This just a step above your typical Chinese buffet. There is a wide variety of food that will please children and adults. The lunch food is always fresh as far as I can see. I'm not sure what people talk about when they say the food is old. The main course selections are replenished in small batches and often. The sushi is good, but I'd like item to be labeled so I know what I'm getting. They offer Spring Rolls as well as Egg Rolls. It's also priced right for what you get. read more

gave me food poisoning due to leaving the food out for an excessive amount of time. i had to go to the hospital and recover from fried/old rice syndrome. this isn't the first time the food has bothered me. even though i do like the food, it will make me feel sick every time. i'm done coming here. read more

Have eaten here a few times, there are not many buffets i will revisit due to quality. This one is not a favorite but will do if i am in the mood for chinese. Price is average for a buffet, and there are many choices to choose from. All in all it is a good standby if you cannot get to China Bistro read more

Not that much food catagories.for its price its very bad.And there wasnt no fish. Their craps was too dry.and their big shrimp was overcooked and bad.And they dint have vanilla icecream.Their ice cream comes in packages. read more

Ok rlly? The food here isn't that good. The so called "crawfish" and "crab" have no seasoning, dirty, and extremely small. I'm not quite sure why everyone was jumping up and running to the crab and crawfish section?! The only thing I could honestly say was good was the coffee cake. When I say people were running, THEY WERE RUNNING. I'm also not sure why the waiter put a container of food next to our table, it just sat their our entire stay. I would say this place is scary to eat at, don't eat here. If you eat here keep a bottle of peptobismol in the car or in your purse/bag. Also, don't go in the bathrooms.... I shouldn't have to explain why since this is a buffet (some people's stomachs don't agree with certain foods). But all in all? My stomach is currently acting funny after eating here, so I would say a no, my family agrees that we will not be eating here again. So they have to change a lot for us to come back, from clean meat, leaving stuff out, and actual good food. read more

After eating here, I returned home with diarrhea, which I think is caused by the dirty things here. I ate the crab here it wasn't cooked, and the cold shrimp it wasn't fresh. The crayfish here, it so small, I never come back read more

Typical Chinese buffet So far everything I've tried has been pretty pedestrian. Not bad but nothing to write home about. One fairly unique item is ability to select items to be prepared on hibachi grill. I haven't tried yet myself so unable to review that aspect. My co-workers favor this buffet over others in the general area. read more

Yuck! Yuck! Yuck! Horrible food, cold, crab legs were old and smelled. This place needs closed!

Run of the mill asian buffet. Have lots of options ranging from Chinese(of course) to southern food(won't call it authentic). Hibachi stands out as compared to Buffet items. Decent deserts. Most dishes are fried, so if you are health conscious, you might wanna try a different place. Very reasonable prices. Visit for a quick but filling bite. read more

I went to Chow Town at 6:30 on Sunday night and it was packed with people!! They had a ton of seating, and we got in and out really quick! The establishment was clean and they had a large staff, so we didn't have any problems with getting refills. The Buffet was full the entire time, and all of the food was hot! The sushi was mediocre, but it's what you would expect from a Chinese buffet. They also have a hibachi option, which was nice to have! Overall we had a great experience! read more

Of course it's an ALL YOU CAN EAT restaurant so most folks probably are thrilled for that reason alone. Me? Nope! There are too many good all you can eat places to compare it to! I will say that their Pepsi products were brinxed perfectly!! Love a drink that is carbonated till it burns going down!! The chilled shrimp were tiny, but tasty...the fried rice was not good. The macaroni and cheese was made using mayonnaise as a sauce to keep it from setting up I guess...total and complete FAIL!! This is Alabama after all...the Deep South where every grandma is a master mac n cheese maker!! The fried chicken was over cooked, the vegetables were all chopped too big for a restaurant designed for a fork and spoon only. Everything was pretty run of the mill...we commented as we walked to the car that we could have gotten a much better meal at Golden Corral for the same price...! read more

One of my favorite things about living in this area is chow town My rating is based strictly on experiences I've had in Chinese buffets.. Location: it is hard to miss. I absolutely love how big this place is. And when you walk inside there's plenty of seating and it doesn't feel crowded. The food: I'm very impressed with the variety. For a Chinese buffet I think the quality is very good and tasty. They do have simple sushi rolls available. I do not think it's fair to compare them to a sushi restaurant because it is not a specialty but if you want a quick simple Sushi fix it's very good for that and they have all the accompaniments to go with it. They have a self-serve Hibachi station where you can customize what you want in it and bring it to them and they will cook it in front of you. I'm a big fan of Chinese soup and they have a few options to satisfy. Besides plenty of food options they have a salad bar. Customer service: I have always been treated very nice and all of the staff seems to be very pleasant A little bonus is that they do a to-go option where they weigh your food in a box if you don't have time to dine in. I'm a regular in that regard read more

