A Feast Fit For Emperor

A Feast Fit For Emperor

by Cuiyin Zhang

Unlimited food is something unique about buffet restaurants that can certainly satisfy hungry diners. However, when a buffet’s name includes dynasty, undoubtedly, you know that it will go above and beyond ordinary buffets in quality. If you don't know what you're in the mood for when you arrive at Buffet Dynasty in Matthews, North Carolina, you will soon be given inspiration by the steam and aromas rising from the buffet dishes. If you're in the mood to eat as much delicious food as you can or have a craving for some traditional Cantonese delicacies, then the choice is obvious.

The food served at Buffet Dynasty is authentic, fresh, and of the highest quality; but it doesn’t stop there, service is professional and sincere, the dining ambiance is cozy, and Joe Lam, the owner, and his staff are dedicated and hard working. So far, Lam’s diligence has helped him successfully promote real and healthy Chinese cuisine in America.

Buffet Dynasty has been perfectly situated at 1709 Matthews Township Parkway since opening in 1999. The location is convenient as it is surrounded by businesses and a residential area. Residents of Matthews love Buffet Dynasty because they know that no matter what the circumstances are; they will always enjoy a delicious meal and be treated like family here.

When East Meets West…

Every aspect of the décor of Buffet Dynasty was elegantly designed by Lam’s brother, a professional designer. The dining room is also filled with wooden dado and elegant souvenirs with accents of classical Chinese elements such as paintings and jade items. Additionally, when stepping into the restaurant, you will be greeted by a modern water-flow glass designed wall instead of the usual traditional Chinese wooden screen used in most restaurants. Soft Eastern music can be heard in the background, giving the restaurant an intoxicating ambiance. These interior elements all come together to give the restaurant a fashionable yet traditional, elegant and romantic style. Its ambiance is one reason why Buffet Dynasty is a popular place for locals to hold their wedding banquets.

More Than You Can Eat

While many other Chinese buffet restaurants serve typical Americanized Chinese cuisine, Buffet Dynasty takes a different route. Lam’s main reason for opening Buffet Dynasty was to make a wider variety of quality traditional Chinese food available to more Americans. “If you are open-minded and willing to try new things, Buffet Dynasty can always give you a surprise,” Lam said. Each of the offerings is authentic, well prepared and liked by the many patrons. The experience is like dining in any of the Chinatowns of San Francisco or New York City.

More than 100 representative items are freshly presented on the buffet bars. ARN thinks that it’s a must to go down the list of what Buffet Dynasty provides: soup, salad, seafood, hibachi, noodles, sushi, Cantonese BBQ, hot pot, and dim sum. Lam promises that no duplicate buffet items can be found, with every buffet item being unique. For the purpose of keeping each of the offerings on the bars fresh at the utmost, Lam insists that each tray contains just the right quantity of food so as to be able to supply hungry customers without sitting out on the buffet bar for too long. “Quality is much more important than quantity to me,” Lam emphasized. He also guarantees that the ingredients the restaurant uses are of the highest quality.

One of the highlights of Buffet Dynasty is the Hot-pot buffet. It's a big plus for any diner especially if you're a fan of Chinese hot pot. The soup base, a concentration which needs at least ten hours ahead to prepare with chicken bone, ham and rib chops, can be chosen either Szechuan spicy style or clear chicken style depending on the customer’s taste. Customers can pick unlimited seafood and vegetables including but not limited to shrimp, fish, crab, dried bean curd sticks, needle mushroom, water cress, spinach, and Chinese greens from the hot pot station. Top picked homemade fish, shrimp paste and meats are kept cooled at a certain temperature to maintain long-lasting freshness.

Another selling point of the restaurant is the hibachi grill. Dishes prepared over open fire at the grill entertain young and old alike who are treated to a culinary performance as they watch the hibachi chefs behind the glass, throwing knives in the air, chopping shrimp or steak. “It is exciting to be able to watch how the chefs prepare my food,” wrote one online reviewer.

The best selling dishes of the restaurant are Stir-fried Clam w. Black Bean Sauce, Steamed Flounder Fish, and Stir-fried Crab w. Ginger & Scallion. There are some chef special dishes launched weekly to enrich the menu.

Lam and his kitchen staff all strongly believe in cooking foods in a healthy way while not sacrificing taste. “Each dish is prepared healthily with little salt and oil,” says Lam. Vegetarians will never feel disappointed at Buffet Dynasty. A variety of vegetables are offered on a daily basis. Lam believes that absorbing enough Vitamin C is necessary everyday and it keeps people healthy. Instead of only being able to order stir-fried food like other restaurants, customers can also have vegetables cooked in a hotpot or at the hibachi grill.

The price at Buffet Dynasty is a bit higher than other restaurants in the area. However, it doesn’t keep customers away. “If guests are satisfied with a restaurant, they will continue to dine in it, without too much concern for the price,” explains Lam, “it’s certainly worth it.” Lam also points out that if restaurant owners do in fact offer some discounts or give out coupons, they should be sure that the quality of the dishes remain the same.

The compliment from new and loyal customers toward Buffet Dynasty never ends. “The food is great. You have the staples like Lo Mein, Fried Rice, General Tso's Chicken, but also lots of stuff you don't normally find in the Chinese take-out like whiting fish, fried eggplant, sushi (not particularly great, but hey, it's there), fresh mussels, bacon-wrapped scallops.”

A Focus on Service

“Service is about people, maintenance of your restaurant, and management,” said Lam. Lam’s partner, Kenny, helps him both in the kitchen and the front. “Kenny and my servers wear genuine smiles on their faces and happily greet each guest at the door,” Lam said. The moment that the customers enter the restaurant, they begin to rate your service. It is important to make the right impression from the very first second. Following this philosophy, each staff member is customer-oriented, careful, and considerate. It’s difficult for customers to forget the friendly atmosphere that Kenny and the servers create.

Cooking Is Everything To Lam…

Lam’s family has years of cooking history. Many of his relatives are acclaimed chefs in mainland China and Hong Kong. While the family has devoted their lives to the catering industry, cooking is more than just a career. He has dabbled in other industries but even then, still yearned to go back to his true passion. Finally, he returned to the kitchen and went back to making great food for his customers. To Lam, customer satisfaction is his first priority.

Lam believes that apart from Americanized Chinese food, authentic oriental delicacies will surely appeal to everyone as well. He encourages customers to try his Cantonese creations. “I have confidence that more and more Americans will accept authentic Chinese food, as long as the restaurant participates in promoting the real Chinese dining experience and culture to them,” Lam concludes. He studies cook books and culinary TV programs in his spare time. To him, learning is an endless process.

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