This Alabama Country Buffet Has 3 Full Rows Of Southern Comfort Food Waiting For You

There is something about walking into a place where the smell of fried chicken and slow-cooked greens hits you before you even grab a plate. This Southern buffet in Alabama is that kind of spot.

It draws in families, students, and road-trippers who all seem to be looking for the same thing, real Southern cooking without any fuss. The appeal is in the steady lineup of classic comfort foods, laid out in generous portions that make it easy to build a plate you actually want to come back to.

Nothing feels overcomplicated or trendy, just familiar dishes prepared in a way that leans into tradition. It is the kind of place where people settle in, take their time, and focus on the meal and the conversation around them.

That simple, unhurried atmosphere is what keeps it memorable for anyone passing through or living nearby.

Three Full Rows of Southern Comfort Food That Actually Deliver

Not every buffet earns the right to call itself a Southern comfort food destination, but Ole Times Country Buffet comes with receipts. The layout features three full rows of dishes that rotate daily, meaning no two visits feel exactly the same.

That kind of variety keeps things interesting whether you are a first-timer or a regular who shows up every week.

The meat section alone is worth the trip. You will find BBQ ribs, pulled pork, fried chicken, baked chicken, smoked chicken, fried catfish, fried shrimp, meatloaf, fried pork chops, chicken livers, and gizzards all sharing space on that bar.

That is not a short list. That is a full Southern Sunday dinner spread waiting on you every single day of the week.

The sides hold their own just as well. Mac and cheese, collard greens, field peas, cheese grits, creamed corn, fresh cornbread, and coleslaw round out a lineup that feels genuinely home-cooked.

Reviewers have described the vegetables as seasoned the way your grandmother would have made them, and that kind of praise is not handed out lightly. When the sides are that good, you know the kitchen is paying attention to every dish on the row, not just the headline meats.

Prices That Make a Full Belly Feel Like a Smart Decision

Value matters, especially when you are feeding a family or planning a group outing on a budget. Ole Times Country Buffet keeps its pricing straightforward and honest.

Lunch runs $15.78 per adult and dinner comes in at $18.78, which is a reasonable ask for an all-you-can-eat spread with this much variety. Kids eat for even less, with pricing starting at $5.99 for ages three to five and $8.99 for ages six through twelve.

When you break that down against what lands on your plate, the math works in your favor pretty fast. You are not paying per dish or per portion.

You are paying one price for access to three full rows of rotating Southern food, a dessert bar, and the ability to go back as many times as you want. For a family with hungry kids or a group of college students from Auburn University nearby, that kind of setup is genuinely appealing.

The restaurant also offers military and veteran discounts, which says something about how the ownership thinks about the community it serves. Drinks are an additional $2.49, which keeps the total bill transparent rather than buried in hidden costs.

Compared to sit-down restaurants in the Auburn area where a single entree can hit that same price point, Ole Times makes a strong case for itself every single time the doors open at 10:30 in the morning.

A Dessert Bar Built Around the Kind of Sweets That Feel Like Home

Homemade peach cobbler has a way of ending a meal on a note that makes everything else feel complete. At Ole Times Country Buffet, the dessert bar is built around that same philosophy.

Seasonal specials rotate through alongside signature offerings like banana pudding, chocolate cake, and classic pies, giving you something to look forward to no matter when you visit.

Peach cobbler made the Southern way, with soft fruit and a golden crust that soaks up just enough sweetness, is the kind of dessert that does not need any explanation. It speaks for itself.

Banana pudding at a Southern buffet is another one of those things that gets taken seriously because people in this part of Alabama grew up eating it at church potlucks and family reunions. When it is done right, it hits differently than any dessert you could order off a menu.

The dessert bar rounds out a meal that was already doing a lot of heavy lifting from the savory side of the buffet. Going back for a second helping of cobbler after you have already had fried catfish and collard greens is not a guilty pleasure here.

It is practically expected. Ole Times treats the sweet finish to a meal with the same attention it gives to the main dishes, and that consistency is part of what keeps people talking about this place long after they leave Auburn.

Fried Catfish So Good It Stops People Mid-Bite

Fried catfish is one of those dishes that separates the real Southern spots from the ones just playing the part. At Ole Times Country Buffet, the catfish has earned its own kind of reputation.

