17 Dishes You Should NEVER Order at Golden Corral
This post may contain affiliate links.
Despite inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic, Golden Corral is still a popular place to dine, as it has modified its operation and remains affordable. In fact, its prices rose by just 14% from 2020 to 2023, compared with the average food inflation rate of 20.2% nationally over the same period.
The buffet continues to be a popular choice among shoppers looking for value with the addition of programs like the ‘GC Rewards’ app, which offers $10 for every $100 spent. It has more than 500 locations across the United States, promising “endless” choices for its diners—carved meats galore alongside that famous Chocolate Wonderfall.
However, as with most things, buffet dining has its quirks and risks. Here are 17 dishes that you might want to avoid at Golden Corral based on typical buffet pitfalls like hygiene, freshness, and preparation quality.
Sushi
Unfortunately, buffets —including Golden Corral’s—often fail in terms of freshness and quality. Rice can become too dry or too sticky, and sushi can lack the flavor and texture of a fresh one.
Health experts warn that raw fish in a buffet setting is more likely to be contaminated with bacteria if not handled carefully. It’s better to find a sushi restaurant dedicated to quality and safety.
Rare Steaks
Rare steaks may appear premium at Golden Corral but typically don’t meet expectations due to the buffet’s logistics. This creates a texture nightmare, as heat lamps dry out the edges unevenly, leaving the centers undercooked.
Instead, choose a freshly cooked medium for the best flavor and safety balance.
The Chocolate Wonderfall
A fan favorite at Golden Corral is Chocolate Wonderfall – a cascade of warm, melted chocolate for dipping in fruits, marshmallows, and other choice bites.
However, food safety experts warn that communal dipping stations such as chocolate fountains can be a hygiene risk, particularly at peak dining times when many hands are in and around them.
Macaroni and Cheese
Golden Corral’s mac and cheese can quickly become unappetizing. The creamy surface often becomes a dry crust, while the pasta underneath is overcooked and mushy. Under heat lamps, dishes that use a lot of sauces or cheese start to degrade in quality within 30 minutes.
Opt for fresher, replenished trays, but otherwise, pass it and go for sturdier sides like baked potatoes.
Soups
Although tempting, Golden Corral’s soups tend to sit in warming trays all day. The National Restaurant Association notes that soups, common at many buffets including Golden Corral, can take a hit in quality when prepared in bulk or held at high temperatures for long periods of time.
This can result in overconcentration or imbalance of flavors over time and textural changes such as a greasy film or separation.
Mashed Potatoes
Golden Corral’s potatoes are often made from instant mixes, which often have a grainy, fake feel. Left sitting for hours, they can dry out or develop a congealed surface.
However, if you love mashed potatoes, layer some gravy to mask their dryness, or choose a fresher side dish instead.
Pizza
Golden Corral doesn’t serve good pizza, often with soggy crusts or overly chewy cheese. The pies are mass-produced and sit under heat lamps, which can make them appear flavorless.
Therefore, if you’re really in the mood for pizza, go to a dedicated pizza restaurant.
Meatloaf
In theory, the meatloaf at Golden Corral is comforting, but in reality, because of mass production, it just doesn’t cut it. Reheated too many times, the crust risks becoming too dry or too salty and losing that tender homemade charm.
Overseasoning is common to compensate for inconsistencies in meat-based dishes at buffets. For a more reliable protein, choose roast turkey or ham.
Hot Dogs
Golden Coral’s hot dogs are another filler item that isn’t fresh. Left unwrapped, they can get rubbery and bland — unlike the juicy texture of a freshly grilled hot dog.
A comprehensive guide on buffet food safety by Food & Nutrition warns that pre-cooked, processed meats in buffets can become unsafe due to inadequate temperature control and prolonged exposure to room temperature.
Dessert Pies
Dessert pies from Golden Corral are also often prepackaged, serving flavorless fillings to less than anyone’s satisfaction. A lot of these pies are filled with a list of cheap ingredients and get flavor knocked out of them.
Many buffet desserts are made ahead of time to cut costs and prep time. For a better dessert, get soft-serve ice cream.
Ice Cream Toppings
The ice cream toppings are a playground for kids but also a potential hygiene issue. Cross-contamination is easy, and shared utensils and open containers provide ideal conditions for germs to spread.
Food safety experts advise close monitoring of open food stations to decrease contamination. However, if you want toppings, only choose sealed or packaged options.
Fried Chicken
After being kept under heat lamps too long, Golden Corral’s fried chicken can quickly lose the crunch and juiciness.
Typically, the breading gets soggy, and the meat inside becomes dry, especially during the slow hours of the day. So, if you must indulge, go for the freshly replenished trays.
Pork Ribs
Golden Corral pork ribs are often pre-cooked and reheated, which results in dry, flavorless meat. These ribs are usually steamed or boiled and lack the smoky, tender taste of a fresh BBQ rib.
Buffet insiders say that you’d better take carved meats, which are usually fresher. For those that really have to have ribs, try to catch them immediately after a tray is replaced.
Seafood (Especially Fried)
Fried shrimp or fish from Golden Corral may not be the seafood you are looking for. These tend to sit under heat lamps for so long that they become soggy and greasy.
Food poisoning may ensue as food safety experts generally note seafood is especially inclined to spoilage when not served or stored at the proper temperature. Seafood is always better cooked fresh from the carving station or have grilled salmon.
Salad Bar Toppings (Eggs, Cottage Cheese)
A benefit of the salad bar at Golden Corral is that there are many varieties to choose from, but toppings such as hard-boiled eggs and cottage cheese are too high risk. These perishable items are often left out for hours, and without proper cooling, they become breeding grounds for bacteria.
Food safety guidelines remind us that cold buffet foods should always be kept below 40°F (4°C) to prevent bacteria from multiplying and ensure food safety. Avoid warm or discolored high-risk toppings, and stick to fresh greens.
Gravy
Golden Corral’s gravy can be overly salty and can congeal very quickly if it’s been sitting out. It is usually made in bulk and, therefore, lacks the richness of freshly prepared sauces.
Due to the artificial taste, buffet gravies are among the least popular condiments. For sauce, au jus is the way to go or simply omit gravies.
Deviled Eggs
Your list of high-risk buffet items should include deviled eggs. Filled with mayonnaise, these eggs spoil quickly, and without proper temperature control, they won’t be safe to eat after the recommended two hours.
Exercise some restraint if they’re not on ice or do not look dried out.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
15 Poor People Foods That Even the Wealthy Eat
15 Poor People Foods That Even the Wealthy Eat
15 Classic 1980s Foods EVERYONE Loved Back In The Day
