For simple buffets, Sweet Tomatoes isn't bad and it's great with kids. Salad, simple pastas, pretty good fresh baked breads, muffins, etc... Baked Potatoes and about 6 or more Soups. Only complaint is that they could add a little meat (aside from some that comes in the soup).

Personally I hate Hometown with a passion. My parents used to love going there and I always found some of their chicken questionably pink.

In San Diego, (not sure if you would want to spend the money or go with kids) but the Hotel Del Coronado has a fabulous Sunday Brunch!

Kal: too bad there are no "all you can drink" buffets

Faina2,
Embassy Suites???

The Whaler Brew Pub on Kauai used to have a good Sunday Beer Brunch.
Really nice spread and all the beer you could drink. Oy!

I then saw all sorts of whales jumping...pink ones, blue ones, lavender ones...time to stop when I saw a polka dotted one.

Not bad for a guy whose fave color is plaid.

Am I hearing Hometown Buffet, Soup Plantation/Sweet Tomatoes in the same mention as good/quality California buffets???

Ok, I was going to make a stand, but I'll politely back off...

You guys must've been real excited about the McD's menu overhaul.

malvado, now be kind. The OP is looking for some place to feed his kids and not break the bank. I'm not a huge fan of the all-you-can-eat joints, but there IS a market for them, so let the OP at least know about them.

Sweet Tomatoes/Souplantation is acceptable food (at least the salads are somewhat healthy) at reasonable prices, if not at the summit of all AYCE buffets in California. This family wants quantity; the OP never initially brought up the question of quality.

I still maintain that I can stuff my fat face at regular restaurants quite happily, as the portion sizes are good (if not excessive) everywhere I go. In fact, now that I'm on a portion-control diet, I find I take half my dinner home with me.

Yes Kika a post was deleted. Someone flamed the poster.

and rjw, i'm really not the epicurean snob i may have just came off as.

but really. hometown buffet? what next, the wal-mart cafeteria?

want bang for buck? find a claim jumper and split two entrees between the whole family!

malvado: I understand, and agree with you. How about everyone split entrées at the Cheesecake Factory (which originated in CA)? Or schlepp to Corvette's up in Hillcrest for fun, cheap grub? Or that deli on University? Lots of choices for lots of food in CA....

Kal,

Man, I haven't heard the words "His Lordship's" in twenty five years! Don't know if it's still there or not, but you're right about the Sunday brunch.

Also, the reference to the Westgate Hotel in San Diego is right on. I had never seen a "tub" of chocolate mousse until I went there for a brunch.

The Corvette Diner in San Diego is great.

Am I the only one who thinks this post is a troll? Oh pleeeaaase! There are no stuff your face buffets in California. California is a third world country with a rampant starving population with no money to buy food.

jor,
But there are at least 5 million tourists there on any given day!
M

maybe the 5 million tourists should bring a bone to throw at the locals.

I prefer Onami over Todai. Their food tastes fresher to me (at least comparing the two near where I live). They're a smaller chain though so not many of them around. I think they started in San Diego.