206 replies to this topic

[Dave Burrell]

Darthvader,

I have NO hidden agenda. I am a no one, just tell like it is. YES, I live to eat.

China Buffet restaurants have caused a lot of fear within the Asian community in southern and northern Ca.
China Buffet is known for:
1) Low Price
2) Great Selection
3) Causing Nightmare for many of the Chinese/Japanese Restaurants in the area (some Chinese and Japanese Restaurants may have to close down eventually)

The reason China Buffet can afford the $20,000.00/Month Lease in Folsom because the majority of the kitchen employees are imported directely from China and DO WORK FOR FREE.
The owner of China House (711 E Bidwell St, Raley's Center) already migrated to Vallejo because of China Buffet.
China House is currently running by employees.

As soon as China Buffet is open, I will be there checking out their food/place although I usually don’t eat buffet food.

Bon appétit!

Doesn't the fact that China Buffet is in a really crappy location have any bearing on your predicted success of that place?

Even if they had super great Chinese food, that location alone is reason enough for me to not want to go there.

[ChipShot]

Folsom is over-built, restaurant-wise, so all the closings, etc, don't really surprise me in the least. Just my nickel...

[Spicy]

Doesn't the fact that China Buffet is in a really crappy location have any bearing on your predicted success of that place?

Even if they had super great Chinese food, that location alone is reason enough for me to not want to go there.

"Many an optimist has become rich by buying out a pessimist."
Robert G. Allen

[Darthvader]

Darthvader,

I have NO hidden agenda. I am a no one, just tell like it is. YES, I live to eat.

Here is the estimate cost for restaurants:
Prime Costs: 65-70% of sales.
1) Food 30%
2) Labor 40%
Fixed Expenses: 6-8% of sales
1) Rent
2) Insurance
Average pre-tax profit margins range from 4-7%

Seafood restaurants usually have higher food cost. Scott's: 37-45%. Ethnic restaurants: 17-25%. Buffet restaurants also have higher food cost but much lower labor. It’s A Grind or Starbucks: 20-25%.

China Buffet restaurants have caused a lot of fear within the Asian community in southern and northern Ca.
China Buffet is known for:
1) Low Price
2) Great Selection
3) Causing Nightmare for many of the Chinese/Japanese Restaurants in the area (some Chinese and Japanese Restaurants may have to close down eventually)

The reason China Buffet can afford the $20,000.00/Month Lease in Folsom because the majority of the kitchen employees are imported directely from China and DO WORK FOR FREE.
The owner of China House (711 E Bidwell St, Raley's Center) already migrated to Vallejo because of China Buffet.
China House is currently running by employees.

As soon as China Buffet is open, I will be there checking out their food/place although I usually don’t eat buffet food.

Bon appétit!

I'm curious how they can get away with importing workers and not paying them? I would think the State of Ca has something on the books that makes this illegal. Maybe after they are open for a few weeks somebody will make a call and have them shut down for using illegal immigrant prisoners to make wonderful, cheap buffet food in Folsom.

[Spicy]

I'm curious how they can get away with importing workers and not paying them? I would think the State of Ca has something on the books that makes this illegal. Maybe after they are open for a few weeks somebody will make a call and have them shut down for using illegal immigrant prisoners to make wonderful, cheap buffet food in Folsom.

I would like to see this kind of employer out of Folsom, and out of USA. Maybe you could contact the food editor of the Sacramento Bee, Mike Dunne. Ask him to look into the matter and/or even do the food review when China Buffet is open.
The Sacramento Bee
P.O. Box 15779 Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 321-1000

Thank you in advance.

[Spicy]

I would like to see this kind of employer out of Folsom, and out of USA. Maybe you could contact the food editor of the Sacramento Bee, Mike Dunne. Ask him to look into the matter and/or even do the food review when China Buffet is open.
The Sacramento Bee
P.O. Box 15779 Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 321-1000

Thank you in advance.

Darthvader,

Perhaps you stop by Bambou Chinese Restaurant on Douglas Blvd (Sierra), behind La Bou.
The owner of Bambou knows quite a bit about China Buffet's operation. He might choose to remain silent however.
David, the owner of China House also can give info about China Buffet. Jennie (Jennie's Palace) knows it too.

