Happy China

A few weeks ago my favorite Chinese Buffet closed and I had to replace it. Someone mentioned Happy China so we gave it a try. All I can say is that I like it as much or more than my old buffet. The food is fresh and good, replaced promptly and set out in a very eye pleasing presentation. The environment is excellent, and the people are sweet and caring. I must say, I love this place.

I had been a regular customer for 20 years but haven’t gone in a few years. I had a lunch meeting this week, so I picked my favorite restaurant. When I looked up their business hours, I was shocked to read so many reviews about management change. When I got there everything I read was true. The food was cold at 11:00 am when they open, the ribs that used to fall off the bone were too tough to eat. The selection is way different and not in a good way, every meat dish I ate was cold, tough and a different cut with fat or grit. I’m just so sad…

They have changed hands but is still in the family I understand. Redesigned. I miss the big pans at the end with chicken and beef. They do have more types of sushi.

The reviews were right. Food was dry, not very hot, and wasn’t good at all. Felt like food had been sitting out for a while. $ 30 for 2 buffet and a drink. Take out at china king would’ve been so much better!

I am so disappointed. This was one of my favorite Chinese places and I drove out from the city (Holly Hills) to find out it just was not worth the trip.
They have redesigned the first room and put in nice new steam servers. I arrived just before 5 pm and I was the only one in the place for most of the time. The sushi offerings were OK but it seemed to me, overall there were less item choices and what was offered was tired looking and not even very warm. The pot stickers which were my favorite were not the same and there were definitely less vegetable choices.
The staff was younger but spent lots of time chatting with each other rather than refreshing my drink. I do not think we will see any new awards on the wall for awhile… I am sad but I can get average Chinese food and buffets without fighting 270/traffic…no longer worth it for me!

Change is a constant but not necessarily a positive. So it goes with the new ownership at Happy China it’s not a positive. I admire the new proprietors’ desire to bring their own «style» to the Lunch Buffet. Sadly, they have missed the mark. For me the disappointment is represented by the addition of vegetables to the fried rice. Silly perhaps, but I simply don’t want peas in fried rice. Additionally, a generally sparse presentation of each item gives one the feel of being served leftovers as opposed to the abundance of a buffet.
Finally, this noon-​time buffet favorite has obviously lost its way and its clientele as well. A buffet that once hosted diners at at least 80% capacity for lunch has declined to well less than 50%. Whether they like peas in their fried rice or not the patrons are voting with their feet to take their lunch-​time business elsewhere.

More like Horrible China not Happy China. They forgot forks on our pick up order. Wasted $ 30 in food because where we were going their was no silverware. This is standard with pick up orders from every place I’ve ever bought from, plastic forks are included. I will never eat here again and would recommend everyone avoid this place. I can see why they have so many negative reviews. Oh and when I called, they asked why I didn’t have forks at my house. Wtf rude! No apology or anything, they just don’t care about customers.

Just so-​so. This was our first visit since the owners changed. I miss Mr. Pau walking around serving his freshly made special fried rice. The food did not taste the same; the recipes have been altered. The crab rangoon had a bit of a sour taste to it, but other dishes were okay — just different. They have rearranged the buffet area, and appear to have taken some of the tables and crammed them into the left-​hand side of the restaurant. The waitress never came back to refill my water. When they dropped off the check, it had all the people at the table on one ticket, though we wanted to pay separately, It was adequate, but I no longer find it something special that we would go out of our way to do.

Excellent lunch buffet. Great selection, great flavor. Reasonable price. Really enjoyed. Will definitely be back. Best I’ve had since I’ve been in Missouri. And I’ve traveled all over the state.

Came in first time for lunch today and NOT impressed at all. High price and buffet was dry and old food turned over. Won’t be going back!

Very good tasty buffet. Big selections. Very friendly owners too. Highly recommend Chinese/​Korean buffet!

LIKE really at all times we have gone there the fam service is perfectly amazing

Very tired place. It hasn’t been updated in years. The food is very heavy. Lots of grease. The carpets are old and dirty. The booths are sad.
Good stuff: Pot stickers, house beef.

Came in here around 730 at night, knowing its a buffet, was expecting new food to come out. Alright, I’m sorry, came in here saw all their self promotions and rewards they previously won, so expectations went a little bit higher. Unfortunately, it did not come close to the small hype I had. This place is pretty downright, lets just say, not one of my favorite buffets. I went through and tried the majority of their foods, and not a single one made me want to go back to get seconds for.
Pretty much won’t be coming here again, price isn’t even that cheap

This is the best Chinese Buffett in the saint louis area. Hands down! Even my dads goes here and he hates buffets! Try them out for lunch because its cheaper with the same food selection!

We went in for lunch and were told that we could not order off the menu, it was «buffet» only.
Well ok. Then the person in charge says we can order off the menu but it has to be to-​go. We can’t eat there. ?! Huh. What kind of place says that.
Needless to say we just left without eating and won’t be back.

I have been coming here for years and I only have two check in’s. Hmm must be thinking of the food. I have been taking office staff to lunch last week and this week. I had one more person who I needed to take out to lunch. I had taken everyone else to Gulf Shores poor me :). The person I was taking out is a vegetarian so this seemed a better option for her. The food is still the best in the area. Always fresh and always top cuts of meat and produce.

The most disgusting over priced food I have ever seen
All the food was old and dry It looked like it was from last week
Nothing was labeled you could not even make out what the dish was
Nothing was stirred they don’t Care at all what they are serving
The Chinese people I saw were eating food that was not on the buffet it looked fresh from the kitchen so they won’t even eat the food
Bottom line if you want to live on the edge and test your immune system eat here

I came here with my co-​worker for a Saturday late lunch and it was terrific! He told me before coming here that they have very interesting menu items and he was right. I loved it and the price was actually great for the variety of items that they have! What can I say? It is an excellent place to go if you are craving for some Chinese but don’t have a single specific item in mind. I will definitely come here again with or without my co-​workers because I have not even tried half of the foods in the buffet.

I have been visiting Happy China for years and years. My parents and I used to drive here every month or so when I was in high school… all the way from Foley, Missouri. If you do a Google search and realize just how far that it, it will tell you something about the quality of this place. If it wasn’t good, we’d have no justification to return.
I haven’t tried anything at Happy China that I found horribly offensive. Their meat-​based dishes are flavorful. I’m no fool — it’s probably because they are sodium-​laden and artery-​clogging. However, Happy China is a worthwhile splurge so I choose to ignore it. My favorite thing they serve is their wonton soup. I often find that wonton soup can be pretty bland or the noodles are too mushy. However, Happy China has really hit the mark with a soup that is flavorful yet light.
During our last visit, I brought my fiancé. He had never been to Happy China, and let’s just say that by the end of the visit, he had to walk around with his pants unbuttoned. Ah… another satisfied customer. :)
EDIT ¹²⁄₁₃: Boy, this place has gotten nasty in the last year. What happened to you, Happy China? :(