China Wok Buffet

Welcome to China Wok Buffet, a Chinese restaurant located at 5453 Washington Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918, USA. You can contact them at (865) 546-0323 or their mobile number +1 865-546-0323. China Wok Buffet primarily operates as a dine-in buffet offering a variety of Chinese-American dishes. They also appear to have a menu for individual orders, although pricing may be outdated.

Based on recent customer reviews, China Wok Buffet presents a highly inconsistent dining experience, particularly concerning food quality and service. One customer expressed enjoyment of specific buffet items such as the green beans, crab rangoons, and fried/steamed dumplings, indicating that some dishes can be delicious. This suggests that there are potentially satisfying options available at the buffet.

However, another reviewer, who identifies as vegan, detailed multiple negative experiences over four visits, highlighting significant issues with both the buffet and menu items, as well as the service. For vegan diners, the buffet appears to offer very limited options, with only sautéed green beans consistently available as a vegetarian choice. This lack of plant-based protein options for their Mongolian grill further restricts choices for those avoiding meat and animal products.

The quality of the buffet food was reported to vary greatly from visit to visit. While sometimes it was acceptable or even good, on other occasions, main dishes were found to be cold and tasteless. The availability and freshness of the buffet items also fluctuated, with trays sometimes being mostly empty and other times full and fresh, even during typical dinner hours on a Sunday. This inconsistency makes it difficult to predict the quality of the buffet on any given visit.

For menu orders, specifically the allegedly crispy tofu with mixed vegetables (number 37), the reviewer experienced a lack of consistency in preparation. The tofu ranged from perfectly crispy with an excellent variety of vegetables on one occasion to mushy and undercooked with an inconsistent and sometimes skimpy selection of vegetables on other visits. The vegetables themselves also varied in quality and composition, sometimes including less desirable ingredients like excessive water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, and "nasty baby corn." This inconsistency in a specific menu item ordered multiple times indicates a lack of standardized preparation.

The service at China Wok Buffet also received significant criticism. When the reviewer inquired about vegetable egg rolls, they were met with a rude and condescending response, being directed to the "spring rolls" on the menu despite clearly asking for and knowing the difference between the two. They were then charged egg roll prices for small, almost hollow spring rolls that tasted unpleasant. Furthermore, during the first three visits, the reviewer experienced communication issues with the waitress, who struggled to take their order even with pointing at the menu, leading to significant delays in receiving their food, often after their husband had finished eating.

On the fourth visit, while the reviewer made sure to order immediately upon being seated with the same rude waiter, the overall service was still described as slow and the staff consistently unfriendly. The reviewer's overall assessment is quite negative, suggesting that China Wok Buffet might only be a viable option if one is "desperate" and advising others not to have high expectations. This paints a picture of a restaurant with significant issues in both food quality consistency and customer service.

Considering the available reviews, China Wok Buffet in Knoxville offers a Chinese buffet with some dishes, like the green beans, crab rangoons, and dumplings, being reported as delicious. However, the buffet quality appears to be highly variable. For those ordering from the menu, particularly vegetarian or vegan options, consistency in food preparation and ingredient quality seems to be a significant problem. The service is also a major area of concern, with reports of rudeness, communication difficulties, and slow delivery of food.

For local users in Knoxville considering China Wok Buffet, it is important to weigh the potential for enjoying some of the buffet items against the risk of inconsistent food quality and potentially poor service. Vegetarian and vegan diners, in particular, may find the options limited and the preparation of menu items unreliable. The negative experiences reported with the service, including rudeness and communication issues, are also factors to consider.

While one reviewer found some buffet items to be enjoyable, the detailed account of repeated negative experiences with both the food and service from another customer raises serious concerns. Potential patrons might want to proceed with caution and perhaps consider other Chinese restaurants in the Knoxville area with more consistently positive reviews, especially if they have dietary restrictions or prioritize friendly and efficient service. The lack of consistent quality and the reported negative service experiences suggest that China Wok Buffet may not be a reliable choice for a satisfying dining experience.