The Top 3 Buffet Restaurants in America Are All in Amish Country
That’s according to the latest Top 10 list just released by USA Today, which pegs several Amish Country/PA Dutch-style buffets as the best in the country. The top three, in fact, are all in that category. In order, they are:
- Shady Maple Smorgasbord (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania)
- Der Dutchman (Sarasota, Florida)
- Miller’s Smorgasbord (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania)
And not only that, but a fourth Amish Country buffet – Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen (Mt. Hope, Ohio) – makes the list at #7.
While I’m maybe a bit surprised to see the Amish Country outlets dominating all three top spots, Shady Maple landing at number one is not exactly a surprise.
It’s long been a high-profile buffet, in part due to its sheer size and footprint on the heavily-touristed Lancaster County culinary landscape. Not to mention, it’s now been ranked No. 1 three years running on this list.
These awards are “nominated by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the United States”, by the way. So we’re ultimately getting the people’s voice here.
And methinks that’s just as it should be, when it comes to that American culinary institution, the beloved all-you-can-eat restaurant. No snooty judges’ verdicts here; the people, and their taste buds, have spoken.
Eating is one of the top activities when you go to Amish Country. That’s because the Amish, and greater PA Dutch culture, are known for their food. There is a strong positive association between the Amish and good homestyle cooking. Not to mention their bakery items, canned goods, and other treats.
The other restaurants in the top 10 are spread out around the country, and are not Amish-themed. But Amish-style cooking taking 40% of the top 10 is a pretty impressive feat. It suggests that Amish/PA Dutch cooking has a pretty firm grip on America’s popular dining scene, at least when it comes to the all-you-can-eat venue. Here’s the full top 10:
Full Top 10 Buffet Restaurant List – USA Today 2026 Reader Poll
- Shady Maple Smorgasbord (East Earl, Pennsylvania)
- Der Dutchman (Sarasota, Florida)
- Miller’s Smorgasbord (Ronks, Pennsylvania)
- Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store (Jackson, Tennessee)
- Jeong Won BBQ Buffet (San Diego, California)
- Terra Mediterranean (Fort Worth, Texas)
- Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen (Mt. Hope, Ohio)
- Michie Tavern (Charlottesville, Virginia)
- Tomato Café (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
- Cinzzetti’s Italian Feast (Overland Park, Kansas)
I admit I don’t really have the best grasp of all-you-can-eat buffet options, but I can say I’ve enjoyed the ones I’ve been to in Amish Country. For example, another one, albeit not on this list – Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant – I thought was very good.
And I’ve actually been to three of the four Amish-style places listed here (all except Miller’s), though I think I ordered off the menu at least at one of them, so can’t attest to the buffet quality.
I’ll also say it’s interesting getting an entry in Florida – not the prototypical “Amish Country” we think of, but certainly an Amish location, with the prominent Pinecraft community.
What do you think? Any other Amish Country favorites that could be up for this list?
See also:
- Amish Country: Where To Eat (5 Options)
- Lancaster County: 10 Amish-Style Restaurants For Your Next Visit
- Holmes County: 10 Amish-Style Restaurants For A Great Meal
- Northern Indiana: 10 Amish Country Restaurants Not To Miss
Das Dutchman Essenhaus
Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury, Indiana should have been #4. It is the largest in Indiana and is in the same class as Shady Maple in Lancaster (Blue Ball).
I think that Der Dutchman in Sarasota, Florida is actually a descendant of Das Dutchman Essenhaus – I think it is family – relatives (brother or son or nephew) who branched out from Middlebury, Indiana to start the one in Sarasota.
Yoders Arthur IL
Always special to eat at their delicious buffet and tour the gift shop.
Shady Maple is a tourist trap and not Amish.
Owned by a Mennonite family that destroyed the community feel so they could make money off of the mass of tourists. Entrances for tour buses? Yeah. No community feel. They just want the money.
Many in the community did not want them to build this place but the family wanted the money and destroyed the community feel.
You can’t say you are visiting “Amish Country” and at the same time go to places like this. The area is getting destroyed by over development and businesses like this.
Just a large buffet that is contrived. Customers are herded in like cattle and it is designed for tourists.
I’m surprised Mrs. Yoders Kitchen only made it to #7!! I’ve been there many times and have never been disappointed. Their fried chicken is the best! Oh well, Top Ten for the whole country is still good, lol.
My family and I visited Ohio a few years ago and ate at Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen in Mt. Hope on St. Patrick’s Day. We had the buffet, and the food was excellent—we still talk about it! Fun to see it made the top 10 list!