Cancel

Open app

Search

The Boiling Crab

3.7 (2k reviews)
Closed 3:00 pm - 10:00 PM
Updated 1 month ago

Waitlist - The Boiling Crab

Waitlist closed

The restaurant is not taking waitlist parties right now

The Boiling Crab Photos

Business Info

THE BOILING CRAB ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Loud
Casual
Good for groups
Good for kids

More like The Boiling Crab

Recommended Reviews - The Boiling Crab

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Mother in law
Janet T.

I came here for a Mother's Day Celebration for my mother in law. At first, we were planning to go to Houston's Steakhouse in Pasadena but, it be TOO long of a WAIT for a party of 6 people so this was her second choice. She waited in line since 11:30am and got seated around 12pm... We were ALL greeted upon entry. The hostess explained about some items that are sold out for the day... CORN & POTATOES: 10/10 I enjoyed the side items the most. The potato and corn were cooked perfectly and had a very nice flavor when consumed with the sauce included in the bag... KING CRAB: 7/10 For $90/lb it should have NOT been overcooked and there should be a good amount of sauce. Because it was overcooked it was so dry and chewy. We were hungry so we ate it anyways... SNOW CRAB: 8/10 The snow crab was a bit more moist than the King crab but, it still could have been juicier. Even the BUFFETS make it juicier. The food has gone down hill it seems... SWEET POTATO FRIES: 8/10 Thin and crispy. It was edible but, we didn't finish it... BANG BANG SHRIMP: 9/10 It was flavorful but, I could not eat more than 2 pieces because I have to watch my CHOLESTEROL level... ONION RINGS: 8/10 It came out sour for some reason? So we asked them to take it back... AMBIANCE: 8/10 Like being on a sailor boat. There's really no place to put your hat when you come with a big party. SERVICE: B+ Good service. Everyone was patient and accommodating... I miss seeing those BUCKETS! The ones where you can put your crab shells and trash into... SERVICE DOG FRIENDLY! BOILING CRAB STILL BRINGS THE BOIL BUT, NOT QUITE THE MAGIC!!!

Margarita with salt rim
Yessica M.

The boiling crab in Alhambra is a great restaurant to go to. I like how you're able to sign up to their waiting list on yelp, that really helped me and my boyfriend get a table within an hour tops. The servers are polite and helpful, we had a question about their crabber fries and the guy was nice to explain them to us. We ordered a pound of rajun Cajun shrimp, lemon pepper fries, shabang bang shrimp and the crabber fries. Everything was delicious, oh and a margarita. To finish it off the restaurant is clean.

Pepper salt shrimp?

The shrimp have been consistently over cooked. Making it difficult to peel! Also very little sauce. The only thing I liked was the Sha Bang shrimp. The corn on the cob was sooo bland probably frozen corn.

Shrimp
Chris W.

After not having boiling crab or any other crab boil in forever, this definitely hit the spot. We ordered Cajun fries and shrimp, crawfish, sausage and corn. The spices and seasoning were out of this world. The servers were very nice and attentive and the tables and seats clean.

Leftovers
Rosa R.

In the mood for catfish, and of course, shrimp with seasoned fries, you can't go wrong with this order! Customer service is on point on all levels. For this location, come early as it gets busy really fast in the evening.

Eleni Blue M.

Great eating experience! We had 1 lb of shrimp and a shrimp basket. The bags of food can be emptied onto the table top and can include other sides in the bag. There are several seasoning flavors and spice levels. The spicy level we chose was mild and it was still good! We got our bibs and ate with our hands. Great sensory experience. I recommend this establishment. I would definitely return. They have TVs and we were able to watch the baseball game as it played live.

Emily L.

Boiling crab was a fun experience. We got mussels, clams, shrimp, potatoes, sausage and the catfish & scallop fried baskets. Cajun fries are the best thing here. Seafood was ok. The shrimp was a little overcooked but fine. Unfortunately, the catfish and scallop were not fresh. Scallop especially had a very rubbery texture. This place always seems to have a line so I don't know if it's just super popular for the experience or maybe I came on an off day. I can see the appeal though for a big group!

I had a very bad experience at this restaurant. While eating, I found a hard rock/plastic-like object inside the food. This is a serious food safety issue. I have photos and video proof of everything. This could have caused serious injury if swallowed. Very disappointed with the restaurant's quality control and hygiene standards. Customers should be careful before eating here. I hope the management takes responsibility and improves their food safety immediately

Fried catfish basket, shrimps 2lb & 1lb bags whole shabang medium
Kelly L.

