11 Illinois AYCE Spots Locals Say Dessert Goes Fastest
In Illinois, buffets often hide their real secret at the far end of the room: the dessert table. I’ve watched locals skip straight past carving stations and shrimp trays to claim sweets before they vanish.
Chicago spots lean Polish with apple pancakes dusted in sugar, while suburban halls build towers around chocolate fountains. Indian buffets lay out gulab jamun and kheer, while American diners lean into cheesecakes, brownies, and pies.
Every style has its loyalists, but the rule is universal, move early. I’ve learned the hard way that dessert here isn’t an afterthought; it’s the real headline.
1. Red Apple Buffet — Chicago
The hum of Polish conversation mixes with clinking plates, giving this place the feel of a neighborhood gathering. It’s lively, yet relaxed.
Dessert crowds gather fast, apple pancakes, blintzes, and layered cakes all vanish quickly. Red Apple’s weekend lines make clear just how popular the sweets really are.
Locals know to move early. By the time you finish a plate of pierogi, the dessert trays may already be thinning, proof that in Chicago, sweets lead the show.
2. Chief O’Neill’s Sunday Brunch — Chicago
The room fills with live music and the buzz of Sunday diners, all circling back to the buffet. The vibe leans festive but never frantic.
Here, tiramisu and cakes sit beside roasts, smoked fish, and Irish-inspired dishes. The mix of savory and sweet makes the spread stand out.
Tip: pace yourself carefully. It’s easy to fill a plate with corned beef or salmon and miss the chance at dessert, which regulars will tell you is the highlight.
3. Pinstripes Weekend Brunch — Northbrook, Oak Brook, Chicago
Chocolate fondue fountains gurgle beside neat rows of cheesecakes, pulling people toward the sweet table as soon as they walk in.
This brunch balances its bowling-and-bocce energy with a buffet that includes savory standards but makes dessert its centerpiece. The fondue alone keeps families returning.
I loved the playful mix. Dipping fruit and cookies into chocolate felt more like a game than a meal, and it made brunch linger just a little longer.
4. Royal Buffet — Hoffman Estates
A wide dining room buzzes with chatter, but the crowd gathers most tightly at the dessert station. The atmosphere feels like a carnival.
Crepes, pastries, ice cream, and a chocolate fountain headline the sweets here, offering more variety than expected from a suburban buffet.
The reaction is predictable: kids rush first, adults follow. The fountain creates spectacle, and the sheer number of options ensures everyone finds a reason to circle back.
5. Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet — Springfield
Trays stretch down long counters, each station stacked high. The sheer scale is what hits first.
Reviews consistently call out the dessert section, cakes, cookies, puddings, and chocolate fountains make it more than just an afterthought. The sweets rival the hibachi line.
Tip from locals: don’t wait until the end. Popular cakes can disappear mid-service, leaving late arrivals with slimmer choices in a buffet otherwise built on plenty.
6. The Drake Oak Brook Champagne Sunday Brunch — Oak Brook
Crystal glasses and linen-draped tables set an upscale tone, the kind that makes brunch feel like an occasion.
Alongside carving stations and waffles, a dessert selection of pastries and sweets keeps the bakery section busy. Guests linger longest near those trays.
The seasonal draw is the champagne brunch itself. With bubbles flowing, sweets taste brighter, and the whole event feels celebratory in a way ordinary brunches rarely achieve.
7. India House Lunch Buffet — Hoffman Estates
Aromatic spices fill the room, carried from trays of curries and rice. The sensory pull is immediate.
The dessert lineup includes gulab jamun, kheer, and kulfi, classic Indian sweets that hold their own against the heavier mains. It’s both variety and tradition.
I found the balance refreshing. After bold savory flavors, the light sweetness of cardamom rice pudding or a scoop of kulfi reset the palate perfectly.
8. Gaylord Fine Indian Cuisine Buffet — Schaumburg
The dining room hums quietly, more restrained than many buffets. The focus here is flavor, not spectacle.
Desserts like kulfi, rasgulla, and gulab jamun sit alongside Northern Indian staples. Their presence reflects a long-standing regional approach to balance in meals.
Visitors should save room. While the savory dishes impress, the sweets provide contrast that completes the experience, and regulars know they’re not to be skipped.
9. Shikara Lunch Buffet — Downers Grove
Seven days a week, the buffet keeps the dining room in motion. The vibe is steady, with a loyal following.
Alongside curries and breads, the dessert trays remain reliably full. Regulars note the spread of sweets, from simple puddings to fried treats.
The appeal is constancy. Knowing you can drop by any day and find a strong dessert lineup makes Shikara a dependable part of the suburban buffet circuit.
10. Golden Corral — Statewide locations
Chain energy shows here: big dining halls, families filling tables, and servers weaving through. It’s familiar but comforting.
The dessert bar draws consistent attention, with soft-serve ice cream, cakes, pies, and, at many locations, a chocolate fountain. Illinois diners note the pace stays brisk.
It’s the fountain that makes kids’ eyes widen, but adults admit it’s part of the fun too. That blend of reliability and spectacle keeps the chain popular.
11. Starved Rock Lodge Sunday Brunch — Oglesby
A historic lodge setting frames this brunch, with wood beams and windows overlooking the park. The feel is rustic, yet celebratory.
The buffet’s dessert table is legendary, regularly singled out in local write-ups. Cakes, pies, and pastries sit in abundance beside the savory spread.
I found the desserts matched the setting. Eating a slice of pie in a stone lodge surrounded by forest gave brunch a sense of place few spots can rival.