Can't decide where to go eat, or just don't feel like throwing down a lot of money for a small meal? A buffet is your answer. By paying just once, you get to fill your plates with as much food as you want as many times as you want, without getting any dirty looks from the staff. Not to mention, when you compare the cost of a buffet to a meal at your favorite fast food place, it's much more economical to go for the buffet. However, not all buffets are created equal. To help you get the most food for your buck, check out this ranking of all-you-can-eat buffet chains from worst to first.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00The heyday for all-you-can-eat buffets might be in the past, but if you know where to go,
00:05you can still find your unlimited satisfaction in the form of an unending dinner plate.
00:09Here's our ranking of all-you-can-eat buffets, from worst to first.
00:12This all-you-can-eat buffet, known primarily for their pizza, is an inexpensive restaurant
00:16option, but if you succumb to the cheapness, you'll soon regret not shelling out more money
00:20for a real meal.
00:21The pizza crust is stiff and flavorless, and you can taste the cost-cutting measures in
00:24the rest of the bland ingredients.
00:26With each bite you take from the buffet, no matter if it's pizza or one of their newer
00:30concoctions, your regret will grow, and the money you saved won't be able to overshadow
00:34your dissatisfaction.
00:35What the heck is that?
00:36Who puts broccoli on pizza?
00:37That's it.
00:38I'm done.
00:39Congratulations, San Francisco, you've ruined pizza!
00:43As the name suggests, Super Salad offers primarily all-you-care-to-eat Super Salad, but what
00:48you get is atrocious.
00:49The salad options are disappointingly limited, and if you want to try the soup, you sometimes
00:54have to do so blindly because Super Salad has a bad habit of not labeling the different
00:58options.
00:59Ultimately, whichever soup you select will be a letdown.
01:01Even worse?
01:02Most Super Salads also have a taco bar, but it's not worth trying, either.
01:06Bummer.
01:07Shoney's has been around since 1947, so you might have had good childhood memories of
01:10this restaurant, but don't let your memories fool you.
01:13Shoney's isn't a place you should go to if you want good food.
01:16In theory, Shoney's all-you-can-eat food bar is a bargain, as it promises everything from
01:20fried chicken to fruit, but in reality, it's usually just gross.
01:23The problem with Shoney's isn't necessarily the ingredients or even the recipes.
01:27The problem is that everything is just so stale.
01:30If you happen to catch the buffet when it's hot and fresh, Shoney's isn't bad.
01:33That said, it's still not what you may remember from decades ago.
01:37Pizza Ranch has more than 200 locations, mostly in the Midwest.
01:40When you enter a Pizza Ranch, you might be impressed by their Western-themed decor.
01:44When you taste the food, though, you'll be mostly unimpressed.
01:47While the pizza might be a step up from Cici's, it's still not what anyone with functioning
01:50taste buds would classify as good.
01:52Beyond their pizza, the macaroni and cheese is basically glorified cheese paste, and even
02:04their mashed potatoes manage to somehow disappoint.
02:06The best option is usually their dessert pizzas, but if you don't act quickly, the feeding
02:10frenzy created by others waiting for the same dessert pizza will empty it before you can
02:14get your hands on a slice.
02:16Hometown Buffet, Old Country Buffet, and Ryan's Buffet are all-you-can-eat buffets owned by
02:20the same company, offering the same experience under different names.
02:23Twenty years ago, you could find really good food at these restaurants.
02:27Unfortunately, the parent company recently filed for bankruptcy, and the quality of food
02:31continues to deteriorate.
02:32When you eat at any of these buffets, it'll be painfully obvious that you are eating at
02:36a place that may be out of business soon.
02:38The decor is outdated, cleanliness can sometimes be lacking, and the atmosphere is depressing.
02:43The food itself is okay, as long as you prefer everything to be sweeter than necessary.
02:48Needless to say, they probably won't be around by the time your grandkids grow up.
02:52Western Sizzlin' is an all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant chain with food that's a reasonably
02:56array of decent, authentic Southern cuisine.
02:58Two issues hold Western Sizzlin' back from rising higher.
03:01First of all, a lot of the food is simply overcooked.
03:03Secondly, the cost has gone up enough that it's questionable whether you are receiving
03:07good value for your money.
03:08For a comparable price, you can get higher-quality food at a normal, sit-down restaurant.
03:13Though it used to be fairly common, only certain Pizza Hut restaurants offer an all-you-can-eat
03:17lunch buffet these days.
