The 23 best sushi restaurants and sushi bars in Chattanooga (2024)

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Although from the beautiful exterior to the brightly decorated interior this place looked impressive; the all-inclusive Hibachi, sushi, and traditional Chinese fare buffet was a let-down. The hibachi I had them cook up fresh was too salty to eat. The buffet entrees themselves tasted like I was biting into a mouthful of grease or just had an unpleasant aftertaste about them. I didn't take more than one bite of anything and left there hungry. I do not eat sushi, but my son is a huge fan of it and enjoyed it, so that was a plus.

The Forbidden City is a great place to eat if you haven't had breakfast and lunch! Their buffet and Sushi is top notch Traditional Chinese/American food. Plenty of choices for everyone. Even fresh ice cream you scoop yourself. The Forbidden City is a restaurant gem with an comfortable and rich atmosphere. I have ate here since they opened over a decade ago. Highly recommend!

It's OK seriously I don't know how I've lived in Chattanooga for so long and never visited this place. Yes you get what you pay for but there's a lot of options lol 12 bucks and I got a all you could eat buffet with a soft beverage. The food was good lots of options And I will definitely return I would recommend for travelers and locals alike. The the restaurant was clean the server was friendly definitely an enjoyable experience

We went to the lunch buffet, our waitress was so rude, she kept asking “ what do you want to drink” without any greeting and before arriving to our table, and when we said water she was so upset. She brought the check within 10mins, I was still eating my first plate (in the picture), and she said thanks for coming, kinda like forcing us to leave. In general all the workers seems unhappy I was trying to give tips to the one on the sushi bar and when I asked him how’re you, and he didn’t answer. Most of the food was undercooked especially the veggies and fish, sushi is below average. The only things good about this place are the decoration and the price.

This place is amazing. Can’t believe the pricing vs the amount of food we ate. The food was fresh, service was great, and, there is nowhere you can get this much food for the money.

This is my second visit and food again was good quality for a buffet!This was the first time I noticed the Mongolian barbecue option… Where you can choose all of your own items and have them cook it in front of you!Great value and choices of fresh food that they have sushi too!My favorite items here are:-Mongolian barbecue/Teppanyaki-Hot and sour soup-Fresh sushi options(Shrimp, yellowtail, salmon, Aji, tuna, eel, And the sweet bean curved, seaweed salad, pillows!)-sautéed mushrooms-Coconut shrimp-Crabcakes-salad bar-And multiple desserts selections

Seriously the WORST Asian buffet I’ve ever been to across all the US states I’ve lived in and traveled through. I guarantee this was not chicken. The dough mix used in all the fried foods was stale and hard as a rock...clearly old meat and old ingredients as well as old frying oil. Probably the only edible thing was the egg drop soup, and the tomato salad (edible but not good). The waitress was very nice so kudos for service. And the decor was beautiful as is the general presentation which is quite honestly what hooked us....clearly you can’t judge a restaurant’s food quality by its interiors! So where in the world did those positive reviews come from? I’m very used to eating out and trying different cuisines, places and have a decent palate. So I might be pickier than your average foodie, but even my “I will eat anything” husband was extremely disappointed and he will never let go of me saying, “but honey, this place has 4.1 stars out of thousands of reviews so it’s got to be at least decent.” Nope. I will have to suffer thru endless “I told you so” forever and a day thanks to Forbidden City Restaurant. Golly even Panda Express is better (gasp!). Sorry folks but good Asian buffets are harder to come by these days...and as I said, I’ve tried hundreds across many of these beautiful United States, so trust me, you will want to go elsewhere! Deserves 0 stars for food - but ok 1 star for the decor.

Very good food! We were seated very fast.There is a wide variety of selection. Affordable pricing.Very clean.Staff were friendly. They serve alcoholThey have a koi pond setup at door that you can throw change in.

Wow, more than I expected. This was my first time eating there. I normally don't care for this type of food. It was great.

Service was professional and courteous. Food...it's a buffet. Regardless of the variety of choices and effort put into buffet food, it's always lacking in quality and tends to all taste about the same....just okay. To their credit, Forbidden City does offer a wider than average selection on their buffet lines. Vegetarian options, salad, American food, hand dipped ice cream, desserts, wide variety of sushi and several options for noodles and rice and good variety of soups. Overall I felt it was reasonably priced for the service and product offered.

