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How many different cuisines can you eat for one meal? Come hungry to these all-you-can-eat buffets and fill your plate in every state.
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In the early days of the pandemic we feared that the all-you-can-eat buffet might become a thing of the past. But we won’t give up our favorite foods, no state in the country will give up their state foods or best traditional restaurant, and we won’t give up our buffets either. Where else can you get the best sandwiches, or huge plates worthy of the best diners in the country? Our strategy: Get caffeinated at the best coffee shop you know, and head on down to your local buffet. From Al(abama) you can eat to Wy(oming) don’t you have another plate, these are the best buffets in every state.
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Everything tastes just like Mama used to make it at Martha’s in Montgomery. Even celebs like Whoopi Goldberg, Angela Bassett, and Sissy Spacek have dug into helpings of fried chicken, cornbread, and collards cooked by Miss Martha herself. Don’t leave without a slice of her sinfully delicious sweet potato pie, and the banana pudding has reviewers raving too. Now that’s a good banana use.
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When in Alaska, do as the Alaskans do, aka eat plenty of salmon. And there are few better places to do that than at the Gold Creek Salmon Bake, which runs from May to September in Juneau. The open-air, all-you-can-eat buffet, held in the beautiful Southeast Alaska rainforest, features Alderwood-grilled salmon, Gold Rush potatoes, wild rice pilaf, and baked beans. For dessert, enjoy homemade blueberry cake or roast marshmallows over the campfire. With food this good, you won’t have to wonder what hot dogs are made of.
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Even if you don’t book a room at the Talking Stick Resort, in Scottsdale you can still enjoy a meal at Arizona’s top all-you-can-eat buffet. With Italian, Asian, Mexican, Mediterranean, and American dishes, there’s something for everyone at the Wandering Horse, whether you want sushi or prime rib. Afterward, head to the adjoining casino. Is there a food quiz we can win big on?
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You’ll find dozens of tempting dishes at this Benton all-you-can-eat buffet, with everything from catfish to casserole to chicken cooked 10 different ways. Steak and ribs are available after 4 p.m., and they’ve got an impressive dessert selection too—the chocolate fountain really stands out to us (it’s normal chocolate, not white chocolate).
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Two words: unlimited champagne. That’s reason enough to head to the Sunday seafood buffet at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse on Harbor Island in San Diego. You can enjoy the deluxe $48 brunch spread (which includes delicious stations like a raw bar, made-to-order omelets, and pasta) while soaking in a stunning view of the bay below. Before you hit up the fish station, you should know what sashimi is.
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You don’t need a passport to get an authentic Italian meal, thanks to this themed all-you-can-eat buffet located just north of Denver in Northglenn. If the bottomless plates of fresh handmade pasta and pizza aren’t calling your name, “Mama’s Meatballs” or the calamari fritti just might. And of course, no one can turn down one of the 16 different flavors of gelati (or all 16). Speaking of, do you know who invented ice cream?
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Meat lovers, rejoice! At this West Haven Brazilian steakhouse, or churrascaria, you’ll be treated to 12 different types of meat, including brisket, ribs, sausage, and even bacon-wrapped chicken breasts. Pair your proteins with a piled-high plate (or two) from the salad bar and side dish buffet—we recommend trying the farofa, which is Brazilian stuffing, or the fried plantains. After the meal? A macchiato, of course.
via Dover King Buffet/Facebook.com
Come for the food, stay for the service at King Buffet in Dover. Because while the Asian eats are everything your Chinese take-out dreams are made of (plus, there’s a Mongolian stir-fry bar!), the friendly servers and hosts combined with the quick and attentive service is what will really make your meal great. Here’s what to order from the “secret” menu at Chinese restaurants.
via tripadvisor.com
Disney World isn’t the only magical place in Orlando. The Florida city is also home to Boston Lobster Feast, a super-sized, all-you-can-eat seafood buffet featuring more than 60 items. While its namesake lobster is a must, there are also plenty of other under-the-sea options, like fish cooked any way you’d like it, oysters and clams on the half shell, and giant snow crab legs. Make sure you know what wasabi is before you hit the sushi counter.
