We had the most amazing experience for my 65th birthday on Saturday night! Been coming here since 1982 and it still exceeded expectations! The best restaurant ever. The crab legs are what you want! The food and service in an intimate setting is just what you're looking for. Thank you for over 40 years of great food and memories! Will recommend to everyone I know! It's worth the drive and the price. read more

This place has been a staple since 1965. I think the first time I was there was about 1984, 21st birthday. I even held a family reunion at this restaurant. The bartender, I believe has been there for forty years. The father Jack Haley, a RENOWNED surfer and his son, a renowned professional basketball player. I remember seeing the son, Jack Haley Jr even working the front desk on some Saturdays. Truly, a remarkable family business and unbelievable food. The prime rib is perfect and are is the crab legs. You can't do anything better if you want a special night out and going to this place. I do recommend Uber... the police in that area are definitely watching people who have had anything to drink and sobriety checkpoints are popular in that area. Enjoy your time there and make reservations. read more

If half stars were available I would give this place 4.5 stars! This place probably has the best King Crab Legs in all of OC. My wife and I got the Shrimp Cocktail for an appetizer. The shrimp was nice and juicy but the cocktail sauce was amazing. Like the best cocktail sauce I've ever had. So good my wife said she would buy a bottle if they were selling it. There's the perfect blend of tangy and sweetness to it. As for the entrees. We got the house bread and salad early on (it was good). Here's why I couldn't give it 5 stars. After getting our app, we waited almost an hour until we got our entrees. I was fighting the urge to keep picking at the bread lol. For our entrees my wife got the seafood platter and I got the NY strip with crab legs. The steak was quite good but the crab legs were the best. The shell was already pre cracked. Chunks of crab meat were so flavorful we didn't even need the butter but I love butter. The rice it came with was a bit funky. It was like soy sauce was mixed in. I'm guessing it was Worcestershire sauce. I think something like Rice Pilaf would have worked better. My wife and I both said we plan to come back. But just getting a full plate of crab legs and the shrimp cocktail. Service was very good. read more

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!A Crab-tastrophe at the Market Price! If you're craving crab, I can confirm that the seafood itself was fantastic. The crab I ordered was so good, it nearly made me forget the chaos of the service. Sadly, that's where the praise ends. First off, the staff must have been on a job-hopping adventure, because they kept coming and going like it was a relay race. They were juggling jobs, chatting among themselves, and basically turning my dining experience into a game of "Where's Waldo?"...only Waldo was supposed to be my peaceful dinner, not a rumor mill. To make things even more entertaining, they talked so much I felt like I was in a seafood-themed podcast. Meanwhile, I was trying to enjoy some quality chat time with my date... or at least get a moment to breathe. Interruptions galore! It was less "dining experience" and more "spot the waiter." Now, onto the market price of $160 each for crab? That's higher than my electricity bill! I mean, I love crab, it's my favorite food, but I didn't realize I was dining in a luxury yacht's dining room. For that kind of cash, I expect the ambiance to include a VIP lounge, not a spaghetti factory vibe with extra noise. In cliff-note, the crab was worth every penny, but the atmosphere, overpriced seafood, and the staff's chitchat left me longing for a quiet corner and a more streamlined service. If you're looking for a fun, lively seafood spot with a side of patience and a wallet that can handle the price, go for it. Otherwise, maybe bring your own crab and some earplugs. Rating: 3 out of 5 crabs (but only because the seafood was stellar). read more

This used to be my 6/5 stars but it's gone down down down sadly. Dirty. Very dirty. It's ok to clean up the place and still retain the old pirate feel CLEAN please! The clams and muscles were filled with sand. The seafood plate was full of separated oil. The crab was 175$ for ONE dinner. I'd pay it if the place wasn't so filthy. read more

SECOND CHANCE was an awesome experience service was very cordial and pleasant. We were a table for four at window seating. Food was prepared as expected; now valet parking service nearby. Four of us departed planning to be repeat customers and willing to make referrals to CAPTAIN JACK'S! OUR FIRST EXPERIENCE：Quality of food and service exceeded years ago attempt attendance with help ignored us having us wait in a dark alcove; parking was a frightful choice. We were never called for seating. We left to a restaurant across the street. After several years passing; we decided to try dining there again based upon recommendations of neighbors suggesting we give them a second chance. We are pleased that we did! The Pierson's; Bob Walz; Elaine Ray read more

