After my second visit to Buffet House, I can say this without hesitation: this place has officially earned raving review status. In fact, it’s quickly becoming my favorite Chinese buffet in the entire San Diego area—and that’s not a title I give lightly.
Let’s start with the most important thing when it comes to a buffet: flavor. Buffet House absolutely understands flavor, and not in the watered-down, mass-produced way that too many buffets fall into. This is bold, confident seasoning done the right way. From the first plate to the last, it’s clear that whoever is behind the recipes here actually cares about how the food tastes, not just how fast it can be refilled.
The standout item—no contest—is the cream cheese wontons. These are not an afterthought side dish or filler item. They are an over-the-top explosion of flavor, perfectly crispy on the outside with a rich, creamy filling that hits all the right notes. Sweet, savory, indulgent, and incredibly satisfying. I’ve had cream cheese wontons at countless places, and these are easily among the best I’ve ever had—buffet or otherwise.
Another absolute winner is the mushroom chicken. This dish deserves special recognition because it exemplifies what Buffet House does so well. The chicken is tender, the mushrooms are flavorful, and the sauce is balanced without being heavy. It’s comforting, well-executed, and the kind of dish you keep going back for “just one more bite” until your plate mysteriously fills itself again.
What really impressed me on this second visit, though, is that even the items that aren’t complete winners still taste good. That’s rare in buffet settings. Usually there are clear highs and obvious “skip this” options. Here, even the dishes that didn’t completely wow me still had solid seasoning and thoughtful flavor. Nothing tasted bland. Nothing felt like filler. That consistency across the buffet speaks volumes. The buffet layout is well-stocked, the food is kept fresh, and everything feels clean and well-maintained.
Drinks are self-serve, and the staff does a great job keeping things running smoothly without being intrusive. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming—exactly what you want when you’re settling in for a serious buffet experience.
Now let’s talk value, because this is where Buffet House really seals the deal. $25 including fountain drinks. In today’s world, that price point is almost unbelievable—especially for food that actually delivers on quality and flavor. You leave full, satisfied, and feeling like you got more than your money’s worth. Honestly, that combination makes this place the best in the west as far as I’m concerned. Buffet House in Chula Vista isn’t just “good for a buffet.” It’s just good food, period. If you’re in the San Diego area and you love Chinese food—or if you think buffets can’t be done right—this place will happily prove you wrong. I’ll absolutely be back, and I have a feeling this is going to become a regular stop for me.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
P Young
For a buffet, it had a large selection of fresh foods including sea food, soups, sushi, grill, deserts and more. No real wait times, restaurant was clean and well kept, staff was pleasant and courteous.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Autumn
Crowded. Food was super good but I am currently suffering from it in the bathroom. I heard a couple other people in the bathrooms having diarrhea also. They have a hibachi
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 5
Robert Wagoner
What a great buffet! The variety of foods and quality were excellent. The pork chops were perfect. And i loved both the broccoli and beef as well as the orange chicken couldn't be better. And that's just a few of the dozens of dishes to choose from. The staff was friendly and stayed on top of keeping the dishes cleared.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
joseluis mendoza
It's great place to with the family.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
JAMES MAJORS
Went on a random Monday for lunch. It was busier than I expected but still easily found a table. The staff was attentive and friendly. Everything was good, highlight was a lightly fried fish. There were a lot of bones but was definitely worth the effort to remove them. There were a few items unavailable but again, it was pretty busy, so understandable. Total was $19 and change, left a cash tip.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Scor 2011
Amazing better from other buffet in the food and the price hopefully they don’t change as other restaurants, so we can keep going
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
S L
Nice place to eat
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Restaurant
Rosalinda Mason
Lots of options to choose from. Hibachi there as well. I enjoyed the crab but no crackers to use to open the crab. Fast seating
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Edward Inigo
I was headed a bit further down the road because I had a mean Mongolian Beef jones, but my wallet trumped my gut and I stopped here instead. Man, I am STILL full. Fairly strong variety, even with sushi, and everything tasted good, fresh, and was hot (well, not the sushi, Dingleberry!). Went back for seconds, so I guess that says everything. Probably not a hot date vibe, but plenty good to pack your family in a car and let your Mom spend your money like she likes to.
So much variety of food! Healthy vegetable cuisines, seafood & alot of delicious desserts! One must have an empty stomach to really enjoy the food! The employees keep the tables clean.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi Bar, Seafood, Soups, Coconut Shrimp, Buffet Mix Plate, Egg Drop Soup, Hibachi Grilled Shrimp, Mushrooms and Shrimp
Florelyn Bacatan
“We had such a great time dining at this buffet! The food was delicious, fresh, and offered so many options — there was truly something for everyone. The staff were warm and attentive, and the atmosphere made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Definitely a place worth coming back to!”
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
El Rafita
This place is okay; some of the food tasted like it had been sitting there for a while. My daughter and I both got a stomach ache the next morning and felt better after I got it out of my system. Also, the price is okay for an all-you-can-eat buffet, but I was a little upset when I was hit with a 15% tip fee! I asked the register guy why I was getting charged a tip fee, and he said it was because of the party size. I understand if they bring you the food, drinks, desserts, etc., but it's a buffet; you have to get up and get all of your food, drinks, and desserts. So why the tip fee? I probably won't go back, as it feels like a shake-down.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Melissa Winters
We left our receipt facing upwards like the instructions say and twice one of the bus ladies cleared our table when we went to get food and we had to get new drinks and silverware each time. We only got two plates each so there was no need to rush us out of the place and I was with my elderly client.
