Decided to stop by here for lunch at the recommendation of a friend. Good food and friendly prompt service. Having a security guard at the door is a little weird, don't think I've ever seen that at a restaurant. The Chinese buffet items are fairly decent. They seem to be connected to the China Inn buffets. I haven't been to China Inn in a while, but a friend with me said that the items tasted very similar to China Inn. The Southern Food section is decent. I had some catfish and some sausages which were decent. The sausages were a little cold, but were warm enough to be edible. The catfish however was fresh which offset my slight disappointment with the sausages. Overall I'd have to say I'm impressed with the selection and the overall quality of the food. I wouldn't be opposed to visiting again if given the opportunity. read more

Chow Time Buffet & Grill - Chinese Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

I don't know what to think of this place, it is very unique. The parking lot had empty liquor bottles and there was a security guard packing heat as you entered watching the many monitors of the exterior. There is nothing intimidating about the location, it is in a strip mall that appears perfectly normal. I wonder what has happened at this restaurant to warrant such measures. The food - the quality of the buffet food varies widely. The chinese was generally pretty bad, low end mass produced food. The soul food was generally much better with the fried chicken being the highlight (I would come back here and just eat a few sides and the fried chicken). The service was good and surprisingly the restaurant was fairly clean. Overall a pretty good value for the price paid. read more

Food was good the Driver was very nice and on time mask on Thanks people were you eating is a big deal and safety with who Bring your food to you read more

Chow Time Buffet & Grill - Chinese Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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This place is so good it ran out of parking spots. Folks had to get creative in order to find parking spots. We knew this was the place to go to while we were visiting Memphis. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted. We paid for our party and the host sat us down. There was plenty of space in the inside. We even sat in the back room where parties were held. The bathrooms were in the front and there were some in the back. Our waitress was nice and attentive. We had a tv to watch as well. The restaurant had the self serve buffet setting. There were like three or four different areas. The first area had the Asian dishes. The second area had the good ole soul food. The third one had like a concession area. The last area had the desserts and fruits. The food area was very near and clean. The tables even had a turn table in the middle to make things easier for our bigger party. The prices were inexpensive and the food was fresh and so good. read more

Chow Time Buffet & Grill - Chow time - Chinese Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

This place is off & on my favorite. No matter how early you go, it gets crowded extremely fast.. but hey, as to be expected. I'm not sure why i hear so many bad reviews about this place, maybe cause i went early, i didn't have any problems? Food was very fresh and everything i had was delicious. Service was decent. I just don't care for how they PACK everyone together like there's not a million open spots available. read more

Chow Time Buffet & Grill - Chinese Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

This place is certainly off the beaten path for us but we just have to make the drive every once in a while. The selection is huge, and the mini Salisbury steaks are worth the drive alone. I'm not a big fan of buffet desserts usually, but this place rocks those desserts. The weekday buffet is cheaper than on the weekends, and it is a great bargain. read more

The food was bad. The service was ok. The OTHER customers were the worst experience. Someone even "fainted" on me while I was attempting to eat. He wasn't sick, he basically fell out with laughter. I know they can't make their customers act a certain way, but I definitely won't be back ‍ read more

After receiving an email from the marketing manager offering a complimentary meal for me and a guest, my family decided to give the place another try. We went on Sunday after church. The front desk cashier was not very pleasant and were shuffling people in. I showed her the email and voucher, she had no idea about the guy and the email I received, nor did she seem to care. We paid for our daughter and partial coverage for our complimentary meals and went in. Around 10 minutes later, the same lady comes to our table saying she spoke with a manager and she apologized for overcharging us, she was very apologetic and refunded some of our money while also getting us sodas. The cleanliness of the dishes and utensils leaves a lot to be desired. Also the place itself could use a major makeover to make the place look more inviting and the food more presentable. The food seemed about the same as before. I had the fried shrimp, fried chicken, fried catfish, and the noodles...all were pretty good. My husband liked the cornbread pancake. My daughter tried the mac and cheese, it looked good but she said it was overcooked and mushy. She also tried the general tso chicken, she said it was sweeter than what she is accustomed to with general tso. I had dessert - rice pudding, bread pudding with caramel sauce, and peach cobbler. All were ok. The banana pudding was not great, it was just like instant banana pudding with a line of nilla wafers on top to coat...not a layered one or whip cream or anything. The ice cream tasted more like ice milk. So it was better than the first time but still it could use some serious rework. The servers that came to check on us were all pleasant. read more

