Location: 1909 E. Main St., Springfield
Telephone: (937) 323-8488
Background of the business
China Buffet is a family business. Michael Dong is the general manager, and his wife, Tammy, works alongside him.
They both were born in Fuzhou, China. Tammy was a close childhood friend of Michael’s sister. His father, Ji Lin Dong, brought Michael to the United States when he was 9 years old. He revisited his homeland often, and Tammy was often there.
Ji Lin opened China Buffet in Springfield in October 1994. Michael’s mom helped supervise the restaurant. Later Tammy came to the U.S., and she and Michael started dating. Today, they are married with three young children.
Restaurant overview
China Buffet has over 80 items daily and over 220 items weekly to choose from in its six stations of Chinese and American food. They use soybean oil plus oyster, soy and seafood sauces in their cooking. A food marker appears directly above each food item on the display. When applicable, a hot spice content marker will also appear. Dine-in customers pay when they enter and order, then they seat themselves. Your dine-in price allows unlimited beverages, salad, vegetables, fruits, beef, chicken, pork, seafood, ice cream and much more.
The menu
Beverages: White/Chocolate Milk; Sweetened/Unsweetened Tea; Pepsi-cola products; Maxwell House Coffee.
Appetizers: Crab Rangoon; Egg Roll; Fried Chicken Wings; Shrimp; Steak Teriyaki.
Lunch: BBQ Spare Ribs; French Fries; Mac & Cheese; Pizza; Fried Fresh Fish; Sushi.
Soups: Chicken Noodle Soup; Chicken Rice Soup; Egg Drop Soup; Wonton Soup.
Sides: Broccoli Salad; Hard-boiled Eggs; Kimchi; Vegetable Fried Rice; White Rice.
Dinner: Coconut Shrimp; Crab Legs; Dumplings; Fresh Fish; Frog Legs; Mussels.
Desserts: Fresh fruits; Flavored gelatin cubes; Banana chunks in strawberry sauce; Vanilla or Tapioca Pudding; Vanilla or Chocolate Ice Cream w/butterscotch, chocolate, or strawberry sauce, and nuts or candy sprinkles; Tiny cakes; Fortune Cookies.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
More information:
China Buffet will celebrate the Chinese New Year 2016 on Feb. 8. This year features the monkey.
Ji Lin also owns Dragon China, with carryout service only. It’s located around the Save-A-Lot building on East Main Street in Springfield.
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