15 Must-Try All-You-Can-Eat NYC Buffets & AYCE Restaurants For 2025: The Ultimate Feast Guide

New York City’s dining scene is legendary, but nothing beats the sheer thrill of an All-You-Can-Eat (AYCE) experience. As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the city’s AYCE landscape has evolved from simple buffets to include high-end, premium experiences featuring unlimited A5 Wagyu, snow crab, and even omakase sushi. This guide cuts through the noise to bring you the freshest, most value-packed, and highest-quality AYCE spots across Manhattan, Queens, and beyond.

Navigating the best AYCE restaurants in NYC requires knowing where to find the true value, whether you are craving endless Korean BBQ, a towering plate of fresh sushi, or a spectacular seafood buffet. We’ve compiled the definitive list of the top 15 destinations that promise an unforgettable feast without breaking the bank, ensuring you get the biggest bang for your buck in the city that never sleeps.

The New Wave of Premium AYCE: Sushi, Seafood, and Wagyu

The days of generic, low-quality buffets are over. New York is now home to several all-you-can-eat concepts that focus on premium ingredients and unique dining formats, catering to diners looking for an elevated unlimited experience. These spots are perfect for a special occasion or when you simply want to indulge in luxury without the à la carte price tag.

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Crab House NYC: The Unlimited Seafood Spectacle

Crab House NYC, located conveniently in Midtown Manhattan at 218 W 40th St, has quickly become famous for its "Contactless Seafood Buffet in a Bucket." This is not your typical sneeze-guard buffet; instead, you order fresh, unlimited refills from a menu.

• The Feast: Unlimited snow crab legs, clams, salmon, shrimp, and various sides.
• Price Point: Multiple tiers are available, with adult prices starting around $90 per person for the premium seafood buffet.
• Why It's Fresh: It has been crowned one of the best buffets in the state, offering a truly premium, high-volume seafood experience that is hard to find elsewhere in the city.

SourAji: The $100 AYCE Omakase Challenge

SourAji is a game-changer in the world of unlimited dining. This new omakase chainlet has a very specific, high-end gimmick: All-You-Can-Eat Omakase for $100.

• The Feast: Diners receive continuous pieces of chef-selected, daily seasonal fish until they tap out.
• The Vibe: It offers an intimate, chef-driven sushi experience that is typically reserved for much higher price points. Some locations even offer unlimited sake to pair with your sushi.
• Topical Authority: This concept directly challenges the traditional high cost of omakase, making it a must-try for serious sushi enthusiasts in 2025.

NIKU X: Unlimited A5 Wagyu and Japanese Delights

For the ultimate indulgence, NIKU X stands out by offering an exclusive unlimited Fresh A5 Wagyu Steak. This is combined with a wide-ranging buffet that includes unlimited seafood, Japanese sushi, and a selection of refreshing drinks, totaling over 50 delicious dishes. It's an extravagant option for those seeking the pinnacle of luxury AYCE dining.

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The Best AYCE Hot Pot and Korean BBQ (KBBQ)

Korean BBQ and Hot Pot remain the most popular and interactive categories for all-you-can-eat dining in NYC. The scene is dominated by Koreatown (K-Town), Flushing, and Queens, offering competitive pricing and high-quality meats and broths.

Korean BBQ Powerhouses

The KBBQ scene in NYC is fiercely competitive, leading to better quality and value for diners. The time limit is typically 100 minutes of barbecue bliss at most spots.

• Let's Meat BBQ (K-Town): Known as the first AYCE Korean Barbecue restaurant in New York City, it remains a staple for quality meats and a lively atmosphere.
• Jongro BBQ Market (K-Town): Offers a robust AYCE Korean BBQ experience in Koreatown, featuring premium meats and traditional Korean flavors.
• Wonder Pig KBBQ (Queens): A fantastic, affordable entry point for unlimited KBBQ. Their lunch menu is often priced around $28 per person, making it an excellent value proposition.
• Gyu-Kaku (Midtown): While technically Japanese BBQ, Gyu-Kaku offers a fantastic Premium All-You-Can-Eat Menu, making it a top choice for those who prefer Japanese-style yakiniku.

Hot Pot Havens

Hot pot offers a customizable, communal, and health-conscious AYCE option, perfect for a cold New York evening.

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• Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House: This spot elevates the hot pot experience by specializing in All-You-Can-Eat Wagyu Shabu-Shabu, offering four premium tiers for a truly luxurious meal.
• KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot: A brilliant dual-concept restaurant that offers both unlimited KBBQ and Hot Pot at the same table, allowing diners to enjoy the best of both worlds.
• Spring Shabu Shabu: Known for its fresh, healthy, and interactive dining approach, where you select your thinly sliced meat or seafood and cook it in your choice of broth.
• UMI Hotpot Sushi & Seafood Buffet: A massive establishment that combines AYCE Hot Pot with a full sushi and seafood buffet, offering maximum variety in one location.

Global AYCE: Brazilian Churrascaria and International Buffets

Beyond Asian cuisine, New York's all-you-can-eat scene features global dining experiences, most notably the theatrical Brazilian steakhouses and expansive international buffets.

Churrascaria (Brazilian Steakhouse)

The Brazilian churrascaria is the original AYCE concept, where "Gauchos" roam the dining room with skewers of fire-roasted meats, slicing them directly onto your plate.

• Fogo de Chão (Midtown Manhattan): A world-renowned Brazilian Steakhouse in Midtown. Fogo de Chão is the classic choice for the ultimate churrasco experience, featuring prime cuts like Picanha (sirloin cap), filet mignon, and lamb, alongside an extensive gourmet market table.
• Rainhas Churrascaria (Queens): A popular Queens alternative that promises "Always Fresh Meats, Always All You Can Eat." It's a fantastic choice outside of Manhattan, often offering free valet parking.

The Classic International Buffet

These spots are known for their sheer variety, offering a mix of cuisines to satisfy every craving in a large group.

• DJ's International Buffet: A long-standing NYC favorite with over 20 years of history. DJ's is known for its generous variety of international dishes and fresh seafood options, offering great value for a traditional buffet experience.
• Kumo (East Village): While UMI also offers a buffet, Kumo is frequently cited as a go-to for affordable AYCE sushi in Manhattan, often priced around $25 for a solid selection of rolls and appetizers.

Tips for Conquering the NYC All-You-Can-Eat Scene

To maximize your value and experience at an NYC AYCE spot, keep these updated tips in mind for 2025:

• Call Ahead for Pricing: Prices, especially at seafood and KBBQ spots, are subject to change based on the market and time of day (lunch menus are almost always cheaper). Always confirm the current adult price and time limit before you go.
• Focus on Protein: The true value in AYCE is always in the high-cost items. At KBBQ, prioritize the premium cuts of beef. At a seafood buffet, go for the snow crab and shrimp. At a churrascaria, stick to the Picanha and filet.
• Check the Time Limit: Most KBBQ and Hot Pot spots enforce a 90-to-120-minute limit. Pace yourself and be efficient with your ordering to make the most of your time.
• Know the Tiers: Restaurants like Mikiya and Crab House often have different AYCE tiers (e.g., Basic, Premium, Gold). Review the menu to ensure the tier you choose includes the specific high-value items you want (like Wagyu or Snow Crab).

From the high-rolling $100 omakase at SourAji to the classic, meat-sweats-inducing churrasco at Fogo de Chão, New York City’s all-you-can-eat restaurants in 2025 are more diverse and higher quality than ever. Whether you're looking for an affordable lunch deal in Queens or a lavish, unlimited feast in Midtown, the city has an AYCE experience waiting for you.