This is the first review I have ever written. I have been going to Captain Jacks for 30 years, we are locals and have visited this establishment 3 times in the past year. We have had three bad experiences with the food and service being poor in a row. Last night I ordered the Copper River Salmon and it was over cooked and tasteless. Further the room we were in was unbelievably loud and the waiter could not hear her order and brought a full order of Crab. When we told him that was no what we ordered (she ordered 1 leg and a salald) he told her sorry, we don't do that and he would see if the Chef would take it back? He admitted that he mis-heard her. After he brought her a half order and charged me for a full order, the crab was over cooked and nearly not edible. Any business can have a off night but 3 times in a row? I gave up asked for the check and will never be back. At their prices just go to Ocean 48. read more

If I could give Captain Jack's 1 million stars, I WOULD! My boyfriend and I came here for the first time to celebrate our anniversary and we absolutely had the greatest time ever! We ordered: - Oysters on the Half Shell - Prime Rib - Red King Crab Legs - Espresso Martini - Old Fashioned My boyfriend was smiling ear to ear when our food came out. The prime rib was THICK & JUICY! And the King Crab Legs were so flavorful! We would order the same exact things all over again. The service was wonderful and our servers were so kind and made our evening so special. We can't wait to come back! read more

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Absolutely horrific the crab legs were a stone cold. The service was as always above and beyond, but we came here for the food. It was awful. I've been coming here for 40 years and the food was absolutely awful. We will never ever come back here again after being served horrible food. read more

Best crab legs anywhere..... best Caesar salad anywhere ....best service anywhere.... Best bread anywhere...Best Ambiance.....May this place never change for another 60 years read more

Went to Captain Jack's Friday to celebrate our 50 wedding anniversary, we have been going there for over 35 years. Was disappointed in our server, never acknowledged our anniversary or why we were there. I had the prime rib which was excellent, my wife had the crab legs which is her favorite, there were a bit dry and sticking to the shell at $159.00 that is just not right. read more

The ambiance & food is excellent and great for reunions The service waa very attentive and efficient read more

Street parking and complimentary Valet parking available. Reservations recommended but not required. Ok for small groups. Nice bar area. I only order Lobster so can't speak on the others items but they all look great Prices are fare. Staff is wonderful. read more

Captain Jack's - Lobster with baked potatoe - Seafood Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

Wow! So good! I love everything about it. We took my mom out here for Mother's Day and I'm blown away by the portion sizes. I ordered a Chilean sea bass entree with a baked potato and asparagus. The size of the sea bass was monstrous and so juicy. I don't think I've ever had a fish so smooth, velvety, and melted like butter. The ambiance was on another level too. If you like feeling like you're at Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland or enjoy that "pirate" feel, this is the place for you. The service was great too. It's pretty loud in the restaurant which can kind of be annoying but they were all very patient and kind. I highly recommend this place. read more

Captain Jack's has always been a special place for me. I first went in 1968. Yeah, I've been around for a few years. The food is still great except for the price on the King Crab Legs-$159. We had Prime Rib last night and it was as good as it could be. Captain Jack's has a major service problem. Although they didn't seem to be overly busy(some empty tables) the wait in getting served was unacceptable. They seem to use a team approach in the service area. It took them 15 minutes to open the bottle of wine I brought. We had to almost corner a gentleman to open it. We placed our order with our primary waiter. It then took 30 minutes to receive our salad which was very good as usual. We finished our salad and then it took another 20 minutes to receive our entree. We asked about it a person said it was cooking. The prime rib is one the primary items on the menu. Captain Jack's needs to seriously address the service deficiencies that are being exhibited. If the service issue doesn't improve next time I'm afraid I will be going to other good restaurants in the area (one in Seal Beach and another in Costa Mesa). read more

First off get a generator! Had a reservation at 5:30 and didn't get to eat because the power went out. Really disappointed because it was our anniversary 2/21/2026 read more

Oh man... Captain Jack's deserves way more than 5-stars -- give them a whole galaxy of stars, fireworks, a parade, and maybe a trophy shaped like a lobster tail. It was THAT good. x 4! From the moment you walk in, you get smacked in the face (in the best possible way) with great vibes, incredible service, and food that makes you question every life decision that DIDN'T include coming here sooner. The staff treats you like royalty, like you just won the Super Bowl and decided to celebrate at the coolest place in town. Friendly, fast, and genuinely happy to make sure you're having an amazing time. And the food? Forget about it. Absolute perfection. Every bite feels like your taste buds hit the lottery. Fresh, flavorful, cooked perfectly -- the kind of meal that makes you talk about it for days like a proud parent bragging about their honor roll kid. Drinks? Dangerous... in the best way. Delicious, smooth, and they keep the fun going. Whether you're going for dinner, drinks, a great night out, or just to feel like you made a genius decision today -- Captain Jack's is THE spot. If I could leave a 20-star review, I would. Actually... let's call it a million-star experience. Can't wait to go back! read more

