7 All-You-Can-Eat Buffets in Pennsylvania That Go Way Beyond the Basics
Pennsylvania is home to some of the most incredible all-you-can-eat buffets in the country. These spots aren’t your average buffets with bland food and boring options. Instead, they offer amazing flavors, unique dishes, and experiences that will make your taste buds dance with joy. From Amish country cooking to international cuisine, these seven buffets take dining to a whole new level.
1. Regal Buffet in Reading
Hidden in Reading’s bustling streets, Regal Buffet stands as a crown jewel of Asian cuisine with over 200 daily items. The hibachi station alone draws crowds as skilled chefs flip, chop, and sizzle your custom creation right before your eyes. Fresh sushi rolls appear throughout the day, ensuring peak freshness unlike many buffet competitors. Their legendary crab legs weekend special has locals planning their entire week around a visit.
Kids particularly love the chocolate fountain station where strawberries, marshmallows, and cookies await a sweet bath. The spacious dining area accommodates large groups, making it perfect for family celebrations.
2. Miller’s Smorgasbord Restaurant in Ronks
Serving traditional Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine since 1929, Miller’s isn’t just a meal—it’s a cultural experience. The historic farmhouse setting creates an atmosphere as authentic as their recipes, passed down through generations.
Their fried chicken achieves that perfect golden crispiness while remaining juicy inside—a technique they’ve mastered over decades. Seasonal vegetables come from neighboring Amish farms, often harvested the very morning they’re served.
Don’t miss their shoofly pie, a molasses dessert that perfectly captures the region’s sweet heritage. The restaurant’s rustic wooden beams and quilted décor transport diners to a simpler time while enjoying unlimited country comfort food.
3. Manor Buffet in Lancaster
Manor Buffet surprises visitors with its unexpected seafood focus in the heart of Amish country. The snow crab legs, available every night, arrive steaming hot and pre-cracked for easy eating—a thoughtful touch regular patrons appreciate.
The made-to-order pasta station features homemade sauces that would make Italian grandmothers nod in approval. Their carving station rotates between prime rib, turkey, and ham throughout the week, always paired with freshly prepared horseradish sauce.
What truly sets Manor apart is their commitment to accommodating dietary restrictions with clearly labeled gluten-free and vegetarian options throughout the buffet. The restaurant’s modern interior contrasts beautifully with Lancaster’s traditional surroundings.
4. Yoder’s Restaurant & Buffet in New Holland
Family-owned for three generations, Yoder’s captures authentic Amish cooking where recipes remain unchanged since the 1960s. The restaurant’s famous chicken and waffles aren’t the trendy version—they’re the traditional Pennsylvania Dutch style with creamy chicken gravy poured over golden waffles.
Every Thursday features their renowned ham balls, a local specialty you’ll rarely find outside the region. The dessert table showcases over 20 pie varieties daily, each with flaky, buttery crusts that could win county fair ribbons.
Many ingredients come directly from the Yoder family farm, maintaining a farm-to-table approach long before it became fashionable. The dining room’s large windows overlook Amish farmland, connecting diners to the source of their meal.
5. Dienner’s Country Restaurant in Soudersburg
Stepping into Dienner’s feels like being welcomed into an Amish grandmother’s kitchen. The rotisserie chicken, their signature item, slowly turns on spits visible from the dining area, creating mouthwatering anticipation as you’re seated. Buttery mashed potatoes come topped with chicken gravy so good some regulars admit they’d drink it like soup. The pickle bar—an unexpected highlight—features seven varieties of housemade pickles from sweet bread-and-butter to fiery hot garlic.
Unlike many buffets focused on quantity, Dienner’s prepares small batches frequently, ensuring nothing sits too long. Their whoopie pies, a Pennsylvania Dutch classic, come in rotating flavors including traditional chocolate, pumpkin, and red velvet depending on the season.
6. Great Karoo Marketplace Buffet in Pocono Manor
Nestled within Mount Airy Casino Resort, Great Karoo brings unexpected international flair to the Poconos. The buffet’s African-inspired name hints at its global approach, featuring stations dedicated to cuisines from five continents. Friday’s seafood night transforms the space with ice sculptures cradling fresh oysters, shrimp, and ceviche.
The tandoori oven produces naan bread with perfect char marks while the adjacent station offers butter chicken that rivals authentic Indian restaurants. Weekend brunch elevates morning classics with made-to-order crepes, Belgian waffles, and an impressive Bloody Mary bar.
The upscale atmosphere with stone accents and dramatic lighting makes this buffet feel more like a culinary journey than a casual meal—perfect for special occasions.
7. Shady Maple Smorgasbord in East Earl
The undisputed king of Pennsylvania buffets, Shady Maple spans 200 feet of food stations serving 1,200 diners simultaneously. The massive grill area features chefs preparing custom omelets at breakfast and sizzling steaks during dinner—all included in the standard price.
Wednesday’s seafood night has become legendary, with snow crab legs, peel-and-eat shrimp, and fried fish drawing visitors from neighboring states. Their bakery department produces over 40 dessert options daily, including warm shoofly pie that locals insist is the region’s best. The restaurant celebrates birthdays with free meals, making it a beloved tradition for Pennsylvania families.
After eating, visitors can explore the massive gift shop downstairs featuring local crafts, preserves, and Amish-made furniture—extending the experience beyond just a meal.
