CJ's Crab Shack on Ocean Drive in South Beach was questionable based on Yelp ratings. It was the much higher google ratings that encouraged us to try it. The $$ is accurate and for Miami Beach I'd say it could be a single $. In other words, exceptional value. The crab cake appetizer was delicious (not pictured). The crab dip was generous portion with both chips and bread served for dipping. The steamed clams were an appetizer which I ate as my meal. Plenty of clams. Sorry the picture is the aftermath. My colleague had the steak (16 oz Ribeye prepared medium) with shrimp and crab legs. Shrimp were nice sized and prepared in garlic butter. The snow crab cook was very good considering the claws were petite. The broccoli side was reportedly steamed and delicious. Overall, CJ's exceeded expectations and sitting outside along the beach was pleasant with the exception of a few passing vehicles. I recommend CJ's for the seafood lovers and others who enjoy a great value on South Beach. read more

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CJ's Crab Shack is awesome. It's a nice-sized restaurant, but we chose to sit outside and it was a great call. The weather was decent, the atmosphere was relaxed, and it really added to the experience. We ordered the buffalo shrimp, the spinach & artichoke dip loaded with chunks of crab meat, plus a half-pound of snow crab with corn and when I tell you it was good, every bite delivered. Hands down, this felt like the best restaurant on the strip. Yes, it's expensive but honestly, so is every other seafood spot, even back in Georgia. The difference here? The food actually made the price worth it. What really set this place apart was the service. We went to two other restaurants on the strip, and this was by far the best experience. Even the guy cleaning the table was attentive to our needs - checking in and making sure we were taken care of. The only disappointment was the crab cake appetizer coming with just one. But after seeing the ones at another table and how fast they disappeared. I understood why we couldn't order the appetizer. read more

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Visited the restaurant for the stone crabs, our first time and the crab claws were not amazing. Ask for the price before ordering, the market place on 1/1/26 was $50/lb, which was about 4 claws. The stone crabs shells are hard and thick, it may be weighted much than the meat. We had grouper in a bag, it took longer time than other food and it's our favorite thing. The fillets were juicy with tomatoes and cheese, came with pasta Alfredo, the pasta sauce was quite bland. read more

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Excellent seafood pasta and crab dip as well as the cocktail. Food portion is big. Service is good and ambiance is nice. read more

CJ's Crab Shack - Seafood pasta - Seafood Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

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The food was wonderful! Everything we ate just absolutely delicious, even the Alfredo side dish was perfectly flavored. The service was also amazing and the staff was very personable. read more

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Chris and his team provided an amazing experience of fresh and delicious cuisine, while we were visiting Miami. We will be back the next time we're in Miami. read more

CJ's Crab Shack - Seafood Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

Staff was very friendly and super attentive. What I assume was the manager spoke to us to make sure we were happy with our seats and allowed us to move to a better table. We got the raw oysters for an appetizer and they were 100% better than the ones we got at another restaurant the night before. For entree we ordered the crab legs & grilled shrimp and the grouper in a bag. Both were very delicious. The one thing I would have like to have had is a set of shell crackers. But other than that everything was too notch. read more

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The service was horrendous and I totally would not recommend this place. We waited over an hour and a half to get our food and then the waitress never checked on us. The bill was well over $200 and of course in Miami it's an 18% gratuity regardless of service.. and for whatever reason the restaurant was unable or unwilling to split the check for two female. And by the way, who brings out lobster with no butter.? Food was decent but definitely not for the price . Oh, I see you, Brittany, you need to do better because you suck. Hopefully this is a side gig and I definitely would not quit my full-time job. read more

Let me start off by saying, yes south beach, and YES, OCEAN DRIVE!!!! lol!! I am a local and south beach, and ocean drive are usually a big NO. A what the helly?? No. But Cj's was a major win! We took family who has never been to Miami there, and first of all, the location was the perfect spot to people watch! We sat outside as a table of 7 adults and 1 kid. We had appetizers, drinks and mains for a whopping $535 for seafood. And massive portions of seafood! Everything was seasoned well, the price point was perfect, and the vibe was pretty cool! Our server, hostesses and busser all did an amazing job at keeping us comfortable in the Miami Heat! I would suggest more fans outside to keep the air flowing and the flyMy only problem was we had 1 person who had mobility issues and there are steps to get inside, and to the restrooms so be warned. read more

CJ's Crab Shack - Fried Grouper, steamed broccoli and fried shrimp with fries - Seafood Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

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This place is where I wanna go when I pass. Everything is excellent here from the drinks to the food. One of the best places in Miami for seafood. The fried shrimp here are so big and good it doesn't stop there the fries are the cherries on top. There so tasty I think they were Cajun. The people here are super sweet and welcoming.The place gives what it gives vacation vibes I really enjoyed my dinner and time here. read more

