The best buffet restaurants in NYC

Nothing channels old-school New York elegance better than this newly renovated Rockefeller Center icon. Its Sunday brunch, while pricey at $125, is lauded as one of the city’s best, and for good reason. Guests choose an entrée and then run wild through specialized stations that include a bacon bar, sweet or savory crepes made to order and freshly-pressed juices. Even the pickiest of palates will find something to love.

This East Village spot takes inspiration from traditional London curry houses, putting its fare a notch above the other Indian joints on 6th Street. The celebrated lunch buffet features many classic dishes prepared perfectly, including a sumptuous chicken tikka masala and a heady spiced chai tea. Mop it all up with the addictive naan bread; the garlic version is sublime.

If you’ve never experienced the meat sweats, bring a towel with you to dinner at this Midtown Brazilian steakhouse. There are 16 different cuts of beef, lamb, chicken and pork offered here in unlimited quantities, but that’s only the tip of the carnivore iceberg. The Market Table is a salad bar writ large, offering 40 different items including fresh and roasted veggies, cheeses and charcuterie.

This sophisticated French spot in Midtown features a dizzying array of sugary and savory bites during its Sunday buffet. Guests stack their plates from six stations, including omelettes, seafood and crepes, and regulars know to always save room for dessert. A whopping 19 different confections are available—everything from cannolis to crème caramels—so you can end your meal on a (very) sweet note.

For those looking to explore beyond the quotidian bacon and eggs for a morning meal, head to this Kips Bay spot for one of the best brunch buffets. Turkish specialties like cheese and spinach pies, hummus and bean salads share space with warm baked pitas and croissants. More traditional American offerings are also available, including French toast, bagels and an omelette station.

For an authentic taste of the South, head north to Harlem, where venerated chef Charles Gabriel fries up one of New York’s tastiest birds. Along with the addictive crispy drumsticks, the buffet also includes excellent renditions of classic sides like gooey macaroni and cheese, savory collard greens, mashed sweet potatoes and cornbread to mop it all up.

Korean BBQ is never a light meal, but this all-you-can-eat buffet in Queens’ Murray Hill should be reserved for only the most dedicated of bulgogi aficionados. Choose your raw meats (beef, octopus and everything in between) then load up on sides like seafood pancakes, Korean fried chicken wings and plump dumplings.

When one California roll isn’t enough, head to this Koreatown favorite for one of the most impressive Asian buffets this side of the Pacific. Sushi, nigiri and other fish dishes are the star, but diners can also slurp up udon and ramen or nibble on yakitori skewers. There’s also a massive selection of Japanese desserts, like kabocha cake and red bean ice cream.