The Top 5 Buffet Restaurants in Winnipeg
In 1945, Herbert “Herb” Cobb McDonald introduced the all-you-can-eat concept in restaurants in Las Vegas.
Today, buffets-style restaurants are in practically all corners of the globe – and there are plenty right here in Winnipeg!
Just for you, we looked into some of the city’s top buffet restaurants. Read on and take your pick for your next food adventure.
How must does it cost to dine in Winnipeg’s buffet restaurants on average?
The average price of eating a lunch buffet in Canada costs $14.95 per person while a dinner buffet will cost around $25.95 per person.
Some buffet restaurants may also offer special menus for kids which will cost around $11 per child.
While these are the average price points for dining at a buffet in Canada, it is worth noting that restaurants may also offer happy hour prices and discounts for birthday celebrants and to promote their seasonal menus.
Selecting the top buffet restaurants in Winnipeg
For this review, we assessed the buffet restaurants based on these criteria:
1. Good Earth Restaurant
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| FOOD SELECTION AND QUALITY | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| > Many kinds of dishes to choose from | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 |
| > Quality and taste | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| RESTAURANT AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Clean and organized | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Relaxing and appetizing | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| PRICE RANGE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★★★☆ 4.5/5 |
Good Earth Restaurant specialises in Chinese cuisine. The restaurant currently offers lunch and dinner menus and separate prices for adult and kid diners.
We think that the buffet prices are quite affordable, with adults priced at $14.95 per person and the kids priced at $10.95 per child.
We’re happy to report that the dishes are flavourful and well-cooked. Some of our favourites include the chow mein, fried rice, sweet and sour pork, and honey chicken fingers.
Good Earth also offers its buffet menus as part of catering events, which makes them a great option for all those large family gatherings.
People hosting an event may choose from six catering packages each with a different menu served buffet-style.
However, we do think that Good Earth’s dinner buffet is also a great option for those smaller, equally-special celebrations.
It’s open on the weekends and holidays, making it the ideal feast for Chinese New Year, birthdays, and other bank holidays.
It’s just a tad disappointing that Good Earth’s buffet selection might not be palatable for vegetarians and vegans.
We we visited, the only vegetable options on the buffet we saw were the assorted mixed veggies and vegetable lo mein.
We’re also a tad disappointed that drinks aren’t included in this restaurant’s buffet menu. Diners can pay extra for beverages, although their options are limited to canned soda drinks.
Pros
- Affordable kids’ rate
- Dinner buffet is available on the holidays
- Does catering
Cons
- Not many vegetarian options available
- Drinks not included in buffet menu
Customer Reviews
Fresh and tasty food with lots of options
“Great restaurant. Fresh and tasty food with lots of options to choose from. They have take out available now. Parking on Portage Ave or on the side street. Good options are sesame chicken, beef and broccoli and vegetable lo mein.” – Avi I.
Food was delivered hot and right on time
“The flavors were great and this is the best crispy shrimp I’ve had! Cantonese chowmein was full of crispy vegetables, beef and broccoli was amazing on top of their complimentary fluffy white rice. Very pleased and looking forward to ordering again! Thank you!” – Jeny Allan
2. East India Company Pub & Eatery
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| FOOD SELECTION AND QUALITY | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
| > Many kinds of dishes to choose from | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Quality and taste | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 |
| RESTAURANT AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Clean and organized | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Relaxing and appetizing | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| PRICE RANGE | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
Diners who want to indulge in many vegetarian and vegan dishes should definitely go to East India Company Pub & Eatery.
We visited the restaurant and found an impressive food selection featuring Indian and other South Asian cuisines, such as samosa, biryani, curry, mughlai chicken, and the tandoori platter.
What we liked about this restaurant’s menu is that it is organised in a way that makes it easy to find the vegan and gluten-free dishes.
Besides the almost-endless buffet, the restaurant’s classic Indian heritage interiors also amplify the dining experience.
We especially like that you can bring home the dining experience – the restaurant sells some of the popular spices it uses in its dishes.
Unfortunately, East India Company’s buffet rates are quite expensive – we had to pay $30 to avail of the buffet menu.
We’re also quite disappointed to hear that some of the food was stale and cold, which we think isn’t appetising and worth the hefty buffet rates.
