Maryland takes its seafood seriously, and some of the best ways to eat a lot of it come with a plate and a long line of steam trays. This list covers six buffets across the state where crab legs, shrimp, oysters, and sushi share space with carving stations and hibachi grills.
Some are beach town favorites, while others sit in busy shopping plazas near Baltimore and the DC suburbs. Prices, hours, and specialties vary a lot from stop to stop, so a little planning helps.
If you have ever wanted to try steamed blue crabs and sashimi in the same meal without ordering twice, these are the places to know. Save this one for your next hungry weekend.
1. Seafood Palace Buffet, Annapolis, MD
Annapolis is a crab town, so it makes sense that one of its buffets puts Maryland blue crabs right on the line. Seafood Palace Buffet sits at 81 Forest Plaza A, inside a large, modern dining room built for big appetites.
The seafood spread covers steamed shrimp, crab legs, clams, crawfish, scallops, and salt and pepper shrimp. A sushi section and a hibachi grill, where you pick your own ingredients, round out the hot and cold options.
Not everyone at the table wants shellfish, and that is fine here. Roast beef, orange chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, a salad bar, and vegetarian plates keep the picky eaters fed, and soft serve ice cream handles dessert.
I like this stop for its value, with prices generally running about $10 to $20 per person. Hours are 11 AM to 9:30 PM most days and until 10:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Sunday afternoons get crowded, so a weekday lunch is the calmer pick.
2. The Bonfire Restaurant, Ocean City, MD
A buffet that stretches 150 feet is hard to forget. The Bonfire Restaurant on Coastal Highway has earned landmark status in Ocean City, and that long line is the main reason.
Steamed snow crab legs, boiled shrimp, baked fish, and crab dip carry the seafood side. Across the way, carving stations serve prime rib with au jus along with roast beef and pork.
Soups, salads, BBQ ribs, and brisket fill in the gaps. Save room for the dessert bar and the fresh made donuts, which might be the most talked about sweet on the whole spread.
Plan ahead, because the schedule is limited. The Bonfire is closed Monday and Tuesday and serves from 4 to 8 PM Wednesday through Sunday.
Expect about $40 to $50 per person, and know that reservations are accepted, which helps on busy Saturday evenings. A kids’ menu, high chairs, and changing tables make it an easy family beach dinner.
3. Umi Hot Pot Sushi & Seafood Buffet, Baltimore, MD
Cooking your own dinner at a buffet sounds odd until you try hot pot. At Umi, on Baltimore National Pike, tables come set up for simmering your picks from raw and cooked selection bars.
The seafood holds its own too. Steamed snow crab legs get refilled often, and clams and shrimp show up throughout the line.
Sushi fans get assorted rolls, nigiri, and sashimi, which gives this spot a bit more raw fish range than a typical buffet. The room is spacious, with a casual but trendy look.
Pricing sits around $30 to $40 per person. Doors open at 11 AM daily, closing at 10 PM most nights and 10:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Free parking is usually easy to find.
4. Aurora Seafood & Grill Buffet （AYCE）, Windsor Mill, MD
Oysters on the half shell at an all-you-can-eat price will get anyone’s attention. Aurora on Security Boulevard pairs them with crab legs and colossal shrimp, which makes it one of the stronger seafood lines in the Baltimore area.
The extras are fun here. Baked mussels with cheese and crab meat with cheese add a little indulgence, while sushi, sashimi, and maki rolls cover the cold side.
A live hibachi station cooks ingredients to order, and you can even get soup made there. Fresh fruit and desserts finish things off, and full vegan and vegetarian menus mean mixed groups have options.
Expect about $20 to $30 per person. It opens at 11 AM daily and stays open until 10:45 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
A private dining room and kids’ birthday appeal make it a handy party spot.
5. Hibachi Grill Seafood Buffet, Takoma Park, MD
Count the bars and you start to lose track. Hibachi Grill Seafood Buffet on New Hampshire Avenue runs a sushi bar, hibachi bar, soup bar, fruit bar, and ice cream bar, all under one roof.
Seafood lovers can load up on oysters on the half shell, mussels, and crab legs. The hibachi station cooks sliced meats and entrees right in front of you.
One detail sets it apart from the rest of this list. Pho and beef rice noodle soup appear on the menu, which is a nice change of pace between crab plates.
The setting is casual and cozy, with a fireplace, free Wi-Fi, and plenty of free parking, including a garage. Prices land around $20 to $30 per person, and hours run 11 AM to 9:45 PM most days, later on weekends.
6. GrandE Buffet & Grill, Laurel, MD
Steamed blue crabs and crawfish together on a hot line is about as Maryland as a buffet gets. GrandE Buffet & Grill on Fort Meade Road in Laurel makes that combo a centerpiece.
The size is the story here. American, Mexican, and Pan-Asian dishes all share space, with a sushi station, a pho station, BBQ, orange chicken, a salad bar, and fresh fruit.
The hibachi option is a highlight. You choose what you want, and the cooks prepare it to order, which is a good way to get a plate made exactly your way.
Hours are simple to remember, 11 AM to 10 PM every day. Expect roughly $20 to $30 per person, with free parking and high chairs for little ones.
If you want a quieter meal, aim for Tuesday morning or a Wednesday or Thursday night.
Six buffets, six different takes on the same idea. Whether you want beach town prime rib or hot pot with your crab legs, Maryland has a line waiting.
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