'Amazing Asia' Thai and Indian buffet restaurant 2024 review

Thai and Indian buffet restaurant Amazing Asia has been named Hereford's number one restaurant on reviews website Tripadvisor, beating off stiff competition from around the rest of the city.

Just a few of Amazing Asia's extensive array of curries (Image: Cameron Thornton)

The restaurant is set in the former Prezzo unit at the Old Market development in Hereford, and opened its doors in 2021. The unit had previously sat empty since 2018 after the chain's owner announced closures across the country.

Amazing Asia promised at the time of its opening that it would be the "first of its kind" in the city. 

There are plenty of delicious dishes. (Image: Cameron Thornton)

"Our promise is to give customers a visit they will certainly not forget," they said.

"With the bright shimmering lights, a spectrum of colours, and the most welcoming smiles from the team - your visit will be above and beyond any expectations.

"We have added the rich beliefs, culture and history of Thailand and South Asia to create an experience with an authentic ambience."

One of the two curries we tried was a rich, creamy butter chicken (Image: Cameron Thornton)

It is not the first time that we have visited this relative newcomer to the Old Market. Back in 2023, Bridie Adams and her partner visited the buffet restaurant that had at the time beaten every other Hereford catering competitor on Tripadvisor’s list of the best.

With the buffet upholding the title in 2024 and with just over 92 per cent of their reviews being five stars, Bridie and I thought it was definitely time to return to see if the buffet still lived up to expectations.

Many chicken dishes were available at the restaurant (Image: Cameron Thornton)

We were immediately greeted with a very warm welcome from the buffet’s owner Abaden Joynal and were shown to the restaurant's fantastically futuristic raised seating area.

The modern décor of the restaurant was as impressive in scale as the 70 wide-ranging dishes which we could choose from for a modest, fixed price of £18.95 each.

Feeling very hungry, we headed to the buffet first.

We started with the beef chow mein and worked our way around (Image: Cameron Thornton)

We were both immediately struck by the sheer number of gleaming, silver serving stations there were, full of deliciously flavourful food. So many choices! We decided to sample a small portion of many dishes, with the beauty of a buffet being the ability to have more of the things you liked the best should you wish.

The dishes we tried included chicken satay skewers, curries and onion bhajis, alongside a selection of curries.

The chicken satays were a real treat! (Image: Cameron Thornton)

The onion bhajis are fantastically crispy (Image: Cameron Thornton)

After stocking up on a little of anything we fancied, we headed back to our table and enjoyed the many sumptuous flavours the buffet has on offer, leaving room for a tiny bit more of our favourite dish afterwards – the Thai sizzling chicken.

I was very happy with my plate of lovely food! (Image: Bridie Adams)

Many TripAdvisor reviews raved about the sizzling dish, and it didn't disappoint! Bridie complimented its salty, sweet chilli flavour and how its delicious stickiness still retained a crispiness.

The AMAZING Thai sizzling chicken. Yum! (Image: Cameron Thornton)

My colleague Bridie, having visited before, was impressed by the new items on the menu.

Her favourite buffet items, aside from the Thai sizzling chicken, were the satay chicken skewers and tempura prawns, but both of the curries we sampled, a butter chicken and a tikka masala, were also declared delicious.

The beautiful, battered tempura king prawns. (Image: Cameron Thornton)

The new chocolate fountain was also a hit with Bridie, with marshmallows, strawberries and watermelon among the items available to dip into the chocolate.

"If you go to Amazing Asia, definitely make sure you leave enough room for pudding because the melted chocolate is a yummy way to end a great meal," Bridie recommends!

Chocolate fountains and marshmallows are a match made in Heaven! (Image: Cameron Thornton)

Amazing Asia is open seven days a week from noon, with lunch buffet costing £14.95 for adults Monday to Friday and £16.95 on Saturday and Sunday. Children under 10 can eat for £9.95.

The dinner buffet is priced at £18.95 per adult Monday to Friday, £19.95 on Saturday, and £17.95 on Sunday. Children under 10 can eat for £12.95.