XIAO Essen in Essen

We've been there several times, so I can say with certainty that the quality and availability of the dishes varies greatly. Unfortunately, the quality of the "live cooking" is particularly variable... I've had absolutely inedible food several times, burnt and oversalted, and my boyfriend had the wrong food several times (ingredients he didn't choose, wrong sauce, etc.). Sometimes, however, the shrimp were great and juicy... Overall, unfortunately, it's difficult! On top of that, sometimes certain items are simply not replenished. Unfortunately, we didn't like the sushi, and it's rarely replenished. But they do have great salmon, delicious yuzu potatoes, and a very extensive salad bar. Overall, the buffet is still worth the money, especially the dessert selection is better than in most buffet restaurants (fresh fruit with warm chocolate). The ambiance is super nice, it's large and bright, the restrooms were always clean, and the service was consistently friendly.

Unfortunately, the food was absolutely terrible. The raw beef was brown in places, the fruit was hard, the sushi was dry, and the churros were just fried fat without any batter. We had very friendly service and, when asked, we said we wouldn't be back. Unfortunately, many guests today said the same thing and weren't satisfied. Maybe we were just having a bad day. But today was very disappointing. Otherwise, the ambiance was beautiful, the shop was very stylish, and the service staff were friendly.

The xiao in Essen impresses at first glance with its modern, elegant interior. The room is spacious, appears very well-maintained and stylish – an ambiance that makes you want to spend a special evening. Unfortunately, the buffet didn't quite measure up. The selection was rather limited, and the sushi was particularly disappointing: it seemed dry and tasted as if it hadn't been freshly prepared in a while. The rest of the food was also just "meh" – nothing that really impressed. In conclusion: If you're looking for a nice location, this is the place to go, but in terms of cuisine, there are much better alternatives in Essen. Perhaps a visit is worthwhile just for the drinks or the atmosphere – but for a high-quality buffet experience, I would go elsewhere.

I can only recommend it here. The waiter who served us was super friendly and the whole experience was great. The toilets are super clean and I'm very pleased that the restaurant also pays attention to food waste. My heart really opened and I hope to get there again soon!

I recently had the opportunity to eat at Xiao and was very satisfied. The food was consistently tasty and attractively presented. The atmosphere in the restaurant is pleasant and invites you to linger. A big thank you goes to our waiter Finn, who served us very attentively and friendly. His calm and professional manner made the visit even more positive. Overall, a successful evening – I would love to come back.

Mr. Otte was very nice and helpful

It's a different buffet experience. We found it very good 👍

Great atmosphere, highly recommended

Cool atmosphere, great service provided by Lawin and the team. Despite being close to the end of the day, we were still well looked after!

Super great birthday meal. Food was great 😋 😋 😋. Service was very friendly and great cleanliness. We always enjoy coming back. Thank you Martin & Silvia 😋😁😘🥂🥳🎂

It is a restaurant with good facilities. There are plenty of seats inside and outside. The food is varied and there is something for every taste. At the entrance today we were surprised that Xiao had lowered the prices. Which made us very happy. We'll be happy to come back more hungry and thanks for the plum schnapps...

Really the perfect place if you want to eat something delicious with friends or family, all the employees are really friendly and the prices are really great for such delicious food, I would like to give it more than 5 stars👍😁

A visit to Xiao is definitely always a highlight, there is something for everyone at the buffet and, above all, it is fresh and tastes really good. The atmosphere is super pleasant and makes you want to stay there again.

No, unfortunately the food wasn't good. Partly cold and very bland in taste.

I'm actually not a fan of all you can eat restaurants. But I have to say I would be pleasantly surprised. We had dinner here during the weekday evening. It was relatively empty. Because small areas are separated everywhere, you don't realize how big this restaurant is and the background noise is very pleasant. The food is very varied and there is something for every taste. Due to the fact that Asian cuisine is offered here, I find the spare ribs, the baked potatoes, etc. a bit out of place, but apart from this small exception it is very varied and well balanced. Everything is also labeled so that, for example, as a vegetarian you don't have to guess whether you can eat something or not. Unfortunately, service sometimes took a long time to arrive, but that was more due to the fact that there were few staff responsible for a large number of guests. The staff was always friendly and helpful. Overall, a very positive experience and I will definitely eat here again.

