The Buffet
Buffet restaurant · San Diego County ·

The Buffet

Buffet restaurant · San Diego County ·

Lobster, prime rib, crab legs, vast dessert bar

lobster tails
prime rib
crab legs
desserts
friendly staff
all you can eat
clam chowder
ice cream
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null
The Buffet by null

Information

16300 Nyemii Pass Rd, Valley Center, CA 92082 Get directions

$50–100

See Menu
Usually a wait
Restroom
Accepts reservations
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner

Information

Static Map

16300 Nyemii Pass Rd, Valley Center, CA 92082 Get directions

+1 760 291 5500
valleyviewcasino.com
@ValleyViewCasinoAndHotel
𝕏
@VVCasinoHotel

$50–100 · Menu

Features

•Usually a wait
•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Good for groups
•Good for solo dining
•Touristy

Last updated

Jan 14, 2026

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2026 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@eater
391,688 Postcards · 10,991 Cities

Masso Osteria Lands a New Chef, General Manager | Eater Vegas

"I note that Jonathan Bauman has taken over as executive chef of The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas; he joined Wynn in 2008, has held numerous positions including chef de partie and assistant executive chef for the resort, previously oversaw in‑room dining, and briefly served as chef de cuisine of in‑room dining at the Cosmopolitan." - Susan Stapleton

https://vegas.eater.com/2018/3/29/17175002/chef-shuffles-las-vegas-2018
The Buffet
@postcardnews
22,027 Postcards · 1,950 Cities

Run by the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, this nightly Maine lobster buffet delivers table-served tails, prime rib, crab legs, and a vast dessert bar. A local favorite for celebratory feasts across the county.

https://www.valleyviewcasino.com/dining/the-buffet/
Best Buffets in San Diego (2025)
The Buffet

Daniel E.

Google
So I’m not much of a gambler- But I’m thinking about becoming one here so I can go to this buffet more often. Anyone who says anything negative about this buffet Has unresolved issues- And I would recommend a heavy dose of gratefulness- The service is amazingly fast, considering that there constantly serving 20 people at a time- The food is almost too good- What I mean by that is.. Most places have something they do well- If it’s a great place, maybe there’s a handful of things but the truth is is that everything here is incredible- I’m sure you could find a few exceptions- But why? Is it expensive if you don’t have points? Yes, Is there a long wait? Of course, anything good has a long wait - But it isn’t too bad & you pay for what you get right here but you’re amazing- This is such a blessing to eat here. The food is incredible. Shoot, even the coffee was good! I think you should gamble your life savings away so you can get a black card- And a whole bunch of these free buffets!

Vong L.

Google
Good place for decent dining buffet style with main focus on lobster tail and primerib.. Waiters bring the foods to you and only 3-4 items can be ordered at a time. $7 tip per person.

TC F.

Google
I read the reviews and the one that really made my head spin, was the “individual” (I’m trying to be nice here) who was opposed to servers bringing you your food. She preferred that the public be allowed to touch the serving spoons and God knows what else, with their germy little hands. Where was she raised? In a jungle? I’m sorry, but anyone who pays attention in public bathrooms, not everyone washes their hands, and only 1/2 of those who do, do so for longer than five seconds. For the love of God and baby koalas, please let the servers serve us! They are quick, efficient, have an eye for detail, and prevent idiots from spilling food everywhere walking around with overflowing plates. If you’re hungry after four courses, you can have them bring you more food. It’s called a BUFFET for a reason. All you can eat. Duh, “individual.” Is her name Karen? I’ve been there a couple of times now. The prime rib is delicious and their mashed potatoes are better than Grandma’s, but don’t tell Granny that! I really enjoyed the grilled asparagus and cauliflower. The salad is on hit, and mom loved her clam chowder. They have something for everyone. Italian to Mexican to seafood and southern fried chicken. Take your pick over and over again without the public’s grubby little fingers on the serving spoons and tongs. Enjoy your meal without catching someone else’s germs. 😂 Dessert is all over the place in options from various pies, cookies, ice cream. I had cheesecake the first day and second visit I enjoyed apple pie and a bowl of fresh berries. Mom had their lemon meringue tart. Next time I’ll go for the ice cream. Maybe their white chocolate bread pudding? You can never go wrong with ice cream. Or chocolate mousse. Or bread pudding. Hmmm. Maybe all of it? It is a buffet after all. They got five stars because eight wasn’t an option. A note about the guy who wrote about the men’s room: Uh, yeah it’s a men’s room where men fail to aim. What’s new? You’ll see that everywhere. The women’s room is so clean, you could eat off the sink. Not that you would, but it really comes down to gender and upbringing. Sorry about your luck. Not everyone can be born female to grow up and be a lady. Hahaha.

Irwin A - Top 10% Google R.

Google
So we came to the buffet at Valley for the 1st time on a Wednesday night. It was a good two hour wait but so worth it. I like to travel and love buffets, so I've been to many in Vegas and all around. And this one just jumped into 1st place as my favorite. The system they got here is very effective where you have a server that brings you whatever you want. They are fast & very friendly. The food is all delicious and cooked perfectly. The lobster is the specialty, I recommend the spicy and the garlic butter. The dessert menu is also huge. The portions are just perfect. Definitely will be returning!!

Abraham H.

Google
We had no wait time on a weekday. Our food arrived quite timely. I'm glad everyone in our party had a great meal. I enjoyed my burger. My party also had steak and an order of bone-in wings. For dessert they also had a chocolate Sunday appropriate for 2 servings. Overall everything was good.

Joe M M.