This is a really good Americanized Chinese buffet, easily the best in Birmingham. Specifics: The sushi is good; wait staff tends to be very nice; facilities are clean; they keep the refills coming. Popular with crews at lunch. The TVs always seem to be playing Maury, so there are lots of Alexander Shunnarah ads for your dining pleasure. (That said, at least it's not Fox News, which is apparently de rigeur for Alabama restaurants.) It's also convenient. You can walk to the HomeGoods next door after your meal and browse a bit while you relax and digest. Recommended. read more

This place should be closed down. Food is horrible. Went with wife and both got very very sick. My wife threw up at least 3 times after eating this food. I had sever stomach pain and very bad smelly poop (maybe even blood in it). Don't know what chemicals they are putting in this food. For sure the food was not made fresh. Tasted bad. And very fatty and fried food. We also felt very full after eating just one plate from this buffet selection. If you want to put your health at risk, go ahead But I will not even go that street. Cheap and disgusting food. read more

Took the whole fam and for a buffet the food was decent. Everyone found at least a dish or two they liked. However later that night we were all fighting for time on the toilet as every one of us got sick. read more

We have been coming to Chow Town since it opened. My family normally has a pleasant time. Decent food and nice conversation. Today we had a server by the name Coco. She did not refill our drinks. She did not take the dirty plates off the tables. She did absolutely nothing. I complained to the manager and he said that he would take care of it. I also wrote on my checkout receipt how dissatisfied we were. She saw me writing and tried to snatch the receipt out of my hand. I said no she kept insisting. I had to keep telling her no for her to go away. The manager finally came to our table as we were leaving and said that he promises he will take care of it after they closed. read more

I have only been for lunch,but the service is always great and the food is fresh. The sushi is so good. Can't wait to try out dinner one night read more

What you would expect from any Chinese buffet. Nothing to call home about .. prices were a bit higher than I think the quality demanded and service has below average but I've definitely experienced much worse. Crowded and walking space wasn't great. But overall it was pretty good. read more

Owned by the same people/family that owns and runs New China Buffet III out at Crestwood. So the menu is almost identical, except the buffet space is a lot more compact. The main differences in the menu are mostly seen in the sushi line, where there are a bit more authentic items than at NCB, but the sushi runs out faster and is replenished slower. One thing I noticed in the menu here is the availability of fried dumplings during dinner; at NCB you can only get fried dumplings during weekday lunch. Also the fresh seafood salad that you can get at NCB doesn't exist here. In both places they only bring out the raw fish on weekends when they can charge more. During Xmas and western New Year's they were open but charged $1 more while changing up the menu a little; they had salt-and-pepper fried frogs legs and sliced peking roast duck which I thought were good and unique variations - they should do the frog legs more. In general they are $1 more expensive than NCB, probably due to being in Hoover vs. Crestwood. They also close an hour earlier than NCB. read more

I checked this place out today at lunch. It is a welcome addition to the Riverchase area of Hoover. The decor is ornate and modern, definitely a cut above most buffets in the area. The sushi spread is impressive, probably the largest in the area for a buffet. They had a good selection of nigiri and rolls with roe on them. There was seven other stations of salads, desserts, Chinese, and American foods. I didn't get to sample everything but what I did have was real good. The place was busy so the turnover on the buffet was good so everything that I had was fresh. It is definitely worth checking out. read more

Chow Town - Business hours - Chinese Near Me - Hoover, Alabama

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Omg!!! We just wanted Chinese buffet but didn't want to drive all the way to the east side of town. We absolutely loved it! It's much nicer then the other one we go to- better atmosphere, better food, much closer to us, and better prices! Even with tip (I'm not a cheap tipper lol) we spent less than $35!!! Cute and inexpensive for date night! So we're never going back to the other place! read more

Most of this was Gross, Do not go here if you don't speak Chinese or Spanish. They will look at you crazy. The Crab stuffing was pretty good read more

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The food ok nothing was overly mouth watering or tip delicious too handle or anything like that. This is just basic buffet that didn't spend too much time creating this great display of food. Aside from that the was ok bout too but ok. Yet the service left much too be desired, servers are nothing friendly but robot like and borderline rude, this was my first and last visit. read more

If you're looking for a Chinese buffet that will hit all your basic cravings, then look no further! Chow Town may have a smaller selection than the other buffets in the Birmingham area, but they do have all the basic Chinese dishes you would want at a buffet. Also, this just means that the food gets replenished more often! I do appreciate that this buffet has coconut shrimp, which isn't always found at a Chinese buffet. The waiter was also very attentive and kept refilling our drinks. All in all, I had a good dining experience! read more

I really enjoyed my experience at Chow Town. Their selection of food is not as vast as other buffets, but the taste of their food is better. The facility is clean and orderly. The service was quick. It's a good place to go if you want Chinese food right away. read more

It's honestly an ok buffet. But it costs $14 for the lunch buffet and it tastes ok. Not a lot of choices for meat. Too much American food at a Chinese buffet. Crawfish tasted like spoiled salt water. Not enough choices or high enough quality for $14 read more

