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Eat Like a (Sea) Horse

There's nothing quite like a steady stream of seafood to satisfy all but the most dedicated landlubbers, and plenty of places coast to coast will keep favorites like crab, shrimp, and even lobster coming until you're ready to burst. Some are among the nation's best buffets, while others are humble seafood shacks where today's dinner was this morning's catch. Ready to dig in? Here are some of your best bets for all-you-can eat seafood, according to enthusiastic reviewers on sites including TripAdvisor, Yelp, Google, and Facebook.


Related: The Best Seafood Restaurant in All 50 States

Catfish Deweys/Yelp

Catfish Deweys

  • City / Town: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • Address:  4003 N. Andrews Ave.
  • Hours:  Open daily at 11:30 a.m.; Sunday-Thursday last seating at 8:45 p.m.; Friday & Saturday last seating at 9:45 p.m.
  • Phone: (954) 566-5333 or (954) 644-3766
  • Website: catfishdeweys.com

A beloved local institution since 1984, Catfish Deweys embraces its reputation as the place to be when you want a steady stream of hot, fresh seafood. All-you-can-eat catfish is available every day, but if that's not your thing, don't worry. Other specials available certain days include crab legs, shrimp, fried sea scallops, fried oysters and boiled crawfish.

Reviewer rave: "I've been going to Catfish Dewey's for years, and let me tell you, it is life-changing. I usually go on Mondays and Tuesdays for the all-you-can-eat shrimp. You get as much fried or steamed shrimp as you can eat, a choice of fried catfish, free hush puppies with butter, coleslaw, and your choice of a side. When I come here, all my worries slide away because I get to smell the sweet aromas of food made with love. If you've never been here, you're missing out." — YogurtCraze on TripAdvisor

Lisa W./Yelp

The Nordic

  • City / Town: Charlestown, Rhode Island
  • Address: 178 Nordic Trail
  • Hours: Arrive between 5 and 7:30 p.m. on Fridays; 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; Sundays by reservation
  • Phone:  (401) 783-4515
  • Website: thenordic.com

If you can get past the sticker shock of The Nordic's pricing (at press time, a cool $135 for adults), you'll gain access to one of the most tantalizing displays of all-you-can-eat seafood you'll ever lay eyes on. Lobster? Check. Bacon-wrapped scallops? Yep. Alaskan crab? Sure. Oysters? Oh, yes. The list goes on, and also includes grill items like prime rib and filet mignon, plus a ton of sides, fruits, salads and desserts. And don't worry about quality, reviewers say — the food is fresh and befitting of the price tag.

Reviewer rave:
"This has been a bucket-list item for me ever since I found out about the Nordic. I've been to many buffets ... but nothing beats The Nordic. The amount and quality of the food here is incredible. Usually buffet food skimps out on taste, but almost everything I had here was amazing." — Janet H. on Yelp

Old Mill Crab House

Old Mill Crab House

  • City / Town: Delmar, Delaware
  • Address: 8829 Waller Road
  • Hours: Monday-Friday: 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 3 to 9 p.m.
  • Phone: (302) 846-9000
  • Website: oldmillcrabhouse.com

This casual spot on the Delaware-Maryland border, a local staple since the '80s, offers four gut-busting, all-you-can-eat specials every day: steamed shrimp, snow crab, fried chicken, or blue crab. All are served up with sides including fried shrimp, clam strips, hush puppies and corn on the cob. If you aren't up for stuffing yourself silly, there are plenty of other menu options, and devotees say portions are more than fair.

Reviewer rave: "If I lived in the area I would eat here all. the. time! Yes, it's that good. Our waitress was awesome and friendly, even with the place being packed. Parking seemed to be plentiful and the entire atmosphere was what we wanted that night (or any night crab is on the menu)! After finally writing this review I wish I was there right now." — Steve S. on Yelp

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Alex M./Yelp

The Bonfire

  • City / Town: Ocean City, Maryland
  • Address: 7009 Coastal Highway
  • Hours: Open daily 3 to 8:30 p.m.
  • Phone: (410) 524-7171
  • Website: thebonfirerestaurant.com

Nothing goes better than a family-friendly beach and a hearty buffet dinner, and you get just that from Ocean City and The Bonfire, open since 1973. Patrons find more than 150 feet of options, including a ton of seafood, a carving station, and endless salad, fruit and dessert. There are discounts for early birds from 3 to 4 p.m. Not into crab legs? You may be able to wrangle a discount by abstaining.

Reviewer rave: "The selection was huge and literally everything I had was either good or excellent. Raw oysters, seared ahi tuna, buffalo wings, fried shrimp, freshly made donuts ... it was great. I am not a huge buffet guy, but this place was really great; also, the service was excellent, too, with clearing tables and refilling drinks. Would come back for sure." — T J on TripAdvisor

©TripAdvisor

Brown's Catfish

  • City / Town: Russellville, Arkansas
  • Address: 1804 E. Main St.
  • Hours:  Tuesday to Saturday: lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; dinner Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 3:30 to 8:30 p.m.; dinner Friday and Saturday 3:30 to 9 p.m.
  • Phone:(479) 968-3360
  • Website: brownscatfish.com

Brown's Catfish has been stuffing happy patrons with its Cajun-inspired buffet of seafood favorites for three decades. Main courses include catfish filets, seafood gumbo, and fried shrimp; sides include hushpuppies, corn on the cob, and homemade yeast rolls. Oh, and make sure you leave room for some of the delectable fresh cinnamon rolls, reviewers say.

Reviewer rave:
"As always, the food, service, atmosphere and overall dining experience were superb, as they've been each and every time I've dined there over the past 30 years. What more could you ask for? It's our go-to dining experience for special occasions, as well as for every now and then when I just get a craving and need a Brown's fix." — MisterFoodSnob on TripAdvisor

Raynor S./Yelp

Whale Harbor Restaurant

  • City / Town: Islamorada, Florida
  • Address:  83413 Overseas Highway
  • Hours: Daily noon to 10 p.m.
  • Phone: (305) 664-4940
  • Website: whaleharborrestaurant.com

The Keys are all about laid-back indulgence, and that's exactly what you get at Whale Harbor Restaurant — a tasty seafood buffet, plus a rooftop bar where you can enjoy a fruity drink and unbeatable views of the water and swaying palms. The buffet is packed with favorites including snow crab, raw oysters, fresh and fried shrimp, crab cakes, chowder, smoked salmon and even seafood crepes. Landlubbers can also enjoy some sirloin, ribs, wings, and pork tenderloin.

Reviewer rave: "The best seafood buffet ever. It's a must-visit. Friendly staff, great food, very good quality, clean environment, and a good selection of other foods besides seafood. It's a little like having a taste from around the world." — Expert_tasteK on TripAdvisor

Anna C./Yelp

Captain George's

  • City / Town: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
  • Address: 1401 29th Ave. North
  • Hours: Monday to Thursday: 3 to 9 p.m.; Friday: 3 to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday: 2 to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday: noon to 9 p.m. 
  • Phone: (843) 916-2278
  • Website: captaingeorges.com

You don't have to search long to find a seafood buffet in Myrtle Beach, but that doesn't mean it will be a good one. Captain George's, however, is definitely in the top tier, as evidenced by the line out the door most summer nights. The eye-popping buffets, designed to look like old tall ships, are packed with seafood favorites like crab legs, oysters, clams and fried scallops. Reviewers also highly recommend the stuffed mushrooms. There also three other Captain George's locations in Virginia and North Carolina.

Reviewer rave: "We have been to ... several seafood buffets in Myrtle Beach but this place ... this place is on a different level. The service was excellent, the buffet stations were clean, and they kept the trays full. Everything, and I mean everything, I selected was good, especially the scallops. — Hotlantajohn on TripAdvisor

Rachel L./Yelp

Berry's Seafood and Catfish House

  • City / Town:  Florence, Mississippi
  • Address:  2942 U.S. Highway 49 North
  • Hours:  Thursday: 4:30 to 9 p.m.; Friday: 4:30 to 10 p.m.; Saturday: 3:30 to 10 p.m.
  • Phone:(601) 845.7562
  • Website: www.berrysseafood.com

The menu at Berry's is packed with down-home favorites like fried catfish and seafood gumbo, but the marquee attraction is the seafood buffet on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. It's loaded with fried oysters, stuffed crab, boiled and fried shrimp, seafood pasta and Southern classics like macaroni and cheese, turnip greens, and cornbread. There are discounts for kids, first responders, and seniors, too.

Reviewer rave: "The food, the service, the atmosphere cannot be beat. We eat here every time we are in the area. The buffet is replenished with hot, fresh food constantly. The service workers work like a well-oiled machine in perfect unison. I am very fond of the fried catfish, popcorn shrimp and those lovely desserts are like being at Grandma's on a Sunday." — SuzieQWaynesboroMs on TripAdvisor

Edwin D./Yelp

100's Seafood Grill Buffet

  • City / Town: San Diego
  • Address: 2828 Camino del Rio South
  • Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 4-9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: noon to 9 p.m. 
  • Phone:(619) 906-4886
  • Website: 100sbuffet.com

100's unabashedly declares itself the "best seafood in San Diego," and reviewers largely back up the claim. Seafood options are as plentiful as you might expect from a large buffet, but lobster lovers will want to come Thursday and Friday evenings, when everyone's favorite crustacean is added to the menu. Other options include snow crab legs, oysters, shrimp, mussels, tuna, scallops, salmon, and more, plus more than 30 kinds of sushi.

Reviewer rave: "All the food is super solid and if I wasn't trying to eat my weight in lobster, I would have eaten all the other things. The crab legs were also amazing and it would have been good to come on another night for just that! They were so fresh and sweet." — Caroline J. on Yelp

©TripAdvisor

King Crab House

  • City / Town: Chicago
  • Address: 1816 N. Halsted St.
  • Hours:  Monday to Friday: 3 to 10:45 p.m.; Saturday: noon to 10:45 p.m.; Sunday: noon to 9:45 p.m.
  • Phone: (312) 280-8990
  • Website: kingcrabchicago.com

The Windy City's oldest crab house remains one of its best bets for fresh seafood, devotees say, and the original chef is still on hand to help patrons crack their crab legs. Speaking of crab legs, Saturday and Sunday afternoons are the time for all-you-can-eat feasting, but the menu has plenty more delectable choices like oysters, shrimp, mussels, catfish, snapper, and lobster. Devotees also recommend the mai tais, a house specialty.

Reviewer rave:
"This place is a totally underrated gem in the middle of Lincoln Park. The prices are affordable for any budget, the staff is talented and professional, and the management is always there and eager to please. And the food is timely and well-prepared, with fresh veggies and quality seafood. Can't ask for anything more!" — Alex R. on Yelp

©TripAdvisor

Charlie Horse Restaurant

  • City / Town: Ormond Beach, Florida
  • Address: 810 S. Atlantic Ave.
  • Hours:  Open daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
  • Phone: 386-672-4347
  • Website: charliehorserestaurant.com

This family-owned joint just north of Daytona Beach specializes in all-you-can-eat crab legs, which it features every day. But happy customers say you shouldn't limit yourself, because there are plenty of other standouts on the menu including the wings, peel-and-eat shrimp, and steaks. Budget-conscious diners should come for lunch — daily specials are $9 to $10 and include coconut shrimp and fish sandwiches.

Reviewer rave: "I am a budget guy usually, but we bit the bullet and did all you can eat crabs for four of us. And man, we were not disappointed. I have done this before where your first cluster is huge and then everything else is puny portions ... not here! ... The food is great and the drink prices are more than fair." — JohnL970 on TripAdvisor

Steve C./Yelp

The Hush Puppy Restaurant

  • City / Town: Las Vegas
  • Address: 7185 W. Charleston Blvd.
  • Hours: 4-9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday AYCE 
  • Phone: (702) 363-5988
  • Website: thehushpuppylv.com

The Hush Puppy offers a little piece of the Gulf in Sin City. Specialties include all-you-can-eat catfish fillets, freshwater fish fillets, or fiddlers (small, whole catfish), plus all-you-can eat shrimp. They can even serve up gluten-free catfish, too. But the other star of the show is the restaurant's namesake hushpuppy, served piping hot with honey butter.

Reviewer rave: "Nothing better than some Southern fried catfish, fried shrimp, and collard greens. ... If you have room for dessert, I highly recommend the sweet potato pie and Georgia pecan pie. Trust me, you don't need the pie a la mode." — Eliza J. on Yelp


Related: Sin City Dining: 17 Bucket List Restaurants in Las Vegas

Frank F./Yelp

B&J's Steak and Seafood

  • City / Town: Darien, Georgia
  • Address: 901 North Way
  • Hours:  Friday/Saturday seafood buffet starts at 4 p.m.
  • Phone: 912.437.2122
  • Website: bandjssteaksandseafood.com

There are nightly buffet specials at B&J's, but seafood fanatics will want to wait for Friday and Saturday nights, when a full selection of seafood hits the serving line. Happy customers say you shouldn't let the unassuming building and no-frills atmosphere sway you, because the fresher-than-fresh shrimp, hauled from the water not far from this coastal town, is worth a stop.

