It's Buffet Time!

In the Name…

Before beginning their gastronomic journey, many of Yangtze’s customers do a bit of research into the restaurant’s namesake: the Yangtze River. In most cases, they are surprised at how important it has been throughout history. Traces of human activity in the area have been dated to as far back as 2 million years ago, and the Yangtze has been used for irrigation for thousands of years. The 6,300 kilometer long river runs through China acting as dividing line between northern and southern China and is the third-longest in the world after the Nile and Amazon.

Far away from China, there lies a Yangtze in Calgary, the largest city in the province of Alberta, Canada. However, it’s not a river but rather a popular buffet eatery. You won’t have to cross the ocean to see it; all you have to do is walk into Deerfoot Mall.

An East & West Duet

Opened in 2005, Buffet Yangtze is located in a bustling area only ten minutes’ drive from Calgary Airport. It is conveniently located and also boasts a spacious parking lot. The restaurant is separated into three functional areas, and can seat up to 330 patrons at a time. Take-out service is optional. Upon walking in, diners will see that the interior décor is a modern amalgamation of Oriental and Western styles. Exquisite ornaments beautify the interior while warm lighting shines down from the sides of the walls and ceiling above the whole restaurant.

Gratitude Makes You Stronger
First-time diners and regular customers always have a memorable dining experience at Buffet Yangtze. A lot of competitors are cutting prices in an effort to attract more customers as competition in the restaurant industry reaches dizzying heights. However, Yangtze’s co-owner, Marc Shao Kain Huang  instead insists on maintaining high quality and providing friendly and prompt service.

What does friendly service actually mean to a restaurant? Huang believes “friendly” is not just a plastic smile or greeting at the door but means treating customers like one's family and interacting with them on a personal level.

The staff is made up of over fifty outstanding employees including forty wait staff and fifteen kitchen staff. All of them are well trained, passionate about the restaurant industry, dedicated to their job, and very grateful for everyone’s business. “We always want to see our customers happy and do everything we can to satisfy them,” says Huang.

“Whenever there are new ideas and differing viewpoints, we hold meetings to discuss them so long as they are good for the restaurant,” Marc S. K. Huang explains. “In order to improve, a restaurant has to face its weaknesses and figure out how to turn them into strengths.”

Food Is the Focus

Buffet Yangtze is one of more inspiring Chinese buffet bars around because of its wide selection of great food from all around the world. Aside from the delicious Chinese selections, the buffet bars also feature a wealth of Japanese and Western-style dishes that has made the buffet a one stop dining destination for the residents of Calgary. At Buffet Yangtze you’ll find appetizers, hot entrées, seafood, various types of sodas, juices, tea, ice cream, cakes, fruits and even salads.

The owner is very proud of the Dim Sum his restaurant serves. Egg Tarts and Steamed Shrimp Dumplings are a couple of the more popular offerings. At Buffet Yangtze, all of the dim sum items are made to order so as to keep food fresher and avoid wastage.

According to the owner, most of the residents living in this area are only looking for the more common Chinese fare that they have gotten used to. Thus, Marc would rather spend time improving on customer favorites instead of trying to come up with new dishes. For those who are fans of Chinatown-style dishes or who follow current dining trends, he recommends Soy Sauce Chicken, Ginger & Onion Chicken, and Chinese Vegetables. These creations are prepared by using traditional Chinese cooking techniques then slightly adjusted in order to suit local palates. Sirloin Steak, Salmon and Japanese Teppanyaki (only served for dinner) are popular for their subtle texture, freshness and scrumptious taste. Not only are these dishes delicious, they are also prepared using health-conscious cooking methods.

Systematic Management

The Huang family also owns another restaurant in Ottawa, Canada. Keeping customer service and food taste consistent at both locations is a big challenge. The Huangs accomplish this through using a strict management system that allows them to systemically manage every facet of their businesses. However, while it may sound complicated, the system is in act quite streamlined. Over the years, the family has achieved a great deal of success and is always looking for more ways to continue to offer a great dining experience to all their customers.

Like ripples traveling across the surface of the Yangtze, the new generation follows on the heels of the old generation. Marc Shao Kain Huang, the current owner of Buffet Yantgtze, is only in his twenties! “Although I am short of practical cooking experience, I am still young and know that there’s no end to learning,” he says. Even with a lack of practical cooking experience he’s still been able to accomplish a lot by drawing on all the management theories he was taught in university and his prior work experience at Western fast food restaurants.

Huang sees a big difference in how Chinese & Western restaurants are managed. To him, Chinese restaurants pay much more attention to the food quantity while Western ones look at the overall experience. “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing well,” Huang says and thus, he always insists on providing a clean, relaxed, and joyful atmosphere for his customers so that they can truly enjoy their meals.

Yangtze Never Stops Flowing…
The Yangtze River rolls on majestically, as does Buffet Yangtze. This grand buffet eatery is known by many for its great selection and has gained the trust of the locals. However, Huang knows that this is just the start of the battle. “If you aren’t always moving forward you won’t be able to react to new changes in time and it will hurt business. I make sure to keep an eye on market trends so that I can anticipate any future changes in customer tastes.”

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Name: Buffet Yangtze

Location: 901 64 Ave. NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7P4

Phone: 403-275-3337

Offers: Buffet, Take-out