I ATE at an ALL YOU CAN EAT Chinese Buffet and DISCOVERED their BIGGEST SECRET You won't believe it!
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- čas přidán 14. 04. 2023
- The MacMaster is in Nottingham at May Sum an All You Can Eat Chinese Food Buffet Restaurant. A Modern buffet restaurant for Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Malay dishes plus sushi and teppanyaki. Have you ever wondered what's behind these all you can eat buffets? What's their secret? How can these restaurants get away with making a profit from all you can eat? Well in today's daily vlog The MacMaster exposes their darkest secrets in this All You Can Eat Buffet Restaurant Review.
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A few years ago, Channel 4 did a series on all you can eat Chinese buffets, using a number of champion eaters to see what they could eat. The owners then gave their opinion on what people ate. The consensus from the owners was that you had to eat on average about 12 plates of food made up of the of the higher value items such as prawns, chicken fillets etc, before they were out of pocket (no veg, chips, rice or noodles as they are low value foods). Only one of the champion eaters managed get the better of the owners.
They work on the old principal that the eye is bigger than the stomach!!
@@knownpleasuresYes, but have you seen some people's stomachs?
Yes it was Adam Moran (Beard Meets Food) if i remember right.
He's a beast!
@@DLC-sy7pp you’re correct it was BMF and he ate at Mr Basrai’s in Blackpool and claimed that seven plates of food and the restaurant was out of pocket.
they also dont like people having too much of the chocolate fountain as this is also a higher value item
Not keen on self serve Buffets,. You never know whether people using the utensils have washed their hands or coughed into the trays.
And food is sitting for hours
Yes I remember years ago at a buffet in Paramus NJ this child about 5 to 8 years sneezing into the buffet (a real spray) he was so short the glass partition didn’t help lol so you’re right
None of this type of food hot holds very well either
And how do you know chefs and waiters in a normal restaurant are clean?
Pro tip they haven’t washed their hands and they have coughed and sneezed all over it
MSG is only a flavour enhancer, same as salt.
99% of Chinese takeaways use it , some Indian places use it too.
It's in Knorr Aromat seasoning , Golden Wonder crisps .......its in loads of things, normally called E whatever, rather than msg.
Some comments saying it's banned in this country lol, what a load of rubbish .
It's in loads of stuff , seriously , probably KFC , stock cubes etc
The buffet looked fine to me , though personally I'd have had some ribs , I love them.
Msg is king...we use it at home. I cracked open a tinned soup and it tasted bland. Threw some msg in and it was a different world 😂
MSG does not cause fullness but rather thirst. Fried food on the other hand creates a sense of fullness due to excessive batter and soak in oil.
I fell out with May Sum years ago when I had to pay the full child price for my girls who were maybe 9 months old and not eating, other than maybe a chip and some Broccoli. Shame because they had a belly pork stew that was amazing. Also I find the key to buffets, is not to fill up on carbs, stick to the proteins to get your moneys worth 🤣
What eatery charges for babies? That's disgusting.
What a fantastically sophisticated palette you have 😂
Lol. 😂
Lee, Monosodium glutamate is a naturally occurring flavor enhancer. It was originally derived from seaweed but is now mostly made from beans. It's a relatively safe compound and adds savory flavor to foods. Despite the bad press it has gotten over the years, it's a safe compound, people claiming allergies to it are likely believing in hype versus reality. It does not cause bloating or make you feel full, it simply adds a little extra sugar and salt flavor to food. Your theory is not correct.
As far as the food, honestly, compared to American Chinese food, it simply doesn't look great. Those prawn crackers you like look like pieces of Styrofoam and I bet doesn't taste that different from it. The stuff you prefer, like sweet and sour chicken is what children eat here. It's deep fried stuff with a sugary syrup on top filled with artificial coloring and flavoring. Your spring rolls look anemic. How you Brits still haven't discovered egg rolls is astonishing. Spring rolls are so bland and dry compared to egg rolls, there's no comparison. When you come to the states next, make sure Martin takes you out to a good Chinese restaurant and get egg rolls so you can show your fellow countrymen what they're missing.
