The food was pretty good for a crab boil place in the Virginia Beach area. Although Ive had a much better experience in other states. It seemed a little expensive for 2 adults and 2 kids. The kids ordered soda and it was $5/soda and we had a beer and beer was cheaper than soda. I didnt understand that. I dont think we'll return here. The reviews make it seem like a great place but i think it may because its a new style of food in the area and the atmosphere of the place was strange. Nice tables and chairs and there is sharpie writing all over the walls and in the bathroom. Just a little tacky when you spend $100 on lunch read more

WOW!!!! Love this place. When they say hot, they mean it, and I love that. Service is A+, food is even better. If you haven't had Shaking Crab, you haven't lived. Just go!! read more

My first time and everything was great!! Ordered the shrimp with no head & crab legs in the shakin' sauce mild! AMAZING!! It was worth the wait! read more

Thank God VB FINALLY is catching on. Finally got a Korean BBQ restaurant, and now this. Maybe next up will be a real metro area or a rail system that connects cities that are all too big anyway. This is from the perspective of trying out many "shrimp in the bag" Cajun/Hawaiian restaurants from all throughout the US. Food Options - Many other places in the US offer more than this menu, but sometimes it takes away from the intent of being a different dining experience. We've had Shaking Crab's "in the bag" options and we're happy with the options. Their fried basket options were pretty good. We liked the soft shell basket best. Make sure you ask for a side of Old Bay seasoning and maybe some horseradish. Adds flavors and there's plenty in the basket to experiment with what you like. Flavors - After trying several, I like their Garlic and their Shakin Sauce. 2 different flavors that make the shrimp taste better. Spice Level - Mt first visit, I was expecting more kick from a medium spice level. So the second time around, I made sure to get the hottest spice level available. That was perfect. Not spicy at first, but eventually, you do feel the burn, and are still able to enjoy your food instead of dying to finish or punking out and quitting. Service - It should be stated that Michael was hands down the best all the times I've visited (4x by the time I've completed this review). Only 1 other places comes to mind that rivaled Shakin' Crab's service. Must be the new Millennial take on Southern Hospitality, but he killed it. My first 3 visits were with groups of 5-9. My most recent visit was with a group of 20 (visited enough times to feel good to recommend it to my family and I've got a big ass family). How I Rate It Against the Others in the US - 1. If you travel to the Bay Area, visit Hang Ten; Their menu options, food quality, spice level, and service has always been great. Plus, the weather makes it a great option all year long. Further, it's on a great block full of desert options like Boba Tea and more for after your meal. 2. Shakin' Crab in VB; they've done pretty well with the menu they do have now. It's not taking away from the food quality and other areas just to accommodate a "many option" menu that people sometimes like. Their oysters weren't half bad. They beat options in NoVa, which says a lot. You could go to Chick's Oysters for a lot of oysters but you can't get this type of experience at Chick's Oysters. Keep it up Shakin' Crab. 3. Hot n Juicy in Falls Chuch; Make sure you visit the Falls Church location. Food is basically the same as their D.C. location but the service in VA is by far better. Same traffic but somehow the staff in VA is a better machine right now. 4. Boiling Crab anywhere; all hype. Save yourself and eat at Mom and Pop spots. Guaranteed to have a better experience. They take feedback better instead of shoving down the same old menu down your throats. read more

Enjoyed the food & experience. Good service & nice atmosphere. Would go back. Nice for family outing

I had dinner here last month and it the food was great. We were craving seafood and saw this place had some pretty good reviews. When we arrived it was packed but we were pleasantly greeted and sat quickly. The variety of flavors were great. I particularly love the fact that they use fresh chopped garlic. It was a bday dinner so we found our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. We didn't realize the time and were grateful they waited for us to finish our meal even though I'm sure they were ready to go home. Only downfall was our waitress didn't fully understand some of our questions and order. Our food took quite a while to come so when it did we were surprised to see a full order or oysters when we only ordered half. We asked her if they just added some extras because it took so long and she said yes they must've. Needless to say.. the bill said otherwise. But overall, great food and we will be back. read more

Love this place we are regulars. Today's visit they sat us at a table next to the cashier and it was so annoying for me to eat and people at the register looking over my shoulder commenting on my food. Shaking Crab Mgmt consider reposition the table by the register so your patrons will enjoy their meals without folks ordering out hovering over their shoulder! read more

What a great place! Food was excellent! Staff extremely helpful & friendly. 26 of us arrived at 5:30 on an Friday night. They accommodated us with the very best attitudes. From the fried selections to the combos in their sauces EVERYONE enjoyed their meal. read more

The food was delicious and the staff was great. Get there early as it gets busy. We will defiantly be going back

I love love love seafood and they have the best around here. It was seriously so good. I got shrimp and fries and crab legs I really loved it the flavor was really good will definitely be coming back. read more

This place is just so yummy! It's messy delicious fun eating! The best part of the mess is that it taste so freaking good you just laugh off the mess! I find myself ordering the same thing each time. The combo a with shaking sauce and medium spice level. I could take more heat but the medium is just right. I also get a side of hush puppies. The service is really superb from the host but as soon as you get your server it's a bit of a gamble. Some are just on top and I've only had one that I had to kind of track down but it wasn't a big deal she seemed young and new to serving so we just blew it off. The con census at the table was to leave her a poor tip but I told them on the contrary, that maybe if we give her a phenomenal tip maybe next time we have her she'll give us phenomenal service! Because we are definitely going back! I highly recommend dining here! Make a fun social event and don't be afraid to get dirty! read more

Been here a few times now and this place never disappoints! Absolutely amazing food!! Pretty soon this place will definitely need a bigger spot! read more

This was the best boiled crawfish I've ever had outside of Louisiana. I'll definitely be back.

