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    Hodel's Country Dining

    3.8 (515 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Hodel's Country Dining Photos

    Business Info

    HODEL'S COUNTRY DINING ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Hodel's Country Dining

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    Bait-and-Switch: With gas prices and the cost of living rising in California, it feels like this restaurant relies on deceptive tactics to get people through the door. Customers drive clear across town expecting the affordable meal advertised on their website, only to find that the menu prices displayed in the waiting area are significantly higher. This feels like a classic bait-and-switch. Update your website so people know what they are actually paying before making the drive.

    Pecan rolls!!
    Denise D.

    This was a cool place! Very old school & vintage. It's been years since I've been to a home style buffet! We had a short wait to be seated, and ended up in a back room. It was nice & quiet! Our waitress kept our glasses full & plates cleared. There was a huge variety of things to eat. One long counter of every kind of salad I could think of, and another with main dishes & some breakfast items. Our meat choices were a tender round of beef & ham. There was also an amazing pile of pecan rolls dripping in glaze available. Cute gift shop to spend some time (& $$) in while you're waiting to be seated. Good value for the price!

    Susan L.

    Enjoyed the buffet a lot Nice environment, delicious food, loved the salads, meat, bread, desserts and coffee! Service was great too. Price was reasonable. Want to come back!!! Highly recommend this place.

    Sadia H.

    I was invited to a baby shower held inside the Harvest Room, which was spacious and clean. The guests were able to serve themselves off of the buffet bar of salad items, soups, hot entrees and desserts. I had been anticipating the Waffle Station but bummer, that is only available at set times. As I was piling food on my individual plate, I noticed staff members attending to the cleaning of the bar(s) and plates and customer requests, which was commendable. The salad was fresh and I enjoyed the cheese-potato-corn soup. The French Onion soup was too salty but guess what?! I used it as gravy on my mashed potatoes and divine intervention! The cornbread was refreshing and delicious.

    Waffle
    Kristen V.

    Hodel's is a family favorite for brunch. I don't usually go out of my way for AYCE restaurants, but I'd make an exception if it's Hodel's. This morning, I filled my plate with chilaquiles, sausage, bacon, and eggs. It was hearty and savory; however, the chips in the chilaquiles were pretty much stuck together and got soggy pretty quickly. Of course, that's something that's pretty inevitable when it's served buffet style. One of my favorite things about coming here for breakfast or brunch is the waffle bar! The waffles are heart shaped and you can top them with fruit, nuts, syrup, whipped cream, etc. I took a picture of the one that my dad made for himself. They're just too cute. I suppose the only thing that I wish was a little different is the seating. There's a lot of booths, but not so many tables for larger families. While there are a lot of rooms, not all of them were opened up [(yet?) but maybe they're the rooms that are reserved for parties?]. We ended up having to push two small tables together to seat a family of four. Likewise, I noticed that one other family had to spread themselves among booths. Regardless, my family and I enjoyed ourselves today. It wasn't our first time here, and it won't be our last either.

    Tomato soup

    Okay so Ive been going to hodels my whole life. The service is great. Everybody is very friendly and the building is beautiful. Its the food, which is the most important part. Oh my god. Everything is like half cooked OR bland. Pick your poison. Chicken was rubbery and so we're the BBQ ribs. Lowkey I would have my wedding here but we eating at Popeyes after reception.

    Comfort food
    Sarah G.

    I had no idea this buffet existed until yesterday. My favorite dish was the chicken pot pie. We went here for dinner because the name reminded me of my grandpa. He used to go to lunch with his coworkers every week and eat fried chicken at a Hodel's Buffet located in Northridge, CA. I went with him once in the early 1980s. I think it was destroyed by the Northridge earthquake of 1994. I never knew there was another one! I was visiting Bakersfield for the day and just had to eat here when I found it on Yelp. We walked in and there was a toy train going around on a track up above everyone. Me and my kid smiled and KNEW this was Grandpa's type of place, especially with an air museum next door. I speculated that my grandpa could have eaten at this location but it's quite possible that he only visited the one where he lived in the San Fernando Valley. Either way, this was a special experience and very unexpected. Beyond the enchantment I was feeling, service was very pleasant, and the food was pretty good! Lots of meat, potatoes, and gravy. I don't see many restaurants like this anymore.

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    11 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Service was great.. we went for dinner and the food was dry and old.. I will never go back!

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    4 months ago

    Service was amazing and the food was soo good!!!! We went home stuffed May be our go to every Friday and or Saturday

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    5 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Horrible the bread was cold eggs weren't hot and really nothing was there no pancakes no potatoes

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    9 months ago

    Todo muy bueno y fresco, el servicio muy bueno, el personal excelente trato y amabilidad

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    Hodel's Country Dining Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hodel's Country Dining

    Is the buffet the same for lunch and dinner?

    No, they have breakfast items for breakfast, eggs, potato's etc, chicken etc for lunch and dinner.

    An update on vegan options dear establishment?

    Hodels has a "make your own salad" bar, with a variety of dressings!

