KC Oyster Shack is an amazing fine dining seafood experience. Plan ahead as you need to place your dinner party on the wait list, which opens daily at 3pm and has 4 iterations of 18 seats, prime 6:15 pm slot filled in 30 minutes. Be aware of the grilled wood smoke goodness filling the air as you wait- appetizing aphrodisiac. Serving is done fresh, fast and everything is quality seafood. Highly recommend the grilled oysters- exceptional. Better grilled oysters will not be found outside of Las Vegas. Honey Crab clusters; ordered as we had not experienced this crab variety- sweet and meaty- well seasoned too. We ran short on time, didn't get a dessert. read more

We just found out about this place. Went to Port A for my birthday. I got us signed up our first night there. Had no idea exactly how it worked or much else other than online recommendations and food photos along with the information. We truly enjoyed it. Great use of space. A true island and luxury vibe. Great food prepared amazingly well. We will go back. It's not kid friendly and no pets. But if you want a one of a kind unique and perfect evening dining experience, do yourself a favor and go!! read more

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Wish I would have taken more photos of the rest of our meal, but our time was limited and our hands were a mess (in the best way). We signed up at 3pm when the sign up sheet was put out. We ended up having the honey crab and king crab. I'd never had honey crab before and thought it was OK, my wife really enjoyed it. Not quite as sweet as our king crab (which was out of this world) and the texture was closer to Dungeness crab. Pros-the crab was delicious and the portions were spot on. The shrimp were the biggest I've ever seen and the homemade cocktail sauce was zesty and delicious. The limited bar top was intimate. We really enjoyed our server/bartender. The hot wet towel at the end was lovely. And the butter was very unique! Garlicy and mushroomy, very umami-very amazing! Cons-you really only have an hour to order, have your food prepared, and finish eating. We felt very rushed considering we had to crack everything before we ate it. We got lucky and were able to stay a bit longer before the next group came in, but we didn't have time for dessert and that was disappointing. The froze was not worth it, we didn't have time to drink it and it tasted like a frozen limeade more than a froze. The entrees don't come with sides. Not that we would have had time to eat them, but it would have been nice for the price point. $60 and $100 per crab entree a pound each. read more

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Omgggggggggggg!!!!!!! I loveeeeee everything about this place!!! Great service!! Awesome food!!! Cute intimate seating ! I had to try almost everything on the menu and they didnt disappoint i will be driving back to portA just to eat here again!!!! Sooooooooo good the owner /chef is a Gods sent!! And the staff is by far!!! Some of the best people on this planet!! The food is made freshhhh nothing tatse frozen!!! Everything was wonderfull!!!!! 10/10!!!! I truly love this!! keep doing what u guys are doing!! Awesome job!!!! Dont read another review!! This isss theee place!!! read more

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Absolutely incredible!!! 1000/10. Can't recommend this place enough. You can't go wrong with seafood and this place does it right. read more

KC’s Oyster Shack - Seafood Near Me - Port Aransas, Texas

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First visit, two days ago, so good, we came back for all we didn't have!! Staff is AMAZING! You have 1 hours to devour all the seafood deliciousness you can manage to consume. It's a small intimate horseshoe shaped bar, troughs of iced shucked oysters and colossal boiled shrimp to eat as you want, and I promise, nothing you order is not AMAZING!! read more

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This little pearl of an oyster restaurant in Port Aransas, Texas is exactly that - a black pearl - said with the highest respect and regard for the staff, the food and the hospitality they offer. The ice cold oysters, and jumbo shrimp that surround the bar for customers to pick and choose from is an oyster lovers Nirvana. Ice cold, beer and wine. Smiles aplenty! They take really good care of you. Not many parking spaces and you have to sign up to enter the restaurant in one hour intervals. But still very worth it. They just do you right in every way possible. If you want great seafood, fresh and delectable, go to KC's when you're in Port Aransas! It's worth the wait and you won't be sorry! read more

Our family had an incredible experience tonight eating here. A fun experience and amazing tasting food. We had 14 people in our party and everyone left so thankful we stumbled on this total gem of a restaurant. Top experience of our trip! read more

What a fun experience! We had a party of 14 and they were able to accommodate us last minute. The food was amazing and the staff was friendly! Absolutely recommend! 5 stars!! read more

