17 Restaurant Chains With Iconic Salad Bars
Several restaurant chains became famous for their all-you-can-eat salad bars, which drew loyal customers for decades.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
Salad bars were once a signature feature of many popular restaurants across the United States. They offered customers the freedom to create their own plates with a variety of vegetables, toppings, and dressings. These chains became known for making salad bars part of their identity, even if many have since scaled them back or closed.
1. Sizzler
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Sizzler built much of its reputation on its extensive salad bar. Customers could pile plates with vegetables, fruit, soups, and pasta in addition to their main meal. For many, the salad bar became more of a draw than the steaks. It was one of the first chains to push salad bars as a central feature.
2. Ruby Tuesday
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Ruby Tuesday’s Fresh Garden Bar became one of the most recognized salad bars in casual dining. It included more than 50 fresh ingredients at its peak. The chain heavily advertised it as a healthier dining option. Even today, the salad bar is still a signature element of its brand.
3. Pizza Hut
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During the 1980s and 1990s, Pizza Hut locations in the U.S. often featured salad bars. They allowed customers to enjoy a fresh plate before pizza. Families especially liked the combination of hot pizza and cold salads. The feature has largely disappeared from most stores.
4. Ponderosa Steakhouse
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Ponderosa became known for its buffet-style approach, and the salad bar was central to its offering. Customers could build large salads or mix them with hot items. It gave diners a sense of value along with their entrees. The chain still operates in limited regions with salad bars intact.
5. Bonanza Steakhouse
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Like Ponderosa, Bonanza offered a salad bar as a key part of its dining experience. Guests enjoyed unlimited trips, making it popular for families. The salad bar often included unique toppings like cottage cheese and pickled items. It helped establish the brand’s identity in casual dining.
6. Old Country Buffet
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Old Country Buffet relied on variety, and the salad bar played a big role. Customers could build traditional or creative salads alongside hot foods. The format encouraged repeat visits for those who liked endless choices. Although many locations have closed, it left a legacy of buffet-style salad dining.
7. Shoney’s
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Shoney’s Fresh Food Bar has been a major part of the chain for decades. It combined a salad bar with hot food and soups. Many guests considered it the main reason to visit. Shoney’s continues to highlight the bar as part of its menu.
8. Steak and Ale
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Steak and Ale introduced salad bars in the 1970s, helping popularize the concept in American dining. The chain’s bar included hearty toppings like cheese and bacon. It was considered upscale at the time. The salad bar was remembered fondly even after the chain closed.
9. Sirloin Stockade
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This regional steakhouse featured a buffet and salad bar as a centerpiece. Guests expected unlimited trips to the bar with their meals. It often included seasonal produce, making it feel fresh. The salad bar helped set it apart from other budget steakhouses.
10. Western Sizzlin
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Western Sizzlin promoted its “food bar” as a value feature. The salad section was often the most popular. Guests enjoyed fresh toppings alongside soups and bread. The bar created a sense of abundance that drew repeat customers.
11. Sweet Tomatoes
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Sweet Tomatoes, also known as Souplantation in some regions, was a chain built entirely around salad bars. Guests had dozens of toppings and specialty salads to choose from. It became known as a healthier buffet-style option. The chain closed in 2020, leaving many fans nostalgic.
12. Morrison’s Cafeteria
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Morrison’s was a southern cafeteria chain that offered fresh salad selections before hot meals. Its salad stations were considered a step above standard cafeterias. Guests could build their own or take pre-made salads. The format influenced later buffet-style restaurants.
13. Ryan’s
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Ryan’s Buffet featured a large salad section as part of its broader food bar. Customers could mix fresh greens with toppings and prepared salads. It was marketed as both value and variety. Salad bars were a staple until many locations closed.
14. Golden Corral
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Golden Corral includes salad bars as part of its full buffet experience. Customers expect fresh greens, toppings, and specialty salads alongside hot dishes. The chain continues to emphasize its salad offerings. It remains one of the last national buffet brands with salad bars.
15. Ground Round
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Ground Round restaurants often included smaller salad bars in their family dining areas. The format gave customers a sense of choice and variety. Though not as large as other chains, it was still a selling point. It became part of the casual-dining appeal in the 1980s.
16. Hometown Buffet
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Like Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet had a strong salad bar selection. Guests enjoyed the combination of fresh and prepared salads. The salad bar helped balance out heavier buffet foods. It was one of the chain’s most consistent features before closures.
17. Bennigan’s
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Bennigan’s offered a salad bar during its height in the 1980s and 1990s. It was promoted as part of the casual dining experience. Guests appreciated the mix of fresh greens and toppings with their meals. The salad bar faded as the chain restructured, but it was once iconic.