Hodel’s Country Dining Buffet, Bakersfield

Reviewer: Foodnut.com Hodel's Country Dining Buffet 5917 Knudsen Dr. Bakersfield, CA 93308 661-399-3341 Hodel's Country Dining Buffet Website

Hodel’s Country Dining is a home style old school buffet that opened in 1967 and still packs locals in. We were passing through Bakersfield and had this on our bookmark list. The decor doesn’t look like it has changed much nor has the carpet or upholstery. They have several private rooms for Banquets and weekly meetings, which look very popular. Rated 4.4 on Google, 3.8 on Yelp.

Pricing

Even the prices are retro cheap. A Tuesday-Thursday midweek 11am-4pm lunch buffet only costs $15.80, less than Chipotle! Breakfast is cheaper at $14.30 and has standard breakfast items, omlets, waffles, biscuits and gravy and their “World Famous Cinnamon Rolls”.

Dinner Tu-Th $16.55 Special Menu: Tuesday is Taco Tuesday | Wednesday is Chicken Fried Steak and Fried Porkchops | Thursday is Chinese Food.
Fri-Sat $17.65 tri-tip roast, brisket, and ribs, Sunday Brunch $18.40 include more food. Children’s discount. Higher prices on Holidays like Mother’s Day Brunch. Drinks are extra. Compare this to one of the best buffets we’ve been to!

Food Review

Downsides: The food was average at best. Most items are pretty old style, seems like the menu hasn’t changed in decades. Selection is not immense, mostly classic American dishes like fried chicken plus a couple Mexican ones like a Taco bar with hard tortillas. Typical salad bar fruit, greens, jello and the like. 3 kinds of soup.

Several different types of desserts like several types of cupcakes, rice crispy treats, cobbler and more. We filled up our bellies but this meal was definitely not gourmet.

Service was fair at best. We had to ask for refills, etc.

We came here try this place and had fun. One and done!

Restaurant Map: