Feast On Seafood: Texas Buffets Worth Visiting

Texas knows how to do things big, and seafood buffets are no exception. From the Gulf Coast to inland cities, you’ll find all-you-can-eat spreads loaded with shrimp, crab, oysters, and fish prepared every way imaginable.

Whether you’re craving classic fried fare or elegant steamed selections, these buffets deliver fresh catches and endless refills that’ll make your taste buds sing.

1. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

Where Cajun spices meet Texas hospitality, magic happens on your plate. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen serves up a legendary weekend brunch buffet that’s basically a love letter to the Gulf.

You’ll find mountains of peel-and-eat shrimp, crawfish étouffée that’ll make you weep with joy, and blackened catfish so good it should be illegal. The carving station features perfectly seasoned prime rib alongside seafood gumbo thick enough to stand your spoon in.

Pro tip: pace yourself or you’ll regret loading up on bread pudding before hitting the crab legs.

2. Golden Corral Coastal Locations

This chain gets unfairly judged, but their coastal Texas locations absolutely nail the fried seafood game. Golden Corral serves crispy popcorn shrimp that crunch like autumn leaves and fish fillets with golden breading that puts fast food joints to shame.

Their Friday night seafood spreads feature baked tilapia, breaded clam strips, and enough cocktail sauce to fill a kiddie pool. Sure, it’s not fancy, but when you’re feeding a hungry family without emptying your wallet, this spot delivers solid comfort food.

The chocolate fountain is just a bonus.

3. Kemah Boardwalk Aquarium Restaurant

Did you know eating next to massive aquariums makes seafood taste 47% better? Kemah Boardwalk Aquarium Restaurant proves this scientific fact I just made up with their stunning Sunday brunch buffet surrounded by swimming tropical fish.

Fresh oysters on the half shell glisten under soft lighting while king crab legs practically beg you to crack them open. The sushi station features rolls so pretty you’ll Instagram before eating, and the carved salmon is buttery perfection.

Kids stare at fish while adults demolish shellfish. Everybody wins.

4. Willie G’s Seafood & Steaks

Though Willie G’s typically runs à la carte, their special holiday buffets transform this upscale joint into seafood paradise. Willie G’s pulls out all the stops with Gulf oysters so fresh they practically taste like ocean spray and jumbo lump crab cakes that crumble at the gentlest fork touch.

The grilled redfish arrives perfectly charred with lemon butter pooling around tender flesh. Their shrimp cocktail features prawns the size of your thumb, chilled to perfection and begging for horseradish-spiked sauce.

Dress code applies, so ditch the flip-flops.

5. Crazy Cajun Seafood Restaurant

Where messy eating becomes an art form and bibs are mandatory fashion accessories. Crazy Cajun Seafood Restaurant dumps pounds of boiled shrimp, crawfish, sausage, corn, and potatoes right onto your table like edible confetti.

Their weekend buffet lets you sample everything from mild garlic butter to face-melting Rajun Cajun spice levels. The snow crab clusters crack open to reveal sweet, tender meat that needs zero seasoning but gets doused in butter anyway because we’re not animals.

Bring wet wipes and your appetite for chaos.

6. Joe’s Crab Shack Galveston

However you feel about chain restaurants, Joe’s Crab Shack in Galveston earns respect for location alone. Joe’s Crab Shack serves their special event buffets with ocean breezes wafting through open-air seating and seagulls judging your plate-stacking skills.

Steamed crab buckets arrive at your table still steaming, accompanied by garlic bread that soaks up every drop of butter. The fried shrimp basket features perfectly seasoned breading with just enough crunch, while clam chowder warms your soul even in Texas heat.

Sunset views make everything taste better. Science backs me up.

7. Landry’s Seafood House

Are we surprised that Tilman Fertitta’s seafood empire knows how to throw a buffet? Landry’s Seafood House transforms their dining rooms into all-you-can-eat wonderlands during special occasions with raw bars, carving stations, and dessert displays that require strategic planning.

Gulf shrimp arrive three ways: boiled, fried, and grilled with different seasonings at each station. The crab legs are pre-cracked because Landry’s understands we’re here to eat, not wrestle crustaceans. Blackened mahi-mahi and pecan-crusted trout round out options for finicky eaters.

Reservations required unless you enjoy waiting.

8. San Luis Resort Galvez Bar & Grill

When your buffet comes with a side of luxury, you know you’ve arrived somewhere special. San Luis Resort Galvez Bar & Grill hosts Sunday brunch buffets that feel like edible vacations with Gulf views included in the price of admission.

Chilled seafood towers showcase oysters, shrimp, and crab claws arranged like edible sculptures. The omelet station will customize your eggs with lump crabmeat because this is how fancy people breakfast. Smoked salmon, bagels, and all the fixings complete the upscale coastal experience.

Wear something nice or feel underdressed next to retirees.

9. Saltgrass Steak House Seafood Nights

Though primarily known for beef, Saltgrass Steak House surprises everyone with Friday seafood buffet nights that prove they’re not one-trick ponies. Saltgrass serves fried catfish with cornmeal crusts so crispy they shatter like glass, alongside grilled shrimp skewers brushed with garlic butter that drips down your chin.

Their seafood gumbo is thick, spicy, and loaded with chunks of fish and sausage. Hush puppies arrive hot from the fryer, sweet and savory in perfect balance.

Steak lovers can still grab prime rib while seafood fans feast happily beside them.

10. Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar

Hence the unexpected twist: not all Texas seafood buffets involve fried everything and cocktail sauce. Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar offers lunch buffets where raw fish meets cooked seafood in harmonious fusion that’ll expand your buffet horizons.

Sushi rolls range from simple salmon nigiri to elaborate dragon rolls drizzled with eel sauce. Tempura shrimp arrives light and crispy, not greasy like inferior versions. Hibachi-grilled scallops and teriyaki salmon provide cooked options for sushi skeptics in your group.

Wasabi clears sinuses better than any decongestant. Trust me on this.

11. Pier 19 Restaurant & Bar

However far south you travel in Texas, Pier 19 Restaurant & Bar waits at the tip with seafood buffets that taste like the Gulf itself. Pier 19 specializes in whatever boats brought in that morning, meaning your buffet changes with the tides and fishing luck.

Blackened redfish, fried flounder, and grilled snapper rotate through the lineup alongside mountains of boiled shrimp. The ceviche station features fish so fresh it was probably swimming yesterday. Outdoor seating lets you watch boats dock while cracking crab legs.

Flip-flops encouraged, pretension banned at the door.

12. Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant

This Galveston institution has been feeding seafood lovers since 1911, and their buffet game is legendary among locals. Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant serves traditional Gulf Coast favorites with recipes passed down through generations and zero shortcuts taken.

Their seafood gumbo could win awards, thick with okra and packed with shrimp, crab, and oysters. Fried shrimp comes perfectly golden, never greasy, with housemade tartar sauce that puts store-bought versions to shame. The stuffed crab is rich, decadent, and worth every calorie you’ll pretend not to count.

History tastes delicious when served with butter.