From Prime Rib to Crab Legs, Buffets Are Making a Comeback in Wyoming

The original story by Anna-Louise Jackson for Cowboy State Daily.

After taking a serious hit during the COVID years, all-you-can-eat buffets are piling back onto plates across Wyoming — and the rest of the country.

At Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel and Restaurant in Cody, the comeback is hard to miss. In 2025 alone, an estimated 12,000 to 13,000 diners rolled through the Irma’s dinner buffet, a record for the historic spot. That’s a lot of prime rib.

It turns out plenty of people are rediscovering what buffet fans have known all along: if you’re hungry and want value, buffets are tough to beat.

Yelp recently flagged all-you-can-eat buffets as one of its dining trends to watch this year, citing a 252% spike in searches for nearby buffets over a 12-month period ending in August. Translation: people are actively hunting for places where seconds — and thirds — are encouraged.

“I love it,” said Mike Darby, owner of the Irma, when told buffets appear to be trending again.

For $35.99, diners can load up on prime rib, salmon, buffalo ribs, pecan cranberry Brussels sprouts, bread pudding and more. The Irma offers several buffet options, but the dinner buffet is the star and runs year-round.

Not everyone walks in sold on the buffet idea, Darby said — especially during the busy summer tourism season. When people hesitate, his advice is simple: go take a look.

“One glance at the prime rib usually does it,” he said. “People say, ‘Oh my gosh, this is amazing.'”

Buffets were hit especially hard during the early days of COVID, when shared serving areas and sneeze guards suddenly felt like public enemy No. 1. National chains like Old Country Buffet disappeared altogether.

“That was the low-water mark,” Darby said of 2020.

To win people back, the Irma invested in updated sneeze guards and safety measures. Since then, business has steadily climbed. One upside of buffets, Darby noted, is transparency — diners can see exactly what they’re getting and decide if it meets their standards.

The buffet scene has also evolved. According to Yelp trend expert Tara Lewis, many modern buffets are leaning into higher-end options and turning meals into experiences, sometimes featuring premium items like oysters or interactive cooking stations.

Asian cuisines are leading the charge, Lewis said, but the broader interest shows diners are craving both value and something memorable.

That rings true for Greg Ching of Lafayette, Colorado, who hits a buffet about twice a month — especially after marathon pickleball sessions.

“There are days I’m famished,” he said.

For Ching, buffets check a lot of boxes: you control portion sizes, try new foods, and generally get your money’s worth. Prices have gone up, he said, but many of his go-to spots still hover around $35.

“I’ve had some really great buffet food,” he said.

Back in Wyoming, restaurant owners say the economy plays a role in whether people eat out at all.

At Jen’s Chinatown in Powell, owner Phil Klebenstein says tourists passing through are often pleasantly surprised by the Chinese buffet. But most customers are locals who come back again and again.

For $12.50 at lunch or $15.50 at dinner, diners can cycle through about 20 dishes, including coconut shrimp, Kung Pao chicken and General Tso’s — all reliable crowd-pleasers.

Still, Klebenstein said, when money feels tight, even good deals get weighed carefully.

That’s why the renewed buzz around buffets is encouraging.

“That’s a little bit of good news,” he said.

Yelp doesn’t break down buffet searches by state, but the national trend suggests more people are at least buffet-curious again. And judging by the lines forming at places like the Irma, plenty of them are ready to grab a plate and dig in.