11 Texas All-You-Can-Eat Seafood Buffets That Locals Say Are Worth Every Mile
Texas is famous for many things: sprawling ranches, legendary BBQ, and a spirit as vast as its landscape. But if you think our culinary scene stops there, you’re missing out on a glorious, often overlooked gem: the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet.
As a local who knows the best way to satisfy a serious seafood craving is with endless plates of deliciousness, I’ve embarked on a personal quest. I’ve scoured the state, listened to the whispers of fellow Texans, and tasted my way through countless offerings.
Here, I’m sharing the ultimate list—11 Texas AYCE seafood buffets that true locals swear are worth every single mile of the journey.
1. UMI Hotpot Sushi & Seafood Buffet
Modern meets mouthwatering at this hotpot and sushi paradise that stretches across Round Rock and Houston. Weekends bring the big guns with regular lobster and snow crab promotions that have locals planning their entire week around dinner plans.
Stations loaded with fresh seafood sit next to bubbling hotpot setups where you control every ingredient. Sushi rolls keep coming while you crack into sweet crab legs that practically fall off the shell.
Families pack in for the variety, couples love the interactive hotpot experience, and everyone leaves stuffed. The space feels fresh and clean, a nice change from outdated buffet vibes that smell like yesterday’s fried fish.
2. Osaka Sushi & Grill
Addison’s seafood treasure chest comes loaded with hibachi stations, fresh oysters, and snow crab that locals guard like secret recipes. This DFW favorite packs more variety than most people can tackle in one sitting, which never stops anyone from trying.
Chefs flip shrimp and vegetables on sizzling hibachi grills while diners pile plates high with sushi rolls and raw oysters. Snow crab legs appear like clockwork, glistening under heat lamps and begging to be dipped in melted butter.
The atmosphere buzzes with happy chatter and the clink of crab crackers. Regulars know to pace themselves, hitting the sushi first before moving to heavier seafood options that require serious stomach space.
3. King Buffet
Dallas locals treat this multi-station wonder like their personal seafood playground, where every corner reveals another reason to grab a fresh plate. Seafood stations anchor the massive spread, offering everything from garlic butter shrimp to steamed mussels that smell like the Gulf Coast.
Walking through feels like a culinary scavenger hunt with Asian dishes, American classics, and seafood specialties competing for attention. Crab legs sit next to fried catfish while sushi rolls share space with egg rolls in a delicious cultural mashup.
Prices stay reasonable even on busy weekends when families claim entire sections of tables. My cousin swears the weekend dinner service brings out the best seafood selection worth every extra dollar.
4. Lin’s Seafood & Sushi Buffet
San Antonio’s seafood and sushi headquarters keeps rolling despite one location closing in 2025, with remaining spots still serving locals who refuse to eat seafood anywhere else. Multi-station setups mean you can bounce between sushi, steamed crab, and international dishes without ever getting bored.
Fresh fish gets sliced into sushi throughout service while seafood stations stay stocked with crowd favorites. The variety rivals bigger city buffets but maintains that neighborhood feel where servers remember regular faces.
Families appreciate the kid-friendly options mixed among serious seafood selections. Weekend crowds prove this place earned its reputation through consistent quality rather than flashy promotions that promise more than they deliver.
5. East Buffet
Conroe families have made this their Friday night tradition, showing up early when snow crab, oysters, and spicy crawfish hit the buffet on busy nights. Rotating seafood offerings mean you never quite know what treasures await, adding an element of delicious surprise to every visit.
Busy nights transform the place into a seafood celebration where crab crackers become the most popular utensil in the building. Spicy crawfish piled high draw crowds while fresh oysters disappear almost faster than staff can restock them.
The family atmosphere feels genuine rather than forced, with kids running between tables and adults comparing plate strategies. Local reputation runs deep here, built on years of consistent service and seafood that actually tastes fresh.
