At these restaurants, not only can you can savor your favorite meal, but you can keep going back for more. Seconds? Sure. Thirds? Why not? Fourths? No one is going to stop you.
Tori Levy - Staff Writer•
There’s nothing quite like heading to a restaurant and inhaling a tasty meal in under a few minutes. The kind of meal where you slow down the last few bites so that you can prolong the inevitable—an empty plate. It’s a somber moment when there’s nothing left, and you wish you could go back for more. Well, what if we told you it doesn’t have to end with one plate? You may think buffets in Chicago are rare, but the opposite is true.
You can savor a meal without the restrictions of choosing one item on the menu—and you’ll never be left wanting more. You’ll never go hungry at these all-you-can-eat buffets in Chicago, and the best part is you might never even need to leave your table.
1. Sushi Para, Various Locations
This is the right place if you love sushi but can never pick a roll. At Sushi Para, you can select the all-you-can-eat dinner for $26.99. With what feels like a hundred sushi rolls, you can have the salmon skin roll, the California roll, or our favorite, the fusion roll.
Address • 2258 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
Address • 1633 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
2. Iron Age Korean Steakhouse, Wicker Park
This trendy, contemporary restaurant is perfect if you’re craving Korean BBQ. For $29, you can have a DIY meal experience that makes feasting fulfilling and delightful. When you sit down, the burner will be prepped, and the supplies within arm’s reach, making it a seamless transition into barbecuing as much chicken, pork, steak, and seafood as you like.
Address • 1265 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
3. Pearl’s Place, Bronzeville
This place is good for the soul. If you’re waking up early on the weekend or having a slow morning and need to be rejuvenated by a magical meal, Pearl’s Place is where you come. For $18.59, you can have at much Southern comfort food as you like—this deal makes it one of the best buffets in Chicago. The lineup ranges from homemade buttermilk biscuits and a signature omelet to southern mac and cheese and corn beef hash. It’s the quintessential place to be if you need authentic soul food.
Address • 3901 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60653
4. Happy Lamb Hot Pot, Chinatown
When every item on a restaurant’s menu looks mouth-watering and makes your stomach growl with appetite, it makes it almost impossible to choose. You can easily order one of everything at Happy Lamb Hot Pot for only $21.99. You’ll receive a hot pot with flavorful broths and high-quality proteins and vegetables, making it a satisfying meal.
Address • 2342 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
5. Friends Station, River North
The first and only rotary hot pot in Chicago, this AYCE buffet in Chicago has an incredible Shabu Shabu menu. At $29 for lunch and $35 for dinner, you can choose from two broths, the vegetable kombu or the sukiyaki, and pair it with a selection of meats, seafood, vegetables, and noodles.
Address • 800 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610
6. Red Apple Buffet, Niles
Chicagoans have reveled in this massive Polish buffet since it opened in 1984. With a beautiful and tasty spread of European food, the traditional Polish food here is flavorful and nostalgic. Red Apple Buffet is rated among the best buffets in Chicago, and for only $32.99, you’ll be a perennial customer after your first taste.
Address • 6474 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60631
7. Gaylord Fine Indian Cusine, Gold Coast
Gaylord Fine Indian Cusine is hidden underneath the steps on Walton Street, only a couple blocks from Lake Michigan. It hails as the most affordable buffet in Chicago. For $13.95 every day, you can compile everything on your plate, from samosas and Indian chips to chicken with tomato cream gravy and south Indian vegetable stew with lentils.
Address • 100 E Walton St, Chicago, IL 60611
8. Nellies Restaurant, Humboldt Park
A staple of the Humboldt Park neighborhood, Nellie’s is the perfect fusion that harmonizes Puerto Rican Fare and American favorites. While the menu sprawls with Puerto Rican delicacies, and the open, cozy space with exposed brick makes it the place to bring the family. When you want your breakfast to be everlasting, Nellie’s is where you go—they have the only Puerto Rican breakfast buffet in Chicago, so be sure to make your reservations in advance.
📍Address • 2458 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
See Also: Enjoy a meal at these gorgeous restaurants in Chicago!
