I don't even know where to start. You might think that all Chinese buffets are alike. And you'd be right. The China Star is a bit different though. Whenever I talk about this temple of a restaurant to people, and I do, I get really bad crazy-head.
First, the people who wait tables there are all about as nice as you can get. They keep your glasses refilled --- with a smile. As a matter of fact, if you empty you glass and they don't fill it immediately they apologize so much to you (alot) when they get around to it. I can imagine that the owner runs a tight ship, but the waiters almost fear the sight of an empty glass. As if there were some hungry monstrous panda-manager in the back waiting to eat the subpar workers. I don't know; I'm just guessing.
The orange chicken is spicy and hot and chewy and dripping with orange sauce and I can almost taste it right now. There is also a jalapeno chicken available that will make you want to dive into the serving pan. The jalapeno chicken is mixed with peanuts and zucchini and if you mix all that with their very tasty fried rice you'll never stop eating it. It has a nice bite to it that lingers, that is until you wash it away with that sweet golden tea. The egg rolls are above average. The salad bar looks great, but who would eat salad at a Chinese buffet? No red blooded American would, I tell you that right now! There are the assorted chicken wings and ribs and dumplings and so on, but the orange chicken and the jalapeno chicken just cannot be beat by anything made by Chinese hands. They may be the most powerful one two punch in the restaurant universe. I just don't know right now.
The desert bar has chilled strawberry cheesecake, soft serve ice cream, Jello, fruit, short bread cookies, and chocolate cake!!! You will believe me when I say that I've been carried out of this place five times by various means that include but are not limited to an ambulance, a pack mule, and a tow truck. I'm not ashamed! I gorge myself on this really really good food.
You are charged about $8 per with any drink other than water adding $1.50 extra. For $10 (+ tip) I'd say this is a bargain.
Every single one of us has a devil inside that tells us to eat as much as we can. We normally resist this devil. If you ever find yourself weak and ready to give in to the food devil, visit China Star and bury that devil in a mound of chewed up China goodness that he'll never dig out of. Very highly recommended!
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