7 Overhyped Washington Buffets Locals Don’t Recommend

Washington state offers plenty of dining options, but not all buffets live up to their hype. Many tourists flock to well-advertised all-you-can-eat spots, only to find mediocre food and questionable value. Locals know better and tend to avoid these establishments despite their popularity on travel websites.

1. Canaan Buffet: Quantity Over Quality

Promises of endless Asian cuisine options quickly fade upon entering this establishment. The food sits under heat lamps for hours, resulting in dried-out noodles and lukewarm entrees that barely resemble their intended dishes.

Frequent complaints mention the recycling of leftover food into new dishes the following day. Many locals have experienced stomach issues after dining here, leading to a steady decline in repeat customers.

Despite affordable pricing, the savings simply aren’t worth the disappointment or potential health risks that might follow your meal.

2. Falls Buffet: The Casino Trap

Located inside a popular Washington casino, this establishment lures gamblers with promises of luxury dining. Reality hits when patrons discover overpriced mediocrity masquerading as premium cuisine.

Weekend prices soar to nearly $40 per person, yet the selection barely justifies half that amount. Prime rib, advertised as their specialty, consistently arrives overcooked and dry, while seafood options often taste suspiciously past their prime.

Locals avoid this tourist trap entirely, preferring to drive an extra 20 minutes to better dining options that don’t rely on captive casino audiences.

3. DH Buffet: Cleanliness Concerns

Alarming health inspection reports have circulated about this establishment for years. Observant diners notice staff rarely changing serving utensils between dishes, creating cross-contamination nightmares.

Sticky tables and floors suggest cleaning isn’t a priority, while the bathroom conditions would make anyone question kitchen standards. Several locals report witnessing food being returned to serving trays after sitting on customer plates.

Management seems indifferent to these issues, focusing instead on cramming more items onto the buffet line regardless of quality or freshness. The low price point attracts college students, but even they eventually learn better.

4. King Buffet: Frozen Food Kingdom

Stepping into this establishment feels like entering a frozen food aisle that someone heated up. Nearly everything tastes like it came from a wholesale club and was merely reheated rather than prepared with care.

The sushi selection particularly concerns locals, with fish that lacks freshness sitting unrefrigerated for hours. Crab legs, the supposed premium item, arrive consistently overcooked and watery, bearing little resemblance to their ocean origins.

Regular patrons have noticed the gradual shrinking of portion sizes and quality over years, while prices steadily climb upward. The restaurant relies heavily on tourists unfamiliar with better local options.

5. Golden City Buffet: Flavor Wasteland

Bland food dominates the experience at this establishment, where everything somehow tastes identical regardless of what you select. Salt appears to be the only seasoning in the kitchen’s arsenal, applied liberally to mask the absence of proper cooking techniques.

Vegetables arrive consistently overcooked to the point of mushiness. Meat dishes prove problematic too, ranging from suspiciously undercooked to leather-tough depending on your timing.

Families initially attracted by the kid-friendly pricing quickly realize the false economy when plates return to the kitchen barely touched. Even the ice cream machine, a buffet staple, frequently malfunctions or dispenses freezer-burned product.

6. Mizuki Buffet: Seafood Disappointment

Marketing itself as a premium seafood buffet creates expectations this establishment consistently fails to meet. The much-advertised crab legs arrive in tiny portions, often overcooked and difficult to extract from shells that seem deliberately chosen for maximum frustration.

Sushi rolls contain minimal fish and maximum rice, while shrimp dishes showcase the smallest specimens legally allowed to be called shrimp. Weekends bring crowds that overwhelm the staff, resulting in empty trays remaining unfilled for extended periods.

Locals particularly warn about the oysters, which have sent several unfortunate diners straight to urgent care with food poisoning symptoms. The steep $35 price point makes these shortcomings particularly unforgivable.

7. Super Buffet Kent: Quantity Without Character

Enormous in size yet lacking any memorable dishes, this establishment exemplifies the worst of buffet dining. Attempting to please everyone, they succeed in pleasing virtually no one with their mediocre offerings spanning multiple cuisines.

American, Chinese, Italian, and Mexican dishes all share the same fate: prepared without authenticity or passion. The massive dining room amplifies the cafeteria-like atmosphere, complete with uncomfortable seating and chaotic layout that creates traffic jams around popular stations.

Service remains consistently indifferent, with staff appearing visibly annoyed when asked to refill empty trays. Experienced Washington diners know to drive past this location toward smaller restaurants specializing in a single cuisine done well.