I love this restaurant, the food is delicious and sitting is fun

Nice staff, great selection of food too

Delicious food. And the service is top notch. Especially Avalanche.

Visited on the buffet basis. A very good selection of dishes, both plant-based - for vegetarians, and meat and fish. There are fruits, sweets, ice cream. From what I chose, everything was wonderfully prepared, I came back again for pieces of chicken - you just have to try it. The price is reasonable, the waitress is a nice girl who takes into account your wishes and serves quickly. I will come here more than once!

The usual buffet restaurant, eaten in a relaxed manner. Average program

Very tasty food and the service was very reliable and really nice. Especially Avalanche ☺️. Always happy to go back.

Top service. Special thanks to Lawin. Delicious food. Perfect ambience.

Great restaurant with a nice atmosphere! The food was delicious and fresh. The service was friendly and attentive especially Sabina. I'd love to come back!

The service was very good! Sabina in particular is very nice

Sabine was very nice and helped very well. Great employee. Thanks to her the food tasted better!

The food is very tasty, there is a lot of choice for a fair price. The service was very nice, especially Sabina.

Super delicious food and a very great atmosphere with wonderful staff like Sabina!!

Very awesome food. Thanks to Sabina

High-quality all-you-can-eat buffet. Small portions in bowls ensure the dishes are always fresh!

Very, very large restaurant. I don't want to say "mass processing", but it's too crowded for me. If you go out to eat in the afternoon, it's emptier. The staff does what they can, works a lot. But it is a challenge for the forces. You can also order drinks via app/QR code. Since everything is buffet style, the number of guests looked accordingly. It's a shame, because here too the service reaches its limits: refilling and cleaning. The food is varied and very tasty. Everything is beautifully presented and easy to serve. It's clear. From starters, salads, soups, a large selection of main courses, sushi, to a larger selection of desserts, everything is there. I think the prices are justified. Tables are well arranged. Clean. If it's not full, I'd love to go there again. Above all, you should be very hungry and have plenty of time to be able to eat in peace. There is only limited parking space at the restaurant. Others have to go outside, right and left on the main street. park. For free.

Great selection and very nice staff, I can only recommend it!

Mega large selection, friendly staff and very tasty food💯

It's really perfect, food is service is perfect you get a friendly welcome and aesthetically it's really very nice Sabina is above all very friendly

Great service from correct waiters Mario and Dennis.

Food and service top. Many greetings to Dennis and Mario

The XIAO restaurant impressed me with its large selection of Asian specialties. I would particularly like to highlight the great service from Mario and Dennis - they were attentive, friendly and made sure that I felt completely comfortable. The highlight of my visit was definitely the sushi. The selection was varied, the ingredients were fresh and the taste was simply excellent. I tried different varieties and every single one was a delight. Overall a great experience with delicious food and excellent service. I'd love to come back!

Dennis and Mario were very friendly service staff and were always there immediately if we had problems. I would come again and again.

I recently went to Xiao Restaurant and had a great experience! The all-you-can-eat concept offers a wide range of delicious dishes that are freshly prepared. I was particularly impressed by the red curry, which was perfectly seasoned and incredibly aromatic – definitely my highlight of the evening! A big compliment also to the service: Mario and Dennis did an excellent job. They were friendly, attentive and made sure we didn't lack for anything. Overall a great restaurant with good food and first class service. I'll definitely be back!

Very pleasant service from Dennis and Mario.

Nice welcome and waiter. Food is also well done. Mario and Dennis were the ones who made the evening very nice. Big compliments to both of them

Best service Greetings to the guests Dennis and Mario

Great restaurant with an all-you-can-eat buffet. We were there for lunch; it was very good value for money and the service was very attentive.

