Laurel's Best Chinese Buffet

I have eaten at more buffets than any person should, and I have the stained shirts to prove it. Laurel is basically the buffet capital of the I-95 corridor, where the stretch pants outnumber the sedans in the Walmart parking lot.

This list runs from the genuinely surprising Mandarin Express, where the halal chili beef actually has a kick, to Sakura Seafood Buffet, a place I am fairly certain washes its plates in regret. You want the truth about where to spend your money?

I ate the questionable shrimp so you don't have to. Here is where to go when you are hungry and have given up on dignity.

Mandarin Express, Chinese Halal Restaurant

Highlights
Halal Chinese done right
Polite owner, great service
Soups and chili beef shine
Kids love the noodles
Plenty of parking and seating

Mandarin Express is the rare buffet that makes me forget I'm reviewing a buffet. The halal angle isn't a gimmick; it's done right, and the soups and chili beef are the reasons I keep coming back. The owner is polite, which is practically a miracle in this business. My kids devour the noodles, and I devour the peace that comes with plenty of parking and seating. Service is quick, food is hot, and the price feels fair. I left full and almost cheerful. That's a win in my book. I'll be back, and I won't complain much. Probably.

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Sakura Seafood Buffet

Highlights
Avoid at all costs
Stained plates, flat sodas
Overpriced for terrible food
Monday leftovers, stale quality
Service ignores you completely

Sakura Seafood Buffet should be avoided at all costs. I walked in, saw stained plates, and should have walked right out. I didn't. Stupid me. The soda was flat, the food was overpriced, and the quality was stale. I'm fairly certain they served Monday's leftovers on a Wednesday. The service ignored me completely, which was almost merciful because I didn't want to talk to anyone there anyway. The only highlight was leaving. If you value your stomach and your wallet, skip this place. There are better options in Laurel. Trust me.

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Kabu Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi

Highlights
Clean, pleasant dining room
Fast, friendly service
Good happy hour prices
Great pineapple fried rice

Kabu Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi isn't a buffet, but it earns a spot on this list because it's clean and the service is fast and friendly. The dining room is pleasant, which is more than I can say for some buffets. Happy hour prices are good, so I don't feel robbed. The pineapple fried rice is legitimately great, not just passable. I went for sushi and stayed for the fried rice. No complaints about the wait, no complaints about the bill. If you want a sit-down meal that doesn't annoy me, this is the place. I'd come back for the rice alone.

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Golden Buffet & Grill

Highlights
Affordable lunch pricing
Huge food variety
Great price-quality ratio
Plenty of sweet options
Worth the self-service

Golden Buffet & Grill is the lunch champion of Laurel. The price is affordable, and the variety is huge. I loaded my plate with things I couldn't identify, and most of them were solid. The price-quality ratio is almost suspicious. How do they make money? The sweet options are plentiful, so bring a sweet tooth. The self-service is worth it; I didn't have to wait for anyone. The place is busy but moves fast. For a quick, cheap, and filling meal, this is my go-to. I didn't love everything, but I ate a lot. That counts for something.

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Bella Indian & Italian Cuisine

Highlights
Butter Chicken Pizza is exceptional
Fusion pizzas executed perfectly
Generous cheese and great crust
Friendly service, reasonable prices

Bella Indian & Italian Cuisine sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. It's not. The Butter Chicken Pizza is exceptional, and I'm not being sarcastic. The fusion pizzas are executed perfectly, with generous cheese and a great crust. Service is friendly, prices are reasonable, and I left wondering why more places don't try this. It's not a buffet, but it's worth a detour. The Indian flavors work surprisingly well on a pizza. I had my doubts, but they were wrong. I'll be ordering that Butter Chicken Pizza again. Probably next week.

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Green Olive Buffet

Highlights
Price is unbelievable
Food really improved
Free easy parking
Quick immediate seating
Fried plantains shine

Green Olive Buffet is a miracle of math. The price is unbelievable, and the food has genuinely improved since my last visit. I remember when I wouldn't touch this place with a ten-foot fork. Now I'm recommending it. Free parking, easy, and we got seated immediately. The fried plantains are the standout, sweet and crispy. I ate three plates of them. The food was fresh, not dried out, which is rare for a cheap buffet. Service was fine, nothing special, but I didn't need attention. I needed plantains. This is a solid pick for a cheap, satisfying meal.

