You know that feeling when you're so hungry you could eat a literal horse, but your wallet is screaming for mercy? That’s usually when someone mentions Chow Town Memphis TN. It’s one of those spots that’s basically a local legend, sitting right there on Winchester Road, acting as a beacon for anyone who wants to lose themselves in a mountain of lo mein and fried shrimp without checking their bank balance first.
People in Memphis are picky about food. We have some of the best BBQ on the planet, so if a buffet is going to survive here for years, it has to offer something more than just "edible." Chow Town has managed to stick around while other buffets crumbled because it understands the assignment: variety, volume, and a price point that makes sense for a Tuesday night family dinner.
But let’s be real for a second. Buffets are polarizing. You either love the chaos of the sneeze guards and the endless options, or you're skeptical of anything sitting under a heat lamp. Honestly, Chow Town sits in that sweet spot where the high turnover of customers actually works in your favor. Because there are always people cycling through, the food doesn't usually have time to get sad and lonely in the trays.
What Actually Happens Inside Chow Town Memphis TN
Walking into Chow Town is a bit of a sensory overload. It’s loud. It’s busy. It smells like a mixture of soy sauce, fried dough, and whatever is sizzling on the Mongolian grill in the back. If you’re looking for a quiet, candlelit dinner where you can hear your partner whisper sweet nothings, you’re in the wrong zip code. This is a place for groups. It’s for the youth football team celebrating a win. It’s for the grandparents who want to make sure everyone gets exactly what they want without an argument.
The layout is pretty standard for a massive Chinese-American buffet, but the scale is what gets people. You’ve got your hot bars, your cold bars, a sushi station that’s surprisingly busy, and the aforementioned grill where you can pick your raw ingredients and watch a guy cook them over a massive flame.
The "American" side of the buffet is always an interesting mix. You might see fried chicken sitting next to pepper steak. You’ll find macaroni and cheese not far from the egg drop soup. It’s a chaotic culinary crossover event, and honestly, that’s part of the charm.
The Survival Guide for the First-Timer
Don't just dive in. That's the amateur mistake. You need a lap.
Most regulars at Chow Town Memphis TN do a scouting mission first. They walk the entire perimeter of the food islands just to see what’s fresh. If a tray of General Tso’s chicken just came out of the kitchen, that’s your first target. The steam rising off a fresh batch is your green light.
- Start with the "safe" hits. The fried rice and noodles are the foundation. They’re consistent.
- Check the seafood. The salt and pepper shrimp is a big draw here, but you want to catch it when it’s hot and crispy, not when it’s been sitting for twenty minutes.
- Don't sleep on the Mongolian grill. It’s arguably the healthiest way to eat here because you control the oil and the veggies.
- Dessert is a wild card. From soft serve ice cream to those little almond cookies, it’s mostly there to satisfy a sugar craving after all that salt.
Why the Memphis Crowd Keeps Coming Back
Memphis is a city of neighborhoods, and Winchester Road is a massive artery for the Hickory Hill and Southeast Memphis area. Chow Town serves a very specific purpose in this ecosystem. It provides a massive amount of food for a predictable price. In an era where a burger, fries, and a drink at a fast-food joint can easily clear fifteen dollars, a buffet starts looking like a strategic financial move.
✨ Don't miss: 100 Biggest Cities in the US: Why the Map You Know is Wrong
It’s about the value.
But it’s also about the specific flavors. Southern Chinese-American food has its own personality. It’s often a bit sweeter, a bit heavier on the breading, and definitely more generous with the sauces. Chow Town leans into this. Their honey chicken is exactly what you expect it to be—sticky, sweet, and incredibly filling.
The Elephant in the Room: Quality vs. Quantity
Let’s have an honest moment. Is this Michelin-star dining? No. Is every single dish a masterpiece? Definitely not. There will be hits and there will be misses. Sometimes the beef and broccoli has a bit too much sauce; sometimes the sushi rolls are a little heavy on the rice.
That’s the trade-off you make. You aren't paying for artisanal craft; you're paying for the ability to eat three plates of food and a bowl of ice cream for under twenty bucks. The "expert" way to eat at a place like this is to identify the three or four things they do really well and just stick to those.
Behind the Scenes: Health and Safety
One thing people always ask about regarding Chow Town Memphis TN is the health score. In the world of massive buffets, keeping a high score is a constant battle against the sheer volume of food and people. Historically, they’ve managed to keep things within the acceptable range, but it's always smart for any diner to check the most recent Shelby County Health Department postings if you're curious.
Maintaining a buffet of this size requires a massive staff. There’s a constant rotation of servers clearing plates—which they do surprisingly fast here—and kitchen staff lugging out massive heavy metal pans of hot food. It’s a logistical marathon that starts hours before the doors open.
The Secret Menu (Sort Of)
There isn't a secret menu written on a chalkboard anywhere, but there is a way to "hack" your meal.
