One of the defining characteristics of the 1980s had to be its display of excess and decadence. Think of the 1987 flick “Wall Street,” where financial tycoon Gordon Gekko believed “greed is good,” or the extravagance seen in primetime soap “Dynasty” or Robin Leachs parting wish of “champagne wishes and caviar dreams” on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. ” All that unrestrained display of surplus wasnt just for TV though; it bled into everything in American society, including fast food restaurants — enter, the dawn of the fast food buffet.
People say that there were buffet lines at McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut in the 1980s, but most people think that these stories are just made up. However, KFCs all-you-can-eat buffet, which sprouted up back then too, can still be found on a very small scale. There are so few of them left, however, and the ones that remain are so difficult to track down, that theyve become destinations. And people who want to try Colonel Sanders’ secret recipe have traveled hundreds of miles just to do so. Its hardly the adventure of a lifetime, but fans of the chicken chain — as well as food historians or anyone just looking for an excuse to go on a road trip — might find visiting one of these relics to be a good time.
You know that feeling you get when you’re driving down the highway and all of a sudden you see something that makes you stop and take a second look? That’s how I felt when I saw a sign that said “KFC Buffet.” Like many of you, I thought these mythical all-you-can-eat chicken paradises had gone away years ago, but guess what? They still exist, and I’ve done the research to find out how much they cost.
The Surprising Survival of KFC Buffets
KFC buffets were all the rage back in the ’80s, but most disappeared faster than your willpower around a bucket of Original Recipe. Today, there are only a handful of these rare gems left in North America, with a famous location in Tokyo too.
I couldn’t get the thought out of my head after seeing that sign. As a responsible food blogger, I did what everyone else would do: I drove three hours to Dunn, North Carolina, to visit one of the last KFC buffets in the world.
How Much Does a KFC Buffet Cost in 2025?
Let’s cut right to the chase since I know that’s what you’re here for
The current price for a KFC buffet in 2025 is $13 per person.
Yes, you can eat as much KFC chicken and sides as you want for less than the price of many fast food combo meals these days. Before tax, I paid $26 for two buffet dinners when I went there.
Is it worth it? In my honest opinion, absolutely yes. The value you get for $13 is pretty darn impressive.
What Do You Get at a KFC Buffet?
For your $13, here’s what you can expect:
- Unlimited fried and grilled chicken pieces (all the classic KFC options)
- Classic KFC sides (varies by location but typically includes biscuits, mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans)
- Regional specialties (at my location: rice and beans, collard greens, fried okra)
- Unique offerings (my location had fried chicken gizzards and livers – not my thing but might be yours!)
- Dessert options (apple cobbler, Jell-O, pudding, and fruit)
- Drink (includes a soft drink cup)
Each person gets a large three-section Styrofoam plate, a smaller dessert plate, and the classic KFC spork. It’s nothing fancy, but who needs fancy when you’ve got unlimited chicken?
My Personal KFC Buffet Experience
I didn’t know what to expect when I got to the Dunn, NC KFC. Outside, it looked like any other KFC restaurant—there were no special signs, just a small blue sign advertising the buffet.
Inside, the layout was familiar with the addition of an approximately 8-foot-long self-serve buffet station next to the cashier. The restaurant wasn’t particularly crowded when I visited on a Saturday evening.
The Good
The chicken was just as crispy and flavorful as what you’d get from the regular menu. Everything tasted fresh – a concern I had about buffet food sitting out too long was quickly dismissed. My favorite discovery was the fried okra, which was perfectly crunchy without being overcooked.
The absolute highlight, though? The apple cobbler. This gooey mixture of apple chunks, pie crust, and sugar smelled amazing and tasted even better. It had a homemade quality that really surprised me.
The Not-So-Good
My biggest disappointment was the absence of mac and cheese – my favorite KFC side! Looking back, I could’ve ordered it separately from the regular menu, but it would’ve been nice to have it included in the buffet spread.
I also tried the fried chicken gizzards and liver at my girlfriend’s insistence. As someone who’d never had them before… let’s just say they aren’t going on my favorites list anytime soon. But hey, that’s just me – plenty of people love these items!
Are KFC Buffets Worth the Drive?
Here’s my honest take:
If there’s a KFC buffet within an hour’s drive, and you’re a fan of their chicken, it’s absolutely worth checking out. The value is undeniable – where else can you get unlimited KFC chicken and sides for $13?
However, I wouldn’t recommend making a special three-hour journey just for this experience like I did. It was good, but not “drive-across-multiple-states” good.
Where to Find KFC Buffets
Finding a KFC buffet is like hunting for buried treasure these days. There’s actually a Facebook group called “KFC Buffet Aficionados” where fans keep track of remaining locations and answer questions about them. This group maintains a map of all the remaining KFC buffet spots in North America.
Based on my research, most remaining locations are concentrated in the southern United States, with that one famous international location in Tokyo, Japan.
KFC Buffet vs. Regular KFC: Is It Really Worth It?
Let’s break down the value proposition:
| KFC Buffet ($13) | Regular KFC 8-piece meal (~$22) |
|---|---|
| Unlimited chicken pieces | 8 pieces of chicken |
| Multiple side options | 2-3 large sides |
| Dessert included | No dessert |
| Drink included | Drinks typically extra |
| Regional specialties | Standard menu only |
When you look at it this way, the buffet is clearly the better deal if you’ve got a big appetite or want to try a variety of items.