Casual seafood boil spot in LA. They are usually always busy and have a wait. I recommend joining their yelp waitlist if you can. I usually come here with a group and we all order for ourselves but everything is shareable. They have bibs and gloves (must ask) to help with eating. But honestly if you come eat here, you will get a bit messy. But flavor of food is good. They don't have a designated parking lot, but there are free parking lots nearby and street parking available. My usual is 2lbs of shrimp whole shabang, medium spicy and fried catfish basket. They play music and have TVs inside, usually playing sports games. A small waiting area inside, or just stand outside. They will text you when your table is ready.

Chicken Tenders Basket
Jacqueline J.

I love boiling crab, every location always has great staff and great food. They have tvs and show some games, the margaritas are so good. The sauce is unmatched, fries are always so crispy and delicious. There's parking on the street and on the side as well as a parking structure close by. It's located in downtown Alhambra and there's many stores, restaurants and ice cream shops close by. There's a top canvas walking distance and other collectible stores next door. There's a Photo Booth place at the corner of the block me and my boyfriend always go before we eat it's a little tradition. Love you always boiling crab

Seafood current prices in June 2025

See all

1 day ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 28
Thanks 9
Love this 22
Oh no 3

3 days ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 days ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 2
Thanks 2
Love this 1
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

24 days ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Orlando R.
12
70
291

1 month ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Melissa N.
0
130
107

1 month ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Rick G.
57
20
2

2 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kelly L.
273
66
725

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Love the boiling crab! We go there for the quick service and delicious food! It's fun eating with your hands and wearing a bib!

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ramses A.
49
35
99

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Thank you for your feedback, Krissy! We're glad you enjoyed your meal.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

25 days ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Mari M.
37
26
2

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Adri R.
7
50
18

5 months ago

I love boiling crab. The sauce is unmatched. I enjoy the music while dining in. The service is pretty good and quick besides the wait time.

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Emily L.
3
137
128

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Aaron D.

Aaron D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

Page 1 of 49

The Boiling Crab Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - The Boiling Crab

Do the shrimp have heads?

Yes they do.

Is there outdoor dining available?

No only indoor

What type of oysters do you serve in your restaurant?

Thanks for asking! We serve Pacific Northwest oysters from Washington.

Reservations are needed?

We do not take reservations; seating is first come.

Is proof of vaccination required at this location?

Proof of vaccine is not currently required at this location, though that may change in the future depending on local mandates.

Do you still serve raw oysters? What are the prices?

Like many restaurants right now, we are struggling with pandemic-related supply shortages, which unfortunately includes oysters. Not all TBCs will have raw oysters consistently; please call ahead of your visit to inquire about that day's supply.

Do you sell gift certificates?

Yes, gift cards may be purchased at any TBC location.

Is the vaccine card mandated now? And if no vaccine does a negative COVID test work?

Proof of vaccine is not currently required at this location, though that may change in the near future depending on local mandates.

Still requesting proof of vaccination at this point place?

Currently, only LA City restaurants require proof of vaccination, though that may change in the coming weeks due to local mandates.

Is proof of vaccine required to dine in?

Not currently at this location, though that may change in the coming weeks depending on local mandates.

Where can I see the waiting list?

The waitlist is available once you give them your name when you arrive. You are able to see the people in front of you but if you a estimated time you can always give them a call before you decide to go :)

When will the Yelp wait list come back?

Can we still join the waitlist thru Yelp?

Can we join the waitlist?

Only when arriving at the location. There are no phone reservations.

Is this location back open yet?

Yes! At the new space down the street: 129 W. Main St.

Are the TVs on now that indoor dining is available?

Not yet! This location is currently in the process of changing addresses and has moved all televisions to the new location.

When is crawfish season? Blue crab season?

Crawfish season typically starts in February and lasts a few months; Blue Crab season peaks in summer. Please call your local TBC directly to ask about the day's supply!

It says indoor dining is open, is it?

It is now, with limited seating.

What are their hours during covid19?

Is this open? I've been trying to call for the last 2 days and nothing.

Yes, its best to just go and place your order there, no sit down yet

Will you be moving to a new location?

Yes, we plan on moving to a new address at the end of the year. More details to come!

View All 38 Questions

Kim Tar Seafood Restaurant

Kim Tar Seafood Restaurant

3.9
(691 reviews)
2.5 mi
$$
43 years in business
Family-owned & operated

Came here on a Friday for lunch. We arrive around noonish. Plenty of parking in the little…read moreshopping center that the restaurant is located. We were greeted right as we entered and given menus. There were already a couple of tables already enjoying their meals. Plates, napkins, utensils came right after. Even brought plastic fork and spoon for my 7 year old. We received tea after that. We ordered white rice for 2 people (it was enough for a total of 4 people cuz we had left overs for dinner and lunch the next morning). We also got a 2.4 lb lobster cooked in butter sauce on a bed of noodles (noodles were extra charge). We ordered the walnut shrimp, kung pao chicken, and Mongolian beef. Plates came out relatively close to one a other, which made it nice. I like to have everything in front of me when I eat so I can get a bit of this and a bit of that. The lobster and noodles came out last. Everything was delicious. We loved the lobster and noodles best. So much flavor and the noodles underneath the lobster just soaked up all the buttery, salty, kick of spice flavor. As we dined, many groups came in and the restaurant was bustling. Good thing we came at the right time. We had enough left overs for a total of 4 more meals at home. Would definitely come back for more and would definitely recommend this place.

