Number One China Buffet

Are you kidding me with this place??? Where do I start?
TL;DR Version:
Terrible, barely warm food. Charged my credit card twice, told me it didn’t work. Then charged another card before I checked my CC app and found all of the charges.
Full version:
I should have listened to the Unilocalers and stayed away. Thought hitting them for lunch right after they opened meant I would get fresh food and not have worry about stuff that had been sitting around. I also figured it was a buffet, if something wasn’t good, I just go get something else. Apparently, I was too early because the food wasn’t even fully warmed up yet. The salad was warmer than the chicken.
Food is bad, bottom line. That’s my bad for even trying. But that’s not the worst part.
After pushing back my third plate of cold crap food that I couldn’t finish, I asked for the check. Give the waitress my credit card. She quickly comes back and uses some sort of baseball signs or sign language hand gestures to explain that my card don’t work. I just got a new card last week (they are all sending out the chipped cards now) and used it just this morning. So I figured it wasn’t a bad mag stripe, so it must have been declined, right? I give her another card and while I am waiting for her to come back, I log into my trusty app to see if my card was deactivated (this happens quite often for some reason while I am on the road; fraud prevention and all.) Instead of finding an issue with my card status, I find TWO charges from this place on my account. My second card is from the same bank, so it is also listed in my app. It too shows a charge from the restaurant! At his point, it has been far longer than it took her to come back the first time, so before they do any more damage, I hop up to see what is going on. The waitress is walking to my table and tells me to see cashier.
Sooooo, they try to tel me they have only charged me twice and have voided them both. I show them the app and the three charges. One of them was by now refunded. They couldn’t even manage to void the others. She ends up giving me cash in place of the voids on the cards. Her excuse? It was the girls first day. How about we teach someone how to use a credit card machine before we let them handle people’s cards?

The change in ownership/​management in January 2015 has also changed the quality of the food, not as good as it used to be, obviously new chef/​cooks and not for the better. It’s still ok, just not as good as when the Billy Kong family owned it.

If you choose to eat here, make sure you go when they are busy or you will be trying to eat food that has been sitting out all day. On a good day and time, the food is still less than average Chinese buffet food.

It’s not the big city that’s for sure. I don’t mean anything snarky by that. I am just stating the fact that sets the tone for expectation. I had a decent meal. I ate all I wanted to. I was with my new wife near the end of a great trip back to her home country to visit. So I was predisposed to forgive any lapses.
It’s the midwest– not a hot spot for ethnic cusines. I am sure (because of clientel) that the cooks here have toned it down, toned it way down. The food was decently prepared but bland. None of those flavors you expect (even from the Americanized versions) in Chinese buffet food were present. It served its purpose. We were hungry, had had a long day and wanted to eat without waiting for an order to get put together.
I can give them the benefit of the doubt and guess that in the middle of a busy lunch rush day the food might be hotter/​better. As it was we were there on a late Tuesday evening (after 1800). It wasn’t very crowded, some of the dishes had been sitting a while, didn’t have much in the pan.
The place is also a little «worn». It could use a re-​fresh, some paint, some spruced up decorations etc.
I wouldn’t drive to Ohio to eat here. I would however, go again when we are back in town, I would stick to the busy hours though.

The previous reviews are way too kind. Maybe I’m just a snob, or more travelled, or more experienced with dining out options than others, but this place is 3 stars, at best. Service was friendly, lunch price was $ 6.99. There were 4 buffet lines, but only 2 were Chinese food — the other two lines definitely catered to those who won’t stray from their standard microwaveable American fare. I had two large plates, all Chinese items. Food was edible, but boringly bland and very meh (perhaps like the taste buds of the regulars?) I wouldn’t say anything I had was gross, but I wouldn’t go back again unless I had no choice. And the interior, although large, is very steamy — the floors are wet so you have to walk with caution.

A large buffet for this area with a full bar and sushi. Service always good and the owner is awesome. I do believe there are weekly specials at the bar.

Its obvious to me that the owner must not care anymore. The windows are disgusting. The food is old, rubbery, and cold. There was nothing on the meat carving station for Sunday dinner. Not to mention, this place is over priced now for what they offer. So so sad. Dont waste your time, go to any fast food restaurant in town. Anywhere but here. Its dirty, old and flavorless.

