6 Tennessee Buffets To Skip And 8 Worth The Trip
As a food-loving Tennessean who’s sampled more all-you-can-eat spreads than my waistline cares to admit, I’ve discovered the good, the bad, and the downright disappointing across our beautiful state. Nothing’s worse than wasting your appetite (and hard-earned cash) on a subpar buffet when culinary treasures await just down the road. I’ve compiled this mouthwatering guide to help you navigate Tennessee’s buffet scene like a true local.
1. Buffet King – Chattanooga
Despite its regal name, this place serves food that’s more court jester than king. I nearly chipped a tooth on their crusty fried chicken last visit! The lukewarm steam tables hold mysteries that should remain unsolved.
The salad bar wilts under fluorescent lighting, with dressings so watery they’re practically transparent. And don’t get me started on the “crab” rangoon that’s suspiciously crabless.
Save your appetite for somewhere that treats food with respect. At these prices, you deserve better than recycled buffet items that have seen better days.
2. Hong Kong King Buffet – Chattanooga
Oh honey, where do I begin? The egg rolls had the texture of cardboard tubes, and the sweet and sour chicken was all sauce, no chicken. My fortune cookie actually read “Lower Your Expectations” – at least that’s honest marketing!
Dusty fake plants frame food stations that haven’t been properly cleaned since the Clinton administration. The sushi selection sits sadly under buzzing lights, with rice so hard it could double as building material.
Your taste buds deserve a vacation, not punishment. Skip this so-called royal experience and find somewhere that understands food should bring joy, not regret.
3. Panda Express – Chattanooga
Calling Panda Express a buffet is like calling a kiddie pool an ocean – technically there’s water, but the experience falls dramatically short. Their orange chicken might be famous, but fame doesn’t equal quality in this establishment.
The food sits in those little compartments getting progressively sadder as the hours tick by. Everything tastes vaguely the same – sweet, sticky, and suspiciously uniform in texture.
What’s worse is paying premium prices for mall food court quality. Your Tennessee buffet adventure deserves authentic flavors and genuine culinary care, not assembly-line Chinese-inspired fast food.
4. Sirloin Stockade – Tennessee
Y’all, I wanted to love this place – the name promises beefy paradise! Instead, I found leathery steaks that would make excellent shoe material. The carving station attendant looked as sad as the gray meat he was serving.
The mashed potatoes had the consistency of wallpaper paste, and I swear the mac and cheese glowed under certain lighting. Even the dessert bar disappointed, with puddings developing that tell-tale skin of neglect.
For a place with “sirloin” in the name, they sure don’t know how to handle beef. Save your carnivorous cravings for somewhere that respects the cow’s sacrifice.
5. Western Sizzlin’ – Tennessee
Remember when Western Sizzlin’ was the place your parents took you for special occasions? Those glory days are long gone, darling. The signature sizzle has become more of a sad sputter.
Scattered across Tennessee, these locations vary wildly in quality, but most share the same tired buffet items. The rolls might be the highlight – which says everything about the main courses! Vegetables come in two varieties: undercooked or mush.
The nostalgic charm can’t compensate for food that’s been warming since breakfast. Your buffet dollars can find happier homes elsewhere in our beautiful state.
6. Shoney’s – Tennessee
Bless their hearts, Shoney’s is like that aging relative who keeps telling the same stories – you love them, but wish they’d update their material. Their breakfast bar was revolutionary in 1975, but now it’s just eggs that have seen better days.
The pancakes absorb syrup like sponges yet somehow remain dry. Mystery gravy coats everything in a beige blanket of mediocrity. And those strawberry pies in the dessert case? They’ve been glistening under lights since my last hairdo.
Tennessee has evolved culinarily, but Shoney’s remains frozen in time. Save your buffet experience for places that have joined us in this century.
7. Aunt Granny’s Restaurant – Pigeon Forge
Nestled inside Dollywood (yes, Dolly Parton’s theme park!), this charming spot serves up Southern comfort food that would make any grandma proud. The fried chicken has that perfect crispy-outside, juicy-inside magic that seems to be a lost art elsewhere.
Unlike typical theme park food, everything tastes homemade with genuine care. Their blackberry cobbler alone is worth the price of admission – warm, buttery, and bursting with berries that taste like Tennessee sunshine.
Even with the crowds, the staff maintains that genuine mountain hospitality. Dolly wouldn’t put her family name on anything less than spectacular!
