May Sum Buffet Menu Prices 2026
May Sum buffet prices per person start at £13.45 for an adult weekday lunch (Monday to Friday) and go up to £18.95 for Friday and Saturday dinner. Weekend lunch and Sunday dinner cost £14.45, Monday to Thursday dinner costs £16.95, and children under 140 cm (4ft 5in) pay between £6.95 and £8.95. The all-you-can-eat Pan-Asian buffet is dine-in only, has a 1.5 hour maximum stay, and is served at one restaurant: 92-98 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham NG1 6LF.
May Sum Buffet Menu Prices Per Person
May Sum charges one fixed price per person, and you can eat as much as you like within your time slot. The price depends on the day, the time of day and the age of the diner. Here is every adult and child price in one place.
| Time slot | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Mon to Fri lunch | £13.45 | £6.95 |
| Sat and Sun lunch | £14.45 | £7.95 |
| Sunday evening | £14.45 | £7.95 |
| Mon to Thu evening | £16.95 | £8.50 |
| Fri and Sat evening | £18.95 | £8.95 |
Child prices apply to children under 140 cm (4ft 5in). Height, not age, decides the price, so measure younger children before you go.
May Sum Buffet Opening Times and Serving Hours
The restaurant opens seven days a week and is listed as open from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The buffet itself runs in set sessions, and the evening session has a different start time on Sundays.
| Session | Serving time |
|---|---|
| Lunch (every day) | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm |
| Sunday evening | 5:00 pm to 9:15 pm |
| Mon to Sat evening | 5:30 pm to 9:15 pm |
Lunch service ends at 5:00 pm sharp, so arriving at 4:45 pm will not get you a full lunch session. Plan to sit down at least 90 minutes before the end of your chosen session.
Full May Sum Buffet Menu
May Sum describes its food as a fusion of Chinese, Malaysian, Thai and Japanese dishes. Because it is a buffet, the menu is a list of stations and dishes rather than items with individual prices. Dishes rotate, so not every item below is out on every day.
Starters and Soups
- Sesame seed prawns on toast
- Spare ribs in barbecue sauce
- Spring rolls
- Deep fried wontons
- Chicken wings in OK sauce
- Hot and sour soup
- Chicken and sweetcorn soup
Grand Buffet Highlights
The Grand Buffet is the premium part of the spread, mostly seen in the evening. May Sum lists these dishes as examples.
- Salt and pepper prawns
- Butterfly king prawns
- Mixed seafood Thai curry
- Aromatic duck and pancakes
- Steamed fish
- Seasonal lamb
- Sliced fillet steak (Grand Buffet only)
Main Courses
May Sum advertises more than 70 main dishes in Cantonese, Szechuan, Thai and Japanese styles. They are made with chicken, beef, pork, lamb, king prawns, duck and vegetarian options. Popular dishes mentioned by the restaurant and diners include:
- Chinese belly pork stew
- Salt and pepper chicken wings
- Singapore noodles and Singapore fried rice
- Sweet and sour chicken
- Lemon chicken
- Chow mein and stir fried noodles
Many main dishes are available in a choice of sauces:
- Cantonese
- Kung Po
- Black bean
- Satay
- Szechuan
- Oyster
- Sweet and sour
- Curry
- Ginger and spring onion
Sushi Station
- Salmon sashimi
- Californian rolls
- Rice sushi
- Mackerel
- Vegetarian sushi
Teppanyaki Live Cooking Station
You pick your ingredients and the chef cooks them in front of you. Choose from noodles, vegetables and these proteins:
- Squid
- Fish fillets
- Tiger king prawns
- Lamb
- Beef rump steak (sirloin steak on Fridays and Saturdays)
Dessert Bar
- Chocolate fountain with fresh fruit and sweets
- Self-service soft (whippy) ice cream
- Cakes, sweet toppings and other desserts
May Sum Takeaway Prices
May Sum also offers takeaway boxes. Takeaway is priced separately from the dine-in buffet and is much cheaper per person.
| Takeaway option | Price |
|---|---|
| 12:00 pm to 5:30 pm | £6.50 |
| 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | £7.50 |
| Seafood takeaway | £13.00 |
The dine-in buffet prices in the earlier table do not apply to takeaway orders. Call the restaurant to check what is included in a takeaway box before ordering.
Are Drinks Included in the Buffet Price?
No. The buffet price covers food only, and drinks are charged separately. May Sum is a licensed restaurant with a bar, and its menu page offers a downloadable drinks menu with soft drinks, beers, spirits and cocktails.
Drinks prices are not listed in a form we could verify, so they are not quoted here. Check the drinks menu on the official website before you order, especially for a large group.
How Much Does a Family Visit Cost?
Here is what two adults and two children under 140 cm would pay in each time slot, before drinks and any service charge.
| Time slot | 2 adults + 2 kids |
|---|---|
| Mon to Fri lunch | £40.80 |
| Sat and Sun lunch | £44.80 |
| Sunday evening | £44.80 |
| Mon to Thu evening | £50.90 |
| Fri and Sat evening | £55.80 |
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive slot is £15.00 for this family. A weekday lunch is the clear winner on price, while Sunday evening is the cheapest way to get the dinner session.
When Is the Cheapest Time to Visit?
For adults, Monday to Friday lunch at £13.45 is the lowest price on the board. Friday and Saturday dinner at £18.95 is £5.50 more, which is about 29 percent higher than the weekday lunch price.
If you want the evening menu without the highest price, go on Sunday. The Sunday evening session costs £14.45 for adults, which is £2.50 less than Monday to Thursday dinner and £4.50 less than Friday and Saturday dinner.
