If you search social media for the best seafood buffet in Minnesota, you’ve likely seen 98 Pounds Buffet in Bloomington pop up on your feed—indeed, that’s how I found out about it. For more than 15 years, this restaurant has kept its fans coming back again and again for its endless seafood buffet, sushi, and wide selection of other favorites. After seeing video clips of folks feasting on my phone, I figured it was time I paid 98 Pounds Buffet a visit to see what the buzz was all about.
Why Everyone Is Talking About This Buffet
The buzz around 98 Pounds Buffet has been pretty steady since its 2010 opening, and it has long topped the list for seafood buffet lovers wondering where to eat in Minnesota. In fact, a recent Instagram review of the restaurant has garnered approximately 300,000 views and has been shared more than 6,000 times. If you’re looking for a seafood buffet in Minnesota, 98 Pounds Buffet has earned its audience.
What You’ll Find on the Buffet
Seafood—including fresh sushi—is the highlight here. You’ll find everything from pepper shrimp and crawfish to squid, crab dishes, and baked fish. There’s plenty for folks who aren’t feeling seafood, as well, such as chicken, pasta, and an array of Asian-American favorites, like egg and spring rolls, beef with broccoli, and chicken with mixed vegetables. Two dessert stations offer everything from fruit and pudding to soft-serve ice cream.
What It’s Like To Eat Here
I visited on a Tuesday night just after 7 p.m., and while the restaurant wasn’t packed, 98 Pounds Buffet was busy, with most of the booths around the perimeter of the dining room occupied and several tables closer to the buffet lined with families enjoying their meals between trips to the handful of stations in the restaurant. My server came over almost as soon as I sat down to offer me a beverage, and while he was away getting it, another server checked to make sure I’d been helped. I never had to ask for a top-off on my water; the table service was friendly and efficient all night long, as was the work on the buffet lines. Whenever anything started to get low, a server with a steaming replacement pan emerged from the kitchen. This kept everything on the buffet looking fresh, and everything I tried tasted fresh, as well.
Is It Worth the Trip?
My visit to 98 Pounds Buffet in Bloomington, Minnesota, was definitely worth the trip. For less than $25—adult weeknight dinner pricing (prices vary for kids and lunch buffets)—I enjoyed my fill of seafood specialties, sushi, sides like green beans and egg rolls, and dessert. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t think that this was a good value for tasty, quality food.
While I wouldn’t rank 98 Pounds—or any other buffet for that matter—among the best seafood restaurants in Minnesota, it certainly offers one of the best seafood values around, and I’d count it among the top buffets in Minnesota. There was no line to get in when I visited, but I understand that weekend evenings can be very busy. Fortunately, the restaurant does accept reservations by phone at (952) 881-1088…