The name on the signage points to King Buffet, a Texas-based buffet chain with an existing presence in San Antonio known for its expansive Asian cuisine offerings and Mongolian grill stations.
The signs appeared outside a Hyundai car dealership along I-35, where state records suggest the site is slated for a full conversion into a restaurant space. Now that familiar stretch of I-35 in New Braunfels could soon trade car rows for buffet lines. But, as of May 27, vehicles were still parked on the lot, with no visible signs of active construction beyond the newly posted signage.
While the branding is new to New Braunfels drivers, construction filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) tied to the project date back to January. The filing outlines a $950,000 renovation to transform the roughly 10,666-square-foot dealership into a restaurant.
The scope of work lists a full remodel of the existing car dealership into a new dining concept, funded through private investment on private land. The project was slated to begin on March 15, with completion expected by December 15. As with all TDLR project filings, timelines and details remain subject to change without notice.
When completed, the New Braunfels location will bring a high-capacity buffet concept built around a mix of Northern and Southern Asian cuisine. The brand’s existing model includes a wide buffet lineup featuring staples such as lo mein, General Tso’s chicken, egg rolls, crab rangoons, soups and seafood options, along with a Mongolian grill option.
King Buffet emphasizes large-scale preparation while aiming to maintain consistent flavor and variety, combining quick-service buffet dining with made-to-order grill options. The San Antonio-based locations have built a steady customer base around that format, offering lunch and dinner buffet pricing that typically ranges from the mid-teens to under $20 depending on the day and time, according to its website.
It’s important to note that the Texas-based chain is not affiliated with similarly named buffet restaurants in other parts of the country.
New Braunfels residents and commuters must wait a bit longer for the potential addition of a high-volume buffet chain along one of the most heavily traveled highways in Texas. For now, the only visible sign of what’s to come is a banner on a dealership lot and a filing that could reshape yet another space of Central Texas’ I-35 landscape.
Find it: 485 N. Business I-35, New Braunfels, TX 78130