Toucan Charlie's Buffet & Grille

3800 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502, United States
+1 775-824-4433
$$$ Buffet restaurant
(2853 Reviews)
Price Range $30–50

Toucan Charlie's Buffet & Grille sits on South Virginia Street in Reno as a sizable, all-you-can-eat restaurant that has long drawn a crowd looking for a broad and hearty dining experience. It's a place built for those who want variety and quantity—families, groups of friends, and visitors in town who prefer the lively pace of buffet-style dining over a traditional sit-down meal.

The atmosphere is casual and somewhat bustling, especially on weekends and holidays when specials like the steamed crab legs and seafood spread are featured. These seafood offerings tend to be the highlight, with fresh crab legs, shrimp, and blackened salmon serving as main attractions. Beyond seafood, the restaurant makes an effort to keep a diverse menu flowing, including a salad bar, roasted meats such as prime rib and notably well-regarded turkey, pizza, and a pretty extensive dessert section. The dessert station's offerings—ranging from carrot cake to gelato and seasonal treats like cotton candy views—add a playful touch, though some visitors have noted desserts can be hit or miss compared to other parts of the buffet.

Reservations can be a smart move here, particularly on busy nights like Fridays and weekends, as walk-in lines can become quite long. Staff members tend to be friendly and attentive, helping keep service moving even during peak times. The setting is functional and focused on efficiency, with clearly marked stations for different food categories, and it accommodates both casual eaters and those who want to savor standout dishes like the crab legs or the unique roasted turkey that’s available year-round.

For locals and repeat visitors, Toucan Charlie’s works well as a place to gather when the goal is to enjoy a wide-ranging buffet offering without fuss. Its price points vary through tiers, which can cater to different appetites or budgets. While it doesn’t specialize in niche cuisines, there’s enough variety to satisfy most palates, though some might find the Asian options somewhat limited compared to other buffets. The overall vibe is straightforward and dependable rather than refined, making it a practical choice when a casual, plentiful meal is the priority.

Best time to visit: A weekday lunch might be less crowded than weekend dinners when seafood specials pack the house. Reservations help avoid the longest waits on popular nights.

Highlights
Has fast service
Serves great cocktails
Serves great coffee
Serves great dessert
Has great wine list
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
What they serve
Serves alcohol
Has all you can eat
Serves beer
Serves cocktails
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves healthy options
Has salad bar
Serves spirits
Serves vegan dishes
Serves vegetarian dishes
Serves wine
Best for
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Serves dessert
Has seating
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Valet parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

11:00 AM - 03:00 PM

,

04:30 PM - 09:00 PM

Tuesday

11:00 AM - 03:00 PM

,

04:30 PM - 09:00 PM

Wednesday

11:00 AM - 03:00 PM

,

04:30 PM - 09:00 PM

Thursday

11:00 AM - 03:00 PM

,

04:30 PM - 09:00 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 03:00 PM

,

04:30 PM - 09:00 PM

Saturday

09:00 AM - 03:00 PM

,

04:30 PM - 09:00 PM

Sunday

09:00 AM - 03:00 PM

,

04:30 PM - 09:00 PM

2853 Reviews
Lauri Waggoner

26 Dec 2025

We heard how good their seafood buffet was so we couldn't resist. It was definitely the best crab legs in Reno. I enjoyed lots of crab, shrimp, blackened salmon, and more crab legs. It was well worth the price ($117 for two before tax).

Alzila

17 Nov 2025

My mom researched the area for a great buffet before we arrived to Reno, and was told this is the best buffet spot in Reno where she made a reservation. Upon arrival, the lines were extremely long, but they had sections for walk-ins and for people who made reservations. We proceeded to the reservations only line and was assisted by one of their friendly and jolly staff members. We paid the amount and was seated immediately. The waiters/ clean up persons approached us and asked us what we would like to have to drink. They have sodas, teas, lemonade, hot tea, champagne and much more. After ordering our drinks we proceeded to make our plates. Their foods are somewhat categorized by cuisine. They have seafoods, a carving station that includes prime rib, ham, roasted chicken, fried chicken that is bone in, a far east section that consists of dim sum, American Chinese dishes such as wok tossed mixed vegetables, broccoli chicken, fried rice, stir fried noodles and other delicious options. Next to it is their Mongolian Grill where you pick out the items and sauces of your choice and a cook will prepare it on a grill for you. After that would be their noodle station, the prep person will ask what ingredients you want and they will cook it right in front of you. They also have a Spanish section which includes tacos, quesadillas, salsas and some traditional Mexican dishes like carnitas, chile verde, tamales and much more. Fruits and salads are also a option along with a variety of soups to choose from. Lastly they have their dessert isle that is made up of a ice cream section where a staff will scoop it for you, pastries, and other delicious sweet treats for anyone with a sweet tooth. The food was okay and the service was great thanks to their very welcoming, well trained and understanding staffs were it made our visit a satisfying one. They have discounts for children, military, anyone over the age of fifty five and to any Monarch rewards members, higher the tier the cheaper the price. I highly recommend this place to anyone that loves to eat, to anyone looking to try something new, if you are looking for a decent buffet to dine at or if you just so happen to be in the area. I will be back to tryout the other delicious options they have to offer.

Anita Brighton

16 Nov 2025

I can't say enough good things about this wonderful buffet. The food is perfectly prepared and fresh, attended to regularly and kept at safe temps. There's a nice variety of options (though compared to come buffets, is lacking slightly in the Asian department). The roasted/sliced meats bar is AMAZING and the turkey is the best I've ever tasted in my long life (and available not just on holidays). There are many unique buffet items I've never seen elsewhere. It's a great spread! Now, as for service, it's exemplary. They work as a team and clear plates and refill drinks promptly. We went without reservations for a birthday celebration and they easily seated our large party and our primary table attendant even prepared a lovely birthday plate of desserts and searched in 3 other onsite restaurants for a candle. What a guy!

Cindy N

31 Oct 2025

This was my second visit to this buffet, and overall, the experience was decent. The food is pretty average — not bad, but nothing exceptional either. One pleasant surprise, though, was Pho. It actually had a nice aroma and the broth had an authentic Pho flavor, which I didn’t expect at a buffet. On the downside, the desserts were disappointing. This was the first time I didn’t enjoy the dessert selection at a buffet. The service, however, was quite good. Staff were attentive and quick to clean up dirty plates.

Juniper Moon

05 Oct 2025

Every time we come to Reno, we always make it a point to eat here because it is the best buffet. Everything is fresh and they have so many different options to choose from. Friday is snow, crab, and fresh oysters. Staff is always friendly and attentive. Camilla gave outstanding customer service to us when we arrived to pay.

juliene

18 Sep 2025

I went with a friend during their seafood buffet, and it was the perfect setting for some much-needed girl time. The seafood dishes were absolutely delicious, and there was a great variety of desserts and other foods to choose from. The restaurant was packed that day, but everything was well organized—we didn’t have to wait long at all. The place was clean, and the staff were incredibly attentive and friendly. Overall, a lovely experience. I’d definitely come back again!

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