Mr. Hibachi Buffet

Overall, I would give Mr. Hibachi Buffet high marks as a chain Chinese buffet.  Although a far walk from campus (if you're ambitious, it's located on 3rd street, about a 10 minute walk east from Target/2 minute drive) when compared to favorites like Mother Bear's or Ami, anyone with a car and a quarter tank of gas can get there and back, no problem.

I really liked the ambience at this restaurant - it was neat and clean, above and beyond most buffet standards that I am used to.  The lighting was a little on the dim side for me, but given that it was as open to families in jeans as it was to couples out for a date, I can accept the lack of lighting. It's not easy to accomodate for everyone's tastes.  The service was excellent and attentive; beyond the prompt drink refills and removal of plates, our servers were smiley and conversational, even with the rush of the Saturday night dinner crowd.  I did not get a chance to check their hours, but it seems to be a lunch/dinner restaurant, and would be open at those times of the day.

While the food at Mr. Hibachi is not exactly ethnically-accurate Chinese food, it is a very high quality of American-style Chinese food in an all-you-can-eat setting.  For $11.29 plus $1.59 for a re-filled drink, you can have an enormous buffet dinner (lunch buffets are slightly cheaper, and so are childrens' portions).  There are a plethora of options: coconut shrimp alongside General Tso's chicken and sticky white rice (which was just the right amount of sticky deliciousness); tangy, sweet crispy chicken soaked in teryaki sauce; a full American-style salad and fruit bar (with tamarinds!); spicy chicken with chilies cooked so hot that you could smell the spiciness wafting off the plate; and well-stocked desert and Hibachi/sushi bars.  I even saw spicy-cooked fillets of some sort of fish among the huge array of food - eight buffet-style heated tables' worth.  Although I had a fair sample of quite a few things on my plate, the crispy chicken and white rice were most of my meal.  As a college student only familiar with American-style Chinese food, I thought this dish was prepared to a really high standard. I liked its indulgently sweet, tangy sauce so much I went back for a second plate!    

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just ok...

I'm a big fan of this place. I think it's the best Chinese buffet in Bloomington by far. It is a little off the beaten path (for those of us centered around the university), but it's worth the trip.

The variety of food in the buffet is unmatched in my opinion. It's a nice touch that there actually is hibachi (included in the price) if you want it. I tend to go for whatever else is around. I haven't had any complaints about the food. It's your standard Chinese buffet cuisine--incredibly unhealthy for you but oh-so-delicious. I found the egg rolls to be better than some of the other buffets in town.

Its price is probably the best part. It really isn't that much more than some of the buffets in town (actually cheaper compared to some). It's cheaper during lunch time (ends at 3) and definitely a steal. Though more expensive in dinner, I still think it's well worth your money if you get several plates.

The service is generally decent. They clean empty plates quickly and for the most part they don't get in the way of your conversation with family/friends. Courteous and polite (most of the time). This is probably one of my favorite spots in Bloomington because it tastes great and the price is right. (Check for coupons in the mall magazine that comes to your house too!)