As a remembrance of my dad's birthday, my wife, her mom, and I went to one of his favorite chain restaurants to eat dinner (after my wife and I had just gotten back from visiting our daughter). I intentionally chose a Golden Corral that we hadn't been before (we usually go to the closer one in Bellflower), and found that this Downey location didn't have the best aesthetics or service, but the food was on point. Gold Corral was already pretty busy when we got there before 5 pm. Dinner pricing was in play, costing $22.79 per person plus $4.39 for a soft drink. One stands in line to enter, grabbing your drinks from the self-serve soda fountain, and then paying the cashier. There was no option to add a tip, which was a bit surprising (since other food places that have far less service commonly add the option to their checkout process). Large sections of the restaurant were on reserve, but there were still plenty of places to sit, so was still on find-your-own table status. Once we found one, said hi to our server and went up. Two of the best things on the buffet were the golden fried shrimp (jumbo in size, nicely deep fried in a good oil) which were delicious dipped in their cocktail sauce (though each item were at opposite ends of the buffet) AND their freshly grilled sirloin steak. Once you get the grillers attention, he will fork over half of one, with the right level of doneness according to your request. Even though I was disappointed in learning that the steaks are now delivered frozen, they didn't taste that way. It was very good, as good a steak as I've had at any other fast casual restaurant, and certainly the best at a AYCE place. I tried their well known pot roast as well, and it was the same as before: really tender, going well with the accompanying gravy. I also tried their cornmeal fried catfish: quite good and not overly greasy. Good deep frying seems to be common here. Did notice they had fried chicken and grilled chicken available. Each table had paper napkin dispenser, and condiments like ketchup, steak sauce, and hot sauce. Other things I noticed were the self serve 3 flavor ICEE machine, self serve soft serve ice cream, and chocolate dipped fruits and snacks. What it did not have were two things that I've seen before at other Golden Corrals: a cotton candy machine and a self serve chocolate fountain. They did seem understaffed, as our dirty plates kept piling up and our drinks didn't get refilled. I was tempted to go to the nearby beverage station to just refill it ourselves, but the clear signage stating 'Employees Only' deterred me. My wife did get a server's attention, and he did clear our plates and refill our drinks...thus got a chance to use my 2 dollar bills before we left. We ended up only staying for 40 minutes, which would have disappointed my dad (who made it a rule to stay at least 1 hour at any AYCE place). But we ate well (my mother in law really loved the fried shrimp), which is what really mattered. read more

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Great staff Menu varies on weekends where you get steak and shrimp Large salad bar that includes lettuce options with plenty of fresh fruit Pizza, spaghetti, meatloaf, roast chicken, beef roast, turkey, roast pork, catfish, grid shrimp, candied sweet potatoes, roasted, baked or mashed potatoes too Full dessert bar with cakes, pies, jellos, bread pudding and soft serve ice cream There is something for everyone Staff keeps your table clean and refills drinks too You can make your own waffles for breakfast all day You can have them grill you sirloin steak read more

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Golden Corral taking over the reins that Home Town Buffet left behind years ago... and it's not bad. Haven't tried breakfast yet but lunch and dinner options are solid. Some of the things I tried were: Tacos, hot dogs, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, fried chicken, and can't remember much else. Taco station is not bad - it's a make your own taco that kind of tastes like taco bell. Hot, nacho cheese and ground beef that sort of resembles chili. Hot dog quality wasn't bad either. Everything else is solid. Mashed potatoes are yummy and not overly seasoned for our patrons that don't care for garlic mash or the fancier stuff. Mac and cheese is a bit on the blander side so I would advise going for a different side. Fried chicken quality is mediocre, wouldn't recommend but also wouldn't advise to avoid it. Highlight for me is always the dessert. Warm peach cobbler with a side of ice cream is really enough to make me want to come back here. Service is always good, just for refills of course, napkins are conveniently provided at the table to use as needed. Price ain't bad - about $26/person if I recall correctly. Plus tax/tip, ends up around $60-70 for 2 which is pretty normal and great considering it's all-you-can-eat. Ample parking, across the street from a few businesses but not a major street so not awful traffic nearby. Easy to access. Overall, solid choice for breakfast, lunch, or dinner if you're willing to spend the extra bit for unlimited refills of food. read more

Cashier; Kelly {young maybe Latina }very unprofessional when it comes to customer service inconvenience too mush playing with employee at cash register while customer are waiting to be serve and seated. Details : while waiting my turn to be seated and pay she kept interacting with another employee who just came up out of no were as we waited she gave another employee change then when she felt she was finish with the shenanigans with employees she finally acknowledged us. I felt a little prejudice read more

