Chow Time Grill & Buffet

Primera vez y estaba Full pero la comida excelente fresco y caliente… el cake de chocolate muy rico… sopa Spicy see food es very spicy…

Very tasty, a wide selection of foods, very clean, and good prices. The staff is very friendly.

My son wanted to do a sushi buffet for dinner, and decided to come here instead of the usual Shinju in Davie … Meh
The sushi selection was small, and not that impressive… The place is nice, it has 4 separate rooms, so its not too noisy and doesn’t feel crowded. The hibachi part of it was good, but also limited selections on what you could make your plate with. They did have a chocolate fountain, which I didn’t even touch … As for the rest of the food, meh … I was not impressed AT ALL.
Now, the service … Meh … I watched 4 «servers» stand by my table, 1 of them moved around a bit, the other 3, just hang out there. I noticed another patron had to get up and walk up to them and request a refill on his drink. We watched our plates pile up for a bit, maybe we ate too fast …
Overall, for the price you pay, I guess my overall experience was … meh

Been to this place 3x the food is always good they have the best extensive hibachi station I’ve ever seen. My favorite is the salt n pepper shrimp n fried crab. must say best Chinese buffet so far. Ive took a few friends here and they’ve came back and took their family.

I give this place four stars for the price. I don’t know of anywhere else that you can get all you can eat snow crab legs for under $ 13. For that reason alone I give this place the rating that I do. It has an insane amount of things to choose from, but with all that it does have a lot of negatives. The most noticeable is the wait time for the crab legs. It is embarrassing how people have to hover over the crab legs like savages. If you can not provide all you can eat crab legs to your existing customer base at the suggested price… then don’t offer crab legs! I’ve been there 5 times and my third time there I didn’t have any crab legs. Please consider that before you think about trying this place.

Nice looking place with okay food… weekends are insane though. the people are literally fighting to get carb legs like animals because they only have a small tray they put out every 20 minutes which is pretty much the only thing really worth coming there for. the price for the buffet is cheap so dont expect great quality food. The clams are also great besides the crabs. Overall its a place to go if youre on a budget and wanna eat alot of seafood for a low price.

A little late with this review, but posting to say we (me, GF, mom) were there on a Friday night of a busy holiday weekend with no issues and had a great choice of pretty good food for the price.
Was told 25 minute wait when arriving, assumed it would be much longer given number of people waiting but were seated in under 20 minutes. Lady who seated us took our drink order which came quickly. The food was fresh and being quickly replenished despite how busy they were, though soup bowls and extra cutlery would be out for brief periods. Soups and fried foods (my two favorites) all better than average for a buffet. GF gave her voice of approval to the sushi and the hibachi grill and has already asked when we are going again. Only disappointment was the ice cream, all flavors were near the bottom of their bin and impossibly hard to scoop.
The servers who came by to clear the finished plates were attentive and polite; I have no clue where the complaints in earlier reviews came from. My only worry is that if Chow Time remains so popular that the price will certainly go up. But until then all three of us will be back.

It is really hard to write a review of a buffet as there are so many things that can away things either way… so here’s my take…
The place is clean. Food is kept filled in nicely. I love that there is a fresh hibachi area with a great variety. They also had a make your own soup area as well. I couldn’t tell if there was a vegetable broth option which would have been nice. Food is separated into separate stations and nicely labeled. Food labels are a little confused as they don’t change for dinner so some areas had things that were not there. Could be dangerous for those with allergies.
My husband was happy to see crawfish and I think that was the bulk of what he ate.
Dessert was rather generic. I was excited to see a chocolate fountain, however it was generic chocolate syrup so it really wasn’t that good.
There was something for everyone. The price was pretty good for lunch $ 8.49/person not including drinks.
The thing that always ruins a buffet is the reminder that buffet goers can… umm. not have manners… there was the girl who used her fingers to get the lomein off the tongs (licked her fingers to clean and then touched tongs again)…nope didn’t have lomein. Then there are the people who crowded the poor hibachi guy and shouted over everyone repeatedly telling him what sauces. Wait til he asks… he will get to you.
All in all it was really a 3.5, but I rounded up. I would return.

