10 Old-School AYCE Places In New York That Still Do It Right
New York may be allergic to slowing down, but these temples of all-you-can-eat indulgence never flinch. While trendy spots chase small plates and edible foam, these places keep it gloriously excessive.
Pile your plate. Wave at the meat parade. Grab that third crab leg with zero shame. Each spot on this list clings to the beautiful buffet drama of yesteryear, hot trays, carving stations, sizzling surprises, and full-throttle satisfaction.
Call them nostalgic, call them chaotic, but don’t call them gone. They’re still standing, still serving, and still daring you to go back for more.
1. Churrascaria Plataforma, Midtown
Waiters march past like gauchos in a steak opera, skewers raised like meaty torches. The room pulses with anticipation and rendered fat.
Filet mignon, lamb chops, crispy chicken hearts—carved tableside with flair. The salad bar stretches forever, loaded with cured meats, cheeses, and suspiciously elegant mushrooms.
Since the ’90s, this rodizio has been a Midtown mainstay for carnivores with stamina. Tip: green card means more meat. Flip it red or accept your fate.
2. Crab House NYC, Midtown East
Plastic gloves. Sauce splatters. Bibs. You are not here to behave. You are here to destroy crabs with grace and urgency.
Seafood boils arrive hot to order, drenched in garlicky steam and spice levels that flirt with recklessness. Crawfish, mussels, shrimp, each boil dares you to pause.
The AYCE model isn’t a buffet, it’s a seafood storm that doesn’t stop until you tap out. Bring friends or fearless fingers. Bonus: the fries are weirdly perfect.
3. 7 Kitchens At Turning Stone, Verona
This isn’t a buffet. It’s a sprawling culinary arena disguised as a casino perk. Every corner smells like a new decision.
You’ll find carvers slicing prime rib, wok stations tossing noodles, dessert towers glowing with mousse ambition. And the bread? Irresistibly soft sabotage.
The vibe is half-Vegas, half-market fantasy, and always crowded. Located inside Turning Stone Casino, it rewards loyalty with whipped potatoes and dim sum. Trust the pasta bar. Avoid the rush hour.
4. Full.Plate Eatery, Seneca Niagara
There’s a hum in the air like bingo night with better lighting. Locals pile their plates with methodical joy. No one judges your tower of shrimp.
Expect rotating carving stations, comfort sides like mac and cheese, and a dessert section that whispers promises of cherry pie and soft-serve chaos.
Part of the Seneca Niagara experience, this buffet doesn’t do frills. It does food. And portions. And people who go back for thirds before dessert.
5. Yuka Japanese Restaurant, Upper East Side
Sushi trays parade to your table like edible confessions. You’ll order ten rolls and regret nothing. The servers won’t blink.
The AYCE sushi deal here is seated, orderly, and deceivingly fast. Tuna, salmon, eel, everything is fresh enough to earn your loyalty, if not your restraint.
Yuka has endured on 2nd Avenue for decades, quietly feeding the neighborhood’s bottomless maki needs. Dinner fills fast. Lunch is friendlier. No waste allowed.
6. Sushi Para, Upper East Side
The neon sign says nothing about how many spicy tuna rolls you’re about to inhale. Booths are tight. Chopsticks fly.
Table-side ordering keeps it civil. Rolls, nigiri, tempura, everything comes fast, often faster than expected. The eel avocado roll here might change your priorities.
It’s small, it’s packed, and it’s beloved. Longtime sushi seekers know to arrive early. Pay attention to the fine print: over-ordering means extra charges. Choose wisely.
7. Mizumi Buffet, Little Neck, Queens
There’s a crab leg mountain. There’s a chocolate fountain. Somewhere in between, there’s a chef slicing sashimi like it’s personal.
Classic buffet style reigns here: trays of General Tso’s, roast duck, garlic shrimp, endless sushi. Kids sprint toward dessert. Adults hover near the oysters.
Located in Queens, Mizumi still channels the glorious chaos of a ‘90s seafood buffet. Weekends are loud. Lines stretch. No one leaves unsatisfied.
8. Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet, Bronx
It’s called “Supreme” for a reason. 250-plus items. A hibachi line where noodles and eggs meet fire. Tables that barely contain your ambition.
From pizza to frog legs to steamed buns, the offerings are as broad as your imagination. There’s also a salad bar, but blink and you’ll miss it.
Families love it. Groups devour it. The volume is high, the lights are unapologetic, and no one leaves quietly. Buffets like this don’t whisper. They roar.
9. Rio Bonito Brazilian Churrascaria, Astoria
In a strip mall that hides its greatness well, Rio Bonito performs a meaty ballet. Skewers arrive table-side like sizzling bouquets.
Beyond the beef and linguiça, a hot buffet glows with feijoada, rice, plantains, and the kind of beans that deserve praise.
Rodizio-style, modestly priced, and wildly generous, this Astoria gem serves neighborhood regulars with quiet swagger. Tip: Don’t fill up on the cheesy bread. They’ll keep bringing it anyway.
10. Akino, Elmhurst
The menu looks short, but each order spirals into a ceremony of sushi trays. People murmur in disbelief at how much they’ve just eaten.
AYCE lunch deals make this a beloved weekday escape. Salmon rolls, seaweed salad, fried dumplings, everything tastes like someone tried. That matters.
Elmhurst locals whisper about Akino like it’s a loophole in the universe. It’s clean, calm, and consistently satisfying. Bring cash. Leave full. Return soon.