Golden Corral Menu With Prices USA 2026

Golden Corral buffet prices in the United States start at about $9.29 for weekday breakfast and run to around $18.99 for weekend dinner, with unlimited food and drink included. Kids under 3 eat free, kids 4–8 are about $5.29 and seniors get about $1–$2 off with Early Bird pricing. Below is the full 2026 Golden Corral USA menu with buffet prices by meal, kids and senior pricing, To Go bundles, catering packages, popular buffet dishes and drinks.

Golden Corral Menu

Last updated: September 2026. Prices are estimated U.S. averages. Golden Corral franchises set their own prices, so pricing varies 10–20% by market — California, New York and airport locations run highest.

Golden Corral Prices at a Glance

Meal / CategoryPriceNotes
Weekday Breakfast Buffet$9.29Mon–Fri, opens 7:30 AM
Weekend Breakfast Buffet$11.99Sat & Sun, 7:30–11 AM
Weekday Lunch Buffet$11.49Mon–Sat, 11 AM – 3:45 PM
Weekday Dinner Buffet$16.99Mon–Thu after 4 PM
Weekend Dinner Buffet$18.99Fri, Sat, Sun after 4 PM
Sunday Brunch Buffet (all-day)$13.99All day Sundays
Kids 4–8$5.29 to $8.99Sliding scale by meal
Kids 9–12$6.99 to $10.99Sliding scale by meal
Kids 3 & underFREEAlways
Senior 60+ Early Bird$1–$2 off2–4 PM daily
Fountain drinks (unlimited)$3.19Included in most locations
To Go by the pound$8.99/lbWeekdays
To Go Family Meal (feeds 4)$34.99Choice of two proteins

See also: Seasons 52 Menu Prices

Golden Corral Buffet Prices 2026 (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

The Golden Corral buffet is priced by meal time: breakfast about $9.29, lunch about $11.49 and dinner about $16.99 on weekdays, with weekend prices roughly $2–$3 higher. Every buffet price includes unlimited trips through the hot bar, salad bar, bakery, dessert bar and (at most locations) the chocolate fountain. A fountain drink adds about $3.19.

MealWeekdayWeekend
Breakfast Buffet$9.29$11.99
Lunch Buffet$11.49— (transitions to weekend dinner)
Dinner Buffet$16.99$18.99
Sunday Brunch (all-day)—$13.99
Buffet + drink combo+$3.19+$3.19
Kids 4–8 buffet$5.29 – $8.99$5.99 – $9.99
Kids 9–12 buffet$6.99 – $10.99$7.99 – $11.99
Senior 60+ (2–4 PM Early Bird)$10.99—

At Golden Corral, weekday lunch usually ends at 3:45 PM and dinner pricing begins at 4:00 PM. Weekend dinner pricing runs all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday at most locations. The exact cutoff can vary by store.

Golden Corral Breakfast Buffet Prices and Menu

Golden Corral breakfast buffet costs $9.29 on weekdays and $11.99 on weekends, served 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM. It is one of the cheapest full-service breakfast buffets in the U.S. and includes made-to-order omelets and a carving-board ham station on weekends.

Breakfast StationFeatured Items
Hot breakfast barScrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links and patties, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, grits, oatmeal
Made-to-orderOmelets (weekends), pancakes, waffles, French toast
Weekend carvingSugar-cured ham, roast beef hash
BakeryCinnamon rolls, muffins (blueberry, chocolate chip), Danish, doughnuts, biscuits
Fruit and yogurt barFresh fruit, cottage cheese, yogurt, granola
Drinks (included)Coffee, hot tea, orange juice, apple juice, milk

Breakfast is not served every day at every location; many stores skip weekday breakfast and open at 11:00 AM for lunch instead. Confirm on the Golden Corral store locator.

Golden Corral Lunch Buffet Prices and Menu

Golden Corral lunch buffet costs $11.49 on weekdays from 11:00 AM to 3:45 PM. Lunch and dinner share almost the entire hot bar and salad bar — the only difference is that Sirloin and Bourbon Street Chicken from the carving station are added at 4 PM for dinner pricing.

