Exceptional chinese dining. They have added a lot of new features to the buffet. The first is their made-to-order noodle bar with lots of fresh ingredients, and they heat the noodle bowl up for you within minutes! They also have added king crab legs on Friday and Saturday during dinner. The restaurant also started serving boba beverages (NOT on the buffet) with a ton of drink options to choose from. Their boba is made fresh daily and is the perfect addition to any tea or slushy drinks! This is a favorite spot of mine and I would recommend the buffet or ordering off their menu. read more

I haven't been to Ming Dynasty in quite a while and WOW, the food is horrible now. It use to be so good! I'm not sure what happened but the cleanliness is beyond gross. I found a HAIR in my food and the waiter just said "Opps.." I lost my appetite right then! I hadn't ate all day so I tried to eat some of the broccoli and chicken but it was so cold. The chicken didn't even taste like chicken. I didn't even finish a quarter of one plate and proceeded to ask to speak with the manager. I explained to the owner that there was hair in my food, the buffet was completely out of many entrees, and what was left of the buffet was cold. She asked if I wanted to try another dish but I was too grossed out. She offered a discount on the total bill (My boyfriend and I both got the buffet) but it was a $1 off a bill of $30. I didn't even eat the food nor my boyfriend! Our whole visit lasted maybe at most 10 mins. Your best bet is North China in Santa Maria. Ming Dynasty was a waste of money. read more

I have been here twice now and had a great dining experience each time. Let's start by saying that it is a location that is partially hidden by other businesses ... FIND IT, it is worth the effort. Next, you approach the front door and open it and your Sense of Smell is greeted with the delightful odors of the orient that builds your anticipation of something some tasty treats. The staff was quick to seat us and offer menus. We opted for the buffet. Hint Take a small scoop of many of the choices and then return for more of the items you liked best. I have been to bigger buffets but none done as well. Seek out this restaurant for a great meal. read more

Good amount of choices for their buffet at a reasonable price. Great customer service.

This place is Tiny so if you are looking for a big selection of food it's not the place. However, what they do offer is all very tasty and the staff is very friendly. read more

we moved here last year and tried Chinese all over Santa Maria. So far, this is the best place we have had. The staff if friendly...and the food is awesome. We go here every few weeks. The tangerine Chicken is da bomb! read more

Went back a second time to make sure we didn't just catch them on a "good day"...like the first visit, everything was hot, fresh & delicious. Better than anything available in SLO that's for sure! read more

By far this is one of best restaurants in Santa Maria. Staff is friendly and buffet is fresh. Or order off the menu, food is great.

The good: 1. Very good variety 2. Not greasy at all unlike the cheaper Chinese places in town 3. Service is exceptional, very friendly and my glass was never empty 4. Food is refreshed often 5. Jumbo breaded shrimp was scrumptious! 6. Very clean and bright 7. Plenty of parking The bad: 1. Sometimes the food is a little cold, which is understandable since you don't want the food to dry out if there isn't a large crowd 2. Not very cheap, but worth it with the better quality food 3. Fried rice and chow mein noodles are nothing special, but with such a good variety I fill up on the entrees read more

Take out tonight. Great food and great service. They are very kind and we want to support local businesses. We will be back.

Ordered my usual takeout from the Ming Dynasty. Sadly, that was my last time. Ever since new ownership, prices have gone up and food quality down. On 3/17/21, my order was awful, almost tasteless. I ended up throwing the order in the trash. The Kung Pao Chicken had no "pow" and the chicken was rubbery. The chicken in the General Chicken was cooked the same--Rubbery. The egg rolls were bad. The wonton soup had a funny taste. At $44.00 a meal for two people, the food should taste good. read more

Unfortunately, we don't have very many good Chinese restaurants in our town. So, this place stands out at first. I have to say that they are cleaner than the other Chinese buffet restaurant available in our town. My favorite dish is Tangerine beef. I don't know the exact name of the dish but the fish with green peppers is kinda growing on me. They also make good sauteed string beans. The best day and time to go there is for the weekend dinner time if you are a crab lover. You can get all you can eat snow crab legs for the same price as the weekday. However, their food choice on the buffet table is limited and it always remains the same. They had just recently increased their buffet price. Our family has been going there less because we are sick of same food for more money. We went there on Mother's Day and they raised the price just for that day without any special menu on their buffet table. Last couple of times we were there, we weren't getting any water refills and we had to chase down a waitress to get our check. It's a hit or miss. Somedays you get a decent service, other days you get almost none. read more

