and all the typical Chinese favorites. They also had an American section with French fries, pizza slices, seafood pie, pasta, stuffed mushrooms (which Laura loved), and much more. The dessert table had puddings, cakes, and an ice cream section. On these two visits we thought this was some of the best Chinese buffet we'd ever had. Visit number three was not so successful. It was a very busy Saturday night. Actually, it was so mobbed that we got seated at one of the last tables in the last room available. Because of the volume of people, the food was not up to par. It seems like it was being rushed out and we found some of the food overcooked, and some undercooked. Our old favorites were just not the same. There was an absolute mob waiting around the steam tables waiting for the crab legs to come out, and the kitchen just couldn't keep up with the demand. It made for a very noisy, crowded, and disappointing dining experience. Laura's stomach hurt after we left, and she thinks it was from the overcooked honey chicken, which was way too greasy. What a shame, however, we'll definitely go back again. Just not on a Saturday night.

Asian Platter

1212 County St.

Somerset, MA 02726

(508) 646-9300

We ordered from here a lot when I was working for the local newspaper. Although I've never eaten inside, have picked up take-out food and was always impressed with the cleanliness of the restaurant. Their ginger chicken was outstanding; some of the best tasting flavors I've had. They have a small parking lot out in front, and everyone that worked there that I dealt with was very polite. The prices were extremely low and the Asian Platter quickly became an office favorite after everyone had sampled some of their delicious food.

Lucky Corner

Lucky Corner

995 Broadway

Raynham, MA 02767

(508) 821-9623

www.luckycornerma.com

When the girls at my office used to order Chinese, they generally ordered from Lucky Corner. Perhaps it was because Lucky Corner delivered. The girls usually liked what they got, but unfortunately I discovered that Lucky Corner does not serve "Fall River style" chow mein. It's not that it was bad, it was just my personal preference that I didn't care for it. Actually, I didn't really care for any of the food here. It was too greasy, they gave too much fried rice with their orders, and the portions were too big. There is only so much Chinese food you can eat, and I'm one of those people that doesn't think Chinese food heats up well. I'd try this place again, but I'd definitely get something small without fried rice.

Ping's Swansea Chinese Restaurant

207 Swansea Mall Drive # A3

Swansea, MA 02777

(508) 676-8767

This place is right across from the Swansea Mall in the Regal Cinema Plaza. I used to order from here when I worked in the mall. They have some of the best General Tao's chicken I've ever had, along with delicious, stuffed crab rangoon. They let you mix and match your combination plates and the portions are nice and hearty, not overly large like some of the other Chinese places. The prices were about average and the service was lightening fast (they deliver). All in all, a great dinner after a long day working retail.

Wah Mee Chinese & American

52 E Main St.

Fall River, MA 02724

(508) 675-0563

When this place first opened, it seemed to be a lot better. We used to order from there fairly regularly, and somehow the quality of the food went downhill. Way down. The last few times we dared to order from there, the chow mein gravy tasted like it was made with dirty or bitter water. It had a funky aftertaste to it. The chicken fingers had crust, but no finger! Where was the chicken? There was barely a nugget in the middle of a lot of greasy crust. We had tried it again, and the last time the chow mein gravy was not only bitter, but the chow mein noodles were very, very stale. I'm very disappointed. We used to like to order from here. It's close to our house and delivery was very fast. Never again.

Umi Japanese Steakhouse

579 G A R Highway

Swansea, MA 02777

(508) 672-1490

Located in the old Building 19 plaza in Swansea, this place has your basic Japanese hibachi grills and sushi counter. You can choose to sit directly at the grill, depending on what you're going to have for dinner. On this visit, my friend Pam and I had chosen to sit at the bar/sushi counter. We had the California roll, which was delicious and served with a side of wasabi. We ate with chopsticks, which I was getting quite skilled at toward the end of our meal. We ordered chicken tempura, which came fried, crispy, and golden brown on a small plate. Topping our delicious food off with our beers, we vowed to be a bit more adventurous next time and try some of their other meat and fish dishes. I guess I'll have to give her a call so that we can do just that!

PS -- I later went back and ordered their sushi sampler, which was (back then) about $14. Everything was fresh and delicious. Although I seemed to head straight for the rolls, their tuna over rice pieces were fresh and had a great taste.

