11 Ohio Buffets Locals Say Are Worth Every Minute Of The Wait

Some food is worth waiting for, and in Ohio, buffet lovers happily prove it every day. Across the Buckeye State, all-you-can-eat dining has turned into a comfort food tradition, ranging from hearty Amish country spreads to lively international feasts that draw crowds through the doors.

These are the places locals insist are worth the line, and they deliver far more than the typical buffet experience. By the time you leave, you will likely be planning your return visit before you even reach the car.

1. Great Karoo Marketplace Buffet

Picture walking into a space that feels more like a global food festival than a typical buffet. Great Karoo Marketplace Buffet redefines what all-you-can-eat means with over 150 items rotating through their stations daily.

Located at 777 Hollywood Blvd, Columbus, OH 43228, this place sits inside the Hollywood Casino, but you don’t need to be a gambler to appreciate what they’re serving.

The seafood station alone could keep you busy for an hour. Fresh crab legs, peel-and-eat shrimp, and oysters on the half shell appear regularly, alongside perfectly grilled salmon and tilapia.

Asian cuisine gets serious attention here too, with made-to-order stir-fry, sushi rolls, and dim sum options that actually taste authentic.

What really sets this buffet apart is the carving station. Prime rib, herb-crusted turkey, and honey-glazed ham get sliced fresh throughout service.

The dessert area sprawls across an entire wall, featuring everything from bread pudding to gelato to a chocolate fountain that kids absolutely lose their minds over.

Weekend brunch brings champagne service and breakfast classics that justify the slightly higher price point. Locals recommend arriving right when they open to beat the casino crowd and snag a booth near the seafood station.

2. Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen

Amish country cooking doesn’t get more authentic than what Mrs. Yoder’s puts out every single day. This Mount Hope institution at 8101 State Route 241, Mount Hope, OH 44660, has been feeding hungry travelers and locals since way back, and the recipes haven’t changed because they absolutely don’t need to.

Real butter, fresh ingredients, and cooking methods passed down through generations make every visit feel like Sunday dinner at grandma’s house.

The fried chicken here deserves its own fan club. Crispy on the outside, impossibly juicy inside, seasoned with that perfect blend of herbs that makes you want to ask for the recipe even though you know they’ll never tell.

Mashed potatoes come whipped smooth with enough gravy to swim in, and the noodles are cut and rolled by hand each morning.

Don’t skip the broasted chicken either, a local specialty that combines pressure cooking with deep frying for results that somehow taste even better than regular fried. Green beans cooked with bacon, sweet corn, dinner rolls that arrive warm in baskets, and pies that rotate daily round out a spread that never disappoints.

Lines form early, especially on weekends when tour buses roll through, but the staff keeps things moving efficiently without making anyone feel rushed.

3. Olde Dutch

Berlin’s dining scene revolves around hearty portions and traditional recipes, and Olde Dutch at 4953 Walnut Street, Berlin, OH 44610, stands as one of the area’s most beloved spots. Family recipes dating back decades fill the buffet line, prepared fresh throughout the day by cooks who learned from mothers and grandmothers who perfected these dishes over lifetimes.

Chicken and dressing appears as the star attraction most days, with stuffing so good you’ll want to take home the recipe. Roast beef gets slow-cooked until it practically falls apart, served with horseradish sauce that adds just enough kick.

The ham comes glazed with brown sugar and pineapple, striking that sweet-savory balance perfectly.

Vegetables get the Amish treatment here, meaning nothing comes from a can if they can help it. Fresh-cut corn, buttered carrots, and green beans simmered with ham hock bring actual flavor to the vegetable side of your plate.

The salad bar features homemade dressings and real bacon bits, not those weird crunchy substitutes.

Desserts change daily but always include at least three pie varieties. Peanut butter cream pie shows up regularly and disappears fast.

Apple dumplings served warm with vanilla ice cream make a strong case for saving room no matter how full you feel.

4. Berlin Farmstead

Size matters when you’re talking about Berlin Farmstead, located at 4819 Township Road 356, Millersburg, OH 44654. This massive operation can seat over 500 people, yet somehow the food stays fresh and hot even during the busiest lunch rushes.

The buffet stretches longer than some small restaurants, packed with both traditional Amish favorites and a few creative additions that keep regular visitors coming back.

Start with the salad bar that includes more than just lettuce. Fresh-made coleslaw, pickled beets, cottage cheese, and at least six different dressing options give you plenty of ways to pretend you’re eating healthy before hitting the hot food.

The soup station rotates through different varieties, with chicken noodle and bean soup appearing most frequently.

