Went to this place while visiting town for take out. Super friendly and professional staff prices were fair and food was delicious and generous portion sizes for take out. Highly recommend

I went here on a whim. I usually don't like eating at buffets because the food quality can be very hit or miss depending on the time of day among other things. I was pleasantly surprised by both the variety and the quality of the food. It was hot, and tasty! Can't ask for much more from any restaurant. The server lady who attended to me was also fantastic. I went during the lunch rush about noon or so.

Excellent food and great atmosphere.. Awesome place for family and friends

OMG I haven't been here in a long time and when I came here, I was shocked.Frog legs is my favorite.The servers were very intensive Tiff.They took mart, dirty plates.That didn't leave them on our table.Then we filled our drinks I cannot get that kind of service.In any kind of chinese restaurant ever. The food was awesome.I just wished I lived closer

Really enjoyed this place The food was very tasty and quickly replaced as people went through the buffet. The crab salad contained large chunks of crab, very generous. The desert bar contained a little bit of everything. Also the service was way above average. Many times asking if we were done with a plate or needed our drink refilled. I definitely want to go back.

Love this place, I could eat here every day. The owners are the nicest people and always recognize me when I come in. The waiters are very attentive and their timing is great. There's really nothing negative I could say about this place, it's just great! Google wanted me to update my review. It's still owned by the same awesome people, the wait staff are still great, and the food is still delicious. Year after year this Summer Palace keeps up the quality. Thanks guys!

Good price. Fresh sea food. Friendly stuffs.

They have good selection of food. I was surprised to see fried frog legs and oysters on the half shell. They also had some items I have never tried. Needless to say everything I tried was good. I’ll definitely be back! I would go as far as saying I like this place better than Ocean Buffet.. that says a lot for me..

Sonya Vande Velde

Summer Palace has a wide variety of Chinese food on their buffet. They also have a smaller buffet with popular American dishes. Food was hot and buffet was kept filled and clean. Wait staff were attentive.

Patrick Delfanian

This place has excellent food. Compared to other Chinese buffets I've been to, it has more variety for the main course and fewer options for dessert, so I go here for the main food. Highlights are the shrimp and chicken. Beef options are limited.

Tim blume

Everytime ive been here the food has always been excellent. My only wish is that it was cheaper so i could go more often. Last time i went i felt the staff was lacking in hospitality a bit but other than that it was just as good as always! Cant wait till next time!

Payton Miller

Food was amazing every fresh and tasty. Not much of a buffet as i thought there would be but it was really good. The service was ok the servers hardly talked to us did really seem interesting in being there. The only really talked to us when we went to pay. We really didn’t leave a tip there wasnt any out of the way service to tip for it was 46$ for 2 adults and a child.

Pedro

Really enjoyed this Asian buffet in Waco, Texas. Probably one of the best I have experienced during my travels. The bourbon and pepper chicken are both thick and juicy. The variety of vegetables found here is what I appreciated the most too. During road trips, it can be difficult to receive important nutrients. The chicken wings were fantastic too! Will be returning

Jose Araoz

I have been to plenty of Chinese buffets and the Summer Palace is up there among the top three. The food was very tasty, vast variety, courteous staff. Bathrooms were cleaned. The one thing I did not like is that they do not offer the 10% military discount as many other restaurants do. Still the regular price was low enough to make up for it.

Good place to eat. I just get seated next to loud people all the time! Nothing they can do. Also wish they would rotate the food a bit more often. Sometimes the food can be hard from sitting in the steam table for too long. But overall, good food, good price.

You just got to go. Love thier food very friendly staff... this is a place my hubby and I go most of the time when we go to waco..

We visited this restaurant mid-afternoon. We have dined here several times and have always been satisfied with the experience. The dinning area and restrooms are clean? There is a large selection of Chinese and American hot/cold food, fruit, salad fix'ns, and desert items. The food is well prepared, fresh, and the wait-staff are friendly and attentive. Our only negative comment is the lunch time selection of Chinese items is somewhat limited.

Nice surprise. Not a fan of buffets. Came during off hours not expecting much, was really good. Recommend the jalapeno shrimp and mushroom chicken. Normally at a buffet everything tastes the same. Chicken broccoli was diffent than chicken mushroom. Looking forward to trying during lunch or dinner time.

