Golden Corral is a national buffet restaurant offering a wide variety of food options, including fried chicken, salad, pasta, pizza, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, rolls, desserts, and even seafood or steak on premium buffet nights.

In this blog post, I share the menu prices and the best way to save an additional 10% when dining at the Golden Corral in 2023.

Adult Buffet

MenuSize / QuantityPrice
Premium Dinner Buffet$14.49
Dinner Buffet$13.99
Lunch Buffet$10.99
Breakfast$9.99

Kids Buffet

MenuSize / QuantityPrice
12 – 15 years of age$11.99
9 – 12 years of age$6.99
4 – 8 years of age$5.99
3 years of age and younger eat free$0.00

Senior Buffet

  • Senior Lunch Buffet: $9.99
  • Senior Dinner Buffet: $12.99

Individual Meals

MenuSize / QuantityPrice
Fried Chicken$10.55
Pot Roast$11.87
Bourbon Street Chicken$10.55
Meatloaf$11.87
5 oz. Sirloin Steak$9.89
8 oz. Sirloin Steak$9.99
10 oz. Sirloin Steak$10.49
12 oz. Sirloin Steak$12.99
Smoked Pulled Pork$11.87
Fried Fish$10.55
Baked Fish$10.55
Baked Chicken$10.55
Garden Salad$8.99
Spinach Salad$8.99
Kids Meal - Chicken Tenders$4.99

Family Meals

MenuSize / QuantityPrice
Bourbon Street ChickenServes 4$32.99
Bourbon Street ChickenServes 6$48.83
Fried ChickenServes 4$32.99
Fried ChickenServes 6$48.83
Pot RoastServes 4$38.27
Pot RoastServes 6$49.27
MeatloafServes 4$38.27
MeatloafServes 6$56.75
5 oz. Sirloin SteakServes 4$38.27
5 oz. Sirloin SteakServes 6$56.75
Smoked Pulled PorkServes 4$38.27
Smoked Pulled PorkServes 6$56.75
Baked FishServes 4$32.99
Baked FishServes 6$48.83
Fried FishServes 4$32.99
Fried FishServes 6$48.83

Famous Fried Chicken

MenuSize / QuantityPrice
Fried Chicken1 Pc$1.69
6 Piece Fun Box$10.00
8 Piece Fun Box$13.99
12 Piece Family Box$18.99
20 Piece Crowd Pleaser$27.99

Pizza

MenuSize / QuantityPrice
Pepperoni Pizza$6.99
Cheese Pizza$6.99

Signature Salads

MenuSize / QuantityPrice
Cobb SaladIndividual$8.99
Cobb SaladFamily$12.99
Cobb SaladParty$17.99
Chicken Caesar SaladIndividual$8.99
Chicken Caesar SaladFamily$12.99
Chicken Caesar SaladParty$17.99
Garden SaladIndividual$8.99
Garden SaladFamily$12.99
Garden SaladParty$17.99
Spinach SaladIndividual$8.99
Spinach SaladFamily$12.99
Spinach SaladParty$17.99

Desserts

MenuSize / QuantityPrice
Carrot CakeSlice$2.39
Carrot CakeHalf Cake$6.99
Carrot CakeWhole Cake$11.99
CheesecakeSlice$2.39
CheesecakeHalf Cake$8.39
CheesecakeWhole Cake$10.99
Chocolate CakeSlice$2.39
Chocolate CakeHalf Cake$8.39
Chocolate CakeWhole Cake$11.99
Apple PieSlice$1.80
Apple PieHalf Pie$7.99
Apple PieWhole Pie$8.99
Blueberry PieSlice$1.80
Blueberry PieHalf Pie$5.99
Blueberry PieWhole Pie$10.79
Banana PuddingIndividual$3.99
Banana PuddingFamily$6.99
Banana PuddingParty$15.99
BrowniesSingle Serving (2 each)$1.25
BrowniesHalf Pan$6.99
BrowniesWhole Pan$11.99
CookiesDozen$2.99

