Ocean Buffet is planned for the former Chuck E. Cheese in Sioux Falls, with sushi, hibachi and build-your-own pho among the proposed offerings. The project at 2600 South Louise Avenue received city approval for beer and wine licenses in September, while an official opening date remains unconfirmed.
The restaurant would fill more than 12,000 square feet, according to SiouxFalls.Business, which interviewed owner Amy Chen in February. She described a fresh sushi bar with a sushi chef, hibachi and a broad mix of Asian and international food.
Pizza, steak and other American selections are part of the announced plan, along with a build-your-own pho option. The pho is a particularly useful detail for buffet enthusiasts: this kitchen’s ambitions extend beyond the familiar sushi-and-hot-dishes combination.
The building has been waiting for its next dining chapter since Chuck E. Cheese closed in March 2024. Local radio reporting in February cited four city building permits for the conversion, with a combined value of $350,000.
Chen told SiouxFalls.Business that she operated 10 restaurants, mostly in North Dakota with some on the West Coast. Broker Scott Blount of Lloyd Cos. said a deal for the Sioux Falls property had been finalized the previous fall. In the same interview, Chen described plans for a similar concept in Fargo.
Permitting had already affected the Sioux Falls timeline. February coverage described a potential September debut rather than a firm date. No subsequent official opening date has been established.
The more recent documented step came September 15, when the City Council approved new retail malt beverage and wine licenses for Ocean Buffet Inc. at the Louise Avenue address. Published council minutes record a 7–0 vote approving the group of items that included Ocean’s licenses.
Prices, regular hours and a final menu remain to be announced. For now, the project has a documented licensing step behind it and a planned food selection broad enough to put pho, pizza and sushi in the same buffet outing.
