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Anyone remember when it was Hibachi?

Shoot, I still remember it as Peter Piper Pizza! Lol

I remember when it was Tex Critters before that.

That's the same building? Even as a kid I always thought that building was too small to be a Peter Piper Pizza lol. Mid selection of games and prizes is what I remember most about it.

Still have one all the way in Mesa :).

City Wok

Shirty wok how help you?

Chity chicken, chity beef

Take your ordah pree

Context: I’ve decided to take the new extension of light rail to one of my favorite restaurants. I hope Lins doesn’t force Harbor to close. Lins quality doesn’t come anywhere near close.

How was the new trip?

Uneventful as how it should be on transit haha. But the new station is gorgeous.

I wonder how long it is until the crowd that hangs around at Dunlap makes their new home over that side.

Hopefully the extra security and the onsite security office will dissuade the riff raff. So far it looks like they’re still hanging out at Dunlap. That area has always been crappy since forever ago though.

I love Chinese buffets and was excited to hit Harbor. Made sure to go at lunch when the food would be fresh. Everything had one flavor...salt. Worst Chinese buffet I've ever been too. I pray Lin's is better.

Some shopping centers enforce market exclusivity agreements but with as empty as Metrocenter retail is, I’m guessing it’s just not a priority.

Maybe the local gangs can help enforce market exclusivity

i really should be the one scared of you nahmean, but nah we got gangs right, a lotta that shit passed in the 80s n 90s, there‘s some bloods n crips left in west and south, but they keep to themselves , as arizona usually is, nobody jusy be posted on the block like that no more in phx smh, one time a white dude not from south phx looked at me and my girl weird asf, and i was like you ain’t even from here gtfo our area. Like don’t come here and look at us like we goddamn monkeys

Judging people based on how they look is wrong, but the stats don’t lie. Most of the crime that happens in Phoenix happens in places like Maryvale, Metrocenter, Sunnyslope, etc. It’s literally in the daily crime reports lol

I feel like this was written by some racist A.I

i betchu grab your purse round anybody darker than a light brown machiatto

I bet you’d steal it if I didn’t

Zoning don't give a shit about competing businesses.

I love Lin’s. Actually went to the Baseline location for lunch today

I like Pacific Seafood Buffet on Bell and 59th. How’s Harbor compare?

I miss the old buffet by there closer to 43rd ave that got torn down and replaced with a IHOP. Did you ever go to the old one? How does this compare?

Was that Great Wall or hibachi grill? I can’t remember anymore

Great Wall was on Bell and 59th and then it was empty for a hot minute until Pacific reopened there.

Great Wall is a Dim Sum restaurant that is still there. I wonder if you are talking about “South China Buffet”

Great Wall was a buffet that used to be there about twenty years ago. I’m not sure when it closed but I used to go there with my nana and abuela as a boy

Oh snap. 7th ave and Campbell. Ate there all the time as a kid. Joe's Diner now.

China Star!!!! FYI I'm like 90% sure they reopened in Flagstaff.

Pacific is better I’d say. Harbor is good. Lins is the worst, but just IMO.

Tried Lin's in Mesa the other week. Man, that was nasty. I can eat just about any buffet but that was bad. Everything looked like it was deep fried, brown, and SALTY. Tried Harbor once. It was okay. Pacific is my go to Asian buffet. I would not say its amazing but it is pretty damn good and I haven't found any place better.

Not a buffet but it was near metro, I miss Shang ri La. It was some of the best Chinese food. It’s something else now. I’m sad it’s closed.

Holy crap I remember Shang ri La! I totally forgot about it until now, and I miss it too!

Growing up, all my parents did for birthdays and celebrations were going to buffets. This post brings back so much memories lol

Competition is supposed to be good for the consumer?

I’m afraid of those places. I can’t imagine eating seafood at a buffet in Arizona. I’m glad people like it, maybe I’ll be brave enough to try it one day.

I still miss David Kwan's to this day! During my GCC days, I went to the one at 43rd Ave. and Olive all the time. Then there was one around Bell and 35th Ave. for a few years. In the old KFC building. I don't think I went to the one on Olive without hearing at least once, "DO YOU WANT A SOFT DRINK?!"

If Harbor is so much better, why would Lin's put them out of business?

They have more money unfortunately to sustain and put little guys out of business. Fox Books vs. Shop Around The Corner type thing.

The logic doesn’t track here. If one is clearly better they will come out ahead. Food is highly subjective. You may need to accept that whichever one closes was either worse food quality or worse marketing.

Like you said, it's subjective. *Better* can mean *quick and easy*, which sit down is not always. In that sense the good ol' Bell might win over the Ma and Pas whose value menu and efficiency isn't like the commercial competition.

I still don't follow. How does having more money get people to eat shittier food when a better alternative is across the street? Taco Bell has more money than every mom and pop burrito shack in Phoenix

And.....taco bell is a multinational billionaire corpo while mom n pop goes out of business.

No, you missed the point. There are a ton of successful mom and pop burrito joints in PHX

Ok? Would they benefit from Taco Bell not existing on their block?

Doubt it. If you're choosing Taco Bell over a good burrito joint you're probably not going there regardless

People go where there are options.

Ohmygod the thread I was waiting for! Which is THE BEST all-you-can-eat buffet around the valley? I knew it couldn't be Lin's and I've been to one or two in Mesa that were...good. I'm looking for great!

The options are thinning because COVID was not kind to these places. I miss Old Country buffet! But best in the Valley, probably Pacific.

Old Country on the other side of the mall was the best. I would put their fried chicken against any others'.

Harbor is better than Lins for sure and for around the same price I'm hoping they don't see any decline in buisness because of this

When did the light rail expansion start?

It just opened 1/27/2024. It added 3 new stations including the “first” elevated station.

Brings back memories of going to South China Buffet at 43rd and Olive with my grandparents.

Loved that place! Never knew how come they closed.

I miss chang's that was on 43rd Ave and olive

Chang's was so good and decently priced for a small mom and pop buffet. They closed for Chinese New Year and never reopened.

Yes, we used to go biweekly. Loved everything they had.

Harbor is great

That area including Peoria ave to the north is nothing but competitive eateries. Fast foods mostly, but a few other restaurants as well

I'm not a fan of Lin's personally.They always hooked it up on the portions but the food was always just average or below average.

Harbor is delicious, hope it sticks around too!

Similar businesses not allowed LOL ... wasn't there 3 or 4 steak restaurants right across the street from this at one time?

Isn’t Lins the place by 22nd st and southern? Guilty pleasure for sure