Oops, I forgot to take a photo of the outside… but it’s pretty easy to find. If you take any of the FREE shuttles from Bally’s/Paris or Harrah’s to Rio (you don’t have to be staying at any of those hotels to take the free shuttle!), it drops you right in front of the entrance to the casino that leads straight to this buffet. And if you’re really nice… well, you can email me and I’ll email you a coupon for this buffet, $5 off per person in your party up to 4 people. (Yes, I’ll email you the coupon for free- I’ve seen people selling the coupon on eBay!- and it should work.)
The first time I went to the Rio World Buffet was when I took FeistyMom to Vegas in May 07. It was super cheap – with the coupon, if I recall correctly, it came out to less than $10 a person and there was a huge selection of buffet foods. Good stuff. So I was especially keen on returning to the sight of excess and gluttony –
do you know why Las Vegas is called Sin City? I’m being serious here. It’s because in this city all seven deadly sins are displayed egregiously, constantly, and without shame, without regret. Think about that for a second. Each sin is encouraged to thrive in this city. The economy depends on those sins for its survival.
Anyway, I was really eager to return to the scene of excessive gluttony for an inexcessive price, and was shocked when we walked up to the line and discovered the price for weekend brunch has now been raised to $23.99, same as the price for dinner. (Now I am not claiming this is an outrageous price… although the same food is served during the week for lunch prices at $16.99.) However, HB was still game and so we went in and used our $5 off coupons, so it was around $20+tip a person.
[Note: I just went to double check the prices of the buffet and discovered that weekend brunch is a champagne brunch, though this fact was not advertised while we were there, nor did our server offer us champagne. I’m a little peeved by that… I would have had champagne if I knew it was included! WTH!]
One of the reason I really like World Buffet is the wide selection available. I’m generally a picky buffet eater, but in Vegas, I’ll eat at just about any buffet, though I have preferences.
My first plate was from the carving station, straight ahead. Rib eye, short ribs, kalbi (Korean short ribs), a teensy bit of mashed potato, and yes, broccoli, then some creamy horseradish. While the rib eye can only be described as “Well, it’s from a buffet” and lacked seasoning, dipped in the creamy horseradish, it was pretty good and did scratch that rare beef itch I’d had since I quit eating meat. Mmm.
For my second plate, I walked the entire length of the buffet and settled on a few crappy shrimp tempura rolls (the rice was gummy and bland), a chicken wing that I drizzled a bit of BBQ sauce on (super crispy, and I meant to go back for more, oops), a piece of duck that was horrible enough that “Why did you even pick that up, it LOOKS bad!” (soggy skin and sitting in fat; I thought it was Peking duck because there was a carving station but the guy never carved any and the pieces just sat there swimming in goo, ugh), and some Chinese veggies (yes, I did want those, thanks).
Plate #3 was when I finally found the salad station, which had hid itself at the very, very end, behind a section of the buffet that stuck out. Some melon, greens, a bit of dressing, croutons, cucumbers, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. Mmmmm.
The fried food plates combined with my nachos plate. I was telling HB the story of how, as a kid, no matter what, I would end my buffet meals with a giant plate of chips and cheese drizzled on top, and how much I loved it. I was talking about wanting to do that now, but I also wanted a fried food plate, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to do both, as by this time, my stomach was telling me that I was crazy. So I was ‘good’ and combined them both – a fried piece of haddock (too much breading), a fried scallop (waste of a scallop), some fried shrimp (I don’t like shrimp except fried, and these were good fried shrimp; crispy, not too much breading, and perfect, though if you’re looking for shrimp’s natural flavor to shine, this isn’t the dish), tartar sauce and lemons to jazz up the tartar sauce. Then, on the side, I had chips with cheese, lettuce, guacamole, and sour cream (delicious combination!). If you know me at all, you’ll know this was me showing a bit of meat restraint as I opted not to add the seasoned ground beef to the nachos, feeling they would bring them to a level I didn’t want to enter.
