$38.99 All you can eat LOBSTER, snow crab legs, seafood @ Umi Buffet | Worth it? Houston TX
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- Umi recently opened up in Houston and I finally went. This buffet is the only buffet in this area that has lobster & is priced higher than most buffets in the Houston area. Watch the entire video to hear my thoughts.
Umi Buffet Address: 11681 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077
Thank you for the video you made and your honest review.
You're very welcome
This is literally a normal Chinese buffet.
not worth it. 45 bucks (price, tax, tip.)
Yqw, mp...cause you never know how long it's been sitting there, that goes for most fried food...if the lobster was tough, it wasn't moving fast enough for them to replenish it with new ones 😉👍
I agree with you; we had one in Rockville, MD, and it was nothing special or spectacular.
@@jonwear9791 Ooh that's right, I didn't realize it was a chain buffet. We had a buffet here in Houston that served dungeness crab, but they've closed down maybe 4-5 years ago. I believe it was around the same price as Umi. Their sushi was higher quality and the dungeness crabs were delicious!! That's the type of buffet I wouldn't mind paying $40 for. Umi isn't terrible, but it definitely is not worth $40 imo. I'd rather go to another Chinese buffet for half the price. I wouldn't mind coming back during lunch though to see what they offer compared to dinner since it'd be a lot cheaper
I ate there on Tet, 2/10/2024. I agree with you. I was not impress with the food.
I heard people were waiting in long lines for the Lobster, so I thought it was going to be amazing.
But it felt like any other Ordinary Chinese Buffet to me.
I prefer Sushi Buffets like Sushi Masa or Soma Sushi.
So I would rather go to a Sushi Buffet than to go back to Umi Seafood to eat.
The Sushi there wasn't all that great also. I think the food was Mediocre overall.
Riightt!!! And for $40...?! They got me messed up LOL. I heard the same things you heard, so I was ecstatic to go try it, especially since we don't have any buffets with all you can eat lobster. And the sushi was not $40 worth at all, other Chinese buffets have better sushi for half the price. Don't get me started on the crawfish and snow crab legs lol
Soma sushi is not a buffet
Awesome review. Thanks for sharing. 90 minutes one way from my place. I hope to try it soon.
Oh man that's far! I hope you will enjoy it
Was interested in going here but I think I'll have to pass.
@@BeaumontFoodie Don't let me deter you from trying it!! It could have been an off day + we all have different taste buds 🙂
with respect...too much talking...not enough food and eating...
This is the first time watching you, and you're very honest. Thank you, my husband and I travel a lot and we love dining out, your Expressions said It all
Thank you, I never want to say "Everything's just amazingly delicious!!" Lol that's impossible even at our all time favorite restaurant we won't love everything on the menu! I try to keep it real HAHA, but I also know we all have different tastebuds as well. That's awesome you guys travel a lot. My husband and I were just talking last week and we want to start traveling at least once a year moving forward, can't wait! lol. If you had to pick 1-2 places, where have you been that's been your favorite place to travel to??
I give you a like but I want my 15 minutes of my time back. One do not go to the all- you-can-eat Lobsters buffet for crawfish.
The flavor of the food is due to them just hiring any type of people to cook in the kitchen. They obviously don't have a real Chef or an owner that cares enough about the quality and taste of the food.
I love to eat at all food venues if the food tastes great and served under great sanitary practices. Just by looking at the dishes, I can tell that this was a highly overpriced regular Chinese buffet. You are absolutely spot on when you said “this is just another Chinese buffet”.
@@Hndustani1970 And doesn't taste any better than it looks imo 😢
Umi does not look like a good buffet, especially at the 39 dollars price point.
It's the most expensive buffet in Houston that I know of. I hear some people actually do enjoy it. For me I would rather go to a buffet that cost $17, maybe because I'm just cheap also lol. But based on that nights dinner, I couldn't justify paying $40 for the quality. I actually went back this past weekend..not by choice, it was with family, but it was actually better that day to be fair. So based on my two experiences, I would rate the place a 6/10. I wouldn't pick Umi as my top choice to go eat at but if someone asked me to go eat there, then I would go. But of course this is just my opinion so please take what I say with a grain of salt :)
I can't go off her word. She seems to not like seasonings
Not thing special, with the price is expensive.
It sounds like you did not like most of the food that you tried.
you can't please all the people all the time.
Guess ill just go to a seafood restaurant now
So basically an overpriced Chinese buffet….didn’t see nothing spectacular
@@clistpost That's pretty much how I felt honestly
What Chinese buffet has snowcrab legs with no Asians standing over it ready to grab it all when it comes out, oysters, and those kinds of teas? No Chinese buffet is like this be real
I know this might be a funny question but can people go in sandals to this type of restaurant or is it a more upscale restaurant where people dress up
@@lilianamurillo2652 It's not a funny questionn, good to know these types of things before walking in like... 😮, lol. It's not upscale, so you can wear really anything, sandals included. There were lots of people wearing sandals myself included :)
Appreciate your honesty. Just saved me time and money 👍
No problem! 🤗
Where is the all you can eat lobster buffet ? I wasted 15 minutes of my time and I want it back.