Google
Valley View Casino & Resort has the best Buffet of all the casinos in Southern California, for twenty years been enjoy the delicious foods they have to offer. There are so many delicious dishes to choose from all-you can eat lobster, crab legs, prime rib, barbecue ribs, fried chicken…so many items to choose there’s also Asian, Mexican, American dishes and enormous selection of desserts. When you visit..you will experience the best service from the world class host/servers bringing all the delicious food you order and will be well taken care of and with that special service you will definitely feel like a winner. There is some waiting times depending of the day and time you visit The Buffet. Before the pandemic you able to serve yourself getting your food but now the fantastic servers take your order and bring whatever you order to you at your table. Also the buffet updated their entry procedures that you have to be a club member blue card holder and above with the advantages of receiving two free buffets a month. Though it’s still all you can eat buffet,great food, great service and great people. The Buffet is very clean, and very nice atmosphere. I would highly recommend you eat at this buffet it’s well worth thee experience,

Steven H.

Google
2025 Thanks Giving dinner Turkey was very bland to our family unfortunately. When I got my turkey I thought it was pulled pork for second. I don't know if its because we didn't arrive early enough to get the good cuts? It was around 730pm. Also service brought us our entree and some of the food were missing making us wait about 15 min more to get the correct ones.

Nette R.

Google
Been here many times for the lobster buffet. Whenever I dined here the line is not too long. I remember not wanting to eat the lobster as I preferred crab legs instead. The lobster tails do look a bit small and I remember once when i did not like the taste. The crab legs on the other hand is cut open for you and more desirable for me. The selection of food is good but nothing great. Also, not too many choices on the hand carved meats. When i was there last, They were serving Prime Rib and sausage. Possibly it's the timing and they were getting more meat. Now, our server, meh, I've had much better. He barely came around and our plates were stacking up. When I asked for something from him he had a funny stare. If you're in the area give them a try. For me, I'd go elsewhere.
google avatar

Mike C.

Yelp
why do they call this "The Buffet" still? This isn't a buffet anymore. This used to be a great spot before the pandemic, but like a lot of other places, they've used that as an excuse to completely remove any sort of benefit to the customers. You don't really have a buffet what you have is a server that will show up every now and then and take your order for a limited number of things that they will bring you and maybe they'll show up again. The beauty of a buffet is that you can go up and grab whatever you want whenever you want. If they wanted to call this place all you can eat, OK. But it's definitely not a buffet. The food quality has gone way down, which is crazy considering I used to come here when it was an actual buffet and you don't expect much but it was great. Now that it's actually being prepared and plated for you in the kitchen? Everything is awful. The wait is incredibly long and don't even get me started on how complicated it is to get to a blue status in order to get into a buffet that you just wanna give them money and eat. Don't waste your time on this place. It's really sad because it was the only real reason to go to Valley View. I'm sure they're gonna see this in their bottom line that they're making more money on the buffet, but they're having a lot fewer customers walking through the doors to the casino.
google avatar

Jasmine D.

Yelp
Waited 3 hours until our pager went off. Waited an additional 20+ minutes in line to pay and be seated. There is an automatic $7 charge per person, supposedly for gratuity. Our party of 5 was split and seated at two different tables, and we had different servers. At first, our server was friendly and quick to take our order for soup/salad and first round of entrees (the menu is the table placemat, and you get to choose 4 items per round). She never returned to check up on us while we were eating; and we kept trying to flag her down and get her attention. We ended up asking other servers for things such as butter and lemon for our lobster tails & crab legs. Those were very much needed, as the crab legs were pre-cut and DRY AF. When our assigned server finally got to our table, she said the kitchen was closing and asked if we still wanted to order food...duh of course we did. Food taste and quality is not as good as it was before. My sisters who were at an adjacent table had already finished eating and were waiting for me. An employee that had just finished clearing/bussing a nearby table, dropped her tray, and a dirty plate full of trash and food fell on my sister's back. My poor sister had some sort of food residue/remnants on her back & clothing. Though the employee apologized, we felt like she could have done more; but we did not bother to escalate the situation and decided to leave.
google avatar

Janice A.

Yelp
I give this buffet 5 stars. Because I don't go here often but I forget you get your moneys worth especially if you love to eat. The have a huge variety. Food is good quality and the lobsters are amazing! I love all the dishes I tried. Service is great and it's packed but you feel good cause of the comfort welcoming vibe. I actually enjoy the service instead of going up and getting food.
google avatar

Andrea H.

Yelp
Very interesting buffet, you have a server and order off of the menu. Then the items are brought to you. Some of the food was OK. The lobster was rubbery and did not taste fresh. The dessert items were my favorite, but I am just biased towards sweets. Honestly, I think this buffet is mid-tier and lack quality dishes. The appetizer for the table was a bag of tortilla chips with cheese/salsa... Definitely enjoy Morongo's buffet more!
google avatar

Ray S.

