HomeTown Buffet

This location is closed for business effective February 5, 2016. Next closet location is in El Cajon.

I had to add a review on this location especially because of other reviews. We ate here on Thanksgiving Day this year and EVERYTHING was hot fresh and delicious. Wow what a large menu including breakfast items at lunch time! We have paid some serious cash for buffets at other restaurants and they just don’t compare any more. Try out this location. It’s Affordable and worth every penny all you can eat! You can’t beat it and the staff is real friendly.

I hate having to add to a bad review but after two times in a row I guess it’s time. For starters the parking lot is really dark at night, very unsafe. When we walked in the manager guy on duty was very unprofessional he was on the phone and was acting very bizarre. It just wasn’t a very comfortable feeling. We paid $ 43.00 for a family of 4, an we were not happy at all with the meal. The meal was cafeteria style and very plain. The macaroni and cheese was gross, pizza dough half cooked, I picked up a chicken pot pie and most the meat in it was grey. The chocolate milk was out and the ice was out. There was crap all over the floor and the waitress just kept walking by and didn’t say much and picked up plates. I think the waitress had a issue or something because we would say something and she would bare her teeth and say something under her teeth. I wouldn’t recommend coming here, oh an to add the sprinkles on the cupcakes there was a elderly table next to us that wouldn’t stop talking about their medical issues including their colostomy bags. So, yup. Seals our last trip to hometown buffet.

This had to be the worst place to dine. First the tables were dirty. There was food all over the floor and the staff didn’t seem to care. I can’t believe they charge that much to eat in a place where it is unsanitary. Went to get dessert and there are no bowls or spoons in that station. This place needs to clean up there act or just shut down.

It’s been years since I ate here and decided to give it a second chance… not worth it.
The food was not good. My fiancé get bread twice from 2 different spots and they were both hard. The hot chocolate was gross and the desserts were nothing to rave about.
I don’t suggest it.

If I could give no stars I would!
My fiancé and I came to this hometown location at 15 till 8 and found most trays empty with no food lights were off at some of the food sections in the back and the workers were all huddled messing around and talking to each other. There was noone attending the front countr after paying $ 31 for the buffet and arriving 1 hour and 30 minutes before closing I did not expect this!

I got sick from eating here, at the Santee location. I got food poisoning, had a terrible day just hours after eating. I will never come back!

Four stars because there was no ice cream when I went, and because Kristi was so amazing and so very friendly. She honestly made mine and my boyfriends night. I even saw her go out of her way to bring slices of pizza to someone’s table! Thanks again for the great experience Kristi we will be back!

We were greeted by a cheerful guy, later on we find out that his name is Nassiam. I make sure that I remember his name correctly because he took a good care of us. The visit was wonderful because this young man went out of his way to make us feel comfortable & satisfied. We noticed there are a lot of improvement at the restaurant & will definitely come back.

terriable. It gets worse every time we go. there was not one single drinking glass available on either side of the drink station. The plastic plates are a bad idea, they are stained and scratched, what happened to the glass plates? The food was horrible, no taste, dried out and the desert looked like it had been sitting all day.
I keep going back because the coupons entice me to try to get in hoping that it would be better, we miss the old hometown buffet. We used to go to her three times a week but every since you remodeled this restaurant the food has never been the same.
and nobody there speaks English, it’s American food… you’re supposed to have an American experience, it ruins the atmosphere to hear everybody talking Arabic… definitely the last time I go there.

It is not my first time here, but this time was the best of the best.
We were there for breakfast on Saturday, the place was very busy but the staff are trying their best to make everyone comfortable.
I remember a guy with blue shirt, I think his name is Nassim (not sure if I spelt it right), he was running around to be sure that the plates are full and everyone is happy and having a good time.
Thanks to Nassim and everyone at this HTB.
Will be back for sure.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR $. Food has no flavor and very messy/​sticky. Ice cream taste like soap. Even my 1 yr old was spitting it out. Doesn’t say much when the manager James wasn’t professional and doesn’t know how to handle the situation at all. Offering free kid tickets for next time is not ok. When our child was already free. we will never be eating here again.

