Take On Me: Take 5's Scandinavian Food at World City

When I was in primary school, my teacher gave me a mantra to help improve my handwriting: "Quality over quantity." I can see his point, but clearly his slogan doesn't account for the existence of lunch buffets like Take 5.

There's an inherent loss in quality that comes with most buffets, especially when chafing dishes are involved, but any downsides are meant to be offset by the right to (almost) unlimited eating.

Take 5's oddly international lunch buffet doesn't win out on quality, but at RMB 60, it doesn't have to. I went on a Wednesday, when they trot out a simple taco bar. The taste was reminiscent of taco nights my family used to have when my mom had to work late. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though I should probably add that it's not necessarily a good thing either.

The main cuisine, if there is such a one, at Take 5 is Scandinavian, and it can be had at the lunch buffet on Thursdays. The buffet also includes pizza, soup, salad and some other food. The pizza was passable, but not noteworthy.

I did try the Swedish meatballs (RMB 85) off the a la carte menu and was happy with the set. The meat was peppery, though it was also kind of rubbery. The mashed potatoes were beautiful with their cloud-like consistency. You'll also get gravy, lingonberries, beet and pickles, so you can work your way around the plate's savory, sweet and sour flavors.

Of course, like any good Beijinger, it's my duty to compare it to Ikea's version. Take 5's balls taste better than Ikea's, but they do cost a pretty penny more. I did manage to get two meals out of one order, though I wasn't stuffed either time.

Take 5
Daily 10am-11pm. Bldg 8, World City, 8-9 Jinhui Lu, Chaoyang District (8590 7327)
朝阳区金汇路8-9号世界城商业街8号楼

Photo: Josh Ong