Wowsy wonderful place for seafood! Had a 30+ minute wait-definitely worth it. Small and intimate place and it was buzzing! Food was incredible! Loved seafood hack to try everything. Rose wasn't great, but House Cabernet was great! Definitely recommend! read more

Cracked Crab - Signs - Seafood Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

Driving back to Los Angeles from San Luis Obispo, we spotted the Cracked Crab billboard looming over the highway--and that alone was enough to pull us off the road. Turns out, it led us straight to the perfect little crab shack. We ordered the "Pick Your Three" and upgraded one selection to Dungeness crab, ending up with two snow crab clusters and one Dungeness. The platter also comes with sausage, potatoes, and corn. They serve pure, melted butter warmed over a candle, which is hands-down the best way to let the crab's flavor really shine. The service was excellent, and the fun, kitschy fisherman vibe is exactly what you hope for in a place like this. My only critiques: the andouille sausage was quite dry and lacked flavor, and the corn could have been cooked a bit longer. That said, it's a bummer this gem is so far from my home in Pasadena--but it's absolutely worth pulling off the highway anytime you're in or passing through Pismo Beach. read more

Cracked Crab - Pick 3 with king upgrade - Seafood Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

So my husband and I are going to a friend's house for a New Year's Eve party. With that in mind, I decided we should have a really good New Year's Eve a night early. My husband was certainly game to try, thank goodness . For color, I've lived in this area for 3 1/2 years now and have seen advertisement for the Cracked Crab numerous times. But we have never thought of it for dinner for some reason. Well we fixed that last night. We arrived shortly after 5:30 maybe 5:45? We were able to be seated pretty quickly. I will tell you the restaurant filled up very soon after we sat down though. Afterward, people were waiting for 35-45 minutes to be seated at a table. And they seemed pretty happy to do it. OK onto our dining experience. Our waiter was really laid-back and knowledgeable. Neither one of us felt rushed or pressured to hurry and order, which I really appreciated. After we read a very robust menu, we had to make decisions. Choices from soups and appetizers to salads and entrees. Flip the page and there are there await the crab buckets and cioppino dishes. What to do? Flip a coin? Instead, we engaged the couple next to us (alovely a couple) and ask them about their choice. They had chosen a bucket for two, which included options. Two different types of crabs per person if you wanted shrimp, clams, mussels, plus potatoes, corn, and spicy sausage. So we went ahead and tried that. However, we started with the crab bisque soup. The flavor of the soup was outstanding! But it was not very creamy. And maybe I'm wrong, I am willing to admit that, but usually a bisque is a bit thicker to my mind? I don't know. ‍ Anyhow, there was still too much food for the two of us. But we made sure to eat all the seafood. One way or another that was not gonna come home with us... I have to say, this is a really great restaurant. I'm sure we'll be back. The biggest plus? Talking to strangers while fighting with crab meat all over all of us. Such fun! Cheers! read more

Thank you, Emmanuel for giving me a extraordinary experience with all of the food and yumminess plus all of your kindness and patience Probably one of my favorite servers in the last 18 days of traveling he had knowledge, and can multitask like a boss thank you thank you the quality and quantity of the food was exuberant and just perfection. Nothing went wrong. Everything was right wow.!!! read more

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Had a wonderful dinner here last night. Tabitha was phenomenal and provided excellent service. My husband and I shared steamed mussels and their "single bucket" which is designed for one person but more than enough food for two. For $75.95 it included a choice of two items (Alaskan Dungeness crab, snow crab, clams, shrimp, or mussels) well as sausage, red skin potatoes, corn on the cob, and sourdough rolls. We opted for the snow crab and Dungeness crab for our bucket. It was seasoned well; and the provided warm drawn butter, lemons, grain mustard made it even better. Everything was soooo good & cooked to perfection. The crab meat came out easily from the shells without much effort. This ended up being our favorite meal during our trip to Pismo Beach. Highly recommend! read more