I was promptly greeted, and offered a choice of seating and drink order taken at seating. The restroom was clean and stocked, but the stall I used had water on the floor as if it had been flooded but no odor. The buffet was full with a wide variety of dishes and clean, but the gloves to use for handling the utensils were at the front where the greeter was and not pointed out.

The variety is outstanding. The wait staff is helpful but has a tendency to hoover. Our waiter asked my husband if he wanted a refill 3 different times in 2 minutes. I appreciate great customer service but it can be annoying at times. Otherwise it was a great dining experience.

Good food, didn't run out of drinks. They gave bill which I like, didn't have to wait around to pay. Only thing I didn't like was desserts, they all looked way to orange, did not taste good. July 27, 2022 drove 1.5 hour to take son to nice lunch, said it was open but got there and it was closed.

Fresh food, everything was nice, warm and fresh. They kept up with cleanliness and friendliness. The only downfall the reason why they don't get a 5 star is because one of the workers kept spraying themselves with rubbing alcohol like everybody minutes. And it wasn't in private but only a few booths away from where we were eating.

The soup wasn’t really my style, but the shrimp was delicious. The service was good.

Excellent food and plenty of variety in options!!

It has a pretty good set of choices and the price is not bad considering it's a buffet. They keep the buffet area clean and stocked (though we usually for lunch, no idea if it's the same for dinner). The service is quick and polite. If I had to pick at something, the fruits (particularly the strawberry) tasted watered down oddly enough. And the pineapple tasted like it was going. Everything else was fine.

It fun u get full and is a good family place to go eat

For the price point, this was a good Chinese Buffet. A nice variety of selections. French fries were cold, and the pork ribs were a little tough. Egg drop soup was watery and flavorless. Some good options was the honey chicken , lo mein and hot and sour soups. Good cold food bar, and desserts.

Nita Andrews

Clean place, food was delicious. Taking good covid protocol. Wear mask getting food and they have gloves you wear while getting food. Only lost a star cause wish buffet price was a tad lower or include drink with that buffet price.

Dennis Rodriguez

The food was excellent w a wide variety of selection to choose from and the set up was nicely done so I had no problem finding what I needed, the service their was right on point n our server was fast n friendly n ensured that our drinks were kept full. I would recommend summer palace to all my family and friends

When we got to the table we got out drinks but the waitress threw the straws and utensils to the table. It gave us some weird vibe. When it was time to pay. The waitress kept telling us to tip her a 15% Tip. When out bill came out to be over 100.00! She kept insisting and kept looking at us. When we had already left a 10% even the we felt it was a bit much that's what she deserved. Made us feel uncomfortable and awkward after we paid. I felt like she was looking at my wallet since she was behind me and still saying she wanted 15%

The food was awesome and had really good flavor. The reason for the low stars was the waitress she was extremely rude through out the experience. Food 9/10 hands down some of the best ive had in a while. Waitress was a solid 2.

One waitress had bad attitude and push people to leave when still eating

Foods flavor overall is good. The temperature was sub par. We eat here a couple times a month. The one thing that irritates my friend and me most, is having the wait person hover over us as she is “waiting” for a tip. They would most likely get more if they did not do this. They all need to be trained in ethics regarding “vulturing” (acting like a vulture) at the customers table.

The food must be good because the Board of Health is constantly in here checking the temperature of the food in their Buffet. They have a nasty habit of turning off the steam table after lunch causing food to be just barely warm enough by late afternoon. Whenever I am in town, I still return because the food is quite flavorful and the quality is always very good.

It was pretty good today. The avocado in the sushi was kinda brown & soft, but everything else was great. **Do not make a joke about the meal being free like we did leaving! The lady said something to the 3 men working there & we were surrounded!! My husband & I had cash in hand & showed her "we pay". 😂😂 It was great, haven't laughed that hard in years.**

It was ight.. Food (2/5): Negative - Overall Bland (some of the pork was not cooked to my liking, saw a bit too much pink) Positive - Noodles and rice were okay, enjoyable with some soy sauce. - Egg drop soup was good - Dessert was good. Hard to mess up fruit. Price (2/5): - Was a little too high for the quality and ambiance. $15.99 for adults for the experience is a bit steep. Atmosphere (3/5): - The inside did not give a clean/nice Chinese buffet feeling. Service (4/5): - Waitress was attentive for the most part, other reviews talk about feeling rushed but did not experience that. They do stare at times but I believe is take care of customers. Host was kind as well. Overall (3/5): - Food could be more fresh. The same could be said for the atmosphere. I would say good for family’s looking for a simple Chinese buffet but the price is a bit steep.

