Asia Buffet

Reunion: July 2009

2009-08-28T16:06:00.000-07:00

we all had a reunion after my flight back to california at the infamous "asia buffet". it was wonderful, we all ate too much, and had great conversation. what else would one expect from a fine dining establishment??!

our lovely photographer sandra snapped some great photos. i've just included one...with us from afar. we all look better that way. ;)

oh how i miss our dinner meet-ups there. keep up the good work buffet fans! spread the good word and fill your tummies till they burst! :D

hola from the other side...

2008-10-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

what's going on??? i need my fix of asia buffets from here on the east coast now!!! i'm just a few blocks from dc's chinatown. i have yet to really try it out, just went to one restaurant the other day...Not impressed.

tell me how wonderful it all is again.....

;)

adios my buffets...

2008-08-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

so i'm off soon.

off for the east coast.

i'm going to miss my favorite buffets and the magic made there...

i'll miss the company more. ;) :D

save me a table and we'll make a date for a comeback...the whole group that is.

:/

The Last Supper, All You Can Eat: Part 2 - Asia Buffet

2008-06-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

The Last Supper, All You Can Eat: Part 1 - Onami

2008-06-15T12:13:00.000-07:00

here we come again!

2008-06-06T11:06:00.000-07:00

so excited...it's been a looooong time!

gotta love the shrimpies

2008-05-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com

Look at Me!

2008-05-08T15:53:00.001-07:00

Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com

i'd like some VODKA with my GENERAL TSAO's CHICKEN, por favor!

2008-05-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

(we shall SEEEEE....hmmmm...)

so i'm very excited about our next meal at asia buffet (or onami).

i was given a vodka sampler by a friend and i want to crack it open, but i don't think work would like that. instead, it shall be saved for dinner out with Steve-o who was MIA for his first trip.

boy is this going to be good! (and boy are we gonna have to wait until this summer!!)

oh, and happy MAY DAY!!!

Exploring Asia Buffet

2008-04-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

2008-04-12T15:52:00.001-07:00

2008-04-12T15:35:00.001-07:00

yum yum yummy

2008-04-12T15:24:00.000-07:00

i don't know if i'll recognize you...! =(

2008-03-31T13:22:00.000-07:00

april 12th seem so far away.

'cause it is!

guess it's best to not be a new spokesperson in the sequel to "Supersize Me"....

i want some shrimp!

OH! Nami!!

2008-03-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

The documentary is finished:

OOOH nah MEEE

2008-03-26T13:42:00.001-07:00

so we went to the competition last night. gave our hard earned money to a competitors restaurant. honestly have to say it had to be done. just have to know how good you have it by venturing out there and putting your taste buds on the line.

Onami is the name of the place. for now i'll keep it's location a mystery, it's only that i don't want to adveritse for them on our favorite buffet's fan page for crying out loud! but this is the age of the internet, so LOOK IT up if you're interested.

okay. so it was awesome pretty much. there are pros and cons to both dining locations. let's start with the pros (so that i can better cut down the competition at the end to keep Asia Buffet on top). we'll skip how they are similar so that we ONLY brag about A.B.

PROS:

location was just that much closer to work
SEAFOOD, SEAFOOD, SEAFOOD galore
sushi coming out the wazoo
did i mention the MULTITUDE of sushi items?
HUMUNGO crab legs
oysters...even if i DID gag
waitresses that were willing to get down and dirty like dine-and-dash asses
along those ^ lines...action-packed meal
green tea ice cream...my FAV!
drinks were INCLUDED

CONS:

didn't OPEN for dinner until 5:30...who ARE these people?
no hot-n-sour soup
no dumpling sauce
twice as expensive as A.B.
no green tea in a pot to share with the group
no funny old people sitting around to laugh....With
NO CHINESE DONUTS! i mean seriously...what WERE they thinking?
no fortune cookies

we had bastards sitting at a table nearby. they were some high schoolers...we think. typical OC guys. annnnnoying as all get out. kept rearranging themselves while Standing next to their tables... uh! but yeah. the did a dine-n-dash. totally. little shits left change. and not anywhere near what was required. the waitress went after them, but it was too late. she caught one lone straggler. he was the Only one that DIDN'T eat. shame. the two trucks sped off. saw one come back at some point when their 'bra was no where to be found. i felt bad a left a good size tip for the girl at their table.

such a shame. jerkfaces! it'll come back, it's called karma.

sadly we do not have footage from inside Asia Buffet, but that will be coming to you soon.

we have some big news a brewing. it's on its way.

can't wait for the next trip into Asia Buffet, the best-kept, economic buffet of South Orange County...

