If you can never get enough seafood to satisfy your appetite, an all-you-can crab restaurant could be your ticket to food heaven. Whether we're taking tiny seafood shacks or swanky restaurants, you'll find no shortage of places up and down the country serving up belly-busting portions of fresh, sweet crab.
If you're lucky, you might even get to tuck into some other favorites like shrimp, lobster, and clams while you're there. Here's our pick of the 20 best restaurants for all-you-can-eat crabs in the US.
20. George Inlet Lodge, Ketchikan, Alaska
If George Inlet Lodge has one downside, it's the location. Or rather, the accessibility of that location. Set on an isolated inlet in the equally remote city of Ketchikan, getting here requires some serious effort and the help of a tour operator.
Is it worth it? Judging from the number of customers raving about the freshness and quality of the Dungeness crab, it definitely seems that way.
Make sure to leave just enough room to tuck into a slice of the legendary cheesecake with blueberry topping for dessert.
19. Popei's Clam Bar, Bethpage, NY
If you're craving some of the best seafood on Long Island, don't miss a trip to Popei's Clam Bar in Bethpage. The family-owned restaurant offers nightly all-you-can-eat specials, including snow crab, shrimp, fried clams, and calamari.
Each comes with your choice of side - choose between salad, linguine, fries, or a baked potato. There's also an excellent selection of other menu options to consider, including numerous lobster dishes and a clam chowder that's worth traveling miles for.
18. Charlie Horse Restaurant, Ormond Beach, Florida
Regardless of what day you visit the family-owned Charlie Horse Restaurant, you can always guarantee that all-you-can-eat snow crab will be on the menu.
There's plenty of other options available too, including Peel & Eat Steamed Shrimp, Loaded Nachos, Coconut Shrimp, and Fiery Jalapeño Bottle Caps. Portions are always generous and the prices are more than reasonable.
There's also a great selection of wine, beers, and co*cktails to wash it all down with, including an awesome Green Wave (Absolut Citron, Melon Schnapps, Blue Curacao, Pineapple, sour mix) that draws rave reviews.
17. Kathy's Crab House, Delaware City, DE
As Only In Your State says, Kathy's Crab House is a longstanding Delaware City icon. Bring your appetite along and prepare to feast on belly-busting portions of Delaware fried chicken, corn on the cob, and the biggest, sweetest blue claw crabs you'll find in the state.
While you're there, be sure to try some of the crab cakes - customers say they're among the best they've ever eaten.
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16. Whitlow's on Wilson, Arlington, VA
If you're ready to fill your belly with some seriously good eats, take the advice of Eater and head for Whitlow's on Wilson. Each Thursday, it offers an all-you-can-eat snow crab special that's guaranteed to please even the biggest appetite.
If you prefer a little more variety, try the weekend brunch buffet, which offers unlimited snow crab legs, an omelet station, fried chicken, sausage gravy, corned beef hash, popcorn shrimp, and more besides.
15. The Crab Bag, Ocean City, MD
If you were asked to picture the perfect Maryland crab shack, there's a good chance you'd come up with something a lot like The Crab Bag in Ocean City. Causal, friendly, and with a big deck to sit out on and catch the sea breeze, it's the ideal place to enjoy some of Maryland's most famous sea treats.
If you arrive hungry, you definitely won't be leaving that way - with several all you can eat options on the menu (steamed craps; steamed crabs and fried chicken; or steamed crabs, baby back ribs, steamed spiced shrimp, and fried chicken), each of which is served with generous sides of fries, coleslaw, and corn, it's the kind of place that will defeat even the biggest appetite.
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14. Deer Valley Seafood Buffet, Park City, UT
Deer Valley Seafood Buffet is a foodies dream. There's an entire poke bar to help yourself from, along with unlimited quantities of seared ahi, smoked Scottish salmon, king crab, Dungeness crab, crab legs, boiled shrimp, white fish ceviche, oysters, and, for the non-seafood lovers, hand-carved prime rib using local ranch beef and free-range duck breast, lamb chop "lollipops," and baby back ribs.
There's also a lovely selection of beautifully presented salads, along with a large display of craft cheeses from award-winning labels like California's Humbolt Fog goat cheese.
Be sure to take the advice of USA Today and save room for desserts like the banana split cake, peanut butter chocolate cake, and the "Snowball," a flourless chocolate torte completely enveloped in a mound of whipped cream.
13. Clemente's Crab House, Brooklyn, NY
Located just off the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn, Clemente's Crab House offers marina views, a tiki bar, friendly service, a lively atmosphere, and some of the best seafood in the Big Apple.
Visit every Monday and Tuesday to enjoy unlimited quantities of stupendously fresh, incredibly tasty crab. You'll get butter to dip it in, but don't bother - crab this tasty doesn't need any accompaniment. According to Eater, the crab cakes, crab chowder, and raw oyster and clam services are also worth trying.
12. Crabby Mike's, Surfside Beach, SC
If you like quiet, restrained places where the men wear jackets and the women wear pearls, stay well away from Crabby Mike's. As cheapism.com says, this is a restaurant that's big and brash and usually crowded with hungry tourists.
But it's also got a reputation as one of the best places on the South Carolina coast to tuck into a gut-busting all-you-can-eat buffet.
Expect as many sweet, juicy snow crab legs as you can hoover up, along with a fabulous selection of seafood favorites like clams, mussels, shrimp and grits, fried scallops, baked salmon, oysters, crab cakes mahi-mahi, fried and broiled shrimp, and a whole lot more besides. On any given day, you might also find a DJ, karaoke and hula hoops to keep you entertained between mouthfuls.
