6 Washington Buffets That Don’t Live Up To The Hype & 6 That Do
I’ve always been a buffet enthusiast, treating each all-you-can-eat adventure like a personal Olympic sport.
Washington state offers plenty of options for hungry diners looking to sample multiple dishes in one sitting.
After years of stretchy pants and food comas, I’ve discovered which spots deliver bang for your buck and which leave your wallet and stomach feeling equally empty.
1. Skamania Lodge Buffet: Scenic Views, Mediocre Food
My family dragged me to Skamania Lodge last summer, raving about their legendary Sunday brunch. The Columbia Gorge views? Absolutely breathtaking. The food? Not so much.
Lukewarm scrambled eggs sat sadly beside rubbery bacon while the carving station featured beef so overcooked it resembled leather more than meat. The fruit looked tired, as if it had been sitting out since sunrise. Even the dessert station, usually a buffet’s saving grace, offered nothing but dry brownies and bland cheesecake.
At nearly $50 per person, I expected culinary magic to match those million-dollar views. Instead, I paid premium prices for cafeteria-quality fare. Save your money and grab a sandwich to enjoy on the gorgeous patio instead.
2. King Buffet In Renton: Royal Name, Peasant Experience
Nothing about King Buffet lives up to its majestic name. The moment I walked in, the unmistakable smell of old fryer oil assaulted my nostrils, setting the tone for what followed.
Soggy egg rolls lounged in tepid oil while the sushi selection—and I use that term loosely—featured rice so hard you could build a house with it. The crab legs, supposedly the crown jewel, were consistently empty, with staff moving at glacial speeds to refill them. When they finally appeared, they were so scrawny and freezer-burned that extracting any actual meat became a frustrating treasure hunt.
The dining area itself featured sticky tables and wobbly chairs that made me question the establishment’s commitment to both cleanliness and gravity. My royal advice? Skip this court entirely.
3. Golden Spoon Buffet & Banquet: Fool’s Gold
Golden Spoon in Federal Way lured me in with its flashy exterior and promises of endless seafood. Boy, was that a mistake I won’t repeat! The crab legs—the main reason for my visit—were served in such small quantities that getting a second helping required Olympic-level sprinting skills.
The hot food section featured an array of unidentifiable meat swimming in mysterious sauces, each tasting suspiciously similar to the last. The sushi chef seemed to have a personal vendetta against proper rice-to-fish ratios. My California roll contained so much rice it could have doubled as a carb-loading station for marathon runners.
The final insult? Fruit flies hovering around the dessert section like tiny food critics giving their one-star reviews. Golden Spoon? More like Plastic Spork.
4. Super Buffet In Olympia: Nothing Super About It
The word ‘super’ suggests something extraordinary, but this Olympia establishment missed that memo entirely. Upon arrival, I noticed the sneeze guards were cleaner than the actual serving utensils—never a good sign.
The ‘fresh’ vegetables at the salad bar had clearly given up on life hours ago, wilting sadly under the harsh buffet lights. Hot dishes remained lukewarm at best, with the sweet and sour chicken offering all sauce and no chicken. The mongolian grill station—potentially their saving grace—featured meat so freezer-burned it could have survived the actual Mongolian winter.
My fortune cookie simply read ‘You will find better food elsewhere.’ At least something at Super Buffet was honest! The only thing ‘super’ about this place is how quickly I’ll drive past it next time I’m hungry in Olympia.
5. Feast Buffet (Pre-Renovation): A Famine Of Flavor
Before its recent makeover, Renton’s Feast Buffet was the poster child for buffet disappointment. My first visit there still haunts my culinary nightmares. The lighting was so harsh it made the already unappetizing food look like props from a horror movie.
The ‘prime rib’ could have doubled as shoe leather, while the mashed potatoes had more lumps than a bad mattress. I witnessed one brave soul attempt the mac and cheese only to have their fork stand straight up in the congealed mass. The seafood section—their supposed specialty—featured shrimp so tiny they required a magnifying glass to locate.
Service matched the food quality: staff seemed genuinely surprised when asked to refill empty trays. The only feast happening was for the flies buzzing around the fruit section. Thankfully, they’ve since renovated—more on that later!
6. Asian Buffet (Various Locations): Copy-Paste Disappointment
You’ve seen one mediocre Asian Buffet in Washington, you’ve seen them all. These generic establishments (with nearly identical menus) populate strip malls across the state like culinary clones. My last visit to one in Tacoma left me wondering if food could actually be boring.
The egg rolls contained more cabbage than should be legally permitted, while the lo mein noodles had clearly been sitting under heat lamps since the Clinton administration. The sushi selection featured more imitation crab than a seafood-themed costume party. Even the ice cream freezer contained those same rock-hard, frost-covered scoops that seem to be standard issue at disappointing buffets.
Service ranged from disinterested to actively avoiding eye contact. For roughly the same price, you could enjoy a proper meal at any number of authentic Asian restaurants with food actually made to order.