Now to conclude my criticism, it's time you got an adult haircut. What's up with the blockhead hair due? You're an older guy and they're cutting off all the hair on the sides and pushing back your hairline. Is the goal to make you look like you're losing your hair? As I have said in the past, you're a good looking dude and you have a pretty good head of hair for your age. Why would you want to cut it all off, it looks silly. Grow out the sides and have them cut it evenly. That buzz cut was very popular in 1958. It's not the 50's anymore.
That concludes my criticism for the day. I criticize with love! You know you're the man my friend. Keep'em coming, you're awesome !
Went to a Chinese Buffet in York many years ago, superb value.
I also went to a place in Antwerp in Belgium, which did a three course meal deal. Flat rate 8€, in those days. You ordered your main meal and paid a little extra for some things, such as steaks, but they were cooked to order when you were ready. The starters and desserts were unlimited. There were also free wine and beer fountains.
It opened at 7.30, and if you didn't get there by 8.00, you couldn't get in. While we were there, an old boy was celebrating his 70th. Birthday. He had his whole extended family with him.
I didn't know chickens had balls lol
It's the carbs that fill you out Lee..the MSG is a flavour enhancer and is Salty..
If you stick to the meat/ fish and veggies and have less of the chips/ rice and crackers ( starchy carbs) ..you can accommodate a lot more food.
Great video as always!
I once saw a documentary a few years ago Lee... It was about how to get your money's worth at an all you can eat buffet... Firstly don't fill your small plates with the cheaper products like... Rice... Chips... Vegetables... Salad... Fruit... Bread... Soups... And definitely don't upgrade to an endless soft drinks deal either... You should be going for the more expensive food items that they might offer... Such as... Beef... Lamb... Pork... Duck... Prawns... Lobster... Crab... Salmon... Sea Bass... Crayfish... Sushi... A lot of these places like Cosmo Buffet and others... Only allow a maximum of two hours for you to finish eating from the time you enter... So don't hang around too long when staff say things like... A new batch of the food that you're wanting to try... Will be out within the next ten minutes or so... It's yet another delaying tactic to run the clock down on your two hour buffet visit... They know exactly what they're doing... And sadly most of the time we don't... These buffet businesses are also spread out... Making viewing everything that's available to eat... A ten to fifteen minute search of discovery. 😂 🍽👍
Love the content! I’m subscribed!.
I thought those trainers had died in Benidorm 😂 do we get an unboxing vid of the new ones? 😅😂
Have to say ....that looked incredible. Good value ,especially for families .
Great for kids parties ,I'd day 10 years + . Brilliant blog again Lee. 👍
You've ate it an odd way round Lee😂 its soup, then the little appetiser bits and duck pancakes, then main bits, ontop of the rice chips and noodles. Right morksy mess the first plate 😂 and MSG is king. Its a flavour enhancer. I added it to bland soup I bought other day and it completely changed it. It has nothing to do with making you feel full.
How close are we to going to Australia? I’m super stoked for those vlogs!
The MacStacker with the amount you got on that plate 😂 love Nottingham always stay there during the download music festival 🎉
MSG is usually used in chinese cuisine, indeed. Also, tomatoes are rich in MSG, as are mushrooms and soy sauce. Crisps are doused in it. I think the bloated feeling comes from the copious amounts of deepfried items and sauces loaded with sugar, not the MSG.
90% of the popular dishes in Chinese restaurants are loaded with sugar, salt and general carbs. I never touch sweet and sour dishes, I think it's vile. I'd be eating the duck pancakes, seafood etc. Banging a load of chicken balls, prawn crackers, rice and chips on your plate is just chucking money in the bin in my opinion. Why get all the cheap crap.
Foods With MSG
MSG is used in many common foods available today in grocery stores and local restaurants. This ingredient, which is found in umami additives, aims to boost flavor to foods including snacks, soups, and noodles. Here are 5 foods that contain MSG to be aware of:
Seasonings
Because MSG is a flavor enhancer, it’s no surprise that it’s included in many seasonings that consumers put on meats and in stews. One common example is taco seasoning packets that are typically added to meat.
