Potrero Canyon Buffet at Morongo Casino

Visible from across the low desert, this towering casino is a beacon of excess. Its buffet, advertised extensively along the road, is also delightfully over-the-top. Themed days like “surf- and-turf,” “seafood” and “international” translate to fluctuating prices, but a high throughline of quality and variety, including poke, Cajun and fanciful deserts amidst the usual buffet favorites make for a worthwhile if belt-busting meal. The cost and time investment are higher, but it’s a great stop if you prefer fun eating over fine dining. Try the crab legs on seafood night alongside the gumbo.