My wife and I were there for lunch on March 26, 2025. We received a friendly welcome and found plenty of free seats. We preferred a window seat. The drinks arrived quickly. We wanted to enjoy the buffet. Unfortunately, not all of the dishes were warm. Some bowls only contained vegetables instead of the meat listed. The variety we're used to from other buffet restaurants was also lacking. The €14.90 per person was reasonable, but the drink prices were all the higher: Coca-Cola - €14.50 per liter; draft pilsner - €12.25 per liter. These are higher prices than in other restaurants, and unfortunately, alcoholic beverages were once again favored! - We won't be visiting this restaurant again. -

Especially during the week, the buffet for €14.90 is simply unbeatable; the sushi alone is worth it. Otherwise, there's a very good selection of vegetables and meat, though I'm a bit lacking in vegan options. Otherwise, the decor is nice, the staff is friendly, and the food is very tasty.

The food doesn't taste good, try it once and no more

Dennis was very nice and deserves a lot of praise

Cool location with great decor. Food was top. Thank you Dennis for the service. Highly recommend

We were a large group of 12. We received a warm welcome from the staff, especially Dennis. The location, food, and service were excellent!

Avalanche The food tasted very good

The food was good and the decor is nice Lawin very nice

It was very tasty, thanks to Dennis Lawin

Very nicely and warmly furnished. The employees always come up to you and ask if you need anything else. Lawin was responsible for us and always helpful

It was very good, many thanks to the restaurant manager, Mr. Avalanche

The waiter named Lawin was very polite and courteous

Great reception, friendly and helpful staff, especially Mr. Dennis Lawin, who was in charge of us.

Best regards to Dennis and Lawin was very tasty

The food was below average and did not taste good, and we all had stomach aches afterwards..

Super nice atmosphere and super friendly service.

I really liked it and Mr. Lawin is also very good.

great atmosphere, great service and great food!

Very nice atmosphere, super nice staff and delicious food. Nothing more is possible.

Everything perfect. Super delicious food. Staff very friendly. I can recommend it.

Totally delicious and super nicely decorated. Dennis in particular is super nice. Lots of choice and something for everyone

It was a wonderful experience, everything worked out as expected, the food was delicious and hot, and the service was excellent. We'll be back!

Very good atmosphere! Top service, especially from Dennis.

Great service, only my iced tea tasted a bit like water and the manager Dennis was mega 👍🏻👍🏻.

Great service! We were lovingly welcomed by the aspiring manager Denis and shown to our seats. The food is varied and there is something for everyone. Definitely recommended!!

Totally delicious food, large selection and friendly service. Perfect for vegetarians too! Dennis the manager is very friendly and nice!

Pleasant atmospheric ferry and friendly service. Highly recommended. Very friendly menager Dennis

Delicious food and good service and no waiting time super load.

This is our second time eating here and we would come again and again. The food is always warm and replenished quickly. There is also plenty of parking and fast service. The manager Dennis is also very friendly and accommodating. All in all a great restaurant.

Very tasty, everything is warm, and there's a lot to choose from. The drinks are also delicious 😋 Dennis is very, very nice. The atmosphere is also very nice.

Friendly and attentive staff, wide selection of dishes, always fresh and tasty. Restaurant and sanitary facilities very clean and attractive. We'd love to come back!

The manager (Dennis) and the staff are very nice. Good food, good restaurant.

CAUTION IF YOU ORDER A COCKTAIL, YOU HAVE TO PAY AN EXTRA 50 CENTS FOR THE STRAW! My 0.4L cocktail was placed on my table without a straw for €9.90. I went to the bar, stood in front of the straws, and asked if I could have one. I was told I had to order it from the waitress. Okay. I went to one of them, and she told me they cost 50 cents. I asked if she was serious, and she just grinned and nodded. If I pay €9.90 for a cocktail, the straw has to be included. There's no extra charge. Especially with cocktails with a lot of ice, drinking without a straw is unacceptable, as you constantly have ice in your mouth and can't fully enjoy the drink. The sushi selection leaves much to be desired; even at the €24.90 dinner buffet, there was hardly any choice. Only standard sushi, like maki, nigiri, futomaki, and a few California rolls. The most exotic was the breaded sushi roll. Restaurants like Noori and Okinii are much better, even at lunchtime, with better options for less money. And the straws for the cocktails are free, too.

very friendly manager and delicious food

Never again! Drinks were brought to the table, after that no one cared about us anymore even though the place was empty, 20-25 guests where otherwise at least 300 guests could fit. Food was available for 20 minutes. After ringing the bell four times, no one felt responsible.

