Chicken Wings at Milpitas Buffet: The Sleeper Favourite

Buffet wings have a reputation, and it is not a good one. They dry out under heat lamps, they go soft, and they usually exist to fill space. The wings here run against that, to the point where reviewers regularly say the wings were the best thing they ate, ahead of the crab legs they came for.

What turns up on the tray

Two versions appear regularly. Plain fried wings are the constant: seasoned, crisp, and served hot. Buffalo wings show up depending on the shift, and they are the version guests get most enthusiastic about. Occasionally a BBQ or otherwise seasoned batch appears during dinner service.

Why they hold up

Popularity is doing most of the work. Wings disappear fast, so the tray gets refilled often, and a tray that turns over every few minutes never gets a chance to dry out. The same thing that makes the wings hard to reach at 6:30 PM is what keeps them good.

What diners say

Diners tend to compare these wings to table-service restaurants rather than to other buffets, which is unusual praise for a buffet item. Buffalo wings in particular draw the strongest reactions, and what people mention is seasoning and crispness rather than quantity. More than one regular has joked about getting their money's worth from wings alone.

Building the plate

• Chow mein, which is the pairing regulars settle on most often. Crisp against soft noodles.
• Fried rice or french fries for a straightforward comfort plate.
• Crab legs, if you want one hot item on a seafood-heavy plate.
• Honey walnut prawns, for a sweet contrast against the salt.

Worth trying

If you are coming for seafood, put two wings on your first plate anyway. If they are good that day, the rest of the hot line usually is too, and plenty of guests end up going back for more of them than they planned. For the best time to find fresh trays, see the Milpitas Buffet hours guide.