Lunch StationPopular Items
Carving board (lunch)Roast beef, honey-glazed ham, roast turkey
Signature hot barBourbon Street Chicken (dinner), fried chicken, meatloaf, pot roast, chicken fried steak
Southern classicsCountry fried steak, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes with gravy, collard greens, black-eyed peas
Mexican and ItalianTaco bar, quesadillas, spaghetti with meat sauce, cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza, lasagna
Salad bar40+ items including fresh greens, chopped salad, potato salad, coleslaw, pasta salads, fruit
Bakery and rollsYeast rolls, cornbread, garlic bread

Golden Corral Dinner Buffet Prices and Menu

Golden Corral dinner buffet costs $16.99 on weekdays and $18.99 on weekends after 4:00 PM. The dinner buffet adds hand-cut Sirloin Steak, Bourbon Street Chicken and premium seafood to the daytime lineup.

Dinner StationFeatured Items
Steak carvingHand-cut Sirloin Steak (cooked to order), Prime Rib (weekends and holidays at select locations)
Signature entreesBourbon Street Chicken, Fried Chicken, Pot Roast, Meatloaf, Chicken Alfredo
SeafoodFried shrimp, fish (fried and baked), popcorn shrimp (Fri & Sat “Seafood Nights”)
Wings and BBQChicken wings (buffalo, BBQ, teriyaki), pulled pork, BBQ ribs (Fri & Sat)
SidesLoaded baked potato bar, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, buttered corn, green beans, seasoned rice
Dessert bar (unlimited)Chocolate fountain, soft-serve ice cream, Awesome Brownie Sundae, cakes, cookies, cobbler, pies

Some markets run themed dinner nights — Steak & Seafood on Friday, BBQ on Saturday and Prime Rib & Shrimp on Sunday — usually at the standard weekend dinner price.

Golden Corral Kids Buffet Prices

Kids 3 and under eat free at Golden Corral, kids 4–8 pay about $5.29 to $8.99 and kids 9–12 pay about $6.99 to $10.99. A kid’s buffet includes the full buffet plus a drink at most locations.

Age GroupBreakfastLunchDinner (weekday)Dinner (weekend)
Under 3FreeFreeFreeFree
Age 4$3.29$3.99$4.99$5.99
Age 5$3.99$4.99$5.99$6.99
Age 6$4.99$5.99$6.99$7.99
Age 7$5.29$6.99$7.99$8.99
Age 8$5.29$7.99$8.99$9.99
Ages 9–12$6.99$8.99$9.99$11.99

Golden Corral is a top pick for families because kids under 4 are free every meal, including drinks. Some markets require an adult buffet purchase per kid; others allow one paying adult to bring multiple free toddlers — ask at the door.

Golden Corral Senior Prices and Early Bird

Golden Corral offers a senior discount of about $1–$2 off the regular buffet price for guests 60 and older, plus a $10.99 Early Bird buffet from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM daily. The Early Bird is the cheapest way for seniors to eat the full lunch buffet.

Senior DealAgePriceWhen
Early Bird Buffet60+$10.99Daily 2:00–4:00 PM
AARP discount (10%)50+VariesAny time with AARP card
Senior lunch60+$10.49Mon–Sat 11 AM – 3:45 PM
Senior dinner (weekday)60+$14.99Mon–Thu after 4 PM

The senior discount and AARP discount usually cannot be combined. Rules vary by franchise; call your local Golden Corral before you go.

Golden Corral To Go Menu Prices

Golden Corral To Go is priced by the pound at $8.99 per pound on weekdays, and family meals start at $34.99 for four. Everything from the buffet can be packed into a To Go container — carving-station meats, sides, salad bar, bakery and dessert.

To Go OptionPriceWhat You Get
To Go by the pound$8.99 / lb weekday, $9.99 / lb weekendAny buffet item you scoop into the container
Family Meal (feeds 4)$34.99Choice of 2 proteins + 3 large sides + 8 rolls
Family Meal (feeds 6)$49.99Choice of 3 proteins + 4 large sides + 12 rolls
Family Meal (feeds 8)$64.99Choice of 4 proteins + 5 large sides + 16 rolls
Bunch Bundle (feeds 4)$29.99Fried chicken bucket + 2 large sides + 6 rolls
Breakfast Family Pack (feeds 4)$24.99Scrambled eggs + bacon + sausage + hash browns + biscuits
Individual Meal$9.99–$12.991 protein + 2 sides + roll
Salad To Go (32 oz)$8.99Salad-bar salad in a takeout bowl
Rotisserie chicken (whole)$14.99Available select locations
Awesome Brownie Sundae To Go$5.99Brownie + soft serve + chocolate + whipped cream

Golden Corral To Go is ordered at the register or through the Golden Corral app. Delivery through DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub is available at most locations but marked up 15–25%.

