New restaurant opening on Skyland

A new Chinese restaurant will open soon along Skyland Boulevard, a move one Tuscaloosa council member hopes will bring more business to that part of town.

Asuka Buffet is set to open in the former Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen building before the end of the month. Cheddar’s closed in September 2016 after three years, leaving the space vacant ever since.

The buffet, which will feature an array of both Chinese and Japanese cuisine, is owned by Zhao Wang, whose family previously ran the former Grand Buffet on McFarland Boulevard for 10 years until it closed in November 2017.

Nina Wang, Zhao’s daughter who is both a translator for the family and an employee of the restaurant, said the family took a trip to their native China after closing the restaurant to get a sense of the culinary scene there. The Wangs are originally from Suzhou, located west of Shanghai, and have lived in Tuscaloosa for more than 20 years.

"They had been in America for so long and wanted to see new trends in China and put all that into what they are planning to open," Wang said.

Wang said what sets Asuka apart from the family’s former business is that it will offer more traditional Chinese dishes in addition to buffet selections. The menu will feature both a lunch and dinner buffet with more than 300 items, including sushi.

In addition to different types of food, Asuka will also have a different look from Grand Buffet.

"Usually, when you go to a buffet, you just see the buffet," Wang said. "They are trying to make the table look a little different than the normal table."

Wang said that eventually, the restaurant will start offering other international cuisine to the menu, such as Mexican food.

Sonya McKinstry, a Tuscaloosa council member whose district includes Asuka, said she is excited about the business coming to Skyland.

"I’m glad to see something come into that space," McKinstry said. "It’s always been a beautiful building."

Over the years, many businesses have left the Skyland Boulevard area. Asuka is close to the near-vacant McFarland Mall, which has dwindled over the years to the point that Dollar Tree is now the last major tenant there.

McKinstry said she is working to find a way to convince the council to buy the mall and its properties from owner and developer Stan Pate.

"I’m just hoping I have enough support to recognize what me and my community sees," she said. "We need to revitalize the area."

The councilwoman hopes Asuka moving to Skyland will be a step in that direction.

"I think it shows others that this is a hot spot and this is an amazing place you want to locate," she said. "It has brought something new to the community, and I want to support them any way that I can."

Lunch buffet prices will start at $8.69 while dinner buffets are priced at $11.25. There will also be a special seafood buffet offered all day on Sundays for $11.99. The restaurant will be open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

More information can be found on the restaurant's Instagram page.

Reach Drew Taylor at drew.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.