Lin’s International Buffet in San Antonio Closing After 8-Year Run
SAN ANTONIO – One of the city’s best-known buffet spots, Lin’s International Buffet, has announced plans to close its original San Antonio location at 7915 W Loop 1604 N #125 on August 4, ending an 8-year run of serving everything from Mongolian barbecue to pho and sushi.
The closure was confirmed via a brief Facebook post by the restaurant’s management, offering no official explanation but encouraging diners to visit their newer sister restaurant: Lin’s Seafood & Sushi at 615 SW Loop 410.
A Buffet Beloved for Its Range
Since opening in 2017, Lin’s International Buffet built a strong following for its massive variety of Asian-inspired dishes. Guests regularly praised the all-you-can-eat sushi station, made-to-order Mongolian grill, and deep comfort items like crispy egg rolls and steaming bowls of pho.
The restaurant’s lavish black laminate countertops and sparkling chandeliers added a touch of flair to the otherwise casual family-dining atmosphere. For locals, it wasn’t just a buffet — it was a weekend tradition, a birthday staple, and a spot to introduce visiting family to something fun and filling.
Why It’s Closing — And What’s Next
While Lin’s management didn’t share a reason for closing, the buffet model has struggled in recent years. Industry experts have noted that buffet-style restaurants across the country have seen a steady decline since the 2010s. Changing consumer habits, rising ingredient costs, and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic pushed many similar establishments to pivot or shutter.
In this case, Lin’s appears to be shifting focus toward its newer, rebranded concept — Lin’s Seafood & Sushi — which serves a similar menu but under a more upscale seafood-forward brand.
Author’s Take: A Place That Filled More Than Plates
As someone who’s reviewed restaurants across Texas, I can confidently say Lin’s wasn’t just a buffet — it was a community fixture. The scent of sesame oil and grilled meat as you walked in, the friendly rhythm of families passing soy sauce and spring rolls — it created a rhythm familiar to anyone raised around Asian food traditions.
It’s bittersweet to see a place like this go, especially one that made the experience of trying new cuisines so approachable. You could fill your plate with sushi and lo mein, then go back for pizza and mini cheesecakes. It was chaotic, comforting, and unmistakably Texan in scale.
A Broader Shift in San Antonio’s Dining Scene
Lin’s isn’t the only buffet to feel the pressure. Asian buffets nationwide — particularly those associated with Chinese-American fare — have been closing at a high rate, according to recent reports from National Restaurant News and The New York Times.
In San Antonio, the scene is evolving fast. What was once a flat landscape for Asian cuisine has now blossomed into one with fusion pop-ups, regionally inspired dumpling houses, and even Michelin-recognized names. As Gen Z diners lean into authenticity and experience, the traditional buffet model is fighting to stay relevant.
Still, some chains like Golden Corral have seen a small resurgence, riding a wave of ‘90s nostalgia and value-focused dining amid inflation.
Have memories at Lin’s International Buffet? Share them with us and stay tuned to CityScoopNow.com for more on the changing Texas dining scene.