10 Of Pennsylvania’s Best Buffets And Top All-You-Can-Eat Spots
Pennsylvania knows how to do buffets right! From Amish country feasts to modern all-you-can-eat extravaganzas, the Keystone State offers endless options for hungry diners looking to get their money’s worth.
I’ve spent years exploring these treasure troves of culinary abundance across the state.
Whether you’re craving home-style cooking or international cuisine, these spots will satisfy your appetite and then some.
1. Shady Maple Smorgasbord – The Buffet Kingdom Of East Earl
Holy mashed potatoes, this place is MASSIVE! The first time I walked into Shady Maple, my jaw literally dropped at the sight of 200 feet of buffet stations stretching before me. We’re talking about 1,200 seats and over 200 menu items daily.
The Pennsylvania Dutch influence shines through in their famous fried chicken, roast beef, and ham balls. My personal favorite? Their fresh-made waffles with apple butter – a combination that haunts my dreams.
What makes Shady Maple special isn’t just the quantity (though that’s impressive) but the quality. Everything tastes homemade because it is! They even give you a free meal on your birthday, which is why I mysteriously celebrate mine several times a year.
2. Dienner’s Country Restaurant – Ronks’ Cozy Amish Treasure
Tucked away in the heart of Amish country, Dienner’s feels like eating at your grandmother’s house – if your grandmother could cook for hundreds of people. Last summer, I brought my city-slicker cousins here, and they still won’t stop talking about it.
Unlike some massive buffets, Dienner’s focuses on quality over quantity. Their fried chicken recipe should be classified as a national treasure – crispy outside, juicy inside, and seasoned to perfection. The ham loaf with pineapple sauce makes me want to slap the table with joy.
The dessert section features homemade shoofly pie and whoopie pies that taste like they were made that morning (because they were). The restaurant’s modest size creates an intimate atmosphere that larger buffets simply can’t match.
3. Miller’s Smorgasbord – Lancaster’s Historic Feast Since 1929
My grandpa used to tell stories about coming to Miller’s as a boy, and amazingly, some recipes haven’t changed since then! This Lancaster landmark has been serving up Pennsylvania Dutch goodness for nearly a century, and they’ve perfected their craft.
The salad bar alone deserves its own zip code – featuring seven-layer salad, pepper cabbage, and chow-chow that’ll make you rethink vegetables entirely. Their pot roast literally falls apart when your fork gets near it, no knife required.
What keeps me coming back is their apple dumpling with warm vanilla sauce. I once saw a grown man cry while eating it, and honestly, I understood completely. The waitstaff treats you like family, remembering regulars and sharing stories about the restaurant’s rich history.
4. Golden Corral – The Reliable Nationwide Favorite
Sometimes you want a buffet experience that’s as familiar as your favorite sweatpants. That’s Golden Corral for ya! During our family’s cross-state road trip last year, finding this reliable chain was like spotting an old friend in a crowd.
Their famous Bourbon Street Chicken makes regular appearances in my food daydreams. The carving station with fresh-sliced meats means you’re never stuck with dried-out leftovers. And let’s talk about that chocolate fountain – my kids once tried to convince me we should install one at home.
Golden Corral might not have the Amish charm of other Pennsylvania buffets, but what it lacks in quaintness it makes up for in consistency. With multiple locations across the state, it’s the buffet equivalent of that friend who’s always there when you need them – reliable, filling, and judgment-free.
5. Manor Buffet – Lancaster’s Asian Fusion Paradise
Who says Pennsylvania buffets are all about pot pie and shoofly? Manor Buffet flipped my expectations faster than their hibachi chef flips shrimp into his hat! On my first visit, I planned to sample just a few items but ended up on a three-hour culinary journey across Asia.
Their sushi section is surprisingly fresh for a buffet, with new rolls appearing throughout the day. The Mongolian grill station lets you create your own stir-fry masterpiece – though mine always ends up tasting suspiciously like the chef’s version despite my creative ingredient combinations.
The crab rangoon has the perfect crisp-to-creamy ratio, and their General Tso’s chicken strikes that magical balance between sweet, spicy, and crunchy. Manor Buffet proves that Pennsylvania’s buffet scene extends far beyond traditional American and Amish cuisine.
