The United States has long been known as a food mecca. A nation that is known for its love of big portions, and what seems like endless amounts of food, would naturally popularize buffet-style dining. While it didn’t originate in the United States – it started centuries ago in Sweden – the concept caught on after being introduced at the 1939 World’s Fair and grew in popularity in the 1940s.
Ever since then, buffets and all-you-can-eat restaurants have been a popular choice. Many Gen Xers and Millennials have grown up visiting buffets in the 80s and 90s but it’s the Baby Boomers who are particularly fond of this type of dining establishment. They once had a vast selection of eateries but many former popular American buffets, such as Old Country Buffet and HomeTown Buffet, which had more than 850 locations combined nationwide, have closed down.
These all-you-can-eat restaurants took a huge hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many never recovered. It wasn’t just the pandemic that shuttered their doors. Other concerns among younger generations like food waste also contributed to the death of the buffet. But some chains still prevail. Restaurants like CiCi’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, and Golden Corral make the top of the list of the 10 all-you-can-eat restaurants Boomers love most.
10. Eat’n Park
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Eat’n Park is a family restaurant chain that’s been open since 1949. This restaurant based in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Any day of the week you can enjoy their Soup, Salad, & Fruit Bar but that’s not the only option for buffet lovers. Eat’n Park also offers a Saturday Breakfast Buffet and Sunday Brunch with plenty of breakfast favorites.
9. Pizza Ranch
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Pizza Ranch is a pizza buffet that originated in Hull, Iowa. The first location opened in 1981 and now there are over 200 locations in the Midwest. Like many other pizza buffets, Pizza Ranch offers many choices, including pizza, salad, sides, and desserts. They’re also known for serving The Country’s Best Chicken, which is fried chicken made with a unique blend of spices and seasonings.
8. Sirloin Stockade
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Sirloin Stockade has been open since 1966 and offers both a hot and cold buffet. Even though Sirloin Stockade is one of the most popular buffets, especially among Baby Boomers, there are only locations in four different states. Out of the four states, Texas has the most Sirloin Stockades with five different locations across Texas.
7. Quaker Steak & Lube
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The Quaker Steak & Lube restaurants were born out of a desire to preserve the culture of old gas stations. Created by George “Jig” Warren III and Gary “Moe” Meszaros in 1974, there are locations in nine different states with over 50 locations nationwide. Although it’s not available at every location, some of the Quaker Steak & Lube locations have a lunch buffet that offers a variety of food choices. Some locations also offer an all-you-can-eat wing night.
6. Pizza Inn
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Two brothers from Texas opened the first Pizza Inn restaurant in 1958. There are now over 100 Pizza Inn locations in the US with the headquarters in Dallas, TX. Pizza Inn offers a buffet with various types of pizzas including their signature Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza and Chicken Fajita Pizza. They’re also known for their dessert pizza and their buffet includes pasta, desserts, and other sides as well.
5. Western Sizzlin
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Western Sizzlin first opened in Augusta, GA in 1962. Although the company that owns Western Sizzlin has opened Wood Grill Buffet and Great American Buffet, there are still some Western Sizzlin Buffet locations in the US. These buffets exist in the South and offer a wide variety of Southern classics such as fried chicken, mac and cheese, and other delicious sides.
4. Shoney’s
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For over 75 years, Shoney’s has been a popular family restaurant. The first Shoney’s location opened in 1947 and even today, there are locations in 16 different states. One of the most popular parts of Shoney’s is the Fresh Food Bar, which features everything from seafood and salads to vegetables and soup.
3. CiCi’s Pizza
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CiCi’s Pizza is a classic pizza buffet that’s been around since 1985. This restaurant was the original pizza buffet and there are still over 200 locations nationwide. Although CiCi’s Pizza has been at risk of going out of business numerous times, CiCi’s was eventually sold to an investment firm and continues to thrive in many locations. CiCi’s buffet serves not only pizza but also wings, salads, pasta, sides, and desserts.
2. Golden Corral
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Golden Corral is one of the top buffets in the country and is a top choice for families nationwide. The first Golden Corral restaurant opened in 1973 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. They offer an all-you-can-eat buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Even with the decline in all-you-can-eat restaurants, there are still nearly 400 Golden Corral locations in the US.
1. Pizza Hut
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According to Boomers, Pizza Hut is the best buffet out there. The first Pizza Hut opened in Wichita, Kansas in 1958. The lunch buffet is no longer available at every Pizza Hut location and many closed down after the COVID-19 Pandemic started.
However, many locations are bringing it back and it’s a great deal if you’re looking for all-you-can-eat pizza. At the Pizza Hut lunch buffet, you’ll find all your favorite pizza varieties and numerous sides.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock.com.