I have *no* idea how the rating is so high. The buffet is half deep fried Mexican food, quarter salad bar, quarter Chinese. The Chinese food is limited and basics are not present; no dumblings, no seasame, honey, or orange chicken. The fried foods (eggs rolls) were either so hard they can’t be eaten or super soggy. There is sushi on the buffet with a lid on it for an extra charge from 2−4pm… so this sushi will be sitting here until dinner? Who knows when it was made. I guess the fact that only two other tables were seated should have been the hint.

I always enjoyed going here. The variety of Asian and American fare is pretty good, and they have some things I haven’t seen on other Chinese Buffets before. I was surprised to see that some people on Unilocal are complaining about it being dirty, cause I have NEVER noticed that. In fact, I would say it is one of the most clean and fresh tasting Chinese Buffets I have been too. I will say that there were a few times we came in here, and were seated where there was not sufficient lighting, which made eating a little difficult.

Wide selection of items that were always being tended to from our resent dinner tonight…
The restaurant was:
— clean
— attentive service
— fresh items on the buffet
— reasonable priced
— wide variety of items
— Chinese… seriously, to many to list.
— American… we saw pizza, tacos, and mozzarella cheese sticks… hmmm something for everyone…
— deserts — plenty if you really needed it, and they were good.
I would have given this restaurant visit 5 stars if the General Tso’s Chicken had broccoli, and more of a kick; rather it was like a sweet and sour chicken.

The name scared us off the reviews brought us in. Both my husband and I both enjoyed quite a few dishes and we have different taste in our Chinese foods. There is interestingly enough Mexican food also on the buffet not too bad even but not the best. Good Sunday prices too.

This building was super dirty. Carpet must be 20 years old at least. The front windows were all covered in grime or dirt or something. I’m sure the kitchen must be a war crime.
Otherwise, standard inexpensive Chinese buffet fare. A couple interesting items like mozzarella sticks and bacon strips. Pizza was worse than normal Chinese buffet pizza. The chicken nuggets were disgusting as well. Why even put them on the buffet?
Why does the Mayor have a dedicated parking spot here?

Best in the area. Good selection of food. Great dine in or takeout very nice staff.

Good Buffet and salad bar. Staff very friendly. Lunch or dinner, food fresh and large selection. I enjoy sitting at the bar and watching one of several TVs while I eat. Owner is a local and seems to care about his reputation.

Best Chinese food buffet i’ve eaten at. The food tastes great every time. They even have american food and mexican food. Their dessert bar is great too. The name doesn’t lie.

Bad, bad, bad. The hygiene of this place should be questioned. My wife took our kids here. My son asked for a refill of Coke, and the waitress pour a half drank Coke from another table into his glass. Yes, I am not kidding. If this is happening with Coke, what in the world is happening at the buffet.
Stay away from this place for your own health!

My husband and I are regulars at Number One and it never disappoints! I don’t think I’ve ever had anything that I haven’t liked. Also very pleased with the choices for our kiddo who doesn’t yet appreciate good chinese food! The owner, Billy is great and always has time to chat. The staff is very good at what they do and are super friendly. This is a must have while in Wilmington!

I have been there 2 times in the last month. Both times where very good a big improvement from last year… I hope they continue doing a great job and not go back to there old ways… The new salad bar is wonderful and very fresh, All the food on the buffet looked and tasted great. Servers where very nice and friendly. Thanks Billy will be back soon.

WAY overpriced!!! Make sure you tell the hostess that you want to sit away from the bar. It’s way to close to the general seating area and the times I’ve eaten there, the bar patrons were always drunk, obnoxious and borderline vulgar

The absolute best Chinese place in the county!
This buffet has pretty much darn near everything. rows upon rows of different traditional chinese dishes, american food, seafood, sushi, salads, desserts, roast, you name it! They also have awesome Saki! Everyone there is incredibly nice and you’ll have a refill before you’re half way done with your drink. They are totally on top of things. They also have take out if you’d like.
There’s plenty of TV’s with different games, and news on if thats your thing as well. It’s an old Golden Corral so there’s plenty of rooms for groups and tons of buffet options. It really is #1 in town :)