For very big hungers you just can’t beat the classic all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant.
Heaven for a hungry person, hell to a dietician; nobody ever walks away from a buffet feeling hungry. So loosen your belt or, better yet, put on your comfy pants with the elastic waist, and get along to one of these great buffet restaurants.
Auckland
Fortuna Buffet Restaurant, SkyCity
You’ll be like a kid in a candy store, marvelling at all the good things to eat at Fortuna buffet restaurant at SkyCity Auckland. Think seafood, fresh baked breads, Asian specialties, rotisserie chicken and glazed champagne ham – just to name a few of the mouth-watering choices available.
Buffet House, Browns Bay
For more than 20 years the Buffet House in Browns Bay has been a landmark Auckland buffet restaurant. Drop in for a buffet menu that includes barbecue steak, Chinese food, salads, ham on the bone and a range of desserts.
More of the best Auckland buffet restaurants.
Bay of Plenty
Oak Tree, Tauranga
The Oak Tree is a spacious restaurant on Tauranga’s Cameron Road that offers a sumptuous buffet menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner, every day of the week. For dinner, the seafood buffet always goes down a treat – as does the carvery.
Atlas Café & Restaurant, Rotorua
Picky eaters will have no trouble finding something delicious to eat at Atlas Café & Restaurant at the Novotel lakeside hotel in Rotorua, which hosts a buffet dinner ever Friday and Saturday from 6pm to 9:30pm.
Valentines, Rotorua
Chances are, when we say “buffet” you think Valentines. This nationwide chain of buffet restaurants is an oldie but a goody, with more than 100 dishes available at each of its nine restaurants across New Zealand.
Waikato
Vegan Buffet, Hamilton
Who says buffet restaurants have to be unhealthy? This pay-by-weight buffet may only serve up vegan food – but you don’t have to be completely abstaining from the use of animal products to eat here. Its food is very, very tasty.
Valentines, Hamilton
One recent review of Valentine’s Hamilton branch said the staff at this buffet restaurant were “awesome” and couldn’t be faulted at all. What’s your verdict?
Manawatu-Wanganui
Roma Grand Fire, Palmerston North
At Roma Grand Fire, an upmarket restaurant on The Square in Palmerston North, you’ll be able to enjoy a gourmet buffet of flavoursome meats, salads and vegetables for just $35 per person. It’s a meat-lover’s dream but vegetarians are well catered for, too.
Valentines, Palmerston North
Valentines in Palmerston North currently has a great rating on Menus.co.nz, based on two reviews. One reviewer said the food was “lovely”. Have you been?
Wellington
Ginjis, Lower Hutt
Anyone who hasn’t tried Mongolian barbecue really needs to do themselves a favour. One recent review on Menus.co.nz said of Ginjis in Lower Hutt, “all I have got to say is you’ll leave with a smile on your face and a full tummy”.
Valentines, Lower Hutt
Another Valentines buffet restaurant – if you’ve been to one you’ll know what to expect of this Wellington branch.
Otago
Circadian Rhythm, Dunedin
You mightn’t have to go immediately on a diet after dining at this Dunedin restaurant. Circadian Rhythm specialises in healthy vegan and gluten-free food, putting on an all-you-can-eat buffet lunch and dinner every day of the week except Sunday for just $9.50.
Have we missed any off the list? You might also enjoy the best garden bars in New Zealand and these great celebrity chef restaurants.
For Wellington, Whitby Restaurant @ James Cook Hotel is the best buffet in Welly. Ginjis is very good but that would depend on how good you are in mixing the spices.
11:30AM, 30th May 2013
Yummy...I planned to visit Ginjis buffet for delicious BBQ.
11:32AM, 31st May 2013
I recently discovered the best buffet restauarant I've been to: Thai Chilli in Methven of all places! Every Wednesday and Sunday they offer a full buffet range of Thai Cuisine, with an ever-changing menu so each dining experience has different offerings. The menu includes the more traditional deep fried offerings for kids and those fonder of the less spicy cuisine. A desert is on offer for those with the stomach space after sampling the delicious offerings, and live music by firelight provide loverly ambience. Overall I rate the food quality very highly in terms of flavour and authenticity, and is well worth the $20 adult and $10 child price tag! I only discovered this restaurant recently, and was sure to visit again the following week, such was the impression it left:)
1:01PM, 1st Aug 2013
That sounds great! Thanks for the recommendation!
1:04PM, 1st Aug 2013
"I recently discovered the best buffet restauarant I've been to: Thai Chilli in Methven of all places! Every Wednesday and Sunday they offer a full buffet range of Thai Cuisine, with an ever-changing menu so each dining experience has different offerings. The menu includes the more traditional deep fried offerings for kids and those fonder of the less spicy cuisine. A desert is on offer for those with the stomach space after sampling the delicious offerings, and live music by firelight provide loverly ambience. Overall I rate the food quality very highly in terms of flavour and authenticity, and is well worth the $20 adult and $10 child price tag! I only discovered this restaurant recently, and was sure to visit again the following week, such was the impression it left:)"