Fast food
MSG became well-known for its widespread use in Chinese dishes and other fast food meals, including fried chicken from fast food restaurants.
Soups
Another place you’ll find MSG is on the soup shelf at the grocery store. The additive is used to enhance their flavor and saltiness. For example, one of the most common soups - Chicken Noodle Soup from Campbell’s - contains MSG, in addition to 890 milligrams of sodium.
Dressings and condiments
Condiments like ketchup, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, mustard, and salad dressings have been known to contain MSG to boost flavor.
Chips
Many types of chips and related snacks include MSG to enhance the salty, savory flavors that they’re known for.
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Msg is a flavour enchanter, nothing more. Msg is fine. I buy it from Amazon and use it when cooking most savoury foods.
The reason you felt full so quickly was all the carbs on your plate. Chips, rice, toast, prawn crackers. That’s why.
Ahaha I wasnt expecting you in the barbers for that intro Lee! 😉😂😂
Looked very nice. I have never understood why people eat those crackers that look and taste like polystyrene.
It’s the oldest gag in the book that Chinese food fills you up really quickly and then you are hungry again half an hour later. It’s do with the glycemic load of the food and the addition of MSG which does make you feel satiated far quicker than if you eat food without its addition.
We stopped going to May Sum years ago seemed quite grubby has it had a make over/refit?
Toast, rice & fizzy pop would fill you up, can’t see the point of pile it high when you can go up as many times as you like?
That Chinese meal Looked absolutely delicious 😋 Lee Xx
Yes they do use MSG ,i do myself. I used to have my own pub restaurant before becoming ill with multiple diseases.
MSG is better than ordinary salt, although some claim it's not good. Less sodium and enhances flavour more.
Great hair cut!! I think the Chinese place deserves a visit so 9/10.
Love a buffet but would never have the chips
Going to Benidorm in May so need to watch your videos on best places to eat.
MSG doesn't make you feel full, Lee. It will have been all the starch in the carb filled foods. Rice, chips, noodles etc. Looked pretty good though.
Looks absolutely banging mate
You do know that all the kids have been dipping there fingers in that chocolate fountain!
You go to a Chinese buffet and get Chips 🍟
😂
Great video, keep em comin ☺
Strange way of doing it? Piling it high isn't that great an idea on your first visit. Best way to get value in those places is to do a small plate of your favourites, polish that off, have a rest & then go back and pick a few more of what you fancy.....repeat.
I like a Chinese buffet, I tend to go for more of the expensive items , like prawns and seafood, and not have too much rice and noodles! And I do think they go heavy on the MSG/salt to fill people up. That did look good though!👍
Looks good Lee ❤💎xx
"I like sushi, but I'm not going to mix it with Chinese food", says Lee with a pile of chips on top of all the other deep fried delights! Plate size and MSG have nothing to do with being full...stay away from the carbs and you'll get your money's worth, and more.
Love your videos man , I’m going out in 5 Weeks on my own , is there any sushi 🍱 🍣 restaurants?.
Lee you should try the Red China in Edinburgh. I enjoyed it would like a professional view. You must book as far as I remember. Cheers love all the videos
Great watch Lee, could just eat that now 😋
Agree with the comment about using the utensils, also I wouldn’t have the chips as too filling but also agree with the MSG, they aren’t daft but it did look good, I’d sussed out the small plate Alan Partridge 😉
Wide selection of dishes, quality ingredients and excellent presentation based on those observation points, I give a 7.9 rating.
Lee, I'm going to be very harsh this time. Please don't be offended.
I hope this review can put to rest the myth about how horrible Americanized Chinese food is, compared to U.K. Chinese food. Everything I saw there looked exactly the same as any bottom-of-the-barrel American-Chinese food that I've ever seen, right down to the gooey sauces.
