Dive Brief:
- Golden Corral confirmed it has closed at least six locations this year, following press reports from USA TODAY.
- Golden Corral said in an email that several will likely reopen under new franchise ownership. Ninety-nine percent of the chain’s restaurants are franchisee owned, the company said.
- Golden Corral has seen a modest decline in unit count since 2023, when it had 362 locations, to 348 restaurants at the end of 2025, according to its franchise disclosure document. Last year, the chain lost four net franchised locations.
Dive Insight:
Golden Corral said that its current rate of attrition is higher than normal, but the reasons for closures “vary and are specific to the individual franchise entities that operated the locations.”
“Each circumstance is unique, but we are very committed to working with our franchisees to transfer ownership to either another franchise entity or company operations,” the company said.
Golden Corral continues to open locations across the U.S., including in Texas, Florida, Alabama and Puerto Rico, according to a press release.
“We are pleased to have six new restaurants currently under development,” the company said. “Additional development opportunities and growth initiatives are underway for 2027.”
Buffets, particularly for Asian food, remain popular among U.S. consumers, and searches for “all-you-can-eat buffet near me” were up 252% from September 2024 to August 2025, according to Yelp.
Despite the popularity of buffets for price-sensitive consumers, Golden Corral is likely experiencing some of the same challenges as many of the midscale and fine dining concepts that have declined over the past three years. Consumers are seeking out concepts that are more convenient and faster, according to Datassential statistics cited by Wine Business.
Golden Corral has been developing smaller restaurant prototypes with lower overall costs for operators. Instead of its traditional, 11,000-square-foot unit, the buffet chain now has prototypes for an 8,500-square-foot restaurant and a 6,500- to 7,000-square-foot location.
Last year, it also opened a fast casual concept called Golden Corral Favorites, but that store didn’t do as well as planned since customers came in expecting a full buffet experience, according to FSR Magazine. The concept closed earlier this year.
Golden Corral has been leaning into its value perception to drive guest frequency. During the summer, it launched its America $2.50 Value Deals, which includes a $2.50 Kids Weekend Breakfast Buffet, $2.50 beverages and $2.50 discounts on lunch and takeout orders, as part of its celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Those promotions are running through the end of this year.