    How does the party system work? Do we have to pay per person or simply a reservation fee for a room?

    There's different rates per person depending on what room or package you decide on. Speak to one of the employees. :)

    Are there any Vegan options? Besides the obvious salad with no dressing?

    I don't know if their pastries and world famous cinnamon rolls have dairy in them, but I'm assuming they do because they are very hearty and delicious! I think eggs were big there during brunch, and that's not vegan. The only thing I can think of is… Read more

    Is it true no reservations?

    Yes no reservations. They do make some exceptions. Call ahead they will let you know for sure. Usually limited to extremely large parties. Most wait times aren't very long… Read more

    View All 10 Questions

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    Bakersfield Barbecue Company

    Bakersfield Barbecue Company

    4.3(180 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    I had a hardcore craving for BBQ meat and this craving needed to be coddled. I came here to Yelp…read moreand asked its wise advice for the best in Bako and look where it lead me. Our visit was at the end of the day, so some of the meats were sold out. I was sad, but adjusted quickly and ordered a double meat plate with brisket and deep pit. Mac and cheese and beans were the sides I chose after some consideration and adjustment knowing okra was sold out for the day. The worker who greeted us and took my order was so knowledgeable about their menu and let me know what's up. The ambiance is lovely, the patio especially. On a nice day or evening it's just perfect. My meat plate was so bomb, you guys. The brisket was exactly what my soul needed. Their BBQ sauces are a dream come true. My deep pit was also so so good. I ate until I was on the brink of meat sweats and I have absolutely no regrets. I will be back here. Like, today. So good. Yelp never steers me wrong.

    We came on a whim. Got a bit of everything. The tritip, the chicken, the ribs. Also got the mac and…read morecheese, the beans, potato salad and fried green beans for the sides. The tri-tip was great, not dry and went well with the bread. Wasn't personally a fan of the chicken. It was well cooked but too salty for my tastes. My fiancé didn't seem to mind it. All the sides were great. I really liked the batter they used on the fried green beans. Perfect level of crispy for me. Also loved the seasoning of the potato salad. The mac and cheese is like a better version of Hometown buffet's mac and cheese, I also loved it. Makes me want to try it with the hot links next time. We also tried the BBQ sauces. Each were very good and paired well with the food. But either the food is so good I don't think it needs sauce. Or, for me, their sauces are missing that addictive aspect. They were pretty middling for me. Hands down crowd favorite though, were the ribs. We watched as the fiancé picked up the rib and fall off the bone. THE RIBS ARE SO GOOD YOU CAN EAT THE BONE. I LOVE EATING BONES. They also aren't scared to leave the fat on. These alone were the hit of the day for me. I want to take my elderly mom here just for the ribs because they cook them the way we cook them. Overall. Pretty much my new favorite BBQ place now. It's pricy and out of the way for me, but I don't care. I've driven farther out for lesser quality food.

    Photos
    Bakersfield Barbecue Company
    Bakersfield Barbecue Company
    Bakersfield Barbecue Company

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    Salty's BBQ & Catering - Half Chicken & Brisket Dinner

    Salty's BBQ & Catering

    3.8(517 reviews)
    6.7 mi
    $$

    I'm a long time fan of Salty's. Their BBQ has always been next level. The house bbq sauce has the…read moreperfect tang and is crafted to pair perfectly with their BBQ. I can't get enough of their tri-tip, but everything is great and worth getting. If it's your first time, do yourself a favor and get a nice assortment from one of their combo platters. I stopped by on "Friday Night Cruizin'" with some buddies. "Friday Night Cruizin'" is a car show they host every first and third Friday at their White Lane location. The first Friday tends to be their larger showing, so I definitely recommend stopping by then. I grabbed a Salty's classic, the "pig sandwich", on this visit with extra coleslaw on the side. I can never have enough of their slaw. The folks behind the counter and on the grill are always so friendly. The vibe is always great. I am a big fan of the old school railroad passenger car you order in and can dine in is always a highlight. With the weather being so nice right now, we enjoyed their spacious patio before taking a lap to check out all the cool cars. It's always a good time at Salty's, especially on "Friday Night Cruizin'" nights.

    Drive thru times are not good. Way too long Food is…read moredelicious Prices are a little high for the portion size but have had higher elsewhere. MAJOR problem is at end of day they always run out of food like Mac and cheese or tri tip or briscuit and when you drive over at 6 pm for dinner when they close at 7pm. That's very disappointing and this has happened multiple times. A food restaurant should not be running out of food because they are losing money from the customer as a couple times. I have turned around and just walked off and went somewhere else for dinner. The food itself is delicious. Bread is good. Mac and cheese is phenomenal and meats are good and the food is always consistently GOOD

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    Salty's BBQ & Catering - Our event!

    Our event!

    Salty's BBQ & Catering - 1/2 lb . Brisket 1/2 Chicken   Mac & Cheese

    1/2 lb . Brisket 1/2 Chicken Mac & Cheese

    Salty's BBQ & Catering - Front entrance

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    Front entrance

    Hodel's Country Dining - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

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