I called the establishment just now, and the guy that answer the phone was very nice. he said that they would probably be opening in approx 10 days remaining on their instruction to go so hopefully it’ll be a good experience I’m looking forward to eating some good Japanese. with my little family of 5!
Review after gong:
Great food selection, seating kinda sucks.

Good value, food was typical buffet quality for Chinese food. Nice selection.
Clean restaurant and nicely decorated.
I would go back again when the urge arises for Chinese buffet. I prefer a regular Chinese restaurant as the quality
Is so much better.

I’m not particularly a fan of buffets so you can take this review with a grain of salt.
I absolutely HATE receiving a Pepsi when I distinctly ordered a Coke and not being told that they don’t serve Coca Cola products. Off the bat, that diminished my experience.
The buffet selection is significantly better than the prior establishments that resided in the same spot. With that said, whenever it is particularly busy (and it was when I went during dinner) you are getting hot food that was just cooked which is fantastic. As I mentioned prior, I’m not a fan of buffets and when there is a sushi bar that is typically what I opt for. The sushi bar doesn’t have a lot of options and I didn’t care much for the rolls available. The raw salmon and tuna were good since they never sat out too long. I wasn’t impressed with much else, but it’s really just not my kind of cuisine.
Chow Time is better than a lot of the buffets that Pembroke Pines has seen in a number of years, but by no means close to the best I’ve seen.

This is a nice place to visit if you like good food and big variety. The servers are busy so dont expect any nice dialog from them when you get them, but with all due respect what can you expect for 12−15USD meal? They must cut cost somewhere.
Do I recommend? YES 100%
Will I come back when I have the chance? YES

Chow Time ??? More like RUDE TIME !!! I was looking around the area for hibachi and this place popped up. To make this easy I’ll just do a pros and cons list.
PROS: Great selection of food
Awesome hibachi
Plenty of space
CONS: Severs are HORRIBLE !!!
DON’T COME FOR SUSHI !!!
Some items are incorrectly labled
This place is not all that bad I guess. The hibachi was really good for the money. The servers however will make you feel a little uneasy. Also BEWARE of the dinner items if your here during lunch this could be the difference in $ 10 for 2 people. Our tab was $ 21.00 after we brought it to there attention as they were charging us over $ 31.00 for dinner items that were NOT labeled…

Sooo Shinju is right up the street…
I digress. We came here despite the previous poor reviews. The only saving grace for this place is the price.
The food was decent but the customer service was DISPICABLE. It started when we came in right before the switch to dinner. The hostess assured us it wouldnt be an issue because we were there before the cutoff time. Midway through our meal, the waitress process to out her fingers in our plates and states we will be charged dinner because of dinner options on our plate. I was infuriated and asked her to take my plate immidiately.
Then I noticed our waitress in the corner eating which wasnt a big deal until she got up and came directly over to our table and asked for refills without washing her hands.
Then the bill comes. She has charged us for dinner even though she took the plates away. I asked to speak with a manager and noted the time we came in, what the hostess said, and the fact the the dinner foods were not labeled. After a deep sigh the manager agreed to the lunch price.
I have to say this was by far, one of the worst experiences I’ve had in a long time and I will not be returning.

Was excited to try this new spot in my area that opened recently– best of my food worlds, Asian cuisine.
Though unfortunately I wasn’t too thrilled after my visit. Service was great/​friendly and they had a variety of food items to choose from, such as: International Cuisine, Asian Cuisine, American, Fruits, Sushi, Hibachi, and Desserts. Even though it was buffet, items of course won’t be as fresh as when first served but some items just didn’t seem too tasteful. The one that was the disappointment was the sushi section– weren’t fresh tasting and very limited pickings were left and weren’t being refilled again (might’ve been the time I was there, 6p).
Definitely the section to try is the Hibachi! Great selection of items to choose from and once done, you can have them made on the spot. Without this section, this place would’ve had a different rating.

