Best buffets to "sample" ethnic cuisines....

[hippopotamus]

Hi there,
I like to occasionally gorge on typical Pakistani food (Nan n Curry, Shalimar, Pakwan) and I recently thought I had experienced its zenith at the Sunday buffet / brunch at the Pakwan in Hayward. They had the largest variety of dishes I have seen at an Indian/Pakistani food place and, more importantly, they seemed to have done little wrong. Every item seemed to be just right.

I was wondering if you could share similar experiences at buffets (of any ethnic cuisine) in the san francisco, bay area.
Good buffets seem to the only real way to sample ethnic cuisines in one lunch/dining session... Unless you're lucky to be part of large "dinner groups" in your area.

[J T]

Does anyone know the name of the Indian restaurant that replaced the Pasand on El Camino in Sunnyvale? I can't remember the name but it's buffet has an impressive variety of dishes to choose from. Plus it wasn't high price. I recommend it.

[Mari]

Is it Bombay Palace? I actully think it's pretty good too just because they offer so many different dishes and the food is decent. They have about 30 different dishes to try. Plus they have a dosa bar and feature potatoes for the dosa that are very good. The desserts are not very good though and neither is the naan. My Indian co-worker doesn't like it though, but I am quite happy when I go there for a weekday lunch.

[katya]

The Helmand in SF is my favorite for Afghan food. However, they've been redtagged until further notice.

I've been wanting to try the Persian lunch buffet at Kabob Halal House in Santa Clara:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/395820
Cheap Kabobs Are Worth Counter Girl Abuse at Santa Clara’s Kabob Halal House

My favorite Indian buffets are Turmeric in Sunnyvale, Priya in Berkeley, Passage to India in Mountain View, and Taj and Udupi Palace for lunch in Sunnyvale.

Shebele has a decent Ethiopian lunch buffet in North San Jose.

[sydthekyd]

The resurrected Ahlishan at 1025 University in West Berkeley has a buffet only - no regular menu. Can't wait for someone to try it and report back!

[Robert Lauriston]

Ahlishan turned from a fabric store to a restaurant? or does the restaurant have a different name?

[sydthekyd]

The restaurant is next door (where Bosphorus was) to the fabric/sari store and does have the same name (Ahlishan). All you can eat buffet is $7.95 M-F, $8.95 S&S and they have goat curry or vindaloo Fri-Sun.