Fanciest and most diverse Chinese buffet in Chattanooga. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Best green beans, boiled zucchini, cabbage, and broccoli dishes. Has mini salad bar. Love the sweet buns, kumquats, and jello! Has an ice cream and hibachi section. Large sushi bar. Saki bar. Just overall nicest atmosphere of any Chinese buffet. You have to check out the beautiful fish pond behind the hostess stand. It’s gorgeous. Waiters are attentive and kind. Close to the mall. Definitely recommend.

A Review of Forbidden City: A Feast Most Exquisite in Prose DivineO gentle reader, lend me thine ear,As I partake in a tale most wondrous here,In yon fair realm known as Forbidden City,Where culinary delights doth provoke such pity.Upon mine approach, a revelry dost unfold,A patron declared, with voice both bold,“To thine ears, I swear this truth, my friend,This bastion of taste shall never end!”As I crossed the threshold, my senses did delight,Behold! A coy pond adorned in daylight,With shimmering scales dancing 'neath the sun’s rays,A tranquil portent of the feast this day lays.Within this grand hall, a veritable spread,A bounty of dishes doth beckon, widespread:The Salad Bar fresh, with crisp greens doth sing,Whilst the Hibachi Grill performs a sizzling fling.And lo! An Ice Cream Bar, a sweet final act,Where flavors unite in a delicious pact.Amongst the treasures, stuffed crab shells did gleam,A morsel so savory, it fulfilled every dream.And what of the sauce, sweet and sour divine?It doth dance on the tongue, a most perfect wine.Service here, like friendly spirits do flow,With smiles that brighten the gloomiest woe.The establishment, pristine, doth honor the eye,In cleanliness, it doth rise, oh so high!Moreover, the coin to partake in this wares,A reasonable cost, for such culinary flares.Thus, I pen this review, with vigor and cheer,For Forbidden City hath captured my peer.So, gather ye, friends, and make haste to this place,Where flavors entwine in a jubilant embrace.In banquet and bliss, thou shalt surely find,A haven of solace for the body and mind…. In bed

This was a last minute decision to eat here. I am glad we did decide to eat here. It was not very busy but they kept the food fresh and the selection was way more than I expected. Restaurant was clean and we enjoyed the quiet atmosphere. The price was excellent especially for the selection they offer. We will definitely be making another visit

I have eaten here twice now, tried the buffet out and the hibachi.my conclusion on the food is.. well not great.the chicken is hard and dry, the sushi is bland and the deserts are lackluster at best.a lot of locals talk about how great this place is but i honestly don't see it.ive tried just about everything on the menu at this point and have been disappointed by almost all of it.however, I will say that the atmosphere is great and the service was really good as well.I just wish they would cut down on their options and make them taste a little better rather than have so many of them and they all taste kind of bad.they try to do everything, but don't do anything well.

Venturing into Chattanooga's Forbidden City Chinese Buffet is less about breaching ancient taboos and more about unlocking a treasure trove of culinary delights that could rival the riches of any emperor's palace. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted not just by the staff, whose friendliness and efficiency are so legendary they must surely practice it in some secret dojo, but also by an ambiance so clean and inviting it makes you wonder if "Forbidden" was just a clever ploy to keep all this goodness a secret.The buffet itself is a gastronomic journey through the best of Chinese cuisine, with a full sushi bar where the sushi rolls are so fresh, you'd swear they were still contemplating their life choices in the ocean moments before. The Mongolian grill sizzles with possibilities, each dish a fiery testament to your own culinary daring. Here, you're not just a guest; you're the maestro of your own meal, orchestrating a symphony of flavors that dance harmoniously on your palate.But what's an empire without its treasures? The full dessert bar at Forbidden City is the jewel in the crown. It's where calories are not so much counted as they are celebrated, with an array of sweets that could easily seduce even the most disciplined of warriors.The humor in the name "Forbidden" becomes apparent as you dive into this buffet extravaganza. It's as if the only thing truly forbidden is leaving hungry or unsatisfied. In a city brimming with dining options, the Forbidden City Chinese Buffet stands out not just as a meal, but as an experience – a place so good, it should probably be kept a secret. But like all great wonders of the world, its splendor is meant to be shared. Just maybe not with your dietitian.

