Shady Maple Smorgasbord, located in East Earl, was recently named the No. 1 best buffet restaurant in the nation by USA Today readers.
Provided by Shady Maple
Two Pennsylvania buffets were recently named among the top three best in the nation by USA Today readers.
The USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards for “Best Buffet Restaurant (2026),” published June 24, named Shady Maple Smorgasbord No. 1, while Miller’s Smorgasbord landed in the No. 3 spot.
Here’s what to know about visiting the nationally recognized buffet restaurants in the Keystone State.
Shady Maple Smorgasbord
Shady Maple Smorgasbord is the nation’s “largest smorgasbord” featuring Pennsylvania Dutch cooking. The buffet restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Popular breakfast options include eggs, omelets, pancakes, sausage, ham and French toast, while the lunch menu offers fried shrimp, smoked beef brisket, a large salad bar, soups, cheeses and more. At dinnertime, check out the meats, soups, homemade breads and rolls, pies and a sundae bar.
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized as the No. 1 buffet in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. This recognition belongs just as much to our guests as it does to our team. For generations, families have made Shady Maple Smorgasbord part of their celebrations, traditions, vacations, and everyday meals, and their support made this achievement possible,” Shady Maple Companies marketing director Jared Witman said in an emailed statement.
“We are sincerely grateful to everyone who took the time to vote for us. This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team, who work every day to provide outstanding food, genuine hospitality, and an experience that keeps guests coming back. We are honored by this recognition and remain committed to serving our guests with the same care and quality that have defined Shady Maple for generations,” Witman said.
Location: 129 Toddy Dr. in East Earl, Pa.
Hours: Monday through Friday: 7 to 10 a.m. breakfast, 10:45 to 3:15 lunch and 4 to 7:30 p.m. (last seating) dinner. Saturday: 7 to 10:30 a.m. breakfast, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. “early bird” and 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (last seating) “grand menu.” The buffet stays open until 45 minutes after the last seating.
Pricing: Varies by meal and day of the week; generally ranges from $14.99 to $31.99, with discounts available for children, seniors and members of the military. Special holiday pricing may apply.
Miller’s Smorgasbord
Miller’s Smorgasbord is a family owned restaurant offering made-from-scratch dishes, with a history going back to 1929. The establishment is known for its traditional smorgasbord dinner, soup, salad and bread smorgasbord and special buffet menus for Mother’s Day, Easter and Thanksgiving.
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized again by USA TODAY 10Best readers,” Tabetha Carbaugh, General Manager of Miller’s Smorgasbord, said in an emailed statement. “This award means so much because it reflects the support of our guests — local families, longtime visitors and travelers who make Miller’s part of their Lancaster County tradition. Our team takes great pride in preparing the Pennsylvania Dutch dishes and fresh-baked desserts people come here to enjoy, from golden fried chicken and carved meats to buttered noodles, shoofly pie and so many heritage favorites.”
The traditional buffet at Miller’s features a wide selection of appetizers, signature soups, a salad and bread bar, a carving station with three different meats, hot entrées, sides, desserts and more.
The traditional “all-you-care-to-eat” smorgasbord menu at Miller’s Smorgasbord features Anna’s Miller’s Chicken & Waffles, golden fried chicken, baked cabbage in cream sauce and many other options. Provided by Miller’s Smorgasbord 
Soup options at Miller’s Smorgasbord include seafood bisque, Lancaster County chicken corn soup, vegetarian vegetable soup, cream of potato and more. Provided by Miller’s Smorgasbord
“To be ranked among the best buffet restaurants in America for four consecutive years — and to remain in the top three every year — is a tremendous honor,” Tom Neely, CEO of Thomas E. Strauss, Inc., the family-owned hospitality group that operates Miller’s Smorgasbord, said in an emailed statement. “Miller’s has always been about more than a meal. It is about hospitality, tradition and giving guests a genuine taste of Lancaster County. We are grateful to USA TODAY 10Best, to everyone who voted, and especially to the dedicated Miller’s team members who make this kind of recognition possible.”
Location: 2811 Lincoln Highway East (Route 30) in Ronks, Pa.
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday
Pricing: $31.99 per person age 13 and older, $15.99 for children age 10 to 12, $12.99 for children age 4 to 9 and free for children age 3 and younger
Top 10 best buffets
Here’s how the nation’s top 10 best buffets compared, according to the 2026 USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards:
Shady Maple Smorgasbord in East Earl, Pa.Der Dutchman in Sarasota, Fla.Miller’s Smorgasbord in Ronks, Pa.Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store in Jackson, Tenn.Jeong Won BBQ Buffet in San DiegoTerra Mediterranean in Fort Worth, TexasMrs. Yoder’s Kitchen in Mt. Hope, OhioMichie Tavern in Charlottesville, Va.Tomato Café in Albuquerque, N.M.Cinzzetti’s Italian Feast in Overland Park, Kan.
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Meredith Howard is a service journalist with the Belleville News-Democrat. She is a Baylor University graduate and has previously freelanced with the Illinois Times and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
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