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Great people w watching from the outside tables, and decent service. But the food was mediocre at best. I had a grouper sandwich--fried instead of blackened, at the waiter's suggestion. It was very disappointing, essentially a slightly mushy piece of dish on s hamburger bun. Meh. read more

We looked for awhile to see where to eat in south beach and randomly decided to go here to get some stone crab. We ordered a few dishes including the stone crab, crab legs, clams with white wine sauce and they were all pretty good. Not the best items I've ever had but it was reliable enough. My partner said this was his favorite meal of the whole trip. read more

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An amazing spot for the tourists and those looking for a nice "beach-side" restaurant. The service comes with great recommendations and I really enjoyed everything we ordered. Seafood is fresh so take advantage but it isn't heavy on the spices. The oysters are alright, so you can pass up on those. read more

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I was craving some Stone Crab for lunch and Joe's Stone Crab wasn't open, so I tried this place out and that was some big and juicy stone crab! My favorite thing I've had in Miami so far, tied with Joe's but without the long wait. read more

CJ's Crab Shack - Blackened Salmon - Seafood Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

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crab was delish. I absolutely loved the piña coladas. It was a breath of fresh air finding a $12 frozen drink in Miami. They had a great selection read more

CJ's Crab Shack - Seafood Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

Extreme disappointment in this place. It is truly a tourist trap. We had reservations although they had not saved a table for us. They ended up squeezing us into a table where I could not move my chair. I had to scoot out of my chair sideways when I needed to go to the ladies room. Service was poor and food was cold and tasteless. We ordered the fish platter. The blackened fish was cold and had very little seasoning. The shrimp were tough as were the scallops. The stuffed crab shell was ok but certainly not worth the amount spent on this platter. I would look for other options. read more

We have eaten here several times and really enjoy. We are huge seafood fans and they have all the things we live. The claws were amazing, the lobster cooked perfect and the crab legs sweet. It's become a tradition when we cruise out of Miami. Highly recommend. read more

The snow crab was amazing! Outdoor seating and atmosphere also amazing. Oysters also amazing. Service outstanding. Corn on the cob, great taste, but was undercooked. My wife got the red white and blue daiquiri. She loved it except that it had a half rotten cherry in it, which was disappointing.. Still I would definitely come back here. That snow crab though, amazing. read more

CJ's Crab Shack - Outdoor patio. - Seafood Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

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We visited Miami for the Valentine's Day weekend and stopped at CJ's because the menu looked delicious. We got the oysters, the crab spinach dip, the crab legs, and the grouper sandwich. The oysters were a little disappointing as we felt they could've been baked longer. There was a hair in my fries that came with my grouper sandwich, but I didn't notice it until after I had eaten most of my sandwich, so I didn't bother telling them. I let them take my plate though. The drinks were good, and the staff was nice but the food was a little underwhelming unfortunately. read more

My food was so good. Everything had good taste and very good flavor and the shrimp baked in the garlic sauce was amazing. read more

CJ's Crab Shack - Crab legs, garlic, baked, shrimps, and broccoli - Seafood Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

The food was amazing, seafood pasta was amazing. Best seafood I haven't had pasta and sea food this good in a long time. The staff and service was amazing too. I'm coming back again tonight after our concert for sure. Highly recommended it to anyone looking for great food at a reasonable price read more

CJ's Crab Shack - Finished everything, too good te leave any!! - Seafood Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

Old roots here. I just came by to try a quick bite before a night out. Crab dip and crab cake were good. I was expecting something a bit more but service was good. Food came out fast! Staff was great! I'll try a few other items next time. Located right in the heart of south beach! read more

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I am soo surprised Miami doesn't have as much seafood as it should, it being a tropical oasis and all, it's rare you find a decent crab shark here. Everything is tacos and fake Asian fusion! But not C.J's this is a totally the place to get the sea food kick that lacks in the Miami area. The drunken shrimp should be a must! It was so flavorful and delicious. If you're craving sea food this restaurant is reasonably priced and delicious. read more

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The food was great , service is kinda weird. The wouldn't allow the table to pay there own tab , but requested just one bill. The also added tip right away. So whether you get good service or bad you doing the 18%. It has a great location, so the ambiance is great. read more

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Crabs are dry, due to extended freezing time. Food losses water slowly but after a month or so, you taste the dehydration. Waitress were not listening. It is odd since there is not much business. Location is great but you can find another 50 restaurants sharing that location. One star, they earned it. read more