I hadn’t been here in over 2 years as it’s out of my way, but I was in Hewitt after a listing appointment to which the client invited me and his crew for dinner. Upon entering, the waitress was a bit rude with the seating situation. Made the guys feel rushed and uncomfortable. Place wasn’t packed then around 6/7 pm. Maybe it was the time of day on Sunday afternoon but the main entrees felt reheated. Like it’d been sitting there for quite some time. I wasn’t impressed as lack of freshness of food. The salad bar and fruit were good though. They had variety but I feel another competitor is better. The restaurant felt a little outdated. I’m a realtor by trade so… yeah. Other than that, the service was okay.

Ok average taste like the others not much flavor saw them dump sesame chicken into general sous chicken …. Won’t be back

Food was great. Unfortunately, our server was very, very pushy for a tip. She's lucky she got a dollar out of us but didn't refill our drinks and demanded a tip. I don't think so. They need to think about the way they address their customers on tipping and good service deserves a good tip. Bad service deserves bad tips! I work in the food industry for a long time. And never, in my life have ever seen someone be so pushy for a tip, that pushed us away!

I definitely won’t be coming back here. For me my wife and 3 year old it was $42 (before tip). We were originally going to go to Panda Express for our Chinese craving but decided to go here as Panda can be a little expensive. This place is way more and the quality was terrible. Most things were old, overcooked, or Both. To top it off I looked at the price on here with the picture (which was outdated). I wouldn’t mind spending $42 for a buffet that tried harder..fresh Sushi for one would be great…with wasabi and ginger (both of which they didn’t have). I could go on… but I won’t. If you want Chinese food go to Panda Express…if you want a lot of it, go to Panda and order the biggest plate. You will probably spend less and get more food that is actually good! The only reason I didn’t give one star is that the staff were friendly.

Food was pretty good but the hostess was very rude the whole time we were there! Most of the time one of the greeters just sat there and stared at me most of the time. Even when we wanted to leave a tip after all the rudeness the lady cleaning the table we were sitting at was rude and didn't even understand English we had to walk across the restaurant to get a translator WILL NEVER GO BACK HERE AGAIN WAS MY FIRST AND LAST TIME!!

Food is room temp, when you walk in it's musty and damp. The wait staff stays on top of your needs though! Won't be coming back not worth the $16 per person. There is definitely better Chinese food places in and around Waco. Drive to Dallas and try Pine Tree Garden if you really want good Chinese food.

This was my first time visiting the restaurant. We went on December 3, 2023 at about 4:50 pm. I was with my wife and daughter. There was lots of room. So very one spaced apart, which I liked that a lot. The buffet was big with a large selection.My wife, who was a Dietay Manager for 18 years, questioned the product heat. We notice some of the Lettuce was wilted, to warm, no ice. Some of the meat products, ribs, nice flavor, but on the tough side, fried shrimp was greasy, old. What all 3 of us noticed was how the staff seems to stare at you from a distance. This will be my 1 and only visit, just not for me, pluse at a cost of $60.

Since I entered this place, I was surprised that the woman who took me to the table seemed to be in a pajama party. The food was nothing extraordinary. I mention it because of the cost, since I expected something more in seafood. I just want to recommend don't use the ice cream machine I think they never wash it. overall I expected better for the price and for the location.

Prices on line are off. 15.99 on Saturday. Table was clean with same rag they use on their hands. Waiter was nice and friendly however he wanted to be paid at table. I told him twice I would pay at register because one I needed the bill split and two I needed change. I can't believe he follow me to cashier and stood there till I left him a tip. Once again food warm not hot.

Plese be aware if thinking of coming here. My family and I came here although reading all the negative reviews because they wanted something quick that would fill them up after a BJJ competition. The food was not horrible but also not great. Some of the food was cold and to top it off the waitress did not really come to us. We had 2 seperate checks, one had tip and the other one did not. The waitress kept saying thank you and stood in front of us waiting for another tip. We ignored her, she left then came back as we got ready to leave, took the check and placed it back infront of us continuing to say thank you and asking for the tip once more. I had to remind her the the other check had our tip and she just smiled and said ok. It was very uncomfortable and ankward. She was a bit extreme and this hasnt happened to us before. Never again. I also found the price to be expensive for the quality. This was avoidable but I went despite the reviews.

