Go to an excellent inexpensive Asian buffet

Koy-Wan (http://www.koywan.com/) is an excellent asian buffet in Altamonte Springs at the northwest corner of SR-434 and SR-436. (Well, it's not actually on the corner, it's in the Kohls shopping plaza at the corner, but you knew what I meant).

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/3/9/f/0/event_245594832.jpegIt isn't the highest quality food, but it's very good and a great deal ($13.79 for the dinner buffet including tax but excluding drinks and tips).

The images on the restaurant's website are incredibly misleading. Those pictures are far more artistic than anything I've ever seen at the restaurant and feature many foods the restaurant doesn't serve.

The place has five main sections - sushi, Mongolian 'barbeque', salads and cold food, hot food, and deserts.

The sushi section has a decent variety of nigiri, sashimi, and rolls. You won't find anything incredibly fancy, but you will have plenty to select from.

With the Mongolian 'barbeque' you select the various raw ingredients and it's cooked for you.

The cold section includes a variety of salads, fruit, and a raw bar (oysters and cooked shrimp).

The hot section is mostly generic Chinese-American dishes but also includes whole steamed tilapia and a couple of steamed dim sum items. Strangely there's also pizza. Occasionally some of the dishes I like that are normally there are unavailable.

The desert section includes a variety of pastries, ice cream, and a soft serve ice cream machine which has been 'temporarily' out of order since the place opened(!)

I've requested the side room (if you're familiar with the place it's the first room on the left) which holds up to 28 people. If we don't fill the room then others will be seated there too.

Couple of hints -

) All you can eat should not be considered a challenge.

) The ice cream cups are fairly small. If you want a larger portion grab a soup cup and use it instead.

) As a general rule you should tip the cook at the Mongolian 'barbeque' station. The sushi cooks should only be tipped if they make something special for you, or if they have an extraordinarily special roll.

) Chopsticks are available for those who want to use them, but I rarely do so - sushi is finger food and a fork is fine for the rest. (Well, maybe not the soup or ice cream).

) Well behaved kids are welcome, but parents are responsible for their behavior. Be aware that there will be mature conversations.

) There are a variety of non-meat dishes if you're vegetarian, but the selection will be limited.

) Please keep your RSVP status up to date. I will be calling the restaurant the day before to give them a head count.

The restaurant's phone number is 407-628-8866.