I recently went to dinner with my family at Ming Dynasty and i don't like to be negative. My favorite reviews are when I get to be positive and 5 star. However I'm sorry to say there is nothing positive about this place's Buffett. My family spent $80 for the Buffett and it was Disgusting!!!! The meat was burnt, there was no flavor, there was nasty flavor, the crab legs were so cold and looked orange when you open the crab legs. The Soda was awful and you could tell the Soda water was not good. The deep fried stuff had no flavor. This place charges $17 a person for Buffett and will charge you extra if you don't finish your food. They probably do this because people don't want to finish their food. Also, the customer service was terrible. Never going back! read more

My family and I wanted Chinese food and it appears that they are the only ones open. I have been there in the past. We would have the buffet. There is a large choice of food, it was fun choosing to try all the different dishes. I thought some of the dishes were a little dry. And I really enjoyed some of the dishes. Going back for the 3rd time may be the reason my family has calling me names. But all in all good food. Decent service and a great time with my family. read more

Always great food. Great service. Small buffet but food makes up for it. I've ate here before Covid. Ate here during Covid. Will continue to eat here after Covid! Thank you for all that you do! read more

I was unimpressed by this place significantly. I came here once a very long time ago. I could not figure out why I didn't like it. Now I know why. The girl in the front was nice and did help us. For one person we payed 17 dollars which is just insane. Portions are small , and are not filling. Guy, who I think the cook, was very rude and had a problem with us. He didn't even say anything or smile at least. If you don't like your job, don't put it on us. Service is slow, was told 10 minutes which turned into 30 minutes. Their is a lot of seating and it's in a nice location. Food was greasy and didn't taste great. There's a good amount of seating and could have been a regular spot. Here are my suggestions if you ever read this: 1) Get a cook that likes his job and is actually Asian. 2) Charge less 3) Be more nice or say at least a thank you or just smile. 4) Make the overall customer experience good for everyone! read more

Ming Dynasty used to be a weekly tradition for my family. Since then it has gone downhill. The food is no longer fresh and delicious and the staff is not nearly as friendly. read more

This is hands down the best buffet in the area. Almost even the best Chinese food. The place is a bit old and slightly dusty but like I said it is delicious. Last time I was here was probably 12 years ago and now I see why it is still around. I will be back next time I want either Chinese food or a buffet. They also have Boba drinks that are great. I will defiantly be recommending this place to more people and I am happy to give them 5 stars. read more

The reason I wouldn't recommend this restaurant is because of the buffet. The quality just isn't there. Now I've been to good buffets, and I've been to bad. What makes for a good buffet is quality of ingredients and good cooking. This buffet is very mediocre. My food was greasy and bland. I hope someone that owns this place reads this review and steps up with some improvements, but until then I cannot recommend. read more

I've been coming here for over 15 years and have always been very happy with the food and the service. The wait-staff are all very attentive and friendly. The only dish I've ever ordered from the menu is their huge bowl of War Wonton Soup, and it was delicious! Otherwise, I pretty much order the buffet. With it, you get a choice of wonton or hot & sour soup, which are both good. They have a very good food selection, but the dishes I always have to have are the Stir-fry Green Beans, the seafood and vegetables dish, and the Tangerine Beef... Oh, that Tangerine Beef!! Of course, it being a buffet, it's pretty much all in the timing. When they're slammed, you have to wait a bit the food. You don't usually have to wait very long though. Even though they raised their prices recently, I think it's still pretty reasonable for the selection and quality. Ming Dynasty has been around for YEARS, and there's a good reason why- great food and great people! read more

My favorite buffet in town and one of the top two Chinese restaurants. I recommend the tangerine beef and their green beans. read more

Below average wonton soup. Nice staff in there. Didn't know that it was a buffet at first. Good food in general, but not as big as a selection as a home town or golden carrel. read more

Ming Dynasty - Cool placemat - Chinese Near Me - Santa Maria, California

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Always a pleasant place to have Chinese food especially the orange chicken with rice. The egg rolls are delicious and of course the little sundaes after the buffet. I really like the people who work there, they always make you feel at home. Only thing is that the price s have gone up. Oh well! read more