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You’ll get both quantity and quality at this all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant in Sandy Springs, just north of Atlanta. Everything on the menu, including what appears to be an endless sushi spread, is made with the freshest ingredients. You’ll want to make a pass by the Ramen bar too, then finish off your meal with some green tea ice cream. Here’s a fascinating food fact: We’ll be in every day this week.
via @100sails/instagram.com
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You’ll likely have to wait for a table during lunchtime at this popular Boise Indian joint—but the food is well worth it. The buffet features a variety of both traditional and modern eastern eats, from spicy fish curry spooned over fluffy basmati rice to freshly baked naan stuffed with minced lamb. Tea is the most popular drink in India, so fans of Indian cuisine should know about chai tea.
via tripadvisor.com
A buffet, but make it Polish. That’s the idea behind this Chicago eatery, which brings “old country” cooking to the Windy City. Besides the wildly popular pierogi (stuffed with everything from spinach and cheese to fresh berries), other tasty items include Polish kielbasa with sauerkraut, schnitzel, and cabbage rolls.
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For an authentic Amish meal, stop at this Montgomery institution nestled among rolling farmlands. Inside the rustic building (which was also built by the Amish!), you’ll sit down to a table full of stick-to-your-ribs foods like baked ham and creamy mashed potatoes, plus mile-high meringue pies for dessert. After eating, browse the gift shop stocked with handcrafted souvenirs and decor.
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Don’t let the fact that this buffet is located inside a casino fool you. Robert’s Buffet in Riverside is staffed by a French chef, Christian Arlaud, and features weekly All-American, Seafood Market, and Prime Rib & Shrimp buffets. It’s been called the best-kept secret in Iowa, and once you’ve had one of the handmade ice creams or sherbets, you’ll know why. But do you know the difference between sorbet and sherbet?
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To take advantage of this laid-back Wichita eatery’s buffet, you’ll have to show up in time for brunch on Sunday. There, you’ll get to taste a little bit of everything off Doo-Dah’s made-from-scratch breakfast menu, like the crispy corned beef hash or crab cake benedict with a side of maple pepper bacon. Be sure to get there early though, because this place is popular.
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Good Foods has an amazing hot lunch buffet and salad bar. The best part is that they source many ingredients local to Lexington. In their online reviews, people rave about the way they cook their kale—and if they can make something that healthy delicious too, you know this buffet is worth a try.
via House of Seafood Buffet/Facebook.com
Spicy seafood gumbo and friendly customer service make House of Seafood the best buffet not just in Bush, but in Louisiana. With a raw bar stocked with fresh oysters and mussels to fried gator and everything in between, it’s every seafood lover’s dream. Be sure to try the crawfish while you’re there—the locals swear by it.
via Sodexo at SMCC/Facebook.com
Open to the public, this college dining hall in South Portland is more gourmet dining than school cafeteria. Browse the daily rotating menu online before heading to the campus, where you can eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner for less than $7 while enjoying a stunning view of the Maine coastline. And a few times throughout the year, the college hosts special luncheons cooked by the culinary arts students. The kids are all right!
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With a motto like “the real taste of the Himalayas,” this Baltimore all-you-can-eat buffet is a capital-D Destination for anyone who loves food from the subcontinent. The daily lunch spread includes every spicy, savory, and sweet specialty you could want, from biryani to kabab. But the ultimate Nepalese must-order is the Thakali Thali, featuring rice, curry, mixed lentils, spinach, and wild black pepper pickle.
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Built in the assembly-line tradition of Michigan’s auto factories, this delicious all-you-can-eat buffet in Detroit features cuisine from every corner of the globe so you can assemble a spectacular plate (or two). Reviewers can’t decide if the freshly rolled sushi, warm bread, or carvery are the best—or maybe it’s dessert? The decision is more difficult than trying to figure out the difference between jam and jelly.
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A healthy buffet sounds like an oxymoron, but that’s exactly what Q. Cumbers in Edina is. The salad bar, which is more than 50 feet long, is full of fresh veggies and fruits and pairs perfectly with the restaurant’s homemade soups, if you’re looking for a light lunch. And if you want something heartier, the hot bar offers classics, including meaty dishes like lasagna and pot roast, with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options too.
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The whole family can enjoy the extravagance that is the Palace Buffet in Biloxi, thanks to the fact that it’s kid-friendly and entirely smoke-free. There are four different themed bars (Flames, Coastal, Comfort, and Wok), plus a dessert station run by the restaurant’s award-winning pastry chef.
