Unearth The Voyage
When dinner feels like a chore, North Carolina’s all-you-can-eat scene makes it easy to skip the stove and still eat memorably. From sizzling Korean barbecue to vinegar-kissed pork and oceans of fresh sushi, these spots deliver variety without the stress.
Tourism in the state keeps rising, with Visit NC noting strong post-2022 recovery and food-centric travel leading weekend getaways, so reservations can help on peak nights. Come hungry, bring a flexible plan, and let these crowd-pleasing buffets turn dinner into an adventure.
1. River Buffet & Grill – Charlotte
River Buffet & Grill packs serious variety, so you can graze without repeating a plate. Start with peel and eat shrimp, then move to garlicky green beans and crisp egg rolls.
The hibachi station is the move, where you pick noodles, veggies, steak or chicken, and watch it sizzle.
Charlotte’s diners love value, and this spot delivers with steady refills and quick service. Sushi rotates often, with simple rolls that stay fresh at dinner rush.
Insider tip: arrive early on weekends to avoid lines, and circle back for the salt and pepper shrimp after a fresh batch hits.
Prices are friendly, and kids eat well here. Parking is easy, and staff clear plates fast so you can keep exploring.
2. Ginza Buffet of Gastonia – Gastonia
Ginza Buffet of Gastonia is a local go to for big groups who want both sushi and comfort classics. You will find sesame chicken, lo mein, and a robust salad bar alongside fried okra and buttery rolls.
The sushi selection focuses on popular rolls, refreshed frequently during dinner hours.
Servers are attentive, and plates do not linger. For best results, time your visit for the dinner turnover when hot trays are swapped frequently.
Try the Mongolian grill style station and build a bowl with spicy sauce and fresh scallions.
Gastonia’s dining scene is growing, and this place remains a dependable value. Bring an appetite, save room for soft serve, and pace yourself across stations to avoid early plate fatigue.
3. Chason’s Buffet – Fayetteville
Chason’s Buffet leans Southern, and you will taste it right away in the fried chicken’s shattering crust. Sides are the star: creamy mac and cheese, slow cooked collards, and sweet yams that feel like Sunday supper.
The carving station often features turkey or ham with gravy.
Locals recommend stacking a plate with chicken, cornbread, and extra hot sauce, then finishing with banana pudding. The dining room runs family friendly, and staff keep sweet tea topped.
Go early for the freshest pans, especially on church crowd days.
Fayetteville’s military community keeps turnover brisk, so food stays hot and replenished. It is comfort food done buffet style, perfect when home cooking energy runs low but cravings run high.
4. Ichiban Grill & Supreme Buffet – Greensboro
Ichiban Grill & Supreme Buffet is a Greensboro giant known for breadth and crowd pleasing choices. Load a plate with crispy honey chicken, sautéed mushrooms, and fried rice, then head to the hibachi to build your own stir fry.
The cooks work fast, tossing noodles and steak with big flames.
The sushi bar is impressive for volume and steady freshness at peak times. Simple nigiri, crab rolls, and seaweed salad keep plates interesting.
Tip: add extra ginger and a small drizzle of soy, then loop back for hibachi seconds.
With thousands of reviews, this spot runs like a machine. Families, students, and road trippers find it easy, affordable, and reliably satisfying after a long day.
5. Bamboo Garden Asian Buffet – Winston-Salem
Bamboo Garden Asian Buffet brings a tidy, well organized spread with a friendly neighborhood vibe. Expect crab rangoon with a delicate crunch, garlicky broccoli, and pepper steak done tender.
Sushi leans classic and tastes best during prime dinner turnover when fresh trays arrive quickly.
Winston Salem diners rave about the fast service and hot pans on busy nights. Pair lo mein with steamed veggies for balance, then treat yourself to coconut shrimp.
The fruit bar and soft serve finish are smart palate cleansers.
Parking is simple, and prices are gentle on weeknights. If you like a calmer scene, aim for early evening.
The staff clear plates fast so you can keep exploring more flavors comfortably.
6. Jasmine Buffet – Charlotte
Jasmine Buffet thrives on volume, affordability, and crowd pleasing staples. Sushi rolls are simple but plentiful, and trays of General Tso’s chicken, green beans, and fried rice rotate quickly at dinner.
Grab a bowl of hot and sour soup to start, then split time between sushi and hibachi.
Charlotte’s growth keeps seats filled, which means high turnover and fresher pans. Insider tip: when the tempura shrimp hits, it vanishes fast, so do a quick pass near the sushi corner.
Dessert brings bite size cakes plus fresh oranges or melon.
Service is swift and unfussy, great for groups. If you are chasing value in the city, this stop makes skipping the stove feel like the obvious choice.
7. Let’s Meat KBBQ – Charlotte
At Let’s Meat KBBQ, you grill your own feast, which turns dinner into a fun mini event. Order rounds of marinated bulgogi, spicy pork belly, and thick cut brisket, then manage the heat while banchan keeps arriving.
Japchae, pickled daikon, and kimchi balance the richness.
The all you can eat format rewards pacing, so alternate proteins with lettuce wraps and rice. Charlotte’s K Town energy shines here, and staff help flip meat if you are new.
Pro tip: book ahead on weekends because tables go fast, and go light on lunch.
Korean BBQ interest keeps growing statewide, mirroring national trends. You will leave smelling like smoke and smiling, with zero dishes waiting at home.