Golden Corral Catering Prices

Golden Corral catering starts at about $9.99 per person and feeds groups from 10 to 200. Catering packages are hot-buffet-style and delivered ready to serve; larger orders need 24 hours notice.

Catering PackagePriceFeeds
Sandwich Platter (party tray)$44.998–10
Fried Chicken Party Pack$54.998–10
BBQ Buffet Package$14.99 per person10 minimum
Sirloin & Chicken Package$16.99 per person10 minimum
Full Buffet Catering$18.99 per person10 minimum
Breakfast Catering$9.99 per person10 minimum
Dessert Tray (assorted)$29.998–10

The five most-ordered dishes on the Golden Corral buffet are Bourbon Street Chicken, hand-cut Sirloin Steak, Pot Roast, Fried Chicken and the Awesome Brownie Sundae. The chocolate fountain (dark and milk chocolate with dippable fruit, marshmallows and pretzels) is the single most photographed feature of the restaurant.

Signature DishStationIncluded in Buffet
Bourbon Street ChickenSignature hot barYes (dinner)
Hand-Cut Sirloin SteakSteak carving stationYes (dinner)
Pot RoastSignature hot barYes (lunch + dinner)
Fried ChickenSouthern hot barYes (all day)
Chicken Fried SteakSouthern hot barYes (lunch + dinner)
MeatloafComfort food barYes (lunch + dinner)
Honey-Glazed HamCarving stationYes
Fried ShrimpSeafood barYes (dinner)
Chocolate FountainDessert barYes
Awesome Brownie SundaeDessert barYes
Soft-Serve Ice CreamDessert barYes
Cotton CandyDessert barYes (select locations)

Golden Corral Drinks Menu Prices

Unlimited fountain drinks at Golden Corral cost about $3.19 and cover Coca-Cola products, iced tea, lemonade and coffee. Kids drinks are usually included in the kids buffet price.

DrinkPriceIncludes
Unlimited fountain drink$3.19Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Dr Pepper, Fanta, Barq’s, Powerade, Gold Peak Tea, lemonade
Bottled water$2.29Dasani
Coffee (unlimited)$2.79Regular or decaf
Hot tea$2.79Assorted flavors
Milk (glass)$2.79White or chocolate
Apple, orange or cranberry juice$2.79Small glass
Horchata$3.19Select locations
Kids drink (with kids buffet)IncludedAny fountain drink or milk

Golden Corral does not serve alcohol at U.S. locations. Free refills apply to any drink you order.

Golden Corral Dessert Bar and Chocolate Fountain

Every dessert on the Golden Corral dessert bar is included in the buffet price at no extra charge, including the chocolate fountain. The Awesome Brownie Sundae has been the chain’s signature dessert since 2005.

  • Chocolate Fountain — dark and milk chocolate; dip with strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, pretzels, Rice Krispies treats and pound cake cubes.
  • Awesome Brownie Sundae — warm brownie, soft-serve vanilla, hot fudge, whipped cream, cherry.
  • Soft-serve ice cream bar — vanilla, chocolate, twist; sprinkles, hot fudge, caramel, strawberry sauce, nuts, cherries.
  • Cakes and pies — carrot cake, chocolate cake, cheesecake, apple pie, pecan pie, banana cream pie.
  • Cobblers — peach, apple or blackberry (rotates).
  • Cookies and bars — chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, blondies, lemon bars.
  • Fruit and yogurt — fresh fruit salad, canned peaches, applesauce, vanilla yogurt.
  • Cotton candy machine — at select locations, kids favorite.

Golden Corral Hours: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Times

Most Golden Corral locations open at 11:00 AM Monday through Saturday for lunch, at 7:30 AM on Saturday and Sunday for breakfast, and close at 9:00 or 10:00 PM. Weekday breakfast is served at only about a third of U.S. locations — usually those near highways and travel plazas.

DayBreakfastLunchDinner
Monday to Friday7:30–11 AM (select stores only)11 AM – 3:45 PM4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday7:30–11 AM11 AM – 3:45 PM4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Sunday7:30–11 AM (or brunch all day)Included in brunch4:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Golden Corral closes at 8:00 PM on some holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Confirm hours with the store locator before you drive.

Golden Corral Deals, Military and Rewards

Golden Corral offers a 10% military discount every day, free birthday buffet through Good as Gold Rewards, and hosts a free Military Appreciation Buffet on the Monday before Veterans Day.

