Many Australians who grew up in the 1990s fondly remember family outings to the Pizza Hut buffet, where all-you-can-eat pizza, pasta, and salad bars were the highlights of the culinary experience. However, a recent revelation has surprised many: Pizza Hut wasn’t the only fast-food chain offering a buffet-style dining experience. It turns out that select KFC stores across Australia also featured all-you-can-eat buffets, a fact that has left many Aussies in disbelief.
The discovery emerged from a Reddit post in the ‘Australian Nostalgia’ subreddit, where an old photograph of a KFC buffet sparked a wave of nostalgia and surprise. The caption, “Forget Pizza Hut, bring back the KFC buffet,” resonated with hundreds of users who shared their memories of these elusive dining experiences.
The Rediscovery of a Culinary Legend
The existence of KFC buffets in Australia during the 1990s was a revelation for many, with comments on the Reddit thread expressing astonishment. “THEY HAD A BUFFET!?!?” read one incredulous reply. Another user, clearly taken aback, asked, “When? Where? Did all KFCs have it? I literally did not know about this.”
While some users doubted the authenticity of these memories, others confirmed the existence of these buffets, recalling visits to specific locations. These included Dandenong in Melbourne, Eagle Street in Brisbane, Carlingford Court in Sydney, Penrith in Greater Sydney, and several venues around Perth, such as Cannington, Armadale, and Maylands.
A Feast to Remember
Those who were fortunate enough to experience a KFC buffet described it as a feast of endless fried chicken, mountains of chips, and unlimited drinks. “My local KFC had the buffet when I was a kid. Legit the best thing ever!” one user reminisced, while another fondly remembered “popcorn chicken pyramids.”
However, the buffets were not without their challenges. One user recounted a memorable yet overwhelming experience: “When I was 13, I did KFC all-you-can-eat and I literally ate all I could. It started coming back up, and I had to sit real still with a mouthful of food.”
The Downfall of the KFC Buffet
Despite the fond memories, the KFC buffets were not financially sustainable. Many commenters noted that customers often took excessive amounts of food, leading to significant losses for the establishments. “At these [KFC buffets] and the Pizza Hut ones, people were animals,” one response read. Another added, “That’s why they got rid of them, they were literally bleeding money.”
Some users shared anecdotes of customers sneaking in Tupperware containers to “load up” on food, further underscoring the challenges faced by these buffets. “My mate used to grab the chicken, eat the skin, then chuck the chicken in the pot plant and then get more,” one person recalled.
KFC Buffets: A Global Phenomenon
While the all-you-can-eat KFC buffets have disappeared from Australia, they still exist in select international locations. Enthusiasts willing to travel can find these buffets in countries like Japan, Canada, and the United States. The most well-known KFC buffet in Japan is located at the Minami-Machida Grandberry Park in Tokyo, while several locations in the US, including Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia, continue to offer this unique dining experience.
The nostalgia surrounding the KFC buffets highlights a bygone era of fast-food dining that many Australians remember fondly. Although these buffets are no longer available down under, the memories they created continue to evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia among those who experienced them.