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Our visit to this area most certainly had to include a seafood spot dinner. Our accommodation location in Pismo was perfectly placed for walking through a neighborhood with many options for dining. After a little deliberation, we chose The Cracked Crab. No wait for a table and greeted promptly. Pleasant interior area with a lovely patio for dining al fresco. The menu, as expected, is seafood centric. But does include other options-beef, chicken etc. Our taste tonight moved us toward the sandwich section of the menu. My DW picked the Crab Roll while I chose the Shrimp Po'Boy. I prefer my shrimp not battered and fried for a po' boy and the server was kind enough to make the switch to grilled for me. Very nice. The shrimp came with a piquant lemon aioli and the roll had a light spread of coleslaw. Plus some excellent tomato slices. The aioli had a bit more bite than I prefer but by removing a little it was more palatable. The shrimp were excellent. The crab roll was served New England style, with a grilled split top roll. A very generous quantity of crab meat mixed with Louis dressing alongside some leaf lettuce and more of the delicious tomatoes. It was pronounced not fishy and really good. The included fries were fresh cut and reminded us of our favorite fries from back home. Dessert choice tonight was the Homemade Key Lime Pie which came with a by God real graham cracker crust. The only true way. The crust nicely offset the tartness of the lime custard. We enjoyed our meal here and recommend if you are in the area. read more

Cracked Crab - Seafood Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

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Food was average. Service was very good. Allowed us to bring our dog in with us. Very casual ambiance.

My daughter is a huge fan of crab but not the usual crab boil style of seafood. This was right up her alley! My family and I had an amazing meal here! We got a big bucket for two with king crab and snow crab, I also got a cup of gumbo. Everything was amazing! We loved the warm sourdough bread too. read more

Items ordered App: Calamari (tempura battered) Entrees: Fish tacos (tempura battered) Fish and chips (Beer Battered) Crab Roll Seafood is one of my favorite types of food. I lived in New England for 30 years and ate various types all the time. Our server, Jessica, was fantastic! She was easily one of the most attentive servers we've had at a restaurant in a long time. Thank you, Jessica. App: Calamari (tempura battered) It was very underwhelming. While we appreciated the thicker cut of calamari, the batter slipped right off as soon as you touched it or bit into it. It had no flavor whatsoever. Entrees: Fish tacos (tempura battered) My wife ordered this, and she would not order it again. It was very busy, and there was not a lot of flavor. Fish and chips (Beer-Battered): I ordered this, and the entire dish tasted unseasoned. The batter was crispy on one side and soggy on the other. The fries tasted stale and were lukewarm at best. The tartar sauce was soupy and also not good. Crab Roll: My son ordered this, and he mentioned his fries were the same, stale, and lukewarm. The crab was very plain, had no flavor, and was kind of dry. The items we ordered are pictured below. read more

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It's nice and cozy place at walking distance from beach. We were party of 12 and tried to walk in any random restaurant at late evening and they were able to host us in a short period of time which is highly appreciated. The server was great and he remembered everyone's order without double checking with folks, he had a great memory. I had a soup and tacos which made me to feel super full, though it's soo tasty. Im planning next time to come to try their pound crabs Everyone in our party was happy with their food especially kids that finished all their foods read more

Cracked Crab - Gumbo - Seafood Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

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Food was amazing and service is fantastic!!! The clam chowder was so unique with the red bell peppers. Wasn't a fan of the crab cocktail, I should have just paid for the crab itself. Bread is bomb! read more

Service and food were on spot ate there three times in one day. Food was screaming good read more

Cracked Crab - NY Steak and Alaskan king crab legs. - Seafood Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

Great seafood restaurant right off 101 in Pismo Beach. Good food and good service. We'll be back again when we're in the area.

Came here for a late lunch (130 pm on a Saturday) and we got seated right away. Seeing that my home city is far from the beach, it was nice to go to Pismo Beach and get some crab legs that I was craving for. We decided to go with Bucket for 2 ($51.95 per person) with 3 items to choose. We went with 2 orders of Dungeoness crab and 1 order of Snow Crab. It was presented on the table with sausage, red potatoes and corn (only 2). The crab legs were definitely the highlight and was steamed cook and seasoned with Bay seasoning. I do love my sausage but these ones didn't hit the spot: it was kind of dry and both me and my wife didn't really eat it. The red potatoes was okay. Had to add salt and pepper to season it but also that was something we didn't focus and finish. The corn was okay also, not sweet but edible. Overall, we enjoyed the meal and got our crab leg fix. Service was good. I would go back here if ever I'm back at Pismo Beach read more

