8 California Buffets With Endless Options And 8 Where Desserts Are The Main Attraction
California knows how to do indulgence, whether it’s endless savory options or desserts that steal the show.
Some buffets offer a dizzying variety of flavors, letting diners mix and match to their heart’s content, while others specialize in sweet creations that leave you craving more.
Each spot turns dining into an experience, celebrating abundance and creativity. From hearty plates to decadent treats, these buffets prove that California knows how to satisfy every craving.
1. Tomi Sushi & Seafood Buffet — San Jose
Sushi lovers rejoice! Tomi’s pristine seafood selection will make your taste buds dance with joy. The chefs work their magic behind gleaming counters, crafting fresh nigiri and specialty rolls to order.
Beyond sushi, you’ll discover steaming hot pots, tender teriyaki, and a surprising array of Korean specialties. The crab legs alone are worth battling Silicon Valley traffic for.
2. Hokkaido Buffet — San Jose
Nestled in San Jose’s bustling food scene, Hokkaido Buffet brings a taste of Japan with unexpected international flair.
The sprawling food stations feature everything from teppanyaki grilled before your eyes to fresh-made dumplings that disappear as quickly as they’re set out.
What sets Hokkaido apart is their seafood selection – king crab legs, plump oysters, and buttery salmon that keeps regulars coming back weekly.
3. Milpitas Buffet — Milpitas
Family gatherings find their perfect venue at Milpitas Buffet where three generations can all find something to love.
The massive dining room buzzes with energy as servers bring fresh platters to the seemingly endless food bars.
Their legendary Mongolian BBQ station lets you customize stir-fry creations with dozens of ingredients. Pro tip: save room for their surprisingly excellent prime rib, carved to order and always cooked to perfection.
4. California Market Buffet — Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino
Tucked away in the foothills near Yosemite, this casino buffet breaks the mold with surprisingly sophisticated offerings.
After hitting the slots, hungry gamblers refuel with hand-carved prime rib and made-to-order pasta that would impress even Italian grandmothers.
Weekend brunches feature bottomless mimosas and a chocolate fountain that flows more reliably than nearby mountain streams.
The panoramic mountain views from the dining room windows add an unexpected touch of serenity to your feast.
5. Harvest Dining Hall — Cache Creek Casino Resort
Wine country meets Vegas-style indulgence at Cache Creek’s crown jewel restaurant.
Farm-to-table isn’t just a buzzword here – the kitchen sources ingredients from nearby Capay Valley farms, resulting in impossibly fresh salads and seasonal specialties.
Friday nights bring out the seafood extravaganza with local Dungeness crab when in season.
The dessert station features hand-scooped gelato in flavors that change weekly, reflecting whatever fruits are at peak ripeness.
6. Golden Corral — Anaheim
A stone’s throw from Disneyland, this family-friendly buffet serves as Anaheim’s comfort food headquarters.
The famous chocolate fountain stands tall, beckoning tired park-goers to dip strawberries, marshmallows, and pretty much anything else they can spear with a skewer.
While lacking the glitz of casino buffets, Golden Corral wins hearts with its homestyle cooking stations.
The fresh-baked rolls alone have their own fan club, emerging warm from the oven every 15 minutes like clockwork.
7. Supreme Crab Seafood Buffet — San Francisco
Seafood obsessives make pilgrimages to this San Francisco institution where the ocean’s bounty takes center stage.
Mountains of chilled crab legs, oysters, and jumbo shrimp disappear almost as quickly as staff can replenish them.
Beyond the expected offerings, you’ll find surprisingly authentic Chinese specialties like dim sum and peking duck.
The sushi chefs work at lightning speed, crafting rolls with fish so fresh you’d swear the bay was right in the kitchen.
8. Catalina Kitchen — Terranea Resort
Perched on the Palos Verdes cliffs, Catalina Kitchen elevates buffet dining to an art form.
Sunday brunches here have become legendary among LA’s well-heeled crowd, who come as much for the Pacific Ocean views as for the food.
Champagne flows freely while chefs prepare made-to-order omelets with organic eggs from local farms.
