Strictly Dumpling — Food Creator on YouTube
@strictlydumpling — Seattle, United States — 4.8M subscribers
I LOVE FOOD!!!! So you have just entered my food universe where I will show you all the best places to eat and some awesome recipes!!! Business inquiries: [email protected]
Restaurant Reviews by Strictly Dumpling
Thonglor Express
London, United Kingdom — Thai
An all-you-can-eat Thai buffet operating only a few hours on select weekdays (Monday-Thursday 2:30-5:00 PM) featuring authentic Thai street food dishes. At $13.50 per person, it offers incredible value with 11-12 authentic dishes available and the ability to refill. The reviewer considers it the greatest buffet deal in London, noting genuine local appeal over tourist attractions.
Street Food Thursday (multiple vendors)
Berlin, Germany, Germany — Street food, German, Turkish, Italian, Chinese
The reviewer explored Berlin's street food scene, visiting multiple vendors and establishments. Highlights included exceptional doner kebabs, beautifully prepared pork ribs, and the Street Food Thursday market which offered diverse cuisines from German classics to Turkish and Italian dishes. Most items were reasonably priced (€8-14) and of exceptional quality, though one smash burger experience was disappointing.
Borough Market
London, United Kingdom — International street food, British, Mediterranean
The reviewer spends a full 24 hours exploring London's best food markets, starting with Borough Market, the oldest market in England. They discover exceptional dishes including what they rank as one of the best sandwiches ever made - a pulled pork sandwich with freshly shaved cheese, along with perfectly made pastries and fresh seafood. The market offers incredible variety from sausage rolls to paella, all in an iconic historic setting.
Franklin Barbecue
Austin, United States — Barbecue
The reviewer wakes up at 5:30 AM to wait 5 hours in line at Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Texas, considered a legendary barbecue establishment. After tasting their famous brisket, pork ribs, smoked turkey, and sausage, they find it lives up to the hype with incredibly tender, smoky, and flavorful meats that justify the early wake-up and long wait. The experience is described as transcendent barbecue that confirms Texas produces some of the world's best smoked meats.
All You Can Eat Sushi Omakase Buffet
New York City, United States — Japanese Sushi Omakase
This late-night all-you-can-eat sushi omakase buffet in New York City delivers an exceptional experience with premium ingredients and generous portions. The restaurant starts with high-end sushi offerings including firefly squid, various fish preparations, and A5 Japanese Wagyu, before transitioning to an all-you-can-eat portion where diners can order their favorite pieces repeatedly. The quality remains consistently excellent throughout, with thick fish cuts and perfectly seasoned rice, making it a standout sushi destination worth the difficult reservation.
Jungsik
New York, United States — Korean
Mike Chin visits Jungsik, America's first three Michelin star Korean restaurant, and enjoys an exceptional tasting menu at the bar featuring seven dishes. Each course showcases creative reimaginations of traditional Korean cuisine with impeccable technique, delicate flavors, and stunning presentation. At around $400 per person after tax, he considers it a worthwhile splurge that fully deserves its three Michelin star rating.
All You Can Eat Sukiyaki Wagyu Club
Kyoto, Japan — Japanese - Sukiyaki, Wagyu, Seafood
Mike Chen visits an all-you-can-eat sukiyaki and wagyu buffet in Kyoto, ordering the 16,000 yen tier featuring king crab, premium domestic wagyu, and various pork cuts. The restaurant delivers exceptional quality meat and crab that surpasses comparable Las Vegas buffet offerings, with an authentic sukiyaki experience featuring hot pot cooking, egg dipping, and fresh Kyoto vegetables at a fair price point of approximately $100 USD.
Coco Dog
New York, United States — Korean Fried Chicken
Coco Dog is a Michelin-rated Korean fried chicken restaurant in New York City that uses premium ingredients including chicken from Pennsylvania Amish farms and sugarcane oil for frying. The rice batter creates an exceptionally crispy, airy exterior while staying juicy inside, with signature dishes like the gochujang and soy garlic glazed chicken receiving high praise. The reviewer was thoroughly impressed with the overall experience and quality.
11 Madison Park
New York, United States
Mike Chen experiences a long-awaited eight-course dinner at 11 Madison Park, New York's three-Michelin-star restaurant. While the lobster, duck, potato, and citrus dessert courses are exceptional, some early vegetable dishes underwhelm him. Despite the incredible high points and amazing service, he feels the $400 price tag is difficult to justify given the inconsistent quality across all courses.
