Most of us have found ourselves standing in line, plate in hand, at an all-you-can-eat buffet—whether at a hotel breakfast, a weekend brunch, or dinner at a Chinese restaurant. While buffets aren’t an American invention (they likely originated from the Swedish smörgåsbord), they’ve become closely associated with the US, thanks in large part to Las Vegas.
In the 1940s, Herb McDonald, an employee at El Rancho Vegas, set up a late-night spread for casino guests so they could snack while gambling. The concept was a hit, and El Rancho became the first casino in Las Vegas to introduce an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet.
Over the years, buffets have gone in and out of fashion—peaking in popularity during the 1970s and 1980s—but they’ve never disappeared. In fact, today, more than 4,600 buffet businesses are operating across the US.
Are there any vegan all-you-can-eat buffets in the US?
Dedicated vegan all-you-can-eat buffets are rare. Unlike traditional buffets, which typically feature an abundance of meat, cheese, and seafood, very few plant-based restaurants offer a fully vegan buffet experience.
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But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck if you’re craving that unlimited-plate feeling—you just need to know where to look. Don’t worry, buffet lovers, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best vegan-friendly buffets in the US, from Chinese cuisine to weekend brunches.
Where to find all-you-can-eat buffets with vegan options
Get your fill at these all-you-can-eat buffets serving up vegan fare.
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1 Trendy Vegan
Houston, TX
If you’re in Houston, we’ve got some great news: Trendy Vegan offers a fully plant-based buffet every single day. That’s right—daily. You can load up your plate with a wide variety of flavorful Chinese dishes, including bao buns, crispy tofu, egg rolls, stir-fried vegetables, fried rice, noodles, and much more. And when you’re done? Go back for seconds. Or thirds. There’s no limit, after all.
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Crossroads Kitchen
2 Crossroads Kitchen
Las Vegas, NV
You can always count on Crossroads Kitchen to lead the way in the vegan dining scene. In 2023, it made headlines by launching the first-ever vegan brunch buffet on the Las Vegas Strip. “We’ve always wanted to introduce concepts that people could never imagine would exist in the vegan world,” owner Tal Ronnen told VegNews at the time. The buffet—featuring everything from vegan eggs to plant-based bacon—is still going strong. You can check it out every Sunday from 10am to 2pm.
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VeggiEat
3 VeggiEat
Henderson, NV
Las Vegas isn’t the only place in Nevada serving up vegan all-you-can-eat options. If you’re in Henderson, head to VeggiEat, an Asian fusion spot that offers a daily vegan buffet for under $18 a plate. Load up on sushi, noodles, soups, bao buns, vegan beef, vegan chicken—everything you need to satisfy your cravings (and your appetite).
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Gokul
4 Gokul
St. Louis, MO
Fans of Indian cuisine will be in heaven at Gokul, a beloved vegetarian hotspot in St. Louis. The restaurant serves a daily dinner buffet from 4:30pm to 8:30pm, offering a variety of vegan-friendly dishes like samosas, lentil daal, aloo gobi, biryani, and more. Just thinking about it is enough to make our mouths water.
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Barbara Kraft
5 Wynn Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
If you’re planning a trip to Las Vegas anytime soon, Wynn should be high up on your list for one reason: the brunch buffet has plenty of vegan options. “The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas elevates the brunch and dinner buffet experience with a feast of delectable options—including many made-to-order dishes,” notes the hotel. Expect to find tacos, sushi, pasta, salads, and so much more. And if you get there and you can’t find anything that takes your fancy, Wynn notes that the chef would be happy to walk you through the options personally.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
