Crab legs are the reason a lot of Texans walk into a buffet with a plan and a cracker in mind. Ordering a pound or two at a seafood restaurant can get pricey fast, but an all-you-can-eat spread lets you keep going back for more snow crab without watching the bill climb.
This list covers seven Texas buffets, from Houston and Humble to Dallas suburbs, San Antonio, and Round Rock, where crab legs share the line with sushi, oysters, crawfish, lobster, and plenty of Chinese favorites. Some serve crab every day, while others save it for certain nights, so a few smart timing tips are included to help you show up when the good stuff is out.
1. Buffetopia, Humble, TX
Snow crab is only the starting point on FM 1960 in Humble. Buffetopia lines up raw oysters, boiled crawfish, shrimp prepared just about every way, fried fish, and even frog legs, which makes it one of the broadest seafood spreads in the north Houston area.
The menu goes well past the ocean, too. Chinese classics, sushi, hot pot, ribs, a salad bar, and a hibachi grill all share the room, and the dessert section gets plenty of attention on its own.
Families will find high chairs, changing tables, and a kids’ menu. Vegetarian and vegan diners have full options as well, so a mixed group does not have to compromise.
Expect to spend about $20 to $30 per person. Weekend afternoons and evenings fill up quickly, while Monday and Wednesday nights tend to be calmer, which is when I would go if crab legs are the main mission.
Hours run 11 AM to 9:30 PM most days and until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations are accepted, and free parking makes the stop easy.
2. UMI SUSHI & SEAFOOD BUFFET, Houston, TX
Lobster on a buffet line tends to get people talking, and the Westheimer location of UMI puts it right next to the crab. Snow crab and boiled shrimp sit among the headline items, along with abalone and a wide run of sushi rolls.
This is a step up in price from a typical Chinese buffet, at roughly $30 to $50 per person. The trade-off is a seafood selection built around premium items rather than just fried basics.
Beyond the shellfish, the menu includes hot pot, tonkotsu ramen, desserts, and milk tea. A private dining room is available, which helps for birthdays or larger family dinners.
Saturday and Sunday evenings bring the biggest crowds. Weeknight dinners are noticeably quieter, and parking is usually plentiful along this stretch of west Houston.
The buffet opens at 11 AM daily and stays open until 10:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations are accepted.
3. Ocean King Buffet, Duncanville, TX
Budget-minded crab fans, this one is for you. Ocean King Buffet in Duncanville sits in the $10 to $20 per person range, which is hard to match anywhere for all-you-can-eat crab legs.
Timing matters here. Crab legs are served on weekend evenings, starting Friday night, and they also appear all day on Thanksgiving, so a quick call ahead before a Tuesday visit will save some disappointment.
When crab night rolls around, oysters and a Cajun-style seafood boil join the lineup. The everyday menu covers sushi, a hibachi grill, coconut shrimp, crab rangoon, orange chicken, and buffalo wings.
The dining room keeps a quiet, casual feel, and a private room is available for groups. Delivery and takeout are options when you would rather eat at home.
Find it at 700 S Cockrell Hill Rd, with free parking on site. Hours stretch until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
4. King Buffet, Plano, TX
A chocolate fountain is not the first thing you expect at a crab leg stop, but King Buffet in Plano has one. It also has soft serve, a full dessert bar, and a dining room big enough to handle a crowd.
Crab legs are the Friday highlight, so plan around the end of the work week. Crawfish, salt and pepper blue crab, fried shrimp, and a sushi bar help round out the seafood side any day.
The Mongolian grill is a nice change of pace between shellfish rounds. You pick your ingredients and get a fresh stir-fry cooked to order.
Prices fall in the $10 to $20 per person range. Doors open a little early at 10:45 AM, which suits anyone hoping for a late breakfast-turned-crab lunch.
Friday evenings and weekend afternoons get busy. College students, families, and big groups all show up here, and a kids’ menu plus high chairs make the visit simple with little ones.
5. Asian Star Super Buffet, San Antonio, TX
Sunday is crab day at Asian Star Super Buffet on Colonial Square, and San Antonio diners plan their weekends around it. The legs share space with crawfish, fried shrimp, and a long run of Chinese and Japanese dishes.
The room is large and low-key, with a hibachi grill, Mongolian grill, salad bar, and sushi station. Egg drop soup, cheese crab rangoon, buffalo wings, and ice cream fill in the gaps.
At $10 to $20 per person, it stays friendly on the wallet. Full vegan and vegetarian menus mean everyone in the group gets a real plate.
Sunday afternoons and evenings are the busiest stretch, which makes sense given the crab schedule. Arriving early in the afternoon is a smart move.
Curbside pickup is available, and a private dining room works for parties. Parking is usually easy to find.
6. Umi Hot Pot Sushi & Seafood Buffet, Round Rock, TX
Night owls in Central Texas get the longest window on this list. Umi in Round Rock stays open until 10 PM on weeknights and 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, so a late crab run is very doable.
The spread leans premium, with unlimited lobster and a generous supply of crab legs. Sushi, Chinese classics, tonkotsu ramen, and a salad bar back them up.
Hot pot is the other big draw. Building your own simmering bowl between shellfish trips turns dinner into a longer, more social meal.
Expect to pay about $30 to $40 per person. Saturday evening is the peak, while weeknight dinners stay much calmer.
The restaurant sits right on the I-35 frontage road, which makes it an easy stop for Austin-area road trips. Free parking is usually plentiful, and kids’ menus and high chairs are on hand.
7. Kami Buffet, Richardson, TX
Whole lobsters, unlimited snow crab, and crawfish make Kami Buffet the splurge pick of the bunch. Sitting on W Campbell Rd in Richardson, it pairs a full seafood bar with a sushi station.
Plan on roughly $40 to $50 per person. That is the top of this list, but the lineup is built for diners who want lobster and crab rather than egg rolls.
Kami is a newer arrival with a soft opening on its calendar, so I would call ahead at 469-498-0077 to confirm it is serving before making the drive.
Posted hours run 11 AM to 9:30 PM most days and until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Dine-in and takeout are offered, with no delivery.
Parking is usually plentiful, which helps on a busy Dallas-area evening. Save this one for a celebration dinner.
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