Box Buffet
Tokyo, Japan — Japanese Seafood Buffet, Yakiniku, Sichuan, Chinese
Box Buffet is an extraordinary all-you-can-eat Japanese seafood and yakiniku barbecue buffet featuring premium ingredients like king crab, spotted prawns, and A5 wagyu beef cooked at your table. The reviewer, who has visited Japan numerous times, declared it the best buffet he has ever experienced in Japan, with high-quality preparations and an overwhelming variety of dishes that left him wishing for more time.
Uncle John's
Manila, Philippines — Filipino
Uncle John's is a 24-hour food stall serving Jim's Pares and Momies, traditional Filipino beef soup dishes. The reviewer was blown away by the intensely beefy broth, abundant bone marrow, and generous portions at an unbeatable price of approximately $4 per meal.
Red Lobster Itabashi
Tokyo, Japan — Seafood, American
Mike Chen explores Red Lobster in Japan and discovers a completely transformed menu with innovative seafood dishes, creative preparations, and flavors vastly superior to American Red Lobster locations. The restaurant offers fresh live lobster prepared multiple ways, exceptional pasta dishes, unique pizzas, and an impressive selection of oyster and seafood preparations that shocked the reviewer with their quality and creativity.
Golden Steer Steakhouse
Las Vegas, United States — Steakhouse, Seafood
Golden Steer Steakhouse is Las Vegas's oldest steakhouse, featuring iconic history with celebrity booths and an impressive collection of artifacts. The reviewer praised the exceptionally tender meatballs, ginormous lobster tails, perfectly cooked steaks, and classic sides like the loaded baked potato. This old-fashioned establishment delivers an outstanding surf and turf experience with exceptional food quality and nostalgic charm.
Yakiniku Buffet Restaurant (Unnamed All-You-Can-Eat Wagyu Barbecue)
Osaka, Japan — Japanese Yakiniku (Barbecue)
Mike Chang visits what he calls the most popular all-you-can-eat wagyu barbecue restaurant in Japan, offering premium quality meat for under $20. Despite choosing the cheapest option, he receives an impressive selection of beautifully marbled cuts and declares it potentially the best value yakiniku buffet in the world. The experience is efficient, delicious, and demonstrates exceptional value for money.
Texas Roadhouse
Pangyo, South Korea — American steakhouse
Mike Chen visited Texas Roadhouse in Pangyo, South Korea, one of only three locations in the country. While the steak was excellent and better than expected, the standout dish was the Andouille shrimp pasta, which the reviewer called one of the best plates of pasta he has ever had anywhere. He was so impressed he said he would make the one-hour trip just for the pasta.
The Bun House
London, United Kingdom — Chinese
The Bun House in London's Chinatown offers exceptional dim sum and buns with perfectly pillowy texture. The reviewer tried pork, beef, lamb, and custard buns, each filled with high-quality meat and delicate flavors. This is a worthwhile destination for meals or quick snacks in Chinatown.
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Seoul, South Korea — Korean, Chinese, Seafood, All-you-can-eat Buffet
Mike Chen discovers an exceptional all-you-can-eat hotel buffet in Seoul featuring premium ingredients like freshly grilled lobster, king crab, and lamb chops. The buffet impresses with its high-quality proteins, live cooking stations, and outstanding bakery desserts, making it potentially the best all-you-can-eat buffet in all of Korea.
Kilo Fried Chicken
Seoul, South Korea — Korean Fried Chicken
Mike Chen visits multiple Korean fried chicken restaurants in Seoul, starting with a 7am breakfast at the 24-hour Kilo Fried Chicken. He orders half spicy, half mala chicken with potato wedges, praising the crispy breading, juicy meat, and the aggressive mala peppercorn flavor that numbs the mouth in the best way possible.
Park View at Shilla Hotel
Seoul, South Korea — Korean, Chinese, Italian, International Breakfast Buffet
The Park View breakfast buffet at Shilla Hotel is an exceptional all-you-can-eat experience featuring an impressive array of Korean, Chinese, Italian, and Western dishes. With live cooking stations, high-quality ingredients like real crab and fresh seafood, and expertly prepared items including torch-finished eggs and crispy fried eggplant, this buffet delivers restaurant-quality food at every station. At approximately $70 per person, it represents the most expensive but arguably the finest Korean breakfast buffet experience in Seoul.