Tokyo Seafood Offers Diverse Take On Beach Buffet

OCEAN CITY – Tokyo Seafood Buffet has opened its doors in North Ocean City to fill a need for an all-you-can-eat Asian and American buffet featuring a sushi and hibachi bar.

The former home to J/R’s Ribs in north Ocean City was overhauled over the winter and transformed into Tokyo Seafood Buffet. Photos by Joanne Shriner

The former home to J/R’s Ribs in north Ocean City was overhauled over the winter and transformed into Tokyo Seafood Buffet. Photos by Joanne Shriner

“Ocean City needed a restaurant like this,” owner Jie Lin said, who also owns buffet restaurants in Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Dover and Salisbury.

Tokyo Seafood Buffet is located on 131st Street and Ocean City in the space formerly occupied by J/R’s Ribs for years.

“Jie Lin is a buffet king,” said Jack Hubberman, owner of J/R’s Ribs on 62nd Street.

Lin began renovations four months ago with a team working around the clock transforming the former restaurant into a Tokyo Seafood Buffet.

“He came in with a crew and this man accomplished something in months that I didn’t think could have ever been done,” Hubberman said. “It is absolutely beautiful.”

The restaurant has been completely renovated with the second level of seating in the dining room removed to now have all one level of buffet space and dining except for the elevated seating in the bar area. The entrance and dining room features marble from floor to ceiling with the back side of the bar finished in stained wood and stone work.

The restaurant can seat up to 500 guests with all new tables and chairs and televisions spread throughout the bar and dining room.

“The buffet is absolutely outstanding with everything you can think on it. It is a full Asian and

Among the unique features of the new restaurant is the sushi and hibachi bar.

Among the unique features of the new restaurant is the sushi and hibachi bar.

American buffet with a sushi and hibachi bar,” Hubberman said. “It is some of the finest food I have tasted. There is something that will surprise everybody who comes through the door.”

Tokyo Seafood Buffet is equipped with over 60 employees and ready for the season.

“He has an entire kitchen full of cooks preparing fresh, hot cooked food constantly,” Hubberman said. “It is a quality buffet.”

Tokyo Seafood Buffet’s selection is a sight to take in, offering an unlimited variety of Asian and American cuisine starting with a selection of soup that includes New England clam chowder, Maryland Crab Soup and Wonton Soup, plus a full salad bar.

The selection of seafood includes, steamed clams, steamed shrimp, baked shrimp, fried shrimp, calamari, steamed flounder, lobster with a ginger and scallion sauce, black pepper shrimp, baked salmon, baked tilapia, salt and pepper frog legs and seafood imperial.

Another set of buffet tables holds baked cheese and asparagus, baked cheese and broccoli, baked sweet potatoes, spinach casserole, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, fried bananas, fries, chicken wings, fried chicken, pizza, steak pie, BBQ baby back ribs and BBQ chicken.

A variety of seafood offerings is prepared with an Asian flare.

A variety of seafood offerings is prepared with an Asian flare.

The Asian cuisine selection includes pork egg rolls, spring rolls, jade dumplings, pecking duck, cheese wontons with crab meat, mushrooms with an oyster sauce, sautéed string beans, steamed rice, vegetable mei fun, vegetable fried rice, vegetable lo mein, sweet and sour chicken, General Tso’s chicken, pineapple chicken, and teriyaki chicken.

There are several different types of sushi rolls that are displayed alongside the hibachi bar where chefs are on site to cook your selection to order. In addition, BBQ Pork Spare Ribs, Prime Rib and Pineapple Ham sliced to order.

Save room for dessert as there are coolers full of many different flavors of ice cream and many cakes and fruit to choose from.

Tokyo Seafood Buffet offers dine-in and carry-out Monday through Friday 2-11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon-11 p.m.

The all-you-can-eat seafood buffet grand opening special prices are $18.95 for adults Monday through Friday and $19.95 on Saturday and Sunday. Discounted prices apply to children.

“This is one of the finest buffets you will ever see,” Hubberman said.