Description

Western grocer and bakery featuring restaurant with nightly salad bar, closed Sundays

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Last updated by Yereth,
Wicker Basket (Kaiyuan) • Kaiyuan Residential Area, Bldg 11, 1-4

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Reviews

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By

Not quite what you'd call a jumping place, but not bad at all for rather standard US-type meals, not overly expensive, and with a really good salad bar that's cheap, or free with most dinner dishes after 5:30PM. You can get a bottle of beer or even wine if you really want to, but I've never seen anybody do it - maybe that's just to take out. Chinese Christian run, and they hire people with physical disadvantages, who are pleasant and helpful. Frequented by foreign (mostly North American) Christians and Chinese Christians - was started by a Canadian couple associated with Bless China (previously, Project Grace), who are no longer here, but no religious pressure or any of that. Steaks are nothing special, and I avoid the Korean dishes, which I've had a few times but which did not impress me.

As a shop and bakery, it's very good bread at reasonable prices, of various kinds (Y18 for a good multigrain loaf that certainly weighs well over a pound. Other stuff too, like granola and oatmeal that is local, as well as imported things, including American cornflakes and so forth, which some people seem to require.

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By

The 28rmb salad bar buffet is the best meal to be had in Kunming for that price. Killer onion rings as part of that salad bar! Starts at 5pm Mon-Sat. They don't restock a dish if it runs out, but it's rarely an issue because there are so many others and no dish runs out unless you show up past 7'ish on a fri or sat.

Their steaks are Chinese steaks, and not a Western level of cut of meat, but the Korean dishes are excellent.

The only reason it's 4 and not 5 stars, is I live far away, and maybe the quality of the steak. Of course it was only 50rmb for a steak, potatoes, and a salad bar buffet included.

Oh yes, the staff are really nice, but it's not fine dining, so they don't rush to take your order or bring out water. The place is more relaxed, so give'em a hollar or just grab a menu and some silverware yourself.

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By

I'm a big fan of Wicker Basket's salad bar. It's a great deal, whether paired with an entree or by itself. The potato salad and spinach salad and broccoli bacon salads are particularly good.

Most of the entrees may not be the most gourmet in the world (several things seem to be stored in the freezer) but they are decent and reasonably priced.

A huge variety of baked goods to choose from, with excellent cookies and granola and bagels.

My only complaint is the elevator music. They could definitely spice the atmosphere up with more interesting music.

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By

I know this place very well.

Here is the breakdown.

PROS:
Super friendly, sincere, staff who do care about you.

Good greasy spoon breakfast for the masochistic.

Best salad in Kunming.

Reasonably priced lunches.

Nice selection for Korean food.

Some nice fish, steak, etc.
They have decaf coffee, if you feel like a very late coffee.

Friendly atmosphere and lots of natural light.

CONS

Sandwiches are mostly bread, white bread, with little inside.

Almost every beef dish is murdered by excessive cumin.

Deserts are too sweet, heavy, and not well made.

Pizza, breakfast sausage, enchiladas and burgers are all pretty nasty. Not so good.

Dry environment is a bit plain and they often play music such as Air Supply type stuff, that can be really annoying.

The waiters, are a bit incompetent and don't realy know it. They always forget something. You just have to remind them, and everything will be ok, but still...

Conclusion: I would only go out of my way to eat here for the salad bar at dinner time-very good! Otherwise, I would come here often if I lived nearby. If not living nearby, and not a salad person, it would be an ok place to eat, but not a must.