7 Nebraska All-You-Can-Eat Buffets Locals Keep Coming Back To
The parking lot was half full, the sign was plain, and I almost drove right past. Then the door swung open, a wave of warm garlic and sizzling grill smoke drifted out, and lunch plans changed on the spot.
Nebraska has a surprising number of buffets like that, strip-mall spots and roadside stops that turn a quick bite into a plate you think about for weeks. Here are seven of them, from Omaha all the way out to North Platte, each one with its own reason to grab a second plate.
1. A+ Buffet Mongolian Grill In Omaha
Picture a raw bowl of sliced meat, crisp vegetables, and noodles sliding across the counter, then coming back sizzling a few minutes later. That trade happens all day at A+ Buffet Mongolian Grill on West Center Road in Omaha.
You can eat what is already cooked, or build your own stir-fry and hand it over to the grill.
Why choose? Most people end up doing both.
The Chinese buffet line covers the familiar standbys, along with plenty of dishes that may be new to you, and the hot trays stay fresh through lunch and dinner.
A salad bar and a vegetarian-friendly grill station make lighter plates easy to put together. Dessert is its own little event, too.
Several flavors of ice cream are scooped by hand, and a separate dessert bar sits nearby for anyone who needs a cookie or two to round things out.
The room itself is quiet and casual, with nothing fancy competing for your attention. Weekend evenings fill up fast, and reservations are not taken.
Weekday mornings and Tuesday afternoons run calmer if you want the grill line to yourself, and free parking is plentiful whenever you arrive. High chairs are on hand, and solo diners fit right in alongside big family tables.
2. Golden Apple Buffet In Papillion
Four kinds of restaurant somehow fit under one roof at Golden Apple Buffet in Papillion. There is a hibachi grill, a sushi bar, a pho bar, and then the long buffet of classic Chinese dishes that most people expect when they walk in.
Steam rising off a bowl of pho is not a usual buffet sight, which is part of the fun here. You can ladle up broth and noodles, grab a few California rolls, then circle back for hibachi cooked on the flat grill.
Mixing all three on one tray is perfectly normal.
The dining room is spacious, a real plus for Sarpy County families who show up with grandparents, cousins, and kids in tow. A kids’ menu and high chairs help, and the fresh fruit and salad bar give picky eaters something simple to fill up on.
Vegetarians have a full set of options as well.
Save room. Dessert is one of the strongest parts of the spread, with a bar dedicated to sweets waiting at the end of the line.
Sunday afternoons and Saturday evenings bring the biggest crowds, while Tuesday mornings are the sleepiest stretch. Parking is free and easy, and takeout works when you want the feast at home.
3. Asian Buffet In Lincoln
Did you know Lincoln’s north side has a buffet with its own sushi bar, pho station, and Mongolian grill, all within a few steps of each other? Asian Buffet on North 27th Street packs those three into one stop, plus long tables of Chinese favorites.
Crab rangoon and pepper chicken anchor the hot line, joined by a fried foods bar for anyone chasing crunch. The sushi counter is small and tidy, with fresh seafood rolled throughout the day.
Over at the grill, you pick your ingredients and watch them hit the heat.
Service moves quickly, and plates get cleared without fuss. That pace makes it a smart pick for a fast lunch between errands or classes, and college students show up in steady numbers.
Seniors get their own buffet price, a nice touch for retirees planning a midweek outing.
Finish with ice cream. It is simple, cold, and exactly right after a round of spicy noodles.
Unlike many buffets, Asian Buffet accepts reservations, handy for birthdays or big groups. Weekday mornings and afternoons are the quietest, and weekends get busy from midafternoon on.
The lot offers plenty of free parking, and delivery and takeout are both options when staying in sounds better.
4. Golden Gate Express In Grand Island
A drive-through window and an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet do not usually share an address. At Golden Gate Express on North Webb Road in Grand Island, they do, and that combination says a lot about how practical the place is.
