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The Best Seafood Buffet In Chicago
Lately I have been seeing some of the best seafood buffet in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. I remember when I was younger I used to love going to Old Country Buffet. Does anyone know the best seafood buffet in and/or around Chicago where the food is great and price is reasonable. I do not mind paying $50 dollar per person. However, I would like Alaskan King Crab legs or Snow Crab legs, sashimi or sushi, lobster, lobster roll, scallop, shrimp, Korean beef ribs and/or other prime beef (T-Bone, Rib Eye, Porter House, Prime Rib, Barbecue ribs), oysters, and other types of seafood. The video ads I am running into are mainly from Facebook. Thank you in advance!!!
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5 Replies
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Chicago doesn’t have classic all-you-can-eat seafood buffets, but you can still find places with a similar vibe. Wagyu House Chicago has a buffet with crab legs, oysters, sushi, lobster, scallops, and steak. If you care more about top-quality seafood than variety, King Crab House Chicago and Shaw’s Crab House are excellent choices.
If you’re looking for Alaskan King Crab, Snow Crab, sushi, raw fish, lobster, oysters, or high-quality beef, King Crab House Chicago and Shaw’s Crab House are your best bets. King Crab House serves snow crab legs, oysters, scallops, and steak. Shaw’s Crab House has classic seafood, oysters, sushi, and lobster rolls. Both are great for people who care most about quality.
If you want the fun of a traditional buffet, Wagyu House Chicago offers a wide range of all-you-can-eat seafood, sushi, and more. Madison Crab House is also a great spot, especially if you love crab and different kinds of lobster rolls.
If you’re willing to spend a bit more, Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, RPM Seafood, Ocean Prime, and Maple & Ash all serve excellent seafood and steak, making them perfect for special occasions. These places aren’t buffets and usually cost over $50 per person, but the experience is memorable. Wagyu House Chicago, King Crab House Chicago, Shaw’s Crab House, and Madison Crab House are also on the pricier side. In Chicago, upscale steak-and-seafood spots are often the top pick for seafood lovers. For a special night out, Wagyu House Chicago and King Crab House Chicago are standouts, while Shaw’s Crab House is a classic choice. It’s a good idea to call ahead to check whether snow crab or king crab is available, and whether sushi or oysters are served daily or only on certain nights.
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I live in Northern Illinois near the Wisconsin/Illinois border. I also have been watching restaurant ratings. One of the type that interests me is the seafood buffet where they have all you can eat lobster, King Crab, Snow Crab, oysters, clam, calamari, shrimp, and scallops. They also have prime steaks, like porter house, rib eye, prime rib, and a great salad bar. Anyone know of seafood buffet near the Chicagoland or Southeastern Wisconsin?
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You probably won’t find a buffet in Chicago where you can get Alaskan king crab, lobster, oysters, sushi, scallops, shrimp, and prime beef or Korean ribs for $50 or less. You’ll need to make some trade-offs on price and quality, especially for crab and beef.
Here Are My Current Suggestions: UMI Hotpot Sushi & Seafood Buffet in Niles – best overall match
- UMI Hotpot Sushi & Seafood Buffet offers snow crab legs, oysters, sushi, and a wide range of seafood, making it a strong match for what you’re looking for.
- It’s at 8225 W. Golf Rd in Niles.
- The website can be confusing about prices and the menu, but I think this is the spot featured in the social media videos you’ve seen.
Royal Buffet in Hoffman Estates – best value buffet under your budget
- Royal Buffet serves sushi and seafood, with dinner priced at $38 Monday through Thursday and $40 on Fridays and weekends, so it fits your budget.
- They offer lobster, but it’s a good idea to call ahead to make sure it’s available when you visit.
Mr. Kimchi – best for Korean beef ribs (galbi), shrimp, and seafood
- If you’re craving Korean beef ribs (galbi) and shrimp, Mr. Kimchi is your best bet.