More than one visitor has described it as the best fried catfish they have ever tasted, and that is the kind of compliment that sticks around in a review section long after the meal is over.

What makes it stand out is the texture and the seasoning working together without one overpowering the other. The crust holds its crunch, the fish inside stays tender, and the whole thing tastes like someone in that kitchen actually cares about getting it right.

That balance is harder to pull off than most people realize, especially at buffet volume where food sits under heat lamps and waits for the next plate.

Southern fried fish culture runs deep in Alabama, and a place like Auburn, which sits in the heart of Lee County, carries that tradition seriously. Ole Times leans into it without apology.

If you are the kind of person who judges a Southern buffet by its catfish, this one is going to land exactly where you want it. Pair it with some collard greens and a square of fresh cornbread and you have got yourself a plate worth every cent of the price of admission.

Location Inside Auburn Mall Makes It Easy To Build a Full Day Around

Ole Times Country Buffet sits inside Auburn Mall at 1627 Opelika Road, Suite 115, which puts it in one of the more convenient spots in the city for combining a meal with everything else you might want to do in the area. After a big lunch, walking around the mall to stretch your legs before heading back out is a genuinely smart move.

The location makes it easy to plan a full afternoon without much effort.

Auburn itself has plenty to explore once you have fueled up. Chewacla State Park at 124 Shell Toomer Parkway offers hiking trails and a swimming lake that are popular with locals and visitors alike.

The Auburn University campus is close by, and the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at 901 South College Street is worth a stop if you appreciate rotating exhibitions in a beautiful setting. Toomer’s Corner at the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue is another spot that carries serious local meaning for Auburn fans.

Having a reliable, affordable, all-you-can-eat lunch as your anchor point for a day in Auburn is a practical choice. You are not going to leave hungry, and you are not going to spend the rest of the day worrying about where the next meal is coming from.

That kind of peace of mind, combined with easy parking and a central location, makes Ole Times a natural starting point for any Auburn outing.

Hours That Work With Your Schedule, Not Against It

One of the quiet frustrations with buffet restaurants is showing up and finding out they closed earlier than expected or have not opened yet. Ole Times Country Buffet keeps a consistent schedule that removes most of that guesswork.

The restaurant opens at 10:30 in the morning every day of the week, which means late breakfast and early lunch crowds are both covered without any awkward gaps in service.

On weekdays, Sunday, and Monday, closing time is 7:00 in the evening. Friday and Saturday push that to 8:00 p.m., which gives you a little more flexibility on the days when plans tend to run long.

For a family trying to coordinate schedules, or a group of Auburn students looking for a filling dinner after an afternoon of activities, that extended Friday and Saturday window makes a real difference in how easy it is to actually get there.

Knowing a place is going to be open and ready when you arrive sounds like a low bar, but consistency in hours is something regulars genuinely appreciate. Ole Times has built a loyal local following in part because people know what to expect when they pull into that parking lot, and that kind of dependability matters more than most restaurants give it credit for.

The Atmosphere Feels Like a Place That Actually Wants You There

Some restaurants feel transactional, like you are just a number moving through a line. Ole Times Country Buffet has built a reputation that leans the other direction.

Regulars describe the atmosphere as warm and welcoming, the kind of place where other diners actually say hello and the room feels comfortable rather than rushed. That tone does not happen by accident.

It reflects something about the culture of the place itself.

The dining room has plenty of seating, which means even on busier days there is usually room for a group without a long wait. Families with young kids, senior groups, university students, and out-of-town visitors all seem to find their place here without the space feeling chaotic.

That mix of people gives the room an energy that feels genuinely communal rather than just crowded.

Dine-in is the experience most people come for, but Ole Times also offers takeaway and delivery through platforms like DoorDash, Uber Eats, Seamless, and Postmates for days when you want that Southern food without leaving home. On-site parking is convenient, which removes one of the small frustrations that can take the shine off an otherwise good meal.

Whether you are stopping in after a walk around the mall, meeting family for a weekday lunch, or introducing out-of-town guests to real Alabama cooking, the place has a way of making the whole thing feel easy and worth your time.