The food? DELICIOUS The service? AMAZING The ambiance? UNBEATABLE I see some poor reviews here. Seems to me like it's just some crabby people who don't understand how this restaurant works and didn't bother to ask. So let me explain! There are no pets, and POSSIBLY no children allowed. Why? It's a food establishment and a bar (sort of). They have wine and beer - NO liquor! Which is understandable because they're trying to maintain a certain atmosphere. And it's incredible. If you're not eating, you're not seating! This isn't a place to go drink - it's a restaurant. Eat, drink, be merry. The seating schedule? Not complicated. You have 1 hour to eat then ya gotta go. Why? Because they only have 14 seats. We were told the reason they ONLY have 14 seats is because their parking lot only allows so many cars - so the city only allows so many seats. Which makes sense. They put the schedule sheet out at 3pm. You wanna get in? Go sign the sheet at what time you want. They have specific seating times. For example, their last seating is at 8:45pm. Show up before then, slap your name on the schedule for that slot, add your number, and party size. Easy. Don't show up at 8:45 with a party of 12. Won't happen. Unless you're the only ones there. Lookin at you "Dave". Go next door to the Busted Bicycle, have a few drinks while you wait. It's not that complicated, folks. If you want to have the most fun? Go for the 8:45 slot. The staff? Amazing. Everyone is beyond friendly. So much fun and camaraderie. The owners are equally amazing. We are definitely making this a regular go-to spot anytime we're in town. We stayed for 10 days and went 3 times. Worth the wait. Worth the money. Don't let anyone tell ya different. Also, the I Dare You To Try It is a MUST! read more

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My wife and are global travelers and we have eaten at a lot of great seafood places, but who would have thought one of the absolute best would be in Port Aransas! Just go here. It is fantastic. Food, service, ambiance, great wine list - all first rate. We had the gumbo which was one of the best we ever had and then had honey crab claw clusters (from South Africa) which were incredible. We were in Alaska last summer and this was better than the king crab there. The sauces were fabulous. Just go here. It is in the top ten or dining experiences we have ever had. Loved it!! read more

KC’s Oyster Shack - Honey grab, seafood gumbo, blue crab fingers...yum - Seafood Near Me - Port Aransas, Texas

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We loved this place! We may time the days we stay next time so we can eat here more than once . It is tiny. Go at three and sign up for a serving session. We signed up for the 5. You are seated around a bar with a well with pebble ice filled with dark oysters made just for them and shrimp the size of my hand. Great wine list with reasonable prices. I scoped out a bottle of Prisoner on the online menu I was excited to order and it was so good! We are oysters and shrimp while we waited for our food. Our waitress was a doll! For dinner I ordered the mussels appetizer. I was already somewhat full. My husband got the spatchcock peach glazed smoked quail with smoked lobster tail. Amazing! All of it! It's a must try and one of the best meals I have had in a long time read more

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Absolutely recommend this place. Food was really really good but the service was superb! Thanks KC's Oyster Shack for an unforgettable dinner. read more

Small cozy place with fantastic food, great service, and great drinks. First experience was super, our server was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and pointed us in the right direction with a few questions. Local oysters & ginormous shrimp on the bar to partake in (not free). I ordered the surf & turf, the steak was like cutting warm butter, absolutely delicious, then had a lobster tail with a Caribbean sauce that was out of this world. I tried a friend's Honey Crab that is imported from Angola, Africa. It was amazing, had a sweet flavor to it and was perfectly cooked. It is pricey, but when the food is this good, it's not an issue. read more

KC’s Oyster Shack - Oyster & Shrimp on the bar. - Seafood Near Me - Port Aransas, Texas

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The food was first rate. We shared prawns and scallops along with some grilled oysters and a bottle of The Prisoner. The ladies provided excellent service, and shared information about the various sources of the seafood offered. The limited seating also added to our experience. This spot is at the top of our list in Port A! read more

