Hong Kong Gourmet

Okay, I'm writing this review only based on my experience with the Ahwatukee location and its services and whatnot. For one, Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet is a fantastic hot spot for the young and the old alike to get together and eat something yummy. I know on half day school days, big groups of high schoolers and middle schoolers drive/ride the bus over to this restaurant. You know the restaurant's REALLY good when it's only midday and all the seats are filled (considering they have a huge sit-in dining area). So, we know that it's good food, but is it the bona fide real deal Chinese food? Frankly, it can't come close. Then again, for all you exotic eaters out there, sometimes the "real deal" cultural foods are just bad. I'm speaking as a family member of a prestigiously Chinese family and I know a lot of people who could never stomach what I eat everyday. -I- can't stomach what I eat sometimes. o_O Take for example, the bitter melon, or the durain, or the stinky tofu (I don't believe there's an official English name for it, but in Chinese, it's pronounced "chou do fu"). These foods are absolutely horrendous in my opinion, and I would never consume them if my life depended on it (well...I might eat bitter melon. But only if I were drugged before hand. Numbing of the tongue perhaps?). Yeah, the point is: Hong Kong Gourmet offers hardcore Americanized Asian food. Heck, I can't even call the food Chinese, because well, SUSHI is very VERY Japanese. So yes, great food, but culturally and politically incorrect. Eh, don't get discouraged though -- it always tends to end up this way. Americans like the Americanized Asian food; a very simple fact. If Hong Kong Gourmet made an effort to live up to Chinese culture, it wouldn't be as popular as it is right now. Oh yes, and the service is very exceptional too =) All the waiters and waitresses are courteous and polite. The sushi-makers are a bit hard to understand though (broken English). This can lead to miscommunication (small salmon roll --> smoked salmon roll?), but generally, it's nothing to worry about. Have fun dining! -Kandie- more

We have frequented many chinese food resturants in the valley, and Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet is exceptional. It is a bit pricey, they charge kids by age, and drinks are seperate from the inital charge. I love going in the evening and getting crab legs, prime rib, and stir fry. On any occasion you can choose from a bunch of differnt Chinese food choices, stir fry bar, and a sushi bar made to order. This place is always top notch on cleanliness when we have gone.. No problems what so ever I often find coupons in the weekly flyers sent out in the mail box for free drinks.. this does help! more

The Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet in Mesa charges adults about $9 for the all-you-can-eat dinner. The Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet in Ahwatukee charges a couple bucks more. The Phoenix area has loads of Chinese places, and quite a few all-you-can-eat buffets. But there are few places I'd recommend. I just don't know why I'm not that fond of most of the Chinese places around here. I guess because I have images of them opening cans of pre-made soup and entrees and microwaving them. The Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet is a welcome exception. There are two locations, and they are different in their offerings. In Mesa, the Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet offers a nice selection of entrees, including beef and pork and even a few sushi selections. They also have several seafood items, including shrimp, oysters, and salmon filets. At the salad bar there's calamari salad and another mixed seafood salad. At a visit at 4 p.m. The place was busy and the food was fresh-it hadn't been sitting there since lunchtime as you might find at other buffets. more

The Phoenix area has loads of Chinese places, and quite a few all-you-can-eat buffets. But there are few places I'd recommend. I just don't know why I'm not that fond of most of the Chinese places around here. I guess because I have images of them opening cans of pre-made soup and entrees and microwaving them. The Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet is a welcome exception. There are two locations, and they are different in their offerings. In Mesa, the Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet offers a nice selection of entrees, including beef and pork and even a few sushi selections. They also have several seafood items, including shrimp, oysters, and salmon filets. At the salad bar there's calamari salad and another mixed seafood salad. At a visit at 4 p.m. The place was busy and the food was fresh-it hadn't been sitting there since lunchtime as you might find at other buffets. The Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet in Ahwatukee is a bit more upscale. There, in addition to the items they have at Mesa, you will find a sushi bar, crab legs, lobster, a prime rib carving station, and a bar. Clearly, the The Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet in Mesa is more 'down-to-earth' than the one in Ahwatukee, where the staff wears black and white formal attire. The food at both is good, and I recommend them. more