I've been watching commercials for a year about ayce lobster,so I thought I'd drive to Boise to check it out. First there was no lobster in the lobster,just ayce lobster shells.It looked like they bought shells that had already been picked clean, then they sauteed them in butter.As far as the rest of the food,eh,most was frozen stuff you can get at any grocery store and cook at home.I did like the steamed clams and muscels,but thats about it.The staff were fine and very quick to clean plates,but the food is just not good,I won't go back.I'm not a food snob or hard to please ,I just want what I was promised. read more

I try to eat pretty healthy and was stuck going here for a graduation party. Service was good but i feel food was not up to par. In their defense i am not a big fan of buffets read more

Completely average.... Not much else to say. Service was almost good, which is quite impressive for a Chinese buffet. The Mongolian beef was my favorite. Don't go if you are not a fan of MSG. read more

Ok I swear I am really not trying to start a bad review trend on Yelp. It just seems to be going that way for me lately. I used to come to City Buffet a couple of years ago...a lot...almost to much. I, like many others, felt memorized by so many food options and all you could eat for the great price. So today after my son and I finished working out, he suggested city buffet and I really didn't think anything of it other than ok I am hungry lets do it. From the moment I started eating what I put on my plate I realized I could never come here again. Despite the fact I was very hungry I could not bring my self to finish most items I had put on my plate. All of it tasted super greasy or super salty or drenched in a sauce probably laden with MSG. I left feeling horrid with a bad headache and sick to my stomach. I have been trying to eat cleaner and healthier the last year and I think the result of that this I can no longer tolerate food slop that is not even fit for consumption by pigs. I am so sad to think of all the times I ate here and thought the food was decent. Add to that kids running around, cell phones going of left and right, and it definitely felt like I was at a cattle call. I'm giving 2 stars because of how many different food options they have for the price but the food quality gets zero stars. The only healthy thing they have here is a very very small salad bar. Sorry city buffet but my health cannot handle what you are dishing out anymore. :-( read more

This place was terrible we were seated by a hostess that barely said hello she asked what we wanted to drink and left and came back with our waters placed them on the table and left us. We sat there waiting for the cue do we get our own plates? Nothing on the table so I asked the boy who was vacuuming "we have never been here do we just get our own plates?" He looked at me as if he didn't understand me and said "uh all u can eat" and pointed towards the buffet. Upon gathering our chosen items we seated ourselves and realized everything deep fried was stale the sushi was obviously old. So guessed maybe the hibachi would be better since theoretically they are supposed to cook it for you they had all the raw meat and vegetables lined up next to each other I asked the man who was standing behind the counter if I was supposed to tell him what I wanted and he looked at me blankly and didn't understand me then he walked into the back of the kitchen and looked out the little round window as if he was waiting for me to leave. So rude! I ate some mushy generals chicken and we attempted dessert which tasted like banana medicine, and left. 21.00 later I did not tip I didn't get my money's worth. Service sucked food was gross. We call it the shitty buffet. read more

GAG. The food was horrible, the waitstaff were worse than rude. We walk in, one girl is running around bare footed, then another seats us at the end of a table that was already being used (and there were other open tables) "what do you want to drink" was how we were greeted at the table. When we came back to our shared table they had brought the drinks, had spilled some on the table, and onto my silverware, didn't clean it up. The food tasted rancid. We stayed maybe 20 minutes and were getting up to leave...another server said "wait a minute, I'll go get your ticket".... $20 for a horrible lunch experience. read more

It's ok. Dinner is better and fresher, but also more expensive. This is basically the way it goes with buffets. If you're looking for fresher items, don't come at lunch time. That being said, my kids love it, but I find it to be pretty greasy and boring. It's pretty much like any other Chinese/Asian buffet out there. Nothing that makes you excited to go back. Staff is very friendly and attentive even when they're extremely busy. read more

The first time I went to the City Buffet it was about 2-3 weeks after their Grand Opening and let me make a point to say that nothing about it was Grand. I was already annoyed five minutes after walking through the door. There was kids running around touching everything which grosses me out about buffets but I guess you have to mostly blame their irresponsible parents. The hostess came up and was friendly but quickly let me know that their was not any booths which I think most people prefer. So instead my husband and I were sat next to two obnoxious males who were arguing about everything from work to their friendship/bromance. So word of advice we are in America I fit the stereotype of not wanting anyone within my 3 foot bubble unless I know them so the table that is meant for six ( family or friends) is not suitable for 4 people who do not know each other sitting next to each other with the grimy guy on my side draping his arm around the chair between us with his legs spread wide and talking inappropriately. My husband and I barely finished one plate before deciding to fight the crowd to get to the door. The food we did manage to eat was about average but looked like a mess from what seemed like a dozen human cattle had stomped on it. The sushi bar had a California roll and some other basic non fish roll on it but nothing else. I had to ask for a tuna roll which the chef made quickly and was very nice to me so I give them that. The way the buffet is set up makes it seem small and crowded ( crazy crowded with the actual herd that was in there). So now your wondering why I gave this restaurant a 4 stars instead of 1. Well I went back two days ago since my friend wanted to go and I was to hungry to argue. So we walk in at about 3pm on Monday my first thought was to the China Grand Buffet and how even though I don't mind the place I would never go after the lunch rush was over because you get old over lamp heated food. I braced myself and looked at the food to thankfully be pleasantly surprised. The food was fresh and I also noticed that the sushi bar actually had a nice spread of both fish and non-fish sushi rolls. The fruit was also fresh which is something else that was surprising since most places will keep the fruit until it starts tasting slightly rotten. The place was also practically empty so no screaming kids to trip on or having to sit next to odd people. The hostess and waitress were very nice but my friend got slightly annoyed that she gave us the check after our first plate as if to rush us. I personally hardly noticed and did not care about the check being delivered early but I know that it can come off wrong to some people. Overall everything tasted satisfying, service was nice, place was very clean and atmosphere was not chaotic so I will come back again when I need to satisfy my quick Chinese cravings. read more