The seafood station features delicacies like chilled Maine lobster tails and seasonal ceviche that changes weekly based on the sustainable catch.
9. The Fresh Grill Buffet — Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Palm Springs weekenders have discovered this desert oasis of culinary excess.
The Fresh Grill lives up to its name with an impressive array of grilled-to-order proteins – from garlic-marinated ribeye to citrus-glazed salmon that flakes at the touch of a fork.
Thursday nights transform into a south-of-the-border fiesta with build-your-own taco stations and freshly pressed tortillas.
The unexpected star? House-made gelato in flavors like prickly pear and date shake, honoring the Coachella Valley’s agricultural heritage.
10. The Buffet — Valley View Casino & Hotel
Lobster lovers, mark your calendars! Valley View’s buffet has earned cult status for its all-you-can-eat Maine lobster nights that draw seafood enthusiasts from across Southern California.
The casino may be tucked away in Valley Center, but word has definitely gotten out.
Beyond the crustacean celebration, you’ll find prime rib carved to order and a globally-inspired selection that spans from Italian pastas to authentic street tacos.
The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the valley provide a serene backdrop to your feast.
11. Serrano Buffet — Yaamava’ Resort & Casino
Hidden in Highland is a buffet that rivals anything on the Las Vegas Strip. Yaamava’s Serrano Buffet dazzles with theatrical food presentations and interactive cooking stations that turn dining into entertainment.
The legendary seafood nights feature king crab legs so massive they barely fit on your plate.
For dessert aficionados, the chocolate fountain stands three tiers high, surrounded by housemade marshmallows and fresh fruit waiting to take a sweet dip.
12. 100s Seafood Grill Buffet — San Diego
San Diego’s seafood scene reaches its pinnacle at this local favorite where Pacific catches shine.
The centerpiece raw bar features oysters from both coasts alongside sashimi so fresh it practically swims to your plate.
What separates 100s from competitors is their commitment to sustainability and seasonal rotation.
Summer brings whole grilled Baja lobsters, while winter showcases cioppino bubbling with local rock crab. The house specialty? Flash-fried soft shell crab that regulars time their visits around.
13. Paradise Buffet — Garden Grove
Orange County’s dessert wonderland masquerades as a traditional buffet until you reach the sweet section that occupies nearly half the restaurant.
Paradise earns its name with a dizzying array of Asian-inspired desserts rarely seen elsewhere in California. Freshly made taiyaki (fish-shaped pastries) come filled with red bean, custard, or matcha cream.
The shaved ice station offers toppings from mochi to grass jelly. Don’t miss their signature purple yam ice cream – it’s worth saving room for seconds!
14. Garden Court — Palace Hotel
Beneath the Palace Hotel’s magnificent stained glass dome, afternoon tea transforms into a dessert lover’s fantasy.
The historic Garden Court, with its Austrian crystal chandeliers and marble columns, provides an elegant backdrop for their legendary chocolate buffet served every Saturday.
Pastry chefs create miniature works of art – from opera cakes to passion fruit tarts topped with edible gold leaf.
The signature chocolate bread pudding, made from croissants soaked in Valrhona chocolate custard, has remained unchanged since the 1950s.
15. Top of the Mark — InterContinental Mark Hopkins
Perched 19 floors above San Francisco, this iconic lounge combines breathtaking 360-degree views with a Sunday chocolate buffet that’s equally spectacular.
Generations of San Franciscans have celebrated special occasions here, watching fog roll through the Golden Gate while sampling handcrafted pralines.
The signature attraction? A flowing chocolate fountain surrounded by fresh strawberries and housemade marshmallows.
The dessert menu changes seasonally, but always includes their famous liquid chocolate shots infused with various spirits.
16. Cima — Pacific Palms Resort
Sunday brunch reaches heavenly heights at this hidden gem in the San Gabriel Valley.
Cima’s dessert buffet has developed such a following that many guests skip straight to the sweet section, where pastry chefs constantly replenish trays of freshly baked treats.
The crème brûlée station lets you choose your flavor before a chef torches the sugar topping right before your eyes.
Kids (and kids at heart) flock to the build-your-own donut bar where still-warm pastries await toppings from bacon bits to fruity pebbles.