- Their all-you-can-eat menu includes a premium option for $34.95, featuring galbi, NY steak, shrimp, and baby octopus.
- The website also advertises LA galbi and a ribeye special on Thursdays, so it looks like a good deal.
- It’s not a traditional seafood buffet, but if you want Korean beef with some seafood, it’s better than most places.
MAAX Asian BBQ & Hot Pots in Arlington Heights – best mixed-format value
- If you want variety, MAAX is a solid choice.
- They have all-you-can-eat BBQ, hot pot, and sushi.
- Prices are $37.99 for adults and $26.99 for lunch.
- It’s a great spot for a buffet meal with a more modern vibe than a traditional buffet.
King Crab House in Lincoln Park – best for a crab splurge, but over budget
- If crab legs are your top priority, this is the place to try.
- King Crab House offers all-you-can-eat snow crab for $69.95, and you’ll need to order at least one alcoholic drink or mocktail per person.
- It’s over the $50 budget, but it could be worth it for a special crab night.
Shaw’s Crab House – best quality seafood, but not a buffet
- Shaw’s isn’t a buffet, but it’s a great spot for high-quality seafood.
- They serve oysters, lobster, shrimp, and more, all at classic seafood-house standards.
- The Chicago location has a $40 three-course lunch with choices like lobster bisque, petite filet, shrimp cocktail, an oyster sampler, and lobster mac and cheese.
- The food is excellent, just not all-you-can-eat.
Shaw’s Crab House
Here’s my honest recommendation:
- Try UMI Niles first if you want something closest to the big seafood feasts you see on social media.
- Go to Royal Buffet in Hoffman Estates for the most affordable classic buffet experience.
- Pick Mr. Kimchi or MAAX if you want the best mix of Korean beef and all-you-can-eat options.
- If you want the best crab-focused meal, be ready to spend more and head to King Crab House.
- A lot of people hope to find Alaskan king crab, lobster, oysters, and prime beef for under $50 in Chicago, but that’s just not possible right now.
- For that budget, you can get snow crab, sushi, oysters, and other hot dishes.
- King crab and lobster are usually priced higher and are more of a splurge.
- I can make a ranked top-10 list of Chicago/suburbs with addresses, updated prices, and the best options for each location.
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I just saw this feed on my Facebook page. This podcaster is a food critic and podcaster and was reviewing the seafood boil from Red Lobster. $59.00 for a small baggie of seafood assortment consisting of one small Lobster 🦞 tail, four or five snow crab legs, a handful of sausage, seasoned potatoes, and a small seasoned corn 🌽, and two small biscuits. I doubt that the food criric would still be hungry after he finished his meal. $59,00 for this? I rather go to a seafood buffet nearby and have a wide variety of all the seafood platter available and finish my meal with a full belly.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BE7C3jS8D/
facebook.com
Trying Red Lobster’s Seafood Boil So You Don’t Have To... #seafood #redlobster #seafoodboil
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This top 10 list for Chicago and the suburbs is tailored to your preferences, including crab legs, oysters, sushi, shrimp, scallops, lobster, and select beef options. The focus is on seafood buffets, all-you-can-eat seafood, sushi, and Korean BBQ venues. For each restaurant, I verified the latest information on their official websites and checked recent social media updates when prices were unavailable.
1) UMI Hotpot Sushi & Seafood Buffet — Niles, Illinois
- Best For: overall top pick, as shown in their Facebook seafood buffet video.
- UMI Buffet Features a wide selection of sushi, seafood, and classic buffet dishes.
- This Niles Location is recommended for those seeking crab, sushi, or oysters.
- Address: 8225 W Golf Rd, Niles, IL 60714
- Phone: (847) 324-6978
- Hours: Mon–Thu 11:00 AM–10:00 PM; Fri–Sat 11:00 AM–10:30 PM; Sun 11:00 AM–10:00 PM
- Current Price: Dinner is $38.99 Monday through Friday, with weekend dinner available all day, according to their website.
