SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – In today’s world of tariffs, inflation and the high cost of living, it’s hard to find a pro-consumer deal. But a buffet in San Francisco’s South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood is trying to fit that bill.
The $5 lunch buffet at Gold Club — which has been praised in the past by outlets including SFGate and Forbes — is back after a years-long hiatus, the strip club announced on its website.
“After years of patiently waiting (and drooling over the memories), we at Gold Club are thrilled to announce the return of our iconic $5 buffet,” the establishment wrote. “That’s right — starting April 2025, the all-you-can-eat spread that put us on the map is back at 650 Howard Street, ready to satisfy your hunger and your soul.”
In its announcement, the Gold Club cited government workers and tech employees returning to the office as one reason the bargain buffet returned after a five-year break. Its famous lunch was forced to shut down when remote work took over during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, drastically cutting down on the club’s “daytime” clientele, according to the business.
The rising cost of lunch in the area was another factor in the club’s decision.
“It’s a throwback price that laughs in the face of inflation, giving you a full plate and a full wallet,” reads the website.
The all-you-can-eat buffet — which includes fried chicken, rice pilaf and fruit salad — was officially reinstated on April 3. The buffet will now be available every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (The $5 price also includes a cover to get in the venue, according to Gold Club’s website.)
Located near Yerba Buena Gardens, the Gold Club made national waves when Forbes did a feature on the establishment in 2015, calling the strip club’s buffet “Tech’s Hottest Lunch Spot.” And in 2023, a journalist for SFGate, while investigating the “phenomenon” of the then-gone $5 lunch buffet, reviewed the club’s fried chicken and called it “undoubtedly” the best she’d ever eaten.
“Somehow, it’s even better than I imagined,” the reporter wrote.
These days, the Gold Club recommends patrons to arrive early to secure a spot as “those trays don’t last long.”
“We’ve missed seeing your faces piling plates high with fried chicken, and we know you’ve missed us too,” the club’s site reads.
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