Some restaurants hang art on the walls. One spot in Fridley, Minnesota, went a different direction and put a fish pond right inside the dining room.
It sits in a huge all-you-can-eat buffet where sushi, Chinese dishes, and American classics fill long rows of serving stations. Families come for birthdays, Mother’s Day, and plain old Tuesday cravings.
Kids beeline for the chocolate fountain while seafood fans load up on clams and mussels. Some folks drive more than an hour just to grab a plate here.
The place has changed over the years, and a few of those changes surprise people who remember the old setup. Keep reading to learn where it is, what the buffet holds today, when to show up, and what to know before you grab that first plate.
A Fridley Buffet With Room to Roam
Teppanyaki Grill & Supreme Buffet sits at 268 57th Ave NE, Fridley, MN 55432, just north of Minneapolis.
It is listed as a Chinese restaurant, but the menu reaches much further. The buffet covers Japanese sushi, Chinese dishes, and American comfort food all under one roof.
The dining room is known for being spacious. That matters when a group of eleven shows up for a birthday, which is exactly the kind of crowd this place handles often.
It also draws people from well beyond the Twin Cities suburbs. Some families make a drive of an hour and a half for special occasions like Mother’s Day.
The concept is simple. Pay once, grab a plate, and keep going back as long as your appetite holds out.
Plenty of local diners treat it as a go-to spot when nobody can agree on dinner. With so many stations, the debate usually ends at the door.
The building holds more than food, though. One feature in the dining area tends to catch people off guard, and it swims.
The Fish Pond Inside
Not every buffet comes with residents. Here, a fish pond greets guests near the entrance.
It gives the place a bit of personality that a typical strip-mall buffet lacks. Kids especially tend to stop and stare before they ever reach a plate.
The pond fits the theme of a restaurant where seafood plays a big role. Call it a fitting welcome committee for a buffet that leans fishy in the best way.
Be aware that the pond is close to the front door. Some people notice its presence the moment they come in, and the restaurant has said it is working on the atmosphere near the entry.
For families, the pond turns waiting time into a mini outing. A crowded Friday night feels shorter when little ones have something to watch.
Holiday seasons bring extra flair too. During the Christmas season, the dining room fills with plenty of decorations that add to the festive mood.
The pond is the conversation starter, but the real draw is waiting just past it, stretched across row after row of trays.
Sushi Rolls by the Dozen
Sushi is the single most talked-about item at this buffet, and it is not close.
A dedicated sushi bar lays out a variety of rolls for guests to pile on their plates. It is a popular first stop for people who want to sample several kinds without paying per piece.
Opinions on the sushi vary. Some diners find it perfectly enjoyable, while others call it simple and closer to a grab-and-go style.
One practical tip: the rolls are often unlabeled. If you have allergies or strong preferences, ask a staff member before you commit.
The restaurant has said it is looking into better labeling for sushi and desserts. Until then, a little curiosity goes a long way.
The upside of a buffet is that experimenting costs nothing extra. Take one piece of each roll that looks interesting and go back for the winners.
Sushi fans who want more than rice and fish will find the seafood story continues across the room.
Clams, Mussels, and Other Ocean Favorites
Seafood lovers have a reason to grin here. The buffet carries multiple seafood choices, and that variety is one of the biggest reasons regulars return.
Clams and mussels have been staples for years. Shrimp, calamari, and catfish have also shown up on the line.
Not every seafood dish lands the same way for everyone. Some diners rave about the selection, while others find certain fried items light on seasoning.
The smart move is to start with small portions. Many longtime fans take a little of several dishes on the first trip, then return for what they liked best.
Items do rotate over time. Squid, for example, was once a favorite that some guests later missed.
That rotation keeps things a bit unpredictable. Each visit may bring a slightly different seafood lineup than the last.
Once the seafood round is done, the Chinese side of the buffet waits with a whole different set of options.
Chinese Classics and a Pho Station
Chinese dishes form the backbone of the buffet. Fried rice, lo mein, sweet and sour chicken, and beef and vegetable dishes in brown sauce are all part of the spread.
The fried rice gets steady praise, even from tougher critics. Sweet and sour chicken is another popular pick.
Freshness can depend on timing. Afternoon diners often see new food constantly coming out, while late-evening guests may find trays that have been sitting a while.