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What could one hungry person possibly want out of an all-you-can-eat buffet in Lincoln? Good old country cooking, including fried chicken and mashed potatoes? Check. Fluffy dinner rolls with whipped butter? Check. A wide variety of desserts? Double check—there are 49 sweet treats to choose from! Keep in mind, however, that Charley’s is open only Friday and Saturday nights, so plan your trip accordingly. For the other nights in the week, consider these mind-blowing McDonald’s facts.
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At this Billings mainstay, you’ll get the best of both worlds. First, there’s the soup, homemade by owner Antonia Craighill: baked potato chowder, New England clam chowder, tomato basil, chili, and chicken noodle, plus two that change daily. And then there’s the “such,” which is a salad bar with veggies, meats, and cheeses, along with potato and pasta salads.
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Pizza, pasta, parmesan, oh my! If it’s cheesy, doughy, or smothered in sauce, you can likely find it on one of the eight different spreads at Valentino’s Grand Italian Buffet in Nebraska City. Build your own bowl of pasta, snag a slice of pizza made with from-scratch crust and sauce, or dig into a hearty portion of baked lasagna. Buon appetito!
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Trying to choose the best buffet in Las Vegas is like trying to choose a favorite child: nearly impossible. But the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace stands out for both its size (it’s the largest buffet in Sin City) and its selection (more than 500 different dishes to choose from!). And among the smoked wagyu and chocolate lava cakes, there are 15 chef’s specials that change daily.
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Dining out as a vegan can be tricky, but not at Country Life Restaurant in Keene. Not only is everything on the menu 100 percent vegetarian and organic, but they have an entire bar dedicated to vegan food. The lineup rotates daily, so depending on the day, you could have your pick of anything from vegetable pot pie to tofu cacciatore. If anyone will know if eggplant is a fruit or a vegetable, it will be these plant-based people.
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With more than 250 items on the menu, even the pickiest of eaters should be able to find something they love at this East Rutherford restaurant. While you’ll find the usual Chinese buffet suspects, the crowd favorite is the Japanese Teppanyaki-style grill, where you can watch your meal being prepared by a professional chef right in front of you.
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If you like Italian food, you’ll love Albuquerque’s Tomato Cafe. Tons of different sauces, fresh pasta, crunchy salad, and did we mention the delicious handmade thin-crust pizzas? This all-you-can-eat buffet has several “best buffet” awards, as well as winning best Italian restaurant in Albuquerque in 2018.
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NYC is probably one of the only places outside of the Caribbean that can say it has an “elegant Jamaican buffet.” But one trip to The Door in NYC’s Queens borough and you’ll definitely be wishing your hometown had one too. Spend a couple of hours noshing on exotic island fare like jerk chicken, curried goat, and fried plantains. Then wash it all down with sorrel, a sour raspberry drink made from hibiscus flowers.
via Casey's Buffet/Facebook.com
Leave it to North Carolina to have a barbecue-themed buffet like Casey’s, a family-owned Wilmington institution known for its Southern soul food. Make sure you come hungry so you can gorge yourself on all-you-can-eat ribs, chitlins, chicken gizzards, catfish, collard greens, and hush puppies. And if you’re feeling really adventurous, you might even go for the pigs’ feet, which are popular with the locals.
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Build, eat, repeat. That’s how it works at Bismarck’s HuHot Mongolian Grill, a chain of all-you-can-eat stir-fry restaurants where you can create endless combinations of noodles, toppings, and sauces. Regardless of what you choose, your last course should definitely be the popular Cookie Dough Conquest: balls of cookie dough wrapped in a wonton and deep-fried.
via Schmidt's Sausage Haus/Facebook.com
Achtung! What sort of all-you-can-eat buffet do you find in Ohio? Take a trip around Schmidt’s Autobahn Buffet and you’ll find out (hint: there’s a lot of sausage). It’s also home to the world-famous half-pound jumbo Cream Puff and Columbus’s official food, the Bahama Mama, a specialty pork-and-beef sausage made with Schmidt’s secret spices. As you might have guessed, it’s located in German Village, and the staff serve you in lederhosen. You’ll be so enamored, you’ll forget all about pizza, even who invented it.
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Are you in the Deep South or Oklahoma City? It’s the latter, but you won’t be able to tell when you step inside Cajun King. Underneath vibrant strands of Mardi Gras beads hanging from the ceiling, you’ll feast like a New Orleans roi (that’s French for “king”) on traditional Cajun and Creole specialties like red beans and rice, jambalaya, and sweet beignets.
