If you like Chinese food, you'll love Hibachi Buffet

I had dinner with a friend Saturday night at Hibachi Buffet on Gulf to Bay Boulevard in Clearwater. I hadn't been there before and was excited to learn about the place. I was treated so I don't know the exact price but according to other sources online it seems pretty standard, less than 20 for one adult. Believe me, for all that this buffet offers, it's well worth it.

While there is nothing extraordinary about the outside architecture (just a rustic style building with a large porch area) the inside is really cool. With purple lights cast over the buffet bar and an assortment of regular tables and booths, the atmosphere is groovy. At dinner time on Saturday night it was packed, crowded with fans who appreciate the place, so if you like it quieter and more spacious go on a different day and time.

The buffet bar was very large and extravagant. An assortment of fruits were provided and I quickly got my slice of ripe juicy watermelon. Yum. I also strolled by the sushi section and tried several variations of their rolls. Fresh, crisp, tasty, and rolled to perfection. On my plate I had General Tso's chicken which was so flavorful it needed nothing added. Same goes for the lo mein which I happily slurped up from my dish which also included those puffy sugared pastries that I only ever see at an Asian buffet.

All the chinese menu items were at the bar including beef and broccoli and chow mein. They also had ribs, orange chicken, sesame chicken, and an entire bar of raw items that I did not try. I made myself so full on the regular classics that I didn't even get to try anything from the beautifully displayed desert bar.

I didn't hear any music playing so it was just the sound of people walking around and talking at their tables. There was a big party going on in the private room so Saturday evening was definitely jamming at this restaurant. The server was very nice and brought us our beverages right away - sweet tea is perfectly sweet enough and needs no extra sugar.

I'd definitely go back to enjoy dinner or lunch there again. There were so many sections of the buffet bars that I didn't get to try. That fact had me sitting at the table thinking that it would really be a great idea if buffet restaurants allowed their patrons to take home a styrofoam container of their last trip to the bar. I know they think that's not economically wise when they are already offering "all you can eat" however it would be wise considering how much food is wasted from guests who have eyes bigger than their stomachs. We really ought to think about how many plates the server collects from the tables that still have uneaten food on them. This would occur a lot less if the option of a doggie bag was available. So instead of thinking that the guests who want to take some home are being greedy, think about the money saved from less food wasted. It's also more spiritually beneficial because us Wiccans know that wasting food is bad karma from the earth. I try so hard not to waste food, but the economy's policies and the sustainability of fresh causes me to waste food also. It's a shame. Especially when the food has been prepared and cooked to be so delicious.

I recommend the Hibachi Buffet to all those who love Chinese food, sushi, freshness, ambiance, and a good deal.