Long Island buffets: Fill yourself up

At a time when the idea of choice may have temporarily been taken off your plate, the concept of buffet restaurants seems all the more appealing. Lots of options in all-you-can eat quantities.

Here’s a sampling of buffet restaurants on Long Island, all of them open and ready for you to pile your plate high and deep. But remember, buffet restaurants do not allow leftovers to be taken home.

SUFFOLK COUNTY

Best Buffet, 179 Walt Whitman Rd., Huntington Station, 631-385-0800, best-buffet.com. Formerly known as East Buffet, this cavernous spot across from Walt Whitman mall offers everything from hibachi to sushi to Italian and American specialties, in addition to Chinese classics like Beijing duck and General Tso’s chicken. Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, $10.99; Saturday and Sunday, $14.99; dinner, Monday to Thursday, 4:30-10 p.m., $21.99; Friday and Saturday, 4:30-10 p.m., Sunday, 4-9 p.m., $28.99.

China Grand Buffet, 201 Airport Plaza, Farmingdale, 631-777-8199, chinagrandbuffet.com. Minimalist in decor, this spacious eatery offers all the Asian buffet classics — such as sushi and seafood and a wide range of Chinese dishes.  Lunch, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday, $8.99; Sunday, $9.99; dinner, 4-10 p.m., Monday to Thursday, $12.99; Friday to Sunday, $14.99.

Good Taste Buffet, 200 Jericho Tpke. Commack, 631-543-9583. A serviceable spot for sushi, Chinese dishes as well as a few American choices. Lunch, daily, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., $7.95, dinner, 3:30-10 p.m., Monday to Thursday, $13.95, Friday to Sunday, $14.95.

Old Country Buffet, 1701 Sunrise Hwy., Bay Shore 631-969-3943, oldcountrybuffet.com. It’s an all-day free-for-all at this buffet chain typically offering close to 100 dishes in all. Pay in advance. Ample seating — but on weekends and holidays, expect the occasional long wait. The food is familiar and uncomplicated: meat loaf, pot roast, roast beef, ham, steak, fried chicken, baked chicken, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes. Lunch, Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., $7.79; dinner, Monday to Thursday, 3:30-8:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 3:30-9 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., $11.29; breakfast, Saturday and Sunday, 8-11 a.m., $6.49.

NASSAU COUNTY

Old Country Buffet, 3023 Hempstead Tpke. Levittown 516-731-4533, oldcountrybuffet.com (See Suffolk County)

Minado Japanese Seafood Buffet Restaurant, 219 Glen Cove Rd., Carle Place 516-294-9541. A longtime standby for quality sushi and traditional Japanese dishes — yakisoba, tempura, teriyaki chicken, to name a few. There are 4 soups daily. At dinner, you'll find a hibachi station, crepe station, snow crab legs, raw oysters and sashimi.  Salad bar, too. Fruit and desserts. Lunch, Monday to Friday, 11:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., $17.75, Saturday and Sunday, 11:45 to 3 p.m., $21.75; dinner, Monday to Thursday, 6-9:30 p.m., $29.95; Friday, 6-10 p.m., Saturday, 5:30-10 p.m., Sunday, 5-9 p.m., $31.95.

Royal Bukhara Grill, 70 Broadway, Hicksville, 516-822-2400, royalbukharagrill.com.  At this highly regarded Indian restaurant, the lunch buffet offers a wide range of choices. You might find sweet corn soup, two kinds of salads, tandoori chicken, palak paneer, goat Makhani and even some Chinese items. Two kinds of dessert, too. Soda or a glass of wine is included.  Monday to Friday, noon to 3 p.m., $10.95, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 2 p.m., $11.95.

China Buffet King, 160 W. Merrick Rd., Valley Stream, 516-568-1888. Chinese, Japanese, Korean and even American dishes are yours in unlimited quantities at this big utilitarian buffet house. Lunch, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, $ 7.49, Saturday and Sunday, $8.49; dinner, 3;30-10:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday, $12.49; Friday to Sunday, $13.49.

Old Country Buffet in Bay Shore