Came back after many years to pick up my one go-to dish at Kim Tar, the "House Special" Squid…read more Sadly they must have changed the chef and the recipe after the remodel. The deceptively large squid pieces are way over battered and over sweet, so much so that I could not taste the fresh squid inside. For devotees of this dish, I now can unequivocally recommend only one restaurant -- Capital Seafood in Garden Grove. Goodbye Kim Tar.

Photos
Kim Tar Seafood Restaurant
Kim Tar Seafood Restaurant
Honey Walnut Shrimp

See all

Honey Walnut Shrimp
Seafood Palace

Seafood Palace

3.6
(215 reviews)
2.2 mi
$$$

Hidden gem. Lunch prices are awesome starting at only $11.99. On the day we went the food was very…read moretasty and generous. From the outside it's a hole in the wall, but inside is pretty spacious for larger families to dine. My husband's aunt reserved a few tables for her birthday, so we sat in the corner area. The tea is not fragrant like other restaurants, but it'll do. I like that they give you disposable plastic cups for water too. Soup and rice was complimentary. Thought it was herbal soup, but it was some kind of seaweed soup. I was hungry, so everything tasted good, except for the fried fish (a bit dry). Parking sucks, so you'll have to park across the street.

They didn't have a lot of stuff here that we wanted to eat. We came on a Thursday night and we…read morewanted to try a bunch of stuff on the menu and we were able to order a lot too because we had 7 people at our table. However, most of the items on the menu were not available.. strange. My aunts friend wanted to take us here specifically for the fried garlic crab. However, personally, I was not a fan because it's just too much work to break down the crab just for a little bit of meat. My favorite that night was probably the fried tofu. They definitely did that very well. We also got a lot of other dishes like the clay pot rice, chicken, clams, seafood crispy noodles, and other foods I can't remember. Overall, just okay for me. I don't think I would necessarily come back.

Photos
Seafood Palace
Fried squid (salt and pepper)
Fried squid (salt and pepper)
Seafood Palace

See all

Boston Lobster

Boston Lobster

4.3
(1.9k reviews)
3.2 mi
$$

We came for their lunch specials. We ordered the clams with basil sauce, salt & pepper shrimp,…read moresalt & pepper pork chop, and on choy. The clams were fresh and flavorful with plenty of fragrant basil, the shrimp were perfectly crispy and well-seasoned, and the pork chop was tender and crispy. The on choy was fresh and cooked just right. The lunch specials are a great deal with decent portions, and the food came out quickly. Everything tasted yummy and satisfying. Service is ok even it is rush hours.

We dined here last night for the first time from a friend's recommendation. The house special crab…read moreand fried calamari were pretty yummy, but not very happy with how our food was handled... One of the dish we ordered was the house special sauce crab with market price of ~$26 per pound. We added the noodles for $10. Normal practice the server should come and advise on the size of our crab before making so we can choose how big the crab we want for our dish, because we're paying by pound for the dish anyway... but within 2 minutes of placing the order, a crab dish arrived... HA! Problem 1: The server originally tried to give the crab dish to the table next to us and the folks refused the dish... then the server turned around and placed the dish onto our table for us. CLEARLY they made a mistake and made the wrong dish for next table and decide to not waste food and gave it to us. We asked if that was really our dish and they said yes... what a lie! The kitchen took 2 mins to cook our dish? haha...dumb! Next table was there before us and their house special lobster noodles arrived 10-15 minutes later. First they made a mistake, then tried to lie to cover it up. No one is stupid here. We would have been ok if they were honest about it and ask if we would accept that dish with no complain here. Problem 2: The table next to us got their plates changed multiple times and NOT once did someone came to check on us about changing plates. Problem 3: Our bill came. They charged our crab as 2.5 pounds. What a joke! I'm a crab person. I know my crabs. That tiny crab is probably around 1.5 pounds - 2 pounds max. (Check out the picture to see the small crab shell and the tiny pieces of the crab legs and meat pieces on the edge of the plate). The $10 they charged for noodles was a huge portion, but that is not the same value as 1 pound of crab that they overcharged us for the dish. The house special crab was pretty tasty and we like the fried calamari. The veggie was decent and soup was pretty weak... our bill was $150 and I tipped $20 for the experience. Be grateful and work on improving your practice

Photos
Dining area with pretty cherry blossoms  tree painted on wall...
Dining area with pretty cherry blossoms tree painted on wall...
Clam with basil
Clam with basil
Stir-fried Clam with Thai basil

See all

Stir-fried Clam with Thai basil
Newport Seafood Restaurant

Newport Seafood Restaurant

4.1
(3.7k reviews)
1.3 mi
$$

Food is very good. Service is fast and the ambiance is wonderful…read more I love the house special lobster and the kung pao chicken. Delicious!!!