Thanks

[Darthvader]

Darthvader,

Perhaps you stop by Bambou Chinese Restaurant on Douglas Blvd (Sierra), behind La Bou.
The owner of Bambou knows quite a bit about China Buffet's operation. He might choose to remain silent however.
David, the owner of China House also can give info about China Buffet. Jennie (Jennie's Palace) knows it too.

Thanks

Are you the James Bond of the restaruant world? I know, you're NO ONE which seems to me like some cryptic hint like Hannibal Lecter gave in Silence of the Lambs...

[Spicy]

Are you the James Bond of the restaruant world? I know, you're NO ONE which seems to me like some cryptic hint like Hannibal Lecter gave in Silence of the Lambs...

Correct, I am no one. Simply a couch potato, 500+ pounds, live in my mother's basement, an independent thinker, and LIVE TO EAT.
I am not someone in disguise, and I do not know anyone of you. I suppose y'all know each other.
I have a lot of free time for the next few months... then my life will move on.

Thank you for your response.

[4thgenFolsomite]

okay, wow, just wow.

$20,000 a month rent for the old Denny's? OMG!!!

How many buffet dinners do you have to sell to make that kind of money? It's got good seating, but wow!!!!

I am kind of looking forward to it opening. I like the Japanese seafood buffet next to Jimboys, but the speakers in there are blown out and sound awful. Bad enough I won't go back because of the noise. I wish I had the nerve to tell them the place would be better if they just turned the muzak off.

but, wow, 20,000 rent a month!

[ducky]

okay, wow, just wow.

$20,000 a month rent for the old Denny's? OMG!!!

How many buffet dinners do you have to sell to make that kind of money? It's got good seating, but wow!!!!

I am kind of looking forward to it opening. I like the Japanese seafood buffet next to Jimboys, but the speakers in there are blown out and sound awful. Bad enough I won't go back because of the noise. I wish I had the nerve to tell them the place would be better if they just turned the muzak off.

but, wow, 20,000 rent a month!

The old Denny's is Streets of London. Are you maybe thinking of the old Lyon's/old Sizzler or is this in another city someplace?

[Spicy]

The old Denny's is Streets of London. Are you maybe thinking of the old Lyon's/old Sizzler or is this in another city someplace?

China Buffet is located where old Lyon's/old Sizzler used to be on E Bidwell & Blue Ravine.

[Spicy]

Spicy, you definitely bring up some good points.

Regarding Jennie's, I have only eaten there one time and was really disappointed. I won't miss it. T2Yan last week was pretty good, I look forward to seeing how they deal with their location and how they grow once the opening pains get worked out. Pei Wei was not good, but I believe they will do well because of their capital behind them.

Disclaimer: I much prefer Thai over Chinese. Since "discovering" Thai food 20 years ago, Chinese seems much less interesting and tasty and I always compare the two. My bad, I know. They are separate cuisines.

After the talk of Amarin being for sale, I got a craving for their food. (Have always loved their downtown location.) Last night did not disappoint. The Tom Yum soup was excellent, especially nice at the end of a cold. The shrimp (no extra cost versus chicken) were incredible! Briny, salty, tasted like the sea! Just like a good shrimp should. The yellow chicken curry was top-notch, the Path Woo Sen salad was outstanding. However, the Rad Nar we got for the kids was simply OK. Not bad by any means, but not as up to par as the other dishes.

I highly recommend Amarin. Go while it's still around!

Yes Amarin has good Thai Food. Glad you and your family enjoyed the food.
T2YAN has live crabs & lobsters. We had Sierra Nevada Beer there last week $11/Pitcher. pretty good price.
Bidwell Bistro is another good place.

Bon appétit!

[mylo]

Amarin's frozen satay leaves A LOT to be desired. Otherwise, we enjoy it

[mrdavex]

Just my nickel...

Wow, even ChipShot has been hit by inflation

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

BTW, Hop Sing is the best Chinese food in town.

We haven't ordered from Hop Sing in well over ten years. When we first moved here (almost 17 years ago) they were pretty much the only Chinese food in town and it was pretty good. We'd do take-out more often than dine-in, and after a while they started getting pretty chintzy with the goods; for example, there'd be four shrimp at the top of a carton of shrimp and pea pods, and none anywhere else to be found below. It was the same with other dishes and it was the same over time -- so we stopped going and haven't been back since.

Since we haven't been back since, I can't speak for what they do now, nor do I know if this is something they try to get away with on take-out (since it's not as easy to "send it back") rather than dine-in.