Cafe Sierra | Seafood Buffet

Great service, friendly staff at each station, live music providing nice ambiance. The only thing lacking was the actual food. Prime rib was a bit tough and chewy despite it looking perfectly cooked. The lobster claws were frozen. The larger the claw, the more frozen the inside. Had one claw that was icy like some kind of seafood slushy. Was not a pleasant bite at all. Unfortunate since the price point is quite high for the weekend seafood buffet. The lobsters, although plentiful, were not deveined at all and cleaning out the poop before eating was actually quite a disgusting experience. They also have a one lobster at a time policy which is quite inconvenient. I had 10 lobsters which meant 10 trips to the lobster section and given the 90 minute time limit a lot of that was spent walking back and forth between my table and the lobster section. The service is what saved the experience. Special mention to Maria Chavez and Erasmo for service during dining, Pavel Roberts near the prime rib section, and Jose and Claritza for serving me lobsters non stop with a smile. It was for my mother's birthday and a small birthday cake was prepared for us at no extra cost which was very thoughtful and quite touching. Thank you for the experience.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars My partner and I visited for date night on Friday (Feb 13th), arriving around 5:45 PM—just ahead of our reservation. We were drawn by the reputation of Cafe Sierra inside the Hilton Universal City as the "best and most expensive seafood buffet in LA." I like to do my research on the history of new places, and I learned this spot has built its reputation over 30 years since opening in 1992. The kitchen has a long history of 'Pacific Rim' fusion (popularized by former Chef George Sit), which explains why non-seafood options like the Roast Duck were so strong. We specifically went for the Seafood & Prime Rib Dinner Buffet ($139/person). While the price tag is steep, it is worth noting that this is a 'No Tipping' establishment (they add a 15% fair wage fee instead), so the price you see is much closer to the final bill than at other high-end spots. I would give Cafe Sierra 5 stars if the cost was a bit more affordable or if the atmosphere was a bit more upscale, but that’s not necessarily a reason to pass it up if you can. The Food: We took full advantage of the All-You-Can-Eat format. My partner’s strategy was simple: King Crab. He easily ate his weight in massive crab legs to justify the cost. I took a broader approach to explore the variety. The standouts for me were: * Ingredient Quality: It's not just hype. The quality of the proteins was distinct across the board—sea, land, and sky. The oysters and King Crab were standouts, and as a Washington native, I appreciated that they tasted fresh from the source. The King Crab stood on its own and didn’t require any sauces or seasonings (unless you prefer them). * Made-to-Order Sushi: A surprise favorite. The hand rolls highlighted fresh tuna and crab that felt restaurant-grade, not just "buffet grade." * Seafood Selection: Beyond the crab, seeing Whole Maine Lobsters available is a rarity that sets this place apart; most places only serve the tail, but this was the whole lobster, and easy to pull apart if you are like me and don’t have the technical skills of crab-deconstruction that my partner showcases. * Non-Seafood Surprises: I tried Roast Duck for the first time here, and it was delicious. I also had the Branzino, which had an unexpected but enjoyable chicken-like flavor and texture. * Dessert: We tried the crème brûlée, macarons, and crepes. They were a nice finish, but definitely not the main event compared to the seafood. There is also a chocolate fondue station, though it’s fun rather than a destination-worthy highlight. The Service (The Real Highlight): The service was where this place truly shined. On my second round, I met Chef Pavel at the carving station. He wasn't just serving food; he was genuinely asking for feedback with warmth and great eye contact, and was distinctly knowledgeable about the curated offerings. When I asked about the Hawaiian leaf-wrapped dumpling (a take on Lau Lau), he shared some cool facts about the dish and mentioned his wife is Hawaiian. While the traditional glutinous texture wasn't my personal favorite, I deeply appreciated the gesture and the storytelling. It added a personal touch you rarely get at a massive buffet. Atmosphere & Details: * Vibe: It’s a busy spot inside the hotel, so expect a mix of dates, families, and large groups (we saw one table with a mountain of lobster and crab shells!). There was a live musician playing in the center, which was a nice touch. * Dietary Friendliness: If you have allergies or dietary restrictions (like vegetarianism), this place is surprisingly easy to navigate with clear allergy cards stationed around the buffet. * Reservations: Recommended. We arrived at 5:45 PM (15 minutes early) and sat immediately in a half-full room, but by the time we left around 7:00 PM, most tables were occupied. Verdict: If you are looking for ultra-fancy ambiance, this might feel a bit "hotel casual" for the price. But if you are looking for high-quality fresh seafood, attentive service, and a chef team that cares, Cafe Sierra delivers.