DealDiscountWhere
10% Military Discount10% off buffetWith military ID, any day
Military Appreciation NightFree dinner buffetMonday before Veterans Day, 5–9 PM
AARP Discount10% off buffet (select stores)With AARP card
Early Bird Buffet$10.99Daily 2–4 PM, ages 60+
Kids 3 & UnderFree buffetEvery meal, every day
Good as Gold RewardsFree birthday buffet + welcome bonusApp only
Coupon codes$1–$3 offApp or email newsletter
Group discount10% off for 15+ guestsReservation required

Sign up for the Good as Gold Rewards program in the Golden Corral app to get the free birthday buffet, a welcome coupon and monthly emails with $1–$3 off deals.

Golden Corral Prices Near Me: Why They Vary

Every Golden Corral is franchise-owned and sets its own buffet price, so pricing varies 10–20% by market. The chain has about 350 U.S. locations concentrated in the Southeast, Texas and the Midwest; California, New York and airport locations are always the highest.

AreaTypical Weekday Dinner BuffetVersus Average
Rural Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, Carolinas)$14.99–$15.99Below average
Texas metro (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio)$15.99–$16.99Around average
Florida (Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando)$16.49–$17.49Around average
Midwest (Ohio, Indiana, Missouri)$15.99–$16.99Around average
Northeast (Pennsylvania, New Jersey)$17.49–$18.99Above average
California and Pacific Northwest$17.99–$19.99Well above average
Airports and travel plazas$19.99–$22.9920–30% surcharge

Golden Corral has been reducing its total U.S. store count for several years, so before you drive it is worth confirming the location is still open on goldencorral.com/locations.

Golden Corral Nutrition, Calories and Allergen Info

Golden Corral publishes calories and allergen data for every buffet item at goldencorral.com/nutrition. A typical trip runs 1,200–2,000 calories; a buffet plate loaded with fried chicken, mac & cheese and mashed potatoes can hit 1,500 by itself.

Popular Buffet ItemCalories (per serving)Protein
Bourbon Street Chicken (1 cup)38032 g
Fried Chicken (2 pieces)52036 g
Sirloin Steak (6 oz cooked)38044 g
Meatloaf (1 slice)29020 g
Pot Roast (1 cup)34029 g
Mashed Potatoes with Gravy (1 cup)2805 g
Mac & Cheese (1 cup)41015 g
Yeast Roll (1)1704 g
Awesome Brownie Sundae6208 g
Cotton Candy (small serving)1100 g

Common Golden Corral allergens include wheat, milk, eggs, soy, fish, shellfish, sesame and peanuts. Cross-contact is unavoidable on a shared buffet, so anyone with a serious allergy should talk to the manager before serving themselves. Golden Corral maintains a gluten-friendly guide listing dishes made without gluten-containing ingredients (grilled meats, plain vegetables, salad bar with dressing choices).

Vegetarian buffet options include the salad bar, mac & cheese, plain baked potato, buttered corn, green beans, mashed potatoes without gravy, pizza, pasta with marinara and the entire dessert bar. Vegan options are more limited — stick to salad-bar greens, fresh fruit, plain baked potato and dry rolls.

Golden Corral vs Other Buffets: Prices and Value

Golden Corral is usually the cheapest full-service American buffet in the U.S., undercutting Old Country Buffet, Sizzler and casino buffets by $3–$8 per adult dinner.

BuffetAdult Dinner BuffetIncludedLocations
Golden Corral$16.99–$18.99Full hot bar, salad, dessert, chocolate fountain~350
Ovation Brands (Old Country Buffet)$17.99–$21.99Similar hot buffetLimited
Sizzler Buffet Add-On$8–$12 with entreeSalad bar only~90
Casino Buffets (Vegas / Atlantic City)$25–$60Premium buffet, prime rib, seafoodVaries
CiCi’s Pizza Buffet$7.99–$9.99Pizza, pasta, salad, dessert~250

Golden Corral’s biggest value edge comes from unlimited soft-serve, the chocolate fountain and the free-under-3 kids policy. Casino buffets beat it on premium proteins (prime rib, crab legs) but cost roughly twice as much.

Golden Corral Menu Prices: FAQs

How much does Golden Corral cost per person in 2026?

A standard adult buffet costs about $9.29 for weekday breakfast, $11.49 for weekday lunch, $16.99 for weekday dinner and $18.99 for weekend dinner. Adding an unlimited drink is about $3.19 more. Kids under 3 are free.

How much is Golden Corral breakfast?

About $9.29 on weekdays and $11.99 on weekends, served 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Not every location serves breakfast — confirm on the store locator.

How much is Golden Corral dinner?

