Mr. Cherng China Restaurant

very reasonable for the price and location 5 stars for the all-you-can+eat at lunchtime

Two weeks ago I had the most unpleasant meal in Hamburg ever. You can read about a similar unpleasant experience that caught some other reviewers by surprise, who also had no prior experience with Mr. Cherng.

Namely, they asked us to pay 50c for each uneaten piece of sushi without making sure we knew about this rule beforehand.

Here’s what happened: Before we were even finished with the meal, a guy was standing next to our table and showing us a “warning leaflet” sitting on the table describing this unusual “rule” they have, basically counting them as he spoke with us. I’ve been to many all-you-can-eat sushi restaurants and I never witnessed anything similar. I should mention that we didn’t notice the leaflet which was in German only anyway (tourist trap anyone?) and that they haven’t warned such practice in advance. Our rejection to pay for something unusual that should be made perfectly clear (with illustrations of what constitutes an “uneaten sushi” – is it half-eaten, without filling or whatever?) created quite a commotion among the staff. The guy also shamelessly used an argument of hungry children in Africa and I did them a favor by avoiding a Socratic dialog that could have ensured at that point. Get this: you’re not able to take with you the sushi pieces left on your plate! Are they going to sent it priority mail to Africa?! Something tells me then won’t. Anyway, the staff was very aggressive, obviously totally uninterested in improving the horrible impression they left (to some other guests who overheard our discussion) and my coolness totally left them confused.

The manager we called for wasn’t around, even though they initially bluffed by “threatening” to call the manager at one point. Eventually, another worker (either a more senior worker or supervisor) gave us a normal bill and “let us go” as if they were doing us a favor. Since I really didn’t want my afternoon ruined by some tactless a-holes, I made sure I didn’t think about them during the day but sure I didn’t leave the place with a pleasant taste in my mount. However, this experience left me thinking about the poor kids working in Chinese factories for 12+ hours and their managers-from-hell if this is what you can experience in Hamburg as a customer.

Sushi aside, the rest of the food was mostly different permutations of vegetables with chicken, beef or cheapest fish food soaked in wok sauce, where you realize what you’re eating much more with your eyes than with your sense of taste. Even before the “uneaten sushi would have been eaten by hungry African children” incident, your attention span permitting, you’ll get the feeling that the staff just wants to sit you down and then watch who else might me coming in and whether anyone has left any sushi.

They get 2 stars because some food wasn’t too generic which improves the the low service rating. If you just want to fill your bowel, then you might rate them with 4-5 stars. Myself, I have eaten much better sushi at low to fair prices.

Pro tip: If you go here to get full, make sure you don’t leave any uneaten pieces of sushi.

Open buffet for 15€ including sushi!

You also have the chance to design your own meal: raw meat, fish with vegetables then give it to the cook, ask for a specific sauce and 5 minutes later u got a delicious dish!

However they have a funny rule, every sushi that remains uneaten on your plate would cost you an extra 1€!

I presume they don't want people to attack the sushi buffet as if their life depended on it!

The waiters are really friendly and nice.

Highly recommendable for a group of friends

Amazing Price, Satisfactory Food, Awful Customer Service:

I was there for the “all you can eat” buffet with my girlfriend, where the price to food ratio is superb.
The wide assortment of sushi and Asian cuisine is satisfactory in quality. In quantity, in accordance to the price paid, the food is magnificent. But alas there is a price to be paid for such an offer.

The restaurant has a very nice atmosphere, a blend of western elegance meets Asian sophistication. Although at the times of the open buffet, the atmosphere shifts to a more militant stance (hence the low 2 star rating). There is too much screaming and yelling going around as the kitchen struggles to keep the food rolling in. As for the waiters, friendly on the door no doubt, but once you are pulled in, their attitude takes a 180 degrees turn. They will not answer when called, and the only way to get their attention is by baiting them with empty dishes, which they swarm around the restaurant hunting down like eagles.

there are many more positive points, as there are negative points. i dont have the time or interest in counting them. Point is: Of all the table in the restaurant mine was the only one without a warning sign telling you that for every left over sushi piece on your plate, you had to pay extra, and consequently was completely struck off guard when paying the bill i had to pay more for the left over sushi than for the “all you can eat buffet”; sushi which i was not allowed to have packed as “Take away”, even after a talk with the manager who seemed uninterested whether a customer was satisfied or not.

Final judgment: Go for the cheep good food, and the nice atmosphere; don’t expect humanitarian/civilized treatment.

Asian-style buffet restaurants are a dime-a-dozen in central Hamburg. it seems like if you’ve been to one, you’ve been to them all. Mr. Cherng, however, is completely different. The food is fresh and of high quality, the variety of dishes is vast, there’s fresh sushi alongside the rest of the dishes and the all-you-can-eat lunch price of 8.90eu is very fair for what you get on your plate.

I especially liked their tofu dish as well as the potato croquettes and deep-fried banana for dessert. I was happy to see fresh fruit being served with a happy abundance of melon.

Very recommended!

We had a great time here. All-you-can-eat buffet style was nicely and invitingly explained. Sushi, warm stir-fry and rice balls with bean paste for 14,90. The service was friendly, fast and very helpful. They were always aware of when our crowd was getting bigger, bringing more tables and chairs without us even asking! The interior is really pleasant with nice lighting and well arranged. The restaurant is very large, but each party has the feeling of being 'to themselves’. I look forward to going again!