If you think a typical casino buffet meal would feature dry meatloaf, instant mashed potatoes, canned green beans and Jell-O for dessert, you’re probably also still trying to feed coins into a slot machine.
Just like those one-arm bandits — casinos don’t even have actual coin slots anymore — buffets have evolved into contemporary gourmet restaurants. They’re still all-you-can-eat extravaganzas, but today, the focus is on culinary quality over quantity.
Gone are the days of uninspired dishes languishing on steam tables: More often than not, your meal will be scratch-made and freshly prepared just for you. Along with oceans of Maine lobsters, crab legs and oysters on the half shell, San Diego area buffet-goers can now choose from sizzling grass-fed steaks, pulled pork smoked on site, organic greens, farm-fresh veggies, hand-made wood-fired pizzas, artisan breads, house-cured charcuterie and gluten-free sweets.
Buffets are big — ever-expanding dining rooms serve thousands of diners a day — and are getting even better, with new menu additions and stations regularly being added to meet increasingly discriminating tastes.
We ate our way through the region’s casino buffets and found the best they have to offer, so get your plates — and your fine-tuned palates — primed.
Barona Resort & Casino
Offerings: The massive 850-seat Seasons Fresh Buffet features more than 200 items prepared in open kitchens at 13 different stations, including pho, Mexican, rotisserie, Italian, omelets and crepes.
Winning dish: The top-notch American BBQ station features brisket, ribs and pulled pork cooked low and slow in Barona’s in-house smoker. And the creamy good mac ’n’ cheese is not to be missed.
More details: barona.com/dine/seasons-fresh-buffet
Harrah’s Resort Southern California
Offerings: With nine stations, the 452-seat buffet at Harrah’s serves 264 different items, including everything from made-to-order Vietnamese pho bowls to crispy wood-fired pizza, homemade gelato and freshly spun cotton candy.
Winning dish: The carving station is a meat-lover’s paradise, with grilled tri-tip, tender prime rib, smoked meats, bone-in ham and pork loin.
More details: harrahssocal.com/taste/the-buffet
Pala Casino Spa & Resort
Offerings: Called Choices for a reason, Pala’s giant, 625-seat buffet serves 200 daily food selections and 80 desserts to choose from. Tuesdays feature 1-pound lobsters while Thursday is all-you-can-eat-lobster night.
Winning dish: Pastry chef Albert Cruz’s creations are irresistible with the made-to-order strawberry shortcake topping our our list as one of the tastiest.
More details: palacasino.com/dining/choices-the-buffet
Pechanga Resort & Casino
Offerings: Since taking over the buffet kitchen last year, head chef Franco Duarte-Piza has upped the gourmet game at Pechanga’s 460-seat venue with such unexpected choices as polenta cake with olive-tomato tapenade.
Winning dish: The wide selection of Asian dishes is notable and the tapas and street tacos taste straight from your favorite hipster hangout.
More details: pechanga.com/eat/buffet
Sycuan Casino
Offerings: The only buffet located entirely within a casino’s non-smoking area, Sycuan’s 350-seat Paipa’s venue is all about customization. The build-your-own burger bar, burrito and street taco stations ensure your dish is just to your liking.
Winning dish: Our top pick from Paipa’s 100-item line-up are the made-to-order milkshakes, especially the chocolate, peanut butter, salted caramel and pretzel version. Make it a malted to gild the sweet lily.
More details: www.sycuan.com/dining/paipas-buffet
Valley View Casino & Hotel
Offerings: Endless Maine lobster night at Valley View’s 560-seat buffet might get all the attention, for a reason: They serve 350,000 pounds of it a year. But we’re particularly impressed with the creations from the casino’s team of nearly two dozen bakers and pastry chefs — all on display on a 100-foot dessert bar.
Winning dish: Carbo-phobes beware: The vast array of homemade breads and rolls rival the best in town.
More details: valleyviewcasino.com/dining/thebuffet.aspx
Viejas Casino & Resort
Offerings: The contemporary design of Vieja’s 550-seat buffet is matched by its modern menu, including such restaurant-quality choices as cheeses, homemade charcuterie, jams, Italian panini, and four types of hummus. Have a sweet tooth? Three words: the cheesecake bar.
Winning dish: Liquid lunch counts, right? Viejas’ buffet is the only casino to offer unlimited beer, wine and bubbles
More details: viejsandiegouniontribune.noticiases.info/dining/buffet-viejas
Bonus bite:
Among the scratch-made items at modern buffets is gelato, that creamy Italian-style ice cream that makes a perfect ending to any meal. And one of the more unique flavors of gelato can be found at Harrah’s Resort SoCal. Its Royal Ube gelato gets its deep purple color not from fruit but from purple yams. The ingredient is popular in Filipino cuisine and is a sought-after specialty at Harrah’s.
(Note: Buffet prices and hours vary; most casinos offer discounts based on players’ club status. Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego and Golden Acorn Casino & Travel Center don’t have buffets.)
Twitter: @sdeditgirl