Omg!!! That really happens!!! We have new seafood restaurants I ever met before. The food taste awesome and the sauce wonderful! Also people here are very nice. We really enjoyed to be here. The wonderful place to go. read more

Food is good but the price is too high! Compared to Captain George's all-you-can-eat the price is way too high!

Fantaatic meal of crab and shrimp in a bag. Couldn't ask for batter. Fast, courteous wait staff. Highly recommend!

It was good. Did not remind me of actual cajun food. The seasoning was ok; not what I expected. Good atmosphere though.

A little pricey and the flavors all blur together but overall amazing food and reasonably priced .

Soooo good. I had the shrimp and crab legs combo and it was BOMB! And the prices are right so I can definitely see why this little place is always packed. The problem was the service. It was soooo bad! I went in the middle of the week and the wait was still ridiculous. There isn't much space to sit inside so we had to wait out in front where there is no seating at all. I really think they should invest in some of those alarm things that vibrate and light up when your table is ready because it's a pain to stand outside in the cold for an hour and a half. I wish I could have sat in my car. Anyway, I don't even count that against them. The issue was the server. Their menus don't really go into detail so as a first timer I had a few questions. The only answers I got were "I don't know" and "I can't really explain." So I ended up ordering my combo and my BF ordered a bunch of side items-- fries, fried shrimp, sausages and a few other things I can't remember. They were all very small portions. I thoroughly enjoyed my food but he wasn't impressed by anything except the sausage. When the server brought our food out, I guess he accidentally placed someone else's fries on our table. We didn't notice, in fact my boyfriend started to nibble on them until a few minutes later the waiter came back and without a word scooped them up and went and placed them on the correct party's table. So gross! I still can't believe he did that. He was pretty much absent for the rest of the night. We had to ask other waiters for refills and to bring out other items that were missing from our order. I'm conflicted because if the waiter will take half eaten food from one table and place it on another- what other kind of nonsense do they have going on in the kitchen??? But the food was also just so damn good! I'm undecided on whether or not I will be back. read more

Excellent food excellent price like being in city Island in New YorkGreat for families and groups.

Tasty, tasty, and more tasty. Love the atmosphere. Seafood is fresh, I recommend the hot cajon with clams and corn.

Honestly i was so excited to try this spot out. I was singing loud in the car full of joy. When arriving i really like the way the customers had drawn all over the wall. My eyes burst from excitement while looking over the menu. The service wasn't that well they were super busy and a little under staffed. I ordered the shakin sauce on my crab legs and shrimp and after the first bite i couldn't go back for more. I was overwhelmed with the salty and bitter combination of the sauces. I probably won't be back. read more

I would not recommend this place to anyone! My experience was terrible! Very inappropriate music and the worst service ever as well as the food, it was terrible, I couldn't even eat it! And it was too expensive as well! Don't go here with your kids, the waitresses are very ghetto!!! read more

The wait time was long. However expected. Our waiter was really cool and nice. The seafood was ok. We had the clams, muscles, snow crab legs, and a half pound of sausage. We got it shaking style hot. The sauce was super salty! The Cajun fried rice was good. Overall it was ok. Hot n juicy is way better. I won't be returning anytime soon. read more

I took my little sister out for an early birthday dinner and we loved everything. So we got there around 2, and I was afraid we were going to have a rather long wait and I was completely wrong. Our number was called maybe four minutes into our ten-twenty minute wait and that was amazing. Our server was Danielle and she was sweet as pie. The menu is straight to the point. I can't even estimate the time it took for us to get our food because that was quick as well. I ordered the snow crab legs and crawfish, in the shaking sauce, non-spicy. My sister ordered the Combo B, which is snow crab legs and shrimp without the heads. She had the shaking sauce as well, but mild. I also ordered for my son the chicken tender basket, which was very good as well. When I say the portions are so on point, way better than Joe's Crab Shack. We had an amazing time, the atmosphere was great. Definitely planning on being a returning customer. read more

Excellent, fast service. Food is as advertised. Not short on flavor and . The gloves that they give you in a nice touch.

