Hot China Buffet, 1111 Knox Abbott Drive: fall 2009 14 comments
I first wrote about this former steakhouse when Crazy Buffett folded, but it now appears that the second Chinese buffet operation in the building is history as well. I'm not sure why -- it seems like a decent location with good visibility and plenty of traffic passing by and I can't think of any other Chinese buffets in the area. There's the second Eggroll Station on Sunset, but that's not a buffet.
Notice how the left side of the building still proclaims it to be a "restaurante", a bit of signage remaining from the Mexican incarnation of the place..
UPDATE 16 May 2013 -- As mentioned by commenter Andrew, this place is being knocked down:
14 Responses to 'Hot China Buffet, 1111 Knox Abbott Drive: fall 2009'
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Mr Bill
4 Dec 09 at 11:44 am
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Oh yeah, I forgot about that one.
ted
4 Dec 09 at 12:04 pm
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Old steakhouses like this one seem to be jinxed. I think it has something to do with the gi-normous parking lots. The places always look empty.
Captain George/balck Bull/Hard Knox is kinda in the same boat. I'm hoping hard Knox makes it.
jamie
4 Dec 09 at 2:53 pm
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yah the facade needs to be spruced up. I think someone can make a go at it. I drive by there a lot but was never tempted to give it a try and that's mainly b/c it looked so uninviting.
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With the history of the quality of food of most Chinese Buffet places, as much as they receive a "C" from DHEC, if they don't care what the exterior of the building looks like, can you imagine what the kitchen would be like?
Jonathan
7 Dec 09 at 8:52 am
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My grandparents and I went here when it was Western Sizzlin' in the 80's. We went to this or Western Steer which was just down the road about 3-4 times a week. I remember it being a pretty popular restaurant - not just with the senior citizens crowd. It was set up pretty much the way Quincy's was where you went through the line, got your own tray and silverware, and ordered. I vaguely remember having a birthday dinner with my family here once. The thing I remember the most about this place as Western Sizzlin is that, I was probably around 5 years old, I saw the man who was the weather man for WIS news at the time - I can't even remember his name now - and I was absolutely star-struck..LOL.
I remember Western Steer getting a "Mega Bar" a few years later, though I don't know if that's what finally ran Western Sizzlin out of business or not.
TahoeChic
10 Feb 10 at 2:15 pm
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Joe Pinner, Tahoe...I think he used to live in Edenwood back then.
jamie
10 Feb 10 at 3:13 pm
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No, I remember Joe Pinner..it was the one before him. (I'm really showing my age here..LOL.)
TahoeChic
10 Feb 10 at 5:22 pm
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Any chance it was John Wrisley? I think he did the weather somewhere in town.
badger
10 Feb 10 at 5:27 pm
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It was driving me crazy, so I did some research...it was Dave Rogers...he had this curly almost white-blonde hair. WLTX did a story on the Legends of Columbia Broadcasting a while back and he was on the video - still has that head full of curly hair too! My granddad used to watch the weather on WIS every night so he was a familiar face to me as a child. I was so thrilled to see a "celebrity" in Western Sizzlin' that night..LOL.
TahoeChic
10 Feb 10 at 7:41 pm
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This was either Western Sizzlin' or The Hungry Bull.. dont remember though when it first opend.. mid 70's maybe?
Del
10 Feb 10 at 11:33 pm
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folks, this building is in the process of being demolished...
Andrew
15 May 13 at 2:12 pm
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I remember going many times when it was Western Sizzlin'. There was a guy in the kitchen who would call out "Order number xxx. Please raise your hand for service." He had a great voice and it was actually entertaining.
Mike
15 May 13 at 4:19 pm
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The demolition is now complete and where this building was has now been covered with pinestraw of some sort...I don't know why this building was demolished but have gathered that it's rare that a building is demolished for the heck of it
Andrew
31 May 13 at 10:21 pm
I think the problem with this place is the outside. It just doesn't look inviting. They didn't do much to advertise either. Also there are a couple of good chinese restaurants in the area already. No ! China is my favorite. There's a decent buffet up the road called Golden City. Also the Millennium buffet is very close.