9 Pennsylvania Restaurants To Skip And 11 You’ll Love Instead
Hungry in Pennsylvania? Not all restaurants are created equal! I’ve spent years exploring the Keystone State’s dining scene, from bustling city eateries to quaint country kitchens. Today, I’m sharing my honest take on which spots to cross off your list and where to head instead for truly memorable meals. Consider this your personal food guide to Pennsylvania’s best (and worst) buffets and restaurants.
1. China Buffet
My stomach still remembers the regret. Walking into China Buffet, the lukewarm food sitting under dim heat lamps immediately raised red flags.
The sesame chicken had clearly been recycled throughout the day, while the sushi selection looked dangerously past its prime. Staff seemed uninterested in refilling empty trays or cleaning tables.
Health inspection reports haven’t been kind to this establishment either. Save your appetite and your digestive system by crossing this Lancaster spot off your dining list.
2. Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet
Grandeur in name only! The “Supreme” part of Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet feels like false advertising once you sample their offerings.
Rubbery crab legs, mystery meat hibachi, and soggy vegetables await the unsuspecting diner. The dessert section features what I can only describe as ice cream that’s been melted and refrozen multiple times.
Service borders on hostile when you request anything beyond the bare minimum. Your $15 buffet fee would be better spent literally anywhere else in Bethlehem.
3. Panda Garden (New Holland)
Panda Garden promises authentic Chinese cuisine but delivers microwave-quality disappointment. The egg rolls had the distinctive texture of having been frozen, thawed, and refried multiple times.
General Tso’s chicken consisted mostly of batter with precious little meat hiding inside. Even their rice – the simplest of staples – somehow managed to be both undercooked and mushy simultaneously.
The dining room’s sticky floors and perpetually smudged sneeze guards complete the unfortunate experience. New Holland deserves better than this panda predicament.
4. Great Wall Buffet
The irony of “Great” in the name becomes painfully apparent after your first plate. This Allentown establishment offers a stunning array of mediocrity across its sprawling buffet stations.
Crab rangoon filling had a strange chemical aftertaste. The beef and broccoli featured beef so tough it could double as shoe leather. Worst of all was the noticeable lack of temperature control – hot foods were barely warm, cold items suspiciously room temperature.
Multiple health code violations in recent years should be enough to steer you elsewhere.
5. Fortune Buffet (Erie)
My dining experience at Fortune Buffet left me questioning my life choices. Located near Erie’s waterfront, you’d expect fresh seafood options – instead, I found fish dishes with a distinctly freezer-burned quality.
The buffet’s layout forces you to squeeze between tables, practically brushing against other diners’ plates. Cleanliness issues extend beyond the dining area to visible kitchen problems.
Even the fortune cookies seemed pessimistic, with one actually reading “You will soon regret a decision.” Prophetic indeed, little cookie!
6. Empire Buffet
Empire Buffet stands as a testament to fallen glory. What might have once been a decent establishment has descended into a sad collection of food stations offering quantity over quality.
The sushi rolls contained more rice than fish, while the American section featured dried-out fried chicken and mashed potatoes with the consistency of wallpaper paste. Desserts looked attractive from a distance but tasted overwhelmingly artificial up close.
Staff members appeared genuinely unhappy to be there; a sentiment I quickly came to share.
7. Buffet Star
The name suggests celestial dining heights, but Buffet Star has clearly fallen from the heavens. My recent visit revealed a restaurant coasting on past reputation while quality plummeted.
The once-popular mongolian grill station now features pre-cooked meat sitting in lukewarm water. Vegetable offerings looked tired and wilted, as if they’d been on display for days rather than hours.
Most concerning was the bathroom condition – a restaurant’s cleanliness behind the scenes often reflects food preparation standards. York has too many excellent dining options to waste a meal here.
8. Chinatown Buffet
Reading’s Chinatown Buffet seems determined to redefine how low buffet standards can go. The moment you walk in, the powerful aroma of old fryer oil hits you like a wall.
Food labels are frequently mixed up or missing entirely, turning meal selection into a mysterious guessing game. I watched in horror as a staff member used the same tongs for raw and cooked items without cleaning between uses.
The dining room’s perpetually sticky tables and chairs made me question when they last saw a proper cleaning. Reading has better options – seek them out instead.
9. Tokyo Diner & Buffet
Tokyo Diner & Buffet commits the cardinal sin of attempting too many cuisines while mastering none. Their Japanese offerings bear little resemblance to actual Japanese food – the sushi rice is often hard and flavorless.
Chinese dishes fare no better, with sweet and sour sauce that tastes primarily of corn syrup and food coloring. The hibachi station operates sporadically, depending on staff availability.
Perhaps most telling is how locals avoid this spot, leaving it primarily to unsuspecting travelers and state employees grabbing quick lunches. Harrisburg deserves (and has) much better Asian cuisine options.
10. Shady Maple Smorgasbord
Holy smorgasbord, Batman! Shady Maple isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a Pennsylvania Dutch food cathedral spanning 200 feet of homestyle goodness. The breakfast alone features made-to-order omelets, fresh waffles, and pancakes bigger than your face.
What separates this place from lesser buffets is quality control – foods are prepared in small batches and rotated frequently. Their fried chicken recipe should be classified as a state treasure.
Go hungry and wear stretchy pants – the all-you-can-eat experience here is worth every penny and every calorie!
11. Miller’s Smorgasbord
Family-owned since 1929, Miller’s Smorgasbord serves up a slice of authentic Pennsylvania Dutch heritage with every plate. Unlike factory-style buffets, everything here tastes homemade because, well, it actually is!
