September 9, 2022 | NOTICE | By Sam Treat | Author’s photos
For many, the large neon sign that adorns the massive (although complex might be a more appropriate term) building that King Buffet inhabits is not an invitation to dine but a warning to stay away. Many have argued that buffets and buffet-style restaurants are just a testament to the foodie nature of the modern American. Exactly, I would say. Of course, all things in moderation – not to indulge is not to live.
Anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of frequenting an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet may not understand the echelon of decor and ambiance on display. Allow me to enlighten those who are so miserably left in the dark. The first piece that catches the eye is a ten-foot-tall tubular aquarium. However, despite what it may seem to some, none of the fish in the tank are real. In fact, if there were to be a common thread running through my experience at the King Buffet, it’s that nothing is as it seems.
Your gut, for example, may be telling you to avoid Colorado Springs Buffet’s sushi—your gut is wrong. As a minimum, I recommend at least a full plate of sushi. One of the highlights of the King Buffet sushi dining experience is the hearty amount of ginger and seaweed salad, something many sushi establishments can skimp on. Another must-try is the Sesame Chicken, which is breaded, crispy, and always replenished (because it’s their most popular item).
For the more adventurous eaters, I would direct you to the Mongolian grill section. There, customers create a bowl of raw ingredients (including the meat of their choice) and watch a chef masterfully cook those ingredients on a hot stone in front of them. The sizzle and the sound of the stone gave me confidence that my meat would be fully cooked and luckily I was right.
The choice of sauce is perhaps the most important aspect of the Subway-esque options one can come across, and there are nine staggering options to choose from. Plus, if your creation disappoints you, you have no one to blame but yourself –– another great life lesson from the king.
There are, unfortunately, several things I recommend avoiding at the King Buffet. As many prolific buffet explorers know, to really stretch your dollar, you have to approach food with strategy and foresight. It’s essential to avoid fried foods (especially fried seafood) and rice, as both will fill you up before you have a chance to truly tap into America’s need for consumption embodied by rows and rows. rows of food before your eyes.
If you make the mistake of overindulging, or for some weird reason try your luck with one of three different colored jellies (really, three of them?), the toilet line is out the door. You will not be alone in your intestinal misery.
Dessert, being the most important meal of all, is not forgotten at the King Buffet. Indeed, an entire station is devoted to indulgence in a strange potpourri of sweet creations, from the chocolate fondue fountain to Chinese donuts. The only theme of the dessert station is mass consumption.
The dining experience at the King Buffet is worth your time. Sitting in a room surrounded by Colorado Springs locals and observing the various buffet choices and methods is a beautiful thing in itself. This recent trip to King Buffet included sitting there while exuberant groups of children without parental supervision repeatedly threw food at me and circled around our table, their fingers and mouths covered in what seemed be a concoction of chocolate and sweet and sour sauce. . It’s just something you can’t get at Rastall.
Far too many of my compatriots refused to even consider joining me on my foray into the King Buffet. I believe it’s time to put those preconceptions aside and, once in a while, indulge. However, in a word of warning from a friend who joined me, “I’m glad to be drunk.”
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