Some people plan their weekends around football games or yard work. Others plan them around the moment a fresh tray of crab legs lands on the buffet line.
If you belong to the second group, Pennsylvania has more options than you might think, from Erie all the way down to South Philly. This list covers seven all-you-can-eat spots where crab legs show up on the weekend, along with the sushi, lobster, oysters, and hibachi that keep plates full between cracks.
Some are budget-friendly neighborhood buffets, while others go big with whole lobsters and prime rib. A few even hand out cracking tools so you can work faster.
I pulled together the practical stuff too, like hours, busy times, and parking, so you can show up hungry and ready. Grab a napkin, or maybe three, and find the one closest to you.
1. Ocean Buffet, Allentown, PA
Cheap and crab legs rarely share a sentence, but Ocean Buffet on South 4th Street makes it happen. With prices in the $10 to $20 per person range, it is one of the friendliest stops on this list for your wallet.
The buffet leans hard into seafood. Snow crab legs appear on the dinner buffet, and the spread also includes fried calamari, steamed flounder, and a long sushi selection.
I would save this one for a Saturday or Sunday dinner, since crab legs are a dinner feature here. Doors open at 10:30 AM and close at 9:30 PM every day of the week.
Expect company on weekends. Sunday afternoon into evening, Friday evening, and Saturday afternoon through evening are the busiest stretches, so timing matters if you want first pick of a fresh tray.
Parking is easy, with a free lot and free street spaces. High chairs are available for little ones, and takeout and delivery are options for nights when the couch wins.
2. Royal Buffet & Grill, Philadelphia, PA
Whole steamed lobsters. Unlimited ones.
That alone explains why Royal Buffet & Grill in South Philly sits in the higher $40 to $50 price range.
Crab legs come two ways here, warm and chilled, so you can pick your style or try both. Oysters, clams, and sushi round out the seafood side, while lamb chops and fried chicken cover the rest of the table.
The trays stay well stocked, which is a big deal when everyone in the room is aiming for the same thing. There is also dim sum, bubble tea, a salad bar, and a dessert lineup that gets plenty of attention.
Weekend hours run 11 AM to 11 PM Friday through Sunday, giving late eaters a real shot. Saturday and Sunday afternoons into evening are the busiest, and a wait is common.
The good news is that reservations are accepted. Families get a kids’ menu, changing tables, and a private dining room that works for birthday parties.
3. Dragon Hibachi & Sushi Buffet, Lancaster, PA
Seafood cracking tools sitting right there on the line tell you this Fruitville Pike spot takes crab legs seriously. Weekends are when the nicer items, crab legs included, tend to show up.
Crawfish joins the lineup too, which is less common at Pennsylvania buffets. Coconut shrimp, oysters, a sushi bar, and hibachi give you plenty to work with between crab runs.
Pricing lands around $20 to $30 per person, and a drink is included with the buffet. Disposable gloves are available at the bars, a small detail that keeps things tidy.
Plan around one quirk. The restaurant is closed on Wednesdays, but Friday and Saturday hours stretch from 11 AM to 10:30 PM, with Sunday running until 9:30 PM.
Reservations are accepted, and a private dining room is on site for groups. Weekend afternoons and evenings draw the biggest crowds, so an early lunch is a smart move.
4. Imperial Palace | Chinese Restaurant, Erie, PA
Erie folks heading out Buffalo Road on a Friday or Saturday night have a good reason to pull into Imperial Palace. Those two nights are when crab legs land on the buffet.
The restaurant is roomy and does more than one thing well. Along with a wide-ranging buffet, there is a Mongolian BBQ station and an a la carte Pan-Asian menu for anyone who wants to order off the page.
Prices stay friendly at around $10 to $20 per person, which makes it one of the better values in the northwest corner of the state. Sushi and a salad bar are part of the spread.
Hours run 10:45 AM to 9:30 PM Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday opening at 11 AM. Mondays are closed.
Service moves quickly, the tea selection gets high marks, and there is a kids’ menu for younger diners. Free parking is plentiful.
5. Jumbo Seafood Buffet, Feasterville-Trevose, PA
A buffet with Seafood right in the name has a promise to keep, and Jumbo on Bustleton Pike keeps it. Snow crab legs go out on the line without the stingy portions some places are known for.
The seafood list is long. Crab claws, fried fish, shrimp, salmon, grilled fish, shellfish, escargot, and sushi all appear, and the dishes rotate regularly.
Hot food actually stays hot here, which matters when you are going back for round three. A hibachi grill adds made-to-order options.
Expect to pay about $20 to $40 per person. Friday and Saturday hours run until 10:30 PM, and Sunday closes at 9:30 PM.
Sunday afternoon and Saturday evening bring the biggest rush in this Bucks County spot. Reservations are accepted, and there is a kids’ menu along with full vegan and vegetarian choices for mixed groups.
6. Ichiban Seafood Buffet, Springfield Township, PA
Blue crabs are the twist at Ichiban. While most buffets stop at snow crab legs, this Woodland Avenue spot adds unlimited steamed blue crab and soft shell crab to the mix.
Crab legs are still front and center, refilled often throughout busy weekend shifts. The fried shrimp has a loyal following, and the sushi is made fresh.
Shrimp and mussels, steak with steamed vegetables, and banana pudding for dessert show how wide the menu goes. Seniors also get a discount, a nice perk for grandparents leading the family outing.
Weekends get packed, but service keeps pace. Friday and Saturday run from 11 AM to 11 PM, and Sunday wraps up at 10 PM.
Prices fall around $20 to $30 per person. There is a private dining room for larger gatherings, plus free parking in the lot and on the street.
7. Steelworks Buffet and Grill, Bethlehem, PA
Bethlehem’s steel history lives on in the name of this buffet inside Wind Creek Bethlehem. The menu, though, is all about prime rib and crab legs.
All-you-can-eat lobster is another headline item, and the global spread includes pizza, pasta, and plenty of American comfort food. Grill favorites like shrimp scampi, blackened fish tacos, and applewood smoked bacon mac and cheese are on the menu too.
Steelworks opens at 8 AM daily, and weekend breakfast gives early risers a head start. Saturday hours stretch to 11 PM, the latest on this list, while Friday closes at 10 PM and Sunday at 9 PM.
Prices run about $40 to $50 per person. Reservations are not accepted, and Saturday evening into the night is the busiest time.
Parking is free in the garage and lot. Free Wi-Fi and a kids’ menu make it easy to bring the whole crew.
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