Lin Buffet
Chinese · Elmira
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About Lin Buffet
Located in Elmira, Lin Buffet offers a warm and inviting atmosphere where guests can enjoy a vast array of Chinese and American dishes. The restaurant features six well-stocked food stations, including a highly praised hibachi grill that prepares fresh items to order. Patrons appreciate the generous...
Located in Elmira, Lin Buffet offers a warm and inviting atmosphere where guests can enjoy a vast array of Chinese and American dishes. The restaurant features six well-stocked food stations, including a highly praised hibachi grill that prepares fresh items to order. Patrons appreciate the generous portions and diverse selection, ranging from hearty soups to delicious desserts and an excellent tea variety. The service is consistently described as friendly, polite, and attentive, with staff ready to assist solo diners or families alike. With a convenient upfront payment system, ample parking, and full wheelchair accessibility, this local specialty spot provides a satisfying dining experience for lunch or dinner without the worry of running out of food before seating.
What Customers Say About Lin Buffet
Lin Buffet is a popular Chinese buffet known for its wide selection, fresh food, and warm service. Customers rave about the variety, especially the shrimp dishes, sweet and sour chicken, and General Tso's chicken. Some find the price a little high and the bathrooms need improvement.
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Tip: You pay before you are seated, so you can add the tip right at the register. Weekday dinner costs around $17.
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Lin Buffet Elmira Reviews
Its a buffet need i say more. Clean and friendly. The food is always fresh and hot.
I get take out once a month or so. Food is hot. Cost me about $45 for 3 take out containers. Not bad for getting 3 meals oit of it.
Traveled a hr to come here. First buffet I visited that you pay before you eat. But the man that greeted us was very nice. And the waitress are also bery kind and polite. Was right there when we needed them. Would highly recomme this buffet to anyone. Wonderful place.
Had a wide selection of dishes and everything was hot. A real nice atmosphere too.
I was absolutely delighted with my visit to Lin Buffet! The appetizers, main courses, and desserts were all so incredibly delicious that I want to come back again and again. The selection of dishes is impressive, and everyone can find something they'll love. But what made our visit truly unforgettable was the service. The staff are true professionals. They're always smiling, ready to help, and do everything to make your time at the restaurant as comfortable as possible. You rarely find this level of service. I highly recommend it!
Three of us went here for Sunday night dinner. Around $50. Big buffet, a lot of options. Plenty of seats and parking. The service was great. My daughter was struggling with chopsticks so the server made her one to use. The food was good. Shrimp, noodles and rice. Tasty!
If you’re craving variety and generous portions, Lin Chinese Buffet delivers a satisfying dining experience with a wide array of options spread across six well-stocked food stations. From hearty soups to refreshing fruits and indulgent ice cream, they have something for every palate. What I particularly enjoyed was the variety of proteins and sides—think crispy, golden-battered frog legs and fried shrimp that were tender on the inside, perfectly seasoned, and full of flavor. Their green beans were vibrant, crisp, and coated in just the right amount of garlic, making them a fresh balance against the rich, fried options. The buffet also included plump dumplings, savory stir-fried mushrooms, and freshly steamed clams for a seafood touch. For meat lovers, there were hearty cuts of steak and pork complemented by sautéed mushrooms, offering a satisfying savory bite. One of the standout features at Lin Chinese Buffet is their fresh Mongolian-style cooking station, where you can customize your dish with a variety of meats, vegetables, and sauces, cooked right in front of you. It adds an interactive, made-to-order element that elevates the buffet experience. What sets Lin Chinese Buffet further apart is their thoughtful setup. They offer a separate section specifically designed for friends or group gatherings, making it an ideal spot for celebrating special occasions or just enjoying a meal with loved ones in a more private setting. The dessert and fruit section rounded things out nicely, with ice cream and fresh options to cleanse the palate after the indulgence. It’s clear that Lin Buffet prioritizes variety while maintaining solid quality for a buffet-style dining experience. If you’re in the mood for variety and love to mix and match dishes, this spot is worth a visit—especially for their Mongolian-style station and the dedicated space for group gatherings.
Weekday Dinner Cost: $17 Recommended: Green Beans, Hibachi grill (you can request egg). You pay upfront and then get seated immediately. The grill chef here does an awesome job, he cooked everything perfectly. I love garlic green beans and they also make the green beans very tasty. 5/5 good value Chinese buffet with fresh tasty food.
I always love the food here. You pay before you are seated, which takes the worry out of if you have enough, and you can add the tip right there at the register. You can get a lot or a little and the wait staff are attentive without being intruding. The atmosphere is lovely with cultural pictures all around, and it is always fun to see the statues in the lobby.
The people here are very warm and inviting. They always have good food amd we have never been disappointed with the selection. My favorites are always the sweet and sour chicken and General tso. The have a great salad bar and also a dessert bar. Check out the soldiers in the lobby. Very cool. We went at 8 pm tonight and they were still bringing out freshly cooked food.
Not bad for price. Good selection and food tastes really good. And it’s very big and open. Clean and friendly staff
Good food, a wide selection, but a little pricey. I don't like that you have to pay first only because we never know what we plan on tipping. We like to tip based on service and don't usually have cash.
I really loved the food. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was the state of the bathroom. The tile is outdated, cracked and filthy. There was toilet paper all over the floor and 2 of the stall doors had broken locks.
Not the fanciest place. Bathroom wasnt very clean. Waiters were nice.
Very pedestrian Chinese buffet experience. The amount of choices was adequate but notably less than many bigger cities’ buffets. I sampled almost everything, and there wasn’t a single dish that I tried that was tasteless or bad. Virtually everyone was edible, but mediocre tasting. My favorite dish was the chicken and broccoli combo, which features huge pieces of stir-fried chicken with broccoli pieces mixed with a semi-sweet auburn-colored sauce. I liked the soft drinks and coffee/tea were included in the price of the meal ($15.49 weeknight) in unlimited quantities. It would be nice to see the staff smile once or twice, however.
I've heard great things about this place but the day we finally try it out, we were greatly disappointed. Food selection was poor. Quality was poor. Taste and temperature were also poor.
Very disappointed 35 for 2. Price went up but I feel the quality and selection went down used to be so much better back in the day.
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1020 Center St, Horseheads, NY 14845
Elmira, NY 14845
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