This place is amazing... I was bored today and I was scrolling threw yelp for seafood places and The Shaking Crab popped up.. I wanted to try more seafood places while I was visiting here.. this should be a definite stop for any seafood lover... I ordered the snow crab legs and had them tossed in the shaking sauce ... the taste alone made my toes curl ... I plan on getting the shrimp next time ... Do yourself a favor and visit this place if you are in the Hampton Roads area... read more

As if a bag of giant crab legs (or in my boyfriend's case, crab & shrimp) wasn't good enough, then there was SHAKING CRAB SEASONING Wear clothes that you can get totally dirty, even a plastic bib and wipes couldn't save my sleeves! Food was delicious, must say, though, that the corn was soggy and disappointing. Was looking forward to a side of sweet, crispy corn to parallel my soft & salty crab meat, but that didn't happen. Still, I would go back! read more

After waiting for an hour and 30 mins for a table, I had HIGH expectations for this place. The prices were pretty high but I didn't care after waiting for so long. Two of our meals were messed up,Our waitress was barley around & did I freaking mention they charged me $12 dollars (without being told that ) for sitting with a table of six. WE BOTH GOT CHARGED $12 . The food isn't all that great as well. It's basically Joe's Crab Shack just smaller & overpriced . read more

For being a "speciality house" food was below par. Fried oysters were VG, the shrimp were way over cooked , shells ( very soft or sign if over cooked), stuck to the meat, never got a whole perfect peeled shrimp, same for the crawfish, i ordered Cajan Spice medium heat, got zero heat snd flavor. Portions were good but with my above comments i will not be back. Too many other proven choices . IMO read more

This place is pretty good..If you like seafood you will like this place, especially since you get to make a mess and it's easy clean up. You were a bib and the food is in a bag, so you are able to enjoy. The sauces they have are really good too. read more

Delish ! I'm definitely going back ! Great experience for my first time, next time I'm bringing more people ! Shakin sauce was superb !!

There's this place in San Diego called crab hut I have been looking for a restaurant like it since I came to Virginia. This place definitely reminds me of crab hut. The seasoning, the food, and the great service. We went there on a busy night and our food still came out pretty quick. The only complaint I have is there was no seats for the waiting area but I will definitely be going again. read more

When I walk into a restaurant that markets itself as a Cajun/Creole seafood restaurant, I expect to smell something delicious when I walk in - the place had no smell at all and no atmosphere. We decided to eat somewhere else. read more

The food and service was excellent. The only negative was the WAIT. Guess that's an earmark of good food and service. Get there early to get on the list. Think they should look into partnering with some of the reservation apps in the future. read more

Ok so on my first visit my friend and I weren't offered popcorn which is supposed to be complimentary from what I had read while you wait. Which is fine no big deal. But kind of a big deal when you're trying to make a first impression on your customers right? I ordered the snow crab legs and shrimp without the head combo. Shakin' sauce, medium heat with corn and potatoes. ($1.50 more for 1 half of a cob of corn) Everything was great except the corn was a little over cooked. Other than that no complaints. On my 2nd visit I did get popcorn while we waited. I just ordered snow crab legs, no shrimp. This time I wanted more corn AND potatoes. As a side item it states on the menu that you get 3 potatoes for $1.50 and 2 halves of a cob of corn for $1.50. Ok cool kind of petty but no problem I guess it's portion control. Now for the fun part. My snow crab legs came with the choice of corn OR potatoesssss (with an S meaning plural or more than one) right? Wrong! How about they gave me 2 whole potatoes and cut one in half to make it four potatoes. Lol Not acceptable when I paid a $1.50 more so I would have the extra potatoes in addition to the potatoes that were to come with my meal as stated on the menu. Other than that you guys would've received a 5 star review. read more

Great dinner at Shaking Crab! Loved the fried soft shell crabs, hush puppies, boiled headless shrimp, king crab with their signature spices ( medium was perfect). Would have liked more corn, will try sweet potato fries next time, and blue shell crab if available. Get there 5ish if you don't want to wait. Looking forward to returning next time I'm in Virginia Beach. read more

I visited Shaking Crab for the first time on Tuesday. I had heard great reviews about the restaurant. Honey, you will NOT be disappointed. I went with my best friend and we were in heaven....food heaven that is. We order chicken wings...why I don't know but they were good. We both order shrimp & crab legs with the house sauce... I added sausage to mind. OMGee. I will be back very soon. read more

The only reason I would give it 1 star is because of the friendly staff. Other than that, the food was not good and took forever to come out. I ordered the "lemon pepper wings" that tasted like they had been deep fried in fish grease. The inside of the chicken was dark, I sent it back and ordered the catfish which tasted like it was fried in the same chicken grease I had prior. I left very disappointed. Will not be back read more

Best crab legs in town by far. The seasoning choices are all great. The sausage is delicious too with the seansoning. The prices for what you get are the best, but still expensive. This place has been my new birthday joint for the past year or so. The fries are okay, the fried shrimp is pretty decent. The tea is too sweet, but that's my preference, the wait times can be a little long, but it's worth it. The service is so-so but it's hectic at times, and the drinks come in cups with lids....ugh. My biggest complaint is when you order a side, like the potato, it literally comes with a single , I thought it was misspelled on the menu, learned from my mistake, you have to order extra potatoes if you want more. One red potato is not enough, and in my opinion with what you spend they could throw an extra in their :) would be 5 stars, but the potato, the tea, and the service bring it down a tad. read more