My family go to city buffet,wife with two kids get around 3:00 pm,I come over with two more kid around 3:30 pm,after second plate server come over to me and say they will charge me diner price not lunch,becuse I put on my plate lobster,wich is go after 4:00pm for dinerbut no one told me befor I start my meal,only after they see I have lobster on my plate,they chrge me for 4 diner and only 2 lunches,wich I think it's not right,they have to teel in advance about charge,so talked with manager and they do nothing.After we done with meal,server droped fortune cookies on the floor,picked up,walked back and I see it she was put back on plate and put on our table,we don't even touched cookies. read more

sooooooo good, the grill inside a buffet that lets you choose what to put on it ? and a sushi bar , this was great see you next year !

Clean, hot food that was tasty, and priced right. As far as Chinese food is concerned, this is the second best place to eat in Boise. First goes to PF Chang's though. read more

There is a large selection, granted, but selection does not mean quality. I'm not sure if it just wasn't fresh or what, but their chiken array is either tough or all breading and the lettuce for salad is whole leaves making it hard to eat especially with the absence of knives. Anyway, not impressed, I think anyone who goes back after first visit has grown too comfortable with the mediocrity that is American-asian food. read more

Average tasting food. Not an interesting selection. Rude employees and not a welcoming place. Tonight was my second time going, and it will for sure be my last. read more

Absolutely horrid place! The hot food was cold, sushi and sushimi were warm. The service was terrible and when calling to complain to the manager informed that their "interceptor" would remove the negative review. Took my mom here and we're both ill now and its the ONLY thing either of us ate today. I will NEVER return, and I'm a trucker so word will be spread far and wide to avoid this place like the plague! read more

Typical Chinese restaurant a lot of food. They do serve salted fried prawns that go quick. You you'd you crawfish and calamari those are also pretty good. You get in get out quickly which is a plus. Food is pretty well stocked and fresh at most times. I would go back read more

Fish is awful, and customer service is rude but for a Chinese buffet it's the best one iv been to in idaho!

Normally the food here is great, however; I will never reccommend this place again. Food was cold, tasted stale and the one bright spot, habachi grill closed 1 1/2 hours before the the rest of the place. If I could have stood outside and told people to go somewhere else and save their money I would have. Totally the worst food I have ever tatsed tonight!!! They also have no problem charging you full price for food you don't eat. They ask you how your food was after you clearly tell them how disappointed you are. read more

I like the review that says far from the worst, but also not the best. It's appropriate for this buffet, and a line I will continue to apply to many places and situations. If you can trust the sushi, which my meal mates wouldn't, then this place is a very good deal. I also saw a guy with a plate piled high with crayfish, so what it lacks in atmosphere and quality, it makes up for in a diversity of selections. My daughter liked the jello and other desert choices. She says its a slightly less reliable, more spacious, and more speedy version of Panda Express. read more

I hear my friends said that this place is worth a try, so I did. The place is nice and the foods are ok but the service is disappointing. the servers only came by twice and spent all other times flirting with some Asian guys 4 tables down. read more

$7 dollars for all you can eat lunch! wish they had that where I live. The food was just ok, If you just need something to eat to get through the day then this place is good. Big selection including many seafood dishes like mussels, clams and shrimp. If you just eat that then your lunch is paid for already. This is another try once and move on place. read more

I'm completely dumbfounded by the 5 star ratings on here...This was not good food. The seafood was tasteless. Yes tasteless. The Chinese choices all tasted the same whether it be chicken, pork or beef- they all tasted like soy sauce. Was excited for the shrimp and salmon sashimi...but was really nervous that it was ROOM TEMPERATURE. Sorry guys- but there are better places in the Boise-Meridian-Nampa area. Will never be back. read more

We love this place. At first we were not excited when we walked in and saw it was a Chinese buffet. After tasting the food, we will be coming back as often as possible. Service was great too. read more

I honestly think City Buffet is the best Chinese buffet in Boise. They have really good food especially they have crab legs on Friday and Saturday nights. The only thing I think that needs to be fixed a little bit is the sushi bar, if they have few more kinds that would make it perfect. read more

Absolutely the worst food I've ever eaten! Been there twice. The first time I swore we'd never go back. Friends invited us to dinner and picked this place; didn't want to say no. We figured it could not be any worse than the first time. Wrong!!! First time lunch and this time dinner - same menu and more money. Nothing like the commercial they have on TV. Food was cold, old, rubbery, and tasteless. Floor of buffet area was dirty. Dessert area was dirty. The soda I got was flat and more water than soda. Our friends were embarrassed to say the least. When I went to the register to pay I made my feelings know to the owner/cashier. The woman never even acknowledged me, but had no problem taking my money for the slop served. I honestly do not know how they stay in business. We paid $24.87 for 2 disgusting dinners and 2 flat, watery sodas. I should have refused to pay. read more