Tiki Buddha

10 Merchants Way # 1

Middleboro, MA 02346

(508) 947-3828

I've been here on two different occasions, but they were both because I was having lunch with some co-workers while I was in training for my job with the local cable company. They had a huge buffet, and were able to accommodate the large group that I was with. Everything was hot and delicious, and they kept their buffet area quite clean. The place was very pretty inside and had a very attentive wait staff. The prices were average for a buffet, and we all left full and satisfied. Nothing out of the ordinary, but a very good meal.

Thai Taste

544 Milford Road

Swansea, MA 02777

(508) 677-2169
www.thaiphile.com

After hearing my friends Tim and Joe rave about this place, Tim and I decided to stop in for some dinner. He loves the spicy chicken with veggies, while his partner loves the coconut chicken. That's the dish that I went with on our visit. This place is housed inside of a strip mall, across from the Swansea Mall. It has ample parking and a very pretty decor inside. The waiter was excellent, bringing us waters and sodas right away. When our food was brought to us, it was exactly the right portion size. Not too big; not too small. All the veggies were fresh and the chicken was tender and tasty. We finished our meal with their homemade red bean ice cream, which was to die for. I am definitely going back to Thai Taste!

Sun China Restaurant

752 Brayton Ave.

Fall River, MA 02721

(508) 678-7688

Sun China is a teeny, tiny little Chinese restaurant located in a teeny, tiny parking lot off of Brayton Avenue in Fall River, MA. However, for its size, it has some great Chinese food. It's run by an elderly couple who hardly speak any English, and it's amazing they keep things running so smoothly since it's only the two of them there. Sometimes the place gets quite busy, but the gentleman is in the back in the kitchen cooking, and his wife is out front handling the phone, the take-out orders, and the dine-in customers. They're amazing! They're also very nice people. We love their chow mein, chicken fingers, crab rangoon, shrimp fried rice, spare ribs, etc., etc. They have all the Chinese favorites and they're all very well-done. Their prices are very reasonable, and despite the fact that they speak hardly any English, they've never gotten an order wrong. We've ordered from here before, and I know we'll be ordering from here again.

Peking Garden Chinese Restaurant

33 Faunce Corner Road

North Dartmouth, MA 02747

(508) 990-1128

Peking Garden is probably the largest Chinese buffet in our area. They have a very large dining room that is always neat and clean, and they have three very long steam tables. They also have the Mongolian BBQ, where you can get your food cooked to order. All this, plus they have a regular menu. They have all the typical Chinese goodies. They have lots of chicken dishes like peanut chicken, General Tao's, orange chicken, sesame chicken, etc. They also have spare ribs, fried chicken wings, egg foo young, lo mein, fried rice, chow mein, crab rangoon, fried dumplings, and more dishes too numerous to mention. Laura, in her enthusiasm to get to the food, burned her hand getting wonton soup. We won't discuss it any further. I always find the food very tasty, nice and hot, and replenished often. Sometimes this place gets very busy and there is quite a crowd around the steam tables, but it's always worth the wait. They also have a large room for special parties. This is a place I enjoy going to again and again. It's hubby's favorite!

Oriental Pearl

576 State Road

Westport, MA 02790

(508) 675-1501

I guess I don't have much to stay about Oriental Pearl as I've only been there once. Laura has been there twice. The thing is, we really didn't like the food. I'm not saying the food was bad, but everything we had was not up to par to when we've had it in other restaurants. I love chow mein (Fall River style). I guess that's unique, unto itself. When I ordered it here, it was very different. Not to say that it was bad, but it just wasn't what I expected. I guess I don't have a lot to say about the food, but I just know that I don't want to go back. Laura and her friend Tim went a few years ago and they felt the same way. Their General Gao's chicken was very chewy and overcooked, and they had to dine on ripped booths in a run-down part of the restaurant. All in all, we'll definitely be staying away.

New York Chinese Buffet

182 Slades Ferry Ave.

Somerset, MA 02726

(508) 678-8881

New York Chinese Buffet is the sister of my favorite Super Buffet 2000 in Fall River. They have exactly the same menu, and send around the same advertisements and coupons. What does this mean? It means that it has great food. They have all the regular Chinese favorites (check out our Super Buffet review) and the restaurant itself is neat, very clean, and has a nice open floor plan. We've been there for lunch and dinner, and the place can get quite crowded. So if you want some good Chinese at a reasonable price, in a nice setting, head for New York Buffet or its twin.