This is probably the worst place to go if you are expecting good customer service and fresh hot food. I arrived at 844pm and they close at 10. They did not put any fresh food out. Everything was old and cold. They start to put items up at 920p. The employees were by the door with their purses by 950p and the rent a cop comes around at 950 to say it's 10. This was my first and last time here in life. I was asked if I wanted more water only after I waved my glass at the waitress. I feel that if thi is your norm, then you should give people half off the last1.5 hours. read more

First time coming today for lunch. I had taken my food to go. Container was small compared to what you normally see. Food was all good. Spaghetti was a little sweet- not used to that but it wasn't bad. Corn and smoked sausage was all good. Cant go wrong with that I suppose. I also has some shrimp, it was cooked perfect and cleaned properly. (Id hate to have that job) I stayed on the Asian side since I cook soul food a lot at home. Filled my container as much as I could without looking too greedy. (lol) Overall i enjoyed it and I will be back. read more

Chow time Restraunt was definitely worth the visit. Good food served at a good price. Nice atmosphere.

I am always given fast and friendly service here and I really like they have good rules here like making sure people are not sagging their pants or dressing inappropriately read more

This place took me by surprise! Never have I been to a soul food and Chinese food buffet and THEY BOTH WERE SUPER GOOD! The food is so good and plentiful that by my second plate I had to stop myself and make my exit outta there before they would have to roll me out! Lol the parking is so so as it is shared with several other businesses but the restaurant is HUGE plenty of space and we didnt have a long wait at all! read more

I went today and the cook did Not have on gloves or a hair net and his hair was in a long ponytail,the other workers didn't have a hair net on either.The ladies behind the buffet are rude ,I handed one the spoon because I knew she was adding food and she snatched it . I wasted 13$ because I was sick after seeing all of that read more

This is a very cheap, but over priced place to eat. Most everything depicted in the place is a lie or wrong. For example, home cooking, southern style, has a picture of a big sweet tea. Can you get sweet tea....nope. Then Memphis BBQ, not one item on there is Memphis bbq. Not one. Memphis is know for thier DRY rubs... Next is the Chinese food. All the noodles taste like they have been cooked in dirty water. There are some good things about the place, but the bad out way it. And by a lot... read more

Even though the food was delicious. The hostess was rude, when he took us to our table, he stopped to someone and had a personal conversation while me and my group was just standing around like lost puppies. Also the salt shaker cap was disgusting, picture below. Check your dishes before you eat. read more

Chow Time Buffet & Grill - Chinese Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Been many times, not a bad place. If you carry a concealed weapon you will see a large sign telling you a gun isn't welcome, sad they don't believe in the second amendment. Neither the Chinese or Soul Food side is huge, but the food is decent. I like that they have Pepsi products, and your drink won't be empty. Salad and dessert bar are decent. They will ask your child their age to charge correctly, guess they can't trust their customers. The security guard checking receipts at the door is over kill, he sits 2 feet from the cash register and you just saw me pay so why are you checking my receipt? read more

I went to Chow Time for lunch yesterday and was totally disgusted at what I witnessed. The lady behind the food line was calling herself cleaning up and keeping the food straight. She did have on gloves but what happened next made me SICK!!! The food that had spilled onto the countertop she picked up and put it all back for customers to eat, then she used the spoons that EVERYONE has had their hands on to Pick up the FOOD. I REALLY do understand why people get sick after eating at poorly managed Buffets. This Buffet is one of the poorest managed ones I've eaten at. The woman noticed Me watching her but chose to just keep doing what she was doing. I will NEVER eat here again!!!! Customers need to be respected and the restaurant should be concerned about HEALTH CODE VIOLATIONS. read more

I've been to Memphis twice for the Memphis in May festivals & each time I've been advised to check this place out. So FINALLY we decided to come here. It's a soul food/chinese food buffet. We went on Sunday at 4pm, so it was PACKED. There was a 20min wait, we stood outside because they didn't have any seating available inside for waiters. We missed our name & had 2 wait an additional 15mins, DEFINITELY wasn't happy about that. Fast fwd, the Chinese food looked old & untouched so we passed on trying it. The soul food LOOKED good, but that was it. It wasn't anything wrong with it, just nothing to write home about. The thing that IRKED me here was the JERK OFF security guard they have checking receipts to confirm that you've paid like you're at Walmart. Then he asked to check my receipt TWICE!!! This dude PISSED me OFF!!! I won't ever go back. But it was packed so someone likes it! read more

