Manor Buffet in Lancaster brings together more than 100 food choices, including sushi, seafood, Chinese favorites, and made-to-order hibachi. The restaurant also has a chocolate fountain, making it an easy choice for families who want more than a typical buffet.
Located on Lincoln Highway East, this 15,000-square-foot restaurant has room for up to 450 diners. Guests can build their own hibachi plates, explore the seafood station, or stick with familiar American dishes.
The buffet is also open on Sundays, making it a convenient option for visitors exploring Lancaster County. Between the koi pond near the entrance, the variety of food stations, and the dessert selection, there is plenty to discover beyond the usual buffet experience.
Meet the Buffet on Lincoln Highway East
Manor Buffet sits at 2090 Lincoln Hwy E in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It serves all-you-can-eat Asian and American food in one big dining space.
The building looks fairly plain from the parking lot. Inside, though, the dining area is larger and more decorated than many people expect.
That gap between the outside and the inside is part of the fun of a first visit.
The restaurant mixes several kinds of food stations. You will see a hibachi grill, a sushi area, seafood, Chinese favorites, American dishes, and a dessert section.
Carry-out is also available if you would rather eat at home.
I like that the menu does not force a choice. One person in your group can stick with fried rice and chicken while another goes straight for sushi.
Families with picky eaters tend to appreciate that kind of freedom.
The location is handy for travelers too. It sits a short drive from the Sight and Sound Theatre area, so it works well before or after a show.
Once you know where it is, the next question is simple: what should go on the first plate?
Koi Fish Welcome You at the Door
Few restaurants start your meal with a fish pond. At Manor Buffet, koi fish swim near the entrance, and they are one of the first things people notice.
Koi are a type of colorful carp. They come in shades of orange, white, red, black, and gold.
Kids often stop to watch them glide around before heading to their table.
Here is a quick fun fact. In Japan and China, koi are often linked with good luck and strength.
That is one reason they show up in so many Asian gardens and businesses.
For families, the pond can be a small gift. A little one waiting for a table has something to look at besides a phone screen.
It turns a few minutes of waiting into a mini outing.
Just remember to keep hands out of the water and coins in your pocket unless staff say otherwise. Koi are living animals, not decorations.
After a quick hello to the fish, the dining room opens up. And the room itself has more to show than you might guess from the road outside.
Build Your Own Hibachi Plate
Hungry for something cooked just for you? The hibachi station at Manor Buffet lets you pick your own raw ingredients and hand them to a cook.
The idea is easy. You choose items like vegetables, noodles, and proteins, then the cook grills them on a hot flat-top.
A few minutes later, you get a fresh plate made your way.
This station is a great choice for anyone who likes control. Want extra onions and no mushrooms?
You can do that. Want a lighter plate full of veggies?
That works too.
Food allergies are worth mentioning to the cook. At least one diner with a shellfish allergy shared that staff cleaned the grill more carefully for them.
Always speak up clearly, though, since buffets handle many ingredients at once.
My tip is to build a smaller plate first. You can always go back, and a smaller order leaves room to explore other stations.
Some people also call this style Mongolian barbecue. The name changes, but the hands-on fun stays the same.
Next up is a station that needs no grill at all.
Sushi Rolls Ready to Grab
Sushi lovers, take note. Manor Buffet has a sushi bar with a steady lineup of rolls, which is not something every buffet does well.
Sushi is a Japanese dish built around seasoned rice. It often includes fish, vegetables, or seaweed.
Some pieces are raw, while others use cooked fillings like shrimp or crab stick.
If you are new to sushi, start simple. A cucumber roll or a cooked shrimp roll is a gentle first step.
Then try something bolder once you know what you like.
A buffet is actually a smart place to learn about sushi. You can take one or two pieces at a time without paying for a full order.
If a roll is not your style, no big deal.
Here are a few easy habits that help. Use the serving tongs rather than your fingers.
Add a small dab of soy sauce instead of soaking each piece.
Sushi pairs nicely with a bowl of soup or a few seafood bites. Speaking of seafood, that section deserves a closer look of its own.
Seafood Choices Beyond Fried Shrimp
Crawfish in Lancaster County might sound surprising. Yet crawfish come up often when people talk about Manor Buffet, along with plenty of other seafood.
Diners have mentioned shrimp, clams on the half shell, oysters, and shrimp and crab meatballs. Some of the seafood is served cooked, and some is served raw.
One lunch visitor was happy to find oysters out even before dinner.
Keep your expectations flexible, though. One guest hoped for crab legs and lobster but did not find them that day.
Seafood offerings can change, so it helps to call ahead if one item is your main reason for coming.
Crawfish can look tricky. The trick is to twist the tail away from the head, then pinch the tail to slide the meat out.
It takes practice, so grab some extra napkins.