Get Ready for Poonanie

2008-03-25T15:30:00.000-07:00

Tonight, we will not be visiting Asia Buffet.
We are going to visit a nearby competitor - O-nami instead.

A full report will be forthcoming.

How I imagine O-nami.

Poll Results - What Do You Love MOST About Asia Buffet?

2008-03-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

Our first poll has closed.
I have reviewed the data.
I have crunched the numbers.
I have done the research.

Asia Buffet fans love the Multiple Shrimp Dishes and the Chinese Doughnuts more than anything else. These items ranked highest with 9 votes each and were preferred by 52% of Asia Buffet fans.

Next was the Dumpling Dip with 8 votes and preferred by 47% of Asia Buffet fans.

Dumpling Dip was followed by Crab Legs with 7 votes, preferred by 41% of Asia Buffet fans.

Next was a tie between Crab Cracker and Sushi. Each received 6 votes and are loved MOST by 35% of Asia Buffet fans.

Finally we had the mysterious Other, which received 4 votes and was preferred by 23% of Asia Buffet fans.

The only Asia Buffet feature which received no votes at all was Fortune Cookie, not preferred at all by any Asia Buffet fans.

cat joke....no, not really...

2008-03-24T16:18:00.000-07:00

ok. chinese food joke.

good story, didn't happen, but i thought i heard it:

sign at the chinese restaurant in australia read:

no cats on premises.

i thought this was the joke.
get it? no cats on premises...anymore
i guess what is actually said was:

no cash on premise.

yeah right! and more importantly what premise?

ok, lame, but funny if someone says the latter and you mistake it for the first.

muah ha ha ha!
(i'm HILarious)

videos are fun, especially if they make you laugh or are instructional. :D

2008-03-21T12:53:00.000-07:00

we salute you- "All You Can Eat Man:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZHNt9rXSsTM

(embed: disabled upon request poo on you glitchUNDERGROUND)

How to eat sushi:

(i wonder how you eat those long log style sushi rolls, this guy eats the WHOLE cut roll. i KNEW it!)
yum yum sushi in my tummy.

and ALLLLL you can eat. bulimia.

Oh Na Mee....oh NO.

2008-03-21T12:24:00.000-07:00

there is this japanese buffet at the LH Mall. might have to check it out. it's a bit more expensive than Asia Buffet, but they have a HUGE seafood selection.

we'll see how that goes. gotta round up some buddies and get me over there and scope 'em out.

OhhhhNaaaahMEEEE!!!!

you can't have me! Asia Buffet has me in it's grasp!

photographic excursion with seafood haters....AH! long story...

2008-03-21T10:29:00.000-07:00

photos!

woot woot!

El Toro's best kept secret....

Old people love it! Young people love it!

I mean look at the parking and the traffic! All kinda of wheeled traffic ;).

Can't wait till we meet again love!

Tools of the Trade

2008-03-20T16:30:00.001-07:00

The Crab Cracker -

Watch your fingers!

How I Learned About Asia Buffet

2008-03-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

Sandra and I learned about Asia Buffet via citizen recommendation.

About a year ago, we were buying a notebook at Circuit City. The staff was going to install all the software and set everything up for us and they suggested we grab a meal somewhere since it was going to be awhile. They were pretty busy and couldn't get to our computer right away.

Sandra asked the clerk if he could recommend a good local restaurant and he suggested Asia Buffet. He said he eats there all the time. The price is right and the food is delicious and plentiful. Big bang for the buck!

We ignored the advice and went somewhere else instead. But some weeks later, we were in the area and decided to try Asia Buffet.

We were floored! Not only were there a shitload of shrimp dishes, there was sushi and chinese donuts!!

We knew this would not be our last visit to Asia Buffet (even though there were a lot of old people). And it wasn't! We've returned many times and we continue to do so.

Let the good times roll!
Pass the crab cracker!!

i'm having withdrawals...and Not ATM!

2008-03-20T11:50:00.001-07:00

so i'm having them. i am.

(well not completely true, but it sounds good on a fan page...)

when will i be returning to you oh faithful buffet location???

when?!!!!

and my friends from out of town don't like fish! BA! i'm not bringing them in if they'll be shunning half the menu. bastards.

that is all.

good day to fellow Asia Buffet fans. good day.

When the Moment Comes...

