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.

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.

Not keen on self serve Buffets,. You never know whether people using the utensils have washed their hands or coughed into the trays.

What a fantastically sophisticated palette you have 😂

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 !

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 🤣

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.

Have to say ....that looked incredible. Good value ,especially for families . Great for kids parties ,I'd day 10 years + . Brilliant blog again Lee. 👍

Love the content! I’m subscribed!. I thought those trainers had died in Benidorm 😂 do we get an unboxing vid of the new ones? 😅😂

Looked very nice. I have never understood why people eat those crackers that look and taste like polystyrene.

I didn't know chickens had balls lol

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.

The MacStacker with the amount you got on that plate 😂 love Nottingham always stay there during the download music festival 🎉

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?)

Great hair cut!! I think the Chinese place deserves a visit so 9/10.

That Chinese meal Looked absolutely delicious 😋 Lee Xx

How close are we to going to Australia? I’m super stoked for those vlogs!

Looks absolutely banging mate

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.

Ahaha I wasnt expecting you in the barbers for that intro Lee! 😉😂😂

Love a buffet but would never have the chips

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.

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!

Wide selection of dishes, quality ingredients and excellent presentation based on those observation points, I give a 7.9 rating.

Going to Benidorm in May so need to watch your videos on best places to eat.

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 😉

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. 😂 🍽👍

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.

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.

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

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 watch Lee, could just eat that now 😋

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!👍

You do know that all the kids have been dipping there fingers in that chocolate fountain!

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.

Love your videos man , I’m going out in 5 Weeks on my own , is there any sushi 🍱 🍣 restaurants?.

Chips on top! Come on Lee!😂 Where were the duck pancakes?

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.👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

You go to a Chinese buffet and get Chips 🍟 😂 Great video, keep em comin ☺

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

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?

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!

I agree with your score, interesting theory about the MSG.

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

Took my daughter there a few weeks ago, thoroughly enjoyed it.

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.... :)

Looks good Lee ❤💎xx

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.

We stopped going to May Sum years ago seemed quite grubby has it had a make over/refit?

Looked really good, 👍

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 👍

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.

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. 🥟 ✌🏻👱🏻‍♂️✌🏻

Nice to see young clough in his green top🤣

"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.

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

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.

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!!!

Looked a good buffet restaurant. Thought you’d have reviewed the ribs Lee 😂

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.

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!)

Anything for the weekend Sir? Yeah can you fix my lawn mower

Always a big lad in these places going up for 5th helpings

I love Chinese self service buffets, great value and great choice

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.

Food looks absolutely amazing Lee. Only downside it was in Nottingham 😂😂👎🏻👎🏻. I think you are correct 💯

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.

Heard so many bad reviews lately on it :( have you tried the new buffet panda in notts? Looking for a good buffet in notts 💕

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.

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 😂

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.

Looks ok. I have to have separate visits for each course.

Msg for sure,look good though, if your hungry again in a hour you know😂❤

yes small plates you gave it a higher score than i would"6"

Hello mate Andy torquay,looks spot on to say it's self service all you can eat 👍

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.

Dear Mr Macmaster, Here is one for the back burner: English breakfast at the Samphire in St Helier Jersey. Not cheap but best in house made hash brown and black pudding I have ever tasted! Real sausage! Suggest poached over fried eggs. ❤

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.

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!

Mister Macmaster looked pretty decent fayre on offer 👌 small plates yeah but a lot depends on what ya put on them on terms of how filling it is ..fair score I'd say 😉

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.

Yea I always look for the strawberries and bananas with red syrup on them for my dessert at a Chinese buffet.

MSG is a flavour enhancer, it doesn't make you full it's the thing that makes you crave more

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).🤣

These buffets are brilliant once a month I get my PIP or cost of living payment me the Mrs and 3 kids go for a smash up great content Lee

The “Mapperley Crap Stack”, clue you won’t find that in the Chinese buffet lol. That “very good, very nice” guy didn’t he turn out to be the imposter in Tenerife. Anyway Chinese buffet looked pretty decent Lee. My favourite is Singapore Chow Mein.

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.

Not a patch on the Beijing Banquet in Glasgow by the looks of it, but it's a fiver a head dearer for lunch.

Looked good Lee I would give it a 7/10 the only problem with Chinese buffets are the food doesn’t stay warm for long it’s only luke warm food which isn’t great !!

Msg is a taste enhancer like salt or chip spice.. best on meat but can be used on any food.

Next time in Glasgow try marbal global buffet it's in queen st its nice

Some kind of disposal food grabbers would be a good idea.😉

I love MSG, great flavour enhancer. Really adds extra umami mmmm

Omg yeah that is amazing all you can eat.

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.

I absolutely agree with you Lee. Definitely not the best food at Chinese buffets. 🥰🌞🥰Xxx

Actually bought msg for home cooking Chinese after following a Chinese takeaway channel on here and finding no matter what I cooked it did not taste the same, added msg and wow what a difference, excites the taste buds, so now if the other half cooks I add msg when she isn't looking LOL

HEHE you nailed it bro, Small plates

I've been to 3 Chinese buffets in my life, twice I caught food poisoning. Can't stand MSG.

We had a May Sum in Hull, but it closed down in 2012