Actual conversation, and proof of the Unilocal addiction lol
Me — «I don’t want to go to a buffet!»
Dad — «But you’ve never been there before, and this way you’ll have a review to write»
Me — «OK, good point»
So off to Chow Time we were. My dad and Janice had already been here twice, and although they weren’t enamored, the $ 11.99 price tag (YES FOR DINNER!) was a big selling point.
*Note, We do believe this $ 11.99 price for weeknight dinners is due to Chow Time just opening, and that it will eventually go up to match other nearby competition.
TLDR
Come here if you and your dining partner can’t agree on what to eat for dinner.
Come here if you want Asian style noodles.
Come here soon to take advantage of the $ 11.99 weeknight dinner.
First off, this place is one of the strangest buffets I’ve ever been to. From the décor — half Asian, half blah, half seafood restaurant?, to the actual food offerings, I walked in feeling confused, and walked out still confused.
Chow Time offers a little bit of everything, so it’s safe to say that nothing is done that well, but if you’re in the mood to try literally everything, this place might work for you.
Food options include:
Pizza
Sushi (some with sprinkles? lol)
Kimchee
Chinese
Frog Legs
Crab Legs (hot)
Cajun Crawfish
Carving Station
Salad (pretty poor salad options)
Hibachi
Noodle Soups
Seafood Bar (peel and eat shrimp, mussels, NO oysters)
And although I found most of the food to be average, the Hibachi and Noodle Soups were different from any other place I’ve been, and a notch above. Hibachi is laid out for you to prepare a plate of raw meats and veggies and then hand it to the cook. Noodle Soups are much the same, prepare your plate, hand to the cook, and he’ll boil it all, and then serve you back a bowl with your selected broth (broth options are beef, spicy beef or chicken).
SERVICE
Because Chow Time is new, and super cheap, this place was packed. We didn’t have to wait for a table, but there was a line leading up to the hostess stand. We also had a few mix ups when we were eating and another patron claimed we were sitting at his table, so I think there are some staff communication issues. Getting refills on drinks, getting the check etc weren’t easy either and they seemed to be a bit understaffed. I also had to stand around for a bit waiting for the noodles to be refilled.

This is the first time me & my best friend come to this establishment. We were searching up a new buffet in our area because the old one became too disgusting to eat at. At first I was pretty excited because I saw some great reviews.
Unfortunately these reviews failed to mention that the customer service there is horrible. When we were sat down my best said he wanted a Pepsi, I asked for a raspberry tea. Then, quickly, my Best Friend changed his mind and said he wanted a water instead: The waitress rolled her eyes and puffed And proceeded to walk away.
So after that we walked to the food and we were kind of surprised that there was a nice variety, about 60+ things to choose from. I ate a little bit of everything, so has he. All the different rices tasted the same– bland. But the hibachi portion was pretty good. I really liked their corn nuggets and meat variety. The sushi was decent too (about 15+ kinds).
After eating everything the waitress came back and said are we leaving yet? We politely said no and and she began to huff and puff again. I really didn’t understand what her deal was.
Other than that everything pretty much taste of the same– like other buffets: a little better though.
Would I be back, Im not sure. Customer service is a big key for me. And after tonight I don’t think I’ll be back for a while.

I was excited to try out Chow Time because I ate at another chain on the West Coast and it was pretty decent. I give it 3.5 stars. I prefer Chow Time over Dragon Buffet in Plantation. They have the usual Chinese buffet items plus sushi, seafood, build-​your-​own hot pot and hibachi, as well as American food (roast beef, chicken wings, etc). If you’re looking for buffet with quality sushi, go to Shinju Buffet. If you want a little bit of everything, come here.
As for their seafood, they have mussels, clams, crawfish, shrimp, grilled squid, and crabs (steamed and fried). They have frog legs if that’s your kind of thing. Their dessert could use a little work– though I never really like the desserts served at Chinese buffets besides the ice cream. They have a chocolate fountain for dipping marshmallows. I really liked their build-​your-​own hot pot station. I piled my bowl with shrimp, clams, scallops, and udon noodles. They boil your food all together in a large pot then place it in a broth of your choice. I picked the spicy broth. We were so stuffed by the end of dinner. I would come here again and bring hungry guests.

