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    The Boiling Crab

    4.0 (2.8k reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Waitlist - The Boiling Crab

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    The Boiling Crab Photos

    THE BOILING CRAB ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Inside
    Cheryl C.

    Service was great. Drinks were the soju besides beer. I had the peach very delicious My hostess was so cool I am mad that I don't remember her name. Prices are high. Very high for crawfish. They were out of my favorite blue crab. Sauce was mediocre. They didn't have the option for shelling, taking the head off in deveining the shrimp. So I had to do that myself. I don't mind paying extra for that, but they didn't even have the option. How these restaurants are doing the crab boils now is a little crazy on prices. But that is our economy now.

    Daniela V.

    I AM ALWAYS LEFT SATISFIED AFTER LEAVING THIS SPECIFIC BOILING CRAB LOCATION!!! The best service from the host to the servers to the runners. They're pretty fast with the food and the taste and temperature always comes out amazing! I could wait over an hour and know I'm going to have the best food and service here. Only downside is that they don't serve the margaritas like the Westwood or Burbank location but that really doesn't matter to me because the food is what takes the attention. Valet is only during the weekends which is worth it because being in the heart of Ktown it's pretty difficult finding street parking!!

    Michelle X.

    Only got a photo of the aftermath whoops. Even on a Monday, the wait can be long for a larger group. This is a place where you go to throw down. Leave the civilities at the door. Gloves optional, seafood comes in a bag, and the tables are completely covered with plastic sheets. I thought the shrimp and the clams were the best deal here. Crab can be enjoyed in more delicate ways to retain its flavor.

    April C.

    Nostalgia! Haven't been to Boiling Crab in years, but glad I came back. Great service. Quick food. Seasoned and sauced to perfection. Shrimp and fries. Great for groups!

    Cooper K.

    I came here on a Sunday, and the service was fast. The food was fresh and delicious. No matter how many times I come here, I'm never disappointed.

    Ramon M.

    Off the bat the service from every single employee was outstanding super cool staff 10/10 I tipped 2 different waiters/waitress $10 each cause they attended to myself and my sister good. Now to the food I ordered a pound of shrimp, with sausage, and boiled eggs: the whole shebang (mild) and a side of Cajun fries. The food was so bland like it had no flavor and the fries were like over cooked cause they were hard and not even crunchy can't really explain it and I didn't even enjoy or finish it I asked for a to go box cause my stomach was feeling upset after 30 minutes of trying to stomach the food. I paid $72.98 plus the tip but the food wasn't it today sorry. It's pretty loud in there but really clean and it was busy so show up early! My sister didn't wanna complain so she forced the food down and apologized to me cause it was her idea and I said it's ok maybe next time we might try it. Honestly it wasn't worth $72.98 it was pretty mid and flavorless I was expecting everything to be good but it wasn't. Your customer service is amazing keep that up but the food needs work I asked for a receipt and was never given one and called to speak to management but I couldn't get through

    Steamed Rice
    Emily L.

    The only location that gets the flavor right! I always crave their shrimp with rice -- it's my go-to! We always order the same: shrimp with mixed sauce, potatoes, rice, sausage, and corn. Try making a rice ball, dipping it in the sauce, and topping it with shrimp -- best flavor ever! The only "problem" is you'll want more rice because it's so good. Their servers are always super friendly too!

    Cajun Fries Fried Catfish Basket Shrimp
    Hannah S.

    Great gumbo! Big enough to be a full meal-- especially w a side of fries. ;) If you order Gumbo with rice they just give a tiny scoop inside, so if you want a more hardy meal maybe order a full side of rice. I don't eat too much seafood, so I passed on the boil (my friends enjoyed it a lot!), but they have other menu options like chicken tenders, fried shrimp, and gumbo, for those like me. Great upbeat ambiance and super quick service! The bags came out in a heartbeat.

    Pedro M.

    Had a great time at The Boiling Crab. The seafood was fresh, the seasoning was really good, and the service was friendly. Definitely coming back!

