Have you ever walked into a restaurant and immediately thought, I am going to need more time here?
That's Austin's Steak and Homestyle Buffet in Knoxville.
This place isn't just big. It's the kind of buffet where you grab a plate, make a full lap, and then realize you need to go back because you missed half of it.
Over 6,000 reviews and a 4.5-star average. People drive more than an hour just to eat here. That's not a coincidence.
The Fire Grill Is The First Thing You'll Notice
Most buffets don't have an actual fire grill. Austin's does.
The steak station is one of the first things you'll spot when you walk in, and honestly, the smell alone sets the tone for the whole meal. Cuts come out tender and well-seasoned, and more than one reviewer has compared the quality to Texas Roadhouse. For a buffet at this price point, that's a real compliment.
Your best bet is showing up on a weekday around lunchtime. You'll catch freshly grilled portions and a shorter line. Weekends work too because the faster turnover means hot food cycling through more often.
The Southern Sides Are The Real Comfort Food
This is where Austin's earns its “homestyle” name.
Green beans, fried okra, mashed potatoes with gravy, yams, cabbage, pinto beans, mac and cheese. That's the kind of lineup you'd find at a family reunion, not a restaurant buffet.
One reviewer mentioned that even their super picky kids ate quite a bit, which says everything you need to know about how approachable the food is.
Everything leans toward comfort over complexity. It's country cooking done at scale, and it works.
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Read more →The Meat Section Goes Way Beyond Steak
Steak is in the name, but the protein options keep going.
Ribs, roast, chicken wings, shrimp, catfish, meatballs, ham. All at the same time. For a mid-price buffet, that's an unusually generous spread.
The ribs have earned their own fans, with multiple reviewers calling them tender and worth going back for. BBQ items show up regularly too, which gives the whole section a laid-back cookout feel.
If you're visiting with people who all want something different, this is the section that tends to keep everyone happy.
Don't Skip the Salad Bar
It sounds like an afterthought at a steak buffet. It isn't.
Reviewers have called the salad bar fresh and well-stocked, even on busy Friday nights close to closing time. There's a fruit section too, which is a nice option if you want to balance out the heavier plates.
A good move is grabbing a small salad first. It helps pace the meal before you commit to the full hot bar spread.
Save Room For Dessert
Banana pudding and peach cobbler are the ones people keep mentioning.
Soft serve is available for the younger crowd, and there are cakes and pastries if you want something less creamy. The dessert section is self-serve like everything else, so trying a little of several things is completely reasonable.
One reviewer ate banana pudding and peach cobbler in the same visit and reported zero regrets.
The Price Makes It Even Better
Lunch runs around $13.59, with senior discounts and kid-friendly pricing that makes a family visit easy on the wallet.
One family of four, including discounted pricing for two kids, came out to a very reasonable total for unlimited trips to the buffet. Another reviewer called the lunch price a steal given what was on the line that day.
Dinner and weekend pricing may be slightly higher. If you're coming with a group of eight or more, know that an 18% gratuity is added automatically, so build that into your budget before you sit down.
A Few Things To Know Before You Go
The decor is dated. Several reviewers mentioned it could use a refresh, and the lighting runs on the dimmer side. But the same people also said the food and price made up for all of it.
Weekday afternoons are the quietest. Weekends get busy, especially during lunch.
On Saturdays, the lunch service wraps up around 2 PM, so plan accordingly if that's your window.
The restaurant opens at 11 AM every day. Weekday hours run until 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday hours go until 9 PM.
Austin's is right off the interstate at 900 Merchant Dr, Knoxville, TN 37912. Easy to find, plenty of parking, including room for larger vehicles.
If you're planning a big group, they have a private room and can accommodate parties. One reviewer brought a church group of 45 people by calling ahead. That's not a small ask, and they pulled it off.