Yelp
This was not a true "buffet". After checking in we had to wait almost two hours. When we were texted to show up with our entire party of four, we had to wait another half an hour. Our drink orders were taken before being seated at the table. Upon arriving at the table we were served tortilla chips, guacamole and salsa. Not a very pleasant presentation with the chips still sealed in the packaging. We had to place your order four items at a time with a server. Our server was Jose. The ambiance was decent with big screen televisions showing random food items on the menu. On the screens were featured such dishes as lobster tail, prime rib and osso buco. And then randomly butter, ice tea and cookies. The lobster tail was tough and salty. So salty that I didn't even use the butter. I ordered white meat for the fried chicken and it was almost inedible. Although it was nicely seasoned, it was super dry as if it were sitting under a heat lamp for hours. Being it was lunar new year they had several "Asian Inspired" on the menu. The char siu BBQ looked pale and lacked flavor and seasoning. The gochujang glazed Korean smoked pork ribs were the opposite. Too much seasoning and salty as well. The same with the dynamite wings. The dim sum basket tasted blah. The dumplings and shumai were overcooked. I could have gotten better and fresher Chinese food at Panda Express. Disclaimer: I rarely eat at Panda Express haha. The other items were not even worth writing about. Valley View please step up your game with "The Buffet" otherwise I would rather go to the Black & Blue Steakhouse or Patties and Pints. Or better yet I would Harrah's which is less than ten minutes away. Harrah's has Hell's Kitchen and far superior dining experiences.
google avatar

Char B.

Yelp
The one thing that is great from here and will always be is the lobster. They usually give 1-2 at a time. The soup is good. Everything else the quality just completely sucks. The cookies are hard as a rock. It also seems that they changed a lot of their menu over the years. Staff is nice.. some of them. As for ambiance there is a lot of seating. Honest better to go to another restaurant if u wanna eat at the casino.
google avatar

Historical P.

Yelp
Misleading. Seriously rename this to something else. This is NOT a buffet. Long wait times for a salad. A salad! And I asked for rare prime rib. What is this? Mandatory tip? No wonder, service is bad. Good ambiance though.
google avatar

Jenny V.

Yelp
All the food was delicious. I ordered so much food and enjoyed each dish. The food was well flavored and service was fast. The staff was very friendly and helpful. This is the Buffet to go to!!
google avatar

Brandy S.

Yelp
If I could give it negative starts I would! It's not a buffet style, which is disappointing. We were on the waiting list took 1.5hrs. Then waited in line and another 30mins to get a table. Then waited about ten minutes (I timed it with my phone) just to get a drink order. Then waited about 15 minutes just to order food and our drinks haven't arrived. It was just a shit show. One of the servers just threw down the lava cake, and was told that the kitchen will be closed in 20 mins. Food was cold due to long wait times. Never got my second order of drinks, only had a plate and half to eat cause the restaurant is closing. And the food not to par being the best. The best of what? The BEST of wasting your time. Felt rush to order, service was shit. The tip is already included on the ticket. Never ever coming back to this buffet. The Casino itself was good, the staff helpful. If you want crappy food , long wait times then this is for you.
google avatar

Alisa K.

Yelp
I went here in December 2023 and am just now getting around to writing this but yes very memorable experience. Not sure if it's bc of Covid but it's not a help yourself buffet. The waiter comes to your table and takes your order for each round. Service can be slow especially because the buffet is always packed but the waitresses try their best to get your food hot. There's some rules to ordering that I can't remember but there's a few things that were amazing. Lobster tails Alaskan crab Soft shell crab Beef birria Peanut butter cookie Pistachio ice cream

Ruben L.

Yelp
Came for the first time since it reopened after the pandemic. Both my parents & I got food poisoning and sick literally right after we were done eating. Don't think I'll ever eat at this buffet again. It use to be so good years ago when you can serve yourself. I recommend Patties & Pints much better.
google avatar

Marie T.

Yelp
Good food, friendly attentive staff. Carving , pasta stations, raw bar and smoked salmon all good as are desserts with chocolate fountain and soft self serve, Salads and veg are just ok
google avatar

Arnel D.

Yelp
Long gone are the days where you can truly enjoy the buffet/all you can eat experience. With that being said, this is as good as it gets in terms of being as close to the experience as it was pre pandemic. Hosts, wait staff and servers work diligently and are very friendly. They do need to bring in more staff though as it is the elephant in the dining room. Food is still good just missing a few items that I used to love. Like the avocado halves with lemon or lime or even the chilled crab legs and last but not least, the oysters! Regardless, this place is still worth the visit. Las Vegas Style Dining where you definitely like a VIP. Kudos to Juan, Jin, JJ and Thalia for the excellent service. As well as the rest of the crew we didn't see or interact with since they make the magic work from behind the scenes. I'll be back for sure. Win, lose oe draw - I feel like a winner the moment I leave the buffet.

Yoshiro S.

Yelp
The variety of dishes was excellent and the flavors were very satisfying. The tables were spaced well apart from other guests, and I felt it offered better value than the famous high-end buffets I've tried in Las Vegas.
google avatar

Gary N.

Yelp
According to my check in, I had been here 32 times, but combine with all the previous times I went before I got on Yelp, it was probably countless, and I already mentioned all the pros and cons of the food quality with the service, after an incident last month, I wrote my lengthy feedbacks to the casino, they responded to it and agreed that there should be some changes, I am glad they did, I am very thankful now for how they treated my uncle grandpa and me, shout to to the buffet staffs Jackie, Chris and everyone from the team. We will visit here again and again.
google avatar

Richard H.

Yelp
A whole new way to Buffet they turned a Buffet to an All you can eat. Fascinating..the future has arrived pricey for a Buffet that is an order your plates restaurant 49 dollars plus 7 dollar tip. The atmosphere is the same casino type area the servers are prime order the Maine lobster is delicious.
google avatar

Ryan M.