I came because the Tik Tok videos made this place look so good and it did not disappoint. We sat outside since the weather at night was still decently warm, but for those who prefer to be warmer, there's inside seating. Menu had a decent amount of food. Im used to going to crab shacks and have limited options. We started off with the Rum Punch and Miami Vice drinks. Those really snuck up on us later on so drink slow because the juice hid the amount of alcohol that was really in there lol. I ordered the CJ's Cajun Crab dish and that came with two clusters of snow crab legs, 4 little baked oysters, shrimp, stuffed crab and your choice of side (I opted for the Alfredo pasta). Crab was cooked a little too long because it was hard to get them out of shell, but other than that the rest of the dish was so good! read more

CJ's Crab Shack - 1/2 dozen raw oyster appetizer. Sauces: cocktail sauce, horseradish (I think) and vinegar - Seafood Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

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We stopped by here because it was really close to the hotel we stayed. Their frozen drinks are offered in non-alcoholic and with alcohol you'd like, so it was nice to have the wide range of options, especially for the hot weather. It was super refreshing and tasty. We ordered the oysters Rockefeller as starters and it was my husband's first time having it like that. He liked it a lot. The oysters were pretty big too. The shrimp poboy was so good! The shrimp is fresh and nicely battered. The fries were like Cajun seasoned, but it's one of our favorite fries. I had the crab leg dinner with fettuccine Alfredo as my side. The crabs were sweet and delicious. The fettuccine was surprisingly pretty good too! We sat outside so we can the air and water show that was happening. The wait staff was attentive and super nice. read more

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The food was amazing! If you are looking for great Stone Crab, CJ's has it and it's delicious. The atmosphere is relaxing, the staff is superb and friendly. A big thanks to Carlos, Kate and Sonja for making our visit to the restaurant so special! This restaurant is top on our list for future trips to South Beach. read more

Decent food, high prices, terrible service I took out-of-town guests here and we all totally regret it. The food was decent, what you'd expect reading the menu no more no less, there is no artistry here. But the service was so bad that we all walked away unhappy, never again. One of our four couldn't get water no matter how many times she asked. Beer requests had to be repeated. Some dishes arrived not hot. A long list of constant little things. The icing on the bad-service cake was when the bill arrived and a couple of people were surprised that you can't get separate checks here (it's in fine print on the menu but waiter could have mentioned) so we gave him 2 cards and totals for each but he ran the bill on 1 card anyway and then told us it was an accident and we should Zelle between us... even the table next to us said out loud "you know he's lying to you, right?" read more

Great food! Sat outside and could see the beach and people watch, etc... the service was good. Nothing to complain about! Left there absolutely stuffed! Would go back if ever back in Miami! read more

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First time in Miami. I wanted to treat the wife to her favorite meal crab legs. I found CJ's on yelp and the reviews got me interested. The wife got the pound of crab legs and shrimp combo. I tried something I found here on yelp call grouper in a bag. Apparently this is one of their mainstays here. My wife was in heaven with the crab legs. The grouper (first time having grouper btw) was incredible. They have it cooked with tomato and jalapeño as well as onion and some sauce cooked in parchment paper. This was truly unique and delicious. The house margarita was good. The Rockefeller Oysters was a first for me but worth trying. We sat outside and enjoyed people watching as everyone was just out walking pets and enjoying the beautiful night air. For sure next time we come to Miami for a cruise we will absolutely come back. read more

CJ's Crab Shack - Incredibly crab legs being devoured. - Seafood Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

This was an old standby of ours in college and I am pleased to say it holds up now. One of the best and honestly only places on Ocean Dr to serve traditional seafood like you'd expect from a place called a crab shack. The food is excellent and you can get anything from crab cakes to shrimp to fried fish. Drinks are good too, and as you might expect there are plenty of frozen options. Prices aren't that bad for the location. Can't beat eating seafood and looking over the ocean. Great spot for people watching. read more

CJ's Crab Shack - Seafood Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

This is my 500th review! Woo Hoo!!! As for my 500th review I wanted to share my 5 star review of CJ's Crab Shack in South Beach. We had known we were going to dine here since we first started planning our Miami trip. I love some good seafood by the beach. I know this place isn't next to the beach so much, but pretty much as close as you can get. We were seated outside, perfect for the Miami people watching. Our server, Sanja, was awesome! She chatted with us for a minute while we tried to decide on drinks. We ultimately went with the refillable cups so we could get more drinks to go. They were fun colorful frozen cocktails. She did a great job talking us in to those drinks. We loved them. We went over the menu like 15 times and settled on some seafood platters. My husband got the CJs Cajun combo and I got the fish shrimp crab combo. Everything we had was fresh, cooked perfectly and delicious. It was exactly what we wanted. This meal made our trip to Miami worth it. I absolutely love seafood and I had been craving grouper for a while. Loved every bit of it. Thanks to Sanja, she was a wonderful server! read more

