News & Trending Shopping & Deals News

13 Chain All-You-Can-Eat Buffets Where Your Meal Practically Pays for Itself

Check out these 13 all-you-can-eat buffets to enjoy great food without breaking the bank.

Chinese buffet restaurant
Updated April 30, 2025
Fact checked

Dining out has become more challenging as inflation forces consumers to tighten their purse strings and eliminate discretionary spending. Buffet restaurants have been hit extra hard, with many closing their doors since the pandemic.

So what are consumers who want to go out to eat more supposed to do? Luckily, they can still indulge without worrying about breaking the bank with these 15 all-you-can-eat buffet options.

Earn $200 cash rewards bonus with this incredible card

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing bonus and benefits. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees) has no annual fee and you can earn $200 after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

The Active Cash Card puts cash back into your wallet. Cardholders can earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases — easy! That's one of the best cash rewards options available.

This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (then 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable). Which is great for someone who wants a break from high interest rates, while still earning rewards.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now.

Golden Corral

Brett/Adobe golden corral buffet in houston texas

Golden Corral is synonymous with the American buffet experience and is known for offering a great value for the price. Perhaps, more importantly, it gives diners the choice of picking their favorite eats.

Each Golden Corral location offers a wide variety of customized meals. Combine that with quality ingredients cooked simply, and you have a winner. The best part? It costs less than $20 per person.

Sizzler

Adriana/Adobe sizzlers steak house front

Sizzler has weathered many storms during its existence. These days, the once ubiquitous chain buffet only maintains a presence in the Western U.S.

If you live on the West Coast, you can treat yourself to a hot plate chock-full of grilled meat or seafood and all the sides you enjoy at affordable prices, including their once-famous salad bar.

Ponderosa Steakhouse

JHVEPhoto/Adobe Ponderosa Steakhouse billboard Pearland texas

Ponderosa Steakhouse, also known as Bonanza in certain areas, hasn't aged well since the 1990s, and many locations are now closed.

Still, you can visit some of the existing 20 locations in the Midwest and on the East Coast to enjoy a steak (ordered separately) and a buffet that offers hungry visitors everything from sides to dessert.

Stop overpaying when you shop online

Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.

Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.

Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!1

Get Capital One Shopping now

America's Incredible Pizza Company

Cavan/Adobe Homemade pizza breaksticks on table

America's Incredible Pizza Company doubles as a game complex, which makes it the perfect spot for kids who love their pizza. Adults who enjoy affordable buffet-style meals like hot dogs, pasta, and tacos can also join in the fun.

For $25, you can enjoy the buffet and get game credits, making for an affordable and entertaining night out.

Pizza Ranch

wolterke/Adobe pizza ranch exterior and sign

This Midwest chain serves all-you-can-eat pizza, but also favorites like fried chicken with all the sides you can think of.

Lunch and evening pricing are affordable enough at under $20 per person, and the quality of the fried chicken and sides makes the all-in price worth it.

Captain George's Seafood Restaurant

toyechkina/Adobe breakfast buffet concept

Captain George's doesn't welcome diners with pizza, hot dogs, or fried chicken. Instead, this buffet chain makes a splash with plump shrimp, oysters, and crab legs.

While this translates to shelling out more cash for your meal, it's worth it. The $50 price tag for the likes of oysters Rockefeller at Captain George's is a steal compared to how much they'd go for at a high-end venue.

Fogo de Chao

Kristina Blokhin/Adobe fogo de chao brazilian steakhouse

Back in the day, people didn't go to buffet chains for the best steaks. Yet, Fogo de Chao delights customers with delicious Brazilian barbecue, especially melt-in-your-mouth cuts like picanha.

This restaurant complements the delicious meats—the mainstay of the Brazilian barbecue experience—with a full salad bar. The catch? You'll need to dig a bit deeper in your pockets to gain access to both. For $60 per person, you'll enjoy a meat feast fit for a king. That's still far less than what you'd pay in a high-end steakhouse.

Shopping pro tip: This month's best deals

methaphum/Adobe person holding a wallet

May brings both warmer weather and major sales with the combo of Mother's Day (May 11) and Memorial Day (May 26). Here are some of the best deals to watch for:

  • Mattresses, furniture, and large appliances
  • Spring clothing clearance
  • Garden plants and outdoor furniture
  • For grocery savings, consider seasonal produce like strawberries, artichokes, and cherries.

