Mount Fuji roll at Forbidden City buffet. (photo by Mark Gilliland)More Info
Forbidden City2273 Gunbarrel RoadOPEN: Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Friday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.CALL: 423-305-1087
Forbidden City has elevated its already impressively ornate façade, which was designed to resemble the ancient Chinese imperial palace known, not coincidentally, as the Forbidden City in Beijing. Now, outside of its front glass doors there sit two golden statutes of lions, called “shi” in Chinese.
Then, in its grand foyer, complete with marble columns and indoor koi pond, there is a new 6-foot-tall laughing Buddha statue – its rotund belly and wide grin conjuring the same jolliness as Saint Nick’s.
But while Santa’s time in the spotlight is fleeting, Buddha remains relevant in Asian culture 365 days a year, which happens to also be how many days a year Forbidden City is open.
That includes Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, when Forbidden City will serve dinner all day for $10.99 per person.
Typically, the Asian-American all-you-can-eat buffet begins serving dinner daily at 3:30 p.m. At that time, the bar expands to include more seafood dishes such as pepper shrimp, steamed shrimp, mussels, salmon, mackerel and frog legs as well as steak.
“It’s a big crowd – really, really good business,” said manager Jason Pan. “That’s why we keep opening every year!”
In the meantime, Forbidden City is now taking reservations for holiday parties. It is also offering gift cards, which are an easy stocking-stuffer idea – just in case Santa doesn’t come through. After all, to-do lists are longer than ever this time of year. Luckily, Forbidden City provides an effortless mealtime.