About $16.99 on weekdays after 4 PM and $18.99 on weekends. Dinner adds hand-cut Sirloin Steak and Bourbon Street Chicken to the daytime buffet.

How much is Golden Corral for kids?

Kids 3 and under are always free. Ages 4–8 cost about $5.29–$8.99 and ages 9–12 cost about $6.99–$10.99, depending on the meal.

Do kids eat free at Golden Corral?

Yes, kids 3 and under eat free at every meal, every day, including a drink. Some locations require one paying adult per free child — ask at the door.

Does Golden Corral have a senior discount?

Yes. Seniors 60+ get $1–$2 off the regular buffet, plus a $10.99 Early Bird buffet daily from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. AARP members get an extra 10% off at select stores.

What is the Golden Corral Early Bird?

A $10.99 buffet special for guests 60 and older, available daily from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at most locations. It uses the same lunch buffet.

How much is Golden Corral To Go?

To Go by the pound is $8.99/lb on weekdays and $9.99/lb on weekends. Family Meals start at $34.99 for four and go up to $64.99 for eight.

Does Golden Corral do catering?

Yes. Catering starts at about $9.99 per person for breakfast and $14.99 per person for the buffet package. Larger orders (10–200 people) need 24 hours notice.

Does Golden Corral have a military discount?

Yes, 10% off the buffet every day with military ID. Golden Corral also hosts a free Military Appreciation Buffet dinner on the Monday before Veterans Day from 5:00–9:00 PM.

Are drinks included at Golden Corral?

Not always. An unlimited fountain drink is about $3.19 extra for adults. Kids drinks are usually included with the kids buffet price. Coffee, tea and water are included with breakfast at most locations.

Does Golden Corral still have a chocolate fountain?

Yes. The chocolate fountain is included at every U.S. location that offers a dessert bar, with strawberries, marshmallows, pretzels and Rice Krispies treats as dippers.

What is Bourbon Street Chicken at Golden Corral?

Their most-ordered signature dish: chunks of chicken breast marinated in a sweet-and-savory bourbon-style sauce, served on the hot bar every dinner. It has been on the menu since the 1990s.

What time does Golden Corral serve steak?

Hand-cut Sirloin Steak is carved to order at the carving station starting at 4:00 PM every day (dinner pricing). Prime Rib is offered on weekends and holidays at select locations.

Is Golden Corral open on Sundays?

Yes. Most locations serve a Sunday brunch buffet all day at about $13.99, then switch to dinner pricing at 4:00 PM.

Is Golden Corral all-you-can-eat?

Yes. Every buffet visit is unlimited hot bar, salad bar, bakery and dessert bar for one flat price. Drinks and To Go containers are separate.

Does Golden Corral serve alcohol?

No. Golden Corral does not serve alcohol at U.S. locations — no beer, wine or cocktails.

Does Golden Corral have a gluten-free menu?

Golden Corral has a gluten-friendly guide listing dishes made without gluten-containing ingredients, but because the buffet is shared, cross-contact is unavoidable and it is not safe for celiacs.

Are Golden Corral prices the same everywhere?

No. Every Golden Corral is franchise-owned, so prices vary 10–20% by market. Rural Southeast locations are cheapest; California, New York and airport locations are highest.

Does Golden Corral take EBT?

No. Golden Corral does not accept EBT/SNAP benefits at U.S. locations.

How does the Good as Gold Rewards program work?

Free through the Golden Corral app: sign-up unlocks a welcome coupon, plus a free birthday buffet during your birthday month and monthly $1–$3 off deals by email.

About Golden Corral

Golden Corral was founded in 1973 in Fayetteville, North Carolina by James Maynard and William Carl. It grew into the largest grill-buffet chain in the U.S., known for its all-you-can-eat American buffet, unlimited chocolate fountain and free birthday buffet promotion.

DetailInformation
Founded1973 (Fayetteville, North Carolina)
FoundersJames Maynard and William Carl
ConceptAmerican grill-buffet, all-you-can-eat
Known forBourbon Street Chicken, chocolate fountain, Awesome Brownie Sundae, free-under-3 kids
Locations~350 in the U.S.
Price range$ to $$
Rewards programGood as Gold Rewards
Menu sourcegoldencorral.com/menu

Disclaimer: prices on this page are estimated U.S. averages for September 2026. Golden Corral franchises set their own prices, so pricing at your local restaurant may vary 10–20%. Some locations do not serve breakfast; Prime Rib and Seafood Nights are offered only at select stores. Confirm hours and pricing on the Golden Corral store locator.

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