2008-03-19T07:21:00.000-07:00

...take the top one.

Another incomprehensible fortune, courtesy of Asia Buffet.

Another Satisfied Customer

2008-03-14T15:19:00.000-07:00

From Boo Rah:

The choices are fantastic, so many shrimp dishes, so little time.”
- By doggiemommie

That is so true.

I left a part of my soul at Asia Buffet.... (almost my whole soul, truth be told)

2008-03-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

so now we have it, an Asia Buffet fan club of the Lake Forest, CA edition! woo hoo!

so i was invited to attend an outing to the Asia Buffet in lake forest just last night. boy was it wonderful! there was a plethora of savory treats at every heated bay there!! i didn't know where to start!

there were soooooo many foods to pick from. it was awesome. it was the best asian buffet out there. it reminded me a lot of the Oriental Buffet in Humboldt County, but with a BETTER name by far.

The Oriental Buffet breaks behind the Redwood Curtain

Oriental Buffet

5000 Valley West Boulevard, Suite 11
Arcata, CA 95521
Arcata: (707) 822-2286
Fortuna (707) 725-9988 <---oh look! they've expanded!

but i think i had about 1/3 of the hot foods and only 1/30 of the cold. and i left very, VERY full.

seriously full people....

like 2 hours lying down so i didn't become another statistic.

i really felt like becoming one would some a lot of my issues. well one very FULL reason...

oh, and i almost forgot. i almost died by octopus. it wouldn't freakin' break up in my mouth. goddamn chewy sucker. well...with suckers. it really scared me. i didn't want to be a darwin award winner. almost happened. i squeaked by. whew! he was awful cute though. those cute little dead octopi!

some of my favorite quotes and an excerpt from a fellow blogger:

what's wrong with it? why don't you want it?? it's so good!

-anonymous

i always finish off my dinner with some fish and some ice cream, WITH strawberries.

-jon

my motto is...

-sandra

which one? this one? this one? THIS ONE?

-jon

i think i'm allergic to crab juice! i'm going to go wash my hands now.

-sera

a crab cracker would make a lovely dangly belly button ring.

-who really said this.?..probably no one.

i swear i just saw bresani.

i can't be seen eating in the same restaurant as her.

-conversation between two buffet lovers.

On this second visit we also had an opportunity to observe another member of the "Lobster Grabbers" club. Search through the archives and read my article on the Lobster Grabbers. This new Lobster Grabber was an immense, older woman who emptied the lobster serving tray into two plates and took it to her table. At first we thought it was for both her and her companion - another immense, older woman, but as it turned out it was all for her. When more lobster was brought out she filled her plates again, leaving very little for everyone else in the restaurant. She ate lobster straight through the meal - even during dessert. They got their check and were eating dessert and suddenly she was up and back again with another dish of lobster. Cake and lobster I suppose is an interesting way to end a meal - of lobster. You see some of the oddest things and the most selfish people at buffet restaurants - especially when lobster is served.

an excerpt from:
"The Art of the Buffet OR All You Can Eat is Not a Challenge"

Asia Buffet

23552 El Toro Rd
Lake Forest, CA, 92630
(949) 206-9988

Rave Reviews

2008-03-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

I found this Rave Review on the web and I can't agree more:

WOW! THE BEST ASIAN/CHINESE RESTAURANT IN SOUTH COUNTY!
I am SO pleased to impart that this restaurant was THE BEST! IMMACULATELY CLEAN...(Dragon Buffet is filthy dirty and leaves you feeling ready to shower before you leave)...Sweet, smiling and attentive servers...Rachel? Sheeze adorable and SO attentive...Plates retrieved FASSST. The buffet selection was AMAZING...Incrediblely fresh, presented beautifully...extensive seafood and sushi/sashimi selection...ALSO FRESH AND PREPPED FRESHLY...Even the fried foods were fresh, NOT GREASY or OILY AT ALL...YOU MUST TRY THIS EXPERIENCE...YOU WONT REGRET IT!
And you will NEVER be forced back to Dragon Buffet agaIn...EWWW! UGH!
- by "The Happy Girls Family" in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

"Happy Girls Family" is right on.
I couldn't agree more.

Introductory Remarks

2008-03-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

The Asia Buffet Fan Club is an informal organization of Asia Buffet enthusiasts.

Asia Buffet is El Toro's best-kept secret.
This blog will serve to record the Asia Buffet Fan Club's ever-growing collection of good experiences at that establishment.