8. Song & Hearth – Pigeon Forge
Tucked inside DreamMore Resort, this upscale buffet captures mountain magic in every bite. The stone fireplace creates the perfect backdrop for their farm-to-table offerings that change with the seasons. No mass-produced buffet food here!
Their breakfast spread features the fluffiest biscuits this side of heaven, smothered in gravy that’s clearly made by someone’s grandmother. For dinner, the prime rib is carved to perfection – a rare find (pun intended) in buffet-land.
While pricier than other options, the quality and atmosphere justify every penny. Plus, the mountain views from the windows feed your soul while the food nourishes your body.
9. Chow Time Buffet & Grill – Knoxville
Forget everything you thought you knew about Asian buffets! Chow Time breaks the mold with surprisingly fresh sushi that doesn’t frighten seafood lovers. Their hibachi grill station lets you customize your stir-fry with ingredients that haven’t been sitting out for days.
The crab legs (weekend dinner only) aren’t those sad, waterlogged specimens found elsewhere. These beauties are meaty and worth the inevitable shell-cracking struggle. Even their soups have depth of flavor rarely found in buffet settings.
Clean, bright, and constantly refreshed, this place understands that “quantity” and “quality” can coexist harmoniously. Your chopsticks will thank you!
10. Cicis Pizza – Various Locations
Listen up, pizza lovers on a budget! Cicis won’t win any gourmet awards, but it offers infinite pizza possibilities that won’t empty your wallet. Their mac and cheese pizza sounds questionable but tastes like childhood dreams come true.
The salad bar is surprisingly fresh, offering a token vegetable experience before you dive back into carb heaven. Their cinnamon rolls make a delightful dessert finale – gooey, warm, and generously sized.
Perfect for families with picky eaters, Cicis keeps bringing out new varieties throughout your visit. For under $10 per person, this pizza playground delivers simple pleasures without pretension.
11. Golden Corral – Various Locations
Golden Corral is the buffet world’s reliable workhorse – not fancy, but consistently satisfying across Tennessee. Their chocolate fountain mesmerizes both children and adults who should know better (including yours truly).
The carving station offers surprisingly decent prime rib on weekend evenings. Their yeast rolls, baked hourly, create an aroma that should be bottled and sold as perfume. I’ve witnessed grown adults smuggle these pillowy delights in purses and pockets!
While some locations vary in cleanliness, the better ones maintain fresh food rotation and clean serving areas. For all-American variety that pleases everyone in your group, Golden Corral delivers.
12. Arnold’s Country Kitchen – Nashville
This James Beard Award-winning Nashville institution isn’t technically a buffet, but their meat-and-three concept offers that same delightful abundance. The cafeteria-style line moves quickly as friendly servers heap Southern specialties onto your tray.
Their roast beef practically dissolves on your tongue, while the mac and cheese should be declared a Nashville landmark. The rotating daily specials showcase seasonal Southern ingredients with respect and innovation.
The red tray experience is a Nashville rite of passage. Presidents, country music stars, and hungry locals all wait in the same line, united by the pursuit of Southern food perfection. Worth. Every. Calorie.
13. Casey Jones Village – Jackson
This charming destination combines Tennessee railroad history with country cooking that would make Casey Jones himself delay his schedule. The buffet at The Old Country Store restaurant features hand-rolled biscuits that have achieved legendary status among travelers.
Their fried chicken rivals any in the state – crispy, well-seasoned, and miraculously non-greasy. Southern vegetables get proper respect here, cooked with just enough pork to make vegetarians nervous.
After eating, explore the railroad museum and shops to walk off your feast. Located conveniently off I-40, this Tennessee treasure provides the perfect highway break that transforms a necessary stop into a delightful memory.
14. Calhoun’s – Lenoir City
Perched on the shores of Fort Loudoun Lake, Calhoun’s Sunday brunch buffet combines Tennessee BBQ excellence with breathtaking water views. Their award-winning ribs fall off the bone while you watch boats drift by – a feast for stomach and eyes alike!
Unlike many BBQ joints, their non-meat options shine too. The cheese grits achieve that perfect creamy-yet-substantial texture that separates Southern cooks from pretenders. Their spinach maria has converted countless vegetable skeptics.
The lakeside patio offers Tennessee’s prettiest dining backdrop. Time your visit for sunset, when the lake glows golden and the smoky flavors seem even more intense against nature’s show.