Been coming here for years and it's just getting better and better. The aura is chic and the food is grandmommy and I just thank you for being in my life! read more

I am in no way a buffet type of person. However, my friend was in the mood to try this place so we went. I will admit for a buffet it was huge and very clean. They served both Chinese and Soul Food good. I opted to only try the Soul food and it was pretty decent food. I particularly liked their mash potatoes, yams, rolls and bbq roasted chicken. However, I will admit their customer service was lacking with regards to getting another drink refill but besides that for the price it wasn't bad! read more

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All the food was nasty no flavor at all my wife found a hair in her food all the labels to the food were wrong looked dirty everywhere staff couldn't get the food out fast enough and we're to worried about talking amongst themselves to ask if we needed anything waited for 5 minutes for one of them to just say my I help you read more

This is my goto place in town for some delicious Soul Food. Well, maybe not so much as "delicious," but it's definitely good. They have a large variety of soul food that I miss since Old Country Buffet and Barnhill's closed. They have fried chicken, fried catfish, hot wings, and a more. They even have grilled chicken, pork, and sausages. And what's a soul food place without neck bones and chitterlings? If you want to gorge yourself on soul food with some American-Chinese food to the mix, you really can't get any better than Chow-Time. read more

I am surprised by the low star reviews here. I have only been once, but my experience here was surprisingly good for a buffet that serves both southern cooking and chinese food. In Memphis visiting my mom and of course this was a great time to start using Yelp outside of Cali. But that isn't how I found this place. While at the airport trying to get a rental, the rep there (she wouldn't stop talking, very nice but very talkative) said the best place to get soul food is Chow Time. I pulled up my trusty Yelp app on my phone and after I got settled into our hotel we headed to there. I have never been to a soul food/southern cooking buffet before. I do like the sound of it. Being in the I.E. I am so tired of people talking about Lucilles as a good place to get soul food. I have no review of it because I ate there when I first moved to Cali and I was unimpressed. Everything tasted bland. I haven't been back and I usually give people more than one chance... but man it was a bad first time. That was not the case with Chow Time. They had Bread pudding, Peach Cobbler, Greens, everything you name it. They even serve Chitlins on sunday (I don't eat these anymore... was raised with a mother that cooked southern food all the time... you can get burnt out people! Anyway, it is worth mentioning that you can get Chitlins... and you don't have to clean them. lol) Two types of gravy, Smothered Chicken, chicken wings, fried chicken, fried livers (i love these by the way... i hate that I have to go to M&M in LA to get good ones... though I think I found one local in Rialto, CA.) Fried Potatoes... and of course Fries. All this for Free.99!!!! nope but $10.25 is a good cost. And it was good. It didn't compare to my mom's cooking but for it to be a buffet it was really good. I will come back next time I am in Memphis. read more

I say this with love, welcome to the official negro spiritual and its delightful oriental cousins. Possibly everything you want to eat is here. And I mean everything. Chow Time leaves no taste untapped and you are guaranteed to get full. Or what we like to call on the block that itis - an eerily good feeling that renders you almost unconscious. Lawd how mercy! Last thought, just get prepared to unbuckle your breeches and enjoy yourself. You've been warned. read more

This is a great value. For just $11 I got all I can eat buffet, and it's not just Chinese food. There's lots of southern comfort foods as well. The staff is friendly and best of all...it's actually good. read more

This place sucks got my food all the sauce came out wouldnt fix it everything cold never got my egg role got white rice instead of fried wasn't made right, this place sucks and will never order from them again read more

I'm not always good on giving reviews about a buffet. But, I love this place. There's something here for every appetite. What I like most about them is that they keep it coming and it's always fresh. This is not some regular processed food. This is about as close to home cooking that you're gonna get. Absolutely love their salad bar. It's loaded with just about everything you can possibly think that could go on a salad and more. There's plenty of seating space. And there's a big flat screen tv located where you can see it no matter where you sit. It's great for big groups....especially if no one seems to make up their mind on what they want to eat. They will no doubt find something that satisfy their appetite in this place. It's very clean and the waiters and waitresses are the best. I thought my mom's sweet tea was the best in the world, well......I was wrong. Chow time got her beat. My favorite is the fried catfish. The salmon is great too........well everything was wonderful. read more

