Golden Corral Favorites will offer some of Golden Corral’s signature menu items in a faster format. | Image courtesy of Golden Corral
Golden Corral is winding down Homeward Kitchen, the fast-casual offshoot it launched in 2023, and replacing it with a new concept: Golden Corral Favorites.
The new brand will offer some of the buffet chain’s signature dishes in a quick-service format, a nod to growing consumer demand for convenience. Golden Corral Favorites will feature counter service, a drive-thru and mobile ordering and will focus on getting customers their food on the go, though there will be a small dining room for those who want to dine in.
“This new concept leverages the brand equity in the Golden Corral name and blends the best of both worlds—offering our signature comfort foods they crave with the convenience today’s consumers expect,” said CEO Lance Trenary in a statement.
Golden Corral Favorites will focus on speed and convenience. | Image courtesy of Golden Corral
The arrival of Golden Corral Favorites spells the end of Homeward Kitchen, which serves comfort food entrees such as meatloaf and fried chicken along with sandwiches, salads and sides. Some of the recipes were identical to those used by Golden Corral, but there was no explicit connection to the parent concept.
The lone Homeward Kitchen location opened in Southern Pines, North Carolina, in late 2023. At the time, it was described as a prototype and was expected to generate more than $3 million a year. The chain said it had about 20 franchisees interested in opening one. But it is now shifting gears. Homeward Kitchen was set to close after service on Monday to begin its transition to Golden Corral Favorites.
Golden Corral said it hopes to retain the entire staff of Homeward Kitchen at the new Golden Corral Favorites. Workers who choose to stay will be paid during the renovation and trained on the new concept. They’ll also receive a return-to-work bonus.
The Raleigh, North Carolina-based buffet chain is the latest full-service operation looking to break into the fast-casual market, which has been growing quickly in recent years. A host of other FSRs, including P.F. Chang’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, IHOP, Red Robin and Hooters, have tried similar spinoffs, but few have had much success.
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