After seeing this spot change management SO MANY TIMES (yes, I’ve been here ever since it was called Emerald Coast many years ago), I’m delighted to say that Chow Time should be a permanent establishment. So here’s my perspective after had experiencing Pre-​Chow Time Era and now.
— Pre-​Chow Time Era:
The selection was small and although the area seemed small, there was a lot of available seating, so wasn’t much of a hot-​spot in the earlier years. I had my 17^th birthday there because I had a big guest list, so I did like how it was a cheap buffet, but you did get what you pay for. Fast forward to when the name changed several times and some items were swapped out. When it was Sushi 8, there were more sushi — perhaps they were trying to compete with Japanese buffet Shinju. I actually enjoyed the sashimi salad there (yes, it was notable). It did get a little better, having more sushi available, but it just didn’t feel right yet. Fast forward to present time…
— Now: Chow Time:
They renovated the place and it looks COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than the previous establishments. They got rid of the mini bridge and (useless) bar to make space for MORE FOOD and more seating. The food is more organized, with each food bar catagorzied by type of food. Quality is MUCH better and the price is still the same! I’ve only been there for lunch so far, but for only $ 7.99, I had enjoyed so much! Sure, they don’t have the typical crab legs you see for dinner, but they have crawfish! They also have roast beef you can slice yourself. Sushi section is smaller than the previous, but still had some good variety. The last establishment had a hibachi grill but Chow Time has both a hibachi grill AND hot pot section! You choose your own broth base and the ingredients at the noodle bar, and they quickly cook your ingredients and add the usual fixings (scallions, onions, etc). It actually comes out looking pretty (you may end up taking pictures of it). It’s quite a big bowl, especially if you’re eating other items there. In fact, you could just pay $ 7.99 and go straight for the hot pot; still worth it for lunch, and I’ll assume it’s there for dinner too. Dessert bar is much better than before; yes, there are some of the usual buffet pastries and mini cakes you may have seen in other buffets, but they also have bundt cakes! And of course, they have ice cream. They also have a chocolate fountain, though it wasn’t working for us that visit. I would stray away from all the puddings though — they tasted sour. But other than that, I definitely think Chow Time will stay. RIP to all the other managements this spot had.
My honey mentioned the moment you walk in, it feels like Vegas. There is an elegance to it, and if you’ve been to the buffets this spot previously had, you’d appreciate the renovation and changes much more. So much space! And the place gets busy — a good busy, like a wow-this-place-doesn’t-seem-dead kind of busy. Each seating area is segmented into different areas of Florida (i.e. Miami, Key West, Pembroke Pines, Orlando). I don’t know why, but it’s kind of funny in a cute way. Really does feel like Vegas now.
OH, and they have hand sanitizer bottles in the front. Yay for hand hygiene! Wouldn’t want to eat my food after touching all those over-​handled serving spoons! hehe.
So there’s my take on lunch. Pretty impressive in comparison to the previous times I’ve been here during Pre-​Chow Time Era. I could imagine dinner… oh my gosh… :D

So I live walking distance from here and was pretty excited for the gran opening. My anticipation was high and my expectations average, after all it is a buffet. Over all the place is gorgeous on the inside. Appearance is five stars. There was a very large selection of food. I like to eat variety and this place had it. They had a southern station with fried chicken, loaded baked potatoes, and Mac and cheese. Seafood section, sushi, crab legs eeetttccc.
The hibachi was wonderful, everything was very fresh. Only tip I would give, ask for extra sauce on the grill because my hibachi and my girlfriends hibachi was under seasoned.
My favorite thing is that they had steak for dinner. And a huge dessert station. All for $ 11.99 I’m happy, and I’ll be back.

They’re finally open!
Living right across the street, I was very saddened when the former occupants of the space, Hibachi Grill & Buffet, closed their doors, as they were our first choice when it came to take-​out on a lazy day. Understandably, my expectations were high after waiting months for Chow Time to open, but thankfully, I can report that they have delivered and exceeded my expectations for opening day dinner.
There is SO. MUCH. FOOD! It’s nearly impossible to try it all in one visit. The rolls are pretty standard fare for a sushi buffet, but the sashimi was cut thick and much better than I hoped for. WAY better than Shinju and Tamura. There are also crab legs for dinner EVERY DAY. That’s crazy for the current price of $ 11.99. There was also a build your own hibachi AND soup station that I didn’t have room to try. No single item I tried disappointed me.
The service was great too, and the interior has been beautifully renovated.
Please, Chow Time, keep your standards high. I’d even welcome a price increase, given your terrific selection and quality. Keep making excellent food at a good price and I’ll keep coming back!