9 Best Iowa Buffets – Top All-You-Can-Eat Restaurants

Can you imagine a place where you can pile your plate as high as you want with all your favorite foods? A magical land where crispy fried chicken, juicy prime rib, and mountains of creamy mashed potatoes are all you can eat?

Welcome to the world of Iowa buffets! 

From small-town diners to sprawling casino buffets, Iowa is packed with incredible buffet spreads featuring all the hearty, delicious classics you crave. Who doesn’t love the freedom of trying a little bit of everything without the limits of an ordinary menu?

If you’re ready to loosen your belt and dive into platters overflowing with mouth-watering options, join me as we explore Iowa’s 9 most mouthwatering all-you-can-eat buffets.

What is a Buffet Restaurant?

A buffet restaurant is a place where you can serve yourself as much food as you want from a big selection. There are long tables with tons of different dishes laid out. You pay one price, and then you can go back for seconds, thirds, or even fourths if you’re still hungry!

Why are Buffets Popular in Iowa?

Buffets are super popular in Iowa for a few main reasons.

• First, Iowa is an agricultural state with lots of farms, so there’s always fresh produce and meats available.

• Second, people in Iowa love getting good value for their money. Buffets let you fill up your plate as many times as you want for one set price.

• Third, buffets have a fun, casual vibe that fits with Iowa’s laid-back, friendly culture.

Finally, Iowa has a lot of families looking for places the whole gang can enjoy – even picky eaters can find something they like at a buffet!

How We Picked Iowa’s Top 9 All-You-Can-Eat Buffets

When it came to choosing the absolute best buffet menus in the whole state of Iowa, we looked at four main things:

1. Variety of Food Options

A good buffet has to have a ton of different dishes to choose from. We wanted places with every kind of food you can imagine – savory meats, comforting sides, fresh salads, ethnic cuisines, and of course, tons of desserts!

2. Quality of Ingredients

Just because it’s a buffet doesn’t mean the food can be low-quality. The buffets that made our list use fresh, flavorful ingredients prepared by talented chefs. No frozen, pre-made, or bland dishes here!

3. Value for Money

Buffets are all about getting a great deal on an endless amount of food. We picked buffets with reasonable prices that let you eat until you’re completely stuffed without going broke.

4. Ambiance and Atmosphere

While the food is the star, the vibe of the buffet itself is important too. The buffets we chose have fun, lively atmospheres, and nice surroundings to enjoy your meal in.

By considering variety, quality, value, and ambiance, we narrowed it down to Iowa’s 9 most mouth-watering, can’t-miss buffet spots.

The Top 9 Best Iowa Buffets 

1. Machine Shed

If you’re craving classic, stick-to-your-ribs comfort food, the Machine Shed is Iowa’s buffet king!

Step inside the rustic, barn-like setting and you’re transported to an old-fashioned farm complete with tractors and farm equipment on display. Dig into all your favorite childhood tastes like buttery mashed potatoes, thick brown gravy, and crispy fried chicken.

The Machine Shed is famous for its enormous portions and endless choices – you can pile your plate as high as you want!

Machine Shed’s Can’t-Miss Buffet Dishes

1. Home Fried Chicken

Arguably the star of the show, the crispy and juicy fried chicken is made fresh all day long.

2. Hickory-Smoked Carved Meats

Get thick slices of succulent turkey, ham, and beef brisket hot off the smoker.

3. Signature Baked Potato Soup

A rich, creamy, loaded baked potato in a bread bowl? Yes, please!

4. Piles of Pasta

From classic spaghetti to chicken alfredo, the pasta options let you carb-load in style.

5. Bountiful Salad Bar

Build the perfect salad with fresh greens, vegetables, proteins, and homemade dressings.

2. Amana Colonies Buffet (Amana) 

The Amana Colonies were founded in the 1800s by German settlers, and their delicious food traditions are still going strong today. The cozy, family-style atmosphere makes you feel at home as you load up on all the stick-to-your-ribs specialties.

From the made-from-scratch breads to the huge selection of pies, everything is prepared with care using locally sourced ingredients when possible.

Outstanding Dishes at the Amana Colonies Buffet

1. Amana Ranch Steak

Juicy steaks grilled over a wood-fired grill. Take advantage of the famous Ranch Steak sauce!

