Smack Em was a hit. The food was hot, flavorful, and worth the stop. The vibe was fun and the spot was clean. I'm coming back read more

Smack Em - Large Smack Bucket - Seafood Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've been wanting to try this place for a while... finally was in the area to go. There is no clear direction or someone welcoming you when you walk in. I walked up to the kiosk, the security guard said hello and welcomed us and asked if we had any questions. The other staff that was present never said anything. The had a small tv in corner that was playing old NFL games.. weird. The tables and counters did not look well kept. I know it is in downtown... it gave dingy downtown vibes which was a disappointment. We ended up ordering the large smack bucket and garlic noodles. Total with tip was about $62. When the order was ready I was taken aback by the bag we received. We did not get a bucket instead we recieved a brown Togo box with the boil inside. When we got to the car we couldn't believe how small the portions were. The corn was smaller pieces than most boils, the potatoes.. they used tiny potatoes and I think we saw two pieces. The sausages were thin and very few. The crab legs were decent sizing and so was the shrimp. The garlic noodles was a rip off. The portion for $8 is such a rip off. The sauce in the boil was the best part! It was delicious... and that is why I am giving them a 2 instead of a one. Very disappointed in this place overall.... $62 for such portions... unfortunately we won't be back. I would have loved to have been greeted as soon as I walked in with clear instructions on what the process was ... and the portions... fix the potatoes and the corn at least. read more

Smack Em - Garlic Noodles - Seafood Near Me - Los Angeles, California

As a pescatarian, the food and service was amazing! The ambience was nice and chill with good music too.

Horrible service they ended up giving my order away to someone else And didn't have the decency to tell me. Waited for an hour and followed up twice until they finally decided to see why my order was taking so long Only for them to realize they were the ones who messed up. I ended up asking for a full refund and they Didn't even refund me the money He just said "okay" and didn't even give me an estimate time of when I would receive it back. So I asked if I would receive it "now" to which he said I would. I have yet to receive my full refund for food I never received. I ended up paying almost $200 and never even received my food order or my money back... the men that all work there lack hospitality And frankly I felt discriminated I was the only Hispanic female in the restaurant and somehow was the only one with the messed up order. read more

Smack Em - My receipt of what I paid for and never received. - Seafood Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Me and my friend order the same thing mind you ...but when they bring it out to bag it my friend is like wth u order crab legs..1st red flag ...but when they bring her's out it look totally different mind you the chick clams it's because she gave her more shrimp cause they ran out of corn because I definitely asked..I finally made it home 2hrs later to see this is what I paid $40 for never again I took the crab legs and corn out and that's what I had mind you I bought a order of egg rolls trash more cheese than anything $80 in total waste of money gas and time ...Don't waste your time here I promise you you'll thank me later. read more

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I had the snack bowl. The shrimp was plentiful (I didn't expect that many). I was pleasantly greeted when I walked in by a young lady behind the counter and a rather tall very fashionable young Brother, lol. Clean floors and tables! Old School music it was a vibe! I'm taking my bucket back for 20% off soon! read more

So bomb!!! The frenchie fries are to die for!! The shrimp were a good size!! Definitely coming back!

I went there earlier today And the service was terrible we waited 2 hours for the damn food yes the food was good but the portions for the amount of food that was given was not worth it at all I paid $70 dollars for nothing they didn't even have drinks had the nerve to sell water and than ran out of water I got the lamb chop bucket and ordered a side of sausage smh I was so disappointed the lamb chops were super small and the side of sausage for the price I had to pay for it were only 5 pieces and cut super thin terrible ok they know they could have done better I will not be coming back there again read more

Smack Em - WTF is this I wish I would have took a picture of the 5 thin pieces of sausage I ordered on the side - Seafood Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Before I say the bad stuff, the food was really good. If you're willing to pay, it's worth a try. But on the other hand, I'm very big on service and the service wasn't great. They waited until after my food was done and they were bagging it to let me know they were out of the most significant part of the bucket and that they replaced it with something cheaper and inadequate. I wouldn't have normally accepted but I didn't want to cause trouble. Then security was doubling as the waiter, which is wild to me. As far as value, it felt like a grab-n-go, budget seafood boil without the budget prices. The portions were way too small for the price and they didn't have the standard sausage and egg, only corn and potatoes. All of the food is seasoned the same - you cannot pick your flavor or spice level and it was kind of spicy, which isn't my speed. But it was spicy (and good). Lamb chops were mad small, but were seasoned well. The boil was seasoned well too, probably one of the best I've had in LA. If I could give them a 3.5, I would. read more

Smack Em - Lamb Chops (3) - Seafood Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Was good food but a little pricey for the amount of food...nice and clean place just have to pay for parking since it's downtown unless they validate which I wasn't sure ..overall good experience and will try again read more

This place is trash. I drove all the way from Vegas to get it. They're overpriced. We were missing food and the establishment wasn't clean. I wish I can give it a half of a star read more

The food was Awesome and the handsome chocolate brotha at the register was funny nice and very professional. I Will come again.

