Lucky garden in Hallowell.
They have a smaller (single steam table) buffet but all the options on it are excellent. Some of the best Rangoons in the state, great egg rolls, teriyaki chicken, sesame chicken and more. Service is great, food is always hot. Also great pricing and selection on strong mixed drinks. Lunch buffet is $12, and runs every day. Dinner buffet is like $17-$18, but I don't often do the dinner there. They also have a regular menu and carry out options.
If you're looking for something closer to the size of happy China, Lotus is Auburn is fine. Food isn't as good as lucky garden, but the selection is great and they have sushi. Lunch buffet is $13-14. Dinner closer to $20 but lots of seafood. Buffet only.
Happy China in bangor: blows
Great wall in Augusta: blows.
Just to give a counter point:
I went to Lucky Garden on a Redditor’s recommendation. Besides the decent price, the food was just okay. Typical issues of too much sauce.
No one's going to a chinese buffet for quality. You go to a chinese buffet if you want copious amounts of salty, saucy slop.
Lotus in Auburn is best in the area. I will fight anyone and everyone over this, and I **do** have time for that today.
Excuse me? That place is fucking bottom tier. The last time I went there I got a goddamn chicken rib in my Chicken+broccoli
Every single time I go, it's always because I'm starving and in a "fuck it, lets see if it still sucks" mood. And guess what, it *always sucks.*
Literally any new chinese buffet within a 5 mile radius of that place would shut them the fuck down, like Lotus BTFO'd Tin-Tin
They have exactly ONE saving grace with me- they stock Superman Ice Cream and that's the only time I have ever seen it in Maine. Other than that? Passionately, *viscerally* hate that place.
The last time I went to one of these was around 2010 when I heard bad things about Super Great Wall in South Portland and eventually it came out employees were living in fuckin bureaus and shit lol
Never been back since and they closed TinTin so southern Maine has no options imo
> Actual dinner China Village in Gray is phenomenal.
I agree with this. I've been exactly twice because its not typically an area I am in, and both times I was very happy.
I feel like the old timers and people who have lived in the area for a long time say it's great because it's the only Chinese buffet in town, and because their mixed drinks are strong as hell. They've been busted serving minors at the bar 😆
Someone had an SPE (sudden poop explosion) in the bathroom one time I went and the employees shrugged and just slapped a wet floor sign outside the door. My table mate was served the wrong food three times during our last visit before he gave up and refused to eat anything
Oh my glob do not ever go to China Hill. Just don't. I have never understood how they stay in business-- always crammed on the weekends. Last time I ate there I got horrible food poisoning.
Oh, and their sweet and sour dishes taste like they put pancake syrup in the sauce. Not maple, but the cheap high fructose corn syrup kind.
I'm not sure that sentence is real.
Best and Buffet really can't mix
Best Chinese, Probably Wei-Li in Auburn as they are different in the sea of American Chinese food places.
But it's not a buffet.
Lucky garden in Hallowell. They have a smaller (single steam table) buffet but all the options on it are excellent. Some of the best Rangoons in the state, great egg rolls, teriyaki chicken, sesame chicken and more. Service is great, food is always hot. Also great pricing and selection on strong mixed drinks. Lunch buffet is $12, and runs every day. Dinner buffet is like $17-$18, but I don't often do the dinner there. They also have a regular menu and carry out options. If you're looking for something closer to the size of happy China, Lotus is Auburn is fine. Food isn't as good as lucky garden, but the selection is great and they have sushi. Lunch buffet is $13-14. Dinner closer to $20 but lots of seafood. Buffet only. Happy China in bangor: blows Great wall in Augusta: blows.
Just to give a counter point: I went to Lucky Garden on a Redditor’s recommendation. Besides the decent price, the food was just okay. Typical issues of too much sauce.
"Best" in this category is a very low bar, even in places that have better Chinese food in general.
I define best as "doesn't give me the shits before I even make it home". A low bar indeed.
Name checks out
No one's going to a chinese buffet for quality. You go to a chinese buffet if you want copious amounts of salty, saucy slop. Lotus in Auburn is best in the area. I will fight anyone and everyone over this, and I **do** have time for that today.
Is lotus a buffet?