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill - Dessert ice cream peach cobbler brownie from dessert bar - Buffets Near Me - Downey, California

Well my wife and I came out for a bite to eat and since I have new choppers to eat now wanted to celebrate. Shot out to Tony the manager and Sammy the floor server who I seen was on the ball making sure people were seated staff was on check. From making sure cleaning towels to quality control. Place was jamming read more

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill is always a solid choice with tons of options to satisfy any craving. A few highlights: the Bourbon Chicken is sweet, savory, and smoky--perfect with a side of rice. Speaking of rice, there are plenty to choose from, from fried rice to Mexican rice and more. The pozole rojo de pollo was a pleasant surprise on its own, but adding taco meat, lime, and onions took it to another level. One of the best deals has to be the unlimited steak for just $17.20, though keep in mind steak service starts at 4 PM. When I asked about it, a staff member kindly replied, "It starts at 4, dear," and followed up with, "You're welcome, love," after my thank-you. Those little endearing touches aren't so common these days, and it made the experience feel that much warmer and more memorable. read more

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill - Buffets Near Me - Downey, California

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My food was really good. It is fast and easy to get just what you want in the portions you will eat. Too often restaurants just pile on the food, way more than you should eat. They have table service too. For the price you pay and what you get, GC is a good choice. As it is flat rate, come hungry but don't waste any food. read more

Ok, so here's the scoop. I went for dinner with my parents, and my first impression was that it gave HomeTown Buffet vibes. The steak was soft and tender, but the cook didn't seem to know the difference between medium and well-done. Still, it was probably the best meat there, even though it came out well-done. The fish and shrimp was also a solid option. They had a lot of choices, like orange chicken, a taco area, meatloaf, drum sticks. The orange chicken though wasn't my favorite. It was too stiff and tasted more like battered dough with barely any chicken. The service was fine; since it's a buffet, there isn't much interaction, but the staff was quick to clear plates. The salad bar was ok. I enjoyed it, but the options were limited, only spinach, romaine, and regular lettuce (no arugula), which was disappointing. read more

Came here on a weekday lunch. Plenty of free parking on lot. Wasn't too busy. The staff were really nice and courteous. Was a fan of their cooked food. The salad bar was my favorite. Tasted really fresh with many toppings and dressing. The small fruit section tasted sweet and fresh. Overall, not bad for the price. read more

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Would have been 5 stars if bathrooms were better maintained! My mom and I couldn't even use them. Also, not sure how I feel about the drink system. I loved that the server brought us drinks but if she wasn't around, I found myself thirsty and without a beverage. Last, and definitely not least....the best part of the meal was the grilled steak! Brian at the grill was a rockstar. He had constant long lines and delivered each steak with a smile! Brian also asked how we wanted our steak medium rare, medium or medium well. He was on top of it! Big kudos to him! read more

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill - Buffets Near Me - Downey, California

Incompetent manager at this location, does not understand simple usage of a coupon. What a waste of a drive.

Surprisingly the food was excellent. It was fresh, hot and a wide varity. The service was good, and the ambiance was just ok. It could definitely use a make over. The women's restroom was gross and definitely needed ventilation. read more

The food was great and especially the salad bar which was very fresh and the steaks were delicious as well. We had a great hostess. We will definitely be back read more

Hey what can I say I love Golden Corral. There are only two kind of near where I live like 30 minutes away. Anyway this particular one out of the two is my favorite. 1st it's not as crowded as the other one and it's neater in my opinion. I love them both but this one is my favorite. The service was very good our server did not take a long time to pick up our dirty dishes and to replenish our drinks. We went on a Saturday at or around 3pm. To my surprise it was not a long line out of the door like I expected it would be. We went right in and got seated. The food was good some items weren't that hot in temperature. It was my mother's 1st time at this place and she liked it and said she would come back again. P.S. I posted pictures of the prices because they don't have the prices online. You can't find the prices anywhere on the Internet. You only find out how much it cost once you're actually there. read more

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Surprisingly pretty great steaks here! It's been a while since I've been to one and I remember not liking it, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality at this one. And they have a icee machine! In addition to an ice cream dispenser! I made a little watermelon italian ice dessert situation and it was awesome! read more

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill - Buffets Near Me - Downey, California

The line on a Sunday afternoon at 230 pm took 35 minutes before we were able to sit down. However, the place was not noisy. Service was excellent. Steak was medium rare as asked for. Beef pot roast was delicious, big shrimp, seafood cakes, seafood paella, baked potato. I really liked the beer battered fish and chips. I was really full eating there. Dessert was equally good. Chocolate cake, cheesecake, fudge, banana cream pie, bread pudding. Food wasn't really hot though. And they didn't have roast beef. Will be back in a few months. read more

