Ding How buffet & grill

Edit 20 Oct. 2024: I am knocking some stars off my previous review, given that things here have taken a turn for the worse. First off, on my last two visits there were no egg rolls. At a Chinese buffet?!?! Second, this most recent visit, there were no fried shrimp. At a Chinese buffet?!?! And the squid, which I have mentioned previously, were so stringy and chewy as to be almost inedible. And the staff seem just a bit more . . . indifferent? You want a refill? It might happen if you don't ask. The servers actually seem kinda' sad recently.

My overall point? When you are charging what you charge, and providing less and less, and also veering dangerously close to being similar to "that" place in Corvallis, you need to think long and hard about why you are still open. Thing is, there were plenty of people in there the last two visits. So, what do I know? Well, I know that a good (American) Chinese Buffet does better than you are doing recently. Kinda' sad. I want to wish you the best. But you need to do more.

Original Review: I think the majority of the reviews get it right: this is your typical Chinese buffet, common to most any town in America. I have been coming to this location since it was another Chinese buffet . . . the one with the floors that weren't level that eventually suffered from, hmm, 'electrical panel lightning'?!?! This property is a step up in every way and continues to do exactly what it is supposed to do.

Options are typical. There is a good amount of variety. They offer sushi, which is so-so (it's a Chinese buffet) and a Mongolian-style grill (which is kinda' on you when it comes to how good it is). And, the thing is, if the item you got isn't good . . . don't eat it! This most recent visit, I played 'find the rubber band' with the squid. On the other hand, the shrimp were fine, the sweet and sour chicken was shockingly moist, and the pot-stickers were acceptable. I left happy, because I knew where I was eating.

The staff are prompt. The cost, relative to everything these days, is fine. They don't rush you out. They do take away your dirty plates and bring you refills of your drink of choice.

Thing is, I think some people who are critical of this place don't understand where they are eating and/or might have 'Market of Choice tastes on a Grocery Outlet budget'. Are there really bad Chinese buffets? Absolutely. I went to one in Forest Grove that could have been the setting for a horror movie. I also know of another one, a place where fried food goes to die in the stomachs of 20-somethings, in a town close by that has a place where people go to avoid getting educated. So, please, stop with your wailing about the costs or the quality of the food. You want a really good buffet? Go to Vegas and pay upwards of $80. Or go to a Brazilian buffet (avoid the salad bar: it's a trap!) and pay around the same. The cliche is true: you get that for which you paid. And don't forget: the people watching is included in the price. It can be a real treat (esp. since you know some of them are going to saddle up to their computers and spout nonsense after finishing four plates of food).

This is the sort of place where you best heed the '1 Hour Rule': don't come here an hour before it closes. If you do, that is your dumb luck. You think they are going to keep making things fresh as it gets close to closing? Hint: they won't.

I don't come here a lot. But I always come knowing what to expect. Average (and some pretty good) food, and a lot of it. This place does exactly what is expected of it. And, while I can certainly understand some things going sideways, I also think that many times that has more to do with the person shoveling stuff down their gullet and less to do with Ding How (which, come to find out, isn't a question at all).

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 4

Good food but prices are kinda high

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food is hot. Food was ok. I liked the crab/cheese wontons/crab ragoons. The salt and pepper shrimp was good. Everything else was alright. The Calamari was rubbery. General tso chicken was solid. The sushi tasted good but was all about the same. I'd rather spend a bit more at Osaka sushi and get different types that are delicious. They have a section of raw food that you can have cooked in front of you. I got my ice cream and just wanted to watch him cook cuz it seemed interesting. He told me I had already had three plates and I don't get anymore. I had had two plates and my bowl of ice cream. I wasn't looking to get more. Didn't really appreciate that. I just wanted to watch him make food. So my suggestion is if you have the appetite for two plates, fill them up as much as possible. I had my fill for sure so didn't fill my second plate. I didn't want to waste food but they mean business and I assume 3 plates/bowls is max.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: General TSO's Chicken, Crab Rangoon, Cheese Wontons

Good service, decent buffet price, wonderfully attentive for being late in the evening! Would definitely go again

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Coconut Chicken, Fried Doughnut

OK, nice people.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Coconut Chicken, Sushi

Good, affordable, very very very yummy ?

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Shrimp Lo Mein, Sesame Chicken, Sushi, Shrimp Fried Rice, Spring Rolls, Shrimp with Vegetables

Good place for a variety of foods

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: General TSO's Chicken, Black Pepper Chicken, Hot and Sour Soup, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Sesame Chicken

You can get your own portion that they have at their fresh and very delicious open full buffet. Everything is very delightful, hot or cold - depending on what you want, like and choose. A lot of different varieties to choose from. They have various variety of seafood, pasta, veggies, meat, a few different soups, sushi, desserts and an open grill letting you choose the raw foods that they have available like veggies, pineapple, seafood and several different meats that you can choose however much you'd like and when you're done choosing, just give what your plate has to the cook and he'll cook what you have on the hibachi grill right in front of you so you can see everything and what/how he's cooking it. When done, he'll put your finished very hot freshly cooked food on a new fresh plate and hand it back to you to take back to your seat and table to enjoy.

Parking: Good and decent parking lot, several parking spaces up front in front of the restaurant, including handicapped parking spaces.

Kid-friendliness: Very kid friendly with a respectful, decent, courteous, comfortable and professional atmosphere area.

Wheelchair accessibility: There are a few handicapped parking spaces in front of the restaurant and there are plenty of space around the tables and chairs to get around the area and you can move the chairs away from the table to use a wheelchair if needed. Very comfortable and easy.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Strawberry, House Fried Rice, Shrimp Lo Mein, Shrimp Fried Rice, Shrimp with Vegetables

Delicious food and great customer service.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This place is everying I'm looking for in a Chinese buffet. The have a ton of delicious options, the price is right and the staff is friendly. Come hungry and wear your stretchy pants!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Slightly pricey, but they had a grill and also Sushi items.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

Food was good but not great. Staff was friendly and attentive

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: General TSO's Chicken, Black Pepper Chicken, Egg Flower Soup, Sweet and Sour Chicken

Had a great dinner after work with my girlfriend and the kiddos.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I’ve never had such fresh food at a Chinese restaurant before. Staff was friendly, food was hot and delicious, and not bad for a Saturday afternoon crowd, very clean and organized. This is my new favorite Chinese buffet!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Sushi

My favorite Chinese all you can eat buffet. I've been going here for years and I'm always eager to come back. They're one of the few Chinese buffets that I've encountered that allows you to get takeout from the buffet. You fill a normal styrofoam box with as much as you want and pay by the pound. My personal favorite is their coconut chicken and I've never seen it served at any other restaurant I've been to. They have a full sushi bar and an on demand grill where you can mix and match meats, veggies, noodles, ect. They have deserts including ice cream, jello, puff pasties, ect. Good ambiance for your family with an option for tables or booths.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Strawberry, House Fried Rice, General TSO's Chicken, Black Pepper Chicken, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Sesame Chicken, Cheese Wontons, Fried Doughnut, Spring Rolls