Royal Buffet - Hoffman Estates

Meh. Went with husband and the family. We didn't know how much the price was (I know our fault the hostess who greeted us simply had us follow her and asked how... read more Meh. Went with husband and the family. We didn't know how much the price was (I know our fault the hostess who greeted us simply had us follow her and asked how old the children were. Apparently they charge $1.5 x the age of the child and $2.5 x the age of the child during weekends, and $37 I believe for dinner. The place was huge, rather outdated though. There was lots of food but a lot of the food I don't think was quality. Tons of seafood, and many things I and odd things the family doesn't eat crab legs, mussels, crawfish? (those things freak me out! , salmon, regular fish, soft shell crab, duck, etc. Sushi also present, as well as some other random stuff (I think they had shark, tuna, etc . They have a Mongolian beef station, but I felt the beef at the Mongolian beef station was rather low quality. It also seemed to take a long time to get the food. Some other typical staples pizza, fries, rice, etc. Ribs, steak not of the greatest quality. Dessert seemed ample including typical pastries, ice cream, and they do have cotton candy but ran out of it when I tried to get some. They also have bao pastries? and buns filled with a variety of different things. The drinks are extra which seems rather outrageous for what they charge for the meal. Parking is free and in the front. For the price I'd go elsewhere. Very pricey for the quality.

The workers should smile more and or at least look like they enjoy their job. The ladies behind the dessert stands were mad dogging the whole time. I know it's... read more The workers should smile more and or at least look like they enjoy their job. The ladies behind the dessert stands were mad dogging the whole time. I know it's busy and hectic but looking angry is not the best service. As for food, definitely lots of varieties. There was something for everyone if you didn't want just Chinese food. Food was always refilled and warm.

This was my first visit back since the pandemic, and unfortunately, it seems to have lost some of its charm. Everything is still in place, but things just feel... read more This was my first visit back since the pandemic, and unfortunately, it seems to have lost some of its charm. Everything is still in place, but things just feel a bit slower and less vibrant. A small group of us went on a Saturday night (I know, surge pricing). We tried the Mongolian grill, sushi, crab legs, and the usual Chinese buffet favorites. The staff is clearly hardworking, but it felt like there were fewer of them. There was only one person at the grill, two handling sushi, and the crab leg lady was busy managing steaming trays. While I understand the need for efficiency, everything took longer, and the food didn’t seem to be replenishing as quickly. It was barely 8 PM, and the atmosphere felt like it was winding down. It remains one of the popular spots in town, but it’s definitely losing some appeal. There’s still a great variety, and I really hope it can make a comeback and regain its momentum!

My in-laws wanted to go Royal Buffet to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The look of this restaurant is very elegant. When you enter the huge lobby there is... read more My in-laws wanted to go Royal Buffet to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The look of this restaurant is very elegant. When you enter the huge lobby there is a giant fountain that was out of service for renovation when we visited. I was amazed at the enormity of the food choices. There was an entire portion just dedicated to sushi. There were areas for hibachi, Americanized Chinese, crepes, dessert, and much more. I could only scratch the surface of their offerings before I was too full to continue. The sushi was phenomenal. The sesame chicken, pepper steak were great. The shrimp was soft and overcooked. The dessert was not very sweet, but the Hershey's ice cream made up for that. Overall, Royal Buffet is a good choice to get a wide variety of food. The weekend pricing is much more expensive but offers more too.

It was just average. For the $90 my boyfriend and I spent, it really wasn't worth it. The host didn’t properly guide us; he simply asked how many people were in... read more It was just average. For the $90 my boyfriend and I spent, it really wasn't worth it. The host didn’t properly guide us; he simply asked how many people were in our party and then walked to the tables, leaving us a bit confused. The food itself was alright, but the flavors were underwhelming—certainly not memorable. Usually, we find amazing dishes at buffets, but this experience didn’t live up to that expectation. Since we visited on a Sunday, perhaps they were just trying to rush the food out? I’m not sure. I wouldn’t return, mainly because the cost felt too high for such bland food. I’d give it 3 stars because it was neither good nor bad—just mediocre.