Happy Birthday Lin's Super Buffet.

"Thanks to our customers, we have been open for five years, 365 days a year," said Tony Lin, owner and proprietor of the Tarboro restaurant at 1406 Western Blvd. "Business has been very good."

Opened in November 2004, Lin's Super Buffet has been a popular eatery in Tarboro, known for it's quality food, good service and the variety of menu items on the buffet.

"Tony has been such a huge asset to Tarboro," said Freddie West of Tarboro, one of Lin's loyal customers and friend. "It's well-known through Eastern North Carolina as one of the best restaurants with one of the buffets around.

“Tony holds the standard here to only the very highest.”

Lin's is open seven-days-a-week and has six buffet stations that serve Chinese, Japanese and American dishes, as well as a variety of desserts from ice cream to fresh fruit.

"We have more than 100 items on out buffet everyday," said Lin.

"A lot of the time Tony will add things to the buffet for customers," added West. "He is one of the few places that serve frog legs.

"And I get some every time I am here."

Lin’s also offers call-in orders and take-out from the buffet as well.

Lin, 42, came to the United States from China in 1991 with his brother and sister. They landed in New York, where he lived and worked for his first three years in the country. Lin moved to Tarboro in 1994.

"Everyone kept telling me that the people in North Carolina are much friendlier than in New York," said Lin. "So I came here to Tarboro.

“The people here are great and I love living here.”

Lin has been married for 15 years to his wife Chen Jincha. The couple have three sons, Eric, Richard and Christopher.

After running the China 8 restaurant for more than eight years, Lin opened Lin's Super Buffet in 2004.

The 10,000 square foot area can seat around 300. The restaurant's tables and chairs were imported from China and the tables all have a different design painted on their surfaces.

Lin also added a private party room several years ago that can seat about 100. The new addition has been put into use for birthday parties, church parties and business meetings.

Starting today, Lin’s is offering a special for his customers which includes:

• With two adults, one child under 10 eats free.

• With three adults, one adult eats for half price.

• With five adults, one adult eats free.

“This will start today and go until whenever,” said Lin. “We will see how well it goes.

“I might keep it going for the rest of the year.”