Hokkaido Seafood Buffet Review, San Mateo
Posted by Foodnut.com
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Reviewer: Foodnut.com Hokkaido Seafood Buffet 2200 Bridgepoint Parkway San Mateo, CA 94404 650-212-2688 650-212-2104 (Fax) |
Hokkaido Seafood Buffet is a popular buffet in San Mateo’s Bridgepoint shopping center (near Foster City), next door to the ice rink. They charge $19.99 – $20.99 for dinner, depending on the day. Lunch ranges from $11.99 to $16.99. An extra $1.75 buys you unlimited soda. There was a $5 Mon – Thur discount coupon in some Ranch 99 fliers that we used in 2009. We haven’t seen any new coupons lately though. Our last visit was at the end of January 2012.
Decor, Vibe – Hokkaido Seafood Buffet is in a former sports bar location with many levels, lots of booths, and flat screen TVs. Lots of families and big parties. This place was packed at dinnertime. 75% of people were Asian.
Hokkaido Seafood Buffet Full Image Set
Raw shellfish selection and quality was average, with oysters, crayfish, and some average Alaskan crab.
Several sushi chefs ready to refill the vast Sushi and Sashimi selection. They feature almost 10 different types of sushi rolls and six types of sashimi. This is one of Hokkaido Seafood Buffet’s strengths.
Chinese cooked items like fish, shrimp, clams, vegetables, etc are their strength. Watch for freshly reloaded items, they’ll be hot and at their best.
Black Bean Clams, Whole Fish, crab, lobster, stir fried vegetables, watery ribs
Boring Canned Fruits
Very Weak dessert selection with soft serve, jello, fruits, cookies, almond Jell-O, and some weak cakes. Moonstar Buffet in Daly City clearly outdoes them.
Deep Fried shrimp, Egg rolls, Sesame balls, garlic bread were all decent. Pizza was very lacking and an afterthought that was probably previously frozen.
Black Chicken soup in the covered pots was passable and a surprising exotic addition. In 2012, they had added the unpolitically correct sharks fin soup. They also had vermicelli noodles with scallops in a large clam that was average at best.
Peking duck was average quality but one of their better items. The server makes it for you with scallions, plum sauce, and a massively oversized steamed bun.
Meats from the Grill include average quality items
Grilled Char siu style chicken, teriyaki chicken, whole mackerel, and short ribs were average to below average. BBQ ribs were good, but cooked Chinese style in lots of liquid.
Dim Sum selection was average and hot, the quality was average to below average. Pork Buns, shrimp dumplings, siu mai dumplings, Lotus wrapped sticky Rice, pork spare ribs, and more.
Deviled style eggs, Cucumber
Seaweed Salad, Jellyfish salad, cole slaw
Salads selection is weak. Decent selection of fruit including cantaloupe, watermelon, honey dew, Kiwi, oranges.
Hokkaido Seafood Buffet was pretty popular, so they have a niche here in San Mateo. Service was good with servers roaming constantly. If you like sushi, sashimi, cooked Chinese food, this might be your place. Try it during lunch to minimize cost or try and find a Hokkaido buffet coupon. Pig out time!
Moonstar in Daly City is their main competitor in the region. We feel the quality of the food is a little higher at Moonstar. They have Shark’s fin, many better desserts, free drinks, and better grilled food. The buffets in Vegas like the Wynn Buffet are in another league. Looking for the best buffet? Conrad Sunday brunch in Hong Kong is a universe ahead. Discounts are available for kids. Dinner costs $6.99 for those 3 to 6 years old, $9.99 for those 7 to 10 years old.
Hokkaido Seafood Buffet Overall Rating: 
(Good
Come Back? 
| Food Rating: | (Good) |
| Service Rating: |  (Average) |
| Atmosphere Rating: | (Good) |
| Value Rating: | (Good) |
Guide: 0 = poor, 1 = Below/Average, 2 = Good, 2.5 = Very Good, 3 = Excellent , 4 = Extraordinary
| Alcohol: | Beer, Wine |
| Attire: | Casual |
| Hours: | Mon-Fri 11am - 2:30pm, Mon-Th 5-9pm, Fri 5-930pm, Sa 11:30am-9:30pm, Su 11:30am-9pm, Holidays 11am-9:30pm |
| Parking: | Free Lot |
| Reservations: | Yes (10+) |
| Prices: | $11.99 - $20.99 |
Filed under: $$, $$$, 2 stars, Asian, Buffet, California, Chinese Restaurant, Dine Again?, Japanese Restaurant, Maybe Again, Restaurant Cost, Restaurant Cuisine, Restaurant Location, Restaurant Rating, Restaurant Review, San Francisco Peninsula, United States | Tags: Dinner, San Mateo, Seafood Buffet
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3 Responses to “Hokkaido Seafood Buffet Review, San Mateo”
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August 3rd, 2010 at 9:57 am
[...] place is superior to the local competitors Todai, Hokkaido, and Indulge. The only local buffets that are superior are the expensive Ritz Carlton Sunday [...]
April 1st, 2011 at 11:16 pm
I went there only once and it would be my last time for sure. I was trying to get some sushi rolls at Saturday night. So I went there and gave it a try. The place didn’t have any togo menus, and one togo box of sushi would cost $19.99 plus tax, the same rate as dine-in. After knowing that it was one way or the other, I decided to stay. Guess what? it surprised me even more. First, 4 out of 5 people didn’t know what Italian Dressing was. When I asked for that they looked at me like I was from another planet. Second, right after I work on the first plate, the waitress handed me the bill. And while I was trying to start the second one, The woman asked me to pay up so she could go home early. I complied and left that damn place immediately.
The Japanese nuclear crisis has given enough hard time to all Japanese restaurants. What you are don’t will bring an end to your business sooner. And one more piece of advice: Don’t badmouth about the customers in Chinese behind the station, because some of them might understand.
November 26th, 2012 at 11:17 am
For my money … Hokaido is the best Asian buffet in the entire San Francisco Bay Area. The food quality is excellent, clean, fresh and plenty of it. The management has always been extremely pleasant and anxious to please. The same for most of the service staff, like 98% of them. REMEMBER .. you are in a place staffed by Japanese people and maybe some of them don’t have the greatest command of the English language. Common sense will help you get what you want. And … for the skeptics .. NO, I do not have any personal connection to this restaurant other than being a customer who enjoys good dining. The cost of this buffet is also a bargain. If you haven’t been there .. go!!! You won’t be disappointed.