Macon’s buffet restaurant market reflects the city’s strong ties to Southern comfort food traditions. The cafeteria-style and all-you-can-eat format has deep roots in Middle Georgia, where multi-generational family dining and church lunch outings remain a regular part of community life. S&S Cafeterias, which has operated in the area for over 85 years, helped define the local expectation that a buffet should feature rotating Southern staples like fried chicken, collard greens, cornbread, and peach cobbler.
The Macon-Bibb County market supports both Southern-style country buffets and Asian buffet restaurants, with most clustered along major commercial corridors like Eisenhower Parkway, Gray Highway, and Riverside Drive. These locations draw from a broad customer base that includes families, retirees, Robins Air Force Base personnel traveling from Warner Robins, and travelers passing through on I-75, which runs directly through the county. The value-driven pricing model appeals to Macon’s cost-conscious dining market, where median household incomes sit below the national average.
Sunday after-church dining is a significant driver of buffet restaurant traffic in Macon. Buffets that open by 10:30 or 11:00 a.m. on Sundays consistently see their busiest service during the noon-to-2:00 p.m. window. Seasonal items like fried catfish on Fridays and holiday-themed buffet spreads around Thanksgiving and Easter draw additional crowds to both chain and independent buffet operations.
Top-Rated Buffet Restaurants in Macon, Georgia
Ole Times Country Buffet
Adres: 1343 Gray Hwy, Macon, GA 31211
Web: oletimescountrybuffets.com
(Regional chain with Macon location) Ole Times Country Buffet is a South Georgia-based chain headquartered in Warner Robins that specializes in Southern home cooking served buffet-style. The Gray Highway location in Macon offers a wide rotating selection of meats, vegetables, salads, and made-from-scratch desserts. The restaurant also operates a second Macon location on Eisenhower Parkway. Ole Times provides banquet rooms for private events and catering services. It is open seven days a week, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday evenings.
S&S Cafeterias (Bloomfield Village)
Adres: 3724 Bloomfield Village Dr, Macon, GA 31206
Web: sscafeterias.com
(Regional chain with Macon location) S&S Cafeterias has been serving the Macon area since the 1930s, making it one of the longest-running cafeteria operations in the region. The Bloomfield Village location near Macon Mall operates as a traditional cafeteria-line format where diners select from over 13 signature entrees, a dozen vegetables, salads, oven-baked bread, and scratch-made desserts daily. S&S also operates a Riverside Drive location, though it was temporarily closed as of early 2026 for renovation. Kids’ meals are priced at $1.99, and senior dining specials are available weekday afternoons.
Golden Corral
Adres: 4704 Presidential Pkwy, Macon, GA 31206
Web: goldencorral.com
(National chain with Macon location) Golden Corral’s Macon location on Presidential Parkway offers its signature all-you-can-eat buffet with breakfast, lunch, and dinner service. The menu spans grilled steaks, fried chicken, seafood, a soup and salad bar, signature yeast rolls, and a dessert station with soft-serve ice cream and carrot cake. The restaurant includes a free private party room for large groups. Golden Corral accommodates various dietary preferences including low-carb and plant-based options.
Buffet Restaurants in Macon: Common Questions
How much does an all-you-can-eat buffet typically cost in Macon, GA?
Buffet pricing in Macon varies by restaurant and mealtime. S&S Cafeterias advertises meals under $10 for a meat-and-two-sides plate. Ole Times Country Buffet and Golden Corral typically price adult dinner buffets in the $12 to $17 range, with lunch prices a few dollars lower. Kids’ pricing is notably affordable at S&S, where children’s meals start at $1.99. Contact individual restaurants for current pricing, as rates change seasonally.
Which Macon buffet restaurants are best for large groups or church outings?
Ole Times Country Buffet on Gray Highway offers dedicated banquet rooms that can be reserved for church groups, family reunions, and other large gatherings. Golden Corral on Presidential Parkway includes a free private party room. S&S Cafeterias on Bloomfield Village Drive can accommodate bus groups and offers a free meal for the driver or tour guide with parties of 20 or more. Sunday midday is the peak window for group dining across all Macon buffets.
Are there buffet restaurants in Macon, GA that serve seafood?
Ole Times Country Buffet regularly features seafood items on its buffet line, and several locations run Friday seafood specials with fried catfish and shrimp. New China Buffet on Eisenhower Parkway offers a large Asian-style buffet with sushi and seafood options alongside Chinese and hibachi dishes. Macon’s proximity to the Georgia coast, about three hours southeast, means fresh seafood is available but less dominant in local buffet menus than the Southern comfort staples that define Middle Georgia dining.
Do Macon, GA buffet restaurants offer takeout or delivery?
Most Macon buffets have adapted to include takeout options. S&S Cafeterias runs a dedicated takeout serving line open daily from 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and also offers delivery through its website. Ole Times Country Buffet provides both delivery and takeout through third-party platforms. Golden Corral’s Macon location offers to-go service as well. Takeout orders at buffet-style restaurants are typically priced by the plate or by weight rather than as unlimited servings.
How does Macon’s Sunday dining culture affect buffet restaurant wait times?
Macon is home to a large number of churches, and Sunday post-service dining is a deeply rooted tradition. Buffet restaurants across the city experience their longest wait times between approximately 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Sundays. Ole Times and S&S Cafeterias both open by 10:30 or 11:00 a.m., and arriving before noon is the best strategy to avoid lines. By 2:30 p.m., most Sunday crowds have cleared, making late lunch a more relaxed option.