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What a hidden gem, or perhaps I forgotten one, this was!! Our server was an excellent lady, and she was very pleasant and kind. We had the cioppino, clam chowder, and the crab dip. The food was excellent, and they give you all the equipment necessary to have a very messy, delicious meal. They have a beautiful restaurant, lots of cool decor, and it's very centrally located at peace Small Beach. I highly recommend this place. read more

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Overall, great experience! The restaurant is small which makes it a very personal experience. Our waitress was great and clearly knew her stuff!! I wish I remembered her name, but she helped make our experience a good one. She was very knowledgeable of the menu and recommended that 2 of us get a bucket for 1 person since we weren't very hungry rather then trying to upsell a bucket for 2 when it wouldn't be eaten. The portion for the single bucket was huge and we are very happy we went with that. The spaghetti was very good. We also had a cheesecake slice for dessert which was thick and creamy. Overall, we had an amazing time and would love to go back! read more

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Got the popular crab boil with shrimp, corn, potatoes and spicy sausage for 3. It was good, my 5 year old had a blast trying to get crab out and dipping it in butter. Def fun for a kid who likes seafood! Service was good and friendly and our waitress was busy and working hard, the ambiance was good we sat outside and had heaters and blankets to use if cold. I'd recommend! read more

Visited pismo a couple of weeks back and was craving for some crab roll and found this spot downtown for dinner. Parking: Only street parking or paid parking lots as well as paid street parking. Got lucky and was able to get parking infront of the restaurant. We went here on a saturday night just before 6pm and there was already a wait to be seated. We opted out for the bar since we were just ordering some sandwiches. You are limited on what you can order at the bar. You can't have full on crab or lobster at the bar due to code. Our server was Krystel who was really sweet and had a great personality. She was also very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. Appetizer: Reminder, they give you free bread and butter so keep that in mind when you order appetizers. Steamed Mussels: this appetizer is a meal on its own. Large serving and super good. I give this appetizer a 5/5. I highly recommend it. It was not fishy at all and not chewy. It was fresh and seasoning was on point. Clam chowder: very filling and tasty and they don't short you on clam. It had a lot of clam for a small bowl. Entree: Crab roll (3/5): I wasn't a big fan of the crab sandwich. First, I wasn't sure why they placed a large lettuce leaf on the bread and why it also had tomatoes on it when it is a roll not a sandwich. I didn't know the lettuce was gonna be massive, I'm not sure if they were trying to compensate on not putting too much crab meat but it wasn't appealing. The taste of the crab meat was okay nothing special about it. I would recommend having the tomatoes and lettuce removed for next time. Shrimp Po'Boy sandwich (5/5): this was actually really good and very tasty. My aunt really liked this meal of hers. Both entrees came with lots of fries which were good quality fries. All in all, this was a great restaurant and would definitely would like to try their boils next time. The restaurant doesn't allow reservations so it was very busy from when we got there and even when we left the line was out the door. The restaurant itself was a decent size, they have a lobster/crab tank but it only has like 2 crabs I think when I was there. Great ambiance and decor and one things I can commend them for are clean bathrooms which were private stalls. I highly recommend this restaurant and thank you Krystel for being a great server. read more

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We wanted to try a new place in Pismo Beach so we tried the Crab Shack. I would not return. It wasn't horrible; it just wasn't great. My shrimp needed a lot less batter. The shrimp itself was tasty. My fries weren't enjoyable. They were overcooked although they weren't burnt. Even my lemonade wasn't very palatable. I attributed it to the taste of the local water. But later that night when we went to Rosa's and I again had a lemonade, it was delicious. read more

So we are at cracked crab for the first time right now. And it is a great experience! We wanted something different we always come to pismo and get fish n chips or clam chowder at the pier. We'll this did not disappoint Candice was our waitress with a lot of knowledge and GREAT customer service so ask for her. We had the crab bucket it was sooo good. We are about to enjoy a raspberry and blackberry cobbler with ice cream on top yummy. read more