11. Berry's Seafood and Catfish House, Florence, MS
Visit Berry's Seafood and Catfish House on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings to gorge on an all you can eat buffet of crab, fried oysters, stuffed crab, boiled and fried shrimp, seafood pasta, and Southern comfort dishes like macaroni and cheese, turnip greens, and cornbread. Kids, first responders, and seniors all get a discount, but even the full price is affordable enough. On top of the great food, expect efficient, exceptionally friendly service and a lively, upbeat atmosphere.
10. Old Mill Crab House, Delmar, DE
Old Mill Crab House has been a Delaware institution since the 1980s, attracting generations of seafood lovers with its fresh-as-can-be seafood.
There are four all-you-can-eat specials to choose between every day: steamed shrimp, snow crab, fried chicken, or blue crab. If that wasn't enough, each is served with a generous selection of tasty sides like fried shrimp, clam strips, hush puppies and corn on the cob.
If you're not in the mood for seafood, there's plenty of other options on the menu. Rounding out the list of attractions is a friendly, lively atmosphere and incredibly efficient wait service.
9. Billy's Stone Crab, Hollywood, FL
Finding an upscale all-you-can-eat crab shack can be a challenge... but not impossible. If you're looking to enjoy white tablecloth dining and as many crabs as you can shovel down your throat, head on over to Billy's Stone Crab in Hollywood, Florida.
Regardless of the day, you'll be invited to tuck into unlimited stone crabs, stone crab claws, or Alaskan king crab while enjoying a very swanky dining experience. It's not the cheapest place around, but the freshness of the produce and the excellent service make it worth the blowout.
8. Waterman’s Crab House, Rock Hall, MD
If you want a side order of romance to go with your crabs, don't miss Waterman’s Crab House. With its picture-perfect oceanfront location, this is a restaurant that does sunset views and soothing sea breezes almost as well as it does sweet, tasty seafood.
The all-you-can-eat buffet comes with a two-hour time limit, but unless you've got a particularly insatiable appetite, that's usually more than enough time to eat your fill of crabs, Maryland crab soup, corn, and coleslaw. Grab a seat on the west-facing dock and get ready to tuck in.
7. Fenwick Crab House, Fenwick Island, DE
The Fenwick Crab House has been dishing up steaming bushels of crab for so long (50 years to be exact), it's become a Fenwick Island institution.
The all-you-can-eat steamed crabs are always wonderfully fresh and sweet, full of flavourful meat and easy to crack open. For anyone in your party who's not a fan of crab (although a few of the restaurant's awesome crab cakes might convert them), there's plenty of other things to enjoy on the menu, including fresh fish, Angus steaks, veal, chicken, BBQ ribs, salads and more besides.
If you like to wash your food down with a beer, the restaurant has 10 excellent microbrews on tap. It also does a very fine martini for those who prefer a co*cktail to a pint.
6. Harris Crab House, Grasonville, MD
Recommended by Eater as one of the best places for Maryland blue crabs in the US, Harris Crab House is a must-visit for anyone in traveling distance of Grasonville. Founded in 1981 by Jerry Harris, his sister, Karen Oertel, and their spouses, the restaurant has been keeping generations of customers happy with its all-you-can-eat steamed crab special for years. Grab a seat on the outdoor pavilion to enjoy some live music and loverly waterfront views as you tuck in.
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5. Pier 2934, Washington DC
Come to Pier 2934 on a Tuesday, and for just $40, you can plow your way throw as much snow crab, crispy calamari, New England clam chowder, corn on the cob, and curly fries as your belly can handle.
Everything from the food and service to the friendly atmosphere and immaculate facilities is exceptional, guaranteeing an exceptional dining experience you're unlikely to forget in a hurry.
4. Captain George's, Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach isn't short on seafood restaurants, but judging by the crowds of customers queuing out the door for a seat each evening, you'll struggle to find one quite as good as Captain George's.
The standout attraction is the all-you-can-eat buffet of seafood favorites like snow crabs, crab legs, oysters, clams, and fried scallops. The trays are kept constantly loaded, so no matter how many times you go back and forth, you don't have to worry about running out of your favorite.
3. King Crab House, Chicago, IL
King Crab House is a Windy City legend, a seafood stable that attracts generation after generation of loyal customers with its lively, causal setting, friendly service, and, of course, superb seafood.
If you're ready to stuff your belly with some of the finest crabs in Chicago, book a table for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to enjoy an all-you-can-eat extravaganza of fresh, sweet crab meat.
Other menu options worth a try include the New England Clam Chowder, the Oyster Rockefeller, and the Maryland-style Crabcakes. Be sure to wash it all down with a mai tai - according to customers, they're the best around.
2. Surf Shack Coastal Kitchen, Tampa, FL
With laid-back vibes, friendly service, and cool, surfer-style decor, the Surf Shack Coastal Kitchen in Tampa is the ideal family-friendly destination.
The menu of casual seafood is always delicious, but if you're up for a belly buster of epic proportions, visit on a Saturday to enjoy an all-you-can-eat crab special.
1. Salty's, Seattle, WA
You can visit Salty's any day of the week for seafood, but if you want to stuff your belly with as much crab as it can take, hold fire for the Saturday or Sunday brunch.
Along with epic quantities of fresh Dungeness crab and chilled Alaskan snow crab legs, you'll also have your pick of clam chowder, oysters on the half shell, peel-and-eat shrimp, clams, and mussels, all of which can be enjoyed as you check out the stunning harbor views from the terrace.
You can also read:
- The 20 Best Seafood Restaurants in Massachusetts
- The 20 Best Seafood Restaurants in NYC
- The 20 Best Seafood Restaurants in Baltimore