Yelp
I've been coming to Valley View Casino and The Buffet for many years. I remember when we could self serve, or pick our own food. Since the Pandemic, Valley View Casino has restricted guests from picking the food, but having servers do it for them. Guests can only pick 4 items at a time for each plate. Starters, Main Course or dessert. It does not matter. 4 items per round (plate). I think the Prime rib and Alaskan King Crab legs are the stars of the buffet, but I also have a liking to Clam chowder soup. The creamy soup with the right amount of spices and numerous clams and potatoes and is really good. I also like having my soup with a bunch of soup crackers. The desserts are good. You can have Pie slices of Apple, Cherry, and Pumpkin. also Cookies, Creme Brulee and Jello. But I think their top Dessert Item is the Ice Cream. My Favorite is their Black Cherry ice cream. The cherry is perfect not too sweet and not bland. Just right. You can have ice cream in a bowl, or cone (with a bowl) or with sundae toppings. The Buffet at Valley View Casino and Resort is good, but I do wish we could pick our own food. Other recommended Items: Mac and Cheese, Seafood Pastry, Roasted Cauliflower

Steven G.

Yelp
Terribly overpriced used to be one of the top buffets for casinos now it's the worst they don't give you any kind of discounts in any restaurant or food court item why you're here gambling my wife and I and family will never come back to this casino. Customer service is horrible.

joseph D.

Yelp
The chicken is Dry the lobster was good the clam chowder was also very good the service was great.thank you. The prime rib was raw but they brought us a new one much better.
google avatar

Joy J.

Yelp
I've come to this buffet at least 3 or 4 times now. My homie always gets comps so we roll together with other friends when they can go. You just have to pay $5 each to tip the servers. I never ate here pre-covid but back then you were allowed to help yourself to the buffet line. My first time here was probably some 3 months ago. At that time, you were seated after you paid and then they have the employees serve you. The menus are laid out on the table for each person. You can order up to 4 items at a time. The server then brings you what you want and you just keep ordering that way until you can't hang anymore. Personally, I like that they serve you and would prefer they keep it going this way even after covid. The selection here is pretty good. They always have a variety of appetizers and entrées, as well as desserts and drinks. The one thing that you can't get here is alcoholic drinks. You have to buy it at the bar and then bring it with you inside the buffet area. I'm knocking off a star for that alone because... #AlchiLife! One time we went with my homie's parents. His mom happens to be a black card holder and with that comes privileges. There's a separate line for black card holders that gets you in faster than the regular line. They also get specialty items on the menu that are not available to regulars. That was a neat experience! My faves are the oysters, shrimp cocktail, Alaskan king crab legs, lobster tails and the prime rib!! It's always cooked to perfection and soooooo good with the au jus! Sometimes if they are short staffed, you'll have to wait a good while to get your food. I think the first time I came, it was just the 2 of us and we waited a long time to get our food. The next time when we had a party of 5, there were more servers so we got our food faster. My last visit was for my birthday and our server was so gracious and took the time to make me a special birthday cheesecake! It was divine!! Thank you, Angela!! Servers are wonderful here and are very friendly. They try their best to be quick but with all of the patrons they get, you have to be patient. I recommend coming here if you have time to spare and want a good variety of food. I've not really had any of their pastas but I might indulge next time! The food is always delish and the guac and salsa that comes with the bag of Tostitos is amazing and always fresh!! Give it a shot & enJOY!! ;)
google avatar

Julie D.

Yelp
As it was quite busy on a Sunday night, we waited ~4 hours from the time we put our name on the waiting list. This buffet is different from others in that it is more restaurant style where you place orders in rounds (unlimited), choosing up to 4 items at a time per person, and staff brings the food to your table. Service was consistent throughout and we were able to place orders/ receive food in a timely manner considering how busy it was. Food was overall satisfactory, but nothing memorable. Large selection so I was able to enjoy my picks and nibble on other varieties chosen by my family. Though a very few items were a miss, my standouts were the lobster, soft shell crab, beef birria, pistachio baklava, and black cherry ice cream! Get that lobster on every round to make it worth! I wouldn't go out of my way for the buffet, but it was still an enjoyable dining experience with the varieties of foods.
google avatar

Freeman K.

Yelp
For those who haven't been back since Covid, they've changed to ordering system: You choose what you want via the food mat/menu and the waiter/ess will take your order. Food ranges from Lobster to sushi to pastas and everything else. Sometimes the lobster tails you get don't look the most fresh, but if you aren't picky, it all still tastes good anyways. After about the 3rd round, you're about done. Overall, pretty clean and spacious. Only catch is that in order to dine there, you have to have a next tier card. If you don't play enough, you aren't allowed to dine sadly.
google avatar

Helen S.

Yelp
I can barely write this review because I am SO FULL! First time to the buffet at Valley View casino, and it did not disappoint! I am a fan :) This buffet is now served to you, in the form of ordering up to 4 items per "round" not counting soup and salad (I ordered a Caesar, but my family ordered the seafood bisque, which they all loved and said had a lot of seafood in it!) I started my entrees with garlic lobster fried rice, shrimp tempura, salmon and mac n cheese. Round 2, crab Louie and desserts, Boston cream cake, black cherry and strawberry ice cream. All 4 items came on the same plate, smaller but perfectly sized portions especially if you plan on trying a lot of things. Pace yourself! You'll need to to get through this extensive menu, which is also displaying on the TV screens throughout the restaurant. Garlic lobster fried rice was just right! Light flavor, good sized pieces of lobster throughout with cubed carrots and not fried too hard. Shrimp tempura came with 4 pieces, lightly fried in batter and delicious. I thought the sauce was way too sweet (very tangy/pineapple-y) but the shrimp is enjoyable without it. Salmon - my favorite part. This salmon is served over a bed of quinoa, a nice light glaze on it, absolutely full of flavor and the perfect portion to finish with room. Mac n cheese - cavatappi in a thick, creamy cheese sauce topped with crunchy breadcrumbs. For you cheese heads like me, it is more of the Velveeta type than cheddar, but it is hearty and I'd order it again. Crab Louie - Another fav I wasn't expecting! This dish is plated so intentionally I had to take a pic. Gently shredded crab atop avocado in a small circular stack, surrounded by drizzles of sauce and split cherry (?) tomatoes. Almost too pretty to eat. Boston cream cake - Mmmm... Sweet tooth was feeling mild tonight and this hit the spot. Topped with a dark chocolate frosting, and fluffy cream between two slices of buttery soft cake accented with a swirl chocolate straw is now permanently on my order list from here. Not reviewing the ice cream because I had no room left and didn't finish it! Ordered a scoop of each: black cherry, strawberry. Also good, real milk ice cream. I also took pics of everyone else's food and labeled what it was for reference so, take a weekend night, an empty stomach and try this place out!
google avatar