While we understand that running a buffet can be overwhelming, we think that serving fresh, heated, and thoroughly cooked food is crucial for maintaining restaurant quality and customer satisfaction.
Pros
- Wide array of vegetarian and vegan options
- Sells local Indian spices
- Restaurant has South Asian heritage interiors
Cons
- Buffet rate is pricey
- Reports of some food being stale and cold
Customer Reviews
Offers rich flavours and lavish buffet options
“One of the best place in Winnipeg to eat Indian food. It is one of the oldest restaurants in the city and offer lavish buffet options to diner. I ordered lentils and rice for the day. The food is really good as the owner knows the species well. They are selling spices also. The ambiance is nice and has rich heritage feel. Had brief interaction with the owners and found them nice and courteous. – Jaspal Singh
Great place for vegan food
“The staff members are welcoming and efficient. The buffet has a wide selection of food, beautifully cooked, and includes gluten-free and vegan dishes. It was an excellent dining experience in a setting filled with Indian art and carvings. We will be back!” – Norma Newman
3. A+ Sushi Buffet
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| FOOD SELECTION AND QUALITY | ★★★★☆ 4.5/5 |
| > Many kinds of dishes to choose from | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Quality and taste | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| RESTAURANT AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Clean and organised | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Relaxing and appetising | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| PRICE RANGE | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
There are many sushi places in Winnipeg, but from what we’ve experienced, A + Sushi Buffet is the best place to enjoy all-you-can-eat (AYCE) sushi and Japanese fusion cuisine.
What we love about this restaurant’s sushi selection is the range of fish available, such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, snapper and butterfly fish.
We were also happy with the selection of other types of seafood, such as scallops, octopus, shrimps, eel, and fish eggs.
Sushi isn’t the only thing to look forward to at this buffet. The restaurant also has quite an array of ready-to-eat food available, which we think is great for those who don’t like sushi.
We found some of the dishes quite intriguing, such as the sliced raw beef and the sushi pizza. These are definitely great options for the more adventurous foodie.
Another quirk of the restaurant is that it serves is sushi in unique in fun and one-of-a-kind dishes.
During our visit, we liked how the some of the sushi was presented in large wooden boat-shaped dishes, which we think is quite befitting of the place’s mostly seafood menu.
We’re just disappointed that the quality isn’t always consistent. From what we’ve heard, some of the dishes lacked flavour while others – particularly the fish and seafood – weren’t served as fresh as they should be.
For a hefty price of $33 per person, we expect the food to always be delicious and freshly prepared.
Pros
- Offers many types of sushi
- Cooked food available
- Aesthetically-pleasing food representations
Cons
- Pricey buffet rate
- Feedback on inconsistent food quality
Customer Reviews
Great place for all-you-can-eat sushi
“Been here multiple times for all you can eat. They’ve got a good selection, great service, and the food always tastes great. The Arctic roll was my favourite! They increased their prices to include a 10% tip which is fair especially since it seems like service became much better since the change.” – Kristen
Food is always consistent and fresh
“Best AYCE sushi place in Winnipeg, and Magic Sushi used to be my go-to. A+ definitely has the largest selection available for their AYCE: sushi, sashimi, nigiri, tempura, and plenty of menu items all included. They are also one of the few sushi places in Winnipeg that has butterfish. I’ve come here several times and the food is always consistent and fresh. Service is good as well.” – Nicole Lourenco
4. Ye’s Buffet
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| FOOD SELECTION AND QUALITY | ★★★★☆ 4.25/5 |
| > Many kinds of dishes to choose from | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
| > Quality and taste | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| RESTAURANT AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Clean and organised | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| > Relaxing and appetising | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| PRICE RANGE | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Ye’s Buffet is notable for its diverse buffet selection featuring Thai, Chinese, and Japanese cuisines.
When we visited, we were amazed at how much sushi, noodles, salads, hot and sour soups, deep-fried meats, and rice dishes we could dig into.
In terms of food quality, we’re pleased to say that the restaurant’s dishes are flavourful and worth coming back to.
Some of the dishes we tried–and enjoyed– include dim sum, tempura, sushi, hot and sour soup, crab salad, and stir-fried noodles.
We were just slightly bummed that while Ye’s Buffet has vegetarian dishes, we didn’t find any vegan options available. As of writing, the restaurant also doesn’t offer gluten-free dishes.
