America’s Favorite Buffet
You’ve been thinking about it all day, like a plate of carved steak, creamy mashed potatoes, fried chicken, and a warm yeast roll waiting on the table at the end of your busy week. This is what a Golden Corral dinner delivers.
You get a real meal, not just a snack. Where you can explore 150 dishes at affordable prices, and in 2026, that price is still one of the budget-friendly deals you can get in American dining.
You can enjoy carved & grilled meats, sides & vegetables, salad bar, breads, soups, & desserts. Below you can get the whole view of their prices, their serving time, and deals you can get to save more when dining at Golden Corral.
You need to know the prices before you decide to visit the restaurant. Their dinner prices in 2026 range from ~$14.99 to ~$18.99 per adult, depending on your location and the day of the week.
Weekday dinners offer lower prices, while Friday, Saturday & Sunday dinner prices could be higher because they include extra premium dishes like carved ribeye and a variety of seafood. Beverages are not included in Dinner prices; you pay an extra ~$2.29 to ~$3.49 for drinks.
Dinner prices are based on your age group: if you are an adult, a senior citizen, or a kid. The prices are different for you. Below, you can take an overview of age-based pricing.
| Age Group | Weekday Dinner Price | Weekend Dinner Price |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | $14.99 – $17.99 | $15.99 – $18.99 |
| Kids (4 to 8) | $8.99 | $9.49 |
| Kids (9 to 12) | $10.99 | $11.49 |
| Kids Under 3 or below | Eat for free with an adult | Eat for free with an adult |
| Seniors (60+) | $13.99 – $16.99 | $14.99 – $17.99 |
| Drinks | $2.29 – $3.49 | $2.29 – $3.49 |
| Premium Items | Included on some weekends | Included on some weekends |
They start serving dinner at 4:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, at most locations. On Sunday, some restaurants serve dinner at 11:00 AM and run it all day. The closing times could be different by location, but most restaurants close between 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM.
Weekend dinner hours are slightly longer because of the rush of customers, and they have also extended their premium menu. To ensure the opening and closing hours, call your local restaurant branch to confirm the time.
| Day | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 4 PM | 9 PM |
| Tuesday | 4 PM | 9 PM |
| Wednesday | 4 PM | 9 PM |
| Thursday | 4 PM | 9 PM |
| Friday | 4 PM | 10 PM |
| Saturday | 4 PM | 10 PM |
| Sunday | 4 PM | 9 PM or 10 PM (Some Locations) |
Dinner offers the widest selection of food, including carved meats, hot entrees, homestyle sides, fresh salads, bakery items, and a full dessert bar. Premium dishes like grilled sirloin steak and butterfly shrimp are served for dinner at 4:00 PM, and that’s the reason dinner costs more than lunch menu prices.
Below, you can select any meal for dinner, including premium dishes. Dish selection could vary by location.
| Category | Items |
|---|---|
| Dinner Favorites | Golden Delicious Shrimp, Carved Bone-in Turkey, Signature Sirloin Steak, Bourbon Street Chicken, Awesome Pot Roast, Meatloaf, Fried Chicken, Fried Fish, Baked Fish, Manager’s Choice: Featured Pork Entree, Pot Pie or Chicken & Noodle Dumplings, Pizzas, Posole w/ Chicken, Posole Pork, King Ranch Chicken |
| Dinner Sides | Broccoli, Carrots, Green Beans, Brussels Sprouts, Corn, Cabbage, Beans, Mashed Potatoes + Gravy, Scalloped Potatoes, Homestyle Stuffing, Sweet Corn Pudding, Cinnamon Apples, Rice, Mexican Rice, Refried Beans, Macaroni + Cheese, Italian Pasta Bake, Fried Ravioli, Soup of the Day, Baked Potato Bar (with toppings), Yeast Rolls with Honey Butter |
| Salad Bar, Dressing & Desserts | Manager’s Choice prepared salads (including Seafood Salad), Fresh Veggies, Fresh Fruits, Meats, Cheeses, Crackers, Dressings, Additional Toppings, Carrot Cake, Assorted Cupcakes (including Cotton Candy Cupcakes), Assorted Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pumpkin Pie, Peanut Butter Pie, Sweet Home Carolina Cake, Fruit Cobbler, Fudge Brownies, Banana Pudding, Bread Pudding, Cotton Candy, Sugar-Free Options, Manager’s Choice Cakes & Pies |
| Ice Cream & Skewer Treats | Hand-Dipped Ice Cream, Soft Serve Vanilla & Chocolate Ice Cream, Ice Cream Cones, Hot Fudge, Strawberry Topping, Assorted Candy Toppings, Chocolate-Dipped Fresh Strawberry Skewers, Chocolate-Dipped Rice Krispies Treat Skewers, Chocolate-Dipped Marshmallow Skewers |
You don’t need to pay full price every time you visit the restaurant. They run different campaigns in 2026 that offer much more affordable dinners, even cheaper for families, seniors, and regular customers.
This is the best way to save when dining at a restaurant. Install the Official app, where you earn points on every purchase. You can get birthday rewards and member-only coupons using the official app. When you register on the app for the first time, you receive $5 off any meal you want.
This is separate from the app; in this club, they send you birthday coupons, seasonal deals, and other discount coupons directly to your email inbox. You can sign up for both the app and the email program to maximize your savings.
Seniors aged 60 and older can enjoy the senior menu on weekdays between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM for $9.99, which sometimes includes a drink
Children aged under 3 can eat for free with a paying adult. Families with young kids save more at dinner because kids’ eat-free deals often include drinks in their price.
During holidays, you can buy $50 in Golden Corral gift cards, which earns you a free $10 bonus card. You can use this later at any time.
Most restaurants offer discounts for active military members and for veterans. Verify with your local restaurant branch for offer availability.
Thanksgiving dinner buffet includes hand-carved roasted turkey, glazed ham, and holiday pork roast that is served at the carving station. They offer traditional sides like sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, macaroni and cheese, cranberry sauce, and warm yeast rolls with honey butter.
And Thanksgiving desserts include pumpkin pie, seasonal cobblers, cakes, and soft-serve ice cream. In past years, they also introduced new dishes like Peel & Eat Shrimp, Baked Squash Casserole, and Flan.
| Guest Type | Price Estimate |
|---|---|
| Adult (13+) | $17.99 – $19.99 |
| Senior (60+) | $15.99 – $17.99 |
| Kids Ages 4 to 12 | $12.99 |
| Kids Under 3 | Free |
Golden Corral offers a delivery option or a pickup option at many locations. Some locations do not offer delivery. You can order your meal from the official app or website, and you can choose the pickup option or the delivery option. You pay extra if you choose delivery.
They offer a Weight & Pay option. You can fill your tray with buffet items. And pay the price based on the weight.
They start serving dinner at 4:00 PM at most locations.
No. Drinks are not free. You must pay extra for drinks.
Yes. You can get sirloin steak for dinner, but it costs more because the dinner includes premium dishes, including seafood.
Yes. They offer a delivery option and also a pickup option. But the delivery option is limited to some locations.
Yes. They offer deals and discount coupons through their app. You can register on their official app and get a $5 welcome bonus.