Sharon B.

Yelp
What happened to the actual buffet at the Valley View? Post Covid they went down and now it's not even a buffet. It's a shame that they have to serve you instead of you being able to enjoy the buffet. Last time we went there was months ago, rude rude server, food was awful, I basically ate nothing but a few pieces of asparagus or whatever it was, service was horrible. We used to go there every weekend but no more. Won't go back and won't even bother. I'd rather eat at a restaurant than this buffet. The name is super misleading. It's not a buffet. Yikes
google avatar

John S.

Yelp
The Buffet rules are idiotic. Waste of time to wait in line for the cashier to tell us you need a players card to eat here. Not only that, you need a higher tiered players card to eat here. 'We don't take red tier(lowest), must be higher tier.' Wtf kind of casino discriminates for a buffet? You're making money regardless. So silly I will never come here again. On top of that the wait is 4 hours. Don't waste your time. Go somewhere else. Wish I could give 0 stars.

Gilbert M.

Yelp
Immaculate facility to include the restrooms and parking lots. Excellent site security. Delicious foods. The buffet is adjacent to the none-smoking wing of the Casino. Customer-service oriented staff. A highly recommended place to visit.
google avatar

Gary M.

Yelp
We enjoy coming here. The food is really very good. Not great, but very good. The lobsters are small but the good thing is, you can order as much as you like. (Two at a time) The service is fast and accurate. We have always had a good experience when eating at this buffet. The staff is friendly and kind. They make good suggestions when needed. If you are in the area, you should try it. Just try not to lose too much money on the way in. Hard to do. Enjoy!
google avatar

Paul I.

Yelp
This buffet is absolutely tasty and it's good to be able to see one of the rare buffets that is open during COVID-19. I like the changed format for the sit down style where are you choose from the menu at your table. It's nice that the server will take your order of four items at a time, but the problem is that most of the time it takes a while for them to bring the food up. But then again it is kind of nice to pace yourself for a Buffet With how slowly the food comes out. Too bad for them that it's not faster because they should be able to turn over tables more quickly and more efficiently.
google avatar

Jeff B.

Yelp
Visit #2 to the "New way to Buffet" at Valley View Casino and wow - what a difference! Everything was much quicker tonight, and our server JJ was incredible. Moving fast and making sure we had everything we needed. He was doing everything a good waiter should. I noticed more people paid attention to us this time, meaning drinks delivered super fast, food was brought to us quicker, and our table was cleared before dessert was delivered. The also seemed to be limiting the number of people waiting in line, but it caused people to bunch out before the rope. We're not still good at social distancing ourselves while waiting,
google avatar

Michael R.

Yelp
Ambiance: None Very loud, not all bad as some laughing and having a great time Service: only one word... Exhalent Food: Lobster, Crab legs are great. Hot and miss on crab Louie mash potatoes, shrimp and scallops. Also tried the coconut shrimp
google avatar

Veronica C.

Yelp
Unfortunate for new comers to Casino your money is no good to eat at the buffet unless you are a upper level card holder. You are turned away for being new to the casino or have recently returned to it with prior status and are now a lower level card holder. The buffet is not 5 star and I personally have not experienced this anywhere before. It's truly a shame a lot of people were being turned away from having a meal. I'm very curious how newcomers getting this kind of experience at this establishment are likely to return. So for anyone who plans on eating at the buffet in this casino. Think again before you head out. Unless you have visited before and have spent a chunk of your wages and are upper level cardholder. Good luck. I hope this is helpful to someone... One star was given because I couldn't post it with No star!
google avatar

Nette B.

Yelp
Been here many times for the lobster buffet. Whenever I dined here the line is not too long. I remember not wanting to eat the lobster as I preferred crab legs instead. The lobster tails do look a bit small and I remember once when i did not like the taste. The crab legs on the other hand is cut open for you and more desirable for me. The selection of food is good but nothing great. Also, not too many choices on the hand carved meats. When i was there last, There was Prime Rib and sausage. Possibly it's the timing and they were getting more meat. Now, our server, meh, I've had much better. He barely came around and our plates were stacking up. When I asked for something from him he had a funny stare. If you're in the area give them a try. For me, I'd go elsewhere.
google avatar

Joanna B.

Yelp
You can only eat here if you have a higher tier players card(blue or above). Since Covid this buffet has turned into a sit down style ayce. We came on lobster night and it was packed. The trick is to come right when they start handing out pagers at 3pm. You can order up to four items each round but only one order of lobster per round. They start you off with chips and dip while you wait for your first round. Overall the food was decent and service was just ok.
google avatar

Ramil M.