Manchu Wok

www.manchuwok.com

This place was good for a quick Chinese fix when shopping, or working at, the Swansea Mall. Although some of their food had been sitting out in the metal trays a bit too long, their noodles were excellent, as was their orange chicken. You could really get a lot for your money, and their combination platters are posted on the wall behind the buffet-style counter. They serve root beer here, which a friend of mine just loved because she couldn't find it with any of the other food court residents. It's not the best Chinese food I've ever eaten, but it was good enough to satisfy my craving for MSG.

Lee's Golden Dragon Restaurant

2277 Purchase St.

New Bedford, MA 02746

(508) 999-5600

I won a gift certificate from MenuJoy.com and we headed to New Bedford to see what this restaurant is all about. It's not difficult to find, but it was a little tricky being as we're not from New Bedford. However, we were soon walking into the restaurant. It was very pretty with lots of Oriental decorations. They had an extensive menu with all your typical Chinese favorites. Laura and I shared a pu-pu platter for two and an order of chow mein. The pu-pu platter included fried shrimp, chicken fingers, fried chicken wings, fried wantons, teriyaki steaks, etc. We found everything very tasty. I'd definitely consider coming back here again, even without having a gift certificate, and trying something different.

Happy Garden

960 Pleasant St.

Fall River, MA 02723

(508) 673-8888

Happy Garden is a little Chinese restaurant on Pleasant Street in Fall River, MA. It seems to be a favorite restaurant of the Fall River Police Department, as we often see several police cars parked in their tiny lot when they're on their supper break. We only ordered from here once, but I really enjoyed the food. Their chow mein (my favorite) was reminiscent of my favorite chow mein from the old China Royal. Ahh ... memories. Laura loved the crab rangoon, and we also ordered shrimp fried rice, boneless spare ribs, and fried wontons. I thought everything was delicious. Hubby found it a little blah, but I would definitely like to order from here again.

Good Friends 2

505 State Road

North Dartmouth, MA 02747

(508) 999-2658
www.goodfriends2.com

I used to visit this place when I worked at the car dealership across the street. This place is housed in a little plaza on a busy main street in Dartmouth. Their portions were quite big. I often found myself only ordering an appetizer size because I didn't want the leftovers. Also, they are extremely cheap. There are some tables and chairs inside, but their main business is take-out. The people working there were always polite and go out of their way to make sure that you have a great meal, even if you're taking the food to go. Their fried shrimp was delicious, and they always gave a lot of duck sauce. Great find!

Dim Sum

440 Stafford Road

Fall River, MA 02721

(508) 646-1275

Dim Sum is my favorite Chinese take-away. They have really good food here. Because we're not far away, the delivery often takes 10-15 minutes. That's great for the impatient people at my house! Their chow mein is excellent, as is their shrimp fried rice, fried wontons, crab rangoon (although Laura says that sometimes the filling tastes a little off), boneless spare ribs, and fantastic chicken fingers. I also love their General Tao's chicken. The prices here are outrageously reasonable for the amount of food you get. So for quick service, great prices, and delicious food, give Dim Sum a ring. You won't be sorry.

China Star Restaurant - New Bedford

963 Kempton St.

New Bedford, MA 02740

(508) 999-2391

We tried China Star on Kempton Street in New Bedford because I won a gift certificate from MenuJoy.com. This is a small restaurant with a big menu. When you go in, you can either be seated or order something from the counter. We took a seat and a young lady brought over a menu and some fried wonton crisps with a dipping sauce. They were surprisingly good. Laura had the crab rangoon and an order of General Tao's. I had an order of chow mein and also ordered the General Tao's. Wow! We didn't know the portions were so huge. We had General Tao's coming out the ying-yang! We had so much that we had to bring almost a full order home. Everything was delicious, however. I've often mentioned to Laura that I would really like to go back to this place again and try more of their delicious food. Although we're not from the area, I heard that they do an extensive delivery and take-out service ... and I'm not surprised.

China Star Restaurant - Fall River

390 Rhode Island Ave.

Fall River, MA 02721

(508) 677-1218

China Star is a tiny little Chinese buffet located at the end of a strip mall in Fall River, MA. Although the place, and the buffet, are not that big, the food is really well done. They have the typical spare ribs, chicken fingers, crab rangoon, mushrooms, dumplings, lo mein, fried rice, etc., etc., etc. They're all cooked very well. I've been here with hubby a couple of times, and Laura has been here with her friend Amy. We all really enjoyed it, and I wouldn't hesitate to go back again.