After all that, I sat glaring at the table as HB laughed at me. You see, when we’d walked in, I’d said “I’m going to eat 5 plates!” and I was now missing one. She wasn’t holding me to it, but I wanted to succeed at my self-challenge!
So I got ice cream instead. Gelato they called it. None of their flavors intrigued (I KNOW, that’s amazing!) – they had one decorated with ladyfingers that made me all excited but when I looked, it said “NY CHEESECAKE” (since when does that have LADYFINGERS in it?!). So I got Cookies & Cream, a flavor I never eat, and was amused to discover that the cookies part of the flavor came entirely from the cookie crumbles in it, while the gelato portion was just creamy. It was eh, but a fine end to the meal nonetheless.
Yvo says: Overall, a really great, wide selection with something for everyone (I would say the above is a completely inaccurate representation of what’s available; seriously, there’s a TON of great food – I just didn’t feel like eating some of the stuff right then, but that’s okay, since the price isn’t horrifically astronomical, you feel OK eating just what you want and not so much “I have to eat my money’s worth”). I will definitely be going back – with coupon in hand – and eating here again. But not for dinner or weekend brunch, I’ll definitely go for the cheaper prices.
recommended
PS FeistyMom has eaten here for hours on end before. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but there are pictures of her in front of a loaded plate with the time stamp… and then 10 minutes later, another loaded plate… and 10 minutes later, another loaded plate… yeah, she can eat. Where do you think I get this from?!
PPS Sorry for the pics, I’ve been brightening them a little bit before posting them lately, which has been helping, but my computer is doing something funky… and long story short, no touched up pics for a little bit. Sorry!
SkippyMom says
I think7 the pics' look great! What do I know tho' I have been scanning Polaroids of my new puppy and putting them up – makes my blog look like the 1970's threw up on it…giggle.
The ribeye? That is worth the price of entry – I want, want, want…
I do know that my BF & her husband went to Vegas and had a good time going to free [very low price] buffet to free [ditto] buffet and managed to feed themselves pretty nicely [not as nice as this of course]for the week they were there…
Is that still possible, I wonder?
Nancy says
That sounds great. :] I’m gonna have to go try it soon. (I’d appreciate if you could email me a ticket!)
Are lunch and dinner really the same I wonder..
Chucky says
Excellent review Foodie. This is my favorite buffet in Vegas, and I’m about to visit again soon. Could you email me the coupon?
Jim says
I like your review. I think I am going to try out the Carnival World Buffet at Rio. Could you please kindly email me the coupon? Thanks.
Cass says
Hello, if you recieved the coupon would you please email me the coupon too. solncassrushdan@yahoo.com
Thanks
Cass
Emily says
Yeah please could you send me a coupon too…
I tried the Carnival World buffet just a couple of days ago…
and I must say its the best buffet I have ever been to. I had read some reviews and so I had certain expectations, however, I couldn’t have wished for me. I wouldn’t normally pay $16.99 for a buffet, so I was hoping I’d get my money’s worth… After walking in (and at 3pm on a monday afternoon I didn’t have to wait to go in and pay, and i didn’t have to wait to be seated). Before getting any food I walked up and down the whole buffet… I was able to sample everything from American food to Chinese food, and the desserts were incredible – even sugar free ones to save some calories!
The only thing I thought they could improve was the dinner selection, as they charge $24.99 for dinner and the only difference is they add crabs legs and some extra seafood to the selection… I was surprised as they have a Seafood buffet at the opposite side of the Rio, and I don’t eat fish or sea food, so I though they could’ve balanced it out a bit more…
Apart from that I thought it was fantastic, and I would definitely go there again… (but for the lunch price!)…
Claudio Masu says
Hi There,
I’m sold.. heading there in 19 days :)… are you aware of any Bellagio Buffet coupons?
Could you kindly send over the Carnival coupon?
Ba says
Can you email to me the Rio Las Vegas Buffet coupons?(Carnival World Buffet or seafood buffet???)