Main dishes cover all the comfort food bases. Fried chicken, meatloaf, pot roast, and baked fish give you protein options, while sides like mashed potatoes, stuffing, buttered noodles, and macaroni and cheese round out traditional plates.

The roll basket gets refilled constantly, with both white and wheat varieties served warm with real butter.

Friday nights bring seafood additions including baked cod and occasionally shrimp. The dessert bar features pies, cakes, cookies, and soft-serve ice cream that kids line up for repeatedly throughout meals.

5. The City Buffet

Cleveland’s Asian food scene gets a serious boost from The City Buffet at 13911 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44111. Walking through the door feels like stepping into a food court that spans multiple countries, with stations dedicated to Chinese, Japanese, and American favorites all competing for your attention.

The variety here beats most buffets hands down, with over a hundred items rotating through during dinner service.

Sushi gets made fresh throughout service, with California rolls, spicy tuna, and salmon nigiri appearing regularly alongside more adventurous options. The hibachi grill lets you build custom stir-fry plates, choosing your proteins, vegetables, and sauces while watching cooks work their magic on the flat-top.

General Tso’s chicken, sesame chicken, and Mongolian beef satisfy cravings for classic Chinese-American dishes.

Seafood lovers find plenty to enjoy beyond sushi. Crab rangoons come out hot and crispy, shrimp tempura stays light and crunchy, and mussels in garlic sauce appear during dinner hours.

The American section includes pizza, fried chicken, and French fries for picky eaters or anyone craving something familiar.

Dessert brings soft-serve ice cream, fresh fruit, and Asian sweets like mochi and sesame balls. Weekend crowds can get intense, so weekday lunches offer better table availability and shorter waits at popular stations.

6. Fuji Grill Buffet

Westerville’s Fuji Grill Buffet at 136 Westerville Square, Westerville, OH 43081, brings serious competition to the Asian buffet game in central Ohio. The setup focuses heavily on quality over quantity, with fewer items than some competitors but better execution across the board.

Fresh ingredients show up in every dish, and nothing tastes like it’s been sitting under heat lamps for hours.

Hibachi selections get cooked to order right in front of you. Pick your proteins from chicken, beef, shrimp, or scallops, add vegetables like broccoli, mushrooms, and zucchini, then watch as cooks season and grill everything perfectly.

The sushi bar features fish that actually tastes fresh, with decent knife work and properly seasoned rice that holds together without turning mushy.

Chinese dishes include standards like kung pao chicken, beef with broccoli, and lo mein, but the seasoning hits better than average. Spring rolls come out crispy, dumplings get steamed properly, and the egg drop soup has actual flavor beyond just salt.

Japanese curry, teriyaki salmon, and miso-glazed cod appear regularly for those wanting something beyond typical buffet fare.

The dessert selection stays simple with ice cream, fruit, and a few Asian pastries. Lunch prices run lower than dinner, making midday visits especially popular with the local office crowd who appreciate quality without breaking the bank.

7. Der Dutchman

Multiple locations across Ohio bear the Der Dutchman name, but the Plain City spot at 445 South Jefferson Avenue, Plain City, OH 43064, holds a special place with locals who’ve been coming here for decades. This mini-chain built its reputation on consistency, serving the same high-quality Amish cooking day after day without cutting corners or compromising on portion sizes.

Broasted chicken stands as the signature dish, pressure-fried until the skin shatters with each bite while the meat stays tender and juicy. Real mashed potatoes get whipped with butter and cream, never that powdered nonsense.

Dressing comes loaded with celery and onions, seasoned just right and baked until the top gets slightly crispy.

Vegetables actually taste like vegetables here. Green beans get cooked with bacon for flavor without turning to mush.

Corn comes cut fresh off the cob when in season. Carrots arrive glazed with butter and brown sugar.

The dinner rolls deserve their own paragraph, baked fresh multiple times daily and served warm enough to melt butter on contact.

Pie selection changes daily but always includes at least six varieties. Peanut butter cream, coconut cream, and Dutch apple show up most frequently.

The bakery case near the entrance tempts you on the way out with cookies, cinnamon rolls, and whole pies to take home.

8. Grand Buffet

Canton’s Grand Buffet at 4726 Mega Street NW, Canton, OH 44720, packs more variety into one space than seems physically possible. Over 150 items rotate through the stations during peak hours, covering Chinese, Japanese, American, and even some Italian options that somehow all work together.

The sheer amount of choices can feel overwhelming at first, but that’s part of the fun.