6. Bird-In-Hand Family Restaurant – Farm-Fresh Feasting
The smorgasbord at Bird-in-Hand isn’t just a meal – it’s practically a field trip through Lancaster County’s farms! Last fall, I watched from the window as an Amish farmer delivered vegetables that appeared on the buffet just hours later. Talk about farm-to-table!
Their chicken corn soup makes me want to do a happy dance right in the dining room. Sometimes I dream about their fresh-baked bread – still warm when it hits the buffet line. The staff explained that most recipes come directly from local Amish families, passed down through generations.
What makes this place special is how they rotate menus seasonally based on local harvests. Summer brings fresh strawberry pie that tastes like sunshine, while autumn means apple everything. The restaurant’s large windows overlooking Amish farmland provide dinner and a show as horse-drawn buggies clip-clop by.
7. Lititz Family Cupboard – Small Town, Big Flavors
You might drive right past this unassuming spot if you didn’t know better – but locals like me know that would be a tragic mistake! Lititz Family Cupboard reminds me why small-town restaurants often outshine their big-city competitors.
Their chicken pot pie (the Pennsylvania Dutch kind – more like a stew) is so good I once considered asking for the recipe before realizing some secrets are worth preserving. The buffet isn’t enormous, but every dish tastes like it was made with intention rather than mass production.
Friday nights feature their seafood buffet where the broiled shrimp disappears faster than Pennsylvania sunshine in November. Don’t skip the pickle section – yes, an entire section dedicated to pickled vegetables! The warm hospitality matches the food quality, with servers who remember your drink preference from visit to visit.
8. Yoder’s Buffet – New Holland’s Home-Style Heaven
Grandma’s cooking has nothing on Yoder’s! The first time my out-of-state friends tried their chicken and waffles, they threatened to move to Pennsylvania permanently. This New Holland gem embodies everything wonderful about Pennsylvania Dutch cooking.
The buffet layout feels like wandering through someone’s dream kitchen. Their buttery noodles have ruined all other pasta for me – simple yet somehow impossible to replicate at home. I’ve tried. Many times.
What separates Yoder’s from other Amish-style buffets is their commitment to traditional methods. Their root beer is made in-house, and you can taste the difference. The pie selection changes daily, but if you see the wet-bottom shoofly pie, grab it immediately! The restaurant’s plain decor lets the food be the star – exactly as it should be in a place where the recipes are the real treasures.
9. Dutch-Way Family Restaurant – Gap’s Triple Threat
Grocery shopping, gift browsing, AND an amazing buffet? Dutch-Way in Gap is my definition of a perfect Saturday morning! This triple-threat destination combines a supermarket, gift shop, and one of the best buffets in Lancaster County under one roof.
Their breakfast buffet deserves its own fan club – I’ve witnessed people plan entire road trips around it. The made-to-order omelets use eggs from local farms, and their scrapple (a Pennsylvania Dutch specialty) converts even the most skeptical visitors.
Weekday lunch buffets feature a rotating selection of hot sandwiches alongside Pennsylvania classics. My personal strategy is to arrive hungry but save room for their rice pudding, which tastes exactly like the one my great-grandmother used to make. The reasonable prices make Dutch-Way a regular stop for locals and a delightful discovery for tourists.
10. Hershey Farm Restaurant – Ronks’ Smorgasbord Spectacular
Chocolate isn’t the only thing worth visiting Hershey for! Just down the road in Ronks, Hershey Farm Restaurant has been my family’s celebration spot for three generations. The 140-item smorgasbord makes deciding what to eat feel like a delicious form of torture.
Their signature dish is the broasted chicken – pressure-fried to lock in juices while creating a perfectly crispy exterior. I’ve tried recreating it at home but always end up back at Hershey Farm instead. The fresh bread station features warm loaves that steam when you break them open.
What makes this place memorable is their seasonal events. Their annual Soup and Salad Festival showcases over 200 recipes in a single weekend! The restaurant’s connection to the adjacent inn means you can literally eat until you need a nap, then actually take one. Pure Pennsylvania genius if you ask me.