Why It Ranks #1:
- UMI Buffet offers the best combination of seafood buffet, sushi, and reasonable pricing among the options reviewed in Chicago.
- Best for: the most cost-effective buffet option within your budget.
- Address: 31 Golf Center, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
- Phone: (847) 885-0688
- Hours: Mon-Fri 11 AM-3 PM; 5 PM-9 PM, Sat-Sun 11 AM- 9 PM
- Current Price: Mon-Thu lunch – $24, Mon-Thu dinner – $38, Fri dinner – $40, Sat-Sun dinner – $40
2) Royal Buffet- Hoffman Estates, Illinois Sumo Buffet – Naperville, IllinoisNumber 2:
- This restaurant fits your budget and is a longstanding buffet favorite in the suburbs.
- Lobster is occasionally available on select nights;
- Call ahead to confirm.
- Best For: The largest buffet in the western suburbs.
- Address: 804 IL-59, Naperville, IL 60540
- Phone: 630-453-5277
- Hours: Mon-Fri 11 AM-3 PM; 5 PM-9:30 PM, Sat 11 AM-3 PM; 3:15 PM-10 PM, Sun 11 AM-3 PM; 3:15 PM-9:30 PM
- Current Price: Mon-Fri lunch – $12.99, Weekend lunch – $25.39, Mon-Thu dinner – $23.99, Fri-Sun dinner – $25.39.
3) Sumo Buffet-Naperville Illinois
- Best For: The widest official seafood-and-sushi buffet menu I found in the western suburbs.
- Address: 804 IL-59, Naperville, IL 60540
- Phone: 630-453-5277
- Hours Daily: Mon–Fri 11:00 AM–3:00 PM and 5:00 PM–9:30 PM; Sat 11:00 AM–3:00 PM and 3:15 PM–10:00 PM; Sun 11:00 AM–3:00 PM and 3:15 PM–9:30 PM
- Current Price: weekday lunch $12.99, weekend lunch $25.39, Mon–Thu dinner $23.99, Fri–Sun dinner $27.99
- Why It Ranks #3: Their official site specifically mentions sushi & sashimi, oysters, shrimp cocktail, lobster, scallops, raw oysters, New York steak, and beef ribs, which is unusually close to your wish list for the price.
- The menu features sushi, sashimi, oysters, shrimp cocktail, lobster, scallops, New York steak, and beef ribs, offering a substantial variety for the price.
4) MAAX Asian BBQ & Hot Pots — Arlington Heights, Illinois
- Best for: a diverse selection for those seeking both seafood and grill or hot pot options.
- Address: 222 E Algonquin Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
- Phone: 847-621-2018
- Daily Hours: 11:00 AM–11:00 PM; lunch special Mon–Fri 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Current Price: lunch $26.99, regular adult price $37.99
- Why It Ranks #4: This venue is suitable for groups with varied preferences, offering both seafood and meat in an all-you-can-eat format.
- While less seafood-focused than UMI, it is still one of the best values in the suburbs.
5) Mr. Kimchi Korean BBQ — Niles, Illinois
- Best for: Korean beef ribs as the main attraction, with seafood options available.
- Address: 8526 W Golf Rd, Niles, IL 60714
- Phone: 224-580-2089
- Hours: Mon–Fri lunch 12:00 PM–3:00 PM; break 3:00 PM–5:00 PM; Mon–Fri dinner 5:00 PM–12:00 AM; Sat 12:00 PM–12:00 AM; Sun 12:00 PM–11:00 PM; Tuesday closed
- Current Price: lunch special $23.99; regular AYCE $29.95; Thursday premium dinner special $34.95
- Why It Ranks #5: The menu features LA galbi beef short ribs, steak, shrimp, and baby octopus.
- This restaurant is for those who value Korean beef ribs as much as seafood.
