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Premium Casino Buffet · Hollywood Casino, Aurora IL

Epicurean Buffet Menu Aurora IL — Prices, Hours & What to Eat 2026

Epicurean Buffet at Hollywood Casino Aurora is one of the Chicago area's most celebrated all-you-can-eat destinations — a premium casino buffet with over 100 dishes across seafood, Asian, American, and Italian stations, anchored by king crab legs on weekend evenings and a live sushi bar that puts most standalone sushi spots to shame at a fraction of the price.

Casino BuffetAurora ILSeafoodSushiAll-You-Can-Eat
Jump to full menu Cheapest items
Sample · $$

Signature items

Adult Dinner Buffet$38–$45
Weekend Seafood Dinner$42–$48
Adult Lunch Buffet$25–$32
Senior (55+) Buffet$25–$30
Children (under 10)$18–$22
Jump to: Menu Highlights Seafood & Raw Bar Asian Stations Carving & American Visiting Strategy Best Value Tips How We Compare Full Menu FAQs

Asian Stations

The Epicurean Buffet's Asian section covers Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese flavors — an unusually comprehensive range for a casino buffet.

  • Chinese Stir-Fry — General Tso's, Mongolian beef, lo mein, fried rice, egg rolls
  • Thai Station — green curry, pad Thai, spring rolls, satay skewers (2–3 dishes rotating nightly)
  • Japanese Teriyaki & Tempura — chicken, salmon teriyaki; shrimp and vegetable tempura
  • Pho & Noodle Soup — Vietnamese-style broth noodles available at most dinner services
  • Sushi Bar — live cut sushi with nigiri and maki refreshed throughout the evening
100+Total Dishes
5Asian Stations
$38Weekday Dinner
$25Lunch Admission

How to Get the Most from Epicurean Buffet

Time Your Visit Right

Arrive 15–30 minutes before a new tray of prime rib or crab is set out — the freshest food appears at the start of service and about 60–90 minutes in as the first run runs low. Asking a server when the next batch of crab or prime rib is coming out is completely normal and usually gets an honest answer.

Get the mychoice Card First

The Hollywood Casino rewards card (mychoice) is free to obtain at the casino floor and typically saves $3–$8 per buffet admission. For a couple visiting once a month, that is $72–$192 saved per year. Pick one up before you walk to the buffet on your first visit — it takes about 5 minutes to set up.

Weekend Dinner Is the Peak Service

Friday and Saturday dinner service is when the full Epicurean Buffet lineup is available: king crab, oysters, prime rib, expanded sushi bar, and the dessert bar at its most stocked. If you are willing to pay the premium price ($42–$48), this is the service worth targeting.

Weekday Lunch Is the Value Play

At $25–$32 per person, weekday lunch delivers most of the buffet selection (no king crab, no oysters) at roughly 65% of the dinner price. For regulars who visit primarily for Chinese-American food, sushi, pasta, and carving items, lunch is the smart move.

Best Value at Epicurean Buffet

How to eat well at the Epicurean Buffet without paying the top-tier admission — the five smartest value moves.

  1. 1Weekday Lunch BuffetBest-value admission — almost full menu selection$25–$32
  2. 2Senior Discount (55+)Available lunch and dinner$25–$30
  3. 3mychoice Card DiscountFree card, instant savings per visit$3–$8 off
  4. 4Children Under 10Full buffet access at child pricing$18–$22
  5. 5Weekend Lunch vs. DinnerLunch = 65% of dinner price with ~80% of the food$28 vs. $45

Epicurean Buffet vs. Other Chicago-Area Casino Buffets

How Epicurean stacks up against the other premium casino buffets in the greater Chicago metropolitan area.