    Mussel
    Leonard K.

    Yay one of my best friends who moved to Texas finally came back to LA for just one day to visit and while we were gonna go out to Eastwood after dining here, they had to move on to going to Vegas. But in the interim, we still gotta enjoy a meal we were all highly anticipating, Boiling Crab! We went with mild the whole shebang, which is one of the best sauces they have here for the seafood that they put in their bags. The mussels we got were full of flavor and boiled to the perfect temperature. While the shrimp were hard to peel and did end up poking my friend's finger, they were big and full of flavor as well. A lot of the sauce just sticks into that head area and it's really good to get that flavor there. Then the snow crab, which was my first time ordering it, tasted really similar to their king crab. Could hardly tell a difference, but it's definitely not the same amount of meat. One downside I would say is that if you do want king crab, with the prices nowadays, that's definitely going to cost over $100 for an order... My ex wife and I used to get king crab at boiling crab, along with other things, for under $100... Now that's not even possible anymore, which kinda sucks. The sausage we got which isn't pictured was good and full of flavor. What I liked a lot was the corn. The corn just has the right amount of steam to it that each bite bursts with flavor and when mixed with the seasoning, that taste is just so memorable. The potatoes were good too. I don't know why, but whenever I come here, I always want the fried catfish too. I think when it comes to fried fish, boiling crab does it right too. Our server was so kind and attentive and made sure we got everything we needed. The wait was only 10 minutes and the ambiance here is always fun with how many people are just honed in to their exciting meals and just going at it. I'm happy I came and look forward to coming again. Jennycat also enjoyed wearing the bib when I got home! Meow.

    Cutie bibs
    Chloe T.

    Awesome food and service. The host was very fun and good at his job. His name started with a C I think... very funny guy. Our waitress was very nice and patient with us. We ordered medium spice and our mouths were on FIRE so be careful lol. Everything was still super delicious and you can't beat the price. The area is a little odd to navigate. A lot of cars are just stopped in the middle of the road. There's underground parking that can be validated, it costed us $5 to park. The restaurant itself was on the smaller side, but still made for a great dining experience. I can imagine it gets busy on weekends

    Shrimp, Potatoes, Corn On The Cob
    Cameron K.

    As a seafood boil lover, this experience disappointed me. Got 1.5 pounds of head on shrimp, 1 pound of frozen crawfish (they did not have live ones), and 1 pound of snow crab legs. This was after waiting for 1 hour to get a seat. The flavor of the Shebang sauce was amazing and truly made the meal, but the seafood was heavily underwhelming. The shrimp was very hard to peel - likely because it was slightly overcooked. The crawfish was good but I could tell it was frozen; unfortunately I could not get the live ones. The snow crab legs were probably the worst - for some reason they were VERY salty, so much so that I couldn't even finish them. As a whole, the meal was still good, but definitely not worth the price at all. I highly recommend not getting the snow crab legs. Nevertheless, the service was great and it's a family friendly environment.

    The aftermath... Lemon Pepper Fries whole shabang shrimp w/ extra potatoes. My go to order

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    29 days ago

    The best service ever and the best place to spend the time with your family, also the food is sooo good delicious everything

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    Thank you, Yareth! We hope you’ll come visit us again soon!

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    4 months ago

    Service is really good and so is the food would definitely recommend especially if it's your first time

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    2 months ago

    I loveeeee boiling crab and I love their lemon pepper fries ! Sooooo good and the wait is faster than other locations.

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    2 months ago

    Seafood galore, good service, spicy in the best of ways. I loved it. It was a fun time and great for date night.

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    Page 1 of 70

    The Boiling Crab Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Boiling Crab

    If I have a large party like a party of 15 can we dine in it's to celebrate my 21st birthday in January?

    It is no problem to accommodate a party of 15. We ask that your party please be complete before being seated.

    How's parking there?

    Valet parking only. With validation $5

    Are they asking for proof of vaccination?