We were there yesterday with my friends. Everyone was totally satisfied.

Very nice waiters and great food too

The place has a nice atmosphere and the waiters are nice, the prices are fair, but the meat can be overcooked at the counter at times.

With one of the best restaurants in NRW. Great food, nice employees and the manager was also very personable.

Large selection of different dishes and everything was very tasty. Nice service and staff. Were served today by Dennis and Finn. Always highly recommended and fair prices.

Good food, very nice and courteous service. Gladly again!

I've been there and can only recommend it! The staff are great, and the food is always perfect. A big compliment to Denis, the employee, because he treated us so kindly. A truly great shop!

The food today was great, it was very tasty and there was a delicious selection of sushi and noodles. Big praise to Denis because wheat made us happy and treated us well. Denis👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

The food is great, you have everything you want. It tastes really good. There's something for everyone. The atmosphere is also really good. The restaurant is nice and the staff is always friendly and hard-working. :)

Food was great but drinks were a complete nightmare everything tasted like water or had no carbonation even the homemade drinks tasted like nothing

A truly fantastic buffet restaurant! The ambiance is very appealing, and the selection is diverse. The quality of the dishes is impressive, and the drinks are always refilled quickly and freshly. Particularly noteworthy is the friendly and attentive staff, who create a pleasant atmosphere. The value for money is also excellent. We'd be happy to come back!

Very friendly staff. You can also order at the table using a QR code - very advanced☺️ Price was 19.90 at the buffet on Saturday, very fair. The quality of the food is consistently very good, but of course I wasn't able to try everything. The sushi is particularly good. All in all it was a very nice stay, I'll be back soon 😄

I think the service here is great. The employees are friendly and work quickly, the food was very tasty. There was a lot to choose from 🥰

Very nice atmosphere, very nice staff and the food here is also great👍🏼 I'll definitely be back ☺️

The line of restaurants is very different to me, tanto en food, ambience, decoration, etc. The only time I was sharing it was that it was reserved until 7 p.m. and the kitchen was open for a period of 2 or 3 hours, but it was also available for 1 hour. I find the Xiao restaurant series wonderful, both in terms of food, atmosphere, decoration, etc. The only thing that seemed bad to me was that even though we had booked for 7pm and taking into account the fact that the kitchen closed two or three hours later, we had to wait about an hour to get in.

There was a large selection of food and everything tasted great. The waitresses are very polite and the manager Dennis is particularly nice. We're already looking forward to the next time

The food was very tasty and there was a large selection of different dishes. The drinks also tasted good and were offered at reasonable prices. The manager Dennis welcomed us very friendly. The service was really friendly and we felt very comfortable. We are already looking forward to the next time.

The place, food and treatment are very bad🤮

The food tastes good, the service is very friendly. It's nice to sit outside when the weather is nice. It's already set up. The waitresses are also very friendly.

Very good food, very friendly staff.

The buffet was high quality and not overloaded. Not all the “classics” of an Asian restaurant are all you can eat, but there is taste and a lot of it is handmade. With the fresh grill, however, I was missing a little more classic. I don't want a kangaroo, I'd like to use some beef or lamb. The fish was great. We'd love to come back!

That was our first visit to Essener Xiao. But I have already been to many other locations, so I know the concept and the dishes on offer very well. The atmosphere is pleasant like everywhere else, the service was very friendly. Unfortunately I have to say that the food was really too bland for me. Not well seasoned, the noodles had hardly any taste, the curry rice in other xiaos is spicy to spicy, which I really like - unfortunately it's also very bland here. The nuggets, on the other hand, were too salty for my son, but my daughter liked them. My children absolutely loved the desserts, and my daughter particularly liked the mango sorbet.

Huong in the bar was awesome! Great cocktails