A seafood buffet in the middle of Minnesota that actually delivers, crawdads, whole fish, coconut shrimp, crab legs, mussels, and a sushi bar with over a dozen rolls. In the Midwest.
At a buffet price. The people who found this place are not talking about it loudly, and after seeing the spread, that makes complete sense.
This Buffet sits in a strip mall that gives absolutely nothing away from the outside. Then you walk in and the seafood section alone makes the drive worth it.
Familiar Chinese-American comfort dishes, custard-filled pastries that disappear fast, and a dining room that runs cleaner and calmer than anything at this price point should. Minnesota is hiding this one well.
Not anymore.
The Seafood Spread That Actually Delivers
Buffets promise a lot and often deliver very little. But the seafood lineup here is genuinely worth talking about.
98 Pounds Buffet offers prawns, mussels, squid, clams, crawdads, whole fish, calamari, cockles, sole fish, and multiple shrimp preparations. Options include coconut shrimp, garlic shrimp, tempura shrimp, and salted shrimp.
Crab legs also make an appearance on the spread.
That kind of variety is rare for a landlocked state. Most buffets in the area top out at a shrimp tray and call it a day.
This one leans hard into ocean flavors and seems to take the seafood section seriously. Freshness can vary depending on the time of visit, so arriving earlier in the service window tends to give the best results.
The sheer range of textures and preparations keeps the plate interesting from the first round to the last. For seafood fans, this section alone might justify the trip to Bloomington.
The venue is located at 98 Pounds Buffet, 824 W 98th St, Bloomington, MN 55420.
Sushi Rolls Worth Rolling Back For
Not every buffet sushi bar deserves a second look. This one tends to earn it.
The sushi selection at 98 Pounds Buffet includes California, King Crabmeat, Eel, Spicy Tuna, Spicy Salmon, Tuna, Salmon, Cheese Crab, New York, Avocado, Seaweed Salad, and Philadelphia rolls. That is a solid lineup for an all-you-can-eat setting.
The rice preparation is notably consistent, which makes a real difference in how each roll holds together and tastes. Expect traditional maki-style rolls rather than elaborate specialty creations with fancy sauces.
The quality sits comfortably above grocery store sushi without competing with dedicated Japanese restaurants. If classic rolls done reliably well sound appealing, this bar is worth visiting.
Sashimi-grade fish is not on offer, so adjust expectations accordingly. The rolls move fairly quickly during busy periods, and staff tend to keep the bar reasonably stocked.
Grabbing a variety plate early in the meal before the crowd thins the selection is a smart move.
Classic Chinese Dishes Done With Care
Comfort food has a language everyone speaks. At 98 Pounds Buffet, that language comes through in familiar Chinese-American classics.
General Tao Chicken, Mongolian Beef, and Sweet and Sour Chicken anchor the hot dish section. Fried rice and lo mein round out the starchy sides.
Crispy string beans add a lighter, vegetable-forward option that balances out heavier plates.
The seasoning across these dishes tends to be more consistent than what many comparable buffets offer. Some dishes hit harder on flavor than others depending on the batch, so it helps to sample before committing to a full plate.
The lo mein in particular has earned positive mentions from repeat visitors who compare it favorably to other Twin Cities buffets. Food rotation appears active during busy service periods, which helps keep temperatures and quality more stable.
For diners who prefer familiar flavors alongside the seafood and sushi options, this section ensures no one leaves the table without something satisfying on the plate.
Appetizers That Kick Things Off Right
Good appetizers set the tone for the whole meal. The starters at this buffet hold their own.
Egg rolls and cheese wontons are reliable picks that tend to stay crispy when freshly rotated. Hot and sour soup offers a warming, savory option for those who like to start with something liquid.
Chicken wings also appear in the appetizer zone and have drawn consistent praise for their size and preparation.
The wings are notably generous in portion and cook through well, which is not always a given at a busy buffet. Pot stickers and dumplings show up too, giving the starter section a satisfying range of textures.
Starting light with soup and a few small bites before moving to the seafood section is a practical approach that helps pace the meal. The appetizer area tends to stay well-stocked during peak hours, making it easy to grab a variety without waiting long.
These small dishes add real value to an already broad spread.
Desserts That End The Meal On A High Note
Dessert at a buffet can feel like an afterthought. Here, it genuinely earns its own trip to the table.
The dessert section includes coconut cake, coconut cheesecake, almond cookies, chocolate cookies, green tea ice cream, and fruit ice cream. The custard-filled flaky biscuits stand out as a crowd favorite and tend to disappear quickly during busy service.