Reviewer rave: "Best seafood, especially fried shrimp, anywhere and their buffet is absolutely outstanding (fried shrimp on the buffet). This place is crowded, especially for lunch and dinner, so come and be prepared to wait a little while, not too long though. I promise you it will be worth every minute of your wait. Finish off your meal with some of their banana pudding." — Jim O. on TripAdvisor

Fred K./Yelp

The Crab Bag

  • City / Town: Ocean City, Maryland
  • Address: 13005 Coastal Highway
  • Hours:  Sunday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. 
  • Phone: (410) 250-3337
  • Website: thecrabbag.com

This temple to the blue crab is exactly how it should be: A casual place to dig in with checkered tablecloths and an expansive deck for enjoying the sea breeze. All-you-can-eat fans can choose from endless steamed crabs; steamed crabs and fried chicken; or, for the truly insatiable appetite, steamed crabs, baby back ribs, steamed spiced shrimp, and fried chicken. All are served up with fries, cole slaw, and corn.

Reviewer rave: "The crabs were like I remember when I was growing up: meaty, full, and oh, so sweet! Our server was attentive but not pushy. It's a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. We must have spent about two hours cracking crabs and not once did I feel like I was being hurried." — chilibean1 on TripAdvisor

Billy's Stone Crab

Billy's Stone Crab

  • City / Town: Hollywood, Florida
  • Address:  400 N. Ocean Drive
  • Hours: Daily: noon to 10 p.m.
  • Phone: (954) 388-9198
  • Website: crabs.com

Looking for a more upscale all-you-can-eat experience? Billy's Stone Crab, a white-tablecloth, waterfront restaurant south of Fort Lauderdale, could be just the ticket. Yes, you can gorge yourself on unlimited stone crabs, stone crab claws, or Alaskan king crab any day of the week, but you can also indulge in expertly prepared surf and turf entrees and a $200 bottle of wine.

Reviewer rave: "They pre-cracked the crab, so we didn't cut ourselves on the prickly shells. Giant chunks of delicious meat came out, full of flavor. The scallops were perfectly seared and placed upon a bed of alfredo linguini. The only problem I had with this restaurant was my stomach couldn't hold all of the amazing food we ordered." — Kris P on TripAdvisor

Eric T./Yelp

House of Seafood

  • City / Town: Bush, Louisiana
  • Address: 81790 Highway 21
  • Hours:  Thursday and Friday: 4 - 9 p.m.; Saturday: 3-9 p.m.
  • Phone: (985) 886-2231
  • Website: facebook.com/houseofseafoodbuffet

If you've got a taste for seafood and Cajun fare, the House of Seafood might be worth the drive to Bush, about 60 miles north of New Orleans. This modest blink-and-you'll-miss-it building is packed with oysters, boiled crabs, alligator sausage, fried crawfish, jambalaya, gumbo, lobster casserole, and much, much more. Get a 360-degree view of the gut-busting spread here.

Reviewer rave: "This place is in the middle of nowhere, and I'd like to keep it like that. More people I tell, the more people to show up and make a line for me to have to stand in. Truly Louisiana's best kept secret." — floydf91 on TripAdvisor

Nelson Q./Yelp

Bacchanal Buffet

No, Bacchanal at Caesars Palace isn't strictly a seafood buffet — it's an everything buffet. Thrillist even calls it "the standard against which all Las Vegas buffets are judged." At any given time, you'll have about 500 items to choose from, plus about 15 daily chef's specials; copious seafood options include crab legs, oysters, shrimp, scallops, mussels and seafood laksa. 


Reviewer rave: "The food here is so good that I thought I was actually going to die from overeating. When I was on my third plate of seafood and rice, it occurred to me that maybe this whole thing was a test, some kind of study on what happens when humans are able to taste the food of the gods. The answer is that we lose all common sense, and stuff ourselves to the point of bursting." — Sara K. on Yelp

©TripAdvisor

George Inlet Lodge

First, the bad news: The historic George Inlet Lodge, a former cannery, isn't exactly the most accessible place to stuff yourself, perched on a remote inlet near already-remote Ketchikan. Eating here will require a booking with a tour operator; it's also a popular stop for Alaskan cruise excursions. Now the good news: It's worth seeking out for the steady flow of steaming, fresher-than-fresh Dungeness crab, and reviewers say the scenery is also top-notch.