    No they aren't was there on Sunday!

    Is there sit down available now?

    Yes!!

    Is there parking?

    Yes, they have a parking lot downstairs that they validate. $5 or street parking which is metered

    Is lobster by the lb or whole and charged per lb?

    Lobsters are whole and typically weigh 1.5-2 lb. each. Please ask your server how large that day's catch is running.

    What app can I use to order for delivery?

    Postmates/Ubereats

    Is dine in available?

    Yes, they are open for both dine-in and takeout.

    Can we make reservations?

    We do not take reservations, seating is first come.

    Is it still takeout only?

    Yes, this location is still takeout only.

    Is this location better than Burbank's boiling crab?

    Is your dine in available?

    TBC on Wilshire is still takeout only.

    Can you dine in now or is it still take out Only?

    This location is still takeout only, though all other TBCs offer dine-in with limited seating.

    Are they doing take out only still (4/20/21)?

    Yes, this location is still currently takeout only.

    Are they doing dine-in?

    Not yet! This location is currently still takeout only.

    Do they accept cash?

    Yes

    Are they open for take out?

    Yes they are!

    Will you be opening up for dine in soon?

    No it does not look like they will be anytime this month they have turned the dining area into a socially distanced order to go area. And the To-Go is only giving out phone orders.

    Is it open for dine in yet?

    Not yet, still takeout only at the time.

    Are they open for dine in?

    They weren't open yet when I picked up last week. Separate bldg next to it for Take-Out.

    View All 49 Questions

    Alaska Seafood

    Alaska Seafood

    4.3
    (234 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    Alaska seafood is located in LA and it is one of our favorites when we are craving seafood! We used…read moreto go to the location in San Pedro before it closed for construction and then we ended up finding this location which is much closer! Parking can be a bit tough at times because it's always packed! The restaurant has a lot of seating as well as a patio outside! They have a pretty decent size menu and a lot to choose from! When you walk in you wait in line and if you're ordering fish, you can pick out which one you want. After they write up your order, you pay and then they will call your number when it's ready! We normally order the tilapia fish, Camarones enchipotlados, the shrimp tempura plate, garlic bread and steamed rice. There hasn't been one time where I left hungry! They give you good portions and everything is so tasty. The fish is cooked to perfection, the shrimp and the chipotle sauce is to die for and the tempura shrimp are so yummy! Overall, this is a place where you could come over and over again and never get tired of it! If you're looking for great seafood in the LA area, definitely checkout Alaska Seafood, they will not disappoint!

    I purchased a their, King salmon. Very disappointed with the quality and customer service…read more The fish was "vacuum packed" with leaky packages and bubbled packaging. Customer service was nonexistent and they wrote nasty things about my dispute. I'm sure that they have good fish, but they didn't send it to me. I spent my early life as a seafood harvester and have the best king salmon from the Alaskan Waters so I have a good idea of quality. Their product did not measure up.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Alaska Seafood
    Menu

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    Menu
    Crab House

    Crab House

    4.1
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$$

    actually such a good raw marinated crab spot!! I saw they were having the borahae special which…read moreserves 2 and it such a good deal imo! I had to run over asap and luckily it was still going on! we arrived close to opening time ~11:50am and since theres a parking lot w valet only ($3), we didn't have to worry about parking. im sure you can find street parking around but there was nothing in the immediate area and we were too hungry to search the ladies working there are sooo cute and kind! they checked to make sure we were enjoying the food and let us know how to eat a certain dish when we said it was our first time. it wasn't too crowded when we got there, but more people started trickling in as we ate/ left. we chose combo A from the special which includes korean crab, spicy crab, sea urchin (m), and soft tofu stew. this was definitely enough for 2 of us but they even gave us another sea urchin bowl on the house (too sweet)! everything tasted sooo fresh and although we first were hesitant about eating raw crab, once we took our first bite, we knew we could trust this spot!! the marinades they used were so flavorful (the spicy is really spicy!!) and I lovedddd how buttery and rich the uni was! the soft tofu stew was so good and comforting - we had to take it to go though bc we were so full after eating everything else. and the sides!! omg super delicious and well prepared. idk what they put in the japchae but it was delicious and unlike any other I've had before! highly recommend this place and I cannot wait to go back!!