Captain Jack's is our go to for birthdays and anniversaries. We love the decor, and location. My favorite is the king crab.. it's market priced so be prepared to pay for quality, and it's a nice large portion. My just usually gets the prime rib/crab which are excellent as well. Awesome variety of cocktails, the bread is so good it's hard to stop, and the blue cheese salad dressing is not to be missed.. as always the service is impeccable, and you want for nothing. read more

After returning here at least 5 times a year each time with a large group of ladies, and alway being greeted by the Manager Ronnie, and his "sour puss" keeping us waiting at least 15-20 minutes for our table with a reservation. Tonight the food was not that terrific, my party is always between10-14, and we were all very disappointed. All of us run up huge bills, we tip well, and order from the bar even on their no corkage night Thursday. But tonight we had a misunderstanding with our waiter Anthony. He charged someone who ordered a dinner of Chilean Sea Bass an addional $8 for a baked potato. When Anthony asked if she preferred rice or a baked potato, we all heard him, and he never mentioned there would be an $8 additional charge, until it was seen on the bill, along with the $3 charge for a Cajun sauce she thought came with the meal. When we called Anthony over and she told him this was definitely a misunderstanding, he apologized and said there is nothing I can do. We asked him to check with the Manager and see if he would remove the $8 charge, since we come in all the time, and this lady had been coming for the last 40 years with her family even. Anthony came back and said he asked the Manager, Ronnie about removing the charge and he said NO. We were all shocked! I stood up to find Ronnie, who has seen me there many times, since we've been regulars for the last 3 years. I found Ronnie, standing and watching TV in the bar. When I approached him, to explain the $8 charge and the misunderstanding. He rudely said, "I remember something like this happened the last time your party was here." I said, that is not true I don't know what you are talking about? I went on to discuss what happened, but he wouldn't hear of it, and said it's on the menu and he adamantly refused to remove the $8 charge. Unfortunately when Anthony offered the baked potato, no one was holding the menu to know about this additonal charge and it honestly did sound like he was offering an option, we all heard him. For the HUGE bills my group runs up at Captain Jack's consistently it's now all out the window thanks to the poor business sense of their Manager, Ronnie and his miserable disposition!! It's so amazing how a restaurant Manager like Ronnie can ruin a dining experience for everyone. We will not be returning here again that is for sure!!! read more

The food was excellent just as usual, but the service was more than lacking! With 5 servers waiting on us you'd think it would be outstanding, but it wasn't! The servers were not trained with common etiquette, such a ladies 1st, how to serve food (from the right & pick up from the left! This server had no idea who had what & reached across the table! Even had the wrong food! Cocky, arrogant & I guess we were lucky to get anything! Three of us had Crablegs (200.00) each) 5 people, you'd think you'd be cattered to, not here! When you have to wave at people to get anything, worst service ever! The days of fine dining & manners is over! Three courses & not one was in the right place! What a disappointment! Celebrating a birthday , but we should have stayed home! Never again! read more

The food here is amazingly delicious! I have been here several times and every time the food and service is fantastic. We have sat on the side by the water which is super nice and very relaxing. I usually get the crab legs which is what they are known for. Let me tell you they are scrumptious! SO GOOD! I honestly have to say the crab legs taste better than the lobster in my opinion. This is definitely a must visit restaurant! The only reason for the 4 star is because I had called in advance for a reservation and they sat us in a very small table right in the pathway of the servers which really was not cool. We did ask to be moved and they did move us to a much nicer table! read more

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The off menu surf and turf with Prime Rib steak and King Crab is amazing. The prime rib cooked medium is truly of the upmost quality, so tender and flavorful. The king crab is incredibly fresh. It comes with a garden salad and your choice of homemade dressing. You can even get Caesar dressing with it, that is packed with an abundance of parmesan and a nice mild flavor of anchovies. You can upcharge to substitute a baked potato for the rice. They also bring you a side of creamy horseradish that goes great with everything from the steak to the crab to even the potatoes! We were able to share all of that between the 2 of us. But my wife wished for more crab and less steak. With that said, next time my wife would just like a half order of King Crab (which they refer to as a 10oz portion) for herself, or maybe even a full pound, and her own baked potato, plus a salad with ranch. read more