Drive from San Diego to try it since I’ve been seeing it pop up in my feed for a while. At first glance the place needs a makeover because it’s a little outdated. I also thought that for the price they’d have a nicer setup and at least include some wine or something; soft drinks were included. The king crab legs were pretty small and not what I expected. The lobster, although tasty, wasn’t what I expected either. When you look it up online it says is a no tipping establishment so someone should probably tell the waiter staff because he didn’t hesitate to remind me that the check didn’t include a tip. They also do add a 15% fee to the each person which they don’t disburse to the staff. At the end of the day 2 people for $350 with just ok food. Wouldn’t come back. Drive from San Diego to try it since I’ve been seeing it pop up in my feed for a while. At first glance the place needs a makeover because it’s a little outdated. I also thought that for the price they’d have a nicer setup and at least include some wine or something; soft drinks were included. The king crab legs were pretty small and not what I expected. The lobster, although tasty, wasn’t what I expected either. When you look it up online it says is a no tipping establishment so someone should probably tell the waiter staff because he didn’t hesitate to remind me that the check didn’t include a tip. They also do add a 15% fee to the each person which they don’t disburse to the staff. At the end of the day 2 people for $350 with just ok food. Wouldn’t come back.

A bucket list dinner that I've had planned for a couple of years finally happened and I'm very happy and satisfied that it did! I tried lots of foods and deserts and it was so worth the experience. I had king and snow crab, lobster, prime rib that was excellent, lamb chops, raw and cooked oysters, fried fish that was excellent in texture and flakyness, bone marrow that was delicious, rice and Mac that were scrumptious, and salmon that was some of the best I've had anywhere! Tried many desserts as well that were great! I highly recommend the fountains for dipping strawberries it is a must try as well as the cake slice with the chocolate dots which you'll see on my desert plate. I think I've narrowed down most of what I had, and I definitely recommend this place for a visit. The live music added to the vibe and was so relaxing. I will definitely return!

Cafe Sierra’s seafood buffet is a really enjoyable experience, especially if you love seafood. The variety is the standout here — plenty of fresh options and a good mix to choose from, with dishes being refilled often so everything stays fresh. Service was great the entire time — friendly, attentive, and made the experience feel relaxed and welcoming. The only real downside is the price, which is on the higher side and keeps it from being a full five stars. That said, overall it’s a solid spot with great seafood and excellent service, and definitely worth trying at least once

We took mother to celebrate her 90th birthday, and she had a wonderful time. Our server and the live entertainment teamed up to make her feel special. Pavel Roberts at the carving station arranged for someone in the kitchen to take us on a tour of the entire buffet to accommodate her food allergies and Pavel generally hosted our experience at the food stations. The overall experience was worth the price, and Mom looks forward to coming back.

Came here Saturday brunch. Not even busy even though it was raining, sat down right away. The new lower price plus unlimited mimosas and drinks… man that already had me smiling. Started off with the snow crab clusters... big, fatty, sweet… real deal. Dungeness crab too, same vibe… juicy, fresh, not that "buffet sitting out" taste. Honestly every dish tasted made fresh, not like typical buffet food at all. So much variety I wish my stomach had extra storage space. Only thing I didn’t vibe with was the hot lobster with mushroom sauce...a little tough, flavor kinda funky. But everything else? Awesome. Addictive. Worth every dollar. I walked out full, happy, little tipsy from the mimosas…