Lunch vs Dinner: What Do You Actually Get?
The price difference reflects the menu. Evening diners get the full spread, with the Grand Buffet dishes such as king prawns, seafood curry and steamed fish. Diners also note that more seafood and the teppanyaki station are stronger in the evening.
Lunch still includes the core hot dishes, sushi, desserts and the chocolate fountain. If you mainly want noodles, rice, chicken and ribs, lunch is the better value. If seafood and lamb matter to you, pay the extra for dinner.
How May Sum Prices Have Changed
May Sum prices have risen noticeably since 2021. These older prices come from third-party price sites, not an official archive, so treat the comparison as a rough guide.
| Slot | 2021 (reported) | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday lunch | £6.95 | £13.45 |
| Mon to Thu evening | £10.95 | £16.95 |
| Fri and Sat evening | £12.50 | £18.95 |
Weekday lunch is up about 94 percent, Monday to Thursday dinner is up about 55 percent, and Friday and Saturday dinner is up about 52 percent. If you see a lower price quoted on an older blog, it is outdated.
May Sum Buffet Location and Contact Details
May Sum has one restaurant, in Nottingham city centre. The official website and every listing we found point to this single site.
- Address: 92-98 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham NG1 6LF, United Kingdom
- Phone: +44 115 912 2000
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: maysum.co.uk
- Payment: Visa, Mastercard and cash are listed as accepted
Booking, Time Limit and Group Dining
Booking is recommended, especially for Friday and Saturday evenings, which listings show as the busiest period. The maximum stay is 1.5 hours per table for the buffet. That is enough time for several rounds, but groups should arrive together so the clock works for everyone.
May Sum also has a function room that can hold up to 40 people. The restaurant promotes private parties, business networking events, karaoke nights and autism-friendly dining afternoons. Ask the restaurant directly for group pricing and availability.
Dietary Needs: Vegetarian, Halal and Allergies
May Sum lists vegetarian dishes on its menu and offers vegetarian sushi. Gluten free and vegan options are not clearly published, so ask staff about specific dishes.
May Sum does not publicly advertise halal certification, and third-party listings mark it as not halal. If halal food is essential for you, call the restaurant before you visit. Anyone with a serious allergy should speak to the team before eating, since a shared buffet carries cross-contact risk.
Is May Sum Buffet Worth It?
Most positive reviews focus on variety and value for money, with praise for the teppanyaki station, sushi, salt and pepper wings and the dessert area. Negative reviews mention dishes that had been out for a while, small seafood choice and rushed service close to closing time.
The fair summary is that May Sum is a budget buffet. It suits families, groups and anyone who wants a big choice of Pan-Asian dishes for a fixed price. If you want made-to-order quality for every plate, a buffet will not deliver that anywhere.
Tips to Get the Best Value at May Sum
- Choose weekday lunch if price is your priority.
- Use Sunday evening if you want dinner at a lower price.
- Arrive early in your session so dishes are fresh and you use the full time.
- Try the teppanyaki station early, before queues build up.
- Check your child’s height, since under 140 cm gets the lower price.
- Skip filling up on rice and noodles first if you want the meats and seafood.
- Save room for the chocolate fountain and soft ice cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the May Sum buffet per person?
Adult prices range from £13.45 to £18.95, depending on the day and time. Weekday lunch is the cheapest and Friday and Saturday dinner is the most expensive.
How much do children pay at May Sum?
Children under 140 cm (4ft 5in) pay between £6.95 and £8.95. The lowest price is for weekday lunch and the highest is for Friday and Saturday dinner.
What time does the May Sum buffet open?
The restaurant opens at 12:00 pm every day. Lunch runs until 5:00 pm, and the evening buffet runs until 9:15 pm.
What is the May Sum Sunday buffet price?
Sunday lunch and Sunday evening both cost £14.45 for adults and £7.95 for children under 140 cm. The Sunday evening session starts at 5:00 pm instead of 5:30 pm.
Is there a time limit at May Sum?
Yes, the maximum stay is 1.5 hours. The buffet prices apply to dine-in only.
Does May Sum have a teppanyaki station?
Yes. You choose noodles, vegetables and proteins such as squid, fish fillets, tiger king prawns, lamb or beef, and the chef cooks it in front of you.
Does May Sum serve sushi?
Yes. The sushi station includes salmon sashimi, Californian rolls, rice sushi, mackerel and vegetarian sushi.
Are drinks included in the May Sum buffet price?
No. Drinks are charged separately, and a drinks menu is available on the official website.
Does May Sum offer takeaway?
Yes. Takeaway boxes cost £6.50 before 5:30 pm and £7.50 from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm. A seafood takeaway costs £13.00.
Is May Sum halal?
May Sum does not advertise halal certification, and listings mark it as not halal. Call the restaurant if halal food is a requirement for your group.
How many May Sum locations are there?
There is one location, at 92-98 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham NG1 6LF.
Can I book a table or private room at May Sum?
Yes. Booking is recommended, and there is a function room for up to 40 people. Call +44 115 912 2000 or email [email protected].
Do I need to book May Sum for weekends?
It is not always required, but booking is recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings, which are the busiest times.
Is May Sum good for kids?
Yes. Highchairs are available, children get reduced prices, and the dessert bar with the chocolate fountain and soft ice cream is a favourite with younger diners.
Final Word
May Sum remains one of the more affordable all-you-can-eat Pan-Asian options in Nottingham, with adult prices from £13.45 and child prices from £6.95. Pick weekday lunch for the lowest cost, Sunday evening for the cheapest dinner, and Friday or Saturday evening if you want the full evening spread. Prices can change, so confirm with the restaurant before you book.
