VIBE: A large satin dragon hanging in the entryway greets you as you enter Chef Chen, along with the smell of a panoply of buffet selections. The seafood here — including raw oysters and spicy mussels, both on the half shell — is better than you’d expect from a mid-priced buffet. If you’ve ever seen the movie Spirited Away, the scene might remind you of the magical restaurant where the parents are enchanted by Asian delicacies.
WHY IT’S TOT-FRIENDLY: The dining room layout, with its wood screens and alcoves, helps shield active toddlers from disapproving eyes. Booths make safe harbors for young children. The buffet offers over 200 different food items, so if your child doesn’t go for moo goo gai pan, the Jell-O and macaroni and cheese are right next door. Try showing kids the dessert table early but saving it for last, in order to encourage good behavior.
BE SURE TO TRY: The sushi is quite good, even though there’s nothing too exotic here. Offering lean toward basics such as the California roll.
GOOD TO KNOW: Grab some of the Chinese chips (next to the soup) right away, to distract the baby.
BEST TIME TO GO WITH KIDS: The early bird gets the worm – bring the kids at 11am when the restaurant opens in order to avoid the lunch rush, when the buffet fills up with lunch-hour workers.