7. The Falls Buffet At Snoqualmie Casino: Jackpot Of Flavors
Not all buffet experiences leave me questioning my life choices! The Falls Buffet at Snoqualmie Casino hits the culinary jackpot every time. My last visit coincided with their seafood night, and I still dream about those perfectly steamed crab legs and buttery lobster tails.
Unlike many casino buffets that rely on quantity over quality, The Falls excels at both. Their carving station features prime rib so tender it practically melts before your fork makes contact. The made-to-order pasta station employs actual chefs who create restaurant-quality dishes while you watch. Even their salad bar features locally sourced produce that tastes like it was harvested that morning.
The dessert selection rivals high-end bakeries, with hand-crafted pastries and a chocolate fountain that’s actually clean! Worth every penny of the $45 weekend dinner price—especially if you win at the slots afterward!
8. Mizuki Buffet In Tukwila: Sushi Paradise Found
Mizuki Buffet restored my faith in all-you-can-eat sushi after countless disappointing experiences elsewhere. Walking in, I immediately noticed something different: the sushi chefs were actually Japanese, meticulously crafting each roll rather than mass-producing sad rice cylinders.
The fish practically glistens under the well-placed lighting, a testament to its freshness. Beyond traditional nigiri and rolls, they offer specialty creations that would cost $15-20 per roll at standalone sushi restaurants. Their hot food section doesn’t play second fiddle either—the tempura maintains its crispness, and the teriyaki chicken actually tastes homemade rather than poured from a bottle.
The cleanliness puts other buffets to shame, with staff constantly monitoring and refreshing each station. At $25 for lunch and $32 for dinner, Mizuki delivers value that makes me wonder how they maintain their quality while keeping prices reasonable.
9. Duke’s Seafood Sunday Brunch: Seattle’s Hidden Gem
I stumbled upon Duke’s Sunday brunch buffet purely by accident last year, and now I purposely skip Saturday night dinners to save stomach space. While technically not advertised as a buffet, their brunch offering functions as an upscale all-you-can-eat experience that puts standard buffets to shame.
The star attraction: fresh Dungeness crab and oysters harvested from local waters just hours before serving. Their famous clam chowder—rich, creamy, and loaded with actual clams—flows freely alongside made-to-order omelets featuring sustainable ingredients. Unlike massive buffets with mediocre everything, Duke’s focuses on doing fewer items exceptionally well.
The waterfront location provides stunning Elliott Bay views that complement the maritime feast. At $42, it’s pricier than chain buffets, but the quality difference makes it feel like comparing filet mignon to fast-food hamburgers. Reservations essential—this not-so-secret gem fills up fast!
10. Chinook’s At Salmon Bay: Fisherman’s Breakfast Bonanza
Fishermen know food—especially seafood—and Chinook’s weekend breakfast buffet at Fishermen’s Terminal proves it. I dragged myself there at 7 AM once (practically midnight for a night owl like me) and found the place already buzzing with actual commercial fishermen fueling up before heading out to sea.
Their salmon hash alone justifies the early wake-up call—chunks of fresh salmon mixed with crispy potatoes and caramelized onions that would make a standalone restaurant famous. The made-to-order Belgian waffles achieve that perfect balance between crispy exterior and fluffy interior. Even standard items like scrambled eggs receive special treatment, prepared in small batches with fresh herbs.
The authentic maritime atmosphere—complete with views of working fishing boats—provides entertainment between trips to the buffet line. At just $24, this might be the best breakfast value in Seattle, especially considering the quality and quantity.
11. Salty’s On Alki Beach: Splurge-Worthy Sunday Spectacle
Let me be upfront—Salty’s weekend brunch buffet costs more than my first car payment. But holy smoked salmon, is it worth every penny! My anniversary splurge there last year still ranks as one of my top dining experiences ever.
The seafood station alone justifies the price tag—Dungeness crab legs, local oysters, prawns, and house-smoked salmon arranged like an edible art installation. Their eggs benedict station features multiple variations, each topped with hollandaise made fresh throughout service. The pastry selection looks torn from a French bakery window, with croissants so buttery they should come with a cardiologist’s warning.
The panoramic Seattle skyline view provides the perfect backdrop for this culinary extravaganza. At $75+ per person for Sunday brunch, Salty’s isn’t an everyday indulgence, but for special occasions when calories and budgets don’t count, nothing else in Washington compares.
12. Feast Buffet (Post-Renovation): Redemption Story
Remember that disaster I mentioned earlier? Well, Feast Buffet in Renton underwent a dramatic transformation that shocked this buffet skeptic to his core. After their complete overhaul last year, I reluctantly gave them another chance—and nearly fell out of my chair at the improvement.
New ownership brought in actual chefs instead of just food warmers. The carving station now features properly rested prime rib with beautiful pink centers and flavorful crusts. Their seafood section offers crab legs that actually contain meat, and the sushi no longer resembles sad rice pillows with mystery fish.
Even the dining room atmosphere has improved dramatically—gone are the harsh fluorescents, replaced with tasteful lighting that doesn’t make the food (or diners) look sickly. At $28 for dinner, the renovated Feast Buffet delivers what its name promises—a genuine feast rather than the famine of flavor it once was. Talk about a comeback story!