A newer addition is the pho station. It has picked up a solid number of fans who like having a noodle soup option on a buffet line.
There is also a Mongolian grill, which comes up often in conversations about the place. It gives guests another way to build a plate their own style.
For the best shot at hot, freshly restocked trays, aim for busy mealtimes. More diners means faster turnover.
Then there is the grill that gave the restaurant its name, and its story has a twist.
What Happened to the Hibachi
The name says teppanyaki, and for years the hibachi grill was a highlight. Steaks and teppanyaki chicken from the grill had a loyal following.
Things have shifted. Several recent diners say the hibachi grill is no longer offered, and that the pho station now fills that role.
The restaurant has explained that the change was part of an effort to diversify the menu for different tastes. Not everyone is thrilled, especially folks who came specifically for the grill.
If hibachi is your main reason for going, call ahead before making the trip. Older ads may still mention the grill.
The good news is that the buffet still covers a huge range of dishes. Plenty of guests never even tried the grill because the rest of the line kept them busy.
Change is part of any long-running restaurant. This one simply traded flat-top for broth.
Whatever happens at the grill, the sweet end of the room has stayed a crowd favorite.
Chocolate Fountain and the Dessert Corner
Ask a kid what they remember most, and the answer is usually the chocolate fountain. It ranks among the most mentioned features of the whole buffet.
Fruit sits nearby for dipping. The dessert area also holds ice cream, cookies, cakes, egg tarts, and coffee cake.
Cakes and cookies tend to get good marks for being fresh. Ice cream is a long-running favorite with families.
A friendly warning appears again and again: save room. The dessert spread is large enough that diners who skip ahead to it often regret that third plate of entrees.
Check the fruit before dipping, since cut bananas can sit out a while during slower stretches.
Knives are also kept near the ice cream area rather than on tables. Grab one there if your table needs it.
Desserts keep kids happy, but they are not the only reason families keep coming back.
Who Fills the Tables
Picky eaters, meet your safe zone. The buffet stocks pizza, fries, chicken strips, pigs in a blanket, and fruit for kids who prefer familiar food.
That makes it a common pick for grandparents treating grandkids and parents planning birthdays. Groups of all sizes show up, especially on weekends.
Seating is arranged in clusters, so tables sit fairly close together. Couples looking for a quiet date may find it lively rather than private.
Staff tend to be quick and efficient. Plates get cleared and drinks refilled, though servers lean more businesslike than chatty.
Drinks are now served by staff instead of a self-serve machine. The restaurant says drinks were folded into the price after guest requests.
Hand sanitizer is available, a small touch that families appreciate. Styrofoam plates are also part of the routine here.
It is a lively, everyday kind of place, which brings up the question of when to visit.
Hours, Costs, and Timing Tricks
The schedule is refreshingly simple. Doors open at 11 AM and close at 9:30 PM every day of the week.
Lunch is the budget-friendly window. Lunch prices have been around $12.99 to $15, with dinner running a bit higher.
Children’s pricing exists, so mention ages clearly at the counter. Staff may assume a tall kid is an adult if nobody speaks up.
Arriving in the early afternoon often means trays are being refreshed often. Showing up within the last hour usually means fewer new dishes coming out.
Holidays can get packed. On Mother’s Day, waits of around 30 minutes are possible, though seating moves fast once you are inside.
Large groups should book ahead. Reservations for big Friday night parties made weeks early have paid off.
Plan on one check per table, since splitting bills may not be an option.
A Buffet Worth a Plate or Three
So, is it worth the trip? For people who love variety above all else, the answer leans yes.
The buffet holds a strong 3.8-star average across thousands of opinions. That mix reflects a place that thrills some guests and frustrates others.
Fans point to the huge selection, the seafood, and the desserts. Critics mention uneven freshness and the loss of the hibachi grill.
The best visits share a few habits. Go at a busy mealtime, take small portions, ask about unlabeled dishes, and leave space for the chocolate fountain.
It works well for families, big groups, and anyone who cannot decide between sushi and sweet and sour chicken. Here, nobody has to decide.
Some loyal diners come back every few months like clockwork. Others swing by once for the novelty of the fish pond.
Either way, Fridley’s pond-side buffet offers a full table of choices and a fun story to tell on the drive home.
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