Chinese buffets are definitely often more miss than hit. There's one up in Maryland near where my grandparents lived that was consistently fantastic, but every other one I've ever eaten at has been hit or miss - sometimes they're pretty good, other times they're awful and I have a stomach ache afterwards.
There's a place (not a buffet) at the end of the street where I work that has amazing Chinese food though, and the prices are insane. Less than $5 for a lunch special with entree, fried rice, and egg roll.