This Maine Seafood Buffet Serves Crab The Way New Englanders Have Loved For Decades
I still remember the first time I cracked open a snow crab leg at a Maine buffet, butter dripping down my chin, feeling like I’d unlocked a secret my grandparents had been keeping for years.
That simple, sweet bite is the reason New Englanders have stuck with steamed crab and melted butter for generations, and Umi Sushi & Seafood Buffet in South Portland keeps that tradition alive every single night.
If you’ve been hunting for a place that serves crab the old-school way—pile-high, no-frills, all-you-can-eat—this is your spot.
A Classic, Pile-High Crab Night in South Portland
Nothing beats walking into a room where the air smells like salt and steam, and the first thing you see is a mountain of crab legs waiting for you.
Umi Sushi & Seafood Buffet serves snow crab legs at dinner alongside oysters, shrimp, and lobster claws, so you can build that timeless New England plate without compromise. Every visit feels like a family reunion where the shellfish is the guest of honor.
The all-you-can-eat format means you never have to ration your favorite part of the meal. Load up, crack open, repeat. It’s the kind of setup that turns a Tuesday into a celebration and reminds you why this region has loved crab for so long.
Confirmed Open, Easy to Find
You won’t waste time hunting down a mystery address or wondering if the place still exists. Umi operates at 198 Maine Mall Rd in South Portland, ME 04106, with daily hours that typically run from late morning through evening and extended closes on Fridays and Saturdays.
The restaurant posts menu details and operating hours online, so you can double-check before you head out.
Planning around holidays or special events? A quick peek at their live pages keeps you from showing up to a closed door. Knowing exactly where you’re going and when you can get there takes the guesswork out of a seafood craving.
What Hits the Trays—Crab First, But Not Only
Crab legs steal the spotlight, but they bring a full supporting cast with them.
At dinner, expect snow crab alongside peel-and-eat shrimp, mussels, oysters, sushi, and rotating hot seafood entrées. Reviewers rave about the lobster items and shellfish selection, proving that the buffet knows how to honor the ocean’s best offerings.
If your crew includes someone who isn’t sold on crab, they won’t leave hungry. The sushi line and hot dishes cover every palate, so everyone gets their win. It’s a spread that respects tradition while keeping variety front and center.
The New England Way—Simple, Steamed, and Buttery
Forget fancy sauces or complicated spice rubs—New Englanders have always known that great crab doesn’t need a disguise.
Umi serves snow crab the traditional regional way: simply steamed so the meat stays sweet, then paired with melted butter and a squeeze of lemon. That straightforward preparation is what generations have loved, and the buffet format lets you keep it classic, round after round.
There’s a reason this method has stuck around for decades. It highlights the natural flavor instead of hiding it, and it turns every bite into a celebration of simplicity. When the crab is this good, less really is more.
Price Point and When to Go
Timing your visit can make the difference between a good meal and a legendary one.
Dinner is when the premium seafood—snow crab, lobster, and ribeye—typically rolls out, so that’s your best bet for the full experience. Community posts and recent reviews confirm that higher-end items hit the trays during the dinner window.
Arrive on the earlier side of dinner service for the freshest turnover and the shortest wait. You’ll catch the trays at their peak and skip the rush that builds as the evening goes on. Smart timing equals more crab, less stress.
Practical Tips for a Smooth Visit
A little strategy goes a long way when you’re staring down an all-you-can-eat shellfish spread.
Bring your favorite crab crackers or picks if you have them, and stage your plate: legs first, butter cup second, then sides like steamed veggies or rice to keep things tidy. That order keeps your workspace clean and your focus on the crab.
If someone in your group isn’t a crab fan, the sushi line and hot entrées have them covered. Everyone leaves happy, and no one feels left out. Smart plate planning turns a good buffet into a great one.
If Sunday Buffet Is Your Tradition
Some families measure the weekend by the buffet they hit, and if Sunday brunch or lunch is your ritual, Taste of Maine in Woolwich has you covered.
They run a seasonal Sunday buffet with current social media posts confirming dates and pricing. It’s not crab-specific like Umi’s dinner spread, but it’s a long-running Maine buffet tradition that pairs beautifully with coastal drives.
Check their Facebook for exact schedules before you head out. A Sunday buffet road trip is the kind of memory that sticks—good food, good company, and that unmistakable Maine coastline rolling by your window.