8. SushiHana – Charlotte
SushiHana offers an AYCE order to table format that feels calmer than a buffet line. Check off rolls, nigiri, and appetizers, then relax while plates arrive fresh.
Salmon nigiri is a standout, and the spicy tuna crunch roll satisfies without being heavy.
Service is friendly, and pacing dishes helps avoid waste. Pair miso soup with seaweed salad, then add a few specialty rolls to share.
For best texture, eat nigiri first before rice warms up.
Charlotte diners love the consistency and clear pricing. If you want variety without jostling for trays, this is your move.
It is perfect for date night or catching up with friends, with enough options to keep everyone happy.
9. Sushi Taku – Charlotte
Sushi Taku in Charlotte brings a polished AYCE experience where quality and speed meet. You order via checklist, and plates land quickly with neat presentation.
Expect clean cuts of salmon, white tuna, and eel nigiri, alongside crunchy shrimp tempura rolls and pan fried gyoza.
To maximize flavor, alternate soy with a dab of wasabi and fresh ginger. The kitchen paces courses so rice stays warm and fish stays cool.
Save room for a specialty roll or two, since those often steal the show.
It is a favorite with date nights and small groups. Prices feel fair for the quality, and parking is manageable.
Arrive slightly early on weekends to avoid a wait.
10. Szechuan Mansion Hotpot – Cary
Szechuan Mansion Hotpot turns dinner into a choose your own adventure. Pick a divided pot with numbing mala on one side and mushroom or tomato broth on the other.
Order thin sliced beef, lamb, quail eggs, and lotus root, then build custom dips at the epic sauce bar.
The spice is real, so balance bites with rice or sweet corn. Staff share tips on timing so meats stay tender and veggies do not overcook.
It is popular with families and student groups, and the dining room buzzes.
Cary’s international food scene keeps pushing forward, and this spot is a headline act. Come hungry, hydrate, and prepare to crave that tingly heat long after dinner.
11. Boiling Pot – Charlotte
Boiling Pot offers AYCE style seafood nights that feel like a party, with bibs, gloves, and lots of napkins. Choose your spice level and sauce, then dig into shrimp, crawfish, corn, and potatoes.
The aroma of garlic butter hits first, and the messy fun keeps spirits high.
Charlotte diners appreciate the shareable format, especially for group celebrations. Add sausage to round out the boil, and squeeze lemon for brightness.
Cold beer or sweet tea keeps the heat in check.
Expect a lively crowd on weekends, so consider a reservation. Prices are higher than typical buffets but justified by seafood portions.
You will leave full, happy, and not worrying about cleanup at home.
12. Casey’s Buffet – Wilmington
Casey’s Buffet is Wilmington’s answer to the question of where to taste real coastal Carolina comfort. Expect vinegar pulled pork, crisp fried chicken, and hushpuppies that crunch outside and stay tender inside.
Collards, limas, and baked mac anchor the sides, with sweet tea flowing.
Locals swear by the banana pudding and hot cobbler finish. Arrive early on beach weekends when traffic surges.
The line moves quickly, and staff keep pans rotating for peak freshness.
Wilmington’s visitor numbers rebounded strongly in recent seasons, and this dining room reflects the uptick. It is affordable, nostalgic, and deeply satisfying, especially after a day on the riverfront or nearby beaches.
Bring extra napkins and an even bigger appetite.
13. Golden Corral Buffet & Grill – Raleigh
Golden Corral in Raleigh does what the brand is known for and does it well. Carving stations, rotisserie chicken, and a deep salad bar make it easy to customize.
The chocolate fountain draws kids like a magnet, and soft rolls are perfect for sopping up gravy.
For a smarter pass, start with salad to pace yourself, then visit the grill for a fresh cut. Weekend breakfasts are surprisingly popular with locals.
Coffee flows freely and staff keep tables tidy.
Nationwide, buffets have bounced back as families seek value, and this location sees steady traffic. It is predictable in the best way, a reliable weeknight solution when nobody wants to cook or clean.
14. Fuller’s Old Fashioned BBQ & Buffet – Lumberton/Pembroke
Fuller’s Old Fashioned BBQ & Buffet serves the flavors Eastern North Carolina is famous for. Vinegar pulled pork arrives tender with bright tang, and fried chicken brings that satisfying crunch.
Chicken pastry, collards, and black eyed peas round out a spread that feels like home.
Locals line up on weekends, so timing matters. Add slaw and a dash of Texas Pete, then grab hushpuppies for dipping.
Save space for banana pudding, which tastes like grandma made it.
Regional barbecue draws travelers off I 95, and this stop earns repeat visits. Portions are generous, prices fair, and service friendly.
If you want classic Carolina plates without heating the kitchen, this buffet hits perfectly.
15. McCall’s BBQ & Seafood – Goldsboro
McCall’s BBQ & Seafood blends two Carolina loves in one satisfying buffet. You can stack a plate with pulled pork, then add Calabash style fried shrimp and flaky fish.
Hushpuppies and slaw make the perfect partners, with sweet tea never far away.
Goldsboro families swear by the dessert table, especially banana pudding and chocolate pie. Visit during dinner turnover for the hottest trays and crispest fry.
A little vinegar sauce perks up richer bites.
It is a great stop during road trips or after a Seymour Johnson AFB event. Friendly service and fair prices make repeat visits easy.
You will leave full, happy, and plotting your next plate before the drive home.