I used to be a fairly regular visitor back a few years ago.
Decided to go tonight, as I had a $ 1.99 coupon for my nephew to eat.
I haven’t been in some time, but was looking forward to the salad bar, which is usually pretty good.
Walking in, the price seemed higher than I recall, and the beverage price was another $ 2.49 on top of the $ 12 per person.
It was 7:00PM, and we were all hungry. Needless to say, there was a line, and more coming behind my party of 7 people. The restaurant did not close until 8:30PM.
Right away we went for our food.
I noticed immediately that the food selection was fairly limited. The. salad bar was partially empty, with very minimal amounts of options available.
The Caesar salad bowl was nearly empty, and when I returned 10 minutes later, it had not been filled. There was a bin with something slimy and grey inside. The label said it was chicken. I wasn’t brave enough to even touch it.
The Italian station was barely there. There was a small bowl of marinara and a bowl of plain spaghetti noodles on the station. In addition, there was 1 slice of pepperoni pizza on a tray. It looked like it had been there for a while.
Once that slice was taken by a member of my party, it took over 15 minutes for another pizza to appear.
There was a station with ham and beef, and it was manned as well. I did not eat that, so cannot critique.
There was a small selection of fish, chicken and potatoes, carrots and broccoli. The kids said the potatoes were pretty good, as were the dinner rolls.
The dessert bar was scarce at best. The soft serve topping bins were basically empty, the NOT hot fudge can was empty, with a spoon, for scrapping.
The remaining desserts were minimal as well.
I have to say that the service staff was great. Our table staff member, Janet was great. The other team members were also friendly, and when I asked for them to refill the desserts, the member cooked a new batch of cookies for my family, as the tray had been sitting empty for quite a while.
I realize that this is a buffet. And shouldn’t expect much, right?
Going to hometown I really don’t expect excellence, BUT I do expect the same quality that I have always found, and I expect to have options available to choose from. It’s a buffet after all!
My suggestion:
have variety available, like it used to be, in past visits.
If a visitor takes what is remaining of a food option, during the dinner hours, replace it. Anticipate that more will be needed, and be prepared to have the food choices ready to be put out.
Sorry to say I won’t be returning here again. I’ll take my family elsewhere were we can have a good meal for $ 14.50 each.

Horrible!!! There was a roach in the milk dispenser. This location has gone really south and I think the food is gross and the time it takes them to refill the food is even worse if I could give a zero I would. Also the staff was horrible, they burnt a chicken dish and they couldn’t get the damn alarm to stop.

When it’s crowded, it’s like being in a war zone. People turn into rude animals and practically wanna fight you for food. Today they ran out of plates for a good 15 minutes and cups at a different point. The food is plain and definitely not worth the fight. They cram you in here too tightly as well. A group of about 8 came and insisted on the waitress moving the tables around for them in the opposite direction of everyone else. The waitress asked if we were okay being that close and with a chair a few inches from being against our table we asked for that chair to be moved. Then the group moves it back to right near us and the ladies hair is almost in our food so that’s nice. Don’t come here unless it’s deserted

It was overly crowded and disgusting today. Too many people being so close and crammed together made me lose my appetite. They ran out of plates and cups due to way too many people fighting for the scraps of what was left over. Unless you enjoy slops and strangers body sweat, I suggest you try someplace else or come when it isnt crazy with people…

Whelp. Haven’t been here in years! The family wanted something easy where we would all like something, hopefully.
First, our server Yari was awesome! Attentive and super helpful and fast! Made our dining experience great. She would be a 5 star server.
The reason I knocked off 2 stars: their labeling was terrible, plus they don’t tell you if its gluten free, vegetarian, sugar free, etc.
That’s frustrating.

Food is always overcooked or under that heat lamp too long.
I watched the cashiers unkept hair dip into the food while filling the salad bar.
I DON’T KNOW is a common phrase you hear the staff say.
The buffet bars are not greatly maintained.
Chocolate WATER is served here.
Coffee WATER is served here as well.
Roasts is consistent. You can always count on it being over cooked.
MOLD! MOLD! MOLD! all over the drinking nozzles (you can clearly tell it’s not broken down or cleaned) nightly.
ITS LIKE HOMETOWN GATHERED ALL THE WORST COOKS IN AMERICA and placed them in this location!
Bathrooms are deseased ready busy or not! YIKES!

I’ve been going to this place since it opened in San Diego years ago
What happened
The service people are great
Kitchen service slow
Food quality down — if that’s even possible
The new look is fine
Food is scarce and minimal
Pull it together before it’s too late

Love the santee location
The food has changed some and not all for the better. But most items are great.
. But still love lunches on Saturday. My daughter in law and I go there for lunch on Saturdays at least 3 a month. Petra is our favorite table helper. She is always pleasant and friendly.