    Was curious about Crab house and the marinated crabs . I had some in Korea and wanted to see if any…read moredifferences. I stopped by on a Saturday early lunch. Parking was only validation $3 bucks or if you get lucky and find street parking. Service was quick and great. We got seated quickly and water was brought out. Ordered soy marinated crab, spicy crab, crab in a bowl ( don't get, get the regular so you can squeeze the meats out of the crabs). Got LA Galbi and soy bean soup, wasn't good or bad. Definitely stick to the crabs! Banchan and fish head stew was good. They offer combos as well.

    Photos
    Raw Seafood Marinated in Soy Sauce
    Raw Seafood Marinated in Soy Sauce
    NEW MENU ITEM‼ Introducing our SPICY CRAB RICE BOWL! Come enjoy now
    NEW MENU ITEM‼ Introducing our SPICY CRAB RICE BOWL! Come enjoy now
    Yummy yummy!!!! Raw Marinated Spicy CRAB^^ So so sweet

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    Yummy yummy!!!! Raw Marinated Spicy CRAB^^ So so sweet
    The Lonely Oyster

    The Lonely Oyster

    4.0
    (422 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$$

    I've been wanting to try this place for ages, so I finally stopped in for lunch this week. I had my…read moredog with me, so we sat outside. It was perfectly pleasant, though be warned: foot traffic passes just a few feet away. I kicked things off with a martini, which was excellent--surprisingly generous by today's standards and a real deal at $12. For starters, I had the Caesar salad. Think tuxedo at a pool party: definitely overdressed. But it was delicious, and I'd order it again--just with light dressing. The fish sandwich was fine, nothing more. I couldn't help thinking McDonald's might edge them out on the Filet-O-Fish (though it's been decades, so who knows). It wasn't bad; I'd just try something different next time.

    Came here for a group birthday dinner and it was pretty quiet on a weekday night (same night the…read moreDodgers won the series). Everything we tried I enjoyed for the most part. Parking is brutal in the area so expect to be circling around for a bit. They have a late happy hour which are half off oysters which is nice! We tried a set of raw oysters - rockefeller, small but might in flavor and meatiness. Shucking was done well too. Grilled octopus - pricey for the amount you get, but cooked well. Accompaniments like potatoes were OK, but could have more mushroom. Shell pasta - the pasta was homemade cause it tasted so light. I think the sauce was a little too light for me as well, but overall still a solid dish. Cioppino - Also a little lighter in flavor and I think just smaller in size in comparison to price. Seafood is fresh though, and that's clear in every dish here. Lonely Louie - the star of the night. I loved how fresh and bright this was. Everything mixed so well together and would definitely be getting this again. Atlantic Pie - their version of a key lime pie and was a tangy, nice finisher to the meal.

    Photos
    Feeling lonely?
    Feeling lonely?
    Shrimp arancini
    Shrimp arancini
    Salmon crudo

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    Salmon crudo
    Found Oyster

    Found Oyster

    4.4
    (552 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    We had such a delicious meal here!! We made rezzies in advance for lunch and they seated us within…read moreabout five minutes of us arriving. We sat at the high top tables along the side of the wall across from the bar. Really cool and casual interior, doesn't feel pretentious whatsoever. Warm and friendly staff. I was worried when looking at their menu online that they only had wine since I was craving a cocktail, but alas they do have cocktails! They have martinis or margaritas. I went with a martini and they ask how you like it so I got mine with gin, an olive and a twist. It was made perfectly and it was so good! We ordered 8 oysters from the specials menu (they have it written inside on chalkboard), the plate of frites, smoked trout dip, and a tuna aguachile dish they had on their specials menu. It was a small table but we got everything to fit because they smartly have a holder to lift the tray above the table which helps. Everything looked beautiful when it came out! The oysters were great, salty but not overly briney. The smoked trout dip with the roe on top was delicious, the buttery ritz crackers pair with it so nicely. I would get that again for sure. The aguachile was good as well, it had quite the kick to it too. And honestly fries are fries, yes, but these fries were maybe some of the best ones I've ever had. Perfectly fried to a crisp and salty. I'll dream of those fries. And such a perfect portion of them for sharing with a friend. I loved our time here!

