Umi Hot Pot Sushi & Seafood Buffet is open at 7810 S Priest Dr, Suite 101, Tempe, AZ 85284 — and it is the first Arizona location for this nationwide all-you-can-eat chain. Snow crab and lobster are both on the buffet, every night, included in your price.
If you live in South Tempe, Ahwatukee, or Chandler, this one is for you
Until now, getting unlimited snow crab or lobster in the East Valley meant a long drive or a special-occasion splurge somewhere across town. That changes at the Priest Drive and Baseline area of South Tempe, right off I-10. South Tempe, Ahwatukee, Chandler, and Guadalupe residents all have a quick shot at this address.
That convenience comes with a caveat. The opening buzz is real. Grand opening night — a Wednesday — filled the dining room fast, and staff worked hard to keep up. Weekend waits and full parking lots are the likely reality for a while. Go early, go on a weekday, or plan to wait. The food is the reason people are lining up, and the reviews back that up: 4.6 stars across more than 1,900 online comments before most East Valley diners have even been once.
If you have kids or family members who qualify for discounts, your bill looks different from the sticker price. Ages 6–10 pay $15.99 at lunch and $17.99 at dinner or weekends. Ages 3–5 pay $10.99 at lunch and $14.99 at dinner or weekends. Guests 65 and older, military, police, and guests with disabilities receive 10% off. Every ticket, no matter the tier, carries a 12% service charge. That fee is built in, so extra tipping is not expected.
Hot pot, ramen, and BBQ stations line the central aisle at Umi Tempe’s sprawling buffet floor. (Umi Hot Pot Sushi & Seafood Buffet)
What is Umi Hot Pot Sushi & Seafood Buffet, and why should you trust it?
Umi takes its name from the Japanese word for sea or ocean — written with the kanji character 海. The chain has more than 30 locations across the United States, built around a core lineup of snow crab legs, hand-rolled sushi, Sichuan hot pot, and a dessert bar. Tempe is the first Arizona outpost.
That chain footprint matters. A 30-location operation has supply chains, trained staff, and systems in place. You are not betting on a first-time restaurateur. The 4.6-star average and 1,900-plus reviews reflect diners from other locations — and now from Tempe’s own early crowds — who have already weighed in.
Snow crab legs and oysters on ice at the Umi buffet seafood station — two of the most talked-about items on the spread. (Umi Hot Pot Sushi & Seafood Buffet)
Hours, phone number, address, and how to get there
The restaurant is at 7810 S Priest Dr, Suite 101, Tempe, AZ 85284 — confirmed by the corporate store locator at umibuffet.com. The phone number is (602) 693-8888.
Hours run 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. Sunday through Thursday the restaurant closes earlier — exact closing time on those days was not confirmed in available sources, so call ahead if you are planning a late weeknight visit.
From Ahwatukee or Chandler, head north on I-10 or Priest Drive. From central Tempe, head south on Priest. Parking is on-site in the shopping center lot.
Pricing: what weekday lunch, weekday dinner, and weekends actually cost
Adult weekday lunch is $25.99. Adult weekday dinner and all weekend meals run $39.99. Add the 12% service charge to both figures when you budget. Children and qualifying guests pay less — see the tiers above in the neighborhood section.
At $39.99 for unlimited lobster, snow crab, sashimi, oysters, hot pot, sushi, ramen, lamb chops, hibachi dishes, and a dessert bar, the math works for most seafood fans — which is exactly why the dining room filled on a Wednesday grand opening night.
Lobster is the single most talked-about dish at Umi across diner reviews, with snow crab close behind. (Umi Hot Pot Sushi & Seafood Buffet)
What is on the plate: 200+ dishes including lobster, snow crab, sashimi, hot pot, and hibachi
Umi offers more than 200 dishes daily. The seafood anchor is lobster — the single most mentioned item by diners — with snow crab close behind. Beyond those two, the spread covers fresh oysters, sashimi, specialty sushi rolls, shrimp, and salmon.
Snow crab legs at the Umi buffet seafood station — the second most talked-about dish by diners. (Umi Hot Pot Sushi & Seafood Buffet)
Hot pot runs Sichuan-style at the table. Ramen is the second most mentioned item in reviews overall. Live stations include Asian BBQ and a teppanyaki grill. Traditional buffet items like lamb chops round out the hot section. A dessert bar closes the loop.
The curved sushi and seafood display counter at Umi, where staff roll and plate to order throughout the meal. (Umi Hot Pot Sushi & Seafood Buffet)
Specialty sushi rolls are a core part of Umi’s 200-plus-dish daily lineup. (Umi Hot Pot Sushi & Seafood Buffet)
What diners are saying: 4.6 stars, 1,900+ reviews, and why lobster wins
The 4.6-star rating across more than 1,900 reviews is a strong signal for a restaurant this new to Arizona. Lobster gets mentioned more than any other single dish. Snow crab comes in second. Ramen lands as the runner-up dish overall in review text.
Opening night drew a full house on a Wednesday. Staff kept pace, but the crowd was real. That pattern — immediate demand, full dining room, working staff — tends to persist at new locations of established chains. Plan accordingly.
Umi Tempe’s dining room packed out on grand opening night — a Wednesday — and weekend crowds are expected to be heavier still. (Umi Hot Pot Sushi & Seafood Buffet)
When to go and what to watch for next
The opening buzz will settle, but it has not yet. Weekday lunches at $25.99 are your best bet for shorter waits and full value. Friday and Saturday dinner — at $39.99 — will be the hardest to walk into without a wait during the first weeks and months.
No reservation system was confirmed in available sources. Calling ahead to (602) 693-8888 is the safest move before a weekend trip. Keep an eye on whether Umi Tempe adds a second Arizona location — the corporate locator at umibuffet.com is the place to check. For now, 7810 S Priest Dr is the only address in the state.
If you are tracking other new dining openings in the East Valley, see our roundups on new restaurants opening on Mill Avenue in 2026 and new stores coming to Tempe Marketplace.