Yelp
It's a 50/50.. service not so good unless you're lucky. I'm here with me wifey sitting for 15 mins for a dessert order I could've gotten myself. 10/16 @ 2015hr Food hasn't changed much, too oversized portions; thought buffets were little here and there. Just got my ice cream.. whaddya know.. it's wrong. Wish they could just bring back the old way like Vegas.
google avatar

Maria D.

Yelp
All you can eat lobster tails, Yum!! Two at a time and usually on the small side but you can go back as many times as you want. The lobster tails can be a hit or miss. We been have here before when they are nice and juicy and other times when they have been a bit on the dry side. But it's all you can eat lobster so can't complain ;). Ask for butter if you want. They also have shrimp boil by the lobster. They have a good variety of international foods, a carving station, salads, soups and desserts. Since it is too many dishes to review, I will mention a few of my favorites: They also change up the menu now and then so these dishes are there sometimes and sometimes not. The Chinese food section has a yummy eggplant dish that is so delish! Ribs in the carving station is good. On the veggies, you can't go wrong with their flavorful asparagus and broccolini. The salmon is moist but sometimes dry too. The Mexican food has awesome Birria with tender meat. Their crabs are served cold but you can request to have them heated if you want (by the Chinese food section). Their sushi is ok. They have many assortment of desserts and I do like their fresh fruit selection. They also have a good selection of ice cream flavors (Mango Sorbet and Sea Salt caramel is my favorite!). For drinks, they have a good selections of sodas, juice, coffee and tea. I usually get a cranberry, pineapple and orange juice drink (all together in one glass) with lots of ice. Sweet and refreshing! The servers are friendly. For the price of the buffet, it is not bad for all you can eat especially with lobster and crab.
google avatar

Larry E.

Yelp
Wow, yet another terrible experience! My sister in-law, who is an elite member, that goes to gamble and buffet multiple times a month, invited us to join her for buffet. So we drove the 50 minutes to join her. Patricia, the cashier told her to just seat and pay for us when we arrived. So when we arrived, my sister in-law came out and payed for us with her points card. We went in and seated. The nice waitress, Michelle, took our drink order but moments later some buffet manager, Ramon, shows up barking at us that we cannot sit together and had to leave. He refused to listen and when I tried to speak he yelled at me that he was talking with my sister in-law not me. After some arguing, he went and got Patricia who managed to conveniently forget she had told my sister in-law to just pay for us when we got there. When we started asking for his supervisor and for them to look at the video, Ramon decided to "graciously" allow us to stay...this time. We told him we didn't appreciate him making a scene and talking to us this way and we still wanted his supervisor and he just walked away from us. We managed to eat, thank you Michelle, but thanks to the incredibly rude, unprofessional and frankly aggressive behavior from Ramon, Valley view has now lost my sister in-law as a patron as well as us. Since this isn't the first time we've had such an issue, maybe Valley View should train their employees in professionalism and customer service.
google avatar

Rodney G.

Yelp
Today was a good day to try our luck at our favorite casino at Valley View. Afterwards, we decided to use our food credits at The Cafe restaurant near the Buffet area. The Cafe usually have a short wait time like 1 hour or less and the food is delicious. I want to thank all the staff and managers for all their hard work and efforts in making sure our lunch experience was a great one. A special thanks to Jovanna our server that made us feel right at home. My NY Sirloin Steak was cooked to perfection. It was very juicy and seasoned perfectly. My girlfriend 's food Pad Thai shrimp dish was also very good. The Cafe have easily become one of our favorite places to eat when at Valley View. There are a variety of things from breakfast, lunch and dinner to order. Definitely, bring your appetite. This is must try here Yelpers, if you decide to visit Valley View Casino. Enjoy .
google avatar

Elizabeth S.

Yelp
They do have a good selections of salads - Caesar, iceburg wedge salad, mixed lettuce with various dressings and sides to add to your salad. The soup selection is good too, usually 6 and they change it. They do make hot and sour soup, tortilla soup, chili, clam chowder, posole and menudo ( I think) and other varieties. Their fried chicken next to the carving station is great as well. The pieces are big, usually the wings and drumsticks are gone first. I like that they slice the crab legs in half so there is no need to crack them open yourself. Their lobster tails are good as well - sweet and plump, just ask for melted butter from your server. They have stuffed lobsters next to it but it can be overcooked. They have a carving station of roasted turkey and prime rib au jus and creamy horseradish sauce; you can ask for them to cook it more to your tastes. I like mine as it is, though you can see it annoys the carver to be asked to cook the prime rib more to the point it's leathery and overcooked. They have a large selections of desserts, they do carry my favorites - chocolate lava cake, crème brûlée, chocolate covered strawberries, pumpkin pie, freshly cut watermelon chunks, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, and strawberries. They also have several tubs of ice cream that you can take to-go with a cone. The line can be a very long wait, though if you stay at the hotel they can give you a pass at the front desk if you ask.
google avatar

Steven F.

Yelp
The service has improved significantly since this visit, including the server in question. Props to the team!
google avatar

Dee Dee R.

Yelp
HORRIBLE! I'm here now and still unable to dine at THE BUFFET because I have a BLACK CARD. I guess they don't like a whole lot of people at the buffet. It's been how many years, ph yeah 3. Not a whole lot of options for dining at VALLEY VIEW, I wish everybody else better luck than me! Dee Dee
google avatar

Janelle C.

