The most special birthday celebration anyone could ask for. The food... AMAZING! The beer towers... PLENTIFUL! The service .... OUT OF THIS WORLD!! Seriously yelpers, Delilah and Audrey made us feel so special and cared for. They were incredibly attentive and took time to get to know us and our birthday girl. read more

We stopped into The Drunken Crab after seeing their sidewalk sign advertising $1 oysters. We thought it would be a great place to enjoy a round of cocktails and some oysters. Unfortunately, we left wishing we'd chosen somewhere else. The biggest disappointment was the oyster pricing. Apparently, the $1 special only applied to the first dozen. After that, we were charged $5.99 per oyster, despite the menu also listing oysters at $3 and elsewhere at market price. The inconsistent pricing was frustrating, especially given what was advertised outside. The margaritas were another letdown. Rather than traditional tequila, they were made with sake and tequila flavoring. I'm assuming the restaurant only has a beer and wine license, but that wasn't what we expected when ordering margaritas. Overall, the experience was pretty marginal. We weren't expecting anything extravagant, just some reasonably priced oysters and good cocktails. Unfortunately, neither lived up to expectations. Two stars. With so many other dining options nearby, we wouldn't return. read more

The Drunken Crab - Restaurant sign - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Can't say enough good things about this place. My husband and I love to go to the boiling crab to eat this but we drive an hour from home to eat that. Now we can go half way and to Santa Barbara for the same food but definitely more pricy. We had our usual shrimp and also tried the mussels which were good. The corn was good as well. We made one of them New Orleans style which Comes with sausage, corn and potato but we switched to no sausage We really enjoyed it and will definitely return! read more

The Drunken Crab - Menu 05/2026 - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Came to the Drunken Crab in search of a seafood boil and boy did they deliver. Great prices for such high quality seafood, I got the king crab legs and the head on shrimp (Louisiana Style of course). My kiddos got the chicken tenders and they were absolutely delicious, especially with the Cajun fries. The service was great, food came quick, seems like a fun environment. Might just be the best michelada in town, i haven't stopped thinking about it since. Highly recommend this spot. Will be returning! read more

The Drunken Crab - Menu - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The Drunken Special sauce is a nice change from other seafood boils, but the seafood was disappointing. I ordered shrimp, clams, and Cajun fries. Most of the shrimp were cooked well, though some were overcooked. I was disappointed that the shrimp, clams, and mussels are flash-frozen rather than fresh, especially given the restaurant's proximity to the ocean. The sauce is good, but overall, I expected more from the seafood. read more

The Drunken Crab - Clams, Cajun Fries, Jumbo Shrimp - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The food was fantastic my and server gave me great tips for what to eat and drink. I felt that the atmosphere had great vibes and music! Will definitely be coming back. read more

The Drunken Crab - Menu + draft beer! - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

It was our first time trying this place with my fam. We were looking for a seafood place that has cajun, creole taste and this place didn't disappoint us. We ordered 2 lbs of shrimp - I think it's $25+/lb and 1 lb crawfish (can't recall how much maybe its $17+ /lb), 5 steamed rice, 1 large extra sauce (drunken crab mix - can't recall exact name) . Everything was really good - we did medium spice and it was spicy especially for my 12 yr old son but he still enjoyed it though. The service was good, but could've been better - staff are always by the bar are and just chatting, but someone will come check on us from time to time - its just that when we need their attention sometimes its hard because they had their back away from us and we ate at around 2:30ish so the restaurant was pretty empty - just 2-3 tables taken inside. The place is big, lots of seating and great for big groups. However, one of my disappoinment here is the ladies bathroom - its really dirty, trash overflowing and on the floor, etc, like its really dirty. I hope management can fix that issue with the staff. P.S I forgot to take photos because my kids were very hungry and didnt let me take pics...next time! read more

I got the fish and chips and it was very good. The quantity was great, 4 fish sticks. I did order a side of sausage which was not as good to me. The sauce was very tomatoey compared to boiling crab which is more buttery, Cajun, and garlicky. Service was great, pretty nice guy. read more

The Drunken Crab - Fish and chips + Jumbo Shrimp - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Came here while vacationing with the Mrs. Ordered a seafood boil with crabs, mussels and shrimp. Food came out hot. I enjoyed a cider while I was there. I don't think that they have any hard liquor. My server had a great personality. I enjoyed my boil, although I wish the sauce was a little bit thicker like in used to. However, the flavor and mild spice level was good. My wife ate her share the next day and liked it. She also enjoyed the spice level. read more

The Drunken Crab - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Food is good. The service was not the best for a place that charges an automatic 15% tip. Friendly greeting but after that they were very disengaged. Instead all the workers were talking amongst each other. Not once did they stop to see how the table was doing until we asked for the bill. The automatic 15% tip was bs for the service provided. read more

I went to the one in Santa Barbara and it was delicious . I'm going to have to check out this location soon.

