A Pan Asia Buffet is an excellent choice if you want to eat all of your favorite Asian dishes in one place. These buffets offer a wide range of Chinese, Japanese, and Thai dishes among others. You can try everything at affordable prices as these popular restaurants allow you to eat all that you can.
To help you plan and budget for an outing at an Asian buffet, here’s a look at the average cost of Pan Asia Buffets across America and some tips on how to get the best value for your money.
Pan Asia Buffet Prices List
For easy comparison, we have tabulated the average range of prices charged by different Pan Asia Buffets in the USA. Keep in mind that these rates are subject to variation depending on location.
| Meal | Adults (11+) | Seniors (65+) | Kids (3-10) |
| Lunch Buffet | $11-20 | $10-18 | $1-2 per year |
| Dinner Buffet | $17-28 | $15-26 | $1.50-2 per year |
| Sunday/Holiday Buffet | $18-28 | $16-26 | $1.50-2 per year |
| Takeout/To-Go | Regular Items: $6-7/lb, Premium Items: $9-10/lb | Same as adult price | Same as adult price |
*In tourist places, big cities, and weekends/holidays; prices may be higher. Senior citizen discounts vary from one outlet to another while child concessions are based on locality. Irrespective of age group, takeaway charges remain constant.
Average Pan Asia Buffet Prices
While pricing may differ depending on where you are located, below is a rough outline of what you can expect to pay at a Pan Asia Buffet in the United States:
Lunch Buffet Prices
- Adults (ages 11+): $11-20
- Seniors (ages 65+): $10-18
- Kids (ages 3-10): $1-2 per year of age
Typically, lunch buffets run from 11 am-3:30 pm Monday through Saturday. For instance, their Monday-Friday lunch buffet from 11 am-4 pm costs $16.59 per adult and $15.59 per senior at the Pan Asia Buffet in San Marcos, CA.
Dinner Buffet Prices
- Adults (ages 11+): $17-28
- Seniors (ages 65+): $15-26
- Kids (ages 3-10): $1.50-2 per year of age
Dinners usually start being served around 3:30 pm or 4 pm and go until about 9:30 or 10 pm Monday through Thursday (and often later on Fridays and Saturdays). On Monday-Thursday nights, dinner prices for adults are $24.59 and $22.59 for seniors at Pan Asia Buffet in San Marcos.
Sunday/Holiday Buffet Prices
- Adults (ages 11+): $18-28
- Seniors (ages 65+): $16-26
- Kids (ages 3-10): $1.50-2 per year of age
Most Pan Asia Buffets charge dinner prices all day on Sundays as well as holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving. For example, China Lights Oriental Cuisine in Anchorage, AK charges $27.95 per adult and $25.95 per senior on Sundays.
Takeout/To-Go Prices
- Regular items: $6-7 per pound
- Premium items (sushi, seafood, grill, hibachi): $9-10 per pound
Takeout is usually sold by the pound so that you can eat buffet at home. At Pan Asia Buffet, regular hot food items such as orange chicken are $6.59 per lb, while sushi and seafood are considered premium and sold for $9.59 per lb. Senior discounts do not apply to takeout.
Seniors aged 65 years old and above pay a few dollars cheaper than the adult price at most Pan Asia Buffets. Typically, it’s around 10% off from the standard buffet cost. But senior discount exact age cutoffs and amounts may differ per location so it’s always best to call ahead and ask about their specific senior pricing policy.
What Are Some Popular Dishes At Pan Asia Buffet?
The choices available at Pan Asia Buffets can be overwhelming. But if you’re curious about which dishes are the most favorite and worth trying, here are some that are sure to please:
- Crab Legs – These can be found at most locations on weekends and are always in high demand; they go fast!
- Hibachi Noodles – Made-to-order hibachi grill noodles are recommended by many customers for their deliciousness.
- Fried Chicken Wings – This crispy classic is a must-have for any buffet, and people know it.
- Coconut Shrimp – If you like shrimp with an island twist then this dish should be your go-to option.
- Orange Chicken – It’s hard to go wrong with this Chinese take-out staple; everyone loves it!
- Sushi – Depending on freshness (or lack thereof) and quality, there may be sushi rolls or nigiri available for those who need their fix.
- Desserts – Don’t forget about all those soft-serve ice creams, cakes, and fruits waiting patiently at the end of your meal!