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I rarely leave reviews but I need to say that this place was an extremely pleasant surprise. It was dog friendly, the food was super fresh and delicious (stone crabs & grouper fingers), and the service was great! This restaurant might actually get me back to South Beach (-; read more

This place is a hidden gem! Don't let the ambience (or lack of) fool you.... You just need to know what to order. My absolute favorites are the crab cakes & the grouper in a bag. The crab cakes have a story, a family history & legacy worth asking the owners (Chris or Jori) about. I love when my food has a legacy & these definitely do. The grouper in a bag is perfectly seasoned with jalapeños, white wine and cheese. Every bite is delicious & leaves me wanting more. I would 100% recommend outside seating - glowing table light, always an interesting social scene & cars driving by - possibly a man with a snake or lizard to keep you on your toes. read more

It's a low key vibe.. love it.. only wanted a bite and a drink.. crab cakes and frozen daiquiris are the best! Staff very friendly.. read more

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This place is the reason I have never before tried to eat crab in public! Luckily the place was mostly emptied bc I chose an off time to eat Linner/lupper-? At the waitress's suggestion, I ordered the CJ Cajun platter and dipped on an iced cold Corona with lime while I watched other Miami tourists walk down Ocean Ave. The platter arrived, and there was the prized famed crab served cake in a shell, 5 big shrimp in a tiny bowl of Cajun butter, 3-4 snow crab large clusters, fresh corn on the cob with Parmesan, lemon, a bowl for my shells, a shell cracker and small fork. I almost also asked for a pic but I managed to suck every morsel of crab from every claw, leg ,and cluster. It took me nearly two hours! Butter ran down to my elbows and smeared my face. Wait staff kept checking to see if I needed anything- just let me slather in private ecstacy! Everything was perfectly cooked, not overdone, and quite tasty. Prefrozeb? Maybe, but it didn't stop me. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal in this rustic bar & eatery. Imagine another surprise when I followed yo maze and handwritten signs to the restrooms, only to find myself in an elegantly appointed old fashioned hotel lobby! Beautiful! I was slowly realizing that in Miami a beach a lot of the hotels offer restaurants, outdoor water is, gelato stands, and dawuiri bars for the hit and watery tourists! I decided I'd walk off ky Neal in the sweltering heat wave of summer by covering ad much of the street as I could and chose a gelato stand a few blocks away. Again, bc of the various offerings, umbrellas and awnings line the sidewalk and big rotating fans blast cool air. Enough do that I made it, got my large sugar cone with pistachio and cappuccino gelato, and paid my $10. That's been the going rate for such a treat. The young lady graciously offered me a tiny spoon and a cup in case the gelato melted faster than I could devour it. What a treat! This was my meal for the day! read more

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Really great food and location! Would come again. Had the crab dinner and garlic shrimp. Both were great! read more

CJ's Crab Shack - Crab dinner with veggies - Seafood Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

We had NO wait at 7pm on a Thursday! Super surprised! The food was amazing! Probably the best food we ate all trip! Crab dip was rich and creamy, and served with plenty of chips. Shrimp and crab were served with a side which was a huge portion! Crab was perfectly prepared and the garlic shrimp was delicious! Shrimp poboy had so much shrimp you couldnt even eat it like a sandwich without having to eat a few shrimp First! Steak was cooked perfectly! Wish we could visit again before we leave! Friendly staff and the perfect view of ocean street! read more

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I used to live in South Beach and have been going to CJ's Crab Shack since Chris & Jory first opened further up Ocean Drive. On a visit to Miami Beach last week, I told my wife we had to go there for dinner because I knew they wouldn't disappoint. (And they didn't.) I knew what I wanted - their famous "Grouper in a Bag," grouper with cheese, onions, and jalapenos wrapped and baked in parchment paper. My wife went for the Fisherman's platter, blackened grouper, scallops and shrimp with a crab cake. For the included side dish, trust me and order the pasta alfredo - it's the best and pairs well with the seafood! The food was as amazing as I remember it, a decade later since my last visit. Carlos, who has worked there since nearly day 1, served us and was as friendly, helpful and gracious as always. CJ's is a family-owned and operated restaurant. The vast majority of restaurants on Ocean Drive are rip-off joins that serve mediocre food at high prices. That's not CJ's. Seafood isn't cheap but you get high quality food here for a fair price from a local family. A side note on Grand Daddy Gus' "crab cake:" When it's served, you'll think it's a deviled crab, because it's served in the blue crab shell instead of being a stand-alone "cake". But it's not deviled - it's lump blue crab meat inside and it's to die for. read more