First I would like to make a complaint about the seating arrangements. I went to eat at this restaurant a couple days ago and they sat all of the Mexicans and biracial people in the small corner that they have closed off by the front desk, all of the white people Were seated in the open area. This place is racist and I wish I would’ve gotten photographs. The restroom smells like sewage, and I gave it two stars because the food is slightly better than the other Buffets we have around here. Also the man who works the front desk is always nice but I guess the lady who is his wife is always rude. I’d rate her a 2/10 😂 and it’s $16 for ONE PERSON & the fruit is always nasty.

The place was clean with the exception of the restrooms smelling like a sewage treatment plant. The food for the most part was fresh some of it was old and most of the food was lacking in flavor. The "seafood" stuff was definitely fishy and the peach cobbler dough was raw and with the lack of flavor my husband couldn’t even eat it. This was the first and last time we will eat here. Very disappointing.

We went last night, requested a high chair, never got it, got our own food, lots of choices, but nothing to write home about. 5 adults a toddler and a baby, 2 people got a drink refill everyone else nothing. Ticket came $97.03 left a reasonable tip for less than expected service, to which waitress handed our ticket back and said not enough. We were all shocked, but handed her $10 she smiled and walked away. NEVER AGAIN WILL WE GO BACK.

Christopher Steele

The food wasn't bad but it wasn't good. Usually I can find a couple things on a buffet that are excellent. Not so here. Everything was just meh.

Lara Kimbrell

We ordered delivery from here. The delivery was smooth but the quality of the food was very low. 5 meals ordered, and not a single person liked what they got. Chicken and beef were tough and rubbery (in fried rice, lomein, an orange chicken), fried rice had big pieces of almost raw white onion, hot and sour soup tasted like cigarette smoke. Very disappointed. Panda Express is much better but we were hoping for good quality with more selection.

Frederic Jr. Sonata

Food is alright. Rice was hard. Food lacked taste. Not like it use to be. Place needs to be cleaned and maintained. Restrooms dirty, toilet leaking, stuff broken. Door does not open all the way. Doors, walls.

It is not not clean, they have saran wraps on the walls. The back is dirty, where they cook the food when you go there, I wish you good luck. You will probably get sick after. I used to go there, but they just got I don’t know nasty do you know that the owner charge? Don’t let the owner try trick you like they haven’t probably got changed, but they really did the righteous and they’ve been around for a long time. She’s trying to cover up. Do not go and eat there. Heck, when they ripped down the table, they put right back on the wall They put the gloves they used to wash dishes and touched their dishes by the tea picture. Go somewhere else please I recommend.

Their bathrooms are dirty and the toilets are leaking A waitress was eating a banana in the doorway then he served clean utensils to the customer, never washed his hands they use rim wrap on the half way was their was clean table rag to clean tables off then another waitress had dirty gloves on took the gloves off and set them by the clean table rags that was on the rim wrap the lady that also had the gloves also was on the floor digging though a dirty dishes with them same gloves on I also seen her took the gloves off again and set them on top of clean dishes and by the tea pitcher they also had rim wrap covered the buffet table by the sweet and sour sauce

We went yesterday, the men's bathroom had a over flowing trashcan full of Pooh covered toilet paper in the stall, the food was mediocre at best, the whole situation felt pressured as the staff steadily walked around looking dead at you. We used to love going, the food used to be the best, 2 adults 1 kid, 4 teas was almost $60. We more than likely won't be going back.

Very little variety in food choices. It's more American than Chinese food. Food is luke warm at best. Updated - they have gotten better. Most of the wait staff is friendly. Only had one issue with a waiter who kept not paying attention and constantly bumping into our infants carseat. When I asked the manager for a new waiter he decided to confront me and I told him the same thing, that he needed to pay attention. Now it is just dirty looks from him but thankfully he won't serve us. 3rd update - 10/24/19 - Aside from the poor service and marginal tasting food tonight was the final straw. The waitress never refilled our drinks and never cleared the table. When our check was given it was $54.02 but upon getting to the front I am told that she charged an incorrect amount and the total was adjusted to $56.16. This poorly ran establishment will never receive money from me again. Parent check your highchair as well they have a couple that are broken and they refuse to repair or replace.

