A large “Empire Buffet Coming Soon” banner has gone up at the former Tang Asian Cuisine restaurant at Audubon Crossings in Audubon, New Jersey. Work was underway at the property by Sept. 14, according to local reporting, but the new restaurant’s operator, menu, pricing and opening date have not yet been announced.
The roughly 10,300-square-foot freestanding building was originally developed for Golden Corral, which ultimately closed around 2015 after an earlier closure and reopening. The space then sat vacant for years before Tang was announced in 2022, renovated through 2023 and opened in February 2024.
Tang returned the building to buffet service with an all-you-can-eat lineup that included Chinese dishes, sushi, hibachi, ramen, seafood, desserts and some American buffet staples. Opening coverage placed weekday lunch at $15.99 and dinner at $22.99. Its Audubon run lasted about two and a half years; Tang continues to operate separately in Vineland.
Empire’s exact format is still the part that has not come into focus. The name confirms another buffet, but no reliable source has yet established whether the menu will be Asian, American, seafood-focused or something broader. There is also no documented connection so far between the Audubon project and other restaurants elsewhere using the Empire Buffet name.
What is clear is that the building will remain in the abundance business. Golden Corral gave way to Tang, and Empire is now preparing to become the third buffet identity in the same purpose-built shell. For a building that has spent so much of its restaurant life organized around steam tables, it is nice to see the all-you-can-eat tradition continue.