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Dining at Captain Jack's always leaves me happily stuffed; the portions are massive and generous. I love ordering the off-menu surf & turf with prime rib and king crab legs alongside a baked potato; it's rich, indulgent comfort food that never disappoints. The nautical-themed ambiance feels like dining aboard an older, cozy ship. It's beautifully nostalgic and full of character. On the flip side, it's definitely a splurge, and pricing is strict "market rate" so expect to pay premium for that giant crab and cocktails or extras add up quickly. For the quality and the vibe? It's absolutely worth every bite. read more

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Always, always excellent food! Service was great, and we were able to get a table with no reservations, and a 5 minute wait. We always enjoy going to Captain Jacks because the patrons are always friendly also. read more

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Usually the food and service is exceptional. We eat there several times per month. But this last visit was a fiasco. I always order the same entree. It was not the quality that I've experienced previously. When I complained the manger on Friday night 7-31, he was rude, actually arguing that the food was made correctly. Of course he offered to take it back. But the manner in which he handled it was unprofessional. read more

Love Captain Jack's such a nice ambience and great service love the Alaskan king, crab legs, and the crab stuffed mushrooms. Looking forward to our next visit. read more

Used to go here all the time. Plus I take photos and blog about all my food. So I'm used to how the dishes should look and taste. Came here to celebrate my birthday and we ordered the usual. Crab legs which were delicious. Big and juicy. The prime rib which was also prepared well. I came here for my favorite. The escargot! We ordered 2 orders and both came out burnt and charred. I ate 2 of the 5 pieces and then asked the server if this dish should look like and taste like this. She came back and said yes. So then I didn't want to make a fuss. I continued eating them but they tasted burnt and charred. When paying my bill, I let another server know and I showed him photos of previous times I've been there and how they were not burnt and charred. Even the server said they were over cooked. I did not get an "I'm sorry" or "let me comp them" or "let me comp one of the two" I ordered or "let me make you a new one". I'm not trying to get a free meal in any way. Everything else was amazing. But to not even address the overcooked dish was not cool. Definitely not what I expected. Our bill was $900. So I definitely think that could have been handled better. But oh well. Probably not coming back anytime soon. read more

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The king crab is WAY over priced for the quality. Tasted freezer burned. Not what you expect at $100/lb.

We were surprised by the food and service. This place has been around forever, we thought it was just another beachy restaurant. We lived very close for years but never went. It was actually kind of high end even though you could go in shorts. The service was a little slow, but it was busy for a Monday. We had prime rib, it was very good but the sides are limited. The cheesecake was also delicious. We will go back and maybe try their notable crab legs. read more

An Orange County gem that has been around a long time. Still has the same old school vibe with delicious food and terrific service. The crab legs are to die for and the oysters were awesome. My son ordered the prime rib quesadilla as an appetizer and it was huge! Could have easily been a meal. There's valet parking as parking does look to be an issue. Bathrooms in the place are super small and the place is a little outdated, but I think it adds to the charm. It is expensive, so not a budget friendly experience for sure. read more

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I love this place so much! Seafood it so fresh and the steak is literally bombdotcom. I live the service the people were so nice there! The ambience of this place is like your on a ship but it's all dimmed and pretty! read more

Captain Jack's - Seafood Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

Captain Jacks was our 3rd choice, and I guess 3 times the charm, as we were not disappointed. We were looking for somewhere with fresh crab for my daughter's birthday, and had been to two restaurants prior to coming to CJ's. All I can say is, WOW! The service, the FOOD, the ambiance, all 5 star. It will be our go from now on when we're looking for the freshest seafood around. It's not the newest establishment, but the old charm and ambiance is a winner in my book. All around this place was excellent, so give it a try, you won't be disappointed. read more

Everyone writing 5 star reviews is either a fed pumping up this sorry excuse for a restaurants stock, or simply just one of Jeff bezos good friends. The entire menu just says "market price", and I could see the server make up numbers as he goes as he exclaimed the "price" of these menu items. If you want to pay $180 for some freezer burned crab legs, captain jacks is the place for you. Crab and lobster used to be served to prisoners only that's how lowly it was, and Captain Jacks serves as a true reminder of the old days with the quality they serve. I thought robbery was illegal but clearly not, as Captain jacks is doing it in broad daylight. read more

Love Captain Jack's. Great attentive servers, great food, we always order the King Crab legs served with a salad and their in house made blue cheese salad dressing. Everything else is Ala carte. Great ambiance read more

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Well had not been to Captain Jack's in years We thought we would go for our 51st Anniversary & our Gradaughters 20th birthday. We had reservations for 6pm on Wed. Night. The service was fine but our food was very disappointing. For a $500 dollar dinner. We had the Albacore & cheese appetizer you should never order. The halibut was dry, the king crab legs were over salty & very dry. $150 dollar market price we expected better. The lamb was a bit gamey The filet Mignon was the only meal that was good. We will not be back. Very disappointed read more