Usually me and my whole family love chow time! However, my visit on Nov 23, 2019 changed my opinion for the worst. I had the usual things I always get: chicken (fried and baked), macaroni and cheese, black eye peas, cornbread, a bit of fried rice, lo mein, peach cobbler and ice cream. Basically a little bit of everything. Fine. The next day I got extremely sick- throwing up!! I thought it was just me but my boyfriend who went with me also got sick the next day. Anybody else ever got sick from here?? Really sucks because I have really enjoyed eating there before- I may give it another chance but no time in the near future. read more

It's a buffet.... That being said they do offer a big selection of food...so if there are 2 of you or 12...everyone is sure to find something... Really can't go wrong...they do get busy on the weekends... So plan for it read more

Before I even begin let me say I was going there from their literal day 1. That place was great, it was our #1 most visited food spot. I could go into detail but I'll simply say we liked it and keep it simple for this reason, the place has changed a ton over time. It's gotten worse and worse and the place is all downhill now. We went from going there as regulars and often to avoiding the place even if it was the only option. The joint is just dirty and poorly kept up, parking lot is trashy, inside is also, seeing the difference from what it was to what it has become makes me definitely question their sanitation in terms of food. I don't trust it in the least, I don't believe the people care enough which makes me not trust the food or their cleanliness with the food. I'm definitely no tough customer to please, I'm about as simple, laid back, and blue collar as it gets. It's just a place I could never recommend. I just remember how much we used to love and talk about that place, now it's ghosted from our lives and will remain as such. Hope this helps some of you guys understand the place better, I'd highly recommend going somewhere else. Years ago this place was the spot, now it's the spot to stay away from. read more

If your idea of a good time is some serious people watching, go here now. Such a random mix of folks at this buffet. And speaking of buffet, this is a mecca of buffet choices. Chinese, American and soul food are all very present here and lend to a wide array of food combinations. I think the nicest thing about this buffet is how organized it is. Each genre of food is at a separate buffet, complete with signs directing you toward where to begin. Surprisingly, there's an extensive amount at each buffet. You'd think having so many choices would limit how much you got of each, but no. These could easily be two completely different buffets. I was most impressed by the Chinese section. The General Tso's Chicken, combo fried rice and Mongolian beef were shockingly good for a buffet. I've never had "real" fried rice on a buffet- and this was the real deal. Not that yellowish crap with peas and carrots hanging out. This was dark, brown rice with huge chunks of meat and onions. The standouts in the soul food category were the greens and some sort of chicken plank. The greens have great flavor and the chicken was juicy and had a fresh from the grill taste to it. I have to give some mad props to the service here. Our waitress was an absolute doll and was on top of everything immediately- no empty plates taking up room awaiting her arrival. She also kept checking to make sure the food was to our liking. At a buffet? I've never heard of such a thing. Will I go out of my way to return here? No. If I am in the area will I choose to go here over the sea of chain establishments? Yes, definitely. At $10 bucks a pop for lunch, it is well worth the money. read more

Wow! Huge crowd here..$11.95 per person for buffet. Waited about 15 to 20 mins to be seated! Varieties of food - chinese, southern cooking, soups n salad bar , deserts n ice-cream. Pretty good food. read more

We never leave Memphis without eating here at least 2 times. Food is superb and prices are great for the quality and quantity of food. We are usually down town Memphis which is over 30 minute drive, but the drive is well worth it. read more

Honey! This place is the BOMB! I ate 10 pieces of cornbread lol everything that I got was good from the sweet tea to the catfish to the yams dressing green beans just everything, they have Chinese food also read more

If you want a big selection, hot full buffet and clean this is the place..Huge selection of Chinese and American meats and vegtables..

Love this place. The food is hot and delicious. Great variety. They have a home cooking, Asian, soul, salad and a desert section. I have recommend to all our friends. It's got something for everyone. read more

Never disappointed when we dine here. The food is always delicious, definitely worth being patient due to the crowd that is always drawn to this place. My husband and our kids LOVE this restaurant Doesn't matter whether we go for lunch or dinner. I would advise anyone that is not a regular patron of Chow Time to call about pricing before going, as different days and times have varying pricing. read more

I've been to Chow Time multiple times, because this is always where our coaches take us to dinner. Walking into here you are bombarded with rules... The main ones I remember being no hats or shorts allowed... The location is decent and their food options are endless. You have chinese all the way to southern cooking and sometimes even crawfish. I am always surprised at all their available options. I wouldn't recommend taking any dates here... If you need a good pig out spot though, you can't go wrong. read more

Not a fan. Food don't have a lot of good flavor and everything is greasy. Nothing asian about this place. read more