03:19Finding one near you can be a chore.
03:20However, if you do find one, it's actually pretty good bang for your buck.
03:24That said, there are a few caveats you should know about before you track down a Pizza Hut
03:27that does the lunch buffet.
03:28First of all, expect there to be a really limited assortment of pizzas.
03:32The quality of what is available is usually high, but don't be surprised if your favorite
03:35type of pizza is nowhere to be found.
03:37Second, don't count on a dessert.
03:40Sweet Tomatoes, which goes by the name Soup Plantation in California, is legitimately
03:44one of the best all-you-can-eat options in the nation.
03:47Open for either lunch or dinner, this is the place to go if you want a buffet with
03:50a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
03:53Their salad bar is fantastic, as they even have special salads that change each month,
03:57along with nuts, croutons, and seeds to add a yummy crunch to your salad.
04:01Sweet Tomatoes also has some of the best soups you will find at a buffet restaurant, as well
04:04as a bakery section that features really good muffins and breads.
04:08The only real flaw for Sweet Tomatoes is crowd management, so it's best to visit during off-peak
04:12hours.
04:14Sirloin Stockade has been around since 1966, and unlike many other chain buffets, they
04:18seem to be getting better and better.
04:20Their all-you-can-eat hot buffet has filling entrees including pasta and cooked-to-perfection
04:24steak.
04:25The meat quality here is surprisingly high.
04:27In their cold buffet, Sirloin Stockade has a top-notch salad bar with fresh vegetables.
04:31What may end up being your favorite aspect is the bakery, where they have cakes, multiple
04:35types of pies, and rolls.
04:37They also have ice cream and a vast choice of toppings, and everyone knows that's a must
04:41for a real buffet.
04:42While all-you-can-eat pizza places usually underwhelm, Shakey's Pizza is an exception,
04:47as they've been able to maintain the same high standards throughout the years.
04:50This is one place that won't disappoint if you decide to visit due to nostalgia.
04:53In fact, it'll be just like you remember.
04:55You can taste the difference in their pizza dough, which is prepared fresh every day and
04:59is never frozen.
05:00The mozzarella cheese on the pizza is also tasty, and a step up from the competition.
05:04If you like dessert pizza, Shakey's has you covered with plenty of sweetness to select
05:08from.
05:09Plus, their mojo potatoes are famous for a reason, and their fried chicken is crispy
05:12and yummy.
05:13Sizzler has had its ups and downs for over the 60-plus years it's been in business.
05:17From iconic eatery to bankruptcy, these days Sizzler doesn't have many locations in the
05:21United States, but the ones they do have are actually serving really good food.
05:25Unfortunately, only some of them are still all-you-can-eat buffets.
05:29What happened to the steaks that were in there when they closed?
05:32Do you think they got eaten?
05:35Still, we recommend you locate one because, if you haven't been in a while, you'll be
05:39surprised at how good it all tastes.
05:40Keep an eye out, as Sizzler will sometimes offer all-you-can-eat entrees like shrimp,
05:44steak, or ribs.
05:45That's a great time to visit and get your fill.
05:47Your Sizzler might not look like it did in the 90s, but it will still be darn good.
05:52A relative newcomer to the all-you-can-eat buffet scene, Hu Hot Mongolian Grill has their
05:56own tasty twist.
05:57After paying for the lunch price or the dinner price, depending on the time of day, you get
06:01a bowl and get to work.
06:02In your bowl, you place your choice of protein, noodles, vegetables, and sauce.
06:06The most popular protein options include meat, chicken, and shrimp.
06:10Once you're finished picking the items for your bowl, you head to the grill where your
06:12food is cooked for you.
06:14Still hungry?
06:15Start the process all over again.
06:17When you combine quantity of options and quality of food, no all-you-can-eat buffet can touch
06:21Golden Corral.
06:22While it's not the best food on the planet, you are sure to find something you like.
06:25You can find it all here, with timeless favorites including bacon-wrapped sirloin fillets, smoked
06:30beef short ribs, boneless buffalo chicken wings, sweet and sour pork, baked fish with
06:34lemon herb sauce, and many more.
06:36Golden Corral has an incomparable carving station and a salad bar complete with all
06:39types of fruits and vegetables.
06:41They also have delicious soups, freshly baked breads, and other goodies in their bakery,
06:45and a dessert bar that will have you coming back for seconds and thirds, maybe even fourths.