Crab legs used to be a regular sight at Chinese buffets across Missouri, and then many of them quietly vanished from the steam tables. The good news is that a handful of spots still pile them on, sometimes every day and sometimes only on certain nights.
This list covers seven buffets from the St. Louis area to Kansas City to the Ozarks where you can still crack shells without ordering by the pound. Check the timing notes before you go, because a few save the crab for weekends.
1. Dynasty Buffet Sushi & Hibachi, High Ridge, MO
Jefferson County diners do not have to drive into St. Louis for a crab leg fix. Dynasty Buffet sits at 21 Dillon Plaza Dr in High Ridge, and it pairs Chinese favorites with a hibachi grill and a sushi selection.
Crab legs show up at both lunch and dinner, alongside orange chicken, egg drop soup, crab rangoon, and a seafood combo. Trays refill on a steady rotation, so it helps to watch the line rather than grab the first leftover leg.
Prices run about $10 to $20 per person, which keeps it budget friendly. The restaurant is closed Mondays and open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 9 PM.
Weekday mornings and Tuesday evenings are the quietest stretches. Sunday afternoons and Saturday evenings bring the biggest crowds, and there is usually plenty of free parking either way.
2. Hibachi Grill Supreme Buffet, Manchester, MO
Crab fans get three versions here: blue crabs, crab legs, and crab rangoon. That alone makes Hibachi Grill Supreme Buffet at 1282 Old Orch Ctr in Manchester a strong pick for seafood-first eaters.
The spread is big. Sushi, hibachi fare, Chinese dishes, and American standbys share space with crawfish, frog legs, fried shrimp, and sesame chicken.
Timing matters for the shellfish. Dinner costs about $4 more than lunch because calamari, crabs, and crab legs join the lineup, and the whole meal still lands under $20 per person.
Hours run daily from 10:30 AM to 8:30 PM. Families will find a kids’ menu, high chairs, and a private dining room, plus free parking out front.
3. Golden Apple Buffet, St Charles, MO
Salted crab legs and fried crab legs are not the usual buffet routine, and that twist is the reason Golden Apple earns a spot. You will find it at 3801 Mexico Rd in St. Charles.
Beyond the crab, the buffet adds a pho station and a hibachi area where you hand over ingredients for fried rice or noodles. Coconut shrimp and crab rangoon round out the seafood side.
It is mostly a classic Chinese buffet at heart, so do not expect an endless seafood boil. Prices sit higher than most on this list, around $20 to $30 per person.
Reservations are not accepted. Weekday afternoons are calm, while Friday evenings and weekend afternoons fill up, and it stays open until 9:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
4. Wolcano Teppanyaki, North Kansas City, MO
Plan your calendar around this one. Wolcano Teppanyaki at 1207 Armour Rd puts crab legs out after 3 PM on Fridays and all day Saturday.
The rest of the week still offers plenty, including made-to-order hibachi, sushi, sashimi, and Chinese dishes like orange chicken. Specialty rolls such as the Oshiko Roll and Golden Crunchy Roll give the sushi side some personality.
Crayfish and phyllo-wrapped crab rangoon join the crab legs on loaded weekend bars. The dining room stays clean and quiet, with a solid tea selection.
Expect to pay about $10 to $20 per person. It is open weekdays 11 AM to 9 PM, Saturdays from 11:30 AM, and closed Sundays.
5. China Garden, Columbia, MO
Ornate decor and a sprawling dining room set China Garden apart before you even pick up a plate. The Columbia buffet sits at 3420 Clark Ln, an easy stop off I-70.
Fresh steamed crab legs are the headliner on Friday and Saturday evenings, and the staff keeps them coming. Fried frog legs, crawfish, and a seafood combo make the seafood section feel like an event.
Chinese staples hold up too, from sesame chicken to house special beef and combo fried rice. A salad bar and full vegetarian options help mixed groups.
Prices land around $10 to $20 per person, with daily hours from 11 AM to 9 PM. Saturday afternoons and evenings are busiest, so arrive early for first pick of the crab.
6. Ichiban Buffet, Springfield, MO
Springfield cashew chicken on a crab leg buffet is about as Ozarks as Chinese food gets. Ichiban Buffet at 625 N Glenstone Ave serves both, plus sushi and American comfort food.
Weekends bring crab legs, and the trays stay stocked. Oysters on the half shell, clams, crawfish, frog legs, and fried shrimp give seafood fans a deep bench.
The restaurant is family owned, with a casual, quiet dining room and changing tables for parents with little ones. Rolls like the Fantastic Roll and California Roll fill out the sushi bar.
Expect about $10 to $20 per person. It stays open until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, which helps if you want late crab.
7. Triple Eight’s Buffet Republic, Republic, MO
Sunday is the day to aim for in Republic. Triple Eight’s Buffet at 557 E Elm St brings out crab legs on Sundays, cooked well and priced kindly.
The everyday draw is cashew chicken and crab rangoon, two dishes this small-town spot is known for. Garlic chicken, coconut chicken, moo goo gai pan, and shrimp fried rice add variety.
Service is friendly, parking is plentiful, and the space is wheelchair accessible. Curbside pickup is available too.
Prices stay around $10 to $20 per person, with daily hours from 11 AM to 9 PM. Friday evenings are the busiest, while mornings are calm.
Whether you are near St. Louis, Kansas City, or the Ozarks, one of these seven buffets is close enough for a crab leg night.
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