May Flower Chinese Buffet in Baltimore: All-You-Can-Eat Dim Sum and Cantonese Classics
May Flower Chinese Buffet is a full-service, all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant on East Pratt Street in downtown Baltimore, specializing in dim sum service during lunch hours and Cantonese-style cooked dishes at dinner. The buffet format makes it a practical choice for groups and cost-conscious diners seeking variety without ordering a la carte, though quality varies across stations.
What the buffet includes
The lunch buffet runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features dim sum carts and a hot line with fried rice, chow mein, General Tso's chicken, and vegetable sides. The dinner buffet, available from 5 p.m. onward, swaps the dim sum carts for a broader selection of cooked entrées including soy sauce chicken, beef with broccoli, shrimp with lobster sauce, and fried seafood items. Both services include egg rolls, spring rolls, and a small selection of desserts. A soda fountain is self-serve.
Lunch buffet pricing sits at roughly $12 to $13 per adult (pricing may vary seasonally; confirm directly). Dinner buffet runs higher, typically $16 to $18 per adult. Children under 12 receive a discount. These prices remain competitive with other all-you-can-eat options in Baltimore but reflect the breadth of what you're paying for rather than haute preparation.
How May Flower compares locally
May Flower's dim sum service during lunch distinguishes it from most other buffet-style Chinese restaurants in Baltimore, where buffets tend to emphasize cooked entrées only. If dim sum appeal drives your choice, this location's midday carts are a direct alternative to ordering dim sum by the plate at sit-down Cantonese houses, though cart service here is typically less formal than in dedicated dim sum restaurants. For pure variety and price, May Flower's all-you-can-eat model undercuts a la carte ordering but sacrifices customization and kitchen control. Diners who prefer to order specific dishes tailored to their taste, or who prioritize higher-end Cantonese technique, should look to sit-down restaurants rather than buffets.
Who benefits, who does not
May Flower suits families with children, groups splitting costs, and diners wanting to sample multiple dishes without commitment. The buffet model works well for lunch when time is limited and you want speed over ceremony. It is poorly suited to anyone with strong preferences about freshness, heat, or portion control, since buffet dishes sit under heat lamps and plating is in your hands. Those with dietary restrictions also find buffets limiting, since ingredients are not individually documented.
What a first visit involves
Arrive during lunch (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) if you want dim sum from the cart; expect a slight wait on weekends. A host seats you immediately, and dim sum service begins shortly after. Point to items as carts pass your table, or flag down a cart attendant. Dinner service requires arriving between 5 p.m. and closing; the setup is more casual, with the buffet line to your right as you enter. Fill your plate repeatedly; there is no limit on trips. Service is straightforward and staff do not hover; refill your own drinks from the fountain.
Hours, parking, and logistics
May Flower is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Street parking on East Pratt Street can be competitive during lunch hours; metered spots fill quickly. A parking garage is one block away if street spots are full. The restaurant is accessible by the MTA's Light Rail (Pratt Street station is two blocks west).
May Flower's place in Baltimore rests on delivering dim sum accessibility at lunch and reliable buffet volume at dinner, making it useful for specific occasions rather than destination dining.