Sides

MenuSize / QuantityPrice
Baked Potato$2.39
Baked Beans24 oz$4.79
Buttered Corn24 oz$3.99
Green Beans24 oz$3.99
Macaroni & Cheese24 oz$5.99
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy24 oz$5.99
Steamed Broccoli24 oz$4.79
Steamed Carrots24 oz$3.99
White Rice24 oz$4.79
Coleslaw24 oz$4.79
Yeast RollsHalf Dozen$2.49
Yeast RollsDozen$3.99

Beverages

MenuSize / QuantityPrice
Gold Peak Sweet Tea$2.99
Gold Peak Unsweet Tea$2.99
Minute Maid Lemonade$2.99
Barq's Root Beer$2.99
Coca Cola$2.99
Diet Coke$2.99
Dr. Pepper$2.99
Fanta Orange$2.99
Sprite$2.99
Minute Maid LemonadeHalf Gallon$4.99
Minute Maid LemonadeGallon$10.79
Freshly Brewed Sweet TeaHalf Gallon$4.79
Freshly Brewed Sweet TeaGallon$8.39
Freshly Brewed Unsweetened TeaHalf Gallon$4.79
Freshly Brewed Unsweetened TeaGallon$8.39

What is the cheapest time to eat at Golden Corral Buffet?

The most affordable time to dine at Golden Corral is typically during the weekday lunch hours or breakfast. Most Golden Corral locations start offering lunch at 11 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Monday – Friday where you can order an adult buffet for only $10.99.

Golden Corral’s breakfast hours vary by location and are typically only offered on Saturday and Sunday starting at 7:30 am. You can fill up on favorites like waffles, pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and hash browns in the breakfast buffet. Golden Corral also offers a variety of breakfast drinks, including coffee, tea, juice, and milk in the morning as well.

During these times, you’ll find a reduced price for the buffet compared to the dinner time prices. This makes it an excellent option for those looking to save a bit of money.

Golden Corral Rewards

Golden Corral Rewards program.

Are there any deals for seniors?

The answer is yes—Golden Corral offers a Senior Early Bird Special, which is available at most locations from Monday to Friday between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Seniors can take advantage of this deal and enjoy a delicious buffet and a free beverage on a $1 discount This allows you to dine for around $9.99.

In addition, some Golden Corral locations also provide daily senior discounts on regular adult buffet entrees of up to $1 allowing you to get a dinner time senior buffet for only $12.99. At Golden Corral, anyone 60 years of age or older valid for a senior discount. Please bring a valid ID for proof of age.

Are there discounts at Golden Corral?

Golden Corral Rewards prom. Win Golden Corral for a Year!

When you sign up for a Golden Corral Rewards program, you can save money on your next visit. Each $1 you spend can earn you 1 point, and you can get $10 off on your next purchase when you reach 100 points. You essentially get 10% off on each visit when you sign up for and use the rewards program.

Related Reading: KFC Menu Prices & Hacks You’ll Want to Try 

It’s quick and simple to get started; simply download the app and input the 13-digit receipt number, or scan it at the register. Sign up now and you’ll get an additional $5 off your next purchase of $25 or more as a one-time sign-up bonus. You will accrue points each time you make a purchase, and you may exchange those points for incentives.

The second rewards program, which goes by the name of Good as Gold Rewards Club, offers a special set of advantages. As a member, you’ll enjoy perks like a complimentary drink, exclusive coupons, special birthday deals, and information about the buffet’s seasonal specials. You only need to register on their website to start receiving the benefits.

Do you need to tip at Golden Corral?

The culinary team at work

When you dine at Golden Corral, the decision to tip or not is ultimately up to you. With that being said, servers at Golden Corral are responsible for taking drink orders, refilling drinks, and clearing tables. Servers also help to keep the buffet lines moving and make sure that the food is fresh and hot. Since you do receive significant service, I’d argue you should leave a tip even though this is a buffet style restaurant.

It’s also important to remember that the servers at Golden Corral rely on tips as a significant portion of their income. While the restaurant chain does pay their servers a state minimum wage at least, they certainly do not cover the living expenses of a family.