On a brighter note, we appreciate the restaurant for serving dishes that are not-so-intimidating for kids or picky eaters. If you have one in your group, you’ll be glad to know that French fries, fried chicken, and pizza are also available.
It’s just unfortunate that the dinner buffet rates are quite expensive, as adults are priced at $30 and kids at $15.
We think these prices are quite steep, given that the dinner buffet selection doesn’t have any additional or different items compared to the lunch menu.
But should you still prefer the dinner buffet for family gatherings, we recommend taking advantage of Ye’s Buffet discount offers.
Diners can avail a 20% for senior citizens (just present a valid ID with photo) and pay a flat rate of $1.99 for kids aged four and below.
Pros
- Impressive Asian (and some Western) food selection
- Has familiar dishes for choosy eaters
- Discounts for senior citizens and kids aged four and under
Cons
- Expensive dinner buffet
- No vegan options available
Customer Reviews
Superb food, atmosphere, and service
“This was our first visit here. The atmosphere is superb, the service is great, and the food is absolutely amazing. Nothing on the buffet tasted like typical buffet food. Always in heavy rotation so dishes were always fresh, and the choices are simply astounding. Not your typical buffet. If you’re looking to indulge in the finer things in life and don’t mind loosening up your budget a little bit I highly recommend trying this place out. We will definitely return.” – Tim Forfar
The perfect buffet for picky eaters
“Amazing atmosphere and a large selection of food (without feeling overwhelmed by choices). The cheese wontons are to die for! Traditional kid’s food (pizza and french fries) are also available for picky eaters.” – Samantha Makl
5. La Merage Restaurant
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| FOOD SELECTION AND QUALITY | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| > Many kinds of dishes to choose from | ★★★★☆ 4.5/5 |
| > Quality and taste | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
| RESTAURANT AMBIANCE | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
| > Clean and organised | ★★★☆☆ 3.75/5 |
| > Relaxing and appetising | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| PRICE RANGE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 |
If you’re craving Filipino food, there’s La Merage Winnipeg. The restaurant is open daily and specialises in Filipino-style breakfast–which is served all day.
What we love about this place is that it serves ‘silog’ – a combination of garlic fried rice), fried egg, and a protein – meals, which are popular Filipino breakfast fares.
Some of the ‘silog’ meals the restuarant serves feature tapa (marinated beef jerky), tocino (Filipino-style bacon), longganisa (Filipino-style sausages), fried milk fish, and tuyo (dried fish).
Apart from the ‘silog’ meals, the restaurant also serves other well-known Filipino lunch, dinner, and dessert staples.
We enjoyed the menudo, kare-kare, pork barbecue, spring rolls, and Filipino-style fried chicken. We found these tasty, flavourful, and and filling!
It’s worth noting, though, that there are limited vegetarian options, and not many vegan options.
That said, we still think that it’s worth dining here as their buffet only costs $12 per person. If you want unlimited coffee refills, then just add a dollar to avail of all-you-can-drink coffee.
An area we just want the restaurant to look into and improve on it its cleanliness and orderliness. Previous diners shared that they saw small bits of wool and hair on their food.
A restaurant’s cleanliness is crucial for establishing an ideal ambiance for dining and enjoying time with family and friends.
Pros
- All-day breakfast fare
- Open daily
- Affordable AYCE rates
Cons
- Not much vegetarian options available
- Some reports on lack of cleanliness
Customer Reviews
Good traditional food on a budget
“You are greeted with Filipino hospitality from the door. We tried their Sunday Filipino buffet and found it very tasty. Loved their BBQ but it was limited to several skewers each. Any more and you pay extra. I guess it is one way to make it as affordable as it is. $1 coffee with unlimited refills. Traditional Filipino food lunch buffet for 12$ isn’t too bad. Good food on a budget. Very good value and friendly people.” – Anonymous
Highly recommend going here for Silog
“Their Filipino Breakfast (Silog) is one of the best in the city! I always get the Tapsilog (Marinated Beef Jerky with Garlic Fried Rice and Fried Eggs). Serving is huge for such a cheap price. Highly recommend going here for Silog.” – Karmina Francisco
FAQs on Buffet Restaurants
And that ends our honest review of the top buffet restaurants in Winnipeg! We hope we helped you find the best place for your next food adventure.
In the meantime, we also recommend checking these other food reviews: