TL;DR
Golden Corral introduces its new Backyard Grill menu, featuring premium proteins and dragon fruit beverages, available systemwide from May 4 to June 28. The menu includes new items such as Grilled Bacon Cheddar Ranch Chicken Breast and Grilled Pork Steak with Spicy Orange Glaze.
Backyard Grill brings an assortment of seasonal offerings across lunch and dinner, including the brand-new Grilled Bacon Cheddar Ranch Chicken Breast, available during both lunch and dinner hours featuring a grilled chicken breast marinated in Ranch dressing, layered with shredded cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and a drizzle of Ranch dressing.
At lunch, guests can enjoy the new Spicy Southwest Sausage, a bold, seasoned option with a kick of southwestern spice, alongside freshly grilled Cheeseburgers. At dinner, the brand is highlighting its Signature Carved Sirloin, a longtime guest favorite, and brand-new Grilled Pork Steak with Spicy Orange Glaze, a tender, char-grilled option finished with a zesty citrus-forward glaze. Additionally, guests have the opportunity to build-their-own Summer Strawberry Salad using items already featured on the bar including Spring Mix, sliced Almonds, Strawberries, Grilled Chicken, and Balsamic Dressing.
“Golden Corral is focused on delivering a wide range of premium offerings at a price point that works for families across the country,” said Lance Trenary, CEO of Golden Corral Corporation. “Just in time for grilling season, Backyard Grill introduces new, chef-inspired items alongside beloved guest favorites, expanding the protein selection and showing our commitment to variety, quality, and everyday value.”
To complement the new offerings, Golden Corral is also rolling out new Dragon Fruit beverages for a limited time. The Dragon Fruit lineup includes Lemonade, Citrus Splash, and Tea, offering bright, tropical flavors that pair with the bold, savory menu.
Guests can also enjoy Backyard Grill items through Golden Corral’s Meals To Go options (Weigh & Pay, Delivery, and Online Ordering), making it simple to enjoy these dishes at home or on the go.
The Backyard Grill promotion and Dragon Fruit beverages are available systemwide from May 4 through June 28. Items available for a limited time. Lunch served weekdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekday Dinner served after 4 p.m. Weekend Dinner hours may vary by location. Guests are encouraged to visit their local Golden Corral to enjoy these limited-time offerings before the promotion ends.
Golden Corral strives to make pleasurable dining affordable for all families. Golden Corral restaurants are 99% locally owned and operated by independent franchisees. While its commitment begins each day with preparing delicious food, Golden Corral also believes in providing outstanding hospitality and giving back.
Service to others is a hallmark of the Golden Corral brand. In recent years, Golden Corral has been recognized among the nation’s top 50 “Most Loved Brands” by Yelp (2023), honored by Newsweek for “America’s Best Customer Service 2024,” named Newsweek’s #1 “Best Buffet Chain in America” for 2025, and awarded “America’s Best Customer Service 2026 by USA Today.” The brand has also earned multiple workplace awards in recognition of its deep-rooted culture.
Golden Corral restaurants nationwide have long been strong supporters of the U.S. Military and DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and have more recently partnered with Project Healing Waters, an organization that helps active military service personnel and Veterans in need through a dedicated, developed curriculum of fly fishing, fly casting, fly tying, and fly rod building.
Golden Corral is also the founding sponsor of Camp Corral, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation, which provides free, one-of-a-kind summer camp experiences for children of wounded, injured, ill or fallen service members. For more information, visit GoldenCorral.com and follow Golden Corral on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.
Golden Corral is the largest National Buffet chain, offering delicious comfort food classics allowing guests to create their own unique and perfect plate.
In this story
This story was originally published in Franchising.com on May 4, 2026. Burnaze summarizes and links to the original reporting.
Read the full story at Franchising.comLiked this? Get the week's franchise news, explained
- Sunday 8 AM ET weekly + a monthly deep dive
- Sections picked for the industries you follow
- Every claim linked to its source. Free.
