Lately, I’ve talked a lot about amazing food spots in London, but there’s one I’ve been eating at quite often and forgot to review: the Max Orient Chinese buffet in Camden.
Located on Camden High Street, between Wendy’s, Superdrug, Urban Outfitters, and Camden Lock, this Chinese buffet is one of the most popular restaurants in Camden.
Why? Because it offers plenty of delicious dishes for one unique price; £9.99.
Now, if that’s not one of the cheapest restaurants in London, I don’t know what is.
Since I used to live in North Finchley, I had a direct bus that takes me to Camden Town station straight away, so I could access the Chinese buffet in Camden pretty easily every day of the week.
Sometimes, when I feel I’ve been a little bit too productive with work, I like discovering new food spots in London.
I’ve told you about a few amazing discoveries lately, including the delicious fluffy cakes at Chinatown Bakery, and the French pastries at Belle Epoque Islington.
Today, we’re onto a proper Chinese buffet that won’t break the bank, and will fill your stomach nicely; Max Orient.
Best Restaurants in Camden: Max Orient Chinese Buffet Review
Looking for the best restaurants in Camden to take your other half on a laidback romantic date?
Or a perfect, affordable restaurant to take the kids to?
The Chinese buffet in Camden is it. Spacious, cheap, and filled with amazing Asian recipes throughout the day, I have found that Max Orient ticks all the boxes.
It’s one of the best things to do in Camden, really, especially when you’re looking for non touristy things to do in London.
I usually alight at Camden Town Station, check out a few of the best charity shops around, and then walk to the Chinese buffet to get my fix of my favorite meats and Asian dishes.
Chinese Buffet Camden: Inside the restaurant
The only downside I see to eating at the Chinese buffet in Camden is the fact that it’s a cash-only place.
Luckily, they have an ATM that provides free cash withdrawals right inside the restaurant, so I’m never bothered when I want to eat there.
It’s good to know, though, as a lot of places don’t accept card payments anymore, at the Max Orient Chinese buffet in Camden, it’s the other way around.
The restaurant is beautiful, with a nice decor that provides almost a home feeling. It’s wooden, rustic, and quite spacious, to be fair.
When you arrive, you’ll probably see some people queuing, but just like at Chinatown Bakery and Chinese Tapas House in Chinatown, the wait is very short.
Chinese Buffet Camden Menu
The Chinese buffet in Camden has one of the most extensive menus I have ever seen in a Chinese buffet.
From the moment I arrived in London, I’ve tried out quite a few Chinese all you can eat, but I have spotted a huge difference from when you visit a Chinese buffet in France.
The menus are drastically smaller, and the hygiene is oftentimes pretty undesirable, with pieces of plastic foam in the food (true story, I experienced this in one of the Chinese buffet places in Chinatown).
On the menu, you’ll find lots of gastro containers filled with different kinds of salads and fresh food, various rice and noodle dishes, and lots of meat and vegetarian dishes as well.
Here is some of the food you can find on the Max Orient menu in Camden:
- Thai style Seafood rice
- Sweet and sour chicken
- Duck with peppers and onions
- Broccoli, Stir Fried Courgettes, Mushroom
- Vermicelli
- Fried rice
- Chicken Wings
- Samosas, onion rings and vegetable spring rolls
- Unlimited drinks option for £3.50 (Fanta, Sprite, Apple juice, Coke, Orange soda)
Chinese Buffet Camden: What I Ate
As we’ve seen, the Chinese buffet in Camden has a pretty extensive menu, and there are lots of options on the menu for whoever wants meats or vegetarian dishes.
Given the nature of the place – a Chinese buffet, I wouldn’t go as far as saying that vegans can eat there, but there are a few plant-based dishes.
From what I understand, it is not a halal Chinese buffet either, but I might be wrong.
At the Chinese buffet, I ordered two plates, plus some ice cream (think Ikea-style ice cream, yummy!) and banana fritters. Here’s what I got:
- duck with peppers and onions
- sweet and sour chicken
- what I guess is pan-fried shrimp
- seafood fried rice
- fried vegetable spring rolls
- stir fried courgettes
- and unlimited drinks
To be fair, if you’re looking for the best restaurants in Camden with a budget of about £10/15, the Chinese buffet on Camden High Street definitely is one of the best spots, especially given how various the dishes on the menu are.
Max Orient is a good Chinese buffet in Camden to visit when you’re in the area.
There are lots of street food places in Camden, that’s true, but I seem to find myself at the Chinese buffet quite often lately.
Duck with bell peppers and onions
I have my preferences when I get food there.
For instance, finding good duck dishes in London at an affordable price is quite rare, so that’s the first thing I put on my plate every single time.
The duck is well-cooked at the Chinese buffet in Camden, with bell peppers and onions, and a sauce that’s definitely one of the best in London, even if it’s a Chinese buffet.
Sweet and sour chicken
The sweet and sour chicken is another one of my favorite things to eat at the Chinese buffet in Camden because it is sticky, and cooked in such a way that it ends up being caramelized and chewy just the way I like it to be.
And don’t get me started on the banana fritters!
Banana Fritters at Max Orient Camden
The banana fritters are supposedly a dessert, but I’ve just taken to eating them in the middle of the meal, with chocolate sauce or sugar syrup generously drizzled on top of them.
The banana fritters at the Camden Chinese buffet are always warm, crispy, and delicious.
I just wish they made the same with apples and maybe even pineapple, to be honest.
Pan-Fried Shrimp
The pan-fried shrimp was also amazing and coupled with chili sweet and sour sauce, it makes for a perfect accompaniment.
As is pretty rare in Chinese buffet spots, all the food I eat there is of the same, consistent quality.
The taste is always the same, and I feel like Max Orient Camden has had the same exact dishes on offer for the longest time.
Flavorful, well seasoned, and warm, that is indeed one of the best restaurants in Camden, especially if you’re looking for the best cheap eats in London.
Stir Fried Courgettes
On my second plate, I added some of the stir-fried courgettes.
Those had some chili on them, and even if I’m not usually a big fan of courgettes, the spice on them and the accompanying sauce were absolutely stunning – try them, even if you don’t usually like courgettes.
Ice Cream
At this Chinese buffet in Camden, there’s an ice cream machine that makes something between super creamy vanilla ice cream and Ikea-style ice cream.
It’s very tasty, and I’ve actually eaten a second bowl drizzled with warm sugar syrup that became a little bit hard when in contact with the ice cream.
Really one of the things to eat there, even if, let’s say it, you don’t visit a Chinese buffet for ice cream.
Best Restaurants in Camden: Max Orient Chinese Buffet Review
All in all, the Max Orient Chinese buffet in Camden is one of my best bets when I’m looking for cheap eats in Camden.
It has this perfect location, almost next to the Pret coffee shop, and not too far from either Buck Street Market or Camden Lock Market.
The Max Orient menu is large, and there’s a bit of everything for everyone.
I don’t eat pork, so I obviously notice when there’s pork on the menu, and at the Chinese buffet in Camden, there are very few options for pork.
Most of the meats are actually chicken or duck, with lots of seafood and vegetarian dishes as well.
The fried vegetarian spring rolls are very tasty, small, and very crispy.
I do think that £3.50 for unlimited drinks is a bit pricy compared to the £9.99 the full meal costs, but I guess that’s also a way for Max Orient to make a bit of their money back.
My final thoughts?
The Max Orient Chinese buffet in Camden is definitely one of the restaurants in North London to try if you’re around!