Golden Corral now has to-go options.
I went to Golden Corral a year after my initial visit to see how the buffet chain was faring.
I found the food mostly bland and unappealing.
The salad bar was the unexpected highlight of my trip.
Golden Corral just announced a promotion featuring all-you-can-eat chicken wings, fried chicken, and chicken tenders, so I decided to visit and see how they are.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I first went to the buffet chain a year ago, in the summer of 2021, when it introduced a to-go option.Golden Corral now has to-go options.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Source: Insider
This time around, I planned to eat in the restaurant for the first time and get the full experience.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
There were signs on doors and windows advertising the chicken wings.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The to-go option was also still available, and this time around I saw a few people use it.
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When you enter you’re immediately in line for the register, where you pay for access to the buffet and get a drink.
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There are regular and to-go cups available and a standard self-serve Pepsi soda fountain.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
There were printed out signs posted all over the restaurant with instructions, like this one requiring that all customers must be present at the register before entering the buffet.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
A hand drawn sign at the register reminded customers that steak isn’t available until dinner service starts, which is also when the chicken wings appear.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Menus and prices are different between lunch and dinner. An adult lunch buffet costs $12.49 in my location, and dinner costs $17.59.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The cashier handed me utensils and my receipt, and I was ready to hit the buffet.
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I started out grabbing a plate, still warm, from the large stack.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The number of choices can be kind of overwhelming, so I took a lap to see what my options were.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Most of the options were what I anticipated: varieties of carbs, proteins, and vegetables separated by type of cuisine.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
There were plenty of side dishes and snack type foods, like chips and salsa.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Many of the dishes weren’t labeled, which made it a bit tricky to decide what to eat.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The fried chicken, though, was instantly recognizable.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Many of the available dishes are fried, and those tended to look more appealing than some of the other untouched options.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The hush puppies and breaded shrimp were some of the tastiest items I had.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
On my first time around, the wing and chicken tender trays were empty.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
There were two wing stations on opposite sides of the restaurant, and I hurried over when they were refilled.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I was happy to see celery and bleu cheese available to go with the wings …
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… but the semi-erased hand drawn sides made it feel like an afterthought.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I tried lots of Golden Corral staples, which were unfortunately not very good. There was so much food, but it was so bland it didn’t feel satisfying.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The wings were okay but fairly bland, and the macaroni and cheese was shockingly flavorless.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
After trying all the fried foods, I was sorely in need of a vegetable.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I’d wrongly assumed the far side of the buffet was empty, because no one was over there, but it actually held the salad bar.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I can’t even remember the last time I went to a salad bar aside from my college dining hall, and they were largely killed off by the early days of the pandemic.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Source: Insider
The salad section was standard, but did what it needed to do perfectly.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
There were several options for greens, and about a dozen different dressings.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
There was also a station with oil, vinegar, and bacon bits.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The topping options were extensive.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
There were a few kinds of cheese, onions, peppers, olives, pepperoni, and more.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
There were even nuts to top salads.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
My salad was the only dish I was happy to finish because it had different textures and flavors, in comparison to the rest of the buffet.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The fruit section was far less impressive, with bananas that had clearly seen better days.
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Lastly there was dessert, which included these jello bowls.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
There was also ice cream, some kind of berry pie, brownies, and cake.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The chocolate fountain I saw last time was nowhere to be found.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I had a small slice of chocolate cake that wasn’t anything special, but it was fine.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The cost for two people to eat at the buffet and get drinks was about $45, which I don’t think was worth it.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
For really flavorful chicken and fried sides, I could go to Popeyes and have a far better meal for less than half the cost.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The salad bar was the highlight, although probably not itself worth the cost of accessing the entire buffet.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
If I really wanted to try the salad bar again, I’d probably go during lunch to save the extra $5.Golden Corral now has to-go options.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com.