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Chido's Tex-Mex Grill

Highlights
Attentive server Julissa
Festive, fun atmosphere
Generous, flavorful portions
Perfect spot for birthdays
Top-notch service overall

Chido's Tex-Mex Grill isn't a Chinese buffet, but I'm including it because it's better than most buffets. Our server Julissa was attentive and actually smiled. That's top-notch service anywhere. The atmosphere is festive and fun, perfect for a birthday. The portions are generous and the flavors are bold. I had the fajitas, and they were packed with meat and peppers. The place was loud, but in a good way. If you're tired of lukewarm lo mein, come here. I left full, happy, and slightly annoyed that I had to leave. Julissa deserves a raise.

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Urban Hot Pot

Highlights
Customizable personal hot pot burners
Generous portions, wide variety
Fun singing robot service
Consistent quality, rotating specials
Bold Tom Yum broth recommended

Urban Hot Pot is a buffet of a different kind, and it's a fun one. Each table has its own personal hot pot burner, so you control the cooking. That's a gimmick I actually like. The portions are generous, and the variety is wide. The singing robot service is ridiculous but charming. The food quality is consistent, and they rotate specials regularly. The bold Tom Yum broth is a must-try; it's spicy and flavorful. I cooked my own shrimp, which was a risk, but it worked. It's not traditional Chinese buffet, but it's a great experience. I'd come back for the robot.

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GrandE Buffet & Grill

Highlights
Huge buffet space
Constant food rotation
Fresh, non-dried items
Wide dish variety
Fair pricing for options

GrandE Buffet & Grill is exactly what a buffet should be. The space is huge, so you never feel like you're in a sardine can. The food is constantly rotated, so nothing sits in a chafing dish getting dried out. I was shocked at the freshness. There's a wide variety of dishes, from standard American-Chinese to some surprisingly decent seafood. The pricing is fair for what you get. I loaded up on the pepper chicken and the fried rice, and both were solid. It's not the most exciting place, but it's reliable. That's more than I can say for others on this list.

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Teppanyaki Grill

Highlights
Over 100 buffet varieties
Delicious all-you-can-eat options
Sushi and seafood standouts
Great pit-stop for travelers

Teppanyaki Grill is a traveler's dream, conveniently located for a pit stop. They claim over 100 buffet varieties, and I believe them. I saw more food than I've seen in a month. The all-you-can-eat options are delicious, especially the sushi and seafood. I focused on the shrimp and the sushi rolls, both of which were fresh. The place is big and busy, but it moves fast. The only downside is the sheer temptation; I ate too much and felt it. But that's my fault, not theirs. This is a solid stop for anyone on the road. I'd recommend it.

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Yum's Restaurant

Highlights
Best fried rice in Laurel
Hot, delicious combo dishes
Friendly, considerate delivery drivers
Worth the weekend wait

Yum's Restaurant might not be a buffet, but they serve the best fried rice in Laurel. That's not a compliment I give lightly. The combo dishes are hot and delicious, with generous portions. I ordered delivery, and the driver was friendly and considerate, even calling ahead. The weekend wait was annoying, but the food was worth it. I had the chicken and broccoli, and the sauce wasn't cloying. The fried rice was perfectly seasoned, not greasy. If you're in a rush, call ahead. But if you have time, this is worth the wait. I'll be back for that rice.

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Mandarin House Restaurant

Highlights
Tangy wontons and shrimp toast
Peking duck cooked perfectly
Great carryout lunch deal
Consistent quality on favorites
Polite, capable kitchen staff

Mandarin House Restaurant is a reliable carryout spot. The tangy wontons are a standout, and the shrimp toast is crispy and not too greasy. The Peking duck is cooked perfectly, with crispy skin and tender meat. The carryout lunch deal is a great value, and they're consistent on the favorites, which is more than I can say for most places. The kitchen staff is polite and capable; my order was always correct. I've had the moo shu pork, and it was solid. It's not a buffet, but it's my takeout lifeline. I don't have to think when I order here. That's comfort.

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