Hodel's Country Dining

Hodel's Country Dining has long held a cherished position in Bakersfield's culinary landscape, a true staple for locals and visitors alike. It's the kind of place where the aroma of home-style cooking greets you at the door, promising a comforting and satisfying meal.Sorry for the lack of pictures I don't usually approve of people taking pictures of buffet food ,This review is for the dinner menu only.. The enduring appeal of Hodel's lies in its unwavering commitment to classic American comfort food. Think brisket, ham, tri-tip, fried chicken, baked chicken, flaky biscuits, gravy, and creamy mashed potatoes, and a grand salad bar worthy of any buffet you can visualize. The menu, while not overly adventurous, delivers consistent quality and flavor, which is precisely what its loyal patrons expect and appreciate.The atmosphere at Hodel's is equally comforting. It's a bustling, family-friendly environment, often filled with the sounds of happy chatter and clinking silverware, with an occasional drop.. The decor, while perhaps a bit dated, contributes to the restaurant's nostalgic charm. It evokes a sense of simpler times, where good food and good company were the focus.Seating and Service is generally prompt and friendly, with staff members who seem genuinely invested in ensuring a pleasant dining experience. This adds to the overall feeling of warmth and hospitality that permeates Hodel's.The menu is always predictable with a few changes once in a while, but it's precisely this predictability that has made Hodel's a reliable dining destination for so many years. It's a place where you know you can always find a hearty, satisfying meal, for an absolute bargain and prepared with care and served with a smile. For those seeking a taste of authentic, American comfort food, Hodel's Country Dining remains a beloved Bakersfield institution.

I recently visited this restaurant for their brunch buffet, but I was a bit disappointed with the food options. There weren't many savory choices--it was mostly desserts and sweets. While I understand it was breakfast, for the price we paid, I expected a more well-rounded selection.That being said, there were a few standout items! The chile relleno scrambled eggs were absolutely delicious, and the waffles were incredibly soft. I also really enjoyed the salad bar. The biscuits were just okay, nothing special.Service-wise, our waitress was fantastic--super friendly and attentive, making sure our drinks were always refilled. While I don't think I'd return for breakfast, I might give their dinner buffet a try.

Met here for dinner with the family a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday. They won't let you sit until your whole party is here which is stupid! They tried seating us at a small table for 6 when there were 9 of us, and 3 big guys. Our waiter came to take our drink orders and was kinda of rude. Didn't really put in the effort and gave off the vibe of not wanting to wait on us. They do have one of the best salad bars in my opinion. The rest of the buffet was ok, doesn't taste as good as in the past.

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.

Even though the food you have to get yourself, the servers are pleasant. And bring your drinks to your table. The food is always good and fresh. My favorite is Friday bbq nite with ribs, pulled pork, bbq beef, and home made sauce. Desserts are included.The fried chicken is real close to Knotts Berry Farm.home made

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.

If you want clean and reliable then Hodel's is the place to go. We went for Sunday brunch and was impressed with the variety of foods including carved meats. Also an omelette bar.

Food and service are good. The buffet food is hardly ever marked as to what the item actually is. Am I eating pork, beef, chicken, fish? What kind of salad is this? Pasta, Cucumber, Artichoke, seafood? Does it contain something I'm allergic to?

I literally could not sleep until I got this off my chest...Hodel's USED to be a reputable institution in Central California; this has changed dramatically.Mind you, I paid my check, while smiling through my teeth, begrudgingly; but I will never---ever----EVER---- cross Hodel's threshold again!I came on 1/28/24 to have, what I would think to be, a famous meal, and comforting to know and enjoy, after so many years of eating here - this was NOT the case, in fact, far from the case...The chili verde had so much cayenne, it was impossible to taste anything BUT cayenne - last I checked, there is no such Hispanic meal with cayenne as an ingredient... NONE...The tomato zucchini soup tasted only like boiled bacon and had no other flavor whatsoever.The mashed potatoes were decent, and I give credit to this very liberally, as I could spend 1/3 the amount at KFC and receive absolutely perfect and classic mashed potatoes.Everything but the mashed potatoes tasted horrible and literally made me nauseous...There was no beef table... WHAT A RIPOFF!!!I will, from now until my last days, eat at G/C on Ming - there is an entire universe of distinction between Hodel's and G/C.Dear Hodel's: G/C is killing you... I say, "If ya can't die well, just fade away - good riddance..."

On the door at a family member's funeral service in the liberty hall. Didn't even attempt to cover it up. Absolutely disgusting you'd let people walk into a memorial service with this RIGHT outside the door.