+++++OUR HISTORY+++++

While working in California, Sam Shim went out to eat at many restaurants, especially buffet restaurants. He noticed that one buffet restaurant, specializing in Chinese, Japanese, & Korean cuisines, had consistently a long line out the door.He had a hunch. Wouldn’t it be great to bring a buffet restaurant specializing Chinese, Japanese, & Korean cuisines to Austin?

With his pride and name on the line, Sam Shim decided to open Austin’s first Chinese, Japanese, & Korean buffet restaurant in late 1991. After scouting for locations, he finally opened a very first Buffet Palace in June of 1992 at Sunset Valley Shopping Center, located at Brodie Lane. It was a tiny store of only 2000 sq. ft., but Sam Shim’s attention to details and perseverance led Buffet Palace to its success. The original Buffet Palace was unique from other restaurants for following reasons:

First, it served more than 90 items of hot foods, salads, soups, sushis, & desserts, chosen best from Japanese, Korean, & Chinese cuisines.
Second, it was able to serve fresh meal to our customers by preparing every dish from scratch.
Third, it has always regarded its customers as dear friends and family members.
Fourth, as a buffet restaurant, we were able to reduce the waiting time and could serve our customers with a great efficiency.

Due to the limited space of the original restaurant, the place consistently had a long line out the door, and the need for a larger space was a necessity. Hence, after three years, the second Buffet Palace opened in November of 1995 at the intersection of Highway 183/Anderson Ln. and Lamar Blvd. Even though many expressed their concerns about the location, the restaurant, with its quality dishes and outstanding service, was able to pack in soon after it opened its doors.


	Although Sam Shim opened a branch at North Austin, customers from the fast growing Round Rock pointed out that it was still too far to visit the North Austin restaurant. With a desire to open another, a new branch at Round Rock opened in May of 1998 at the northeast intersection of IH-35 and 1325, next to Wal-Mart and in front of Home Depot. Excited Round Rock residents soon started packing in.

Since closing of the original restaurant due to lease problems, customers were counting days for the return to South Austin. Sam Shim purchased and started renovating an old movie theater near the original Buffet Palace and across the street from Westgate 11 Theater. In May of 2002, Buffet Palace opened its doors to South Austin. At more than five times the original restaurant, the new restaurant was nothing like any other buffet restaurants. With its award winning design and decor, excellent service, and ever-expanding buffet, the new restaurant was a resounding success.

At customers’ requests, Buffet Palace once again plans to open another restaurant, this time, in Killeen, Texas in March of 2004. This is the first time Buffet Palace has ventured into an unfamiliar territory. About 75 miles north of Austin, Texas, Killeen is a growing city with Fort Hood, the largest army base in the world, nearby. Even with many unknowns, new Buffet Palace will be a hit in the making. We are continually looking for more locations. We are reviewing for possible locations in Cedar Park and San Marcos. Eventually we would like to serve customers in San Antonio, Dallas/Fort Worth, & Houston metro areas.