2. Schnitzen (Breaded Pork Loin)

An Amana Colonies classic with crispy breading and creamy gravy.

3. Cabbage Burgers

An unusual but beloved regional dish of seasoned cabbage and beef patties.

4. Amana Bread

Freshly baked loaves including rye, wheat, white, and the sweet and fruity Koloniebrod.

5. Unmatched Pie Selection

With up to 25 varieties including fruit, custard, and cream pies made from scratch.

3. Touring Club Buffet (Bettendorf) 

Get ready for a buffet experience like no other at the Touring Club Buffet inside the Bettendorf Isle Casino. This massive all-you-can-eat spread is jaw-droppingly huge, with over 100 different items to choose from!

The show’s star is the prime rib, carved right off the bone into juicy, melt-in-your-mouth slices. Just be sure to arrive very hungry!

Touring Clubs Must-Try Buffet Highlights

1. Slow-Roasted Prime Rib

Tender, flavorful, and carved to order.

2. Build-Your-Own Pasta Station

Customize your pasta dish with various noodles, sauces, and toppings.

3. Loaded Baked Potato Bar

Grab a hot baked potato and top it with all the fixings like cheese, bacon, chives, and more.

4. Taco Bar

Pile your tacos high with spicy meats, fresh veggies, guacamole, salsa, and more.

5. Chocolate Fountain

Dip everything from marshmallows to cheesecake bites into the flowing chocolate!

4. Pizza Ranch Buffet

If you’re a fan of pizza, Pizza Ranch is the buffet for you! The name says it all – their buffet is piled high with piping hot pizzas in every variety you can imagine. 

Pizza Ranch also offers a full buffet spread with crispy fried chicken, a bountiful salad bar, and delicious dessert pizzas for a sweet finish. 

Pizza Ranch Buffet Highlights

1. Specialty Pizzas

Like tacos, chicken bacon ranch, breakfast pizzas, and more! The selection rotates daily.

2. Chicken & Sides

Crispy broasted chicken alongside comforting sides like mashed potatoes and gravy.

3. Salad Bar

Build your salad with fresh greens, toppings, proteins, and homemade dressings.

4. Dessert Pizza

Topped with treats like cinnamon apple, chocolate, or Bavarian cream. 

5. Breakfast Buffet

On weekends, dig into waffles, biscuits, gravy, eggs, and breakfast pizzas.

5. Basmati’s Indian Cuisine (Clive)

For an amazing cultural experience, don’t miss the all-you-can-eat buffet at Basmati’s Indian Cuisine in Clive. Help yourself to a colorful assortment of fragrant curries, tandoori dishes, rice biryanis, and more.

Warm, pillowy naan bread fresh from the tandoor oven is the perfect accompaniment. Don’t forget to leave room for a taste of Indian sweets like gulab jamun or kheer from the dessert section. 

Standout Dishes on Basmati’s Indian Buffet

1. Creamy Butter Chicken

The signature dish of tender chicken in a rich, tomato-based curry sauce.

2. Chana Masala

A vegetarian favorite of chickpeas simmered in a fragrant, spiced sauce.

3. Palak Paneer

Fresh spinach cooked with cubes of soft, mild paneer cheese. So flavorful!

4. Mango Lassi

A refreshing, frothy yogurt-based mango drink to sip alongside your meal.

6. Drake Diner (Des Moines)

Step back in time at the retro Drake Diner, serving up classic American diner fare on their all-you-can-eat buffet. This nostalgic spot located right in Des Moines has a fun 1950s vibe with its vintage decor and old-skool checkerboard floors.

The buffet is loaded with all your favorite comfort foods just like grandma used to make. From buttery biscuits drowning in thick sausage gravy to stacks of fluffy pancakes, every bite takes you back to childhood.

Tasty Highlights from the Drake Diner Buffet

1. Biscuits & Gravy

Flaky homemade biscuits completely smothered in rich, peppered sausage gravy.

2. Crispy Hashbrowns

Shredded potatoes fried to a perfect golden brown crunch.

3. Country Fried Steak

A chicken fried steak cutlet covered in creamy white peppered gravy.

4. Fluffy Pancakes

Stack ’em high with butter and syrup! The pancake batter contains buttermilk for extra fluffiness.