I won’t be back here again. I took my daughter for her birthday lunch today. Cashier brought bill after having snacks items only within 15/20 minutes. we didn’t get chance to eat lunch and salad. We felt soo insulted and regretted to be here. Informed this to the cashier and front desk money man, He was super rude..Ocen buffet is way better than this place, more food quality food, cleaned sanitized more morning place, kids friendly and more friendly place. I don’t recommend anybody to go this place.

It would be nice if they didn't rush you out and stand over you after they give you the ticket. I have never been to a place where they come to your table and say are you done. Oh one more ok. 10 minutes later bring you the check and stand over you watching you sign the ticket. The food was good but the rushing us out is not good at all. The restaurant was not busy at all

Don't ask for sweet tea, you'll get unsweetened. Don't leave a tip, they don't check on you. Dumplins were burnt, soup cold. And there was no fortune in my cookie!!! Grrrr!

Totally unprofessional and rude managers. Ruined my whole meal because a four year old walked out crying with a cup sin her hand! The manager ran out the door yelling about the cup TWO DOLLA TWO DOLLA. I’m never eating here again. Total accident by an innocent child. I have kids too. Ugh.

Worst Chinese buffet ever seen in Texas. Staff don't know customer service not in good moods ☹️. Very rude for kids and looking at them like wild animals. Staff definitely needs to change their attitude and needs more customer services training. Foods are okay but not best Chinese food ever taste. Less choices than other Chinese buffet restaurants.

LOW TIER GARBAGE!! I PAID $17 FOR JUST A BUFFET NO DRINK. DO NOT COME HERE!! AVOID AT ALL COST!!! This has got to be one of the worst places to eat. All the food was less than warm they could have at least threw it in the microwave or something. All the food options were running low and seemed like they had been sitting there for a while. Nothing was fresh. The food was low quality and not very good. I mean I know its a buffet and shouldn't expect gourmet but it at least could have been decent. The staff seemed like they were rushing me to leave.

This is by far the worst buffet I ever ate at the best thing in everything I had was the canned mandarin orange . Service is not great either and the price is ridiculous for what they have on their buffet. I threw away almost everything I got . Even the watermelon was horrible lol never again waist of money . Oh and the hot and sour soup was disgusting tasted like nothing . If I cld do no stars I wld . I usually don't leave a negative review but those I cldnt help it . Find somewhere else to eat ocean buffet is way better then this . Not even 5 min after I ate my stomach is hurting already ugh

Server came and brought us our tab and watched over us and took our plates while we tried to eat, made me and my mom feel super uncomfortable. She came back as we were still trying to finish our food and kept persisting over and over for a tip after the bad service and making us feel uncomfortable. This isn’t the first time she does this and I speak to a manager about it and they don’t do anything about it. Super poor service while the food is mid.

Visited this place 10/18/2023 at 3pm. Party of 4, only 2 of us received refills. Food was typically old, never anything different. At the end we paid credit card, and waitress stood next to our table pushing the money tray towards us repeatedly obviously looking for a tip. We have a small tip even though we were a small party with little service. Once we started to leave the waitress and manager complaining about the tip, my kid asked her why they were complaining she said waitress give refills and laughed at him and then I said since when is a tip required for a small family and very little service ???!!! I mean if we're being expected to tip over a few refills, then show us where to refill our drinks at, I mean we already get our own food, why not drinks too !!! Definitely not worth tipping for and management is very unprofessional. Do yourself a favor and pass on this location!!! I'm done eating here, long long time customer and took one visit to choose frozen. Chinese food over this place!!!

I have never felt so unwelcome/ unwanted at a restaurant.

Food was okay but the waiter was hovering over me as I was signing the receipt to see what I left her as tip.. I was going to pull out cash but after she invaded my personal space and on TOP of that asked me if I was gonna leave her a tip(questioning me and just standing there), I did not. Will not be going back, who ever is in charge should teach some basic manners to their employees. Leave the bill, allow the customer to pay in peace and then come back. I felt uncomfortable even finishing my last bites and so did my friend. Once she left it seemed like she was gossiping about me & gave me the stink eye as if I was in the wrong.