After my second visit to Buffet House, I can say this without hesitation: this place has officially earned raving review status. In fact, it’s quickly becoming my favorite Chinese buffet in the entire San Diego area—and that’s not a title I give lightly.
Let’s start with the most important thing when it comes to a buffet: flavor. Buffet House absolutely understands flavor, and not in the watered-down, mass-produced way that too many buffets fall into. This is bold, confident seasoning done the right way. From the first plate to the last, it’s clear that whoever is behind the recipes here actually cares about how the food tastes, not just how fast it can be refilled.
The standout item—no contest—is the cream cheese wontons. These are not an afterthought side dish or filler item. They are an over-the-top explosion of flavor, perfectly crispy on the outside with a rich, creamy filling that hits all the right notes. Sweet, savory, indulgent, and incredibly satisfying. I’ve had cream cheese wontons at countless places, and these are easily among the best I’ve ever had—buffet or otherwise.
Another absolute winner is the mushroom chicken. This dish deserves special recognition because it exemplifies what Buffet House does so well. The chicken is tender, the mushrooms are flavorful, and the sauce is balanced without being heavy. It’s comforting, well-executed, and the kind of dish you keep going back for “just one more bite” until your plate mysteriously fills itself again.
What really impressed me on this second visit, though, is that even the items that aren’t complete winners still taste good. That’s rare in buffet settings. Usually there are clear highs and obvious “skip this” options. Here, even the dishes that didn’t completely wow me still had solid seasoning and thoughtful flavor. Nothing tasted bland. Nothing felt like filler. That consistency across the buffet speaks volumes.
The buffet layout is well-stocked, the food is kept fresh, and everything feels clean and well-maintained.
Drinks are self-serve, and the staff does a great job keeping things running smoothly without being intrusive. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming—exactly what you want when you’re settling in for a serious buffet experience.
Now let’s talk value, because this is where Buffet House really seals the deal. $25 including fountain drinks. In today’s world, that price point is almost unbelievable—especially for food that actually delivers on quality and flavor. You leave full, satisfied, and feeling like you got more than your money’s worth. Honestly, that combination makes this place the best in the west as far as I’m concerned.
Buffet House in Chula Vista isn’t just “good for a buffet.” It’s just good food, period. If you’re in the San Diego area and you love Chinese food—or if you think buffets can’t be done right—this place will happily prove you wrong. I’ll absolutely be back, and I have a feeling this is going to become a regular stop for me.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
For a buffet, it had a large selection of fresh foods including sea food, soups, sushi, grill, deserts and more. No real wait times, restaurant was clean and well kept, staff was pleasant and courteous.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Crowded. Food was super good but I am currently suffering from it in the bathroom. I heard a couple other people in the bathrooms having diarrhea also. They have a hibachi
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 5
What a great buffet! The variety of foods and quality were excellent. The pork chops were perfect. And i loved both the broccoli and beef as well as the orange chicken couldn't be better. And that's just a few of the dozens of dishes to choose from. The staff was friendly and stayed on top of keeping the dishes cleared.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It's great place to with the family.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went on a random Monday for lunch. It was busier than I expected but still easily found a table. The staff was attentive and friendly. Everything was good, highlight was a lightly fried fish. There were a lot of bones but was definitely worth the effort to remove them. There were a few items unavailable but again, it was pretty busy, so understandable. Total was $19 and change, left a cash tip.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing better from other buffet in the food and the price hopefully they don’t change as other restaurants, so we can keep going
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nice place to eat
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Restaurant
Lots of options to choose from. Hibachi there as well. I enjoyed the crab but no crackers to use to open the crab. Fast seating
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
I was headed a bit further down the road because I had a mean Mongolian Beef jones, but my wallet trumped my gut and I stopped here instead. Man, I am STILL full. Fairly strong variety, even with sushi, and everything tasted good, fresh, and was hot (well, not the sushi, Dingleberry!). Went back for seconds, so I guess that says everything. Probably not a hot date vibe, but plenty good to pack your family in a car and let your Mom spend your money like she likes to.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Very bland and very mediocre food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
So much variety of food! Healthy vegetable cuisines, seafood & alot of delicious desserts! One must have an empty stomach to really enjoy the food! The employees keep the tables clean.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi Bar, Seafood, Soups, Coconut Shrimp, Buffet Mix Plate, Egg Drop Soup, Hibachi Grilled Shrimp, Mushrooms and Shrimp
“We had such a great time dining at this buffet! The food was delicious, fresh, and offered so many options — there was truly something for everyone. The staff were warm and attentive, and the atmosphere made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Definitely a place worth coming back to!”
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is okay; some of the food tasted like it had been sitting there for a while. My daughter and I both got a stomach ache the next morning and felt better after I got it out of my system. Also, the price is okay for an all-you-can-eat buffet, but I was a little upset when I was hit with a 15% tip fee! I asked the register guy why I was getting charged a tip fee, and he said it was because of the party size. I understand if they bring you the food, drinks, desserts, etc., but it's a buffet; you have to get up and get all of your food, drinks, and desserts. So why the tip fee? I probably won't go back, as it feels like a shake-down.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
We left our receipt facing upwards like the instructions say and twice one of the bus ladies cleared our table when we went to get food and we had to get new drinks and silverware each time. We only got two plates each so there was no need to rush us out of the place and I was with my elderly client.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
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