Love them or hate them, buffet eating places are one of many extra resilient restaurant ideas within the U.S. Lots of them obtain some dangerous evaluations associated to cleanliness or unsanitary operations, and numerous them had an extremely troublesome time recovering from COVID shutdowns, however they nonetheless proceed to stay as an integral a part of the American eating expertise.
One such restaurant is Golden Corral — a series that just about noticed its finish after COVID, however was decided to struggle again. And certainly it did. The chain debuted in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 1973 however did not change to the buffet idea till the Nineteen Eighties when it reached the peak of its recognition. After years of progress, Golden Corral needed to shutter greater than 100 eating places following the 2020 pandemic.
In 2025, Golden Corral operates round 400 places in 40 states and has bounced again from COVID as sturdy as ever. The corporate says its places lately earned $102,000 in common weekly gross sales, a brand new document for the restaurant chain.
Learn extra: Chain Eating places That Serve The Highest And Lowest High quality Steak
A traditional American comeback story
Golden Corral buffet and grill exterior – Jetcityimage/Getty Photographs
Following COVID, Golden Corral management was intent on enhancing sanitary insurance policies whereas additionally bettering worker relations. The chain needed to make these adjustments whereas additionally retaining prices the identical for patrons. All of that, mixed with the general unfavorable affect COVID had on the restaurant business, lowered Golden Corral’s competitors and opened the door for the chain to emerge as sturdy as ever. That effort was not in useless, because it was named Newsweek’s primary buffet chain in America in 2025 and acknowledged as considered one of Yelp’s 50 Most Beloved Manufacturers of 2023.
Whether or not or not you are a fan of Golden Corral’s meals high quality, it is laborious to argue with the costs. To begin, the breakfast buffet is sort of a deal. Later within the day, the all-you-can-eat dinner buffet runs round $17 per particular person, depending on location. However even when the buffet is not your factor, the chain gives nice pricing on its meals with two sides. The fried hen meal and the 8-ounce sirloin steak meal prices $9.99 every. You may get the fried fish or smoked pulled pork meals for $11.99, and the 12-ounce sirloin steak meal solely prices $12.99.
With costs like that, in addition to its willpower to innovate, change, and outlast its competitors, Golden Corral is tough to beat in terms of restaurant buffets. Even when buffets aren’t your factor, it’s a must to respect the chain’s resilience and talent to beat a troublesome few years. It is a traditional American comeback story.
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