Came here yesterday (30 March). The lo mein smelled like trash. The waitress came by the table ONE TIME and stood over us when we got the bill. She was VISIBLY upset when she wasn’t tipped enough for her liking. Next time I’m not tipping at all.

If I could I would give 0 stars. This is the 1st time in my life I've ever gone into a restaurant stood there patiently waiting to be seated and was blatantly ignored by the people that worked there. I went in at 5:10 PM on Thursday, they were not so busy that they couldn't help me and the lady who stood at the front entrance 3' from where I stood blatantly ignored me. I stood there for about 2 minutes looking around waiting for someone to take me to the table or to tell me what to do, to acknowledge that I existed at all. After which I just walked out I loved the summer palace that was on Waco Dr. and went there more times than I could ever count. I loved the food, the service, everything about it. This was the absolute worst experience i've ever had an any restaurant and I will never go back.

If I could give this horrible place even less than 1 star I would. Me and my cousins sat down to eat and the “waitress” brings us a fork and gets our drinks. Before we could even finish eating we get back and she threw all of our food away. We go get more and she comes with our checks already and stands there until we realize she wants us to pay right now. My cousin gives her 40 and some change while she owes 2 dollars (not that we even need it but still) and she comes back immediately to our table with her hand out pointing at each of us asking us for a dollar, mind you we are still eating! We are confused so she points at my purse saying she saw the money I pulled out and at this point my cousin just asks for her change back and she says she cleaned our tables and brought us drinks then walks off and starts yelling to the front desk lady and they yell back and forth. Before we leave my cousin says now she wants her change back after that and the lady throws 2 dollars at her and doesn’t even look. I have never experienced such horrible customer service to the point that I won’t tip at all.

If I could leave ZERO stars I would , only leaving a star just because I have to in order to leave a review. Immediately after walking in they rushed us to the very back of the restaurant in a corner that smelled 🤮 we got situated and got our food and drinks while we were eating our waitress continued to rush to pay while not even being completely done with a plate . After we got a second plate , the waitress continued to push the bill towards us to pay immediately. Never again will I come back to this disrespectful place , I understand paying but let me eat my food first I’m 7 months pregnant I’m not running out of a buffet with toddlers to skip a bill 🙄

Currently in the urgent care with my bf that has food poisoning. DON'T. EAT. HERE.

The ceiling is caked in dust balls. Everywhere. Not small,.not. alight dusting, clumps, gabs of dead skin and fibers all over the ceiling. Surrounding vents, above the food trays. The tables are covered in grime. The salt and pepper shakers covered in grime. The walls covered in grime and splashes. The napkin dispenser I didn't even want to touch, covered in grime and crumbs. There are spots on the wall surrounding the food trays with green streaks, not sure what it is but it's weird. The peperoni pizza had green spots. The food. Was good. Tasted good. Looked good. But I could only muster a few bites. The idea that it was so dirty upfront and possibly worse in the kitchen just wouldn't go away. The fear that clumps.of dust would fall onto our plates. I would have left but my husband is a buffet fan and since moving to waco he has been on the hunt for a new go to. This is not it. We will never go again. But I let him eat, it was his pick. And again the food looked great. It really did. I just can't eat off the floor. And that basically what it was.

It is one of the worst places I have ever been. Food is good, but the services are the worst. The host was really rude 😒

Buyer beware. The waitress is very pushy for a tip, to the point where they watch you sign the receipts. We tipped $6.00, due to the terrible customer service we felt that was generous. After we had left, they charged us $12.00 for a tip billed to a separate company the restaurant owns, called Summer Snow. And they also doubled what our receipt showed, we signed the actual one, and when we checked the credit card statement, we were charged double from their restaurant company called Summer Palace, not twice, if that makes sense. My husband and I didn't think to grab the receipt off of the tray, but, rest assured, we already filed a dispute with the credit card company. Also, do not enter the bathrooms, they are vile and smell like they have an issue with their plumbing/sewer system. The food is terrible and the overall the place was needing repairs and updates and unclean. Never again. If you eat here, please check your bank accounts. But, we will not be back.

The waitress came to FINALLY offer a refill as we asked for the check. We needed a larger bill broken, but she refused to bring us change, insisting On a $20 tip. Three people, buffett service and no drink refills. Shame too. We are usually 30% tippers and used to go there once a month. Management offered no consolation. We won't be back.