6. Gao’s Crab
Houston’s Chinatown hides this year-round seafood boil paradise where bowls of crawfish, shrimp, and shellfish keep arriving until you wave the white napkin. The all-you-can-eat format applies to Louisiana-style boils that come seasoned with enough spice to make your nose run in the best way.
Forget dainty portions because servers bring out full bowls of steaming seafood that require plastic bibs and zero shame. Crawfish season or not, this spot keeps the boil tradition alive with consistent quality that has regulars driving from across Houston.
Tables covered in newspaper and piles of shells create that authentic boil experience without requiring a backyard setup. Prices stay reasonable considering you can eat your weight in perfectly seasoned seafood.
7. Kirin / Tokyo Japan Sushi & Hotpot
Houston and Spring area residents have watched this Japanese seafood operation evolve over years while maintaining its reputation for dinner buffets loaded with snow crab and oysters. Some locations have shifted recently, so checking before driving becomes important, but active spots still deliver the goods.
Dinner service brings out the premium seafood that makes the higher price tag feel like a bargain. Snow crab legs glisten next to freshly shucked oysters while sushi chefs work steadily behind the counter creating colorful rolls.
Long-running restaurants earn loyalty through consistency, and this place built its following one satisfied customer at a time. Hotpot options add variety for anyone who wants a break from cold seafood and raw fish.
8. Texas Buffet
FM 529 locals treat this spot like their personal dining hall, where sushi, seafood, and hibachi offerings create a triple threat of deliciousness. The all-you-can-eat format covers enough variety that picky eaters and adventurous foodies both find plenty to love on their plates.
Seafood selections rotate but always include crowd pleasers like steamed shrimp and crab options. Sushi stays fresh thanks to steady turnover from regular customers who know exactly when the chef puts out new rolls.
Hibachi stations add entertainment value while filling the air with the smell of grilled meats and vegetables. Last time I visited, watching the chef flip shrimp into his hat distracted me from my third plate of sushi and crab legs.
9. CrabDaddys / Crabby Daddy
Spring and The Woodlands seafood fans circle their calendars for select nights when this seafood house goes all-you-can-eat with crab and shellfish specials. Large snow crab and lobster events turn regular dinner service into celebrations where cracking shells becomes the primary dinner conversation.
The restaurant advertises these special nights heavily because they know locals will pack the place once word spreads. Fresh seafood arrives ready for butter dipping and serious eating, with servers keeping empty plates cleared and drinks refilled.
Regular menu items impress on normal nights, but those all-you-can-eat events create the kind of memories that turn first-time visitors into monthly regulars. Portions during specials feel genuinely unlimited rather than sneakily restricted.
10. Crafty Crab
League City’s Gulf Coast location gives this seafood spot natural advantages when it comes to fresh catches that show up in their large crab and crawfish specials. Locals list it among their all-you-can-eat crab options when someone asks where to get the best seafood bang for their buck.
Seafood boils arrive at tables in bags bursting with shellfish, corn, and potatoes soaked in spicy seasoning. The casual atmosphere encourages messy eating and loud laughter as friends tackle mountains of crab legs together.
Proximity to the coast means seafood tastes fresher than spots located further inland. Special events and promotions keep regulars checking social media to catch the next big seafood feast before tables fill up completely.
11. Tokyo Japan / Tokyo Japan Sushi Buffet
Another Houston-area champion emerges with repeated online reports and user videos showing snow crab nights that draw crowds from across the city. Dinner buffets transform into seafood feasts when those coveted crab legs and oysters make their appearance under the warming lights.
Videos posted by happy customers show plates piled dangerously high with snow crab, proof that the all-you-can-eat promise gets taken seriously here. Fresh oysters sit on ice next to sushi rolls, creating tough decisions about which direction to take your appetite first.
Online buzz keeps building as more people discover this spot and share their experiences. Smart diners call ahead to confirm snow crab nights rather than showing up disappointed when the schedule changes unexpectedly during slower weeks.