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There’s a reason Korean BBQ has such a cult following: It’s a little bit spicy, a little bit smoky, and 100 percent flavorful. And at Portland’s K-Town, you can enjoy all-you-can-eat meat and veggies, which you’ll cook on a stovetop right in front of you at your table. The catch? You have only two hours to eat as much bulgogi and bok choy as you can. Ready, set, go!
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Juicy kielbasa, gooey mac and cheese, fluffy homemade dinner rolls—hungry yet? Hopefully, the answer is yes, because that’s exactly what you’ll need to be when you visit this legendary buffet. Authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking at its best, East Earl’s Shady Maple is known across the state for its hearty portions of classic comfort food. Work it off afterward with the best apple picking in every state.
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Meet the restaurant that’s done the unthinkable: created an upscale gourmet buffet. There’s no other way to describe the smorgasbord at The Nordic in Charlestown, where guests feast on all-you-can-eat lobster, prime rib, fresh oysters and clams, and homemade cannoli for dessert. People drive from several states to get here—it’s that good.
via The Original Benjamin's Calabash Seafood/Facebook.com
A buffet just isn’t a buffet if you don’t leave feeling like you never want to eat again. That’s how stuffed you’ll be after a trip to this Myrtle Beach Lowcountry landmark, which serves up any and every type of seafood imaginable, straight from the intercoastal waterways (yes, there’s even “crawdaddys” on the menu). Bonus: There’s an attached aquarium for little ones to wander through.
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It’s Taco Tuesday every day of the week at Jacky’s. Hit up any of the three locations across Sioux Falls during lunchtime for the tasty taco bar, stocked with chicken, ground beef, refried beans, rice, and toppings galore. If you prefer a breakfast taco, make sure you know the difference between white eggs vs. brown eggs.
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In the spirit of true Southern hospitality, Aunt Granny’s isn’t all-you-can-eat but rather all-you-care-to-eat. Located inside of Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, it’s as over-the-top (yet still down-home) as the country crooner herself. We’re talking baskets of buttery biscuits and cornbread, bowls of creamy mashed potatoes smothered in gravy, and massive platters of crispy fried chicken.
via Kalachandji's Restaurant & Palace/Facebook.com
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What you’re in the mood for will determine when you go to one of Chuck-A-Rama’s nine Utah locations, including Salt Lake City. Here, there’s a different theme each day. The current schedule runs as follows: Monday is Chuckwagon (think meat, potatoes, and beans), Tuesday is Italian, Wednesday is Barbeque, Thursday is Mexican, Friday is Seafood, Saturday is Italian again (because you can never have too much pasta), and Sunday is Family Dinner.
via Dave Sadowski/facebook.com
Kid friendly, clean, and a great variety…what more could you ask for from an all-you-can-eat buffet? Lucky Buffet in Saint Albans is known for having an incredible array of hot and fresh Chinese eats, with a heavy focus on chicken dishes—everyone swears by the peanut chicken.
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Bring on the BBQ—the Korean BBQ, that is. And while we’ll never say no to all-you-can-eat meat (and neither should you, especially when you get to cook it yourself right at your table), one of the best features of this Alexandria eatery is its super fresh sushi and sashimi bar.
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You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how tasty the lunch buffet is at Araya’s Place in Seattle. The vegan restaurant has an excellent selection of soups, curries, noodles, and many other Thai foods. The many happy non-vegan reviewers have convinced us that everyone will enjoy the array of stir-fries, rice, and more.
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The barbecue ribs are one of the best things on the extensive menu at this Clarksburg restaurant. Other favorites are the honey chicken, noodles, and what is essentially the entire dessert section. This all-you-can-eat buffet might be the answer to all of life’s questions—except, of course, whether tomato is a fruit or a vegetable.
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The next time you’re on your lunch break, head to Maharaja for their daily midday buffet. The Indian restaurant, which has been voted “Best of Milwaukee” for 19 straight years, even includes a take-home box in your meal’s price so you can load up on paneer and samosas to go.
via The Irma Hotel/Facebook.com
Experience the wild, wild west with a hearty meat-and-potatoes meal at the historic Irma Hotel in downtown Cody. Dig into a mouthwatering plate of their specialty prime rib (it isn’t called a “Wyoming legend” for nothing!) while you watch the gunfighters reenact an old-fashioned shootout in the street. Next, try the best desserts in every state.