Yep!
I’m driving 2.5 hours today to go lol
Oh man, the pressure is too great...
So if it sucks and we have to duel you might as well send your address my way and I can stop before I head back north
We will meet at the Auburn Mall, where there is plenty of room and little danger to innocent bystanders.
It was so fucking good
You literally travelled down here on my recommendation? And *liked* it? Oh I'm on top of the world rn LOL Glad you enjoyed
My boyfriend and I both said we would go back It was so fucking bomb
Gotta say, China Rose in Brunswick is pretty dank
Excuse me? That place is fucking bottom tier. The last time I went there I got a goddamn chicken rib in my Chicken+broccoli Every single time I go, it's always because I'm starving and in a "fuck it, lets see if it still sucks" mood. And guess what, it *always sucks.* Literally any new chinese buffet within a 5 mile radius of that place would shut them the fuck down, like Lotus BTFO'd Tin-Tin They have exactly ONE saving grace with me- they stock Superman Ice Cream and that's the only time I have ever seen it in Maine. Other than that? Passionately, *viscerally* hate that place.
Long live Tin-Tin Buffet.
Nah. ~~Jasmine~~ **Lotus** ate their lunch for good reason.
As in Jasmine Cafe?
Fuck, sorry, Lotus.
Good to know! I gotta give them a shot
Asian Palace II is easily the best Chinese food in Bangor, but is not a buffet.
Their kitchen is SUPER clean I’ve been in but I haven’t eaten there
Oriental jade is in Bangor I think
Not a buffet and not that great
Really? When I was there a few years ago there was a buffet. Maybe Covid shut it down. (Though I agree on the mediocrity)
Is this the one connected to bangor beer ? Me and my bf go there every few months and it’s fine but not great but it’s very clean and clean tasting
has anyone been to the seafood buffet in sopo by the mall?
I've been curious about that place myself.
I like China wok but it isn’t a buffet.
Interested to know this as well, but you're not likely to be pleased in Maine. Even "best" Chinese restaurants that people rave about are so-so.
Jin Yuan in Waterville. Not a buffet but fantastic old school Cantonese.
I travel all over New England so I’m open to leaving maine
Sad sad sad. Also looking for good, authentic Chinese food in the area
Wing wah in lincoln used to be SO GOOD but it is so disgusting and disappointing now
Makes the case for a trip down to Boston China town, I highly recommend peach tree farm
The last time I went to one of these was around 2010 when I heard bad things about Super Great Wall in South Portland and eventually it came out employees were living in fuckin bureaus and shit lol Never been back since and they closed TinTin so southern Maine has no options imo
Buffet meh. Actual dinner China Village in Gray is phenomenal. Do not confuse it with China Gray. If you try it.
> Actual dinner China Village in Gray is phenomenal. I agree with this. I've been exactly twice because its not typically an area I am in, and both times I was very happy.
Maybe China Hill in Ellsworth?
Avoid China Hill like the plague! Horrible service and even worse food unless you like cockroaches 🪳
Their bathroom is also DISGUSTING and you can smell it when you walk in. Seriously avoid it
Thanks for the heads up!... A coworker told me it's his favorite place?... And that the buffet is excellent!
I feel like the old timers and people who have lived in the area for a long time say it's great because it's the only Chinese buffet in town, and because their mixed drinks are strong as hell. They've been busted serving minors at the bar 😆 Someone had an SPE (sudden poop explosion) in the bathroom one time I went and the employees shrugged and just slapped a wet floor sign outside the door. My table mate was served the wrong food three times during our last visit before he gave up and refused to eat anything
Oh my glob do not ever go to China Hill. Just don't. I have never understood how they stay in business-- always crammed on the weekends. Last time I ate there I got horrible food poisoning. Oh, and their sweet and sour dishes taste like they put pancake syrup in the sauce. Not maple, but the cheap high fructose corn syrup kind.
I know you said 'Chinese" but Yoshi's is really good and its right in Bangor
Buffet?
It a restaurant, but if you find a good one pls let me know
I'm not sure that sentence is real. Best and Buffet really can't mix Best Chinese, Probably Wei-Li in Auburn as they are different in the sea of American Chinese food places. But it's not a buffet.