Yelp
Went to eat there last week with family and would not go back. First, gratuity is mandatory and automatically included when you pay, which is fine. But after the whole dining experience, this buffet is not worth the price. The biggest gripe we had is the time it takes for servers to come back to take our orders. Their system is not good since you get a different server each time so you don't know who to call. It's just whoever that decides to serve you when they pass by. We request some melted butter and lemon for our lobsters and it took 30 whole minutes to get it leaving our lobsters cold. If this is the way they want to do it where customers don't serve themselves, they should have a better system where servers have their own section to take care of and have more servers available so that ordering don't take forever. Will not be coming back and would not recommend.
google avatar

Alexandra B.

Yelp
This review is not for the casino itself- just the buffet. And boy is it disappointing. Food: mediocre at best. No seasoning, overcooked and wait time is ridiculous its not worth it. After a 2 hour wait we finally got sat down and got Zayumi as our server. She seemed annoyed from the start. It started off with her asking for a soup or salad. One of us chose a salad and the other a soup. She asked my boyfriend at the table if he wanted either- he said no . She then asked him "do you want to start your main courses then ". He said no thanks he needs a few minutes. A few minutes go and we ordered our main dishes for the first round. He noticed he was missing one of the items; which was a chicken mole missing from his dishes he ordered. A few minutes later, a different server comes by my boyfriend and says "you ordered the chicken soup?". He seemed confused and said "no its not mine". The woman looks behind at our server Zayumi who was helping someone else, confused . Zayumi starts pointing and loudly says "no (enough for us to hear) he ordered it !" and looking at my boyfriend angrily. Us confused we were thinking we did not... as she had asked him prior if he wanted to start his main courses since he didn't want a soup or salad. After that incident she just kept giving us dirty looks like we did something wrong. We tried to shrug it off no biggie. We never got refills and at one point I had my glass empty and they just took it... without asking if I wanted more water. Just snatched it up and left. I wanted to ask for another water and Zayumi was with the table next to us and never really addressed us the whole night. She checked on us once for the second round but thats about it and I had to ask someone else for a water. Eventually she comes back and asks if we want anything else. I asked for a chocolate chip cookie and she said okay and writes it on her order slip things. Over 20 minutes go buy and a different server guy comes (didnt get his name) nicely asked "would you all care for desserts, any ice cream?" . I said we ordered a cookie a while ago but its alright. He asked if he could get us one- we declined and said its fine we're okay now. While the guy was talking to us we can see Zayumi looking at our direction. 2 seconds after the guy leaves, she comes back and asks us if we want any dessert . like what lmaoo???? Bad experience with a horrible server. My mom loves this place (not sure why but bless her heart) and the night really bummed her out
google avatar

Danny M.

Yelp
They exceeded all expectations! The diverse selection of dishes was not only extensive but also exceptionally well-prepared. From fresh salads to flavorful main courses and decadent desserts, every item showcased quality and attention to detail. The staff was attentive and friendly, ensuring a pleasant dining experience. The ambiance was inviting, and the cleanliness of the buffet area was impressive. Whether you're a food enthusiast or just looking for a delightful meal, this buffet is a definite five-star destination!

Bexington R.

Yelp
Look up the definition of a buffet and you will find this: "a meal consisting of several dishes from which guests serve themselves." This is not a Buffet, this is just table service. The point of going to a buffet is seeing the food, seeing what is appetizing to you, serving yourself the amount of food you want, whether it be a little bit or a lot. I am really tired of this set up. There are no pictures of most of the food items. You don't get to decide how much of something you want. You have to wait for everything. Wait to get asked what you want to drink, wait to have someone come take your order, wait for the food to come, wait for another server to check and see if you want to order anything else. Lets say you want to try something new so you only want to get a little bit of it and see if you like it and then gets some more if you do. You can't you're stuck with it until a server comes back to check on you. 2 stars because (1) the experience is nothing like a buffet should be. and (2) The food is hit and miss often. The deserts are pretty good and so are the soups and pasta's, but the asian food offerings are not that good. You ask for bread and for some reason you get coffee cake included with it. If you ask for lobster like the kind shown on the TV with the sprinkles of pepper and green onion then you better be a big spender cause otherwise you're going to get some rubbery tepid crustacean that tastes like it was boiled in an aquarium. PLEASE! I cannot stress this enough. if you're not going to improve the food at the very least bring back the self service.
google avatar

DanMich S.

Yelp
If I could give negative stars I would! Specifically drove all the way out here to have the Buffet and was turned away. We used to eat here all the time but apparently they've changed their regulations to where only people with their players card with level blue and above are allowed entrance to eat! We're red level. We have been here regularly pre-Covid. We're not big gamblers so we don't earn points regularly but we've eaten here a lot and have gambled a bit afterwards. Even when they took away the players club discount, we still returned time and again happily paying full price for multiple people. The next worst thing (besides wasting our time and gas getting here) that we asked for a manager. We waited quite some time only for the clerk to return without a manager, to relay the message that they are not making any exceptions. Isn't it the buffet manager's job to deal with the public? They couldn't even be bothered to come and speak to us face-to-face. We're done with Valley View! There's no reason for us to return here. Beware if you come! If you don't have the points you don't get to eat the buffet.
google avatar

Natalya D.