KC's Oyster Bar - A Seat Worth Showing Up Early For I'm not exactly the "show up at 3 PM and get on a list" kind of guy, but there I was, first in line with the wife on a Saturday afternoon. Why? Because I get it--this place does it differently. Limited seats, limited time, but unlimited attention to detail. KC's has only 14 seats--yes, 14--and you're perched at a sleek bar with an ice bath in front of you. You can literally see the freshness of the seafood before it hits your plate. Hot food is hot, cold food is cold, and it's all done very well. We opted for the 6:30 to 7:45 slot. That's right--you get 1 hour and 15 minutes, not a second more. But somehow, right about that time, the chairs mysteriously started hurting my arse, so it worked out. It's all part of a system: control the inventory, the flow, the experience. The chef knows you're coming, and he's ready for you. The vibe? Think bartender and a few regulars--intimate, calm, personal. Two extremely professional servers never left your sight (or your side). No chasing them down. No hiding in the back. They're part of the experience, just like the food and the music--subtle enough to relax you, but never overpowering. Now, I'll admit: I'm not a raw oyster guy. But somehow I ended up at an oyster bar. Go figure. My move? Jumbo shrimp piled high on horseradish and a saltine, topped with cocktail sauce. The shrimp were massive--I had to cut them in half, should've gone quarters. The horseradish? The hottest I've ever had. If I ever need to clear my sinuses or realign my brain, I know where to go. I like it hot, and this was righteous. Normally, I don't order crab legs out. Too easy to do at home. I've probably made them 30 times from HEB or Sam's Club. But what I had here? Perfect. Every. Single. Leg. The meat came out whole, no weird smells, just sweet, fresh crab. No need to mask it with Old Bay or heavy seasoning. KC's lets the crab speak for itself. But the real showstopper? The butter. Good Lord, the butter. Clarified, silky, addictive. We all begged for seconds. Still not sure what Chef Chad puts in it--maybe magic?--but that dipping sauce was the knockout punch. Controlled and refined until bam! it hits your tastebuds. We couldn't stop talking about it. And who's behind it all? Chef and owner Chad Gorczyca, quietly working off to the side, sending out dishes exactly the way he wants them. No flair, no fuss, just culinary precision. Bottom line: Get on the list. Show up early. Stay in your seat. And don't forget to ask for more butter. You'll thank me later. read more

KC’s Oyster Shack - Family and Friends - Seafood Near Me - Port Aransas, Texas

UNIQUE!! Amazing food AND service. This experience was like a party with amazing fresh food. Everyone was talking to their neighbor (horseshoe shaped counter) This is high end dining with a most laid back vibe and I got the daring dessert!! It was so amazing!! It's high quality vanilla ice cream with olive oil, caviar and shaved white chocolate. The caviar is small and dry, so perfect for the dessert. No fishy flavor, delicious salty taste. All around AMAZING NIGHT OUT! read more

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This place is INCREDIBLE!!! The shrimp and oysters are perfection and I don't even like oysters. lol I had the mussels and they were ridiculously wonderful!!! Atmosphere, service and food can't be beat!!!! read more

Love KC's Oyster Shack. Amazing seafood! Everything is iced down right at the bar (oysters, jumbo bar shrimp, peel 'n eat shrimp, ceviche and ahi tuna poke. The entire menu is scrumptious. Nothing is fried - love that! The desert is OVER THE TOP! It's vanilla bean ice cream caviar drizzled with olive oil white chocolate shavings. The ambiance is quaint, fun. Reservations are recommended as they seat 14 at a time. Locally owned and operated. read more

We went here for the first time tonight for dinner. This place is an absolutely winner! Great oysters, enormous shrimp, tried the lobster bites, which were good, but also tried the crab cakes, which were amazing! It will definitely be one of our go to spots on the island! It's a unique dining experience. read more

KC’s Oyster Shack - Huge Shrimp and Oysters :) - Seafood Near Me - Port Aransas, Texas

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Yes, good and very clean atmosphere was great very friendly. We'll definitely go again.

Rude and no pets allowed. Upon arrival at the restaurant we were told in a rude and unwelcoming manner that no dogs are allowed. We have a tiny Pomeranian purse dog. So we went across the street. read more

Shrimp & oysters at the bar are AMAZING and totally worth it, BEST on the island...they should stick to that! NOT Impressed with their lobster bites, completely over cooked and mealy, yuck! The guy next to me had the scallops smelled??? shrimp and oysters at the bar are totally worth it! The wine for $9 per glass is top notch NO mixed drinks One server is super nice while another we had was a SNOB...(they try and make you order...I'm sure for $$$$???) Only worth the $4 shrimp and $2 oyster at the bar, TOTALLY WORTH THAT!!!!!!! read more