Here's how they make a profit:
1. Small plates, certainly, as you stated.
2. MSG, maybe not. Not in the U.S., for certain, and not because of any prohibition that I'm aware of, but many, many people are either sensitive or allergic to it, would notice it right away, and the owners would be run out of town on a rail (or a large chopstick).
3. Most of the serving trays would hold enough food for 4 or 5 separate entrees. Most people don't take more than they expect to eat, so there's some reduction in food waste there.
4. Most people are not as hungry as they think they are walking in, so a plate and a half is probably about average. If a few behemoths per hour go back for more four times, it really doesn't skew the average that much.
Paying upon entry would cancel my business immediately. As Richard Nixon said, "I'm not a crook", and if someone can't take a chance on that I'll eat elsewhere.
Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, buffets (how to pronounce? Ask Hyacinth Bucket) and children are not a good mix. I don't think I saw many in your vlog, but I'm making a point. Absent close supervision (and when does that happen?), children will always cross-contaminate everything in the buffet, and that's without any consideration as to whether anybody has a cold. Inevitably, some always do, so that's why I haven't even tested a Chinese buffet in at least 30 years. Forewarned is forearmed. I know you had this meal 3 days ago, so I'm not worried about making you sick with my remarks. But I'm glad you liked it. (How did I know on which day you ate?)
Looked really good, 👍
Eastern Court behind the Xscape at J32 M62 Castleford has really improved, not been for years and been twice in the past month and it is absolutely banging!
Controversial l know, but better to go when it's busy on a weekend as food is constantly getting replenished fresh.
Yes they always use small plates....trick is is to use two plates when you go up lol...and use the the soup bowl to put your sauce in lol ...cheeky i know but that's what i do....also avoid the rice til the end as that fills you up!! They had a great selection and the freshly cooked counter was an added bonus for sure!! ...x
We had a May Sum in Hull, but it closed down in 2012
As someone said the trick is to go for expensive bits like crispy duck or prawns first before filling up with fried stuff. Great buffet in Eastbourne near seafront called Cosmo. Unfortunately they removed choc fountain probably because I stuck my head under it once too often!
The small plate thing is just to stop you loading up your plate with stuff that you end up not eating, so is wasted and goes straight in the bin. If you want more and you're not full after your first plateful, just go up again. You're also less likely to pile your second plateful high as you're already starting to get full, unlike on your first plateful when you try to put on as much as you can because you're hungry.
I once went to a Chinese restaurant (not a buffet restaurant) in Norwood in London, which was all you can eat for a fixed price. Everything was freshly cooked to order. But if they think you're ordering too much, they tell you that'll do for now, if you want more after you've eaten that lot, we're happy to cook it for you. Needless to say, we didn't need to place a second order!
Carverys are the same though, small plates and small amount of meat. Although seasoned people of Carverys know how to place the food on the plate for optimal coverage.
Msg is a flavour enhancer it's used in most foods although alot of companies have opted not to use.
It's not harmful but makes you thirsty, I think that might be where the idea of filling you up comes from as if you drink more you won't eat as much
The small plates will be done to reduce food wastage (at least officially). Of course, this has the dual-purposes of increasing their profit margins, as you need to go up more times... which takes more effort, and draws more attention to you.
I saw a clip somewhere - I think it was labelled 'how to break the buffet', or something similar - and one of the owners of an Indian buffet said that if you have around 7 plates of food, the restaurant will break even... any more and you've broken them. Of course, that'll depend on what you put on your plate, and the size of the plate. The more expensive food is generally placed in front of the kitchen, where people are less likely to pile their plates up, if there's staff near-by.
That Diet Coke you ordered cost them about 20p, and you over £3. Filling your plate with rice and chips is great for them, as their margins are highest. Chocolate fountains cost the restaurant a lot of money.
MSG is a meat tenderiser (and supposedly a 'flavour enhancer'... but that's a matter of debate). I don't think it's specifically used to make you full (I wasn't aware it does that), but rather to tenderise the meat. MSG also makes you thirsty - which means you drink more. A bit like Disneyland putting excess salt and sugar on food, in the hope you'll buy plenty more fizzy drinks.
