2021 update:
Golden Corral has an allergen statement on their website:
To Our Guests with Allergies,
Our buffet offerings change frequently and may use ingredients containing common food allergens such as peanuts and other tree nuts, seafood including shellfish, whey, wheat/gluten, eggs, dairy and soy. If you have any questions about ingredients, please ask to speak with a restaurant manager. However, because of the handcrafted nature of our menu items, the variety of procedures used in our kitchens and grills, our reliance on our suppliers, and the self-service nature of our buffets, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of ingredient information or the possibility that an ingredient might be transferred among food items and must disclaim any liability regarding the accuracy of such information.
They have also changed their Nutrition and Dietary Options menu. Their previous menu was much easier to read.
I might say that Cici’s Pizza is the best buffet in the USA, but it’s Golden Corral’s tagline, so I’ll go with it for the purpose of this blog entry. Who knew that Golden Corral had the best menu for the dietary-conscious? We haven’t been to one in years, so I’m not sure how long this innovative digital menu has existed. After being invited to a farewell lunch for our cousin, Nikki decided to see if their website had any dietary info. She discovered the menu “that all restaurants should have.” Why is this online menu the Holy Grail?
When you go to the website, click on the image that says “The Healthy Plate”. From there you are shown four options: Made with No Gluten-Containing Ingredients, No Sugar Added, Sugar Free, & Farm Fresh Veggies. By clicking any of these buttons, you are taken to the corresponding menu items. Food is listed in alphabetical order by restaurant location (hot buffet, salad buffet) along with serving size & calories. Under certain items, the menu notates if it contains soy, milk, or fish. How awesome is that? It is noted on the Gluten-Containing Ingredients menu that cross-contact may exist & that their kitchen is not a gluten-free environment.
Something to keep in mind is that not all menu items are available daily and vary by location. Nikki got ribs (the picture of her food was inadvertently deleted, so just use your imagination). She didn’t have any dessert options because all the items had whipped cream on them. A saucer of gummy bears from the ice cream station sufficed.
When I checked out the website, I saw the announcement that Golden Corral’s eggs are going cage free. This process has already been implemented and they hope all 484 locations will be 100% cage free within the next decade. Read their full statement below:
If you liked this, you might also like to know what to order at IHOP, Applebee’s, Chili’s, and LongHorn Steakhouse.
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[bctt tweet=”Find out what your options are at Golden Corral if you have food sensitivities” username=”@gfspirit”]
That’s great that they’re being more open with their ingredients and allergens. I used to eat there all the time with my grandparents, but after celiac entered the picture, that’s no longer an option. I think all restaurants need to move in the detailed nutritional info direction, though. So many people need to avoid allergens and stick to a healthier diet nowadays.
I can imagine how hard that was. So many people have different dietary restrictions/concerns now that more detailed menus should be common.