    Found Oyster has become one of my favorite seafood restaurants in Los Angeles, I first took my wife…read morehere for her birthday a couple years ago and now we just keep going back. The menu changes enough to keep every visit interesting, especially the changing oyster selection. This time we had the Lil Namskaket oysters, which were clean, briny, and slightly sweet. Since we shared just about everything in our group of 4 this time, I got to try a wide variety of dishes. The Jonah crab cocktail was a highlight and ended up being my favorite shared plate. The tuna aguachile was bright and refreshing, the Sicilian crudo let the quality of the fish shine, the smoked trout dip (a repeat because it's so good) was creamy and smoky and was paired with crackers, and the scallop tostada was fresh and beautifully balanced. The two dishes that keep bringing me back, though, are the chowdaaa and the lobster bisque roll. As someone who grew up in New England, I'm pretty picky about my lobster rolls, and this one absolutely holds its own here on the West Coast. The clam chowder is another must-order. I don't care if it's the middle of summer during a heatwave--if it's delicious, it's delicious. The fried cod sandwich was satisfying and straightforward, and even the frites were addictive enough that I kept reaching for more. We skipped dessert this time because we were stuffed, but I've had the key-lime pie before and highly recommend saving room for it if you can do it. What I appreciate most about Found Oyster is its consistency. Every single time, the food has been outstanding, the service has always been friendly, and it's a place I genuinely look forward to returning to. If you're a seafood fan, this one absolutely deserves a visit. Street parking can be tough so plan accordingly. They do walk-ins but I'd recommend making a reservation, especially if more than 2 of you are going. Inside seating and bar seating are available but for larger groups, they'll seat you out on the patio.

    Photos
    Another night, another adventure w/ my love
    Another night, another adventure w/ my love
    Clam Chowder
    Clam Chowder
    Dips and shrimp

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    Dips and shrimp
    Simón

    Simón

    4.6
    (87 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    tl;dr don't let the tacos distract you from this Oaxacan food truck's main attraction: the…read moresignature Aguachile Negro is as addictive as it is fresh Simon is a royal blue Silver Lake food truck posted up in front of Pine & Crane's extended patio. Cousins Francisco Aguilar and Alexis Chacon relocated from Oaxaca to open this mobile mariscos operation. But Simon's seafood-forward menu is innovative and sophisticated, seemingly more at home in a sit-downery than a mobile food cart. Unsurprisingly, Simon has been lauded by news outlets and food critics abound. I've been dying to try Simon, but the limited and often unpredictable hours have kept me from it for months. My partner and I visited for a late weekend lunch and ordered immediately. We opted for 2 tacos (the Soft Shelled Crab and the Baja-style Fish) and a Large Aguachile Negro, and our made-to-order meal was prepared within a few minutes. Between the tacos, the crab was a clear winner. The crispy, whole crab was well-complemented by the fresh pineapple salsa and the rich chipotle crema. In stark contrast, the Baja-style fried fish was one-dimensional in flavor and ran on the soggy side, owing to the watery pickled cabbage slaw. But not even the crab taco could compete with the stellar aguachile. We couldn't get enough of the marinade's rich blend of acidity and smokiness, which overshadowed even the generous helping of fresh shrimp. Simon's complimentary salsa lineup also exceeded expectations. We most enjoyed the earthy salsa macha and the smooth, creamy salsa verde, but the tangy salsa Simon -- the truck's take on taco sauce -- was no slouch, either. Our bill totaled just over $30, and the meal felt reasonably priced and appropriately filling. While the tacos didn't knock my socks off, the aguachile certainly did -- I can't wait to return to try some of Simon's other varieties.

