Feeding a hungry family in Minnesota can drain a wallet fast, especially when everyone wants something different. A good buffet fixes that problem in one stop, with pizza for the picky eater, sushi for the adventurous one, and fried rice for everybody in between.
The six spots on this list stretch from the Twin Cities suburbs to Rochester and St. Cloud, and each one serves plates of familiar comfort food at prices that start around fifteen dollars or less per person. Prices shift with the day and time, so lunch is usually your best bet for the lowest number.
Some of these places are big and busy, while others are small and quiet. All of them welcome kids, offer high chairs, and have free parking.
Save this list for the next time the fridge is empty and nobody wants to cook.
1. Great Moon Buffet, Maplewood, MN
© Great Moon Buffet, Maplewood, MN
Six or seven buffet tables is a lot of ground to cover on one lunch break. That is roughly what you get at Great Moon Buffet, a long-running strip mall favorite on White Bear Avenue.
Lunch has come in around fourteen dollars with a drink included, which makes it one of the easier family outings in the east metro. The spread mixes Asian and American dishes, so sushi rolls sit near broccoli, wonton soup, and a full salad bar.
Seafood fans will spot crab legs and other seafood choices on the line. Vegetarians are covered too, since the menu includes plenty of meat-free options.
Staff keep drinks refilled and tables cleared at a steady pace, and the green beans are trimmed fresh by hand. That small detail tells you a lot about how the kitchen runs.
Hours run 11 AM to 9 PM most days, with a slightly later close on Fridays and Saturdays. Weekend afternoons get busy, so a weekday lunch is the calmer play.
Reservations are not taken, but the parking lot usually has room.
2. Star Ocean Buffet, Rochester, MN
© Star Ocean Buffet, Rochester, MN
Timing is everything at Star Ocean Buffet. Prices here run from $14.99 to $18.99 depending on the day and hour, so a weekday lunch keeps the bill on the friendly side of fifteen.
The Salem Road restaurant is big, and the menu matches the size. Expect sushi, sashimi, and maki rolls, along with tempura, soups, and a large salad bar.
The Mongolian grill is the standout. Kids get to pick their own ingredients and watch them get cooked, which turns dinner into a small event.
Ice cream waits at the end of the line for dessert. Service moves quickly, a plus when little ones are running low on patience.
Doors open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM. Saturday and Sunday afternoons draw the biggest crowds, while weekday mornings and early afternoons tend to be quieter.
Free parking and high chairs round out the practical side.
3. Pizza Ranch, Andover, MN
© Pizza Ranch, Andover, MN
Fried chicken and pizza on the same plate is a kid’s dream, and Pizza Ranch built a whole buffet around it. The Andover location keeps the Old West theme and the price close to fifteen dollars.
That buffet covers pizza, fried chicken, soup, salad, and dessert. Specialty choices include Canadian bacon pizza, chicken fries, and ranch chips.
Save room for the blueberry dessert pizza. Sweet pizzas rotate onto the line alongside the regular pies, and they tend to vanish quickly.
Families with dietary needs can order a gluten-free crust for about a dollar more. There is also a kids’ menu, changing tables, and a private dining room that works for birthday parties.
Unlike most buffets on this list, this one accepts reservations, which helps for bigger groups. Hours run 11 AM to 8 PM Monday through Thursday and Sunday, with an 8:30 PM close on Fridays and Saturdays.
Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings are the busiest stretches.
4. China Star Buffet | Chinese, Waite Park, MN
© China Star Buffet | Chinese, Waite Park, MN
A recent renovation gave China Star Buffet more elbow room, and central Minnesota families noticed. The Waite Park spot sits on Division Street, right in the St. Cloud shopping corridor.
The menu sticks to Chinese classics done well. Lo mein, fried rice, orange chicken, Kung Pao chicken, and egg drop soup anchor the line, with crawfish and sautéed string beans adding variety.
Prices fall in the ten to twenty dollar range per person. The selection is on the smaller side, but the food is kept fresh and refills are free.
A to-go buffet option helps on busy nights when nobody wants to sit down. The dining room stays fairly quiet, which suits younger kids.
Plan around Mondays, when the restaurant is closed. Other days it opens at 10:30 AM, earlier than most buffets here, and runs until 9 or 9:30 PM.
5. Super Moon Buffet, St Louis Park, MN
© Super Moon Buffet, St Louis Park, MN
Twelve dollars a person for sushi, a hibachi grill, and soft serve sounds like a typo. At Super Moon Buffet in St. Louis Park, that kind of price has shown up for a very large spread.
The lineup is big. Chinese dishes fill most of the trays, with Mongolian beef, coconut shrimp, chicken wings, and house special lo mein among the highlights.
A sushi bar, Mongolian barbecue, and hibachi grill add variety for curious eaters. American comfort food sits on the line too, which keeps picky kids happy.
The salad bar is large, and soft serve ice cream makes dessert easy. High chairs are available for the smallest guests.
Find it on Wayzata Boulevard, open 11 AM to 9 PM every day. Weekends get crowded, while Monday and Tuesday mornings are the slowest times.
Reservations are not accepted, so arriving early pays off.
6. Great Dragon Buffet | Chinese, St Cloud, MN
© Great Dragon Buffet | Chinese, St Cloud, MN
Small can be a good thing. Great Dragon Buffet in St. Cloud skips the giant warehouse feel for a snug, quiet room on 6th Avenue South.
Pot stickers are the house standout, and the buffet stays consistently fresh. Egg rolls and Kung Pao chicken also earn regular spots on plates.
Portions are generous and prices land in the ten to twenty dollar range. The owners run a friendly, quick operation, with table service helping things move.
Free Wi-Fi is a nice bonus for older kids or college students waiting on food. High chairs are available for toddlers.
Check the calendar before heading out. The restaurant is closed Mondays, opens at 11 AM Tuesday through Friday, and starts at noon on weekends, with all days closing at 9 PM.
For one more stop on a central Minnesota food run, this cozy room makes a fitting finish to the list.
Dining and Cooking