Walked in around 7 and then said they were sold out. This place is a tiny little shack...mostly bar space. NOT a place for families with young kids. Food looked great though! read more

First visit here, was INCREDIBLE ! Best grilled oyster I EVER had hands down. I'm usually not a big crab cake lover. But this crab cake was fantastic. My friends had gumbo and 3 of them sad it was also amongst the best they ever had! The service was also out standing as well. It would be wise to have a reservation, as this is a small boutique restaurant. We will visit this establishment on every trip to Port A ! Would HIGHLY recommend ! read more

Best fresh seafood on the island, hands down nothing else is even close. Get on the list in order to get a seat at the table! Everything on the menu is exceptional! read more

Several things you need to know before you go. Place is a little hard to find. It is around behind Castaways. We were told after we arrived that we were in the first seating and would have to leave when second seating started. There is a sign up sheet by the door outside. Posted at 3 o'clock. Atmosphere i oyster shack. Seating at the bar. Ateach table setting there were oysters on the half shell and gigantic shrimp. If you ate oysters you were charged $2 each and $4 each for shrimp with your total. Meals served around us looked very good and were generous and said to be very good. We saw huge plate of king crab claws and quail. We had crab cakes that were very good but expensive. Scallops that were good but menu stated they were 8 per serving but we only got 6 at same price. When this was pointed out we were told that the scallops used to be bigger so now you only get 6. read more

We absolutely love KCs Oyster Shack! Fresh oysters and lobster on a stick that is mouthwatering!!! They keep the drinks flowing and the oysters coming! The atmosphere is fun and friendly, we've never been there and not made friends with whoever we are sitting next to! read more

Amazing food Amazing staff it was very good nice and comfortable atmosphere I like sitting around the bar. I will make sure to go back again read more

Top notch. I can't think of any other words to explain it. Quality over quantity...limited seating provides a very personal experience and fellowship. You have to get on a seating list and there are service times...it is different than other restaurants so be prepared for that. And once the seating list is full, you don't get a seat. Planning is definitely a must. Food is indescribable and impeccable. Service is exceptional. Atmosphere is welcoming, fun, and casual. Will definitely be on our "must always visit" list. And take the dare for dessert... read more

KC’s Oyster Shack - Take the dare...best ice cream dessert! It shouldn't work but ohhh it does! - Seafood Near Me - Port Aransas, Texas

5 stars isn't enough to describe our experience! This cute little place is a total gem. Loved the set up, small and intimate. The staff was engaging and so much fun! The restaurant only seats 14 at a time which allowed for excellent service! The food was outstanding! Very fresh and so delicious. As a big foodie, the experience is as important as the food and this little place was top notch! My entire family couldn't stop talking about how amazing the whole evening was. Thank you Logan for your awesome service! Will definitely be back! read more

Worse service ever! Rude is an understatement for this place! The hostess could use a serious serious attitude adjustment!!! Being in the restaurant business for over 30 years it took everything I had not to say kindness goes a long way!!! All the reviews say food is great but the service DOES NOT MATCH THE FOOD!!!! read more

Probably the best place in Port Aransas to visit. Oysters and shrimp top notch. Service was impeccable. Don't forget desert. You want be disappointed. read more

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We loved it from day one ! Fresh seafood and great atmosphere ! The huge shrimp around the bar and fresh local sourced oysters ! You could get full off those alone ! read more

Everything. This place is perfect on so many different levels. Great vibe, excellent food. It is small so get your reservation in

So much fun! The staff make the experience but the oysters and food are amazing! We loved it!! read more

KC’s Oyster Shack - Seafood Near Me - Port Aransas, Texas

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This place is a gem. Great experience chatting with the waitstaff and the other guests while eating a well executed and delicious menu.

Great food and service! From the bar you can eat fresh oysters and shrimp. From the menu they have lots of great choices! The lobster bites and crab fingers were amazing! We will definitely be back! If you love seafood and oysters this place is a must go! read more

This place was amazing! Warning to understand the seating process but once seated the experience is awesome. Shrimp and oysters were sooo good! I loved this concept and felt like a treat to get to experience it! read more

We only did apps but everything was good. On a 5 scale, raw oysters - 5, boiled shrimp - 4, crab claws - 4, clams - 5. The only complaint was charging extra for two small pieces of additional bread when there were only two small pieces on the original order with a table for 5 people. Not cool on a $200+ tab. read more