10 out of 10 so flavorful ! served by andante great customer service I loved it you can't go wrong with this place

This was our first time visiting Smack 'Em. Very good customer service! Explained the menu to us in great detail. We will definitely return!

This place is FIRE!!!! The food is consistently delicious. I learned about this place e from Daisy's Black LA Food Tours, and we have eaten there like at least 3-4 times since. We have had the lamb, garlic noodles, garlic broccoli, and the seafood bucket. The seasoning is the GOAT and the prices match. I have tried many "cajun" seafood places that was GARBAGE (I Will be reviewing them next *side eye*), but this is a KEEPER. Send all your folks so we can keep this place on the map. Oh, and did I mention it's black owned. Yup!!! Keep up the good work Eric & Natasha (owners). *I don't have pictures because we eat the food too fast. I'll take pictures the next time. Lol read more

The Cooks done a great job with the food. Geo was very welcoming and Aleeycia had wonderful customers service I appreciate them taking the time to help me figure out what to order. I also appreciate the ambiance. read more

Yes the food was good and the flavoring was just right. OMG the Cookie Monster is the Bomb!

Service excellent... great music selection while waiting. I tried shrimp sausage garlic noodle and crab fries . My fav wasn't crab fries and shrimp but it all was delicious read more

My husband and I went to this restaurant and was very disappointed with the portion of the large bucket. They didn't have any buckets to begin with, and the place did not look like it was cleaned from the night before. There was only one person working by hisself and he did not really know how to work the ordering system. I got 3 pieces of sausages in my large bucket and the crab claws was so small it was shameful!!! read more

Went yesterday for the first time. My overall opinion the Food is Great! I ordered the lamb chops it was slightly over cooked, was a little thin sliced but very tasty. Everything else was perfectly cooked which had me wanting more, I will be back. Next time I will order ahead of time and just pick up my order ToGo. read more

Smack Em - Lamb chops at Smack'Em Yummy - Seafood Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Must try and I mean a MUST!!! The flavor is crazy work!!! The service was immaculate I mean vibes was there ..the food quality was on point. Definitely coming back ! read more

I got the seafood egg rolls and OMG if I wasn't so full after eating them I would have gotten another order. Lol the music was good, they have games on the tables that you can play. The restaurant was clean, staff was friendly and attentive. Cosmic always makes sure the vibes is vibing! I'll be back soon. Oh and the security guard said he was good in dominos. So I hope he's ready to run that Dominos fade when I come back. Lol read more

Smack Em is a true jem in DTLA. The key word is flavor. This place has fantastic food with flavor! The garlic noodles for example have such a wonderful taste and texture that you will be craving it later on. I love their sausage, garlic broccoli, and corn on the cobb as well. One thing that is mandatory to try is the seafood egg rolls. Who else has sea food egg rolls? It sounds strange at first. I tried these bad boys and now I'm hooked! Again the egg rolls are cooked in this enticing Cajun sauce that is so unique and flavorful. This place is a definite go to spot when they are open. The food is high quality and prepared expertly with a "down home" Cajun flavor that will surprise and delight you. The prices are not cheap but neither is the food. You get what you pay for! You are getting a unique dining experience with the very best ingredients prepared by experienced folks who know what they are doing. I'm lazy and I hate doing reviews but this place is special and the food is so excellent that I am compelled to enthusiastically recommend! read more

First off, the ambience was good. The security guard made us feel welcomed and assisted us with anything we needed. However, the experience quickly went downhill. There were flies (little gnats) flying around, which made it hard to get comfortable and enjoy the food. I'm giving this restaurant 2 stars because upon receiving my crab bucket, I only got 2 crab clusters and 6 shrimp--no corn, sausage, or potatoes. The crab is old and or freeze burned. Meanwhile, my best friend's bucket had almost everything except the sausage, so it seems like they may have been limited on food. I spent a total of $80 dollars and wasn't even full because the bucket was missing a lot. On top of that, the garlic noodles were overcooked and very salty. I will not be returning with my bucket no thank you. read more

Great customer service and good. The cook was superb and the customer service snacks. I am a travel nurse and I love eating here when in the city. read more

not sure where the bad reviews are coming from. food was great: seasoned well, portioned well (maybe a little overcooked, but flavor was definitely worth it). customer service was amazing: security guard / cashier was friendly, attentive, and happy to work. bathroom and lobby were clean. read more

The food was very skimpy, extremely salty, they didn't have half of the items on the menu and didn't inform us until we payed for the order. The Resturant charge me for a margarita and ran out so I never received it or my refund. They didn't have any more buckets and told us after they came to the table with a box and bag. The place was surrounded by homeless transients and people doing drugs. I will never go back to this place nor would I recommend anyone else too. read more

The food really smacks (no pun intended) customer service was really on point as well. There's security as well ... it's DTLA so thank goodness for that. The lamb chop really slaps and I actually was surprised by the dessert. read more