First of all, the waitress led me and my young sister to the table right away, didn’t ask about age or anything. We got our food, and overall the food is okay. It’s not great, not many options either. I felt like I was being watched by the waitress that led us to my table EVERYTIME she walked by. She wouldn’t stare at anyone else BUT me. After we were done, the waitress gave us the receipt and in total came out to $43….the price is really ridiculous for TWO people. My sister should’ve been cheaper, I felt like I was scammed. I put NO tip and the waitress looks at it, talks to the other waitress in her foreign language, then asks me why no tip. I find that super disrespectful. If the food and service is not the best, WHY should I tip you? I was angry, left $3 and STILL the waitress was not happy about it. I didn’t want to cause a scene or get angry with her, but I wish I could’ve stood my ground regardless because no one deserves to be treated that way or asked disrespectfully why there was no tipping included. I’ve rated bad reviews on restaurants before, but this one really concerned me the most. I’ll never come back, matter of fact I wish I could sue this place.

Our party of four paid $83 for the buffet on a Saturday (2/17/2024). The food was terrible. I got a plate of fried shrimp, and EVERY one of them were not clean after inspecting them. I told the manager, and she passed the blame for it onto HEB. Seriously? We will NEVER go to this place again. ****MCCLELLAN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PLEASE INSPECT THIS PLACE FREQUENTLY ****

Food wasn’t good. The service wasn’t good either. The waitress stood right by us while we were still eating and waited to pay. I paid her and she came back with my change, but when I went to grab it she had a firm grip on my money. She kept demanding a tip even though we felt as the service and tip were not enough to give a tip. I gave her the change but I felt as I was being forced to tip. I will never go again.

I frequent this establishment at least once a week…after what I witnessed yesterday, I won’t be back! The owner yells at her staff in front of customers, even assaulting them. You could tell the waitress was scared of her. The waitress came over to me after I got up and said something. She replied that she made a mistake and that it was okay. No it is not okay to be treated that away. The owner has some serious anger issues!

Me and my wife went to eat. It’s a buffet so we made our own plates and our drink was refilled once. Food was what you would expect from a buffet quantity over quality. Waitress stood with her hand out for a tip and my wife gave her $3 and she got a very snobby look on her face as if to say “this should have been at least $10”. We will never go back. It would have been one thing if she took our order and walked our food out but she literally did almost nothing to earn $3 and it came out to almost $40 for 2 adults. Get real people, if you don’t like a $3 tip as a waitress at an overpriced Chinese buffet where you have to do very little work, then get another job.

johana garcia

yesterday i went to summer palace with my boyfriend and two of our friends the waitress immediately walked us to our table and didn’t take her eyes off of us she kept eyeing us and by the second plate she had already brought our receipt. we felt rushed, uncomfortable, and judged. i don’t know if she thought that we were just going eat and not pay but she kept hovering and we did notice that she was only doing that to us— we’re latin@s. we ended up paying and as i was writing down the tip she was literally HOVERING over me and saw that we had tipped $2 and loudly she says “$2 tip?” she then proceeds to say that we are 4 people we should tip her $10 even though the experience was HORRIBLE. we did end up tipping her $10 after that. from my knowledge you only tip when you can or want to (more the reason if the waitress is nice and respectful) it’s not necessary for one to tip especially to a rude judgmental waitress. i know i didn’t have to tip her anything at all and especially after that experience but it is what it is i hope the manager can talk to all of their waitresses about these issues for a better experience for customers.

Ashley Smith

My boyfriend and I visited Summer Palace today for their Saturday buffet, and it was easily one of the worst dining experiences we've had in a long time. First, the prices online are inaccurate. The buffet ended up being $17.99 per person, and it was absolutely not worth it. The food selection was extremely limited compared to other buffets in the area, several items tasted reheated over many times, and other things were simply inedible. None of the shrimp were deveined. But honestly, the service was even worse than the food. From the moment we walked in, the hostess sat us directly across from her and then spent the entire meal staring at us—especially at my boyfriend, who is Black—making the whole experience uncomfortable and inappropriate. The energy felt judgmental and intrusive. As if we would dine and dash and she would be the one to apprehend us at the door. Our waitress never smiled, never checked on us, and never offered a single refill. We each had two plates, nothing excessive, yet when the check arrived (a whopping $48 for two people), she hovered nearby pretending to tidy another table while watching over my boyfriend’s shoulder as he filled out the receipt. When he didn’t enter a tip immediately, she walked over, bent down, read the receipt, and said “No tip?” out loud. Completely unprofessional and wildly inappropriate. To the waitress-You did barely anything at all, I served myself. A tip is just that, EXTRA for at the bare minimum DECENT service which you, nor anyone in this establishment is capable of. Between the poor food quality, overpriced buffet, unwelcoming atmosphere, and what felt like racially biased treatment, we will absolutely not be returning. There are plenty of restaurants in the area that offer better food, better service, and basic respect for their customers. Zero stars.

