On average, the cost per person at a typical Chinese buffet in the United States can range from $8 to $20 for lunch and $12 to $30 or more for dinner [1].

It's Chinese tradition to put everything in the middle (of a round table usually) and share the dishes. This suits most people because they can try a little bit of everything and choose what they like. You will be served your own bowl of rice, but will need to share the other dishes.

“Buffets have always been a landing spot for food scraps,” says Chef Britt. “They call them the 'trickle-down specials' — day-old vegetables or beef trimmings can be repurposed into a soup or a hash.” Buffets are also able to save money by utilizing economies of scale and buying food in bulk.