Golden Corral Prices 2026
Quick answer
Golden Corral is an all-you-can-eat buffet and grill with breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets, a salad bar, yeast rolls and a dessert bar, priced per person. An adult lunch buffet typically costs about $14.99, adult dinner about $19.99 and adult breakfast about $12.99. Most prices on this page run from about $1.99 to $44.99.
Golden Corral quick facts
| Founded | January 3, 1973, Fayetteville, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Founders | James Maynard and William F. Carl |
| Headquarters | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Parent company | Golden Corral Corporation |
| U.S. locations | About 350 (2026) |
| Countries | 1 (United States) |
| Known for | All-you-can-eat buffet, yeast rolls and carrot cake |
| Estimated price range | $1.99–$21.49 (est.) |
| Menu items listed | 23 |
| Menu last checked | October 2026 |
What's on the Golden Corral menu
Golden Corral opened its first family steakhouse in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on January 3, 1973, then reinvented itself in the 1980s around a large buffet-and-grill dining room. The company is based in Raleigh, and an article on its own press page counted 352 locations in 2026. The buffet carries around 150 items, from fried chicken and pot roast to sirloin cooked to order at dinner.
You pay once at the register, by age group and time of day, then eat as much as you like. Lunch pricing runs Monday through Friday until 4 p.m., dinner pricing starts after 4 p.m., and weekend times vary by restaurant. The prices on this page are estimated typical U.S. prices, so treat them as a guide and confirm at your location before a big family outing.
Best value at Golden Corral
- Lunch Buffet – Adult$14.99 est.At about $14.99 versus about $19.99 for dinner, a weekday lunch before 4 p.m. saves about $5 a person.
- Breakfast Buffet – Adult$12.99 est.About $12.99 is the lowest adult buffet price of the day.
- Dozen Yeast Rolls$5.99 est.About $5.99 for twelve rolls is an inexpensive side for a home dinner.
- Kids Drink$1.99 est.A kids drink at about $1.99 costs well under the roughly $3.29 adult fountain drink.
Most popular Golden Corral orders
- Dinner Buffet – Adult$19.99 est.Dinner is when the sirloin, carving station and shrimp come out, so it is the most complete Golden Corral spread.
- Breakfast Buffet – Adult$12.99 est.The omelet station, pancakes and biscuits and gravy draw weekend crowds.
- Lunch Buffet – Adult$14.99 est.Lunch gets you the hot bar, salad bar and desserts for less than dinner.
- Dozen Yeast Rolls$5.99 est.The yeast rolls with honey butter are the item people take home most often.
Golden Corral calories, protein and menu highlights
We show calories only when they come from Golden Corral's own nutrition information, and we could not match official figures to this menu yet, so the calorie and protein columns show a dash. Check the chain's nutrition guide before you order.
Allergens at Golden Corral
Golden Corral's allergen statement, linked from goldencorral.com/nutrition, says buffet dishes change often and may contain peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, whey, wheat/gluten, eggs, dairy, soy and sesame. Because guests serve themselves and utensils move between pans, ingredients can transfer between foods, so ask a manager about specific dishes. The nutrition page also has a searchable menu database.
Golden Corral opening and breakfast hours
- Typical hours
- Hours vary by restaurant. Golden Corral's menu page says lunch runs Monday to Friday until 4 p.m. and dinner starts after 4 p.m., with different weekend hours; check your location's page.
- Breakfast hours
- Breakfast buffet is offered; serving days and times vary by location, so check your restaurant's page or call ahead.
- Holiday hours
- Holiday hours and pricing are set by each restaurant, and many charge weekend pricing on major holidays. For Thanksgiving 2026, Golden Corral is also selling Holiday Meals To Go with pickup from Nov. 2; check the locator or app for your store.
Ordering at Golden Corral and rewards
- Official app
- Golden Corral app
- Rewards program
- Golden Corral Rewards: earn 1 point per $1 on qualified purchases, and every 100 points becomes a $10-off reward; joining through the app adds $5 off a $25 purchase.
- Delivery
- Takeout, online order pickup, weigh-and-pay to-go and catering are available, and delivery is offered at most locations through the services listed on each restaurant's page; points do not post on third-party orders.
Tips for ordering at Golden Corral
- Go for a weekday lunch before 4 p.m. if you can live without the dinner-only steak and shrimp; it costs about $5 less.
- Join Golden Corral Rewards in the app before you pay; the sign-up bonus is $5 off a $25 purchase.
- Ask for weigh-and-pay to-go if you only want a plate of favorites to take home rather than a full sit-down meal.
- Veterans and active-duty military eat free on Military Appreciation Night, Nov. 11, 2026, from 4 p.m. to close.
- Book the private party room ahead for birthdays; Golden Corral says one is available at every location.
Golden Corral menu questions
How much is the Golden Corral buffet in 2026?
Golden Corral typically charges adults about $12.99 for breakfast, about $14.99 for lunch and about $19.99 for dinner, with weekend and holiday pricing around $21.49. Seniors and children pay less, and drinks cost extra. Prices vary noticeably by restaurant, so check with your location before going.
What time does Golden Corral switch to dinner prices?
Golden Corral's menu page says lunch is served Monday through Friday until 4 p.m., and dinner starts after 4 p.m. on weekdays. Weekend hours vary by restaurant, and many charge the higher weekend price all day Saturday and Sunday. Check your location's hours on goldencorral.com.
Does Golden Corral have a senior discount?
Most Golden Corral restaurants list separate senior prices for guests 60 and older, typically about $1.50 less than the adult buffet; for example, about $13.49 at lunch and $18.49 at dinner. Ages and amounts are set by each restaurant, so confirm at the register.
When is Golden Corral Military Appreciation Night?
Golden Corral's 2026 Military Appreciation Night is Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 4 p.m. to close. Anyone who has served in the U.S. military, including retirees, veterans, active duty, Guard and Reserves, gets a free thank-you buffet and drink. It is dine-in only, and family members pay regular dinner prices.
How do Golden Corral Rewards work?
Golden Corral Rewards is free for anyone 18 or older. You earn one point per dollar on qualified purchases by scanning the app or entering your receipt code within three days, and each 100 points becomes $10 off. App sign-ups get $5 off a $25 purchase. Gift cards and alcohol do not earn points.
Can I get Golden Corral to go?
Yes. Golden Corral sells buffet items to go, including weigh-and-pay containers you fill yourself, Meals To Go with entrées, sides and yeast rolls, and catering platters. You can order pickup online or in the app, and delivery is available at most locations through the services listed on each store page.
Compare Golden Corral with
Sources
Price note: Prices are estimated typical U.S. prices (October 2026) and vary by location. Official prices, where shown, are labeled with where they came from.
- Golden Corral About Us (franchise site) — used for 1973 Fayetteville opening, buffet-and-grill history
- Golden Corral Our Story — used for breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet, 150 items, party room
- Golden Corral Endless Buffet Menus — used for lunch and dinner timing, breakfast, lunch and dinner items
- Golden Corral Frequently Asked Questions — used for Raleigh headquarters address, to-go, delivery, rewards rules
- Golden Corral Rewards — used for earn rate, $10 reward, sign-up bonus
- Golden Corral Family Value Meals — used for $19.99 family value meal, weigh and pay, online ordering
- Golden Corral Military Appreciation — used for Nov. 11, 2026 free buffet details
- Golden Corral promotions — used for Holiday Meals To Go, America $2.50 Value Deals
- Golden Corral nutrition and allergen statement — used for allergen list and self-service caution
- Golden Corral franchise press page — used for 352 restaurants in 2026
- Wikipedia: Golden Corral — used for founders