Fried bananas have also appeared on the dessert end and received positive mentions from diners who tried them. The coconut-forward options give the sweets section a Southeast Asian character that feels distinct from standard buffet dessert trays.
Ice cream flavors lean toward Asian-inspired profiles rather than generic vanilla and chocolate, which adds a refreshing change of pace. Grabbing the custard biscuits early is worth considering since they tend to run out before the meal ends.
The dessert spread is modest in size but thoughtfully curated, offering enough variety to satisfy different sweet-tooth preferences without overwhelming the end of the meal.
The Atmosphere Inside The Dining Room
Casual and clean describes the vibe here pretty accurately. The interior has a tidier, more intentional look than the average strip-mall buffet.
Seating is arranged for comfort across a reasonably sized dining room. The decor leans toward a chic but unfussy aesthetic that feels a step above the typical all-you-can-eat setup.
Lighting keeps the space bright without feeling harsh, and the layout allows movement between tables and the buffet stations without too much crowding.
The restaurant tends to run warm, especially during peak hours when the dining room fills up. Visitors who prefer a cooler environment might find the temperature a bit uncomfortable during busy weekend rushes.
Weekdays can offer a quieter, more relaxed pace for those who prefer to move through the buffet without navigating crowds. The overall atmosphere is family-friendly and casual, making it an easy fit for groups of different sizes and ages.
No reservations are needed, which keeps the experience low-pressure and accessible for spontaneous dining plans.
Value For Money At An All-You-Can-Eat Price
Price matters, especially when trying a new spot. The value equation at 98 Pounds Buffet holds up reasonably well given what is on offer.
Pricing generally falls in the range expected for a mid-tier all-you-can-eat buffet in the Twin Cities area. The combination of seafood, sushi, hot Chinese dishes, appetizers, and desserts under one flat price makes the spread feel substantial compared to many competitors.
Quality tends to be better than what similar price points deliver elsewhere, though experiences can vary depending on the time of visit and how recently dishes have been refreshed. Arriving during active service periods rather than near closing time helps ensure the best value from the meal.
The breadth of options means diners with different tastes can all find something worth the price of entry. For families or groups with varied preferences, the ability to cover seafood lovers, sushi fans, and comfort-food seekers in one stop makes the cost feel more justified.
It sits at a practical sweet spot for a satisfying group meal.
Service That Keeps The Meal Moving
Buffet service often gets overlooked. At this spot, the floor staff actually make a noticeable difference in how the meal flows.
Servers move through the dining room consistently, clearing empty plates and refilling drinks at a pace that keeps the table tidy without interrupting the meal. The buffet stations are monitored and restocked during busy periods, which helps maintain food quality across the spread.
Staff responsiveness tends to be one of the more frequently praised aspects of the experience by repeat visitors. Questions about dishes are generally handled helpfully, which is useful for diners unfamiliar with certain items on the spread.
Service quality can vary by shift and by how busy the restaurant is at any given time, so experiences are not always identical. Overall, the attentiveness of the floor team adds a layer of comfort to what could otherwise feel like a purely self-serve experience.
It signals that the restaurant takes the dining experience seriously beyond just filling the buffet trays.
Parking And Getting There Without The Hassle
Finding parking before a meal should be the easiest part of the outing. At 98 Pounds Buffet, it generally is.
The restaurant sits in a strip mall location with a large parking lot that offers free parking for diners. Access is straightforward from the surrounding roads, making it an easy stop whether arriving from nearby or driving in from another part of the metro area.
The lot tends to fill up during weekend lunch and dinner rushes when the restaurant sees its highest foot traffic. Arriving slightly before peak hours can make parking and entry noticeably smoother.
Weekday visits typically come with more available spaces and less competition for spots near the entrance. The location at 824 W 98th St in Bloomington sits in a well-connected part of the suburb, close to other shopping and dining options that make it easy to combine with other errands or activities.
Why This Spot Keeps Drawing People Back
Repeat visits are the truest test of any restaurant. This buffet has built a steady base of diners who return regularly, which says something real about the experience.
The combination of seafood variety, a functional sushi bar, familiar Chinese-American comfort dishes, and a dessert section with genuine highlights creates a spread that covers a wide range of cravings in one sitting. The casual atmosphere and no-reservation policy keep the barrier to entry low.
Consistency is not perfect across every visit, and some diners report variation in food temperature and selection depending on the time of day. But for a buffet in the Midwest that genuinely leans into seafood as a core offering, the overall package is difficult to match at a comparable price point.
Bloomington is not typically associated with standout seafood dining, which makes this spot feel like a genuine discovery for those who stumble across it. For anyone open to a well-rounded, unpretentious buffet experience, this one earns a spot on the short list.