Chinese Buffet in Wood River, IL — A Local's Guide

The Wood River dining scene

Wood River is a small Metro East community of about 10,000 residents, but its restaurant scene punches well above its weight. Anchored along Wesley Drive and Wood River Avenue, the local dining corridor draws weekend traffic from Edwardsville, Alton, Granite City, and even St. Louis families crossing the Mississippi for the value-priced lunches that are harder to find on the Missouri side.

For Asian cuisine specifically, Wood River has a handful of options: a few independent Chinese carry-outs (Sukey's on E. Edwardsville Road, Hing Wah on N. Wood River Ave.), one Japanese hibachi grill, and Best Buffet & Grill — the only true all-you-can-eat buffet that combines Chinese, sushi, and Hibachi under one roof.

What makes Best Buffet different

The buffet model in 2026 is fragile. Most all-you-can-eat restaurants in the Midwest have closed in the last 5 years, victims of rising food costs and labor. Best Buffet has stayed open by doing something most haven't: cooking in small batches all day so the trays at 9 PM look as fresh as the trays at 11 AM. The kitchen rotates 200+ dishes through three meal periods (lunch, mid-day, dinner) with prices that step up only modestly between them.

The Hibachi grill is the differentiator. While Wood River has hot tables at competing buffets, Best Buffet & Grill is the only one where a cook will sear your beef, shrimp, or vegetables to order in front of you — included in the all-you-can-eat price, not a surcharge. That single feature is what locals point to when asked "why this buffet over another."

Best dishes to order (according to regulars)

• General Tso's Chicken — the dish most reviewers single out by name. Always fresh, always at the front of the line.
• Mongolian Beef— strip steak, scallions, soy glaze; if it's on the line, get it.
• Crab Rangoon — sweet cream-cheese filling, golden pastry, fried throughout the day.
• House Special Soup — egg drop with shrimp, pork, and chicken; a meal in itself for $1.50 in the pickup menu.
• Hibachi-grilled shrimp— request "less soy" if you want the sweetness of the shrimp to come through.
• Sushi rolls — California, spicy tuna, eel; rolled behind the bar, not pre-cut and sitting.

How to plan your visit

Best time to go for the freshest spread: arrive at 11:30 AM (just after open) or 5:30 PM (just after dinner setup). The food turnover is highest at these times. Avoid 2-3 PM, which is the changeover gap when the lunch line breaks down before dinner sets up.

Parking: Wesley Drive lot is shared with adjacent businesses but rarely full. Larger parties (8+) should call ahead at (618) 258-1888 so a long table can be reserved.

Pickup orders: the buffet itself is dine-in only, but Best Buffet also runs an à la carte pickup menu with the same kitchen output. Order online at our menu page — usually ready in 20 minutes. Pickup is separate from the all-you-can-eat buffet (different pricing).

Reaching us from elsewhere in Metro East

Best Buffet & Grill is at 615 Wesley Dr, Wood River, IL 62095. Drive times:

• From Edwardsville: ~15 minutes via IL-143 W
• From Alton: ~10 minutes south on IL-143
• From Granite City: ~20 minutes north on IL-3 / I-270
• From downtown St. Louis: ~30 minutes via I-270 N

Hours and contact

Open daily 11 AM – 9 PM, Monday through Sunday, including weekends and most holidays.

Call (618) 258-1888 orbrowse the online pickup menu.