Lately, the southeastern flank of Del Amo Fashion Center is slowly taken claim as the hippest part of Torrance, kind of like a burgeoning west side for the South Bay. The proof is in the crowds as high end shopping destinations like Z-Gallerie, Anthropologie, and Lucky Brand attract wi-fi connected teens and dads with fohawks on a nightly basis. On weekends the two tiered, open air plaza is brimming with diners that have to choose between some good eats like Lazy Dog Café, BJ’s Brewery, RA Sushi, and others. Over the summer a new buffet style restaurant took over the space that was once occupied by a branch of Jerry’s Deli artfully named Vegas Seafood Buffet. It is a gluttonous, come hungry, Las Vegas style smorgasbord eating experience that mixes Asian, American, and Brazilian tastes without the typical long line or exuberant price.
Vegas Seafood Buffet in Torrance’s Del Amo Fashion Center
Directly across from BJ’s is where Vegas Seafood Buffet sits, eager to welcome in large groups with hearty appetites ready to indulge in lunch, brunch, or dinner. The atmosphere is glamorously sheik with high ceilings and glitzy chandeliers. Minus the hum-drum of slot machines and the wafts of tobacco laden smoke, for a split second it feels like stepping in to a buffet at The Wynn, Paris, or Bally’s. The show stopper is the Asian-esque buffet and four-foot chocolate fountain.
Sushi rolls and thinly cut raw fish over small style sushi seem to garner the most space on the buffet trail, rightfully so as this is a seafood buffet. Tempura California rolls, Philly rolls, Lava rolls, and Shrimp Tempura rolls dot the hungry landscape and it would be easy to fill up only on sushi alone. The sushi selection and quality is above average considering the price and the fact that most Asian buffets pay little attention to serving good sushi. Further on down the seafood trail is a bevy of baked oysters, baked scallops, a steamed pile of Alaskan snow crab legs, crawfish, and jumbo shrimp mark the way to seafood bliss.
The carving station features Brazilian-esque skewers stabbed with juicy meats like lamb, roast beef, and prime rib next to a stack of ribs. On the Chinese side of the buffet coconut shrimp, fried rice, pot stickers, egg rolls, and orange chicken are waiting to be loaded up during a second or third pass down the buffet line. Like most buffets, excess is the theme here so it is always wise to exercise some self-control and not over-eat to save room for dessert.
There is a gorgeous, ever-flowing chocolate fountain ready for dunking and dipping where fruits or marshmallows can be washed with warm, chocolate sauce. All types of mini cakes, tiramisu, cookies, and a self-serve frozen yogurt machine make for a happy ending.
Come prepared to eat as Torrance’s garden industrial city gets a taste of an authentic Las Vegas-esque buffet without the long line and heavy price. Prices: Weekday Lunch, $12.95; Weekend Lunch, $19.95; Weekday Dinner, $19.95; Weekend Dinner, $21.95. Vegas Seafood Buffet is located at Del Amo Fashion Center, 3525 W. Carson St., in Torrance. Check them out online at www.vbuffet.com.