Raw shellfish is a personal choice. People who are pregnant, very young, or have certain health concerns may want to stick with cooked options.
Not into seafood at all? Relax.
The Chinese and American sections have plenty to keep your plate full.
Chinese Comfort Food Classics
Craving Chinese takeout but want more choices? This is where Manor Buffet really fills a plate.
The steam tables hold many American Chinese favorites. Think lo mein, fried rice, stir-fried vegetables, and saucy chicken dishes.
Sweet and sour riblets and spareribs are dishes diners have called out by name.
American Chinese food is its own style. Many dishes were shaped by Chinese immigrants who adjusted recipes for American tastes.
That history is why you see sweet sauces and crispy fried pieces so often.
One good strategy is the tasting plate. Take a spoonful of five or six dishes instead of a big scoop of one.
You will quickly learn your favorites without getting full too soon.
Vegetable lovers have options too. A stir-fry with crisp green beans or broccoli can balance out heavier fried foods.
Japanese dishes appear here as well, so the Asian lineup reaches beyond Chinese cooking. Wander the full length of the tables before you start scooping.
The best surprise is often at the far end, right next to the American comfort foods.
American Favorites for Every Picky Eater
Not everyone at the table wants sushi, and that is perfectly fine. Manor Buffet also serves American fare for diners who prefer familiar flavors.
Grilled steak pieces and roast beef have been spotted on the line. There is also a salad bar and soups.
Kids who only eat a few things can usually find something they like.
This mix helps groups a lot. Imagine a family reunion where Grandpa wants beef, your cousin wants crab meatballs, and a toddler wants plain noodles.
One stop handles all of them.
One visitor did wish for more non-seafood protein. So if your crew leans heavily toward meat, plan on mixing hibachi plates with the American section.
The salad bar is a smart place to start. A small bowl of greens or soup lets you settle in before tackling heavier dishes.
Large parties have used the restaurant for celebrations too. One family brought over 40 people for a send-off party.
If you are planning a big group, call ahead first. And no matter who comes along, everyone should save a little room for dessert.
Chocolate Fountain and Soft Serve Sweets
Kids spot it first, and grown-ups pretend they did not. The chocolate fountain at Manor Buffet is one of the most talked-about features in the whole place.
Melted chocolate pours down the tiers in a steady flow. Diners dip treats into it for a sweet coating.
It feels like a party, even on a regular Tuesday… well, any day but Tuesday, since that is when it is closed.
The dessert area also includes soft serve ice cream. Many people swirl a cone or cup and add toppings for a do-it-yourself sundae.
A few manners keep things pleasant for everyone. Use the skewers provided, and never double dip.
Help younger kids so the chocolate stays in the fountain and off their shirts.
The dessert table holds other sweets as well, so take a lap before choosing. Small portions let you sample more.
Parents, here is a simple plan. Tell kids dessert comes after one real plate of food.
A chocolate fountain makes an excellent reward. Now that your plates are covered, let us talk about timing your trip.
Timing Your Visit Like a Pro
Sunday dinner in Lancaster can be tricky. Many Amish-run restaurants close that day, so Manor Buffet’s Sunday hours make it a handy choice.
The restaurant opens at 11 AM most days. It closes Tuesdays, so plan around that.
Friday and Saturday hours run a little later than the rest of the week.
Lunch and dinner are priced differently on weekdays. According to the restaurant, dinner starts at 3:30 p.m.
On weekends, the rate stays the same all day, so lunch is not a bargain then.
Crowds build at peak times. Diners have described waits of 15 to 20 minutes on busy evenings, like a Saturday around dinner.
Coming earlier can save you some standing around.
Weekday lunches tend to feel calmer. One visitor came on a Wednesday around 1 PM and found full steam tables and oysters on display.
Visiting after a show at Sight and Sound? Expect other theater crowds to have the same idea.
A little planning goes a long way. Speaking of planning, your wallet deserves some thought too.
Kid Pricing and Smart Budget Tips
Good news for families: kids at Manor Buffet usually pay less than adults. Prices are scaled by age, so a seven-year-old is not charged the same as a grown-up.
That matters, because little ones rarely eat a full adult share. Parents traveling with kids have pointed out how much fairer that felt.
Prices can change, so check the current rates before you go. Remember that weekday lunch typically costs less than dinner.
Weekends use a single rate for the whole day.
Here is how I would stretch value. Go for the foods you rarely make at home, like hibachi, sushi, and shellfish.
Skip filling up on plain bread or extra rice early on.
Drink plenty of water or tea between plates. It helps you pace yourself and enjoy more variety.
Carry-out is another option if you want the food without the full buffet experience. Ask the staff how it works when you arrive.
A buffet visit is really about choice. With fish to greet you, cooks at the grill, and chocolate waiting at the end, this Lancaster stop gives the whole family something to look forward to.
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