Update: 2021-Aug-20 - There is currently no buffet/AYCE at this location post-lockdown, and it is unknown if and when it will ever return. I am therefore removing it from the active list, and will follow up periodically and restore it should it return to AYCE status.King's Oshawa Buffet is located at 600 Grandview, just north of Bloor in a small outdoor mall. King's Oshawa is a quieter place which could be described as low-key with relatively modern décor; it also has a banquet area in the back which was unoccupied when I went there. Even with the steam trays it was very nicely air-conditioned on a very hot day, and this was much appreciated. Canned pop is $1.75, not AYCD. I noticed that both the signage and name it is known by externally is King's Oshawa Buffet, with the King's logo, however on its own stationary the "King's" is left out and it's just "Oshawa Buffet Restaurant." I think that King's was a small chain, as there was a King's Buffet with the same logo in Scarborough near Highway 401, but it disappeared many years ago, long before we started doing our write-ups. This location has been in business for over twenty years.
Deviled egg was
good but could have used a bit more paprika. Green salad was good, I
had ranch dressing; the croutons were a bit stale/hard. Wonton
soup was good and fresh with savoury broth, very nice with BBQ pork
topping beside the soups which is a unique offering that I now wish
more places had. Egg drop soup was also good and fresh and rather
savory. Breakfast sausages were pretty standard for the genre but
tasty. Egg rolls were good to very good, with a savory well-seasoned
filling, and neither dried out nor oily. Deep-fried chicken wings
were very good, fresh and neither dried out nor had too much
breading. Sweet and sour pork was very good, with a good flavor and
not overpowered by overly sweet sauce, comparable to the best
take-out. Egg foo yung was very good, with nicely balanced flavors.
Garlic spare ribs were very good and not overly sweet, and fresh
stir-fried vegetables were good in a light butter garlic sauce. Deep
fried wontons were semi-sweet and quite tasty.
Black pepper beef
was delicious and savory and a welcome addition for such a small
inexpensive menu. As well there was roast beef… even though it was
pre-sliced in a steam tray in gravy it was good, which indicated
that the gravy was rich enough to keep it that way; thin gravy will
steal the flavour from the beef. Lemon chicken was very good, again
not overpowered by overly sweet sauce. Honey garlic chicken wings
were a bit too sweet, but some would prefer them that way. Breaded
shrimp was excellent and flavorful. Chicken balls were large, but had
plenty of chicken in them, not all breading. Chicken kabobs were
delicious, and definitely seemed flame-broiled. Although King's
Buffet is described as having sushi, it only has a tiny amount of
only one type of maki rolls, not enough to even count it being a sushi place as
it all fits on one small tray. The soy sauce was a bit heavy, but not
too salty, and was good. Although the wasabi's colour was different than usual, it
certainly tasted like wasabi, and was quite piquant.
For dessert,
strawberry, chocolate, butterscotch, and some blueberry mixed child's
flavor which (was my favorite!) were all good. Chocolate pudding and
butterscotch pudding were both very good as well and there are other
desserts I didn't get a chance to try. Lunch is only $13.99, dinner
only $17.99. I was quite impressed by this very reasonable price as I
didn't find anything not to like at King's… everything was fresh
and it was tastefully done ie no overpowering sauces so that the food
had actual flavour, and had some nice additions especially the beef.
It may be basic old-school Chinese buffet, but it's done right and an excellent
value. I would gladly return.
Rating: 8-8.5/10