The food was amazing! The service was great and the vibe of the place felt welcoming. Had great music playing and while you wait for food you can occupy yourself with games like; Connect 4 or Uno. I recommend getting the Smack 'em bucket...it was good and seasoned well! The owner even hooked me up with dessert on the house ! Highly recommend this place to eat to any and everyone if you're in the area! read more

This place is amazing... And i love the seafood egg rolls I recommend this joint and the boil is also delicious I will be back

I Was excited to try this place but turned off by the negative reviews that all have the same consistent theme- This place is grossly overpriced for what you get in the bucket (and the buckets are currently sold out) They always run out of everything or maybe don't have the budget to keep the place fully stocked One worker does everything- security at the door, cook the food, cashier, etc And lastly, to charge a 15% gratuity and this place is only pickup / grab & go ? Really?! It seems this business owner didn't have enough money to open and run this business. So they compensate by using their personal "friends" pretty models, social media influencers to post on IG and make this spot look better than it's worth. If your customers has to pay a tip just to grab n' go, and you can only afford one staff member to do 5 jobs, and don't have enough $$ to keep your place fully stocked with products, that's a HUGE problem, black owned or not smh ! read more

First of all these are the best garlic noodles I've ever tasted in my life!! But most of all the seafood is fresh the sauce is like a party happening inside of your mouth. Do not and I repeat do not walk...Run to Smack EM Cajun Seafood!! Do not concern yourself with the parking cuz once you find parking it's going to be well worth it. And I'm being treated with such warmth...and that's equivalent to extra sauce on top of the crab, lobster and shrimp!!! read more

Drove 8 miles to patronize this business. The only thing I have to say is I was surprised to find an unexpected "auto" gratuity charge. We decided on a "dine in" option. The order system is automated. We seated ourselves etc. When asked about the "auto" charge she explained to look it as a charge to pay the cools etc. The only reason I didn't make a fuss about it is because I wanted to support a "black" business. However, this is "unlawful " in California. Having employees is a cost to do business. The price should reflect final charge. read more

The hype on social media especially with celebrities looks amazing. Unfortunately, for the average person spending their hard-earned money, the experience is completely different. First, the restroom was unavailable for customers. Second, the in-store menu pricing was different from the kiosk: $34.99 in person vs. $40.99 on the kiosk. Staff mentioned it was a "typo," but they could have at least covered it up until fixed. No one mentioned they were out of buckets, which was part of the reason my family traveled from Las Vegas to try this place after seeing it online. Now, the food: a solid 3 out of 10. Portions were terrible. The seafood came in a small brown to-go container, potatoes were tiny and cut in half, sausages were chopped up like someone burnt them before tossing them in the bag, and the shrimp looked like they came from a Walmart jumbo bag. We spent an additional $14 on drinks, and to top it off, they had the nerve to automatically add gratuity despite the lackluster service and food. No lemonade available, and then we saw a delivery person walk in with bags of Simply Lemonade to restock after we had already ordered. Overall, I'm very dissatisfied. The hype wasn't worth it. I'd like to dispute the charge. $219 money wasted. read more

From the energy in the building, to the amazing flavors of the food alongside the service, there's almost not enough stars to give. Definitely coming back!!!! Asap. Thank you! read more

Came in around 6:30 at night and they were out of shrimp. It must have been busy so I am not knocking them for that. Since they didn't have shrimp I just got an order of the garlic noodles. The noodles came out in less than 5 min and when I tasted it, it was dried out and tasted kind of old like it had been sitting out under a heat lamp. Also it had a lot of flavor but it was also very salty for my taste. I may come back to try their shrimp in their smack 'em sauce but will def not be getting their noodles again read more

The cleanliness was unacceptable there was trash and food on the floor and someone was sweeping around tables while people were eating. Only 1 cook, ran out of sausage and didn't have Lamb chops. Ordered a $3 bottle of water and was given an 8oz cup of water with ice after asking what is this? Someone found a bottle of water. The condition of the location both outside and inside is Gross. To make matters worse there was NO health inspection grade posted anywhere. I would not recommend this restaurant based on cleanliness and basic service standards needs serious improvement read more

smack smack smack ,it was great! saucy and just enough in a large bucket. i'll be back!

The workers don't seem to be in a good mood. They will greet when you walk through the front door but when it comes to customer service it can be improved . The floors were dirty and no one took the initiative to seep while I placed and waited for my order . The security guard was watching football and reacting as if he was at home watching the game . read more

I was very disappointed with the food today. The portion of the large seafood boil bucket was only half full, not like the review on you tube, which was full to overflowing. It was too spicy hot and very salty. The review online stated the price as $40.00. I was charged $44.00 with a $6.00 service charge which should have not been since I ordered take out. The staff and manager stated that was because they prepared the food. I stated they get paid a salary for that. I end up paying $50.00 for bad service and terrible food. The place was very dirty, with dirty windows, dirty floors with trash and paper all over the floor. It's in a bad location with no parking nearby, I had to walk two blocks to the car. I won't go there again. read more