    I tried a few tacos and the ceviche. All of it was pretty solid but nothing really blew me away…read more Mostly, I don't think that the food truck model works for knife and fork seafood. At least not for me. If this was a sit down spot I think I would have enjoyed it much more, but trying to eat seafood with a plastic fork on the side of the road just doesn't do it for me.

    Photos
    Simon Bomb AF Seafood
    Simon Bomb AF Seafood
    Pescadilla
    Pescadilla
    Shrimp and bacon taco

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    Shrimp and bacon taco
    Water Grill - Los Angeles

    Water Grill - Los Angeles

    4.2
    (3k reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$$

    We visit Water Grill DTLA frequently and always leave completely satisfied. The service is…read moreextraordinary. They have the VERY BEST Oysters Rockerfeller in Los Angeles and the oysters and clams on the half shell are always fresh and tasty. The King Salmon Roll is exceptional and the cookie and ice cream desert amazing. If you are lucky enough to be seated where Chris is your server, you will feel like both family and royalty. We eat out at least once a week and, of all the fine restaurants we visit, Chris is possibly the best server in the Los Angeles area.

    We had dinner at Water Grill Santa Monica (Ocean Ave) on April 19, and overall it was an easy 5/5…read moreexperience. We started with the oyster sampler featuring selections from Hollywood, MD; Pope's Bay, VA; Buzzards Bay, MA; Chesapeake Bay, VA; and Wellfleet, MA. The oysters were exceptionally fresh and served with great accompaniments. We always order oysters when visiting seafood restaurants because freshness is so important to us, and Water Grill absolutely delivered. A must-order. The grilled Spanish octopus, served with fingerling potatoes, Niçoise olives, roasted tomato, pine nuts, and olive oil, was very good (3.5/5). We're fairly picky when it comes to octopus, and while we would have liked a bit more char, it was still among the better versions we've had. The New Zealand king salmon sushi with avocado, hazelnuts, papaya, and white soy-lime vinaigrette was fresh, clean, and delicious (5/5). While not particularly unique, it was executed perfectly. The crispy calamari with harissa aioli and cilantro-mint sweet chili sauce was also well done (4/5)--crispy, not oily, and very enjoyable. Calamari is another dish we frequently order, and this version met our standards, even if it wasn't especially memorable. The standout among the appetizers was the New Zealand pink bream ceviche with cilantro, red peppers, onions, lemon juice, and olive oil. The presentation was beautiful, and the flavors were incredibly fresh (5/5). We only added a touch of salt. This is another must-order dish. The Peruvian bay scallops with pistachio citrus pesto were somewhat underwhelming (3/5), and the Brussels sprouts with bacon and chestnuts (3/5) didn't leave much of an impression either. The lobster itself was excellent (5/5)--sweet, fresh, and perfectly prepared. The accompanying coleslaw wasn't our favorite, but we'd happily order the lobster again and probably go for a larger portion next time. The absolute star of the evening was the Massachusetts black sea bass. It was easily one of the best dishes of the night and possibly one of the best fish dishes we've ever had at a restaurant (5/5). Tender, juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. To top it all off, the restaurant surprised us with a complimentary birthday dessert featuring chocolate cake, vanilla cake, oatmeal cake, and ice cream. It was thoughtful, delicious, and a wonderful ending to the meal (5/5). Overall, Water Grill earns a well-deserved 5/5. The quality and freshness of the seafood were outstanding, the beachfront ambiance was beautiful, and the service was friendly and attentive throughout the evening. Definitely a must-try seafood destination in Los Angeles. Thank you to the entire team for such a memorable experience--we truly appreciated it.

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    The Boiling Crab - seafood - Updated August 2026

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