Spectacular Weekend Brunch Buffets for $40 or Less

[jugglesmiles]

I love to go to brunch buffets on weekends and have about $40 dollars to spend per person. I am wondering which places I should give a try. So far, I liked a) Cafe Sierra at the Hilton in Universal City, b) the Castaway in Burbank, c) the Mission Inn in Riverside and d) Taps Fish House. Any other recommendations (including casinos)? Also, perhaps there are also more specialized (say, ethnic food) buffets that are good. So far, I liked Maison Akira in Pasadena.

[JThur01]

For something unique try the lunch buffet at Tibet Nepal House in Pasadena. Nepalese food - think Indian only less curried and less heat, but every bit as flavorful. They vary the dishes quite a bit. Only $8.95 from 11:30AM-2:30PM. Now, I don't know how "spectacular" would apply here, other than the uniqueness, but...

http://tibetnepalhouse.com/menu.html

Which prompts a question I never received a reply to, are there any buffets featuring other national cuisines - I'm aware of various Indian buffets and Nepalese, anything else?

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Tibet Nepal House
36 E. Holly Street, Pasadena, CA 91103

[jonesstonehaven]

It seems like driving is not an issue, I have had two good experiences at Coco Palm in Pomona. It is in the price range, the restaurant is Cuban so apart from the standards they have nice Cuban dishes, the view is wonderful and the band plays some nice Caribbean music which is a change from the usual jazz.

[jugglesmiles]

There was a posting that said it is difficult to find a good brunch buffet for $40. Ok, I'll bite. Where should I go to experience a spectacular weekend brunch buffet for $60?

[Sam D.]

The Smokehouse in Burbank serves a very decent Sunday buffet brunch from 10 - 2:30. It's $20.95 if you arrive before 10:45 or $25.95 later.

[Hughlipton]

You can view what is on the agenda by going to www.smokehouse1946.com and click on the candle in front of Sunday Buffet.

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Smoke House Restaurant
4420 W Lakeside Dr, Burbank, CA 91505

[SeaCook]

Burger Continetal in Pasadena has a good brunch buffett for about $20.00

http://burgercontinentalpasadena.com/...

There is even belly dancing!

[justanotherpenguin]

if you do decide to check out burger continental, please report back. it has not had favored status in the recent past:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/403175

[JAB]

Have you tried Dim Sum?

[thepoorfoodie]

There's also Cima Restaurant at the Pacific Palms Resort in Industry Hills. I've never had the brunch there but have had the dinner buffet there a few times and supposedly it's comparable to the Hilton in Universal City (so you have a reference point), though I haven't been there.

http://www.pacificpalmsresort.com/cim...

[Servorg]

Will they meet the price point of $40 or less?

[thepoorfoodie]

I just called and asked
Champagne Brunch on Sunday from 10:30-2:30pm is $42.

I guess I'm over by $2. :0)

[jugglesmiles]

Any more suggestions? There must be many more good weekend brunch buffets...

[KTLA]

There are no more responses because I don't think you can find excellent brunch buffet for under $40. Just my opinion, I would love to be proved wrong.

[westsidegal]

for indian food, i nominate three:
1) the india restaurant in artesia
2) jaipur in west LA on pico
and
3)http://www.shershahcuisineofindia.com/ in marina del rey

[mdpilam]

The India Restaurant is WAY better than the other two. WAY better. I find the other two pretty mediocr-ish.

[westsidegal]

definitely agree that india restaurant has far superior food, but sometimes location comes into play.

[OCAnn]

2nd India Restaurant.

[Jwsel]

I have heard very good things about the brunch at the Four Seasons in Westlake Village. It might be above your price point, though.

The Sunday brunch at the New Otani hotel downtown (Thousand Cranes) is supposed to be very good for Japanese food, including sushi and sashimi. The price I have heard quoted is $49 per person, so it is a little more than your estimate.

[Bradbury]

Thousand Cranes used to offer a wonderful Sunday brunch, but when I returned last year (about 5 years after previous visit) it was clear that everything except the price had gone seriously downhill. The food selection was about half of what it used to be (no more okonomiyaki bar, for one thing) and most items seemed either rubbery or steam-tabled to death.

[yinyangdi]

the former New Otani Hotel was sold "...Japanese-owned East West Development Corp. sold the property in August [2007] to the private, Beverly Hills-based firm 3D Investments..." and re-branded as the Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens and on/about December 1, 2007.
http://www.ladowntownnews.com/article...

[Servorg]

A couple of other potential places you might like are the Odyssey in Granada Hills and Shanghai Red's in Marina Del Rey.

http://www.theodysseyrestaurant.com/

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Shanghai Red's
13813 Fiji Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

[westsidegal]

respectfully disagree with the recommendation of shanghai reds.
the view is lovely
the fruit and desserts they serve are fine.
their fish is, imho, awful/vile.

[Servorg]

Recommended it based solely on the OP posting above that they liked the buffet brunch at Castaway in Burbank. Shanghai Red's is, if not better than the Castaway, at least on par.

[westsidegal]

please remind me never to try Castaway. . . .