A buffet of buffets: Top 5 buffets in Dhaka

If you're a big eater, or if you have the appetite to eat a lot, buffets are there to satiate your needs.

In Dhaka, buffets became a trend in the early 2010s with Steak House serving one of the best all-round buffets till date.

Buffets became a trend, went out, and are on the road to becoming a trend again now.

Although the Steak House buffet is not there anymore and would certainly have made our list for the best buffets in Dhaka, there are some places for top-notch buffets in the city and we've got you covered.

To make this list, we've accounted for the price, quality of the food, uniqueness of the items and service.

5. Taj-E-Nawaab: Best for birthday parties

Located in Wari, not many would have heard about Taj-E-Nawaab, but the place is usually full and happening.

Birthday parties are taking place almost every other day and the spacious interior makes it perfect for large gatherings.

There is a stage for live music, so wedding receptions are also common here. 

The buffet food menu is the usual - fried rice, biriyani, naan and a whole host of chicken and beef items.

Desserts are limited to firni and pudding but everything tasted good so no complaints there.

It's a 40+ item buffet with unlimited water and soft drinks, which is a nice touch and the buffet won't disappoint. It costs Tk 750.

We rate this a solid 7 out of 10.

4. Le-Meridian: Best high-end buffet

One of the most well-known buffets in Dhaka is the one at Le-Meridian hotel.

They serve well over 100 items ranging from biriyani to sushi and a myriad of desserts.

One thing you can be guaranteed is consistency in the quality of food and their desserts generally are fantastic.

The thing that one definitely should try is the koral fish, which is cut upfront when you want to have it.

Another thing we appreciated is the timing of the buffet, which stays open till 11 pm, whereas most places finish their buffets by 10 pm.

However, the price tag of Tk5,000 is too expensive and you can find similar options at much cheaper rates.

We give this a 7.5 out of 10 rating.

3. Garlic n Ginger: An underrated buffet

Although this is not well-known, Garlic n Ginger in Dhanmondi 9A offers a really good buffet with over 100 items.

Much like Le-Meridian, the buffet has a sushi and salad section but what sets this buffet apart is their nihari.

It's full of flavour and goes amazingly well with some crispy luchis.

Buffets generally tend to give you dry items that force you to order water, which does not come with the buffet and costs extra, but here you get a bottle of water and a soft drink of your

choice.

However, the Chinese items were just too spicy and the desserts felt like they were going bad - especially the ones with milk, like the shahi tukra, which left a bad taste in an otherwise impressive buffet.

We can't help but wholeheartedly recommend the buffet here because of the value for money at Tk1,200 due to the variety of dishes and, of course, the nihari. And who knows, you might luck out on the desserts and Chinese items! 

We give this an 8 out of 10 rating.

2. The Buffet Stories: Best value for money buffet

With branches in Mirpur 11 and Dhanmondi 2, The Buffet Stories offer exceptional value for money.

It's a 65-item buffet that costs just Tk600, inclusive of VAT and all other charges.

What's even better is that they provide unlimited water and a soft drink of your choice.

You will get an impressive range of items, starting from Deshi to Chinese, and a good array of desserts.

Some of the highlights are the items from the live kebab station, served straight to your table, and the beef rezala.

We suggest you call them and book a place early as the place gets pretty crowded in a short time, even during this pandemic.

There really were no drawbacks to the place and the food, apart from the crowd and the hustle and bustle due to the cheap price of the buffet.

We give this a 9 out of 10 rating.

1. The Great Kabab Factory: Best buffet overall

The Great Kabab Factory is unparalleled in its service and has equally good food to match.

Located in Gulshan 2 and Dhanmondi, this is one buffet place you don't want to miss.

Don't let the name fool you as the buffet offers both non-veg and veg options with over 75 items.

But more than their items, it's the overall quality of each item that is going to take you through a gastronomic journey.

It starts off with an appetiser, which can be an aloo papdi chaat or a masaledar aloo, and then begins the starters.

The chicken items here are an absolute treat as they are succulent, juicy and the spices hit just the right spot.

You will be given nine different types of naan which include your classic butter and garlic naans along with Amritsari kulcha and Khammiri naan and all of them go super well with the meat items. 

You might be full by then but now it's time for the main course, and here you will have some amazing Hyderabadi biryani along with prawn and mutton items.

These main course items vary from day to day, but the consistency and quality will not disappoint.

You will definitely be full by then, but the desserts will tempt you to eat some more.

The gulab jamun and the kheer are must-haves here and they will certainly make sure the buffet has a sweet ending.

At Tk1,200 per person, this is one buffet that you must try and is totally worth the price.

We suggest you pace yourself through this buffet and try as many items as possible as it will be an experience you won't regret.

We give this a 9.5 out of 10 rating.

What did you think of our list? Have you tried the buffets in any of these places? Would you have changed up our list and had another place in here? Let us know! Till then, keep calm and buffet on!