Cracked Crab - Hot Raspberry and blackberry cobbler with ice cream - Seafood Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

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My food was meh but the service was great. The calamari breading was soggy and it slid off when we took a bite. They're also not your typical looking fried calamari, they looked more like string cheese. The clamp chowder tasted more like a potato and bacon chowder, the bacon was very overpowering, disappointing because I was really looking forward to it. The server was nice though and brought me a different soup which was better but I only had like 3 or 4 bites of it because I didn't care much for it either. The star of the show for me was the fish taco, it was so good! We also had a crab cake dip which was really good and the complimentary bread was fresh out the oven, so yum! read more

Cracked Crab - Seafood Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

Stopped by with my partner on our way back home from up north. Wanted something by the beach and we like seafood. We saw the signage coming down the 101. The area was nice and the service was AMAZING. Crab dip was delicious. We got the bucket for two with the crab legs and shrimp. Could use a tad more flavor but it was great quality and the crab meat was cooked great. The real highlight was our server Brandy. She was so well spoken, so attentive and explained everything to us as first timers. She knew her stuff. Very friendly. Would definitely come back read more

Cracked Crab - Bucket for 2. - Seafood Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

As usual, the bucket was awesome. Waddling out after all that food! 2 types of crab, shrimp, sausage, potatoes and Corn dumped on the table.

I came here on a Friday evening in a group of 4 and it was okay. Most likely I wouldn't go back as it's nothing really special. I will say the service was excellent though, our server was always checking in, making sure we had drinks, the food came quick and hot - no issue there. What I did have issues with was the food quality and pricing, which were average and high, respectively. One of us got the fish tacos, which were okay but kind of sloppy. I got the cioppino, of which the fish was mostly overcooked and the mussels tasted funny. Luckily no food poisoning but I wasn't impressed. The complimentary bread was pretty blah, and the mac and cheese about the quality of boxed from a midrange grocery store. The chicken tenders and fries were massive, so that was good value. I also did like their salad, despite it being a bit overdressed. The location is very near the water, but the view is just of the street. So that's kind of lame, I was hoping to at least see the sunset out the window. Oh well. Parking is tricky, I got lucky with a spot right out front but if it ever gets busy you might be walking a few blocks. They take credit cards. I think this place is just a bit above a tourist trap. The food isn't bad, just uninspired, and you don't get anything special being here. I'm not sure there are better options, but if I come back to Pismo I'll at least try some out before returning. read more

Kevin, you rock! I walked in and everyone was super busy, but you were the only one who acknowledged me right away. That really stood out. You quickly got my order taken care of and made the whole experience smooth and stress-free. (Mind you I called in my order) Great customer service Kevin --thank you! Ps *the 4 starts go to you! read more

The food was nice. The atmosphere was good. The wait time and accommodations were great because we were a big party of 12. read more

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Everything was AMAZING!!!! I have been to establishments that offer seafood boils, but my experience here went ABOVE that! It was a Sunday and decided to stop here before we head back home. The food was fresh, our server was knowledgeable and attentive. When we are in the area we will be returning. We have to try out that clam chowder they have. read more

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What a pleasant surprise we wandered into this spot a little late for dinner on a Tuesday night and had some amazingly fresh and yummy seafood ... fish and chips beyond excellent great batter , hand cut fries fresh ... Amazing mussels (sauce was on point ) with great sourdough bread ... we live in the desert so it was a real treat thanks guys read more

Cracked Crab - Seafood Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

Came in to eat tonight for my birthday and Jasmine was our server. She was very knowledgeable and it was our first time here so she offered to show us how to crack our crab and made the experience so pleasant! We definitely will be coming back again. She was attentive and made sure we were satisfied with our meal. One of the best dining experiences we've had in a while !! Thank you jasmine for a good birthday!! read more

Cracked Crab - Some good crab - Seafood Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

This was an excellent restaurant with five star service. The food was spectacular and Manuel our waiter was very professional. Highly recommend. read more

Cracked Crab - Family dinner - Seafood Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