Yelp
My family loves to gamble and loves seafood. So yesterday we all gathered for my grandmas 84th birthday at the casino and celebrated her at the buffet. We have been coming here as a family for the last few years and over time things have changed a bit. There used to be 2 kinds of lobster and they would dip it in butter for you. Now there is just Maine lobster and if you like butter they bring that to the table for you. Overall for a buffet this is always a top choice. They have great seafood - raw, cooked, and in salad form. They have Latin food, American food, Asian food and an assortment of desserts. Since they are known for their steak and lobster those are my go to's. I usually go for 2 or 3 rounds of lobster. But the first round is dedicated to the crab legs that they pre-cut in half so it's easier to eat without a mess. The sausage from the meat station was delicious but the ribs were ok! I didn't have the prime rib but my family said it was delicious. As for dessert my favorite were the red velvet cake and a chocolate caramel tart. The set up is like you imagine other buffers lots of tables. We had to sit at 2 tables next to each other for a party of 8. But our server was great and delivered everything we asked for. She even had refills ready for us once we would get back from additional rounds of feasting. So!!! If you like to gamble and you like a good trip to the buffet. This is the place for you. It's only a 1 and a quarter drive from Orange County and closer from surrounding areas. They have several bars that play sports for the game enthusiasts and again this buffet is one of the better ones when it comes to buffets! Eat up - cheers!
google avatar

Cerena P.

Yelp
Sooooo disappointed. I absolutely love trying buffets at casinos, they are usually always pretty good. I came here for lunch with my friend during a weekday and it was very empty. No line at all, score! The food here was alright, nothing blew me away. I did enjoy the fried fish, Mac and cheese, and the roasted Brussel sprouts! They also have a huge selection of deserts that all looked delicious. Also a plus they serve alcohol here that you can order from your waitress for an extra charge. The main reason I'm giving this buffet such a low rating was because of how poorly my friend and I were treated. At the front when we were purchasing our buffets the lady helping us was extremely rude. As soon as we arrived she was not friendly one bit. We had never been to this buffet before and asked her a few questions. She had the audacity in a very rude tone to tell us to stop talking to her because she could not concentrate on what she was doing. I'm sorry what! She was flat out rude and did not make us feel welcome at all! Severe lack of customer service. My friend and I really wanted to come back to try their lobster buffet but after that experience i'd much rather go elsewhere. I also really do not appreciate getting hit on by the guys that cut the meat. I'm there to enjoy a meal with my friend not made to feel uncomfortable. Customer service is lacking at this place and what ever happened to being professional?
google avatar

Eric F.

Yelp
Actually 3.25 / 3.5. Had a craving for a buffet with lobster. Researched the casino/hotel website and it states that the buffet is only open to "qualified Players Club members" which I am not. I called to confirm this and I was told the buffet may allow me to enjoy the buffet if it is slow (number of customers). He recommended coming Wed or Thurs for the best chance unless I became a "qualified Players Club member." Anyways, I decided to check today (Wednesday). I arrived a little after 5 pm and there was a small line (about seven people ahead of me). I spoke to staff and they said they could accommodate me. I paid the $42 + $5 (tip in advance). No tax unless already included in the total price of $47. Almost as soon as I was seated, a server asked for my choice of beverage. Water, select juices and soda, coffee and tea are included. Alcoholic beverages are additional. Shortly after my drink order was taken, chips (small bag of Tostitos), guacamole, and salsa were brought to my table. Tostitos are my favorite store bought tortilla chips. Guacamole was good. Salsa was mild. A short time later, another server introduced herself to me and took my food order. My first order was a lobster tail (split in half), the selection of nigiri (eel, salmon, shrimp, and tuna), tempura fried shrimp, and crab legs. The lobster was good as it was simply steamed. The nigiri was okay with the eel being the best of the four types. Tempura fried shrimp was good. Crab legs were okay. I wish they were king crab legs. My second order was more eel sushi, another lobster tail, sweet chili chicken wings, and prime rib. Chicken wings were good. Prime rib was not served medium as requested but tasted very good. My third order was carnitas, lobster mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a sundae of vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, and roasted peanuts. Carnitas was very tasty. Lobster mac and cheese actually tasted better without the lobster. I like lobster mac and cheese but their version was just okay. Mashed potatoes and gravy were very good. Sundae was a perfect ending to the meal. Service from the busser was very good. Service from my food server was good. Maybe she was busy as I had to wait around 20 minutes after my plates were cleared for each order. Ambiance is fine and not too crowded for this COVID time. Food: 3.5 Service: 3 / 4.25 Ambiance: 3.5 Value: 3
google avatar

Sylvain B.

Yelp
I have a very mitigated feeling about this place. They advertise themselves as an "all you can eat lobster tail" with a picture of many lobster tail in a plate but when you actually get there, they won't serve you more than 2*1/2 (two halves) tails (small tails, about 5oz for a full tail) per trip. You will only get small steamed tails. Bland. Nothing "cooked", in sauce, grilled etc...or any other dish with lobster except the ravioli (that were too rich/heavy anyways) So technically, you can go back to the buffet and get more but you won't get a full plate as advertised. What *really* bothered me is that after lining for 10 minutes to get my two half tails, I asked for 2 more for my lady waiting for me at the table (who didn't know there was a 10 minutes line, it was out first time at this buffet) and got denied with a real bad attitude for the 2 employees behind the buffet, asking me if my partner was in a "wheelchair" (? if we were in wheelchairs I'd still line and get food by ourselves...) then simply ignoring my request. This is, to me, false advertising and insulting when you pay $32 per head UPFRONT without knowing about the lobster tail serving restriction! Crab legs are cut in half and they tend to be soggy/mushy. Now, the positive points: Our waitress was really nice, friendly, helpful. Some cooked dishes, especially the steak and the salmon were excellent. A huge plus for the veggies accompanying fish dishes: The mustard leaves and the lentils served with the salmon. Those were really exceptional! This place can get real packed. They'll fill as many tables as they can which makes it real difficult to walk around. Will I go back? probably not...