Joseph Desrosiers

Went in to get two to go plates and food looked old but was hungry and in a hurry. I used paper plates on front table like instructed when came in. I used small dessert plate for sweet and sour sauce because all that was there. When got to the counter lady Ridley said you are supposed to use these little containers for sauce and she pulled them from behind counter😳. I’m like sorry I can’t see through your counter. I told her they should put them out with rest of to go stuff and she got mad and was rude so we went back and forth and she told me to leave wow! Won’t be back and food was dry old and nasty ugh

Michael Avila

The food and treats like deserts are alr but dont ever get the sausage it might taste good at first but look at what i found in the meat in this sausage was harder than the rest i didnt even eat it because it made me lose my appetite just by looking at it. I wouldnt be surprised if it was someones actual toe because there are frog legs you can eat here. Please dont go here.

Official JT

Food was alright! Waitress was Trash 🗑️. Left a 1$ tip since the waitress with the glasses the old lady was breathing down our neck waiting and waiting while we finishing our conversation with each other! She should be fired! For being forced a Tip! That's unprofessional Business, she was talking trash in her own language, well if want to force a tip an stand there for 5 minutes you ain't going to get a tip from me!

Michael J. Lee

I’m not one to pick a business apart. In fact I enjoy speaking well of them when deserved. However, I can’t say anything good about Summer Palace Restaurant’s food. I honestly can’t think of any redeeming quality about any of the dishes I tried. Even so I’m giving a 1 star. The people who worked there were nice enough and genuinely thanked me for coming. The atmosphere was that of a hospital cafeteria. I normally give a place a second chance in the event that something could have been off on a particular day. However, being that this is a buffet, there’s no reason to think that all of the dishes will be better the next go round.

Nakota Neville

I say this as somebody who loved this place 15 years ago. It has gone so far downhill. All the food was chewy and cold. The steamed rice was not steamed and was hard as a rock when you ate it. Teriyaki chicken was easily the worst I’ve ever had! And it is insanely expensive!

Xkope Xontraxt

Wow!! I use to come here back when I lived here but now after my last visit likely I will never go back. As shown on the picture, everything on the togo plate are non-seafood not even that tiny scoop of imitation crab, but because of the imitation crab this small amount of food cost $20?? And the opened my box at the counter breathe all over it?? Ohh nooo.. The food gave me stomach ache last night running to the bathroom several times. This palace is no Summer it's a Greedy palace! Imitation crab brings the cost to $9 a pound?? That is foolish you will lose customers guaranteed.. Stop being greedy.

Deborah S

I got a to go order . The ladies were not friendly and reminded me that no seafood in my order I had . Again she said extra cost seafood not included. I had just basic Chinese food and soup . My total was $17. and change . I commented about how we didn't get as bad weather as predicted . The lady said we were not talking to you she was talking to me . WOW I just looked . And she pushed my bag with the order and never said anything else . I asked if the ice cream cones were included in the buffet she said yes you want a cone it be $2. dollars I turned and walked out . Never have I had such rude person behind the cash register and she definitely does not need to be there . I rate poor customer service and poor attitude also the way she pushed my bag with my order I rate poor poor for customer satisfaction. The man there has always been behind the register . He is very friendly very polite and he has always had great customer service and speaks to customers . But the lady with the very thin lips that had a attitude and could care less if I ate there or not . She was probably happy to see me leave without eating or placing an order by her attitude when she said she is speaking to me not you . She is not a people person and food was not as good . Maybe it was the bad taste she gave me when I walked in and watched me get food in my to go plate she came up to me stated no seafood it's extra no spare ribs there extra charge soup not included soup extra charge when she told me when I was shoved the container when I first came in