The buffet is the main draw. It runs on dependable Chinese cooking served in generous portions, the kind of steady, filling food central Nebraska work crews and families count on for a midweek break.
Prices stay reasonable, which keeps people returning without a second thought.
Wednesday lunch is the busiest window of the week, with Friday afternoons close behind. If you prefer a calmer meal, evenings midweek tend to be the quietest time to settle in.
The atmosphere is casual and low-key, with friendly service from the moment you sit down.
Here is a practical detail: the restaurant is closed on Mondays, so plan any Grand Island lunch run for Tuesday through Sunday. Reservations are accepted, a help for larger groups or office lunches.
Vegetarians will find a full menu, and small plates are available for lighter appetites. Kids are welcome, high chairs are ready, and parking is free and roomy.
Delivery and takeout cover the days when sitting down is not in the cards.
5. Fyre Modern Grill In Kearney
Sterling silver serving dishes are the first clue that Fyre Modern Grill in Kearney plays the buffet game a little differently. This is the dressed-up entry on the list, a scratch kitchen on Talmadge Street that also runs an all-you-can-eat prime rib and seafood spread.
Carved prime rib leads the lineup. Crab legs, shrimp, fish, and fresh fruit join it, along with a salad bar and a long row of sides.
Gluten-free options make it easier for mixed groups to eat together.
What sets Fyre apart from typical buffets? The themes rotate, so the spread can change from one visit to the next.
Anyone skipping the buffet can order comfort food off the scratch menu, with chicken Alfredo among the standouts.
A fireplace warms the dining room, and the mood leans calm and cozy, good for anniversaries, a parents’ night out, or a holiday dinner. Families fit just as well, thanks to a sensibly priced kids’ menu, high chairs, and changing tables.
Friday and Saturday evenings draw the heaviest crowds, and dinner reservations are recommended. Mornings stay quieter, since the kitchen opens early for breakfast.
A private dining room and outdoor seating round out the options along the Platte River corridor.
6. King Buffet In North Platte
Crab legs join the spread once afternoon turns toward evening at King Buffet in North Platte, and that single detail shapes plenty of dinner plans in this part of western Nebraska. Time your stop right, and the seafood is waiting.
Everything else holds up all day. A Mongolian grill cooks bowls to order, the sushi bar stays stocked, and the hot line runs through lo mein, crawfish, and other Chinese standbys.
Trays are rotated often, so the food stays hot and fresh rather than sitting under the lamps.
Is it a good stop on a road trip along Interstate 80? Absolutely.
Leota Street sits close to the heart of town, service is fast, and the long daily hours make it easy to catch a meal at an odd time. Parking is free and usually wide open.
The salad bar and full vegetarian menu keep lighter eaters covered. Desserts finish things off for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Weekends get busy from Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening, while Tuesday nights are the quietest stretch of the week. The dining room has a calm, unhurried feel.
High chairs and a kid-friendly setup make it simple for families to pull in, refuel, and keep moving down the highway.
7. Mongolian Bar & Grill In Norfolk
New to Mongolian barbecue? The setup is simple.
At Mongolian Bar & Grill on South 3rd Street in downtown Norfolk, raw meats, noodles, and vegetables are laid out buffet style, and you fill a bowl with whatever looks good.
Next comes the sauce station, where you season the bowl with your choice of sauces and spices. Then the cooks take over, grilling everything right in front of you on a wide hot surface.
The sizzle, the steam, and the quick flip of the spatulas are half the entertainment.
Because it is all you can eat, a second bowl is a chance to fix the first. Too much garlic or not enough heat?
Adjust and go again, since the ingredient line stays clean and organized and everything is cooked fresh to order.
Families, college students, and solo diners all share the casual room. Vegetarians can build a full meal from the produce and noodles, and kids enjoy choosing their own ingredients.
Plan around the schedule. The restaurant closes on Tuesdays and takes a break between lunch and dinner on the other days, so check before driving in from the countryside.
Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest, and reservations are accepted for groups.
