City Wok Thai Buffet

best Thai buffet to go downtown. Great curries, chicken red and tofu green. Nice tom yum sweet spicy soup. MMMM for 5.99 lunch and dinner!

[Robin Garr]

best Thai buffet to go downtown. Great curries, chicken red and tofu green. Nice tom yum sweet spicy soup. MMMM for 5.99 lunch and dinner!

Matthew, I don't mean to be argumentative, but you and I must have gone there on separate days. I've found it singularly lackluster - the dishes all taste alike, mostly, and lack the sharp focus that I love in Thai cuisine - and I'm a little surprised that the same folks who run Sala Thai are happy about having their name attached to it.

It's not awful like most Chinese buffets - even so-so Thai is better than no Thai. But it's far, far below the lunch buffet at Thai Taste, and I've found it consistently disappointing.

Well this was my first time there and I'll admit I wasn't expecting the best Thai in the world (and I've eaten Thai food from Bangkok to Brooklyn) but for a quick commuter lunch I thought it was good. I really did like the soup and the curries. That was all that I tried.

I eat there about 2 times a month and find it to be more than acceptable Thai fare. For $5.99, it's a steal. It sure beats the crap outta the old Chinese City Wok that was there before.

[Robin Garr]

It sure beats the crap outta the old Chinese City Wok that was there before.

No argument there.

But still, when I saw "Sala Thai" on the sign, I expected something better. They're just cutting too many corners in the effort to achieve fast buffet service for a large number of diners.

Try this: Eat their buffet one day, Thai Taste the next. I don't think any more need be said.

It sure beats the crap outta the old Chinese City Wok that was there before.

No argument there.

But still, when I saw "Sala Thai" on the sign, I expected something better. They're just cutting too many corners in the effort to achieve fast buffet service for a large number of diners.

Try this: Eat their buffet one day, Thai Taste the next. I don't think any more need be said.

I like them both. One I can walk to in literally one minute, the other takes a drive up the road. No problem, just one is more convenient. At City Wok, it's a grab and go thing for me, and at Thai Taste, I usually go with a group and we dine inside. It's all good in the hood.

Isn't Sala Thai different from Thai Taste?

Sorry Robin, but I agree with Mathew on this one. I did a post on City Wok Thai a few months ago raving about how great a deal it was. I returned last week and enjoyed it again. Of course it can not stand up to table service Thai food found in many restaurants in the area. But I found their soups to be tasty, the salad and sauces very good, and the vegetarian section quite varied. It is an outstanding quality to price value in my opinion.

[Robin Garr]

Sorry Robin, but I agree with Mathew on this one. I did a post on City Wok Thai a few months ago raving about how great a deal it was. I returned last week and enjoyed it again. Of course it can not stand up to table service Thai food found in many restaurants in the area. But I found their soups to be tasty, the salad and sauces very good, and the vegetarian section quite varied. It is an outstanding quality to price value in my opinion.

James, nowhere is it written that everyone here has to agree with me.

I'm pretty set in my ways on this, though, after several visits, but then, I'm rarely a fan of Asian fare on buffets - it's antithetical to the fresh-prepped nature of stir-fries. Frankly, I don't know how Thai Taste does it so well, but small portions and frequent replacement is a big part of that.

I'll give Sala Thai City Wok at least one more chance before I write 'em up.

[Robin Garr]

Isn't Sala Thai different from Thai Taste?

Erm ... yes. Did anyone say otherwise? I mentioned Thai Taste as a compare-and-contrast. It's the only other Thai buffet I know of, but judged objectively, there's a world of quality difference.

I've not had the new City Wok Thai buffet, but I have had the one Thai Taste. It has been very mediocre every time I've tried it. I would not go there again.

[Robin Garr]

I've not had the new City Wok Thai buffet, but I have had the one Thai Taste. It has been very mediocre every time I've tried it. I would not go there again.

I'd be interested in hearing your reaction to City Wok.

Let's face it, buffet style is not the way to enjoy Asian food. I would rate Thai Taste's well above mediocre, though, particularly if you focus on the food and don't get distracted by the neighborhood-diner atmosphere.

After several less-than-enjoyable experiences at Asian buffets lately, I think the hubby and I are over them. Greasy, soggy, Chinese food just is not tasty OR appetizing, or healthy for that matter.

Buffet style is not the way to enjoy any food if you want the cullinary experience. But if you're looking for a quick lunch at a reasonable price that tastes good with vegetarian options then this might fit the bill for you.

I would not take out of town guests here to impress them.

But since I have very few lunch options (I operate and own a coffee shop downtown and have no employees) that don't involve me closing my shop for more than 1/2 hour to feed myself, I'm always on the lookout for eating options downtown that I can rush out to and rush back from in 15 mins or less so I don't miss any business here at Derby City Espresso.

best Thai buffet to go downtown. Great curries, chicken red and tofu green. Nice tom yum sweet spicy soup. MMMM for 5.99 lunch and dinner!

Matthew, I don't mean to be argumentative, but you and I must have gone there on separate days. I've found it singularly lackluster - the dishes all taste alike, mostly, and lack the sharp focus that I love in Thai cuisine - and I'm a little surprised that the same folks who run Sala Thai are happy about having their name attached to it.

It's not awful like most Chinese buffets - even so-so Thai is better than no Thai. But it's far, far below the lunch buffet at Thai Taste, and I've found it consistently disappointing.

This doesn't happen often but I agree exactly with what Robin said here.