Reviewer rave: "The best freshest tastiest large crabs legs we ever ate. I must have eaten 15 of them and my wife just about matched me. So worth every penny. And you do not need to dip these babies in butter. What a treat. Spoiled now." — Q1454WJmichaelf on TripAdvisor

Yukai Japanese and Seafood Buffet

Yukai Japanese and Seafood Buffet

  • City / Town: Virginia Beach, Virginia
  • Address: 1952 Laskin Road
  • Hours: Monday to Sunday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Phone: (757) 428-3330
  • Website:  yukaiseafoodbuffet.com

The marquee draw at Yukai is the sushi and sashimi — there are at least 40 different kinds — but there are also more traditional seafood choices including shrimp, crab legs, salmon, catfish, and mussels. Devotees rave about the modern, clean interior, and say you can't beat the price for the quality of food, especially in an often-overpriced tourist mecca.

Reviewer rave: "The food is fresh because they have a large turnover of customers. Lots of seafood items. Sushi bar is excellent. I had enough sushi that in a sushi bar would have cost me three times the price of this buffet. The fried shrimp was excellent. They also have a grill. This was my second time there and it is still awesome. The waitstaff are cheerful." — tincupgolfer on TripAdvisor

Lance F./Yelp

Crabby Mike's

  • City / Town: Surfside Beach, South Carolina
  • Address:  290 Highway 17N
  • Hours: Daily: 3:30 to 8 p.m.
  • Phone: (843) 444-2722
  • Website: crabbymikes.com

Crabby Mike's is big and brash and, on any given night, crowded with hungry tourists. But happy patrons say it's among the best places to pack it in on the buffet-happy South Carolina coast. All the favorites are here: snow crab legs, fried and broiled shrimp, shrimp and grits, fried scallops and oysters, baked salmon, crab cakes, cod, clams, mussels, mahi-mahi, and so much more. On busy days, you may even find a DJ, karaoke and hula hoops on hand to make the wait fly by.

Reviewer rave: "Crab legs were super fresh, full of sweet flavorful meat and easy to crack and eat. After a so-so experience at another seafood buffet nearby, this totally hit the spot. The fried seafood was all delicious and clearly hand-breaded, not from a box. I never have fried oysters at a buffet because they're always disappointing, but these looked homemade so I gave them a try — and they were so good I went back for seconds." — Kathryn L. on Yelp

Chris A./Yelp

Salvo's Seafood

  • City / Town: Belle Chasse, Louisiana
  • Address: 
  • Hours: Tuesday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday:  8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
  • Phone: (504) 393-7303
  • Website:  salvosseafood.com

The all-you-can-eat specials at Salvo's, open since 1984, start at 5 p.m. every night. The boiled seafood specials vary depending on what's fresh; endless fried shrimp is served on Tuesdays, fried catfish on Wednesdays and fried frog legs on Thursdays. All-you-can eat sides like potatoes, corn, and sausage come included. Don't feel like stuffing yourself? Reviewers say the generously sized po' boys are to die for.

Reviewer rave: "Best boiled seafood around. You must order the chargrilled oysters! Shrimp are buttery and the crawfish always boiled perfectly. Can't miss out on any of the crab choices as well. Personally, always order a bowl of shrimp and corn bisque." — am2piper on TripAdvisor

Liberty Road Seafood and Steak Restaurant/Yelp

Liberty Road Seafood and Steak

  • City / Town: Frederick, Maryland
  • Address: 10524 Liberty Road 
  • Hours:  Monday to Thursday: 3-9 p.m.;  Friday: 3-10 p.m.; Saturday: noon-10 p.m.; Sunday: noon to 9 p.m. 
  • Phone: (301) 898-3181
  • Website: libertyroadseafoodandsteak.com

This casual, blink-and-you-miss-it restaurant on a country road outside Frederick is a prime spot to enjoy Maryland's most famous export, and slip into a food coma while you're at it. That means all-you-can-eat hard-shell crabs and crab legs are always on the menu; opt for the special and they're served up with shrimp, oysters, clams or mussels, too. Also on offer: Endless plates of fish, clam strips, clams or mussels, shrimp, crab cakes and oysters, plus sides including cole slaw, hush puppies, clam chowder and oyster stew.

Reviewer rave: "Had an excellent dinner for our large family. Ordered the steamed platter for two, jumbo crabs and soups. All were excellent. The crabs on the platter were huge and perfectly cooked. The snow crab legs were sweet and steamed to perfection. We all left full and happy. Definitely coming back. Also, the desserts are homemade and delicious." — G A. on Yelp