Seafood gets serious attention here with whole sections dedicated to ocean offerings. Snow crab legs appear during dinner service, along with crawfish, mussels, clams, and multiple shrimp preparations.

The sushi bar stays busy with fresh rolls being made constantly, while the hibachi station lets you customize stir-fry plates with your choice of ingredients.

Traditional Chinese dishes fill several rows of warming trays. Sesame chicken, orange chicken, General Tso’s, and sweet and sour pork satisfy cravings for familiar favorites.

More adventurous options include salt and pepper squid, spicy frog legs, and whole fish prepared multiple ways. The American section includes pizza, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese for anyone not feeling adventurous.

Desserts span from soft-serve ice cream to Asian pastries to chocolate-covered strawberries. Fresh fruit, puddings, and a small selection of cakes round out the sweet options.

Weekend dinner crowds can get rowdy, so weekday visits offer a calmer experience.

9. ER GE Buffet

Columbus’s ER GE Buffet at 1667 West Lane Avenue, Columbus, OH 43221, flies under the radar compared to some bigger names, but locals in the know consider it one of the best Asian buffets in the area. The space stays clean and modern, with food stations organized logically so you’re not wandering around confused about where to find things.

Quality separates this place from competitors. Vegetables in stir-fries stay crisp instead of turning to mush.

Proteins get cooked properly without drying out. Sauces taste balanced rather than overwhelmingly sweet or salty.

The sushi selection might not be huge, but what they offer tastes fresh with good texture and proper seasoning on the rice.

Hot pot options let you cook your own meats and vegetables in simmering broth, a fun interactive element not found at most buffets. The Mongolian grill station operates similarly, with fresh ingredients cooked to order on a massive circular griddle.

Traditional dishes like kung pao chicken, beef with broccoli, and lo mein meet expectations without trying to be fancy.

Seafood includes crab legs during dinner, along with various shrimp preparations and occasionally whole fish. The dessert bar keeps things simple with ice cream, fruit, and a few Asian sweets.

Prices run reasonable, especially for lunch, making this a solid choice for students from nearby Ohio State.

10. Brazilian Grill & Bakery

Columbus gets a taste of South America at Brazilian Grill & Bakery, located at 4787 Morse Road, Columbus, OH 43230. This spot operates differently from typical buffets, following the churrascaria style where servers bring skewers of meat directly to your table and carve off slices until you beg them to stop.

The salad bar complements the meat parade with fresh options and traditional Brazilian sides.

Meats arrive in waves throughout your meal. Picanha (top sirloin), fraldinha (bottom sirloin), costela (beef ribs), and linguica (sausage) represent just the beef options.

Chicken gets wrapped in bacon, pork ribs come glazed, and lamb chops appear for those wanting something different. Each server carries a different cut, so you never know what’s coming next.

The salad bar deserves attention beyond just greens. Hearts of palm, marinated vegetables, fresh mozzarella, cured meats, and multiple salad options give you plenty of ways to pace yourself between meat courses.

Traditional sides like fried polenta, black beans with rice, and pao de queijo (cheese bread) help round out the meal.

The bakery section near the entrance sells Brazilian pastries, cakes, and desserts to take home. During your meal, dessert options include flan, mousse, and fresh fruit.

The experience costs more than typical buffets, but the quality and entertainment value justify the price for special occasions.

11. Dutch Valley Restaurant

Sugarcreek’s Dutch Valley Restaurant at 1343 Old Route 39 NW, Sugarcreek, OH 44681, serves up Amish cooking that locals have trusted for generations. The building itself looks unassuming from the outside, but inside you’ll find a warm, welcoming space that feels more like eating at a relative’s house than dining at a restaurant.

Everything gets made from scratch using recipes that have been perfected over decades.

Comfort food defines the menu here. Pot roast falls apart at the touch of a fork, swimming in rich brown gravy.

Ham loaf, a regional specialty that combines ground ham with pork and seasonings, gets glazed and baked until caramelized on top. Fried chicken arrives crispy and well-seasoned, never greasy or overcooked.

Side dishes showcase simple ingredients prepared well. Real mashed potatoes, never instant.

Green beans cooked with bacon until tender. Sweet corn cut fresh.

Buttered noodles that taste like grandma made them. The dinner rolls come out warm, perfect for soaking up gravy or spreading with real butter.

Pies rotate daily but always include several cream varieties and fruit options depending on season. Coconut cream, banana cream, and peanut butter cream appear regularly.

Apple, cherry, and peach pies show up when fruit is at its peak. The portions run generous, so come hungry and maybe wear stretchy pants.