New Mongolian BBQ place in Cary

David S. wrote:

>But has anyone tried it yet?

Yes!  It was very good...  In short:  Highly recommended!

Restaurant:
Main Garden, on Kildaire near Cary Parkway.  They have been there already, but have very recently added a Mongolian BBQ stove to their buffet.

Comments:
The MBBQ chef doesn't speak a lick of English, so we had a very minor communications problem.  Fortunately, I pretty much knew which of the spices I wanted (I think), but it will take me a while before I know how much of each I want.  BH (Bali Hai) did all this for you, while at MG (Main Garden) you put the spices on yourself.  I'm sure I'll be trying different combinations of things each time I go...

They had sliced beef and pork, turkey (in triangles, like BH, but sliced thick), but they also had chicken (unlike BH).  And their meat was not frozen.  On the other hand, their selection of vegetables is not as great as BH, but they had the basics.

Turn-around time is a few minutes, but there wasn't a line at the stove.  I would say that roughly only a 1/4th of the people at MG were trying the MBBQ.  That will probably increase as people become more familiar with it.

Most of the trouble people were having was which and how much of the spices to use.  There are about 8 little tubs with different colored liquids, some thick, some not.  Someone pointed out which ones were the hot ones, and I went with those.  And don't forget the curry...

While I was waiting, I had some soup, which BH no longer does (hasn't for a couple of years now).  I looked over the other items at the buffet, but I loaded up on BBQ.  But it is your standard Chinese buffet.

The price of the buffet (which includes the MBBQ) was a little under $9, while it is about $8 at BH (two bowls).  The service was good and quick, and my glass of tea was never empty (very important with me).

I will be going back--often.

Which is better?  MG (Main Garden) or BH?  MG has soup and the rest of the buffet, just in case there is someone in your crowd that doesn't like/want MBBQ.  MG also has a nicer decor (it is in Cary...)  BH has the more experienced chef, which makes it easier to get the food to where you want it with heat and spiciness.  And BH has the larger selection of vegetables.

BH would have had an edge, because they used to allow you box whatever you couldn't eat.  Now they have a policy where you can no longer do that. So MG and BH are similar in that respect now.