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill - Seafood cakes, seafood paella - Buffets Near Me - Downey, California

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This Golden Corral has a variety to choose from. Good prices for family dinner however arrive between 6-7:30pm, I noticed they begin to not refill platters and start to pick up much earlier read more

Second time here and it has been the worst experience. 1st they charge me incorrectly (overcharge me) didn't care to correct it. than management comes and cries over $.44 for an upgrade drink cup when their cashier can't do their job correctly. Horrible service horrible food. Do not go here people unless you want to be overcharged and still have management tell you to pay more for a simple drink. read more

Was a guest of Golden Corral for Veterans' Day, and enjoyed a great dinner buffet. All the items I tried were most excellent, and I especially enjoyed the grilled steak, fresh vegetables and the wonderful desserts. I expect that I'll be returning with family and friends soon. read more

**3.5 Stars** Exceeded expectations and the fried chicken is legit. A lot of options and the $22 entry price is impressive. Great for very large groups. Really friendly service, family crowds and efficient operation. Indoor seating only. Credit cards including Amex accepted. Plentiful parking in the dedicated lot. No reservations but the line moves quickly. read more

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill - Legit Fried Chicken! - Buffets Near Me - Downey, California

Coming here on a weekday lunch. Plenty of free parking on lot. Wasn't too busy. The staff were really nice and courteous. Was a fan of their cooked food. The salad bar was my favorite. Tasted really fresh with many toppings and dressing. The small fruit section tasted sweet and fresh. read more

TL;DR: Golden Corral: like Hometown Buffet if it got its act together a little bit. Good variety, decent prices, and plenty of parking. Yearning for more? 1/2 A decent selection less focused on Asian cuisine, which was a refreshing change. While nothing stood out as extraordinary, the joy was in nibbling a bit of everything--a buffet's true charm. I enjoyed the Bourbon chicken, mashed potatoes, fried shrimp, and peach cobbler the most. Expenses 0.5/1 Prices were standard for a buffet, around $28 per person. I personally think it is a bit on the higher side considering I didn't enjoy most of their proteins. Found the sirloin, turkey and roast beef to be pretty bland. Location 1/1 Parking was plentiful, and the staff was attentive. Possibility of a Future Visit & Recommendation 0.5/1 It's a good place to go when you're not sure what you're craving but know you want all the things and you're not feeling picky. It's no Vegas buffet so don't expect that level of quality, but it's a decent choice if you're nearby. If you're craving something that will send your taste buds on an adventure, I'd check out another spot. read more

Love love love ! So many choices . The management is kind and accommodating to the Redeemed Women's Ministry, Love , Peace and Happiness Family Church, Los Angeles . read more

Extremely busy on Sunday evening and needed to wait in line to get in! They have steaks, fried chickens to tacos, nachos to fried rice & orange chicken, salads and some desserts (not a lot of variety though in the sweet section but everything was good to ok tasting ).But their biggest assets is their staffs who are sooo friendly and came every 10-15 minutes asking if we needed anything.Definitely one of the better buffet in SoCal!! read more

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill - Buffets Near Me - Downey, California

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This place went downhill so fast, the food variations downgraded. It use to be filled with alot of good variations now its the basic stuff. Pizza, chicken, hamburger etc. The desert section is mildly sad. Will not be coming back. read more

Very disappointed, this location used to be good. The food was bad tonight. Not only was it cold and questionably but it was overly salted. The service is good but we need better service on the food. Also restrooms don't have soap. It's just sad to see this decent location going down. read more

I have been here about 2 or 3 times now and it has been the same every time (in the mornings). The restaurant was very large inside. Concerning the food, I didn't really like any of the breakfast selections except for the waffles. They were very chewy and sweet. Pretty good. Scrambled eggs were probably the next best but too much butter they used. There's a wide variety of breakfast choices you can pick from, but most of it, honestly, was sub par. Considering the price and the quality of food, it was over-priced, in my opinion. Grain of salt - I have only been here during the mornings. The service here was great though. Out of all the times I have been here, I think its pretty much what you can expect for any restaurant. Would I come here again? Eh. I'd rather get a breakfast platter from McDonalds tbh Everyone has different tastes though read more

We like coming here. We have come here quite a bit. We live near the bellflower but prefer over here. Place is clean, well Ran and organized. Restrooms normally cleaned and service is nice. read more