Been coming here since I was young, the food is delicious! My favorite Chinese place in town! Personally I enjoy the buffet because who doesn't love all you can eat?! read more

Do not eat here! Worst customer service I have ever received. Their prices are too expensive for the type of food they serve. It is cold and sometimes rancid especially the famous Ming Dynasty beef. However, the last year their customer service is horrible. The owner only cares about taking your money. The new staff are inexperience and will push you to finish eating and get out. My family and I were having a conversation and they kept pushing us out even when we were in the middle of our meal. The owner pushed us to get our food fast because she needed to change to the dinner buffet. She claimed that there were several customers waiting. It was a lie since there was no one outside. We stood up and left and decided never to spend our money in this place. read more

The best hot and sour soup in the west green beans a must More choices than you need Home town folks. The best Favorite in Santa Maria a must try read more

Visiting friends in Santa Maria and they took me here as I was craving for Chinese food. I am from LA and I amazed by the food quality, selection, and friendly service here. Their tangerine beef is to die for. Definitely will come back again when I visit Santa Maria. read more

I have been giving this place a chance and it keeps messing up my order in the beginning I didn't do anything about it but when they keep doing it I have to say something these people do not care all they care about is your money. I recommend you go to North China in Santa Maria way better restaurant and they have never messed up my order and I have known them since I was a little kid Ming Dynasty is one of the worst Chinese restaurants I've been to read more

This restaurant has been consistently the best Chinese food in Santa Maria. My family and I have been going here for twenty years. The food is great; either off the menu or from the buffet, you will not be disappointed. My personal favorites are the Won Ton Soup, Kung Pao Chicken, Tangerine Chicken and their fried Won Tons. And the staff is always friendly and ready to serve. read more

Worst Chinese buffet ever! The varieties are so limited n' it costs 13 bucks per person! Says jumbo shrimps on sat. night, but I would say it's jumbo shrimps' babies! How can u call a jumbo shrimp a "jumbo" if its size is only 1/4 of a regular shrimp?? read more

when here because of all good reviews on yelp...boy was I disappointed...I'm big chinese food eater, and none of these food taste like Chinese food. Everything was under heated and taste awful. Good reviews rly??? read more

Best Chinese food I have ever had. Ever! They blanch their broccoli perfectly! It's a little pricey but still worth it!

Bomb soup!!! The Kung Pao Chicken was not even slightly spicy, nevertheless it was good. Haven't had Chinese in idk how long this place was delicious, I'll eat here when I think of Chinese food! read more

Seriously, the blandest, most under-seasoned Chinese food I think I have ever eaten. I only tried their lunch buffet, but based on that, I would not recommend this as a go-to Chinese restaurant. For example, the hot and sour soup was neither hot (spicy) nor sour. It did contain lots of good ingredients, but it was the farthest thing from what my taste buds have come to know as hot and sour soup. All of the food LOOKED good, but everything I tasted was without flavor. read more

I love this place. Great buffet, friendly staff, and prompt service. They also have a regular menu as well though the buffet is a good price with a lot of great food options. Of all the Chinese restaurants we have tried in Santa Maria this one is by far the best! read more

used to go here a lot when I was younger, and I remember that I loved coming here, however it seems that the mind of a child is what it takes to have an enjoyable experience here. all of the food, was sweet and hardly if at all seasoned. You go to buffet's with a reasonable amount of understanding that the quality will be lacking compared to a cook to order restaurant. However I found no essence of Chinese cooking there was no bite or spices. overall disappointment read more

Tiny selection but the flavor of the food was excellent!! The staff was very friendly. We will eat here again and again.

The owner (I'm presuming, the lady with short black hair) is EXTREMELY rude. She yelled at my elderly grandmother in front of the whole restaurant for walking on the wrong side of the buffet. The food has always been okay but it was cold and when we commented on it to the waitress she offered to microwave it and claimed it was because of the air conditioner. They only got a two star rating because I like their sweet and sour chicken... read more

Went for lunch on Friday afternoon, 12/14/12. Ordered Kung Pao Beef. Service was awful, should have walked out but, I was hungry and with company. Beef was cold. Service was still awful. 12-hours later....FOOD POISONING! Thanks for the week off of work. read more

My husband and I frequent this place. The selection on the buffet is small but everything on it is always delicious and since they make small batches of the food, it's always fresh. My glass is never empty and the servers are always friendly. Our son is a fan as well (4 yrs old) read more