This was my first time at this location and one thing I can say is the food is really good but be prepared to wait/call them over to get helped after you get your food. They were nice and all but after we got sat and our food came out they didn't come up to us and were just at the bar talking to their friends. We had to walk up to the bar to receive our check after waiting for 15 min after finishing our food. We may have just caught them at a bad time. The food was amazing though. Edit: The owner was very helpful in this experience. We would go back when back in SB just because of his care for the business. The experience was a bit frustrating but I believe it may not always be like that. Still visit if you have the chance. read more

Great customer service. The fresh fish and chips were amazing. It was enough for two. We got dollar oysters for happy hour, so arrive early and you will definitely get amazing service. Miles was a delight, very attentive. Everything we asked for he did in a very kind and friendly manner, but most importantly, very fast. read more

The Drunken Crab - Fish and chips - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Fish and shrimp had too much breading. Fries were hot. Service was pleasant. The ambience was a bit shabby.

Food was amazing. Make sure to order the bread ! ELLIOTT was attentive and fast with her service. read more

Great Food, Terrible Service The food was flavorful and interesting, but the service was awful. The teenage staff seemed disinterested, slow, and more focused on chatting and judging customers than doing their jobs. We had to repeatedly ask for water, food, and the bill. To top it off, we overheard servers mocking other diners, and we received judgmental looks for sharing a single plate. Location is great, atmosphere is regular, nothing special. it is the main street in Santa Barbara. I'd love to enjoy the food again, but not at this location. The staff ruined the experience. read more

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Mac was a great server! Been a handful of times and it was a pleasure to have him apart of our experience. Seafood boil was fantastic. Vibes are high and music is great. Will be back. read more

Came in this Friday for my cousins graduation dinner and it was so much fun! We waited about 40 mins for our tables but it was well worth the wait for our party of 9. This is her favorite spot in town for seafood. We come ourselves often but it was the first time with all our immediate family present. We all loved our food and were all able to get micheladas to us so quickly even though they were so packed. We love the team here and missed our usual server as he was graduating as well! I think most of the staff are ucsb students. Congrats Mac! Thanks guys for creating a memorable night for such a special event! read more

I went here for my partners birthday. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I was not let down. We got two pounds of shrimp and one pound of crab legs. Rice and fries also a must! The workers were very nice and I liked how they sprayed down the booths before bringing in a new party. Would recommend if I was in SB and craving seafood boil. They do have a 15% service fee and a charge for eating at the restaurant. I understand they have to do this since cleaning up can be tough... so not a problem there (especially for dinner). But just to keep in mind! read more

The Drunken Crab - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I love seafood boil. I saw this place in Downtown Santa Barbara and decided to give it a try. It's right at the entrance so you don't get all the ambience that's right at the heart. I still tried it. Service was a 10 all staff was so friendly and attentive to your needs. It wasn't crowded just very chill. The seafood boil could have had more sason (flavor) to it. It was pretty bland compared to many other places I have tried. However the fried shrimp and fries were perfect! read more

The Drunken Crab - Fried Shrimp and Cajun Fries - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The vibes here definitely added to the experience for me our server was lots of fun! The prices posted online didn't match the in restaurant prices but that's ok. The food was delicious can't go wrong with shrimp akd crab in some delicious spicy garlic butter. read more

What an amazing spot to eat!! The food was delicious and the service was top tier!! Emilio thank you for goin above and beyond for us and truly caring about ur customers. I do appreciate you. Glad we were able to get a laugh together. read more

The Drunken Crab - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We came here with our bachelorette group and it did not disappoint!!! The service was amazing, our server was very kind, and quick, the food was phenomenal, and the beer tower was the cherry on top! I would recommend this place to anyone. They even had some great options that were not seafood and the kids menu was a great too! 10/10 RECOMMEND read more

The Drunken Crab - Beer tower - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We came here on a bachelorette trip and had the BEST time! The staff surprised us with a free beer tower which was such a fun and thoughtful touch. We all got the crab bags and everything was so flavorful, fresh, and messy in the best way. The corn chowder was seriously amazing too!! definitely a must order. Great food, great service, and such a fun vibe for a group night out. We'll definitely be back! read more