Our server was absolutely unbelievable! She was incredibly attentive and checked in with us as needed. I say that because sometimes servers can be either checking in too much or not enough. She had a wonderful sense of humor! The sourdough rolls were some of the best I've ever had, sourdough is my favorite and I also cook it at home. They had a nice selection of beers, although I feel there could have been more. The wine list is endless, if you love seafood and wine this is your place! We've been here several times and always have a great meal. We returned for our teens birthday, her choice! If you've never been it's a must try! And in my opinion versus other fresh seafood places they are extremely fairly priced! It's very quiet and lovely little spot also. Must pay to park all around so be prepared for that. Coins or card. read more

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An amazing spot for your crab cravings. They feature plenty of varieties of crab. Lots of delicious other fare as well. The don't take reservations so arrive early or prepare with patience. It's very family oriented and casual. Crab doesn't come cheap so be prepared. It's oh so worth the cost. We had the Cioppino for two and we're so happy either way our choice. Lots of crab, plump clams, tasty mussels, large prawns and Dey fish in a savory tomato sauce they was perfectly seasoned. Could not recommend more highly if you want a delicious meal. Edit: the sourdough bread was fantastic! read more

Cracked Crab - Seafood Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

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We drove past this restaurant and decided to give it a try. The food ended up being absolutely delicious, and the prices were very reasonable especially given the large portion sizes. The sauces were very good as well. The service was a 10/10, and our waiter Emmanuel was very attentive and quick! Will be back! 10/10 read more

My favorite place to eat in Pismo! The bucket for 2 is amazing. Make sure you upgrade to the King crab when you order as it is the best. The service is always great and the food is always amazing! Would give it 10 stars if possible read more

Cracked Crab - Bucket for 2 - Seafood Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

As someone who is crab obsessed, this was such a treat! Expect a no frills, amazing dinner! It's a bit on the pricey side but we thoroughly enjoyed our date night at the Cracked Crab. The crab was delicious, the butter was kept warm hovering over a candle, and the cracker scissors were clutch! Highly recommend! read more

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Fantastic place!! Delicious crab boil!! Got the two person bucket with two types of crab, big white shrimp, too much sausage you eat and corn. Wish they had more than one chunk of potato for two people. Spicy shrimp pasta was excellent. Our server Tabitha was attentive fun and an excellent representative of the restaurant!! It's not cheap but for the money very good quality seafood!! read more

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Excellent soups - the crab bisque and the clam chowder were very very good. The place is not that big (seats 50, maybe) and there was a small line outside but they offered to sit us at the bar, which we gladly accepted. The hostess and waitress were very efficient and pleasant. Wine arrived quickly and dinner wasn't delayed despite the place being full. Parking on Price Street can be a bit of a challenge on most any evening, but that location is a prime area of Pismo Beach. We'll be back! read more

Cracked Crab - Crab bisque on top, Clam Chowder on the bottom. Both were excellent. - Seafood Near Me - Pismo Beach, California

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We were excited to come try one of the most popular crab shack for dinner in Pismo and were disappointed to receive crab that was still frozen. When we let the staff know, they took the same piece back and just re-steamed it instead of bringing a freshly prepared one. It was not the experience we expected, especially from a seafood place. Hopefully, they improve the quality and service in the future. read more

We dined at Cracked Crab last night and it was a fantastic experience! A small sized restaurant with a great staff. Our server was Jasmine who made it a 5 star experience. We ordered a single bucket ($75) and picked the choices of Dungeness crab and Snow crabs which they provided along with corn on the cob, red skin potatoes along with spicy sausages. Well worth the price! We also ordered crab bisque along with a steak and hamburger since we had others in our party who were allergic to shellfish. Jasmine showed us how to eat crab which was so helpful. She was also very attentive and checked in on us often to make sure we were having a good experience. The crabs were tasty and the crab bisque was excellent. I was apprehensive about the steak and burger but they were very well prepared. Jasmine also makes sure it was cooked in a separate pan so to ease us about our allergies. Overall, a five star experience with Jasmine and Cracked Crab. We will be back for sure! read more

This is our 2nd time having dinner here. Just as wonderful as the first time. Food are the best! From oysters to cioppino to seafood pasta and the warm sourdough bread! We were seated immediately but it became full house shortly after. Really love this place. We really enjoyed our dinner. Service was great. Would come back again and again. read more