Great Chinese Buffet right off the interstate
New China is one of the best Chinese buffets I've found in north-central Mississippi.

Located in the same strip mall as the Kroger supermarket, New China is a little hidden from the main road, behind Taco Bell and other fast food restaurants.

Inside, the decor is restrained but not sparse. Rather than trying to be a mega-buffet with hundreds of items, New China has a smaller setup with about 30 dishes, not including salads or desserts.

Patrons are seated promptly. The dining area isn't very large, but is efficiently laid out.

Drinks available include Coca-Cola products. The sweet tea is decent.

During peak hours, the buffet seems to be well stocked and replenished quickly. Off hours are a little worse, with some dishes not getting refilled as promptly as they could be, but the overall selection will usually still be good.

The pork with onions is a favorite. Tender slices of pork in a thick, sweet sauce, with onions. Simple and delectible. The garlic chicken also gets praise. Thin slices of chicken with broccoli in an opaque garlic sauce. The garlic is not at all overwhelming and the chicken, despite being thin, is still tender.

Sweet and sour chicken fans may be disappointed in the quality of the chicken, which sometimes contains chewy or stringy pieces. The breading is good, though, as is the sweet and sour sauce. General Tso's chicken has a nicely flavored sauce, but isn't spicy enough for my tastes.

The fried rice here is among the best I have tasted outside of San Francisco's Chinatown. There is a certain robustness of flavor and texture that is better than many other restaurants.

Also worth mentioning are the egg rolls. Flaky pastry surrounds a vegetable filling. They're delectible, especially when fresh.

In addition to other dishes like pepper chicken and mongolian beef, they also serve fish or sliced meats during dinner hours. There are usually two soups to choose from, as well.

Desserts are often an afterthought at Chinese buffets, but they are a bit better than average here. The Chinese doughnuts are a tasty finish to a great meal. Unlike American doughnuts, these are more bread-like, are roll shaped and covered in granulated sugar.

For the price, this place is a winner. The staff are friendly, attentive and quick to take away empty plates and refill drinks. The hot food is almost always hot, the cold food always cold.    [15 Mar 2007 13:42:08]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: General Tso's chicken, pork and onions, crab cheese

     ­Tom Servo