Chef Lin Buffet’s décor is simple, marked mainly by a long row of gold-plated plaques fixed to its front hall. In 14 years, Chef Lin has been awarded more than 15 Best of the Best awards, including Best Chinese Restaurant, Best Dinner Under $10 and Best Buffet. So are you surprised to learn that this year, owner Tony Lin has done it again? Winning – again – Best Chinese Restaurant, Best Dinner Under $10 and Best Buffet.
Although Chef Lin offers an array of Asian and American cuisine, its authentic Chinese dishes do help set it apart from its competition. For instance, the lunch buffet offers golden brown tilapia in Hunan sauce, which is considered a great Chinese tradition. Hunan cuisine is known for its rich color and hot, spicy flavor. Another authentic Chinese tradition available at Chef Lin is beef tripe and chicken feet.
These exotic foods are customary components of dim sum, which refers to small bite-size dishes. However, if your taste buds are feeling less adventurous, there is a number of tamer yet still tasty options. Baked salmon, stuffed clams, fresh sushi, made-to-order hibachi, for example. The dinner buffet begins daily at 4 p.m. and expands to include coconut shrimp, frog legs and oysters on a half shell. At $9.95, it’s no surprise Chef Lin’s dinner buffet is voted Best Dinner Under $10 year after year.
“We will just continue to do what we do best,” said Tony, which I assume means racking up accolades. But also, he probably means pleasing customers with his fresh food and fair prices. “We have been here for 14 years. Our dinner price has been the same since the day we opened. As our quality goes up, we just eat the cost,” he said.
And that is so you can eat the rewards. Fresh, hot, beautiful rewards.