5. Rotating Specials

Like fried chicken, meatloaf, ham, and other classic diner entrees.

7. Okoboji Commons Hotel (Arnolds Park)

Located right on the shores of beautiful West Okoboji Lake, the Okoboji Commons Hotel offers a truly spectacular buffet experience.

Every Sunday, they host an upscale Champagne Brunch with an incredible spread of gourmet dishes. Pile your plate with fresh seafood, prime rib, omelet, waffle stations, and so much more. 

Don’t Miss Dishes at the Okoboji Champagne Brunch

1. Omelet Station

Watch the chef custom-make your omelet with your favorite fillings.

2. Belgian Waffle Bar

Build your waffle masterpiece with toppings like fruit, whipped cream, chocolate, and more.

3. Seafood Display

Indulge in shrimp, crab legs, smoked salmon, and other premium seafood delicacies.

4. Carved Prime Rib

Tender, juicy prime rib sliced off the bone right in front of you.

5. Chocolate Fountain

No brunch is complete without dipping treats in a flowing chocolate fountain!

8. HyVee Market Grille

You might not expect to find an amazing buffet at a grocery store, but the HyVee Market Grille proves otherwise! This buffet restaurant inside select HyVee grocery locations across Iowa serves up an impressive spread of home-cooked favorites.

The star of the show is the fresh salad bar stocked with crisp produce, premium protein toppings, and Hy-Vee’s delicious homemade dressings and salads. But that’s just the start – the buffet also features rotating hot entrees, sides, soups, and a tempting dessert section.

HyVee Market Grille Buffet Highlights

1. Salad Bar Extravaganza

Build your dream salad with fresh greens, veggies, cheeses, nuts, and proteins.

2. Carved Meats

Tender slices of turkey, ham, pot roast, and more hand-carved off the bone.

3. Variety of Hot Entrees

Selections change regularly but may include chicken, meatloaf, pasta bakes, and more.

4. Homestyle Sides

Comforting dishes like mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, stuffing, and more.

5. Bakery Fresh Pies & Desserts

A rotating array of sweet treats like pie, cake, cookies, and more!

9. Granite City Food & Brewery 

Located in multiple cities across Iowa, Granite City Food & Brewery offers a contemporary spin on the classic buffet concept. Their upscale all-you-can-eat spread features a rotating selection of made-from-scratch dishes prepared with premium, locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.

The centerpiece is Granite City’s signature wood-fired pizza station, where you can watch as gourmet specialty pizzas like the smoky pepperoni pomodoro or creamy chicken bacon ranch get baked to bubbly perfection right before your eyes.

But pizza is just the start – the buffet also boasts hand-carved cuts of tender roast beef, turkey, and ham sliced off the bone.

You’ll find an array of freshly made salads, sides, pasta bakes, and more hot entrees that change daily.

Be sure to also check out the dessert section brimming with decadent housemade treats like velvety carrot cake and creamy tiramisu. To drink, you can’t go wrong with one of Granite City’s award-winning craft beers brewed on-site.

Granite City’s Outstanding Buffet Offerings

1. Wood-Fired Pizzas

Specialty gourmet pizzas like pepperoni pomodoro and chicken bacon ranch.

2. Carved Meats

3. Fresh Salads

Roast beef, turkey, and ham hand-sliced off the bone to order.

Premium salads and a bountiful salad bar with local produce when available.

4. Rotating Entrees

From pasta bakes to specialty dishes that change regularly.

5. Craft Brewery Beers

Award-winning beer brewed right on site, perfect for pairing.

Final Words

After exploring all of these amazing Iowa buffets, I hope you’re feeling hungry and ready to loosen that belt buckle! 

Whether you want to indulge in classics like crispy fried chicken and fluffy buttermilk pancakes or get adventurous with Indian curries and wood-fired pizzas, these all-you-can-eat destinations let you sample it all.

No matter which buffet you visit, you’re guaranteed to get a huge variety and generous portions at a great value. Just be sure to arrive with an empty stomach so you can taste as many dishes as possible! Trying new foods is one of the best parts of the buffet dining experience.

So what are you waiting for? Grab some friends or family and head out to discover your new favorite Iowa buffet soon. 

Eat up and enjoy!

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