Feeling hungry? Or maybe just up for a culinary marathon?
This all-you-can-eat experience near NYC is something we guarantee you’ve never seen before.
A smorgasbord of epic proportions
Just a two-hour drive from NYC, nestled in the rolling countryside of East Earl, Pennsylvania, Shady Maple Smorgasbord isn’t your average roadside pit stop.
It holds the title of the largest all-you-can-eat restaurant in the entire country, and it’s absolutely massive.
What began humbly as a roadside farm stand in the late 1960s transformed into a full-service supermarket by 1982. By 1985, the original 300-seat cafeteria was expanded into the smorgasbord-style buffet we know today.
Now, the dining hall seats up to 1,200 guests. The entire complex spans more than 110,000 square feet (including a massive gift shop), attracting nearly 1.5 million visitors each year.
Freshly updated for 2026
If you haven’t been in a while, you are due for a return trip. In 2025, Shady Maple unveiled a completely redesigned buffet, giving the dining area a fresh, modern appearance.
The renovation didn’t just upgrade the looks; it expanded the variety of menu offerings and created a dedicated space for rotating weekly specials.
Building on that momentum, they updated the grills in early 2026 to perfectly complement the new buffet layout. The entire serving area now has a sleek, cohesive vibe.
Source / Shady Maple
A buffet longer than the Statue of Liberty
As for the record-breaking buffet line, it stretches over 200 feet long. That is literally longer than the Statue of Liberty is tall.
It comes packed end-to-end with over 200 made-from-scratch items daily. (Pro tip: wear pants with an elastic waistband. You can thank us later.)
Here is just a fraction of what you can expect:
Eggs and pancakes made to order
46 salad bar selections
Eight different kinds of meat
Ten cold desserts and eight pies
A build-your-own sundae bar
Stop in for a hearty breakfast featuring scrapple, French toast, and fresh waffles. If you go big at dinner, you’ll find rotating grill features like prime rib and smoked brisket.
Looking to maximize your feast? Saturday “Early Bird” lunch includes full dinner features.
Source / Shady Maple
The details
The best part about this massive spread? It’s surprisingly affordable. And in a refreshing change of pace, there’s no tipping. A 12% service fee is automatically included to help pay the staff higher-than-average wages.
Before you head out, don’t leave without checking out the huge gift shop downstairs. Then, head across the parking lot to the Farmer’s Market building, which is packed with Pennsylvania Dutch goods, handmade furniture, whoopie pies, candies, and local jams.
If you want to make a whole seasonal road trip out of it, be sure to reference cherry blosom.pdf for some beautiful spring views on your way out of the city!
📍Shady Maple Smorgasbord – 129 Toddy Dr, East Earl, PA
🕒 Monday–Saturday, doors open at 7 am. Last seating is at 7:30 pm, and the buffet is open until 8:15 pm (closed Sundays).
🥞 Monday-Friday $14.99, Saturday $17.99
🍔 Monday-Friday $20.99, Saturday “Early Bird” $29.99
🥩 Monday-Friday starts at $27.99, Saturday $31.99
🎁 Kids under 4 eat free, birthday meals are completely free with ID, and military/senior discounts are available.