April 2026, We brought 2 friends from out of State to our favorite restaurant for crab legs, Captain Jack's. Boy, were we disappointed in the quality of the crab legs. The crab legs were old, not fresh, and the $160 price is higher than market price. Our waitress rolled her eyes when we ordered a combination of salad dressing. We will not be back. DISAPPOINTED!!! read more

I'm really confused why people like this place. We went here on a Saturday night for my dad's birthday. We had a 7 pm reservation for four. We were the first couple to arrive and check in at 6:50 pm. They won't seat us until everyone arrives and offered us to wait in the bar area. After about 10 minutes the bar area started to get really stuffy and smelled like a gym. The rest of our party arrived 10 minutes late. When they checked in, the hostess looked at her watch. We know, they were late but I'm sure they encounter this all the time with the parking situation. We waited another 25 minutes before we were brought to a table. The restaurant is small, choppy, hot and stuffy. The food was eh. The shrimp cocktail was average and the cocktail sauce had a weird taste. The cheese in the crab quesadilla overpowers the crab. The crab legs were dry as hell. I asked for the dressing on the side of the baked potato and it came on the potato. The salad was probably poured out of a plastic bag from Costco. The filet had no seasoning and was also as dry as the crab legs. The servers were attentive and nice. Our dinner for four cost over $500. Come up to LA and have some real fresh seafood in a classy restaurant that doesn't look and smell like Pirates of the Caribbean. read more

Bad experience way overpriced, been coming here for years made reservations for anniversary, requested a booth got placed at a table jammed in the middle of the room and felt like we were rushed to get in and out. What a shame we are locales and were hoping for an enjoyable evening, prime rib and crab legs were good sea bass was over cooked and a very small portion...too bad for us. Felt like there were way too many waiters rushing you. read more

This was one of the most disappointing and unacceptable dining experiences I've ever had - especially for $500. From the very beginning, the service set the wrong tone. Our waitress never introduced herself or made us feel welcome. She came to our table and immediately launched into a rushed and dismissive spiel of the most popular dishes. It felt rude and unwelcoming-- not the kind of welcome you'd expect at a restaurant where you're about to spend hundreds of dollars. Things only went downhill from there. I ordered crab legs, and when I cracked one open, the meat inside was completely black (see attached photo). Crab meat should be white and fresh -- not dark, spoiled-looking, and inedible. We called over the first person we saw, who happened to be the busser, and he even looked shocked when he saw it. He went to get the waitress (not our waitress who was originally serving us) and she was rude and dismissive as well, she stated "I heard there is a problem with the crab" we showed her, which she also looked shocked, and she said "ill get you a replacement." Moments later ANOTHER server brought over the replacement crab leg which we kindly asked to now box up. While waiting for them to box it up and for the server to bring the check, there was not one person, out of the 3 servers and bussers, who came to apologize, explain how something like that could make it to a guest's plate, or any effort to make it right. No discount, no gesture of goodwill, not even an acknowledgement of how unacceptable it was. Not even a manager came to acknowledge the situation. When you're paying $500 for a meal, the absolute minimum expectation is that the food is fresh, safe, and properly prepared. On top of that, the service should reflect professionalism and care. Instead, we were served spoiled crab meat, brushed off without an apology, and left with the feeling that the staff either didn't care or didn't think it mattered. At this price point, there is simply no excuse for serving bad food and treating guests with indifference. This restaurant failed on both quality and service, and it's not an experience I would ever recommend or repeat. It is such a shame because this use to be one of our favorite go to date nights - not anymore. Id rather go elsewhere than risk the potential to end up in the ER due to necrotized spoiled crab flesh. We ended up throwing away all our crab legs after researching this issue as they could be potentially contaminated and this could lead to serious shellfish food poisoning that can cause fatal dehydration. Hopefully all other legs are not contaminated, and this doesn't happen to other customers. Too bad there is no place to email the manager to let them know how harmful this can be so they can make it right rather than brushing it off as no big deal and serving this to other patrons. I guess I have no choice but to contact the health department. Glad we took a picture...$500 down the drain. read more

Captain Jack's - served spoiled crab - no acknowledgement by staff. - Seafood Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

First time to Captain Jack's and it did not disappoint. The prime rib is the best I've had. The king crab was delicious as well. It seems like they have a team of servers that do certain things while they wait on you. One server bring you there menu and talk to you about it. Then another server brings out bread and drinks. Then another server comes and takes your order, which was the one who we saw the most. The place had a 70's decor maybe be 80's. read more

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