This Minnesota Buffet Serves A Mountain Of Seafood For One Flat Price

A flat price rarely covers this much seafood, yet this Minnesota buffet somehow keeps that promise standing without cutting portions short.

Crab legs pile up generously alongside shrimp and other seafood options, refilled constantly enough that trays never sit empty for long during busy hours. Nothing feels rationed here either, plates stack as high as anyone’s willing to carry back to their table.

Offering unlimited seafood at one set price takes real confidence in volume most buffets hesitate to commit to fully. This one leaned into it anyway, betting that quantity paired with decent quality would keep people coming back regularly.

Walking away hungry seems nearly impossible here. Seafood lovers in Minnesota keep finding their way back specifically for a deal this generous.

Tucked Into A Quiet Bloomington Strip Mall

Finding the entrance felt like a small victory. The restaurant shares a long, low strip mall with a handful of neighborhood shops, and nothing about the outside shouts for attention.

Bloomington has no shortage of chain restaurants clustered near the highways and the Mall of America. A local buffet holding its own in a quiet plaza feels like a different kind of find.

Regulars clearly know the way. Office workers arrive at lunch, and larger family groups fill the booths later in the day, grandparents and teenagers included.

Because the storefront blends in, keep an eye on your map app as you come along West 98th Street. The turn into the lot arrives quicker than expected.

Once you spot the sign, the rest is simple. Park anywhere, walk through the door, and let the smell of the wok station point you toward the buffet line.

Decor That Looks Nicer Than Expected

The inside caught me off guard in the nicest way. Dark wood tones, warm lighting, and decorative screens give the room a softer look than the bright, cafeteria feel many buffets settle for.

Booths run along the walls while tables fill the middle. Buffet stations sit far enough apart that nobody bumps elbows while reaching for tongs.

Little details show that somebody cares about the space. Glass guards stay clear, floors get swept between rushes, and the serving trays are wiped down through the shift.

The dining room can run warm, especially when the kitchen is going full tilt during a Minnesota winter. Locals know the routine. Hang the heavy coat and keep a light layer on.

If you want a quieter corner for a long, unhurried meal, aim for a booth away from the main walkway. The view of the buffet line still works from there.

A Flat Price Built Around Seafood

Seafood is the headline, and one flat price covers the entire run of it. Dinner service leans hardest into the ocean side of the menu.

Crawfish, shrimp, mussels, clams, calamari, crab legs, and whole fried fish crowd the trays. The crawfish get the most attention, and they arrive surprisingly large, with shell bowls set out right beside the tongs.

Butter shrimp and imitation crab bakes rotate through as trays empty, so items rarely sit around waiting. The chicken wings deserve a shout too, since they come out big and properly crisp.

Lemon and lime slices sit near the stations, which is a small touch that lifts almost any plate. Squeeze one over the shrimp. Thank me later. Pacing helps with a spread this size. Walk the whole line once, take a scouting plate, then go back and commit to whatever won you over.

The Sushi Counter Draws A Crowd

Sushi is the second big draw, and it gets its own stretch of the buffet line. Rows of rolls sit chilled and neatly arranged, which makes building a sampler plate easy.

Simple cucumber and avocado rolls sit next to spicy tuna and crab styles, with a few nigiri pieces mixed in. Ginger, soy, and wasabi have their own tidy setup.

Elaborate specialty rolls stacked with toppings are not really the point here. Steady variety, cut fresh and restocked through the shift, suits a buffet plate better anyway.

Pairing a few pieces with the hot and sour soup makes a good opener before the seafood trays. That soup is made with tofu rather than chicken stock, which vegetarians will appreciate.

My advice is to take two or three pieces at a time. Nothing warms up on your plate, and you leave room for everything else waiting down the line.

Servers Who Keep The Table Clear

Empty plates disappear fast here, and I mean that as a compliment. Someone swings by, stacks the used dishes, and tops off drinks before you have to look around for help. The service style stays light. No one hovers, nobody interrupts a conversation, and refills just show up.

