Dinner Comes With Every Fixing On These 5 Idaho Restaurant Buffets This Year

One Idaho buffet line on this list keeps curry cashew chicken on its salad bar. Another swaps the usual peas and carrots for squash and peppers.

I love that kind of small surprise.

The fun keeps going from there. One spot sends out cinnamon honey butter for its rolls.

Another serves a bottomless bowl of soup next to cornbread and chicken gravy.

These are not fancy white-tablecloth meals. They are the plates you fill twice, then once more for dessert.

Ham, turkey, meatloaf, steak cooked to order, and a pile of sides all show up somewhere on this trip.

I can’t think of a better excuse to loosen a belt notch this year. Five Idaho dining rooms made it here, and each brings its own twist to the full-spread dinner.

So which one sits closest to your table?

1. Mulligan’s Restaurant

Curry cashew chicken on a salad bar is not something you expect next to a Best Western lobby. Yet that is exactly the kind of twist waiting inside this casual Coeur d’Alene restaurant and lounge.

The all-you-can-eat salad bar is the star here. Look for Thai chicken salad, ambrosia salad, and plenty of fresh options that go beyond lettuce and ranch.

Holidays bring out the bigger spread. The Thanksgiving buffet has offered a wide selection of mains, sides, and desserts, so plan ahead when the season rolls around.

Fixings here follow their own rules, too. The kitchen pours chicken gravy instead of country gravy, and mixed vegetables lean toward squash and peppers.

Some purists might raise an eyebrow at that. Others will be thrilled to skip the frozen-pea routine for once.

Beyond the buffet, there is a full vegetarian menu and plenty of comfort food. A fireplace and regular live music make dinner feel a little more like an evening out.

Families can relax, since the dining room offers high chairs and a kids’ menu. Groups are welcome, and the restaurant accepts reservations, which helps on busy Saturday evenings.

For a Panhandle dinner that mixes hotel convenience with a salad bar full of surprises, this one earns its place at the top.

Address: 506 West Appleway Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814

2. Chuck-A-Rama

Cinnamon honey butter sounds like dessert, but at this Boise buffet it belongs on your dinner rolls. Honestly, you may need a second roll just to be fair to the first one.

Chuck-A-Rama is a regional chain built around comfort food. Since 1966, the company has been feeding families with a buffet that feels a lot like a big Sunday supper.

The lineup leans classic. Ham, turkey, shrimp, and chicken share space with a large salad bar and a dessert bar that tempts you before you finish your plate.

Here’s a detail Idahoans love: frog eye salad. That sweet pasta salad is a potluck favorite, and seeing it on a restaurant menu feels like home.

The menu changes nightly and seasonally, so two visits can taste quite different. On Fridays, clam chowder joins the party.

Nonalcoholic drinks are included, which means no extra math at the register. That makes it easier to bring the whole crew without a budget surprise.

Reservations aren’t taken, and Friday and Saturday evenings fill up fast. A weekday visit tends to be calmer if you like strolling the line without a crowd.

For pure Treasure Valley comfort, this spot keeps the rolls warm and the plates full.

Address: 7901 W Overland Rd, Boise, ID 83709

3. Golden Corral Buffet & Grill

Steak, roast pork, and tacos all on one trip through the line? Nampa’s Golden Corral treats indecision like a feature, not a problem.

The buffet here runs big. You’ll find a wide spread of meats, steak, chicken, and home-cooked vegetables, plus a huge salad bar for anyone pretending to be virtuous.

Meatloaf and macaroni and cheese bring the comfort-food side. Those two together could carry a whole family dinner on their own.

Then comes the dessert bar. Apple pie sits among the sweets, and the dessert section is big enough to deserve its own plate.

Fresh bread with warm butter rounds out the fixings. It is the kind of small extra that turns a regular meal into a full feast.

Space is a real perk at this Treasure Valley stop. The dining room handles large family get-togethers, and a private dining room is available for groups.

Kids are clearly welcome, with high chairs, a kids’ menu, and a setup that works for birthday meals. College students and travelers show up too.

Weekends get busy, especially Sunday. If you want a quieter pass at the steak, a weeknight might suit you better.

Address: 2122 N Cassia St, Nampa, ID 83651

4. Idaho Joe’s

House-baked pies and a buffet under one roof in Twin Falls sounds like a Magic Valley daydream. Good news: it’s a real place on Blue Lakes Boulevard.

Idaho Joe’s is a homey eatery serving American comfort food from breakfast through dinner. Its buffet has a reputation for offering more than you’d expect from a hometown diner.

The soup and salad deal is the sneaky winner. You get a bottomless bowl of soup and endless salad, which feels generous on a chilly Idaho evening.

Fixings here are straight from a family table. Think creamy mashed potatoes, chicken gravy, cornbread, and a choice of potato.

Main dishes match that mood. Meatloaf, catfish, and chicken fried steak show up, along with portions that don’t leave you hunting for a snack later.

Save a little room for the bakery side. Pies are baked in-house, and the homemade cinnamon roll makes a strong case for coming back at breakfast.

Late hours set it apart from the others on this list. Weekend nights run past most kitchens, so a late dinner here is realistic.

Reservations are accepted, and groups fit in easily. For a southern Idaho road trip, this makes a satisfying stop.

Address: 598 Blue Lakes Blvd N, Twin Falls, ID 83301

5. Sizzler

Calling it a salad bar almost undersells the thing. In Pocatello, Sizzler’s spread behaves more like a full buffet that happens to start with greens.

The all-you-can-eat bar includes fruits, soups, wings, and desserts. Ice cream joins the lineup too, so the last stop is a sweet one.

Steak is the anchor here. This longtime casual restaurant cooks steaks to order, and pairing one with the salad bar turns dinner into a full plate.

Seafood fans have options as well. Look for steak and mini fried shrimp, fish and chips, and clam chowder on the menu.

Specials sometimes add all-you-can-eat shrimp to the deal. That combo is worth asking about when you sit down.

Don’t skip the cheese toast. It’s a Sizzler signature and a fine sidekick to a bowl of soup.

The Malibu chicken is another familiar pick for anyone who remembers Sizzler from decades past. Nostalgia tastes pretty good with a side salad.

Friday and Saturday evenings draw the biggest crowds, and reservations aren’t accepted. Plan for a short wait if you head over on a weekend.

For eastern Idaho diners wanting steak with every fixing, this one closes the list on a high note.

Address: 1000 Pocatello Creek Rd, Pocatello, ID 83201