Retailers are already prepping for summer while you're just enjoying spring, making May perfect to save money at your favorite retailers.

Shady Maple Smorgasbord

Denis Martynov/Adobe delicious buffet in main restaurant

Shady Maple is the largest buffet in the U.S. Besides the restaurant, this Pennsylvania institution includes a gift shop, a convention space, and a farm shop.

Here's a pro tip: the Shady Maple Smorgasbord costs less if you visit at breakfast and lunchtime. If you're sick of limited options at other buffets and want to try some Pennsylvania favorites like scrapple and mush, Shady Maple is the place for you.

Earn money online by taking surveys

$55,000 might sound crazy … but with a company called Survey Junkie, it’s possible to get your share of it every day by taking their surveys in your extra time.

Follow these simple steps to start earning:

  1. Sign up for an account with Survey Junkie here.
  2. Take surveys.
  3. Repeat daily and get paid for sharing your opinion!

P.S.: You can cash out with as little as $5 through PayPal or bank transfer, or transfer to gift cards from a number of stores.

Get your share of $55,000 daily by signing up here

Sushi Palace

Ezume Images/Adobe sushi buffet platter

Sushi Palace is the go-to buffet for sushi lovers in New Jersey. All four locations of this chain offer fresh, made-to-order sushi and sashimi for the affordable price of less than $35 per person.

Sushi Palace is a far cry from the buffets of old with their hot plates and reheated food, and has enough offerings to satisfy even the most discerning palates.


HuHot Mongolian Grill

homank76/Adobe sign of business

Unlike your run-of-the-mill buffet chains, HuHot Mongolian Grill doesn't serve all-you-can-eat ready meals. This restaurant offers visitors a selection of meat, vegetables, and noodles they stir-fry for you right then and there for a custom dish.

Since each meal is cooked from scratch, HuHot is worth its price in gold. More importantly, customers rave about the quality of the ingredients, the generous portions and how tasty their stir-fries turn out.

Mount Everest India's Cuisine

Alex Hubenov/Adobe Vegetable curry

Hungry for Indian food? Mount Everest India's Cuisine has you covered when you're in Las Vegas, regardless of whether you're looking for lunch or dinner.

Like many other Indian restaurants, this eatery is vegetarian-friendly and offers delicious AYCE Indian and Nepalese food like chicken momo and mango lassi based on traditional recipes. Better yet, Mount Everest India's Cuisine is affordable in a city that is anything but.

Quick tips: How to save on your grocery bill

Arnell Koegelenberg/peopleimages.com/Adobe woman using smartphone at grocery store

Grocery shopping doesn't have to break the bank when you use the right strategies. Here are three quick tips for reducing food expenses:

  • Buy store brands instead of name brands whenever possible.
  • Always make sure to compare unit prices, not just sticker prices.
  • Join your store's loyalty program so you don’t miss out on member discounts.

Even though something like choosing coupons in your grocery store app can feel like an annoying task, the savings can really add up.

Cast Iron Pot

AuthorLinyt/Adobe korean grilled bbq combo sets

If you live in New York or New Jersey, head to Cast Iron Pot for mouth-watering Korean barbecue at affordable prices. Hit up their all-you-can-eat lunch buffet to eat your fill of galbi, bulgogi, Korean side dishes, soups, and more.

With an affordable price of less than $30 per person, you'll leave full and satiated.

Gasthof Amish Village

.shock/Adobe buffet food

This incredible Amish buffet, which also doubles as a bakery and farm store, offers AYCE freshly cooked food, bread, homemade pies, and jam for both lunch and dinner. Gasthof Amish Village may not be a chain, but it's an institution—and an affordable one at that. Lunch and dinner prices are under $20 per person.

Besides enjoying dishes like hand-battered chicken and fresh greens, you'll also be able to pick up some delicious Amish creations to enjoy at home after you visit this Montgomery, Indiana, gem.

Bottom line

cherryandbees/Adobe man making payment with smartphone in restaurant

Many well-known all-you-can-eat buffets have closed their doors in recent years, but plenty of budget-friendly options are still serving up bottomless plates across the country. If you're looking to enjoy a hearty meal without overspending, these buffet restaurants offer great value.

Another easy way to avoid wasting money is to cook from scratch. Homemade meals can be just as delicious as restaurant dishes for a fraction of the cost.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

5.0
info

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details