Sushi selection at Asia Buffet. (Photo by Mark Gilliland)More Info
ASIA BUFFETAddress: 6901 Lee HighwayHours: Open for lunch every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and for dinner Sunday through Thursday from 4-10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 4-10:30 p.m.Phone: 423-499-8865
Don’t let the “buffet” in Asia Buffet’s name fool you: The Lee Highway eatery is about much more than self-served all-you-can-eat sesame chicken, Mongolian beef, black pepper shrimp, or even its variety of piping hot rice or noodle dishes. In fact, the spacious interior’s perimeter is lined with offerings on par with a more traditional Japanese steakhouse.
First, there is its make-your-own-hibachi section, where diners are allowed to pile ingredients onto their plates. Options include vegetables such as broccoli, zucchini and mushrooms and proteins such as chicken and steak, in addition to other ingredients such as egg and noodles. Then, diners pass their plates to the hibachi chef behind the glass, where their custom creations are flash-sizzled to perfection.
Adjacent to the restaurant’s hibachi section is Asia Buffet’s sushi bar, featuring popular everyday options including California, crab, spicy crab, Christmas and vegetable rolls. Some are stuffed with decadent shrimp salad and served deep-fried, while others are packed with greens and wrapped with fresh seaweed. There is wasabi, pickled ginger, spicy mayo, sweet sauce and soy sauce options galore.
At 4 p.m., the staff upgrades the sushi bar to include options such as eel rolls. At the same time, the buffet is upgraded to include more seafood options.