You have a wonderful voice.
Thanks!
I went there once when it first opened and never went back. Kim Son is way better as far as fresh food buffet and it is $25.00 not $40.00
@@soundandrhythm I heard it's around $50 on the weekend too
Man, seems like she hates them all 😮
Blah. Picky
Lobster is always a disappointment at Chinese buffets.
Nooo don't tell me this lol. I wonder if the more expensive buffets have 'decent lobster' for a buffet? 🤔
Jerod Bridge
You have to get there when they first open so all the seafood isn't sitting there cooking more 😉...or juat wait for the new batch comes out 👍
Thanks for the tip!
I went to the new spot in NJ. Just opened. I went there as a curiosity and they have the same exact food that you have at that branch. I think the food is ok. Some were good. I liked the sushi. But the bad part is the shrimp and crabs that are not fresh and my the lobster as well. I think they got the worst seafood that no one wants and they grab them all for cheap to make buffet on and no one can tell if they are fresh or not because of all those sauces and stuff. I don’t like the hot pot. The pot is not hot at all it is just lukewarm and when cooking the raw items waited a while and still didn’t come out good and had stomach aches afterwards. My verdict just go once to see the hype and second time if I do go I stick to sushi and possible the ox tail they were good
Omgosh, I love your review. Thank you for being so thorough and telling me all this. I wanted to go back to try their ramen and hot pot, but then I was thinking maybe I can just go back for lunch one day. I think dinner is way overpriced for the food being just okay. I would be okay to pay $24.99 but $40 is too much for the quality. But I am still glad I went because I literally thought about this place almost everyday LOL, but I'm glad it's out of my system. I don't care for it anymore, woohoo lol
What’s the location? The one I went to didn’t have lobsters
@@mlsstyrus 11681 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077
I went back a few months later for a family's birthday and they didn't have lobster that day either (it was a Sunday) so I'm wondering if they decided to take it off their buffet line
What is the location of this restaurant?????
@@1019buster 11681 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077
WOW! The selection of food was almost as big as The Feast! I saw many dishes that are not served at many chinese buffets. I was sorry to hear that you were disappointed. I think that UMI is a nationwide buffet, not locally owned. That could be the reason that it is not as tasty since thaey probably follow company guidelines in preparation of the food. Thanks for your honest opinion and I will think it about it more before trying. I am trying to stay away from buffets since I don't have the will power to limit myself. Keep up the excellent work on your reviews and as always, I look forward to the next one.😀
Thanks William!! If it was cheaper, I would have been happy hahah, but not worth it for that price! (But you're right they did have a pretty nice selection huh?) I may come back one day for lunch and see if it's worth it then. Could have also just been that day where the food was off, I really don't know. If you go there, let me know if it's any better or what you think :) I am sure you have the willpower for buffets, you can't be worse than me! Haha! I love buffets, I don't have the willpower to stay away 😅
Hey Emily, aka Hong, I went there today for lunch with a large group for lunch and was thoroughly impressed with the selection of food. My favorite was the stone crab and fried chicken wings. There was a large selection of sushi. I did not have room for the Korean hot pot. I think lunch is priced more reasonable at $21.99 plus tax and tip. I am not sure what dinner includes over lunch, but you will probably not miss it since there is plenty of crawfish for you (lol). Have a great weekend until my next food adventure. 😂🎉
Hey William, sorry TH-cam is weird sometimes and I don't see comments until years later or maybe never at all. But I'm glad you enjoyed your food there. I can't remember if I tried the chicken wings. I think the lunch price is more fair and reasonable for sure. I actually had to go back for a weekend for my family's birthday (they picked Umi) and I tried the stone crab but it was too mushy for me. Yes..I just need my crawfish and I'm happy haha! Hope you're having a great week so far
Umi is very much worth it in NYC comparing to other buffets. Always in stock with all the seafood especially crab legs. Not like many other buffett out here with people fighting over snow crab legs. Always always full of seafood. 🔥🔥🔥
@@HongtheFoodie Hey Hong, I am not sure what happens. Sometimes I wriite a reply and it disappears. I thought you didn't like my commentt and threw it away! LOL! Looking forward to seeing your next review. I can''t believe that I have become a loyal fan of your reviews. I guess I should give you more recommendations for you to try. If you are up to more BBQ or other food, I will send you recoomendations besides Asian food to try. Speaking of Asian food, have you been to Harbor Seafood on Bellaire near Krkwood. They had lunch special (M-F) where you buy 3 dishes and get 1 free. Later.🥢🥂
I live 7 minutes from Umi and have had it on 4 different occasions. Definitely not worth the price. They do offer a pretty good selection but the food is not spectacular by any means.
