7 South Carolina Buffets That Fall Short & 7 That Truly Capture Lowcountry Flavor

Buffets in South Carolina promise a feast, but not all deliver the rich, soulful flavors Lowcountry cuisine is famous for.
Some spots pile on dishes without capturing that special Southern charm, leaving taste buds underwhelmed.
Meanwhile, other buffets bring the perfect blend of fresh seafood, spicy spices, and homestyle goodness that make every bite a celebration.
If you crave authentic Lowcountry flavor, it’s time to know which buffets serve it right and which don’t.
1. Forest Buffet – Columbia

Underwhelming doesn’t begin to describe this Columbia staple. What started as a promising concept has devolved into a sea of lukewarm dishes and questionable freshness standards.
The salad bar wilts by midday, and the hot food section rarely lives up to its name.
Management seems more concerned with quantity over quality, a fatal flaw in the buffet business. Save your appetite and your wallet for somewhere that actually cares about culinary craftsmanship.
2. Captain D’s – Various locations

Fast food masquerading as a buffet experience? Please. Captain D’s seafood buffet (available at select locations) offers nothing you couldn’t get from their regular menu, just piled higher on a steam table.
The fish sits under heat lamps until it resembles something closer to jerky than fresh seafood.
Their hushpuppies—the lone bright spot—can’t compensate for the rest of the disappointing spread. True seafood lovers should navigate their ships elsewhere.
3. Golden Corral – Various locations

Chaos reigns supreme at this national chain’s South Carolina outposts. Children dart between tables while parents fill plates with mountains of mediocre food that all somehow tastes the same.
The chocolate fountain—their crown jewel—often looks like it hasn’t been cleaned since opening day.
Long lines form behind popular stations while other food sits neglected, growing crusty under heat lamps. Sure, it’s cheap, but at what cost to your culinary dignity?
4. Hometown Buffet – Various locations

Nostalgia is the only flavor that truly works at Hometown Buffet. Remember when you thought this place was fancy as a kid? That memory is better than the current reality.
Mashed potatoes come from a box, gravy from a packet, and the chicken has more breading than meat.
The dessert section tries to compensate with quantity, offering endless variations of artificially flavored puddings and dry cakes. Your hometown deserves better representation than this lackluster spread.
5. Ryan’s Buffet – Various locations

Remember Ryan’s? This dying chain has seen better days, with locations closing faster than their staff can refill the mac and cheese.
The remaining South Carolina spots suffer from serious identity crises—trying to be upscale while serving food that’s been sitting out since breakfast.
Their signature rolls, once worth the trip alone, now taste suspiciously like they came from a grocery store freezer section.
Like visiting a once-beloved relative who’s forgotten your name, the experience leaves you sad and hungry.
6. Sizzler – Various locations

Sizzler tries so hard yet accomplishes so little. Their “endless salad bar” concept might have been revolutionary in 1985, but today it’s just endless disappointment.
Limp lettuce serves as the foundation for a bizarre assortment of canned fruits, suspiciously bright pasta salads, and dressings that taste primarily of corn syrup.
The hot food section isn’t much better, with steaks cooked to the exact same well-done specification regardless of your request. The 80s called—they want their buffet concept back.
7. Shoney’s – Various locations

Breakfast buffet blues hit hardest at Shoney’s, where powdered eggs and floppy bacon await the unsuspecting diner.
The signature “Breakfast Bar” sounds promising until you realize everything tastes vaguely of the same cooking oil.
Coffee comes in unlimited refills, which you’ll need to wash down the pastries that could double as hockey pucks.
Weekend crowds make the experience even more painful as food runs out faster than staff can replenish it. Morning meals deserve more respect than this.
8. Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant – Myrtle Beach

Seafood heaven exists, and it’s housed in a massive nautical-themed building in Myrtle Beach! Captain George’s doesn’t just serve seafood—they celebrate it with the reverence it deserves.
Crab legs crack with satisfying freshness, oysters taste like they were plucked from the ocean that morning, and the shrimp options alone could fill an entire buffet.
Even non-seafood items receive the same attention to detail. The captain clearly runs a tight ship where quality never walks the plank.
9. Crabby George’s Seafood Buffet – Myrtle Beach

Butter-dipped heaven awaits at this Myrtle Beach institution! Not to be confused with Captain George’s, Crabby George’s carves its own reputation with seafood so fresh you’ll swear you’re eating on a fishing boat. The hush puppies alone—perfectly crisp outside, tender inside—would justify the trip.
Crab cakes contain actual crab (imagine that!), and the Low Country boil bursts with authentic flavors that chain restaurants can only dream about.
Even the dessert section features local specialties like peach cobbler that tastes grandma-approved.
10. Crab Daddy’s Calabash Seafood Buffet – Murrells Inlet

Tucked away in Murrells Inlet, this gem serves Calabash-style seafood (lightly breaded and fried to perfection) that puts pretenders to shame.
The location—right on the water—isn’t just for show; it’s where much of their daily catch comes from. Fried shrimp practically float off your plate they’re so light and crispy.
Hushpuppies emerge from the kitchen in constant batches, ensuring you never suffer the indignity of a cold one. The crab legs? Worth every penny of the market price upcharge.
11. Shuler’s BBQ – Latta

Worth the drive to nowhere! Shuler’s sits in tiny Latta, where smoke billows from the pit house 24/7, perfuming the air for miles around.
The buffet line stretches with Carolina gold: pulled pork so tender it barely needs chewing, chicken bathed in a vinegar pepper bath, and ribs that surrender from the bone with the slightest tug.
Don’t skip the tomato pie—a regional specialty that combines sweet tomatoes with a savory cheese topping.
Mrs. Shuler still oversees the dessert table, where her banana pudding has achieved legendary status.
12. Angelo’s Steak and Pasta – Myrtle Beach

Italian abundance meets Southern hospitality at this Myrtle Beach favorite! Angelo’s might be known for steaks, but their Italian buffet steals the spotlight with homemade pastas that would make any nonna proud.
Lasagna layers practically collapse under their own weight, while the marinara sauce simmers with the kind of depth that only comes from patience.
Garlic knots emerge from the kitchen in endless waves, each one glistening with butter and herbs. The salad bar actually deserves attention rather than serving as a token healthy option.
13. Brookland Café – Columbia

Soul food salvation comes in buffet form at this Columbia hidden treasure! Tucked away in a modest building, Brookland Café serves up history on every plate.
The fried chicken—crackling outside, juicy inside—sets the gold standard that fast food chains hopelessly imitate. Oxtails fall off the bone into a rich gravy perfect for sopping up with cornbread.
Vegetables like okra and field peas taste like they were picked that morning from someone’s backyard garden. Cash only, and worth every wrinkled dollar you’ll hand over.
14. The Palmetto Pig – Columbia

Hidden in an unassuming building near USC’s campus, The Palmetto Pig serves up BBQ magic that’ll make your taste buds dance a jig.
Their buffet line showcases perfectly smoked pulled pork with that signature Carolina mustard sauce that locals swear by.
Crispy fried chicken shares the spotlight alongside Southern classics like collard greens simmered with ham hocks and mac ‘n’ cheese that’s creamy enough to make grandma jealous. The banana pudding alone is worth the trip!