For this reason, if you receive good service or if your server goes above and beyond to make your dining experience enjoyable, I believe it is appropriate to leave a tip.

Is Golden Corral struggling financially?

Golden Corral has faced financial challenges in recent times. The restaurant chain has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and closed down more than 100 locations since 2019. The decline in customers and the closure of many dining locations have had a significant impact on the company’s bottom line.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the restaurant industry, and Golden Corral has been no exception. The pandemic forced many Golden Corral locations to close temporarily, and even when they were able to reopen, they were often operating at reduced capacity. This led to a decline in sales, which made it difficult for many locations to stay afloat.

The company has cited various factors for the closures, including rising food and labor costs, increased competition, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Golden Corral poster

Poster for Golden Corral.

With that being said, Golden Corral is making strides to turn things around from a business perspective and re-enter a growth phase. These efforts include revamping their menu with new items, including healthier options and even seafood options on select nights. The company is also working to improve the quality of its food overall and re-evaluating buffet line items.

Another strategy Golden Corral is renovating its restaurants to make them more modern and inviting. The company is also adding new features, such as self-service beverage stations and mobile ordering. Brand consistency across locations is another important initiative the company has embarked on.

Investing in marketing and technology is another way Golden Corral hoping to improve the customer experience. They company implemented a new tool called from MeazureUp called AuditApp is one tool being used to evaluate buffet lines and create improvement plans for different locations. This helps multi-unit operators stay on-top of whether or not management is following through on procedures and best practices.

Who owns Golden Corral?

The Golden Corral legacy

Golden Corral is a popular chain of restaurants that has been satisfying the hunger of their patrons for over four decades. As one of the biggest buffets in the United States, Golden Corral has a humble beginning that dates back to 1973, when James Maynard and William F. Carl put up the first restaurant in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

The two partners had already opened several other restaurants, but they noticed that Americans had a growing appetite for all-you-can-eat buffets, so they decided to give it a try. Their first restaurant was a hit, and soon enough, they expanded to other locations. Today, Golden Corral remains a restaurant chain that emphasizes the importance of a good meal, good company, and great service despite its ongoing financial challenges described earlier. The chain has grown to over 500 locations across the United States since its inception.

While the founders have since passed ownership onto other individuals and corporations, the same core values of offering an affordable, family-style dining experience hold true. Today, Golden Corral is owned by a private equity firm headed by CEO, Lance Trenary, who has continued to expand the brand while upholding the same high standards set forth by its founders.

Golden Corral has grown in popularity due to its affordable prices and wide variety of dishes. The restaurant is also committed to giving back to the community through initiatives such as Military Appreciation Night, which provides a free dinner for veterans and active-duty military personnel. Next time you dine at Golden Corral, remember its humble beginnings and the hard work and dedication that has made it what it is today.

Is Golden Corral an expensive place to eat?

A well-stacked salad bar.

No, Golden Corral is not considered an expensive restaurant. In fact, Golden Corral is one of the most affordable buffet restaurants in the United States. The prices at Golden Corral vary depending on the location and time of day, but you can typically expect to pay around $10 – $12 for lunch and $15 – $20 for dinner. This is a great value for the amount of food you get. If you take advantage of joining the Golden Corral Rewards program you could dine for even less. Ordering water instead of a soft-drink is another easy way to save.

Here are some of the reasons why Golden Corral is considered an affordable restaurant:

  • Buffet-style dining: Golden Corral is a buffet restaurant, which means that you can eat as much as you want for one price. This is a great way to save money, especially if you have a large appetite.
  • Variety of food options: Golden Corral offers a wide variety of food options, including both hot and cold dishes. This means that there is something for everyone, and you are sure to find something you like.
  • Low prices: Golden Corral is one of the most affordable buffet restaurants in the United States. This makes it a great option for families and large groups on a budget.

Overall, Golden Corral is a great option for affordable and convenient dining. If you’re looking for a buffet restaurant with a wide variety of food options and fair prices Golden Corral is a great choice.

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