Definitely a spot you come to on special occasions as it is pricey. We came with a reservation for…read more9 people, and they had everything ready for us when we arrived. We ended up getting a set for $168 this time, which came with 6 dishes. It's also $35 per lb for lobster, and I asked for the smallest one. Apparently, the smallest one was 4.8 lbs, which was another $168, so I'm not sure if they upsold me. Anyways, the food was fantastic and everyone enjoyed it. This is what I thought about the food we got. House Seafood Soup - Simple and clean soup. Good portion, and it was soothing to eat. Lots of squid. (4/5) Clams with Spicy Sauce - Large clams with tons of meat, and the sauce was fire. Always a good choice. (5/5) Crab with Salt & Pepper - Loved the seasoning, and the flavors were solid. (4.5/5) Thai Style Beef Stew - First time trying this, and it was good. A bit different, but the meat chunks were tasty and the overall flavors were good. (4/5) Sautéed Pea Sprouts - Nicely done vegetable dish. It's simple but refreshing with good flavors. (4/5) Fried Whole Fish - This dish was gone so fast because it was delicious. Nicely fried and not overly seasoned. (5/5) Signature Lobster - I feel like you have to get this here since it's their specialty. It's pricey, but in my opinion, it's the best and freshest lobster in town. Tons of green onions, seasoned well, fresh meat, and lots of lobster roe. (5/5) Service was good, and they didn't automatically add a mandatory tip for a large party. The total came out to around $364, which is pricey, but the food was phenomenal. Parking - Valet only, but they have street parking in front. I parked on the street since there were plenty of spots on a Wednesday, but I assume it gets busy on weekends.

Photos
Newport Seafood Restaurant
Newport special crab on egg noodles
Newport special crab on egg noodles
Beef loc lac

See all

Beef loc lac
The Dive Oyster Bar

The Dive Oyster Bar

4.2
(1.6k reviews)
3.2 mi
$$
Full bar
Happy hour specials

Amazing food, vibes and service! We went here on recommendation from a friend and thoroughly…read moreenjoyed it. I ordered the Mac n' chowder, and it was a perfect mixture of clam chowder and Mac n cheese in a bread bowl. It was definitely a unique dish! The rest of my party ordered the traditional pan roast with assorted seafood, and after tasting it, I wished I had more room in my stomach! While I don't eat oysters, everyone else did and I heard nothing but good things. They even ordered another dozen (for a total of 3 dozen)! Service was fantastic. We were also able to call and get our names down for a reservation, which I'm glad we did since it started getting very crowded with a long wait during dinner time. There's plenty of parking in the lot and below ground parking structure. I would 100% come back here again and recommend it to others!

As fate would have it, I ate here with my parents instead of the originally intended dinner…read moredestination, Baek Jeong. Because the wait time was too long for that, we decided to try The Dive Oyster Bar -- and man are we sure glad we did. We got a total of five items: a bowl of clam chowder, the soft shell crab appetizer, the roasta, the traditional pan roast with the house speciality protein (with the crab on the side because of my dad's crab allergy), and the jambalaya, which for the last three we ate with medium heat. We shared everything (except for the crab appetizer because, again, crab allergy for dad) and found the food to be delicious, with each entree coming out tasting better than the last. Personally, the roasta was my favorite with the pan roast as a close second. Very flavorful dishes with medium heat being a good level for us (wasn't spicy for our Korean palates). Service was great, our server (unfortunately forgot his name) was attentive and quick with our requests, and although he forgot a side of rice, it was for the best as the food had settled in our stomachs by then and we were content with what we ordered. The restaurant itself is well maintained with ample table space and appropriate lighting, though the music from the evening DJ was a tad bit too loud to hear from across the table. Not a big mood killer for us, though mostly because the good was that good. We're not from this area, so the odds of coming here again are relatively slim -- but should the opportunity present itself, it'll be more than fate this time to take us through these doors once again.

Photos
Freshly Shucked Oysters.
Freshly Shucked Oysters.
The Dive Oyster Bar
Bread Pudding with a mixed berry compote

See all

Bread Pudding with a mixed berry compote

The Boiling Crab - seafood - Updated July 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...