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10 Lesser-Known Buffets That Are Way Better than Golden Corral

10 Lesser-Known Buffets That Are Way Better than Golden Corral

10 Lesser-Known Buffets That Are Way Better than Golden Corral
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History of Buffets
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America's Incredible Pizza Company
© "America’s Incredible Pizza Company (OKC)" by milst1 is licensed under BY 2.0.
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
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Shakey's Pizza
© "Shakey's Pizza" by Ari Helminen is licensed under BY 2.0.
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
© "Shakey's Pizza restaurant in Dumaguete City" by Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee) is licensed under BY-SA 3.0.
Chuck-A-Rama
© "File:Chuck-A-Rama.jpg" by Raymond Shobe is licensed under BY 2.0.
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
© "chuck-a-rama" by djuggler is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
Ponderosa
© "Buffet (4)" by Joshua Rappeneker is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
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Sizzler
© "Sizzler Rockhampton" by RegionalQueenslander is licensed under BY-SA 4.0.
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
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Western Sizzlin'
© "Western Sizzlin, Adel" by Michael Rivera is licensed under BY-SA 3.0.
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
© "Western Sizzlin Clemson, SC 12" by MikeKalasnik is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
Captain George's Seafood Restaurant
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Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
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Pizza Ranch
© "Pizza Ranch - panoramio" by Corey Coyle is licensed under BY 3.0.
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
© "Pizza Ranch with attached Fun Zone arcade" by msxdotgay is licensed under BY 2.0.
Fogo de Chao
© Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock.com
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
© iStock.com/Debora Rodrigues
Shady Maple Smorgasbord
© "Shady Maple dining room" by FossilDS is licensed under CC0 1.0.
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
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One Last Note
© "AUD9 Buffet - Green Pepper" by avlxyz is licensed under BY-SA 2.0.
10 Lesser-Known Buffets That Are Way Better than Golden Corral
History of Buffets
America's Incredible Pizza Company
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
Shakey's Pizza
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
Chuck-A-Rama
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
Ponderosa
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
Sizzler
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
Western Sizzlin'
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
Captain George's Seafood Restaurant
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
Pizza Ranch
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
Fogo de Chao
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
Shady Maple Smorgasbord
Perks of Eating at This Restaurant
One Last Note

10 Lesser-Known Buffets That Are Way Better than Golden Corral

All-you-can-eat dining isn’t dead—it’s just evolved. The U.S. still supports nearly 2,500 cafeteria-and-buffet style restaurants, and flagship chains like Golden Corral keep 399 locations humming as of April 2025. After shrinking sharply during the pandemic, the buffet niche snapped back, driven by seniors and families looking for value. Yet the action has shifted from mega-chains to regional favorites that trade on local personality, fresher menus and—in many cases—surprisingly premium ingredients. From an East Coast seafood spread that cracks 1.5 million lb. of crab legs a year to a Pennsylvania Dutch smorgasbord that stretches 200 feet, here are the 10 under-the-radar buffets that outperform the big guys.

This post was updated May, 2025 to reflect total location count for various restaurants included here.

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