Naturally, with buffets, you can eat small portions of various dishes and therefore should not be afraid to try out new meals that catch your fancy. You can afford to take risks on Asian flavors since they are relatively cheap.
Other Costs to Consider
Below are some things that might add to the cost:
- Drinks – Soft drinks, juice, tea, or coffee may be charged separately at $2-3 per person with free refills. Some places also offer alcoholic beverages like wine and beer for an additional fee.
- Gratuities – Most buffets will automatically include a 10-15% tip when there is a party of 8 or more people. For smaller groups, it is recommended that you leave no less than 10% on top of what you were charged before tax.
- Waste Fees – Certain establishments have been known to charge customers based on weight if they leave too much food uneaten; this is done to encourage individuals not to take more than they can consume.
Ways to Save on Pan Asia Buffets
Pan Asia Buffets are known for being a cheap way to enjoy a variety of foods, but here are some tips on how you can save even more money:
- Choose lunch instead – Lunch buffets are $5-10 cheaper per adult than dinner ones.
- Kids’ meals cost less – If your children are young, they will be charged much lower prices, usually just 1 or 2 dollars per year for their age. So for example a four-year-old would only cost you $4-8.
- Don’t pay for extras – Stick to tap water and don’t order any soda, juice, or booze as that will only make the bill bigger. Hot tea is included with your purchase at most places.
- Senior and military discounts – A few buffets give seniors (65+) and active military personnel (with ID) about 10% off. China Lights does both groups at 10%.
- Look for coupons – See if there are any limited-time offers or specials on the restaurant’s website, social media accounts, or coupon sites like Groupon before heading over.
- Beware waste fees – Find out what the policy is and only get what you can finish eating so you’re not charged extra for too many leftover items later on. Pan Asia Buffet bills its waste fee by weight.
What’s the Difference Between Pan Asia and Asian Fusion?
While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there are some important distinctions in Pan Asia and Asian fusion cuisines served at buffets:
- Pan Asia refers to dishes from several countries across Asia. Traditional recipes from China, Japan, Thailand, Korea, etc., are placed next to each other.
- On the other hand, a more creative approach is taken with Asian fusion where elements of different cooking styles throughout Asia come together in new non-traditional dishes. The flavors might be inspired by Asian but the recipes themselves aren’t traditional. For instance, sushi burritos would fall under this category.
In short, expect mostly traditional recipes with some modern fusion creations mixed into your Pan Asia Buffet; or put another way – both let you try lots of flavors! However, fusion spins old favorites with new twists (like sushirritos!), and Pan Asia focuses on authentic specialties.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Buffet Experience
To sum up, here are some final tips to make your Pan Asia Buffet experience even more enjoyable:
- Look at everything before filling your plate. Before choosing what you want to eat first, take a walk around the buffet and see what there is to offer. You should also make a note of things that you want to go back for later.
- Start with small amounts. Instead of putting a lot on your plate right away, try taking a little bit of each dish that looks good. If you like something, you can always go back for more later.
- Try different things. One of the best parts about going to a buffet is being able to try lots of different foods all in one place. So even if there’s stuff you know you like, make sure to also get some new stuff – like maybe some kind of sushi or spicy curry or savory soup from every station they have set up!
- Eat slowly. Don’t forget – buffets are marathons, not sprints! You’re going to be there for a while so don’t feel like you need to rush through everything all at once because this way you’ll get too full too fast and then won’t be able to eat as much as you would’ve liked later on!
- Save room for dessert! After having all those delicious entrees it can be easy to forget about leaving space for something sweet but trust me when I say that dessert tables at buffets are always filled with yummy options such as fresh fruits cakes puddings soft serve ice creams and so much more
Conclusion
As you can see, Pan Asia Buffets offer a cheap option to try various cuisines of Asia in one place. For lunch, it costs approximately $11-20 per person, and for dinner — from $17-28; so you can eat as much as you want without spending too much money. Moreover, children and elderly people have special reduced prices which makes this type of dining more affordable for families.
Therefore, if next time you feel like eating sushi, stir-fry, or anything else from South-East Asia, go straight to the nearest Pan Asia Buffet. You will have an opportunity to taste thousands of dishes and flavors that may become your new passion or just satisfy cravings for some old-times favorite meals. But don’t forget about trying everything slowly and being hungry at first!