Yea I always look for the strawberries and bananas with red syrup on them for my dessert at a Chinese buffet.
I've been to Nottingham three times and loved the place. Granted, all three times were to attend a Gary Numan concert and leave right away, but still.... :)
I love a all you can eat Chinese buffet,I'm a regular at mine as it's very nice,I get told off by the staff if I haven't been for a little while 😂 xx
Chips on top!
Come on Lee!😂
Where were the duck pancakes?
He has had them before 🤔
If you ever come to Canada and are craving Chinese, most restos will offer Ginger Beef (invented here in Calgary) as well as a very different Egg Foo Yung than you're used to. (Ditto our Shanghai Noodles in black bean sauce!)
Foods With MSG
MSG is used in many common foods available today in grocery stores and local restaurants. This ingredient, which is found in umami additives, aims to boost flavor to foods including snacks, soups, and noodles. Here are 5 foods that contain MSG to be aware of:
Seasonings
Because MSG is a flavor enhancer, it’s no surprise that it’s included in many seasonings that consumers put on meats and in stews. One common example is taco seasoning packets that are typically added to meat.
Fast food
MSG became well-known for its widespread use in Chinese dishes and other fast food meals, including fried chicken from fast food restaurants.
Soups
Another place you’ll find MSG is on the soup shelf at the grocery store. The additive is used to enhance their flavor and saltiness. For example, one of the most common soups - Chicken Noodle Soup from Campbell’s - contains MSG, in addition to 890 milligrams of sodium.
Dressings and condiments
Condiments like ketchup, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, mustard, and salad dressings have been known to contain MSG to boost flavor.
Chips
Many types of chips and related snacks include MSG to enhance the salty, savory flavors that they’re known for.
Looks ok. I have to have separate visits for each course.
I still remember the time I could go for lunch at the Chinese restaurant and get soup, entree and desert for 5s 0d (25p in current money).🤣
Heard so many bad reviews lately on it :( have you tried the new buffet panda in notts? Looking for a good buffet in notts 💕
It's quite some time ago I've been to Nottingham
I agree with your score, interesting theory about the MSG.
Anything for the weekend Sir? Yeah can you fix my lawn mower
Lee, there appears to be various opinions regarding MSG, some studies say it suppresses appetite and other studies say it blocks the message to the brain saying you are full which increases appetite leading to overeating. I find that eating in those buffets I tend to overeat resulting in feeling sick afterwards!!!
yes small plates you gave it a higher score than i would"6"
Another interesting video Lee. However, MSG doesn't fill you up faster; it could actually aid digestion. What does fill you up is fried food and starch. Added to this is the small plate syndrome which slows down the consumption of large quantities of food. AYCE restaurants reply on customers eating lots of starch (rice, noodles, chips), and small battered bits of food. If someone loaded up the plate with lamb chops or scallops.. they might be invited for a quiet chat with the manager.
Took my daughter there a few weeks ago, thoroughly enjoyed it.
Always get to a Chinese buffet at opening time and graze don't fill the plate up.
Best Chinese food I've had in the UK was in West Drayton
All the air china crew est there after coming into Heathrow.
that SMG they use it a lot in thailand i know Lee i live here
MSG is included as an active ingredient in most Chinese cooking sauces and condiments (eg, soy sauce, oyster sauce, etc) so yes, of course MSG is likely to be in everything you added to your plate. As I regularly cook oriental food, MSG is something I try to keep to a minimum by using higher quality and more natural ingredients.
Can’t beat a good buffet, and that certainly looked it. The small plate thing is spreading, it’s psychological apparently your mind thinks you’ve eaten more than you have👍🏻. Top vid.
Next time in Glasgow try marbal global buffet it's in queen st its nice
Msg is a taste enhancer like salt or chip spice.. best on meat but can be used on any food.
Looks divine..where is it located please
Nice to see young clough in his green top🤣
Lee nice to see the silver fox is back, both meals looked delicious but I must admit that Martins Indian meal looked lovely and not a bad price, i give 8/10 for the Chinese but for the Indian I’ll give 9.5 /10 looked like you had a big variety in the food court. See Martins already wanting you nicked lol looking forward to the next leg.👍🏴
May Sum is a very good Chinese buffet. You are spot on about the additives. You get very full very quick on very tasty food.
