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Milpitas Buffet vs Tomi Sushi and Seafood Buffet: Which One Fits Your Group?
By Rahul Kumar · Published October 17, 2026
If you are choosing a seafood buffet in the South Bay, Milpitas Buffet and Tomi Sushi and Seafood Buffet are the two names that come up most. They are about 9 miles apart, they charge very different prices, and they suit different groups.
Tomi posts its prices and rules on its own website. Milpitas Buffet does not, so its figures here come from diner reports. Keep that difference in mind as you read.
The quick verdict
- Pick Milpitas Buffet for crab at a lower price, a cooked-to-order grill, and an easy stop off I-880 or I-680.
- Pick Tomi for the biggest spread (it advertises over 150 items), a sushi-heavy line, and clear posted kids pricing.
- On a budget with older kids, Milpitas Buffet usually costs less. With young kids, Tomi's posted age brackets make the bill easy to predict.
Adult prices side by side
| Meal | Milpitas Buffet (reported) | Tomi (posted) |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday lunch | About $18 to $20 | $26.99 (Mon to Fri) |
| Weekend lunch | Around $22.99 | $29.99 (Sat, Sun, holidays) |
| Weekday dinner | About $30 to $32 | $41.99 (Mon to Thu) |
| Weekend dinner | $30 and up | $43.99 (Fri to Sun, holidays) |
| Seniors | 10% off | $1 off (age 60+) |
Milpitas Buffet comes out cheaper at every meal, by roughly $7 to $12 per adult. A June 2024 Tripadvisor reviewer reported paying $32 for dinner at Milpitas Buffet. Call (408) 945-8888 to confirm today's rate before you compare.
Kids pricing
Tomi posts kids prices by age. Milpitas Buffet uses a sliding scale that diners say reaches the adult rate around age 12, but the brackets are not posted.
| Tomi kids price (posted) | Weekday lunch | Weekend lunch | Weekday dinner | Weekend dinner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ages 3 to 5 | $11.99 | $14.99 | $17.99 | $19.99 |
| Ages 6 to 7 | $14.99 | $17.99 | $20.99 | $22.99 |
| Ages 8 to 9 | $18.99 | $21.99 | $24.99 | $26.99 |
Tomi's kids table stops at age 9, so a 10-year-old there likely pays the adult price. Ask when you arrive.
Here is how that plays out for two adults with kids aged 8 and 10 at a weekday lunch. At Tomi, the posted prices add up to about $100 before drinks. At Milpitas Buffet, our estimate from diner reports is about $60 to $70. Our kids, seniors and families guide shows how we got there.
Hours
| Milpitas Buffet | Tomi | |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM | Lunch 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM; dinner 5:30 to 9:00 PM |
| Weekends | 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM | Lunch 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM; dinner 5:00 to 9:00 PM |
Milpitas Buffet stays open through the afternoon. Tomi lists separate lunch and dinner sessions, so a 4:00 PM meal works at Milpitas Buffet but not at Tomi. Full hours are in our hours guide.
House rules compared
| Rule | Milpitas Buffet | Tomi |
|---|---|---|
| Time limit | 2 hours (posted, per diner reports) | Not stated on its menu page |
| Food waste | Avoid heavy waste; no fee posted online | $10 extra for wasting too much food (posted) |
| Taking food out | $50 charge for leaving with buffet food (reported) | Not stated on its menu page |
| Birthday | Free meal reported; rules not published | Free within 3 days of your birthday with 2 paying adults and ID (posted) |
| Payment | Ask when you arrive | Cards and mobile pay; no personal checks (posted) |
Tomi's birthday rule is the clearest in the area. If someone at your table has a birthday this week, Tomi's posted terms take the guesswork out.
The food
Milpitas Buffet runs six stations: a seafood bar built around snow crab, a sushi counter, a Mongolian grill that cooks bowls to order, a Chinese-American hot line, a fried section and dessert. The seafood bar guide lists what is out at lunch versus dinner.
Tomi, at Eastridge in East San Jose, advertises more than 150 items with a Japanese and Hong Kong-style lineup and a big sushi focus. If sushi variety matters most to you, that is Tomi's strongest point.
Location and getting there
Milpitas Buffet is at 24 S Abbott Ave, Milpitas, in a small shopping center with a free lot. It is a few minutes from both I-880 and I-680 via Calaveras Blvd. Directions are in the parking guide.
Tomi is inside Eastridge, at 2200 Eastridge Loop, San Jose, CA 95122. That makes it the easier pick for East San Jose and anyone combining the meal with mall shopping.
Which one should you pick?
| If your group wants... | Better pick |
|---|---|
| Crab at the lowest price | Milpitas Buffet |
| The most sushi and the biggest spread | Tomi |
| A late lunch or a meal at 4:00 PM | Milpitas Buffet |
| Predictable kids pricing for under-10s | Tomi |
| A birthday with clear free-meal rules | Tomi |
| A quick stop from North San Jose or Fremont | Milpitas Buffet |
Both buffets change prices from time to time, so check before you drive. Milpitas Buffet's numbers here are reported by diners, while Tomi's come from its posted menu page.
Quick answers
- Is Milpitas Buffet cheaper than Tomi?
- Yes, at every meal period based on reported prices, by roughly $7 to $12 per adult.
- Which has more food?
- Tomi advertises over 150 items. Milpitas Buffet runs six stations, with crab and a cooked-to-order grill as its strong points.
- Does Tomi have a birthday deal?
- Its menu page says you eat free within 3 days of your birthday with 2 paying adults and valid ID.
- How far apart are they?
- About 9 miles. Milpitas Buffet is near I-880 and I-680; Tomi is at Eastridge in East San Jose.
- Which is better for kids?
- Tomi posts clear prices for ages 3 to 9. Milpitas Buffet is often cheaper for older kids, but its brackets are not posted.
See everything on the line before you visit.
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