Remember the days when all-you-can-eat buffets were the highlight of family dinners? Sadly, many beloved buffet chains have closed their doors forever.
Economic challenges, changing consumer preferences, and the pandemic hit these restaurants especially hard.
1. HomeTown Buffet
Once a family favorite with over 250 locations nationwide, HomeTown Buffet filed for bankruptcy multiple times before finally closing most stores. Their comfort food stations featured everything from fried chicken to mac and cheese.
Loyal customers still reminisce about Sunday after-church meals here.
2. Old Country Buffet
Sister brand to HomeTown Buffet, Old Country Buffet won hearts with its all-American food selection and family-friendly atmosphere. The chain’s signature carving stations and ice cream machines delighted guests for decades.
Kids especially loved the dessert bar. .
3. Souplantation
Known as Sweet Tomatoes in some regions, Souplantation focused on fresh salads, soups, and baked goods. Their 97-unit chain completely shut down in May 2020, a casualty of the pandemic.
The self-serve model couldn’t adapt to COVID restrictions. Fans still crave their signature cornbread.
4. Ryan’s Buffet
Ryan’s Buffet brought affordable family dining to smaller towns across America. Their massive buffet spread featured a popular bakery section with fresh rolls and desserts that customers still talk about.
The chain struggled with declining sales for years. By 2020, almost all locations had permanently closed.
5. Western Sizzlin’
Famous for flame-grilled steaks alongside their extensive buffet, Western Sizzlin’ combined steakhouse quality with all-you-can-eat variety. The signature Gold Card loyalty program rewarded regular customers with special discounts.
While a few franchised locations remain, most have disappeared. Fans miss the sizzling steak platters and unlimited hot yeast rolls.
6. Furr’s Fresh Buffet
Furr’s traced its roots back to 1946, with a reputation for homestyle cooking and cafeteria-style service before evolving into a full buffet. Their legendary hot rolls and Millionaire Pie created devoted followers across generations.
After multiple ownership changes, most locations closed.
7. Fire Mountain
Fire Mountain steakhouse buffet attracted budget-conscious families with its affordable prices and hearty selection. The restaurant chain specialized in grilled meats alongside traditional buffet favorites.
Owned by the same company as Ryan’s, Fire Mountain suffered the same fate. Customers particularly miss the steak-and-seafood weekend specials.
8. Piccadilly Cafeteria
Though technically a cafeteria rather than a traditional buffet, Piccadilly earned its place in buffet-lovers’ hearts. Their southern-inspired dishes like carrot soufflé and fried fish had cult followings.
Once boasting over 250 locations, only a handful remain today. Generations of families celebrated special occasions at Piccadilly.
9. Ponderosa Steakhouse
Ponderosa combined table service for steaks with an unlimited buffet bar called the “Sundae Bar.” Named after the ranch in the TV show “Bonanza,” the Western-themed chain was a staple in suburban America.
Kids loved creating ice cream sundaes. Though international locations exist, most U.S. restaurants have vanished.
10. Golden Corral
While Golden Corral still operates, it’s on this list because hundreds of locations closed permanently during the pandemic. Their famous “endless buffet” featured over 150 items including the chocolate fountain that children adored.
The chain has struggled to recover. Many communities lost their local Golden Corral.
11. Bonanza Steakhouse
Sister restaurant to Ponderosa, Bonanza Steakhouse offered affordable steaks alongside an extensive buffet bar. The Western-themed chain was named after the same TV show as its sibling restaurant.
Most locations have disappeared over the past decade. Families particularly miss the budget-friendly kids’ meals.
12. Sizzler
Sizzler pioneered the concept of combining steaks with an unlimited salad bar. Their cheese toast became legendary, with fans still searching for copycat recipes online.
Though some locations remain, bankruptcy and closures have drastically reduced their presence.
13. Luby’s Cafeteria
A Texas institution since 1947, Luby’s cafeteria-style service earned a devoted following. Their LuAnn platter and square fish filets became cultural touchstones in the South.
The company announced liquidation plans in 2020. Though some locations remain open during the slow liquidation process, most have closed.
14. John’s Incredible Pizza
Combining arcade games with an all-you-can-eat buffet, John’s Incredible Pizza was a children’s paradise. The massive entertainment centers featured themed dining rooms alongside pizza, pasta, and dessert stations.
Many locations couldn’t survive pandemic closures.
15. Cici’s Pizza
Budget-friendly Cici’s offered unlimited pizza, pasta, salad, and dessert for one low price. College students and families flocked to the chain for their famous mac and cheese pizza and cinnamon rolls.
After filing for bankruptcy in 2021, many locations closed permanently. The remaining restaurants can’t match the chain’s former nationwide presence.