My guess has always been that these dishes are filled with excess fats, sugars and salts/msg to make things extra tasty and extra filling.
I think the small plates are simply because too many dickheads fill plates and then leave food, so smaller plate less waste? I still have 4 or 5 plates 👍
I've never actually managed a desert there as much as I like chocolate fountains because I can't resist some of the main course/starter dishes 🤣🙈
Overall decent review, glad you enjoyed it 👍
amazing
when i asked for something for the weekend he gave me a bloody lawnmower🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂
Tactics, 1 plate starters, 2 /3 plates main with small amount of rice then hit the desserts. Mark ups on drinks are usually very big.
Always a big lad in these places going up for 5th helpings
I prefer the smaller plates to the great British compost heap. smaller portions of fresh/hot food and go back if you want more. Nothing wrong with msg, it's just a flavour enhancer, it even occurs naturally in a lot of vegetables. Most cases of msg intollerance are due to other issues. The bloated feeling is more likely to be due to the carb consumption. Don't have chips and noodles/rice. Gor for veg and less carbs.
Did I see s Tapenyaki counter although thats not Chinese really
MSG is a flavour enhancer, it doesn't make you full it's the thing that makes you crave more
Looked a good buffet restaurant. Thought you’d have reviewed the ribs Lee 😂
I love Chinese self service buffets, great value and great choice
Some kind of disposal food grabbers would be a good idea.😉
There is a nice Chinese buffet in Middlesbrough but tend to think they are expensive, £30 per person, but I really couldn't eat 30quid worth of food 😂
Looked fantastic 9.5
Our nearest is Tang's in Bracknell who I'd rate as 7 and I normally do about 5 plates including teppenyaki. I couldn't have chips with a Chinese and go for spoon and fork.
we have a Bon pan asia near us.. first time i had rice riddled with hair.. gave it a 2nd chance few years later and ended up with crispy hairy beef..
Sounds similar to one I had which has so many pubes may as well put an old hairy minge on the food cart
😂😂😂
Nice video. Just a word about MSG, when people use msg in their cooking, it is only there to enhance the flavor of the food, it will never have the effect of making you full or bloated. The reason that people feel full after eating just one or two plates of food off of a small plate is simply because it is fooling the brain in to thinking that you have eaten a lot. It’s the technique that people on a diet use in order to eat smaller portions but feel full after the one or two plates. Try it on any food you like, it’ll have the same effect, whether msg is added or not.
MSG is a flavor enhancer so it may have an effect on your perception of satisfaction. I support the use of MSG. There are many myths about MSG, adding regular salt is much worse for you. I think the small plates are a good idea because it reduces food waste. The soup bowl could have been bigger. Overall, it looked like the typical Chinese buffet here in the US except for the chocolate fountain. I would not take from that anyway because there is too much potential for people to be pigs.
MSG Is fine yes. There's no true evidence to say otherwise. In fact to the contrary.
It makes me dizzy
@@TravelMaster69 You may have an allergy to it,or maybe an underlying issue? I believe it can lower blood pressure if replacing salt.
Before I read the comments and before you revealed the "secret" I said to myself "Tiny plates!" which make some people feel a bit guilty about going to the counter multiple times. Not me though! I went with my family to an Asian food "all you can eat" place in Newbury. I filled my plate three times then got a clean plate for three different desserts 😊
Are using a saucer for a plate ??
Not a patch on the Beijing Banquet in Glasgow by the looks of it, but it's a fiver a head dearer for lunch.
I've been to 3 Chinese buffets in my life, twice I caught food poisoning. Can't stand MSG.
Msg for sure,look good though, if your hungry again in a hour you know😂❤
Omg yeah that is amazing all you can eat.
Did I miss the bit of your video where you out on curry sauce?
I love MSG, great flavour enhancer. Really adds extra umami mmmm