Thanks
Sam says
hi,
Could you please e-mail me the $5 off coupon for the buffet? After reading (and seeing) your review, I’ll be sure to check it out during my trip there. Thank you for taking the time to post such an informative review about this buffet online!!
-Sam
Maria says
Hi, Would you please Email me the coupon to the carnival world buffet or seafood buffet?
Thank youuuuuuuuuuuu
Jeremy Ackerman says
Hello, I really enjoyed this review and the picture make me very excited to visit this buffet again. It is one of my favorite vacation destinations. Could you please send me the coupon for the World Carnival Buffet? Thank You
Jennifer Cooney says
Thank you for your fun writing and great review! This has been on my must try list for awhile. I am heading back to Vegas in a month and a half and am very excited to go check it out after your review. Thanks so much!
If you have the chance could I get a coupon as well 🙂
Thanks so much!
Jeff C. says
Great review, heading to vegas to give it a try.
Could you please send a coupon, thank you.
Neal says
going to vegas again in a few months and your feedback on this awesome looking buffet makes my mouth start to drool. cant wait to go and take my family. 12 of us are flying out there in april but can u please email me 3 of those tickets so we can all enjoy this crazy kool experience.
thanks
TheNyteBird says
Thanks for the review and pics. Please email me the coupon for the Rio Carnival Buffet. Thanks in advance!
Monica says
We will visit Las Vegas in a couple of days. Liked your view, I think it will be helpful. Can you please email me the $5 off coupon as well.
Thanks a lot!
Gloria says
Please email me a coupon! Thanks.
COURTNEY says
COULD YOU PLEASE EMAIL ME THE $5.00 COUPON?
THANKS IN ADVANCE
Barb B. says
Great review. Lots of good info.
Will you please email me the coupons for the $5 off buffet for the Rio buffets?
Thanks so much!!
Yancey Warnock says
Do you still have $5 off coupons for the Rio Buffet?
Ed Gorman says
would you please email me the $5 coupons for the Rio buffets?
thanks!
Clayton says
Could you email me the Rio Seafood buffet coupons? Thanks.
Jenny says
Can you please email the coupon too??
Bob says
Could you please email me $5 off coupons for the Carnival Buffet at Rio. I will have 4 in my party.
Nicole says
If you still have a copy of this coupon, could you email it to me?
We are headed to Vegas at the end of the month and I am trying to get recommendations from the different food bloggers of where to go.
Thanks!
Diana says
Please send me the $5 coupon… im heading there this memorial day weekend thanks!
stefan adamcik says
Hi could i please get you to email me the coupons also as I am leaving for 4 days with my family and staying at the Rio and we would like to be able to afford to go to the buffet.
Javier says
Hello.
Like you said, one of the best buffets at Vegas, please send me that coupon.
Do you know where to find the coupons in vegas?
Las year i couldn’t find a coupon for rio, just for Flavors at Harrah’s.
Thank you.
Faye says
Hi, I enjoyed your review of the buffet and I am planning to try it myself when I vist Vegas in July. Please email me the coupon. Thanks
Estacy says
please email coupon. love this buffet. my son saw your pics will be his first time going.
MarinJillQuinnFreddy says
Please email me the coupon. Nice pictures. It makes me hungry just looking at them. Yum. We’ll need a nice buffet for my 21st birthday dinner.
Scott Holtslander says
Great story and I would have to agree that the world carnival is the best reasonably priced buffet in Las Vegas. Please email me the coupon.
Lori says
I would LOVE a coupon to the World Carnival Buffet…please, please, please!! Thanyou!!
Terry Dickson says
Nice review! Can you please send the $5 off Rio buffet coupon as soon as you can?
Kathy Sink says
Please email me the coupon today. Thanks
Jeff Hess says
Great review, im already hungry, im heading to vegas next month could you send me the coupon please
Thank you
JH
Feisty Foodie says
Hi Jeff, so sorry! Unfortunately I no longer have the coupon available to mail, or I would. I hope you enjoy regardless- there are a lot of buffets all around Vegas, I’m partial to Bellagio’s, though I haven’t been in years.