Beijing Buffet offers Chinese-style smorgasbord

It takes three chefs to prepare the varieties of foods offered at the Beijing Buffet in the Rehoboth Mall. The all-you-can-eat buffet feast fills the restaurant’s three service bars with so many choices that most diners will have to visit the restaurant several times to get a taste of everything.

In September Mei Lan, and father Zhzenbiao Lan, took ownership of the restaurant, spicing up the menu and totally renovating the interior.

New solid-surface flooring replaces old carpeting, and the restaurant’s ceiling and walls sparkle with fresh coats of paint.

Although the Lans have significantly improved the restaurant’s décor, it’s the expansive variety of foods, improved quality and attention to service that’s bringing back old customers and creating new ones.

“We’ve brought in more seafood items – crabmeat salad, coconut shrimp, seafood bisque and shrimp in chili and garlic sauce – all are very popular,” said Mei.

Mei said before moving to the Cape Region, Zhzenbiao, a native of China, owned and operated three restaurants in the Seattle area. She said now he’s totally focused on preparing a variety of foods, including traditional Asian favorites with origins in countries other than China.

There’s Korean-style kimchee, a spicy-hot pickled cabbage dish, Japanese-style seaweed salad, and a couple of sushi varieties.

The restaurant offers buffet-item carry-out and also has a separate Chinese food take-out menu featuring appetizers, soups, pork, chicken, beef, seafood, and Szechuan and Hunan dishes.

Try – just try – to leave room for dessert. Mei said dessert offerings change frequently and include chocolate, vanilla and banana puddings; pineapple, oranges and loquat, soft-serve vanilla and chocolate ice cream and freshly prepared Chinese doughnuts.

“Those are very popular,” she said.

Mei said the restaurant serves cakes baked in Canada, “because they’re different,” and soon plans to offer a few varieties of cheesecake.

A selection of soft drinks, hot green tea and coffee are also available.

All-you-can-eat buffet lunch, served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is $6.95; buffet dinner is $10.45. Dinner service begins at 3:30 p.m. All-you-can-eat Sunday buffet is $10.45, with service beginning at 11 a.m. A big bonus for fans of snow crab legs – with the dinner buffet there’s no additional charge to feast on them.

Large parties are welcome; call ahead to reserve seating.

Beijing Buffet: 302-644-7198 - 18908, #19, Rehoboth Mall Blvd., Rehoboth Mall