The 9 best buffets in Chicago

If there's one thing Chicagoans love, it's watching Vine videos of Derrick Rose not tearing any crucial ligaments. But if there are two things, it's that and buffets. Here are Chi's nine best.

Chi's Best Brunches
Flickr/Christian Sosa

<h2><a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/drink/chicago/bar/house-of-blues&quot; target="_blank">House of Blues</a></h2>

<em>River North</em><br />
There are exactly three things you need to know about HoB's Gospel Brunch: 1) traditional and contemporary gospel songs are personally selected by legendary gospel producer and artist Kirk Franklin, 2) there are carving stations, and 3) there are unlimited chicken and waffles.

<h2><a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/chicago/restaurants/staropolska-res…; target="_blank">Staropolska Restaurant</a></h2>

<em>Cragin</em><br />
If you've ever wondered what Polish heaven might look like, stop by Staropolska and step through the Smorgasbord Buffet's pearly gates. This all-you-can-eat-ery will ply you with infinity potato pancakes, pierogi, Polish sausages, kraut, etc., all for under $10. Whatever you do, also order&nbsp;infinity Okocim Polish beers.

Chi's Best Brunches
Flickr/jerone2

<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venues/eat/chicago/restaurants/fogo-de-chao&qu…; target="_blank">Fogo de Chão</a></h2>

<em>River North</em><br />
You had to know there was going to be a Brazilian steakhouse on this list, and if you knew that, you had to know said Brazilian steakhouse was going to be&nbsp;Fogo de Chão. The&nbsp;<em>buffet</em> buffet here is mostly just&nbsp;salad, cheese, potatoes, and assorted cold cuts THAT YOU SHOULD UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE WHATSOEVER EAT, but the actual buffet will be hand-delivered by dudes with crazy-good cuts of skewered meats that you should definitely under any circumstance eat.

<h2><a href="http://http//www.thrillist.com/venues/eat/chicago/restaurants/buffet-ci…; target="_blank">Buffet City</a></h2>

<em>West Lawn</em><br />
Seriously... the place is literally named&nbsp;Buffet&nbsp;City? Combine that with the fact that this is maybe the most comprehensive buffet in Chicago, and you've got yourself a "Best Buffet" winner. There's a Chinese station, a sushi bar, an American station, a Mexican station, and a zillion other stations that you can ransack for like $12. Bonus: it's in a K-Mart shopping center!

Chi's Best Brunches
Aurelio's Pizza

<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venues/eat/chicago/restaurants/aurelios-pizza-…; target="_blank">Aurelio's Pizza</a></h2>

<em>Addison</em><br />
Did someone say <em>pizza</em>&nbsp;buffet?? You're damn right we did. You're getting six lunchtime pies made using decades-old family recipes, hot entree options, cold salad options, soups, desserts, and a drink on the house, all for under $10. Pro tip: get some of the house-made Caesar salad dressing for pizza-dipping.

<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/chicago/restaurants/khan-bbq&quot; target="_blank">Khan BBQ</a></h2>

<em>West Ridge</em><br />
They don't normally offer a buffet line, but when it's iftar (the feast that follows Ramadan) and they do, you damn sure better be there. That's because it's like Pakistani food Christmas: chicken boti,&nbsp;chapli&nbsp;kabab, lamb biryani, sweet yellow rice, and crazy-good cold chickpeas, all from a spot that's best at what they do.

Chi's Best Brunches
Flickr/Christian Sosa

<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/chicago/restaurants/pearls-place.&qu…; target="_blank">Pearl's Place</a></h2>

<em>Bronzeville</em><br />
Ain't no party like an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet party, because an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet party&nbsp;don't stop (literally). But also because it includes omelets cooked to-order, morning meats galore (sausage links, bacon, salmon croquettes, Parker House spicy sausage), grits, French toast, scratch pancakes, and Pearl's famous buttermilk biscuits.

Cumin

<h2><a href="https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/chicago/restaurants/cumin&quot; target="_blank">Cumin</a></h2>

<em>Wicker Park</em><br />
The basket of naan alone is probably worth the $12, but we won't blame you if you wanna get in on <em>everything</em> at this authentic Wicker Park 70-seater's Nepalese lunch buffet, where you'll likely get ridiculously good saag with corn or paneer, tender tandoori chicken, and allllllll the samosas.

<h2><a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/chicago/restaurants/viceroy-of-india…; target="_blank">Viceroy of India</a></h2>

<em>West Ridge</em><br />
If you're looking for some awesome Indian buffet action, you're gonna want to head to Devon Ave, and then you're gonna want to head to Viceroy of India (or again, Khan -- they're literally two blocks apart). Unlimited butter chicken, succulent goat, and one of the best Indian desserts you'll ever have (gulab jamun in a pool of warm syrup) can all be yours again and again and again and again (and again) for just $10.<br />
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<em>Grant Marek is a Senior Editor at Thrillist and thinks there may not be a better usage of $10 than an all-you-can-eat buffet. Follow him <a href="https://twitter.com/grant_marek&quot; target="_blank">on Twitter</a>.</em>