The Mongolian grill is your best friend. Instead of just picking the standard sauces they offer, ask them to mix them. A little bit of the spicy Szechuan sauce mixed with the garlic sauce creates a much deeper flavor profile than either one alone. Also, if you see something on the buffet that looks a little dry—like a piece of roast chicken—take it over to the grill area and ask if they can hit it with some steam or a quick sear. Most of the time, they're too busy, but during the slow hours, you can get customized service.
🔗 Read more: Cooper City FL Zip Codes: What Moving Here Is Actually Like
Another pro tip? The soup. People overlook the soup. The hot and sour soup at Chow Town is actually a solid palate cleanser between the heavy fried courses. It cuts through the grease.
Navigating the Crowd
If you show up at 1:00 PM on a Sunday, good luck. You're going to be waiting. The post-church crowd in Memphis is a force of nature, and Chow Town is one of their primary destinations.
If you want the best experience, aim for the "bridge" times. Late lunch (around 2:30 PM) or early dinner (around 4:30 PM) is when you get the best balance of fresh food and available seating. You don't want to be there when the bins are empty because fifty people just ran through the line, but you also don't want to be there at 9:00 PM when the kitchen is starting to wind down for the night.
Comparing Chow Town to Other Memphis Options
Memphis has a few other buffet contenders. You’ve got the higher-end spots in the casinos across the line in Mississippi, and a few smaller Hibachi grills scattered around the suburbs.
How does Chow Town hold up?
It wins on scale. It’s bigger than most of the local competitors. It also tends to be more consistent with its "American" offerings. If you have a kid who refuses to eat anything that isn't a chicken nugget or a slice of pizza, Chow Town is more likely to have a decent version of that than the smaller, more traditional Chinese buffets.
However, if you're looking for authentic, regional Chinese cuisine—like Dim Sum or authentic Szechuan peppercorn dishes—you might find Chow Town a bit too "Americanized." That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it’s just the lane they’ve chosen. They are catering to the widest possible audience.
The Cultural Impact of the Buffet
It sounds weird to talk about the "culture" of a buffet, but places like Chow Town are community hubs. You see people from every walk of life here. You’ll see business people in suits sitting next to construction workers in high-vis vests. You’ll see large immigrant families sharing a long table next to a couple on a budget date.
💡 You might also like: Why People That Died on Their Birthday Are More Common Than You Think
In a city that can sometimes feel divided, the buffet line is a great equalizer. Everyone is just trying to get to the crab legs before they run out.
What You Need to Know Before You Go
If you’re planning a trip to Chow Town Memphis TN, keep these logistical details in mind.
- Location: 5244 Winchester Rd, Memphis, TN 38118. It’s in a busy strip mall area, so parking can be a bit of a scramble during peak hours.
- Pricing: It varies between lunch and dinner, and prices usually go up on the weekends when they bring out the "premium" items like certain seafood.
- Drinks: Soft drinks are usually extra, but they offer free refills.
- Takeout: They do offer a "pay by the pound" buffet to-go option. This is a dangerous game. If you aren't careful, you’ll end up with a five-pound container of orange chicken that costs forty dollars. Watch the weight!
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
To get the most out of your experience at Chow Town, don't just show up and eat. Follow these steps for a better meal:
- Check the Steam: Look for the dishes that have the most steam rising from them. That is your indicator of freshness.
- Avoid the "Fillers": Don't fill your first plate with bread, white rice, or heavy pasta. Those are cheap fillers designed to make you full quickly. Start with the proteins and the specialty items.
- The Two-Plate Rule: Use one plate for cold items (salad, sushi, fruit) and a separate plate for hot items. Mixing the temperatures ruins the texture of both.
- Hydrate: Buffet food is notoriously high in sodium. Drink plenty of water throughout the meal to avoid that "salt bloat" feeling later in the evening.
- Tipping: Even though it’s a buffet, the servers work hard clearing your plates and refilling drinks. A couple of dollars per person is the standard move.
Chow Town isn't trying to change the world. It isn't trying to reinvent Asian cuisine. It’s trying to provide a massive variety of familiar, comforting food at a price point that keeps families coming back. If you go in with the right expectations—expecting a busy, loud, and filling experience—you’ll probably walk out satisfied. Just maybe wear your stretchy pants. You're going to need them.
Final Logistics Check
Before you head out, double-check their hours. Most days they open around 11:00 AM. If you're going for dinner, the transition usually happens around 3:30 PM or 4:00 PM. That's when the "dinner-only" items like the better seafood usually start making an appearance.
If you're a local or just passing through Memphis, Chow Town is a staple for a reason. It's reliable. It's huge. And in a world where everything is getting more expensive, it still feels like a lot of food for your money.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
- Call ahead if you have a group larger than 10 to ensure they can flank tables together.
- Visit during the weekday lunch hours for the absolute lowest price point.
- Head straight to the Mongolian grill first to beat the line that inevitably forms there as the restaurant fills up.
Be smart with your selections, focus on the fresh trays, and you'll see why this place has remained a Winchester Road fixture for so long.