Pleasantly, plumply satisfied. I haven't been to a Chinese, or any buffet in a very long time. We decided to try this one out on a whim and were very satisfied. The Venue: Pleasant environment and atmoshphere. The restaurant is well decorated and can hold quite a few guests. The Peeps: They were very helpful and attentive to keeping the buffet full. The Goods: Surprisingly the food was very good. I was a little skeptical of the raw oysters bit they seemed fresh and tasted alright for a buffet. The food selection was vast enough for any buffet foodie. Everything from wings to sushi. read more

Me and my husband finally broke down and went in sometime during the summer and we are now spoiled! We come just for the hibachi alone! My one problem is that the other items are kind of lackluster and/or cold, depending on when you get there. The sushi is definitely average, but there are a few gems hiding on the bar. All in all, go for lunch on weekdays, and the prices are justifiable. read more

Make no mistake, this is Chinese buffet. So why the four stars? There are a few things that make this one of the best Chinese buffets in town, maybe the best I've ever had. The selection is unreal. There is a mix of standard Chinese fare (with excellent pot stickers and soups) and a few basic American dishes. But then it gets interesting - there is a made-to-order stir fry hibachi grill, a sushi bar, and an ice cream bar in addition to the dessert bar. The service is also excellent. At times it's so fast you don't see it in action. Seriously. For the money, this is a great value for lunch, I can't speak to the dinner experience. read more

This place is disgusting. It smells and looks unclean. The food is close to inedible. The hibachi beef tasted like it had probably been sitting for 3-5 days. The sushi rolls had some kind of stinky (rotten) ground fish substance that literally made me gag. After paying $30 for 2 people, we went up the road and got Thai takeout. We literally could not eat the food there read more

Our families favorite buffet! We eat here at least once a month for lunch or dinner and we love it! Lots of choices and they have sushi too!! The restaurant is always clean and packed but plenty of food on the buffet for everyone. read more

Average Chinese Buffett. The sushi was good, but I'm a big sushi fan and was very hungry. My boyfriend had a bone in his sushi cut his mouth. We got a %10 discount but we will not visit again. Service was mediocre. Not to be negative though, if you're looking for your average Chinese Buffett, this is it. read more

This is a good place for Families and a quick lunch or dinner. Has a variety of food. Big buffet. Definitely recommend.

My favorite Chinese buffet, I drive from 20 minutes away just to eat here. Always has fresh food on the bar, so many choices as well! Their sushi bar has many choices too, and is always stocked. Staff is very friendly and takes good care of us, definitely a family restaurant. read more

This is my favorite Chinese buffet in all of Alabama. I've been to a few of them and I can honestly say that chow town is th best around. They not only care about quality and great service, but also care about the people. I can't get enough of chow town. P.S: The coconut shrimp is life read more

Chow Town, Grill & Buffet, in Hoover, Alabama, is one of the best, if not THE BEST Chinese food buffet I and my family have EVER enjoyed. So many choices of delicious food, and deserts too, plus the table service is superb with attention given to customers' satisfaction. The prices are very budget-friendly, and the restrooms are clean and well-kept as well. Great food, great value, and great service too. Connie is the lady who welcomes diners and customers. One Sunday, we left a model railroading book and the restaurant staff found the book and kept it safe for us. Excellent service, excellent food! Cannot praise this restaurant enough. God bless! Mark N Tim Elders, Birmingham, Alabama, USA read more

Nice and clean interior, good lunch buffet, but as with most large Asian buffets, quality and quantity can't coexist. If you want choices and an unlimited amount of food, this is your place. However, if you want great food, Id suggest Mr Chen's right down 31. With that being said Chow Town is a decent, quick lunch that will leave you satisfied. read more

They were busy this Fathers Day, they were running a "special" dinner buffet all day 12.99. That included ham, crab legs, deconstructed fried lobster, roast and salmon. All the food was over cooked, the crab legs were never replenished while I was there, the food wasn't hot at all. But the sushi was delicious that was the best part of the meal. Well and the egg rolls were delicious, the deserts were "store bought" and the Chinese doughnuts didn't have any sugar on them. But it was clean the wait staff took a while to seat us and our water wasn't refilled until we were done eating. I wouldn't return it cost too much to be unsatisfactory. read more

Great value and clean environment. Be aware that it is often very crowded whenever we go on Fri or Sat night at 7pm. I would never imagine getting sushi at a buffet oriented establishment but to be honest I get more than the price of admission in what I find to be very good and fresh sushi! One of my party is a huge crab leg fans and is always on Alert for when the legs hit the deck as they go fast! You have a full service from salad to desert and I've been there so often I have a three plate pattern beginning with sushi, moving onto a variety of Chinese favorites and ending with a trip back for my favs and skipping the large desert selection. Have been there dozens of times with only one or two gripes mostly due to the volume of peeps moving through and the few times items were low or waiting to be freshened up. You can't beat the value! read more

So I went to chowtown at 630 on a Tuesday with my tinder date. It was ok for me, she thought chowtown was great. I will be taking her to chowtown for any special occasions, although when its my turn to celebrate I would prefer somewhere that does a good tossed salad. I would have given chow town 5 stars but I couldnt get over the musty carpet smell. read more