@@LawrryfulI sadly have to agree. I really wanted to like it
Hey Hong, How are you doing? I missed your weekly video review this week You have been releasing a video every week for 2eeks and was just checking on you. Have a great day!🎉
@@williamyee2294 Hey William, thanks for checking on me. I have been sick 🤢. I feel so much better. I'm not 100% but I'm getting there. I have a video I'm working on right now, so I'll have it posted this Thursday :)
Hey Hong, Glad to hear you are feeling better. You must be working too hard and not getting enough rest. Take care of yourself and get plenty of rest. Are you hanging out with your neighbors and partying like you were in your college days? Lol. Looking forward to your next video!😂
@@williamyee2294 Thanks William. Haha no, they are too much for me!!! Staying far away from them for now lol
Thank you for your candor.
@@lazarustenebrae You're very welcome
I just went with my family and to be honest I was very disappointed. The food seemed to come straight out of a frozen package. I think that they needs to step it up for what they charge
@@ddiaz883 Right!! Like if it was cheaper, than I wouldn't mind too much, but for the price, oh no thank you lol
Thanks for the info, when I visit houston, I’ll know where to eat now, lol.
You're welcome! lol
Even worse than before. Avoid.
@@ebutuoyebutouy Dang really? You went for lunch or dinner?
Was this the dog funeral food banquet you’ve expected when said you couldn’t make to work lol
Lmao 😂
You don't suck the heads of the crawfish? that's where all the flavor is
Oo I do if I'm eating at an actual crawfish restaurant or making it at home. I feel the flavor tastes the best. I don't usually at buffets unless I like the flavor. That's the best part!!
You seemed to enjoy the 13.49 buffet a lot more.
@@slivafamily Ooh yes I did enjoy that one more lol :)
Thank you so much! My wife and I are heading there today!👍🏽
You're very welcome, you guys enjoy 🙂
Liked, subscribed. I need a cigarette.
Hey, thank you!! 🙂
Fried lobster is the best especially the head juice lol
Ooh that head juice and butter 🤤
That Chinese style fried lobster is always my go to, shame it was too tough. You are smart to always get tiny portions first, then hit it hard if it is good on the next round 😋👍. You are right, too pricey for what they offered. Should have been $19.99.
I was jumping with joy when I found out they serve Chinese style lobster cause I love that style too lol, but yeah they cooked those lobsters for dayss and possibly overnight, at least a few nights in a row haha. And yep, gotta do a test run first before I go all in 😅. Shooo, for what I experienced they should have paid me, I got PTSD from the lobster and crawfish lol jk, but yeah $19.99 sounds about right. I would have even been okay with $24.99 & that's pushing it, but anything over is just robbery!!
@@HongtheFoodie Anyone to even consider going to this place, should watch your video. They know most come for that lobster too. Crooks are what they are.
@@brucewayne2773 Riightt, it's all about the lobster when people go there. The inside of the buffet looks so nice, clean, & modern. Food presented nicely. They know what they're doing!!! Lol
@@HongtheFoodie For me it comes down to good food and cleanliness. I can careless about ambiance lol...For $40 you get a pretty restaurant to dine in with subpar food 😩. Some people don't know any better like those ladies you talked too, they thought it was really good😂
@@brucewayne2773 Lol 🤣, maybe what they had taste better though haha but of course I know we also all have different taste profiles too. But yes sometimes people do get deceived. They see nice, pretty decor and just hop on the 'omg this place is amazing!! ' band wagon lol. Even if the place was dirty, I would still eat there if the food was bomb 😹
Grabs my son as we are foodies and runs there. Yum yum yum! Wow wow wow
Y'all enjoy! I'll have to go back for lunch one day to see if it's a better deal than dinner
@@HongtheFoodie Lunch is just as much a letdown. I was there last month. Maybe a quarter of the buffet was sushi and three-quarters of the "sushi" was rolls. Almost all of the rolls were fish and mayo or cream cheese. There was no shellfish; that must be dinner only. They advertise a sushi and seafood buffet, but it is almost all lackluster American Chinese food, pizza, fries, and chicken nuggets.
@@fr.prokloswood5650 Aw man, what a shame. I really wanted to like this buffet, but I can't justify the price for the quality of the food, because it's similar to other Chinese buffets and they cost only half the price. I still want to go for lunch one day. Maybe I'll come back for dinner in the future lol and try the other things I didn't try in the video. I just asked somebody else if they serve ramen for lunch, but by any chance do you know if they do?
It’s expensive because they updated the decor. Someone was talking about the “sweet spot” of restaurant reviews is 3 stars. They culminated the experience of what to really expect at Asian-American eateries.
Just went today. It was ok, sushi/sashimi /rolls were mediocre. Surprised to see oxtail’s but they were tough. I thoroughly enjoyed the coconut shrimp, best item to me.
Ooh darn really?? I didnt try the coconut shrimp or oxtail when I went. Btw do you know if they serve the ramen for lunch?
Everything you said was negative
And the fact you use cocktail sauce with crab. Tells us everything we need to know about your palate 😂😂😂😂
I heard not good
For $40, I didn't think it was. If it was cheaper it would be okay because it tastes like any other Chinese buffet, so not worth it for the price