There are few things in the world that scream indulgence quite like an iconic American buffet. From Golden Corral to Sizzler's, the restaurant landscape was dotted with popular chains that laid out all-you-can-eat spreads at super affordable rates. And while the general decline had started in the early 2000s, the struggle became impossible to ignore during the pandemic. One beloved chain that couldn't survive it was Hometown Buffet.
When it comes to overindulging in the most deliciously dramatic of ways, few restaurants do it better than Golden Corral. It's self-proclaimed as America's number one buffet and grill, and with over 25,000 Yelp reviews, there's no doubting its popularity. With a menu of over 500 items, it's almost impossible not to find something that sounds good at Golden Corral. Given that there are more than 400 locations operating across America, it's hard to believe the entire franchise nearly disappeared during COVID.