The Drunken Crab - Beet tower ! - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We came for an early Sunday dinner and it was packed! Luckily, we were seated quickly. Our server was kind and gave us a couple minutes to settle in to look at the menu. When he returned, we were ready to order drinks and food. We both ordered the 1lb shrimp Louisiana style- 2 potatoes, 2 corns and a sausage. I got 2 of the 3 sauces and requested medium spice. If you've never been here, they give you bibs and gloves because of the seafood. In the past, the gloves were these plastic ones that ripped so easily. Now, they have these good quality black gloves! We were so impressed and our hands stayed clean the entire time- no rips! I would've given them 5 stars but they don't inform you that 15% tip is already included... and then they bring you the receipt to sign. So you get ready to tip again, but we like to double check our receipts so we noticed that. I'm used to gratuity being included when you have a part of 6 or more. Besides that, I'd come back. Food was good and vibes excellent. read more

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What in the Samuel is happening with the Drunken Crab! I was a huge fan up until last week! Food was very slow to arrive, and came out burnt! The shrimp and fries! The waitress apologized. Why serve something when you KNOW it's burnt! The shocker was the automatic 15% gratuity, plus the dine in fee! I've eaten here at least 7 times! When did this happen? Just a heads up! read more

The host forgot about us after getting our name and phone number, and he sat three other parties of two before us. After waiting for some time, he asked "wait are you guys in line". After more time had passed and confronted, he said sorry and that he got mixed up. As we sat down, one of the parties mentioned was already done eating and walking out with their leftovers! He did say they were short staffed to another table which we understood but there shouldn't have been any "mix up" with sitting people before us. The food was good though... read more

Staff was super helpful. There was a mistake on my order via DoorDash but Emilio got that fixed in no time. Very professional.

The lobster Louisiana style was amazing! I don't think I've ever tasted such flavor and butteriness in my lobster before. The service was great and we appreciated how family-friendly everyone was. We came with 3 kids who enjoyed the food as much as the grownups did. We were visiting Santa Barbara for the first time and were very happy to have stopped by for a wonderful meal with our family. read more

Best seafood boil and micheladas in town! Staff is super friendly and always on point! Mac, Paul, and Taiga are the best!

Best night ever! Came here for a birthday celebration and had such a great time. Great service, great food, great drinks. Would recommend for any occasion, large group or small group. So fun! read more

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Our experience was not very good; the service was poor, and the food was so-so. The worst part was that we were required to pay an additional 17% on the bill--2% for dining indoors and a 15% gratuity. The tip should be optional, based on the service received, and there should be no extra charge for dining inside; I have never encountered such a fee at other restaurants. read more

The Drunken Crab - Here is the receipt. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Can in to see my favorite servers Mateo only to find out that he moved San Diego for college. The next Ron Burgundy "I'm kind of a big deal...Hello San Diego" or went to see about a girl. We will return, but Mateo will be missed, one attentive server! read more

The Drunken Crab - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Came in on Sunday and were quickly greeted and seated. Food was a 12/10, my expectations were pretty high and they were def exceeded! I would highly recommend this over boiling crab! Will definitely make this a regular stop whenever I'm in sb read more

The Drunken Crab - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I came for my nephews birthday and Sharon and Jordyn gave us a great experience and helped us the entire evening! We will for sure be coming back again thanks to them! read more

Thank you Emilio for the awesome service and conversation! Your team is really hands on and the food is amazing! Will be coming back sooner than later! The entire atmosphere was pleasant and the music was great! read more

Best service I've ever had at this restaurant! Emilio the manager was super hands on helping his wait staff and continued to encourage a safe yet fun environment! The music had me jamming with my seafood boil and the staff had me enjoying my night out. 100% would recommend! read more

Good quality snow crab however sauce way too buttery, almost like popcorn and the market prices are not listed anywhere besides the server informing you when sat down. read more

Celebrating a big graduation today. The greatness started with Mac. Great service and explanation of how to dine at the Drunken Crab. Ambiance was great with music. We were messy eaters but Mac provided tons of wipes, paper towels and checked up on us a lot. read more

We were hanging out Downtown Santa Barbara on a Sunday afternoon during our road trip. My niece wanted oysters and we were going to hit up Broad Street Oysters, but walked by here and saw a sign for $1 oysters. It was a no brainer that we stopped by here for lunch so my niece can enjoy as much oysters as she wanted instead of paying $40 for a dozen next door. The food here was pretty good. We ordered 2 pounds of clams and 1 pound of shrimp Louisiana Style which comes with corn and sausages, soft shell crab, and fish and chips. The clams and shrimp had great spice and flavor and was cooked perfectly. My only complaint was that the fish and chips batter wasn't light and airy as I would expect for the fried fish. Instead it was very bready, with corndog like texture. The fish itself was very moist, flaky and delicious tho. read more