That kind of rhythm matters at a buffet more than people realize. A clear table means you can go back for round three without feeling buried under a tower of shells and soy sauce dishes.

The staff greet groups warmly on the way in and sort out seating quickly, even when the parking lot is full. Kids get a friendly word too.

If you need something specific, like extra napkins for the crawfish, asking directly works best. Napkins run out fast when seafood is involved, so grab a handful early and save yourself the trip.

Lunch Hours Versus Dinner Hours

Timing changes the experience more than anything else. Doors open at 11:30 in the morning, and the kitchen runs until nine at night from Tuesday through Sunday. Mondays are closed, so plan around that if you are driving in from out of town. I learned that lesson the easy way by checking first.

Lunch costs less and feels brighter, with trays turning over quickly while the office crowd files through. Everything tastes freshest during that first push.

Dinner is when the seafood selection really widens. If crawfish, crab legs, and fried fish are the reason you came, later in the day is the smarter play.

Weekend afternoons get busy, which is honestly what you want at a buffet. More guests means faster refills and hotter food. No reservation is needed. Show up, wait a couple of minutes if the lobby is full, and you are in.

A Dining Room Made For Families

Kids run this place, at least in spirit. Three generations often share one long table, and nobody minds a toddler negotiating over a spring roll. Casual is the default. Jeans, hockey jerseys, and work clothes all fit right in, and no one is dressing up for a Tuesday plate of shrimp.

The buffet format solves the classic family problem where everybody wants something different. Picky eaters find fried rice and wings, adventurous ones head for the mussels and calamari.

Three soft serve machines and a mini dessert line seal the deal for younger guests. Fresh fruit sits nearby for anyone wanting a lighter finish. Noise stays at a friendly hum rather than a roar, which makes conversation across the table possible. That balance is harder to find than it sounds.

Big groups do fine here, so this works well for a birthday lunch or a post game stop.

Free Parking And An Easy Stop

Parking is one of the quiet perks. A large free lot wraps the front of the plaza, so circling the block for a spot is not part of the plan. Even on a busy Saturday, open spaces sit within a short walk of the door. Winter shoppers will appreciate that more than anyone.

The location makes it a handy stop between errands. It is a short hop from Highway 494 and close enough to the Mall of America area that you can shop, eat, and still make it to an early movie.

Travelers staying at airport hotels near Bloomington can reach it in minutes. That makes a seafood heavy buffet an easy alternative to hotel food.

Accessibility is straightforward too, with a flat entrance from the lot and no stairs to manage. Bringing grandparents along takes no extra planning at all.

Takeout Boxes For The Drive Home

Not everyone wants to sit down for an hour, and the takeout option handles that nicely. You pack a container, pay, and head out with dinner sorted.

The value works out well if you load up thoughtfully. Sturdy items travel best, so lean toward wings, fried rice, lo mein, green beans, and breaded seafood. Delicate sushi is better eaten at the table, where it stays cold and fresh. Save that for a dine in visit.

Road trippers and hotel guests get real use out of this. A packed box beats vending machine snacks by a mile on a long Minnesota evening.

Call ahead if you want to know current pricing before you go. The phone line is answered during service hours, and questions get sorted quickly. One tip from experience: bring a reusable bag. Full containers are heavier than they look.

Small Tips For A First Visit

A few habits made my visit smoother, and they cost nothing. Walk the entire buffet line before taking a single spoonful, because the layout hides a couple of stations toward the back.

Start with soup or a small sushi plate rather than piling everything at once. The seafood tastes better when you are not already full. Watch for fresh trays coming out of the kitchen and time your plate around them. Hot and just set out is always the sweet spot.

Save room for green tea ice cream or the deep fried bread with sugar, both quiet favorites among regulars. Bring cash or card, arrive hungry, and give yourself a full hour minimum.

You will find it at 98 Pounds Buffet, 824 W 98th St, Bloomington, MN 55420, open 11:30 in the morning until nine at night Tuesday through Sunday, with Mondays off.