Paradise Buffet on Central Avenue is not trying to be a date-night tasting menu. It is a family command center: long tables, kids negotiating drumsticks, adults debating whether round two should be crab legs or hibachi. If you treat it like a restaurant with a single "chef's choice," you will eat too much starch and miss the reason people drive from across the Inland Empire.
Arrive with a plate plan
Weeknights (Mon–Thu, 11am–9pm) are your friend if you want shorter waits at the carving stations. Weekends open earlier (10:30am) and run later — perfect for multi-generational crews, but the room fills fast after church and youth sports.
Start with protein you cannot replicate at home: seafood on the line when it is fresh, hibachi vegetables with a light sauce, and a pass by the dim sum cart before it turns the corner. Save the filler carbs for last — your future self will thank you.
What regulars actually prioritize
The reviews that keep Paradise in the conversation mention crab legs when available, the hibachi grill, and the dim sum rotation — not the Jell-O. That is the local signal: this is a volume + variety buffet, and the win is sampling widely without treating every tray equally.
Practical tips from the parking lot
- Call ahead on busy holidays: (909) 626-8967
- Bring patience for the family combo traffic — it is priced for groups for a reason
- Hydrate; buffet heat is real in Montclair afternoons
When you are ready to compare hours and what is on the line tonight, start on the home page and menu highlights — then visit in person and build your own "regular" rotation.