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill - Came here after my birthday 5k run. We build up an appetite - Buffets Near Me - Downey, California

( Last time I was here was December 2019 ) I returned today over 4-years later, What has changed? Not much but the prices and they now have a high quality ICEE machine with 3 different flavors to offer, The quality of the food tasted the same..... 7.5/10 Basic Prices after tax: 2 Seniors with an unlimited drink BEFORE 4pm is= $42 2 Adult Dinners AFTER 4pm with an unlimited drink= $54 read more

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I come all the time with family and friends and I noticed. That adolfo wasn't here to greet us. He was very friendly and i ask where is my server adolfo and they told me he doesn't work anymore there i was disappointed but I am a observer.and I know that the manager doesn't treat the workers fairly especially Riccardo or say redardo. Management if you see this post please check your Manager there are not good you will lose your business. I am a regular but not anymore read more

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the service I received during my recent visit to Golden Corral During our visit, we experienced multiple issues with the service. The server assigned to our table was inattentive ,rude and dismissive.His Name Fernando When I brought this to the attention of the manager on duty, Fatima I was surprised by their response. Rather than acknowledging the issue, they dismissed my concerns, was unhelpful, and acted unprofessionally This experience left us feeling [frustrated, disrespected, disappointed], and it significantly impacted our evening. We chose your restaurant expecting a high standard of service, which unfortunately was not met. I hope you will take this feedback seriously and address the service issues with both the server and the manager involved. I would appreciate a response Thank you for taking the time to review my concerns. I look forward to hearing back from you. read more

My first time at Golden Corral!!! Definitely exciting to eat at! There was no wait time, and the moment you come in the first thing you do is grab your drink!!! Service: - Host is friendly, but the customer service from our server could've been better, the service wasnt too bad to the point it had part in my experience it was still okay. Food: -Food was mid 2/10, everything was dry in my opinion. The rice, fries, wedges, chicken, spaghetti, Cajun Pasta, pizza, just seemed flavorless and dry. -The pastries were so cute but unfortunately very dry too ): However I enjoyed the ice cream it was a fresh delicacy it had very little hint of vanilla flavor but nonetheless refreshing. read more

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill - Buffets Near Me - Downey, California

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The food is amazing the waiters and waitresses are so nice to us and I love buffets also the cooks are so nice. I love your macaroni, your pizza and especially the lighthouse. read more

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill - He's full full - Buffets Near Me - Downey, California

You can't beat all you can eat for less than $20 when an entree alone is more at any restaurant. I love dinner because of the steaks and they always have the best desserts and fresh rolls. read more

Great service. Much more selection I've seen compared to the bellflower location. Not over crowded. A bit pricey, but it's expected for dinner prices at a buffet. read more

The soap wasn't ready and they need more options for food please be warned before you come eat here lowk the food a little cold actually high key read more

$17.20 te cuesta el lunch buffet el Lunch time termina alas 4 y empieza el dinner después d ela s4 donde puedes disfrutar del steak read more

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill - Horario de lunch de termina alas 4 y después empieza el dinner donde puedes disfrutar del steak - Buffets Near Me - Downey, California

The house, potatoes with the bell peppers and onions was pretty good. The eggs were a little bit runny, but they were good and the biscuit and gravy. The biscuit is good. The gravy is too watery. I will not get the biscuits and gravy again, skip it. The chicken does not have a lot of meat on it. But it taste OK. The macaroni and cheese It's OK but it is in lower quality range. Servers where quick. Clean up our dirty dishes fast. Place was not that busy yet. But a lot of food. It's clean, stocked with all the foods, service was good. Problem was the food quality. Taste. read more

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Quality is declining. We came during the week and seemed like they mostly had sides and no real main dishes. Was a bit disappointed we used to love Golden Corral. I rather go to shakeys or Chinese buffets, they're about the same price. Service was good, the employees were attentive, but food, I give it a 1 star. read more

Ambiance: I had to compare to the Corral in Bellflower, this one in Downey seemed everything's narrower/smaller: from the waiting area to the aisles to the buffet area itself. It was quite busy that day (weekend) & it felt like everyone's bumping elbows, the customers & waiters/waitresses!! I did appreciate the restroom with individual privacy . The food was okay - but seem lesser in varieties than Bellflower's, even the desserts. Our server was excellent! She's very friendly, good sense of humor, & "on the ball." For now, I will patronize the Bellflower location. I hope the Downey location will be renovated in the near future. Oh & the Cashiers were friendly as well as well as efficient. Good customer service. For my birthday celebration, my siblings & I still had a great time in Downey. I live buffets!!! read more