Tips for Making the Most of Your KFC Buffet Experience
If you do decide to hunt down one of these rare buffets, here are my top tips:
- Go hungry – This seems obvious, but you’ll want to maximize that $13 value
- Try the regional specialties – Items like fried okra may not be on the regular menu
- Don’t fill up on drinks – Classic buffet strategy, folks
- Save room for dessert – The apple cobbler alone is worth the trip
- Consider timing – Weekday lunch might offer fresher food with more frequent refills
- Check if your must-have sides are available – Or be prepared to order them separately
The Future of KFC Buffets: Endangered Species?
With so few locations remaining, it’s fair to wonder how much longer these buffets will survive. The Tokyo location seems to be thriving as a novelty, but the North American spots appear to be the last of a dying breed.
If experiencing a KFC buffet is on your bucket list (pun intended), I wouldn’t wait too much longer. These relics of fast-food history could disappear completely in the coming years.
Final Thoughts: Is $13 Too Much or Not Enough?
When considering the question of “how much is the buffet at Kentucky Fried Chicken,” we need to think about value as much as price. Is $13 expensive? In the world of fast food, maybe. In the world of buffets, absolutely not.
For the quantity and variety of food available, $13 feels like a pretty good deal in 2025. Factor in rising food costs and inflation, and it’s actually surprising that the price isn’t higher.
I left the KFC buffet in Dunn, NC with a full stomach and no regrets about my $13 investment. While it wasn’t a life-changing culinary experience, it was a fun food adventure and a chance to experience a piece of fast-food history before it potentially disappears forever.
So if you’re asking yourself “is the KFC buffet worth it?” – I’d say yes, if you’re a KFC fan who happens to be near one of these rare locations. Just don’t expect to find mac and cheese (at least at the Dunn location), and maybe skip the gizzards unless you’re feeling adventurous!
Have you been to a KFC buffet lately? I’d love to hear about your experience and whether you thought the $13 price tag was worth it. Drop a comment below!
This blog post was updated on September 19, 2025, with the most current pricing information available for KFC buffets.
How do you find the last remaining KFC buffets?
In the 1980s, KFC buffets were pretty plentiful, but by the time the next decade rolled around, societal tastes had shifted, and many locations ditched the steam tables and hot plates for good. Still, a few of them stayed open well into the 21st century. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, many of them closed for good, leaving only a few to find. So where are they now?.
In the age of having the internet at our fingertips, youd think that finding an elusive KFC buffet would be as simple as a quick Google search. Not so fast. If you rely on the KFC website to clue you in on your closest buffet location, youre in for disappointment there, too. With both options, youll only find the closest KFC restaurant, but there will be no indication of whether it features an all-you-can-eat option. Instead, you may have to rely on bloggers who are passionate about the subject or Facebook groups devoted to the cause, as well as good, old-fashioned word of mouth. The Facebook group KFC Buffet Aficionados appears to have decent up-to-date information on where to find active buffets, but they are few and far between, and theyre mostly concentrated in the southern and southeastern states of the U.S., such as Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Even so, its best to call the buffet location directly. Case in point: I live close to a KFC whose outdoor sign boasts “buffet” on it. I discovered it shortly after I moved to my current city and was ecstatic to try it out. However, it turned out that the buffet was no longer in service, even though the sign remains and gives buffet junkies like me false hope.
What to expect at a KFC Buffet
If you go to a KFC Buffet, you can expect to find the usual all-you-can-eat comfort foods, like fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn on the cob, and biscuits. But different blogs and websites say you might also find some dishes you didn’t expect and some of KFC’s strangest menu items. Visitors have reported fruit cobblers and pudding for dessert, fried chicken livers and gizzards, chicken and noodles, and a salad bar extension.
Reviews, however, arent always glowing. After all, these arent big, impressive buffets like you might find in Las Vegas; youre in a fast food restaurant, and the degree of freshness and cleanliness is always going to be dependent on the staff of a particular location. (But, honestly, its unlikely anyone is going to these places searching for the best meal of their life anyway.) Pilgrs to such locations are, in large part, nostalgic trips for those who might have grown up near a KFC buffet, eating their share of fried chicken legs on Sunday afternoons, and bowls of Jell-O and chocolate pudding for dessert. Today, you might even witness people taking selfies and posting live videos on social media at the remaining buffets. After all, this isnt the 80s anymore.
KFC Buffet Locations Do Still Exist. Here’s Where To Find Them
FAQ
Does KFC have a buffet anymore?
As of 2024, the chain currently has 22 buffets open in the United States and Canada.Mar 31, 2025
What is the $20 deal at KFC?
$20 Taste of KFC® Fried Chicken Meal | KFC® Includes 6 pieces of fried chicken (2 drums, 2 thighs, 1 breast, 1 wing) with sides of mac & cheese, coleslaw, mashed potatoes & gravy, sweet corn, and 4 biscuits.
What is the difference between buffet and all you can eat buffet?
All-you-can-eat (AYCE) dining operates on a different model where guests order unlimited food from a menu, often with specific rules on ordering and consumption. Unlike buffets, where food is displayed for self-service, AYCE restaurants usually require guests to place multiple rounds of orders through a waiter.
How much is the KFC Big 6 deal?
Enjoy the BIG 6 Deal with 6 Pc. Original Recipe, 2 Reg. Mash & Gravy and 3 Mini Loaves for R129.