Their famous ham balls with pineapple sauce have been converting skeptics for generations. The bakery section features shoofly pie that would make your grandmother weep with joy.
The restaurant’s country charm extends to its staff – many servers have worked here for decades and treat you like returning family. For a true taste of Lancaster County’s culinary heritage, Miller’s cannot be missed.
12. Dienner’s Country Restaurant
Tucked away from the tourist traps, Dienner’s is where locals go for authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking without pretense. The roast beef practically melts in your mouth, having been slow-cooked to perfection for hours.
Their chicken corn soup – a regional specialty – strikes the perfect balance between hearty and refined. Don’t miss the chow-chow, a sweet-pickled vegetable medley that complements every main dish beautifully.
Family-style seating encourages conversation with neighbors, making meals here feel like a community gathering rather than just a restaurant visit. Pure comfort food bliss!
13. Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord
The phrase “farm-to-table” gets tossed around a lot these days, but Bird-in-Hand truly delivers on this promise. Many ingredients come directly from neighboring Amish farms, often harvested the same day they’re served.
Their buttered noodles – deceptively simple yet impossibly delicious – have been perfected over generations. Seasonal specialties shine here, particularly during autumn when local produce reaches its peak.
The restaurant’s large windows overlook actual farmland, providing a picturesque backdrop that reminds you exactly where your delicious meal originated. A quintessential Lancaster County dining experience!
14. Hershey Farm Restaurant & Smorgasbord
Hershey Farm (no relation to the chocolate company) offers country cooking that’s simultaneously unpretentious and extraordinary. Their fried chicken achieves the impossible: crispy exterior while remaining juicy inside.
The salad bar deserves special mention – not just for fresh vegetables, but for Pennsylvania Dutch specialties like pepper cabbage and seven-layer salad. Their bread pudding with warm vanilla sauce has ruined me for all other desserts.
Kids particularly love the dedicated children’s buffet section with familiar favorites at just their height. The sprawling property also features shops and a bakery worth exploring after your meal.
15. Manor Buffet
While smaller than some of Lancaster’s buffet behemoths, Manor Buffet compensates with exceptional quality and attention to detail. The owners work alongside their staff, ensuring consistent excellence across every station.
Their pork and sauerkraut would make any Pennsylvania Dutch grandmother nod in approval. Desserts here aren’t afterthoughts but masterpieces – especially the warm apple dumplings with vanilla ice cream.
The restaurant’s modest exterior belies the culinary treasures within. Don’t let the unassuming appearance fool you – this is some of the best comfort food in Lancaster County!
16. Oregon Dairy Restaurant & Buffet
Connected to an actual working dairy farm and supermarket, Oregon Dairy Restaurant offers farm-to-fork dining at its finest. Their breakfast buffet features eggs from local farms and milk products from cows you can literally see from the restaurant windows!
Weekday theme nights keep things interesting – the seafood buffet on Fridays draws crowds from miles around. Their homemade ice cream, made on-site with their own dairy, creates desserts that define creamy perfection.
After eating, families can visit the farm’s petting zoo and playground, making this a complete countryside experience rather than just a meal.
17. Yoder’s Restaurant & Buffet
Yoder’s transforms traditional Amish recipes into buffet form without sacrificing an ounce of authenticity. Their chicken pot pie (the Pennsylvania Dutch version with noodles, not crust) achieves the perfect balance of comfort and refinement.
The restaurant’s pickle bar – featuring everything from sweet gherkins to spicy dills – has developed a cult following among locals. Seasonal vegetables are prepared simply but perfectly, allowing their natural flavors to shine.
The bakery section offers take-home treats that will have you planning your next visit before you’ve even finished the current meal. New Holland’s finest dining experience, hands down!
18. Lititz Family Cupboard Restaurant
Unlike corporate chains, the Family Cupboard feels like dining in someone’s home – if that someone happened to be an extraordinary Pennsylvania Dutch cook. Their ham loaf with pineapple sauce represents comfort food elevated to art form.
Thursday’s all-you-can-eat fried chicken draws devotees from across the county. The restaurant’s pickle selection includes family recipes passed down through generations.
What truly sets this place apart is the staff – many have worked here for decades and remember returning customers by name and favorite dishes. When they ask how you’re doing, they genuinely want to know!
19. Hokkaido Seafood Buffet
Breaking from the Pennsylvania Dutch theme, Hokkaido brings a genuinely impressive Asian seafood experience to Pittsburgh. Unlike disappointing buffets on our skip list, Hokkaido maintains rigorous quality standards across all stations.
The sushi selection features fish that’s actually fresh, prepared by skilled chefs before your eyes. Their crab legs – the downfall of many buffets – arrive hot, properly split, and genuinely delicious.
The hibachi station offers customized stir-fry with ingredients that haven’t been sitting out all day. For urban Pennsylvania dining that breaks the buffet stereotype, Hokkaido delivers consistent excellence.
20. Wyomissing Restaurant & Bakery
While not technically a buffet, Wyomissing Restaurant & Bakery deserves inclusion for its exceptional quality-to-price ratio and hometown charm. Their breakfast menu features Pennsylvania Dutch classics like scrapple and creamed chipped beef prepared with respectful authenticity.
Lunch offerings include hot turkey sandwiches with gravy that could make a grown adult weep with joy. The attached bakery produces breads and pastries that regularly sell out before noon.
Regulars know to arrive early on weekends or face a wait – but even the line becomes a social event where neighbors catch up while anticipating culinary delights.
