Almost every modern buffet offers an underutilized alternative to dine-in eating: takeout buffet by the pound.
When you order takeout, the cashier hands you heavy-duty partitioned containers. You navigate the identical buffet floor, filling your container with whatever you choose, and pay a flat fee per pound at the register, usually ranging between $6.99 and $10.99 per pound depending on whether it is lunch or dinner.
This option offers tremendous value if you understand weight mechanics:
- Avoid Dense Fillers: Steer clear of white rice, fried rice, heavy lo mein noodles, and thick bone-in meats. These items weigh down the box quickly, driving up the register total on low-cost carbohydrates.
- Target Lightweight, High-Cost Proteins: Focus on sautéed shrimp, boneless pepper beef, crispy salt-and-pepper calamari, green beans, and wok-tossed noodle dishes packed with fresh vegetables.
- Drain Sauces: Use the slotted serving spoons. A half-cup of excess sweet-and-sour or brown gravy resting in the bottom of your container can easily add a third of a pound to your bill without offering substantive nutritional value.
Executed properly, a takeout box loaded strictly with prime sautéed meats and specialty greens yields two high-protein meals for less than the price of a standard fast-casual bowl.