6) King Crab House — Lincoln Park
- Best for: extensive selections of snow crab.
- Address: 1816 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
- Phone: (312) 280-8990
- Hours / Special Timing: AYCE snow crab is available Mon–Thu, 3:00 PM–9:00 PM, and Sat–Sun, 11:30 AM–3:00 PM.
- Current price: $69.95 AYCE snow crab, with a mandatory purchase of one alcoholic drink or mocktail per person.
- Why It Ranks #6: Although it exceeds the typical budget, this restaurant is one of the most accessible options for crab legs in Chicago.
7) Shaw’s Crab House — Chicago
- Best For: highest-quality seafood experience in the city, even though it is not a buffet.
- Address: 21 E. Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60611
- Phone: (312) 527-2722
- Hours: Oyster Bar Sun–Thu 11:30 AM–9:00 PM; Fri–Sat 11:30 AM–10:00 PM. Main Dining Room lunch daily 11:30 AM–2:00 PM; dinner Sun–Thu 5:00 PM–9:00 PM, Fri–Sat 5:00 PM–10:00 PM
- Current price point: their current 3-course lunch is $40 and includes options such as lobster bisque, oyster sampler, shrimp cocktail, petite filet, and lobster mac & cheese
- Why it ranks #7: Not AYCE, but if you care about oysters, lobster, shrimp, and overall seafood quality, Shaw’s is still one of the safest recommendations in Chicago.
8) Shaw’s Crab House — Schaumburg
- Best For: Best suburban upscale seafood fallback if you want quality over buffet quantity.
- Address: 1900 E Higgins Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173
- Phone: (847) 517-2722
- Hours: Mon–Thu 11:30 AM–8:30 PM; Fri–Sat 11:30 AM–9:00 PM; Sun 11:30 AM–8:00 PM
- Current price point: current 3-course lunch is $40 daily, with seafood options similar to Chicago, including lobster bisque, oyster sampler, shrimp cocktail, petite filet, and lobster mac & cheese
- Why it ranks #8: This suburban Shaw’s location is ideal for those seeking a quality seafood meal without traveling downtown.
9) Sushi Taku – Wicker Park
- Best For: the best value all-you-can-eat sushi in the city.
- Address 1904 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
- Phone (773) 252-8258
- Hours Sun – Thu 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM – 10:00 PM; Fri – Sat 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM – 10:30 PM
- Current Price: lunch $24.99, dinner $31.99
- Why It Ranks #9: While crab legs and oysters are not available as at a seafood buffet, this restaurant offers great value for those seeking sushi, nigiri, sashimi, and seafood rolls.
10) Sushi Miroku – Tinley Park
- Best For: The Top All-You-Can-Eat Sushi, Hibachi, And Sashimi Add-On In The South Suburbs.
- Address: 7216 W 191st St, Tinley Park, IL 60487
- Phone: (708) 260-7088
- Hours: Mon–Thu 11 AM–10 PM, Fri–Sat 11 AM–10:30 PM, Sun 12 PM–10 PM
- Current price: AYCE lunch $22, AYCE dinner $33 + $10 extra for AYCE sashimi.
- Why It Ranks #10: This Restaurant Provides Great Value For An All-You-Can-Eat Seafood-Focused Meal In The South Suburbs At A Moderate Price Point.
Summary Recommendations Based On Your Preferences:
- For the best overall match, UMI Niles is recommended.
- For the best classic buffet under $50, Royal Buffet or Sumo Buffet is suggested.
- For Korean beef ribs and late-night grilling, Mr. Kimchi Niles is recommended.
- For those willing to spend more for crab legs, King Crab House is recommended.
- Getting king crab, lobster, oysters, sushi, and prime beef for $50 per person is challenging in Chicago.
- The best value is usually found with snow crab or a seafood buffet with sushi, while king crab and lobster are considered premium options.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqxh0dAcX4c
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This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by
Sapna Sharma.
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