One of my favorite type of food is AYCE. Yes, I know that's technically not a type of cuisine. All-You-Can-Eat is more of an experience. It's an experience because it lets you try out many small bites of various menu items and you don't have to feel self-conscious about the amount of food that you are able to consume. You are expected to eat this much at buffets! On that note, I wanted to share my 3 must try all-you-can-eat Asian restaurants in Boston, so that you can also participate in this magical experience. 

1. Yamato II

(I am aware that Yamato I does exist west of the city, but as someone without a car and no patience for MBTA's Green Line, I still have not made out to Brighton for it.)

If you like sushi, Yamato will feel like a heaven to you. This restaurant that's located right across the street from Copley Square is one of my go-to for sushi.

For dinner, you can pay $29-31 (depending on what day of the week) and you can eat all the Japanese food that you can fit in your stomach. Lunch is even more affordable at $19-21 (However, sashimi and dessert are not included in lunch price). This is great news, since going to a regular sushi restaurant may cost you just as much if you order just 2-3 sushi rolls.

They offer sushi freshly made at the sushi bar and also cooked foods from the kitchen (ramen, teriyaki, fried rice...), so you can even bring that one friend that is too scared to try out raw seafood. For true sushi lovers though, this is a great value. You can order plates after plates of sashimi and the damage to your bank account will be minimal. 

I know that some of you may be worried about the quality of sushi at a place like this. First of all, the sushi is made to order, which is much better than places where they have pre-made sushi sitting around in a buffet setting. Also, in my opinion, sushi here is better quality than some of the other sushi restaurants that I have been to around Boston.

So this is your chance to try out all the fish that you were hesitant to try either because you were always stuck only ordering [insert your favorite fish here] or you were scared that you might get something that you don't like and waste your money.

Here are some pro tips. If you're there for sushi, you will get most out of it if you don't order a drink and try to order as much sashimi as possible. Rather than ordering all at once, it's better to order in smaller rounds, since they will charge you double if you waste food. Remember to save some room for their green tea ice cream to end the experience, trust me it's worth it. 

2. Sura BBQ

Boston has many different types of cuisine, but we were lacking all you can eat Korean barbecue until Sura BBQ in Medford came to rescue in 2016.

Unlimited KBBQ is something that you can find in most large cities in the US. It's probably because it is hard not to like it: Sweet and salty marinades for the beef, spicy marinade for the pork, thinly sliced beef brisket, and thick cuts of pork belly.

It's even more irresistible because all are cooked right in front of you on a grill. You get to see, hear, and smell your food as it's being cooked. You don't get that experience in many restaurants. You can spend hours cooking with friends and sharing different cuts and flavors of meats until you can no longer move as freely and you are drenched in meat sweats. 

On that note, Sura has everything you would want in a good Korean BBQ joint. When you walk in, you're welcomed with the smell of BBQ, the typical decor you'd find in many Korean households, and the sounds of people chatting away while they eat their meat in a nice ssam (Korean version of lettuce wrap).

They have two options for meat selection, A course and B course. I would recommend B course, since you get much better cuts of meat for few more dollars. Once you put your first order in of the 5 types of meat you want, you are presented with all the side dishes (steamed eggs and lightly dressed Korean salad...) and the plates of meat shortly after. Now the only thing that stands between you and a full stomach is the time it takes to cook unlimited quantities of meat. 

Here are some pro tips. If you notice that the grill is getting burnt and sticky, don't hesitate to ask for a new grill and a server should bring you a replacement. Also, I would recommend you let the servers cook the meat for you unless they are very busy or if you know what you're doing and enjoy grilling. It is easy to make food safety mistakes when you're cooking multiple types of meat, each with different cook times and some with sauces that make it impossible to distinguish cooked and uncooked meat. 

3. Spring Shabu Shabu

Living in Boston means that you may get that cold and rainy day even on the last week of April (i.e. last week). On these days, there's nothing more comforting than a nice warm delicious broth. Spring Shabu Shabu in Allston is perfect for days like this!

"Shabu shabu" is actually a Japanese onomatopoeia for the sound that a slice of meat might make when it is stirred back and forth in a hot broth (English equivalent would be "swish swish"). It is also the name of the Japanese dish where many different raw ingredients are cooked by swishing back and forth in a hot boiling broth.

Spring Shabu Shabu, however, is more of a pan-Asian hot pot restaurant. They do have Japanese inspired broths and ingredients, but also that of Korean and Chinese. In total, they have 20+ types of vegetables, 5+ types of noodles, 5+ types of fish cakes, and more to cook at the table in your very own broth. All of this for $12 for lunch and $17 for dinner!

When you get seated, you can choose one from 5 different types of broths which will be cooked in your personal sized pot with the heat control right in front of you (this is important as you try to prevent things from bubbling over while still cooking your food). This will be the vessel in which you will cook all of your ingredients.

Once you order the broth, you are free to roam the buffet area where you can grab as much ingredients as you want, along with any combination of Asian dipping sauces. At your table, you will probably not put down your chopsticks and the ladles until your hands are cramping and your forehead is dripping in sweat.

Finally, don't forget to grab that soft-serve ice cream before you leave though, it will help you cool down after the 2 hours (there is a time limit as with most AYCE restaurants) of nonstop eating. 

Here are some pro tips. Don't bother ordering meat, unless you really need/want it. There are some fish cakes and dumplings that already contain meat. Try to cook all your vegetables and fish cakes first and then put in the noodles, so that they can soak up all the flavors. This is also one of the best restaurants to go to if you want to hang out with your vegetarian friend! One of my favorite items is the rice cake, if you've never tried it, this is a perfect opportunity to give it a try. Finally, keep an eye on that broth, don't let it boil over by turning the heat down as needed.