Buffets

irvinehomeowner said:
Hey, this is buffet thread not a Costco one!

I saw there were new posts and I thought there was some new buffet that opened up.

:)
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Haha my bad! Let me contribute more

Favorite ayce buffet is all that BBQ in culver plaza
Favorite shabu Shabu buffet is dada in the Zion plaza. It's super cheap if u can mark it to weekday lunch

Agree on taps. Wouldn't go back. After experiencing pala buffering lobster tail/legit crab legs, I have no reason to go back there...though the omelette was tasty with mimosa
 
Attention, asians of T.I. White person in need of Asian restaurant advice.

I've been wanting to make a reservation at Benihana's. I've been thinking about going on Christmas or Christmas Eve. But I don't want much of a drive. The only nearby location is Newport over by John Wayne. I'd like something closer to the OTHER side of Irvine or south O.C. I'm okay with going to a place LIKE Benihana's without it actually *being* Benihana's. I think this style of cooking is called tepanyaki or maybe it's just teppan? I don't know. What I DO want is the entertainment aspect where they flip things and make volcanoes out of onions. I'm bringing my kids and I want them to have fun. I don't want just any old boring tepanyaki place. Does anyone have advice on where I should look? I never eat at these type of places. Benihana's in Newport is the only teppanyaki I've ever been to and that was once like ten years ago. 
 
SoCal said:
Attention, asians of T.I. White person in need of Asian restaurant advice.

I've been wanting to make a reservation at Benihana's. I've been thinking about going on Christmas or Christmas Eve. But I don't want much of a drive. The only nearby location is Newport over by John Wayne. I'd like something closer to the OTHER side of Irvine or south O.C. I'm okay with going to a place LIKE Benihana's without it actually *being* Benihana's. I think this style of cooking is called tepanyaki or maybe it's just teppan? I don't know. What I DO want is the entertainment aspect where they flip things and make volcanoes out of onions. I'm bringing my kids and I want them to have fun. I don't want just any old boring tepanyaki place. Does anyone have advice on where I should look? I never eat at these type of places. Benihana's in Newport is the only teppanyaki I've ever been to and that was once like ten years ago.
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Try Koki's Teppanyaki Grille in Tustin (Newport/Main). Same thing as Benihana & it's closer!
 
Do you know if Koki's has good ventilation? When I went to Benihana, I felt like I was suffocating with all the smoke.
 
well the chef is cooking it right in front of you.. smoke can't be avoided.. unless you want a twister over your heads :)  we frequent the benihana in newport and city of industry.  both are consistent.  i prefer the younger mexican chefs over the older asian ones.  much funnier and better skills.  the old guys just cook, bang the spatulas and get out.  the younger chefs work the crowd more and you get more bad jokes that turn into good jokes after a couple beers and sakes.  book opentable early, they fill up fast.  on a side note, never knew Steve Aoki is Rocky Aoki's son. 
 
Hah... we are Teppanyakers.

Koki's is actually our favorite, especially when they had one in Irvine (near 99 Ranch where the Hot Pot is now). There used to be two Teppan places in the south OC off of La Paz in Laguna Hills and I think Alicia in Mission Viejo but they both closed.

We didn't go to Beni's much until this last year as we wanted to try it out. They are pretty good but expensive. The best value is lunch as you still get the show, just not the prices.

Smell-wise, Beni's is probably better ventilated than Koki's although Koki's expanded this year and the newer area is less confined. We don't really care for the show anymore, so now when we go to Beni's we sit in the bar/lounge/sushi area and get the same food without the clinging odor.
 
Ok, I'm keeping track here. So, there was a Koki's in Irvine but that closed. There were 2 teppans in S. O.C. but those closed.

So, my only options are Benihana in Newport or Koki's in Tustin?

I think I saw a sign on Alton, between Foothill Ranch & Baker Ranch, for a teppan place opening in that new shopping center where the drive-through SBUX and Goddard preschool are. Do ALL teppanyaki places usually have shows?
 
Update:

Went to Benihana's in Newport on Christmas Eve.

NEVER AGAIN.

Waited 1 hour after our reservation time just to get seated.

They totally overbooked. They had over 700 people that night. And they said it's that way every year. Never got a text update, Open Table notification -- nothing -- that they were running behind. That's a big, fat NOPE from me. We were packed into the waiting area & lounge like sardines in a can. Will try Dresden / Iho's suggestion and do Koki's in the future.
 
Oh yeah, and they ran out of dishes. They couldn't give my boy a drink of water since they had no clean glasses left. When it was time to serve our ice cream, the waitress had to wait for the dishwasher to finish then came running over to our table going, "Hoooot! Be careful!" -- with green tea ice cream puddles inside of them. They were just killing themselves that night. I feel bad for the wait staff who had no say in the crazy booking. I saw several customers losing their cool. But that was also because the hostess was lying to people & saying 15 min. when it wasn't.
 
Sorry to hear Socal, restaurants in general gets hit hard near holidays and especially a teppan place which flows much much slower than a traditional restaurant.  And overbooking I'm sure adds more oil to the fire.  I wouldn't give up on Benihana, I usually look forward to my two hours of delicious hot food and corny chef jokes.  Sign your kids up for the birthday club.  They get a nice drink/vase thingy that's a souvenir.  My kid got a collection of them Buddha/Koi/Geisha. Book a Mon-Wed dinner though for using bday certificates. 

Next time asked for the manager when you're inconvenienced, a comped beer at the bar usually soothes nerves and cost pennies for the restaurant.
 
Went to EMC on Christmas day.  It was way less crowded than I expected.  Had reservations, came in 10 minutes early and got seated right away.  There were a few open tables actually.  Food was better than most of what I see in Irvine, but the price tag was hefty at $65 dollars a person for the buffet.  They stocked the food constantly and the service was great. 

Not sure if $65 a person is worth it.  I would rather pay and extra 25 bucks for the Sunday Brunch at St Regis. 
 
With Marie Callendar's gone, is there any good American breakfast buffet locally?

Need to hit one before the New Year when I start my 2-day diet (never make it past the 1st day).
 
Happy New Year, all.

What are everyone's plans? Got any good ideas?

We've often gone to China Palace in Tustin for N.Y. Eve. We've been going there off and on for like 20 years. (Yes, yes, I know... white people's Chinese food. I can't help I like it, though.) Then afterwards, we like to go drive around & look at the Christmas lights in the neighborhoods nearby. But this year, I actually didn't make any plans so definitely anything that requires a reservation is out. The jury is still out. Maybe go there, maybe not. I'm thinking just stay home and cook dinner then make some doughnuts with my new deep fryer that I got for Christmas. I know -- boring. lol.
 
I booked Benihana :)

Haha, that or Kona Grill, Brio, EMC, Taps, or Honda Ya...

Free corkage at Brio and Kona Grill
 
Golden Corral opened in Anaheim.

Very similar to Hometown Buffet but overall better food.

The new John?s Increidble Pizza in the Westminster Mall is decent if you have kids.

Waiting for a Cicis Pizza closer than the Inland Empire.
 
The buffet at Pala Casino is actually very good
Lobsters, Lobster tails, crab legs, and prime rib were all delicious
 
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