Epicurean BuffetGrand Victoria Casino BuffetHorseshoe Hammond Buffet
King Crab LegsYes (weekends)LimitedYes (weekends)
Sushi BarYesNoYes
Prime Rib CarvingYesYesYes
Adult Dinner Price$38–$45$32–$40$40–$50
Chicago Area LocationAurora, ILElgin, ILHammond, IN
mychoice/Rewards DiscountYesYesYes

About Epicurean Buffet at Hollywood Casino Aurora

Hollywood Casino Aurora opened on the Fox River in Aurora, Illinois, as one of the original riverboat casinos in the state. The Epicurean Buffet has evolved over the years from a standard casino dining room into one of the more ambitious all-you-can-eat operations in the Chicago area, with a particular emphasis on seafood and Asian cuisine that sets it apart from competitors.

The weekend seafood dinner service — featuring king crab legs, snow crab clusters, raw oysters, and peel-and-eat shrimp alongside the standard buffet — is the signature offering. For the admission price of $42–$48 per person, it represents genuinely compelling value compared to ordering king crab at an a la carte seafood restaurant.

The buffet is a popular destination for regulars from the western Chicago suburbs (Naperville, Lisle, Wheaton, Batavia) and for day-trip visitors from the city who combine it with a casino visit. The mychoice rewards program makes frequent visits even more economical.

Full buffet menu

Epicurean Buffet — complete station guide with prices

All buffet stations and admission pricing. Data reviewed May 2026. Prices and station availability may vary — confirm with Hollywood Casino Aurora before visiting.

Common questions

Epicurean Buffet Aurora — frequently asked questions

Prices, king crab availability, hours, mychoice discounts, vegetarian options, and directions — answered.

What is the Epicurean Buffet at Hollywood Casino Aurora?
Epicurean Buffet is the all-you-can-eat restaurant at Hollywood Casino in Aurora, Illinois. It features over 100 dishes across seafood, Asian, American, and Italian stations, plus a sushi bar and large dessert section. It is considered one of the best casino buffets in the Chicago metropolitan area, particularly for the weekend seafood dinner service.
How much does the Epicurean Buffet cost?
Adult dinner buffet is approximately $38–$45 depending on the day; weekends and seafood nights are at the higher end. Lunch runs $25–$32. Senior (55+) pricing is $25–$30. Children under 10 pay $18–$22. Weekend seafood dinner — the premium service with king crab legs — is typically $42–$48 per adult.
Does Epicurean Buffet have king crab legs?
Yes — king crab legs are available at the weekend dinner service (Friday and Saturday) and are the most popular draw at the Epicurean Buffet. Snow crab clusters and peel-and-eat shrimp are also available. Availability can vary; calling ahead to confirm the weekend seafood lineup is recommended.
What are the best dishes at Epicurean Buffet?
The king crab legs (weekend dinner), prime rib carving station, and the sushi bar are consistently cited as the top offerings. The Chinese stir-fry station (General Tso's, Mongolian beef) and BBQ ribs are also popular. For value, arriving when a fresh tray of crab or prime rib is being served makes the biggest difference.
What are Epicurean Buffet hours?
Epicurean Buffet typically serves lunch and dinner daily, with lunch starting around 11 am and dinner from approximately 4 pm. Hours vary by day and holiday schedule. Confirm current hours directly with Hollywood Casino Aurora before visiting.
Do I need a casino card to get the buffet discount?
Hollywood Casino offers discounted buffet pricing for mychoice rewards card members. The card is free to obtain and can be applied at the buffet host stand. Non-members pay the standard rack rate; the card discount is typically $3–$8 off per person.
Is the Epicurean Buffet good for vegetarians?
The salad bar is fully vegetarian, and the dessert section is largely vegetarian. The Asian stations typically include vegetable-based dishes (stir-fried vegetables, tofu dishes, vegetable rolls). However, the buffet's main draws are seafood and meat — vegetarians will find options but the selection is weighted toward carnivores.
Where is Hollywood Casino Aurora located?
Hollywood Casino Aurora is located at 1 New York Street Bridge in Aurora, Illinois — approximately 35 miles west of downtown Chicago. Accessible by car (parking available) and by Metra Union Pacific West line to the Aurora station. The Epicurean Buffet is located inside the casino on the main floor.

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