Takeaway buffet smorgasbord is great value for money. Reasonably priced with a broad selection of dishes available and everything was delicious! Staff were friendly enough (it was a short exchange so I can't really review too much here). I'd definitely go back again.

On the streets between the alcoholics and kids begging for change, the door to Canton Restaurant slides open. A small foyer wallpapered with'specials' is lit by a neon blue fly trap. A teenage counter girl greets you in broken English. A man in gang colours waits. A hastily scrawled sign declares the bathrooms are locked for the hours that schools finish for the day. Who could guess what prompted that decision?

To the side of the takeaway counter is seating for forty. Broken tables are replaced with what's available. Nothing matches and it doesn't matter. If you want to taste the delicacies of Guangzhou call your travel agent. This is Kiwi-Chinese takeout at its best.

It was half five and if you've been up for four hours and sober for less, this is where you come to get yourself right. We paid $16.80 for the buffet. Lifesaving coke was extra. We took our seats and watched.

The poor and downtrodden streamed through filling up containers from the buffet. At least 6 staff rotated through the presses; topping up the popular dishes, cleaning up after the masses. Maybe it's taste, maybe it's price, but no sooner has it left the wok and it's gone. Endlessly fresh dinner.

Dessert however? Forget the stopwatch, grab a calendar. Yesterday had someone stood where I stand, thinking the same thing about the same Pavlova?

I grabbed morsel of chicken to toss to the dog sleeping on the wino outside. He deserves it more than me.

Rationaut rating: 4.5 servings more than you needed out of 5. Recommended anytime you want to ruin your diet with sweet-n-sour sauce.