Top Buffet Restaurants in the U.S. States and Chains by the Numbers
Buffet Restaurants in the U.S.: Four Data Charts by the Numbers
Restaurantdata.com analyzed buffet restaurant locations across the United States and Canada. The four tables below examine cuisine concentration, geographic distribution, the largest buffet chains, and the balance between independent and chain-operated locations. Chinese, American, and pizza buffets account for the largest cuisine categories, while Texas has more buffet restaurants than any other state.
Key Findings
Chinese buffets form the largest cuisine category. Approximately 1,175 locations are classified as Chinese buffets, compared with about 820 American buffets and 800 pizza buffets.
Texas has the largest buffet restaurant market. The state has approximately 630 buffet locations, nearly twice the total recorded in California.
Golden Corral is the largest buffet chain. Its approximately 395 U.S. locations place it ahead of CiCi’s Pizza and Pizza Ranch.
Independent operators account for most buffet locations in several major states. California, Florida, and Georgia have particularly large concentrations of independently operated buffet restaurants, while Iowa has a heavier chain presence because of Pizza Ranch’s regional concentration.
Data note: Counts are approximate and reflect the restaurant location data used for this analysis. Totals may vary slightly between tables because of rounding and differences in classification.
Chart 1: Top 10 Buffet Cuisines by Restaurant Count
Chinese buffets lead all cuisine categories, followed by American and pizza concepts. Steakhouse and broader Asian concepts also account for substantial location totals, showing how the buffet format extends across several restaurant categories.
Source: Restaurantdata.com · U.S. buffet restaurant locations · All unit types included
| # | Cuisine Type | Number of Restaurants |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chinese | ~1,175 |
| 2 | American | ~820 |
| 3 | Pizza | ~800 |
| 4 | Steakhouse | ~460 |
| 5 | Asian | ~350 |
| 6 | Indian | ~125 |
| 7 | Japanese | ~115 |
| 8 | Sushi | ~100 |
| 9 | Mexican / Latin | ~90 |
| 10 | Seafood | ~80 |
* Counts are approximate. Chinese buffets represent the largest single cuisine classification within the U.S. buffet segment.
Chart 2: Top 10 States and Provinces by Buffet Restaurant Count
Texas has approximately 630 buffet restaurants, placing it well ahead of California and Florida. Southern and Midwestern states appear frequently in the ranking, although New York, California, and Pennsylvania also have substantial buffet location totals.
| # | State / Province | Buffet Restaurants |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas (TX) | ~630 |
| 2 | California (CA) | ~320 |
| 3 | Florida (FL) | ~275 |
| 4 | Georgia (GA) | ~210 |
| 5 | Ohio (OH) | ~190 |
| 6 | New York (NY) | ~175 |
| 7 | North Carolina (NC) | ~165 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania (PA) | ~135 |
| 9 | Illinois (IL) | ~130 |
| 10 | Iowa (IA) | ~120 |
* Counts are approximate. Texas has nearly twice as many buffet restaurants as California, the second-ranked state.
Chart 3: Top 20 Buffet Chains by Number of Locations
Golden Corral leads the chain ranking with approximately 395 U.S. locations, followed by CiCi’s Pizza at approximately 290 and Pizza Ranch at approximately 220. The difference between the third- and fourth-ranked companies is substantial: most other brands in the table operate fewer than 80 locations.
| # | Restaurant Chain | Locations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Corral | ~395 |
| 2 | CiCi’s Pizza | ~290 |
| 3 | Pizza Ranch | ~220 |
| 4 | Sizzler | ~75 |
| 5 | Mr. Gatti’s Pizza | ~75 |
| 6 | East of Chicago Pizza Co | ~70 |
| 7 | Mandarin Restaurant | ~70 |
| 8 | Luby’s | ~45 |
| 9 | Western Sizzlin | ~43 |
| 10 | Papas Pizza To Go | ~38 |
| 11 | Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet | ~25 |
| 12 | Thai Spice | ~25 |
| 13 | Village Inn Pizza | ~17 |
| 14 | Larry’s Pizza | ~15 |
| 15 | Mountain West Brands LLC | ~12 |
| 16 | Stevi B’s Pizza | ~11 |
| 17 | Incredible Pizza Co | ~10 |
| 18 | John’s Incredible Pizza Co | ~10 |
| 19 | Chang’s Mongolian Grill | ~10 |
| 20 | Le Buffet des Continents | ~10 |
* Counts are approximate. Pizza Ranch has a particularly strong concentration in Iowa and surrounding Midwestern markets, giving the company a larger regional presence than its national ranking alone indicates.
Chart 4: Independent vs. Chain Buffet Restaurants in the Top 10 States
Independent buffet operators outnumber chain locations in most of the states shown below. Texas is close to evenly divided, with approximately 320 chain locations and 305 independent locations. California and Florida have much larger independent segments, while Iowa is the only state in the table where chain locations hold a clear advantage.
| # | State | Chain Locations | Independent Locations | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas (TX) | ~320 | ~305 | ~625 |
| 2 | California (CA) | ~90 | ~230 | ~320 |
| 3 | Ohio (OH) | ~80 | ~105 | ~185 |
| 4 | Iowa (IA) | ~75 | ~45 | ~120 |
| 5 | North Carolina (NC) | ~75 | ~80 | ~155 |
| 6 | Florida (FL) | ~65 | ~205 | ~270 |
| 7 | Georgia (GA) | ~65 | ~145 | ~210 |
| 8 | Minnesota (MN) | ~50 | ~60 | ~110 |
| 9 | Tennessee (TN) | ~40 | ~80 | ~120 |
| 10 | Arkansas (AR) | ~35 | ~45 | ~80 |
* Counts are approximate. California and Florida have the highest independent-to-chain ratios among the states shown. Iowa’s chain-heavy distribution reflects Pizza Ranch’s concentration in the state and surrounding region.
What the Data Shows About the Buffet Segment
The buffet category is not controlled by a single cuisine or ownership model. Chinese restaurants form the largest cuisine group, while American, pizza, steakhouse, and broader Asian concepts also maintain substantial location counts.
The chain market is concentrated at the top. Golden Corral, CiCi’s Pizza, and Pizza Ranch operate far more locations than the remaining companies in the ranking. Below those three brands, the market consists largely of smaller regional chains and independent operators.
Geographic patterns also differ by ownership type. Texas combines a large independent base with a similarly large chain presence. California, Florida, and Georgia are weighted more heavily toward independent operators, while Iowa’s buffet market has a larger chain component.
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