17 Iowa Restaurants Known For All-You-Can-Eat Service
All-you-can-eat is more than a deal, it is a vibe. You settle in, sample widely, and chase seconds without overthinking what to order.
Iowa does this especially well, from truck stop legends to Brazilian steakhouses and small town weekend buffets. Use this list to plan a come-hungry outing, whether you want brunch comfort or an endless parade of grilled meats.
1. Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet
This is the buffet people pick when everyone wants something different. You can pile up lo mein, sesame chicken, and crab rangoon, then swing by for hibachi items cooked hot and quick.
Sushi rolls and fruit trays round everything out.
Go at prime time for the fullest spread and fast refills. Staff keeps pans moving so you get fresh batches regularly.
Bring a flexible appetite and a plan for dessert because the soft serve machine calls your name.
2. New China Buffet & Grill
New China Buffet & Grill is the quintessential load-the-plate stop. Expect General Tso’s, pepper chicken, fried rice, and egg rolls along with a modest sushi selection and soups.
The rotation stays familiar, which is exactly why regulars come back.
Prices are usually straightforward and lunch is the sweet spot for value. If you like to customize, mix sauced entrees with plain rice to balance flavors.
Save room for the fruit and simple desserts that wrap up the comfort factor.
3. Buffet City
Buffet City is built for choice. You will find multiple soup options, classic chicken dishes, seafood favorites, and a dependable salad bar.
The draw is scale and consistency, perfect when a group wants fast decisions and big portions.
Go early for the hottest trays and crisp fried items. The staff turns over popular dishes quickly during peak hours, which keeps flavors on point.
Expect the usual desserts plus a few surprises depending on the day’s rotation.
4. The Buffet (Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel)
The Buffet at Meskwaki leans into scheduled service, so check hours for lunch and weekend brunch. Carving stations, comfort sides, and desserts make it feel celebratory.
It is the kind of place where you build a plate like a holiday meal.
Timing matters because certain highlights appear at specific windows. Expect steady crowds on weekends and holidays.
Pace yourself through salads, mains, and sweets so you actually enjoy everything you came for.
5. Westlake Bar & Grill (Lakeside Hotel & Casino)
Westlake Bar & Grill runs buffet events plus a weekend breakfast and Sunday brunch buffet that locals watch for. Expect eggs, bacon, pancakes, and a few chef specials to keep return trips interesting.
The vibe is relaxed and good for groups.
Check the calendar for special themed buffets tied to holidays or gaming events. When it is brunch, arrive early for the freshest batches.
Coffee flows, plates stack up, and the lakeside setting gives everything a laid back feel.
6. Iowa 80 Kitchen
Iowa 80 Kitchen is a true road trip legend with a real buffet schedule. Weekend breakfast buffets bring scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy, plus fruit and pastries.
Lunch and dinner lean hearty, perfect when you have miles ahead.
The draw is comfort and reliability. You can refuel, stretch, and sample a little of everything without lingering too long.
It is family friendly, traveler friendly, and surprisingly charming for a big, busy stop.
7. Machine Shed Restaurant
Machine Shed nails the classic Midwest brunch vibe. Expect egg casseroles, carved meats, hearty potatoes, and cinnamon rolls that disappear fast.
It feels like a Sunday tradition, with friendly servers and nostalgic farmhouse touches.
Arrive hungry because everything begs for seconds. Coffee is bottomless, plates are generous, and the bakery items often steal the show.
If you love old school comfort, this is a place to linger and savor.
8. Sally’s On Broadway
Sally’s On Broadway runs all you can eat on Friday and Saturday, plus a Sunday breakfast buffet. Think fried chicken, mashed potatoes, salads, and pies, then come back for pancakes and bacon on Sunday.
It is neighborly, cheerful, and unpretentious.
Check social pages for exact times. The menu changes just enough to keep things interesting but always leans classic.
Bring friends, trade stories, and leave with that small town satisfied feeling.
9. Bluff Lake Catfish Farm
Bluff Lake Catfish Farm is a destination for all you can eat catfish. Plates keep coming until you wave the white napkin.
Sides are simple and satisfying, and the lakeside setting turns dinner into a mini getaway.
Go with patient expectations because crowds can gather on peak nights. The rhythm is relaxed, and the staff ensures hot, crispy fish reaches your table.
It is the definition of come hungry and leave happy.
10. Brazil Terra Grill
Brazil Terra Grill delivers the full rodizio experience. Gauchos carve an endless parade of grilled meats while you rotate through a well stocked salad bar.
Signal with your card, and the next skewer arrives like magic.
Pace your bites so you can appreciate the picanha and not miss the lamb. The salad bar is not filler, it is balance.
Finish with grilled pineapple if offered and call it a victory.
11. Pizza Ranch (Iowa City)
Pizza Ranch is the reliable choice when you want pizza, chicken, salad, and dessert in one pass. The buffet rotates classics and new specialty pies, and the famous chicken holds its crunch.
Cactus Bread waits at the end like a promise.
In Iowa City, it is a convenient group meetup spot. Lunch value is strong, dinner brings fuller selections, and carryout remains an option for leftovers.
Keep an eye on buffet time windows.
12. Golden Corral (Davenport)
Golden Corral in Davenport is the classic endless buffet. Carved meats, fried chicken, veggies, and a dessert section that tempts you into a second dessert plate.
It is familiar on purpose, which helps mixed groups agree quickly.
Visit during peak for highest turnover and freshest trays. The chocolate fountain draws kids like a magnet, so plan dessert wisely.
Prices vary by day and time, so check before you go.
13. Golden Corral (Council Bluffs)
The Council Bluffs Golden Corral offers the same dependable buffet format for the western side of the state. Expect the familiar rotation of comfort foods, salads, and sweets.
It is easy, quick, and built for variety.
Weekends can be busy, which usually means speedy refills and better selection. If you are road tripping along I 80, it is a convenient stop.
Grab what looks best and keep it moving.
14. HuHot Mongolian Grill (Ames)
HuHot is not a typical buffet, but it is all you can eat stir fry. Build bowls with noodles, veggies, proteins, and sauces, then watch them sear on the big circular grill.
Finish, eat, and repeat until satisfied.
The fun is in mixing sauces and discovering a personal favorite. Ames draws plenty of students, so energy is high.
Go light on the first bowl and escalate as you learn heat levels.
15. Izumi Sushi & Hibachi
Izumi’s all you can eat sushi is about rounds, not a steam table. Order a few rolls, some nigiri, maybe a starter, and repeat after you finish.
Quality tends to stay solid because items are made to order.
Watch the fine print to avoid waste fees, and pace orders so rice does not sneakily fill you up. Add miso soup or a hibachi item for variety.
It is a satisfying way to sample widely.
16. Saints Avenue Cafe
Saints Avenue Cafe is the easy, no decisions buffet. It is classic comfort cooking, with roast meats, sides, and a salad bar that keeps things balanced.
Dessert pies seal the deal with a nostalgic finish.
Expect friendly service and straightforward prices. The lineup changes a little by day, so regulars never get bored.
Bring an appetite and the willingness to try something your table neighbor recommends.
17. Diamond Jo Casino Dubuque Dining
Diamond Jo Casino’s dining has long been linked with buffet style options, depending on the venue and season. Look for rotating specials, brunches, or themed nights that bring back the all you can eat feel.
Check schedules ahead.
When it runs, the spread is generous and designed for lingering. Carved meats, salads, and desserts make it easy to customize a perfect plate.
It is a convenient choice before or after gaming.