It is an all you can eat buffet. The sushi bar is my favorite. It is not the greatest sushi, but it is good. I love the hibachi section. I enjoy making it myself and picking my sauce. They always have a worker refilling any food items that are low. The pictures I took were right before closing, so some might seem empty, but this generally isn't the case. They have a desert bar and ice cream station. If you are in the mood to eat a bunch, this would be a good place. If not, I would just recommend going to a better restaurant that serves plates... would probably be better quality food.

Very relaxing atmosphere!!!!!! And great service, waitress was promptly at the table getting our drink order very polite mannered, and checked back in on us often for drink refills and to make sure we had everything we needed. Big selection of food , they have many options we didn't even make it to desert bar but it had many options and looked appealing, so maybe next time I will save room lol. 😉 This place is a 5 star all the way around a must try if your in the area. Thank you for the great experience!!!!!

My son chose to eat here for his 18th Birthday. This was my first time and overall I'm very satisfied. So many varieties of food to choose from. Even have pizza and chicken wings for the little ones who don't care so much for Chinese. Friendly customers service. Waitress service was a bit on the slow side for my liking. We was seated immediately. My favorite thing was the gold fish pond as soon as you walk in. I give this restaurant an 8 outta 10. I recommend you stopping by to try out if you get to craving Chinese. Side note apparently hibachi is a thing of its self and not all Chinese restaurants have this but my sons favorite thing about here is the hibachi and fresh sushi.

The meal might be inexpensive, but you pay for what you get.I did like how the staff always kept food out instead of it running out.Not a fan of all you can eat buffets. If you look into the eyes of foodies at the different buffet stations.They won't look at you because they are drooling at the next side dish they can overflow their plate with.Then the staff looks literally exhausted from trying to keep up with the demand.Almost felt like I was in a zombie movie for a minute. 🫣🧟Great place to take the kiddos, because it's extremely noisy and if your child cries.I seriously doubt anyone will hear/ pay attention.

it‘s a big surprise! Awesome buffet and equitable price,there are a plenty of dishes to choose ,and really delicious! It becomes my favorite Chinese restaurant!

I remember this place being so much better... All of the food was barely above room temperature, the coconut shrimp breading seemed stale and soggy, even more so than you would expect, given it's served covered in sauce. The clams, like the rest, were cold and just tasted... off, Like they were being held past their rotation period. This is a sharp decline on quality from what I remember here and it's quite disappointing to say the least. The highlight of my meal was the ice cream and, in a menu as varied as this one, that's not a good thing.I'm honestly in doubt as to whether food safety regulations are being properly maintained here. I feel confident in saying that if a health inspector had walked in while I was eating here tonight, they would have failed the inspection. Several foods were missing labels, none of it was at the proper holding temperature and I can all but guarantee it was past due for rotation and replacement. There were also sauces meant to be stored at or below 41°F just sitting out in front of the counter with no temperature control or labels.I will not be eating here again in the near future.

I have visited twice, so far, but I intend to return whenever in town at lunch time. The first time some dishes were so so (= the star missing at the "food" section), but the second time nearly everything as good as can be expected in this kind of restaurant. Service, cleanliness, order, lighting, sitting comfort, variety and quality of food, are all way above average, with only their prices being below average. This is a good 45 minutes drive from home, so I shall be not travelling especially for it, but I have found me one more favorite restaurant for whenever somewhere close or around the area.

This is about as good as a buffet gets! I’ve been a germaphobe since before the pandemic so the only thing I would appreciate would be the addition of gloves to their location. Otherwise, the pros outweigh the cons. This place is super affordable and full of variety.

My daughter and I love coming here. The sushi always tastes fresh and never disappoints, which is why she pleads with me to take her there, and I can't disagree. Comparing them to other buffets I have to say that my drink is never left empty, and the quality of the food compared to the price is extremely fair. The hibachi bar has never under or over cooked our selections, the more popular food items are constantly refreshed, and the servers have always been respectful. Try it out, they deserve the right for you to give them a chance.

Bathroom was extremely clean, food was overall good. Service was really nice and welcoming! They have food bars for salad, ice cream, hibachi, grill and deserts.

Food was excellent. Server didn't speak much English when he asked what we wanted to drink. He knew water but not what kind of Soda they offered so we stuck with sweet tea. Would love to had a Coke with the meal but overall it was awesome. Will come around lunch time though next time.

2273 Gunbarrel Rd #103, Chattanooga, TN 37421, USA•http://forbiddencitytn.com/•(423) 305-1087•Tips and more reviews for Forbidden City Restaurant