Great food and service. It's worth the wait before seating. Get the whole shebang for your spices

Get here as early as you can because it gets super busy. I've been to other seafood boil places and it never tastes as fresh as this location. The prices are outrageous, I wish they came in combos and not having to pay everything à la carte, a mini corn shouldn't be $2. Prices aside, the staff was super friendly and professional and they play really good music ( r&b and hip hop throwbacks ) . I definitely would recommend, your wallet will hate you but you have to spoil yourself here and there . Also worth mentioning, I had a lot of leftovers, ate my king crab 3 days later and it still tasted scrumptious!!! I got the medium spice and it did the trick. read more

The Boiling Crab - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

It's crawfish season so come enjoy it at The Boiling Crab because I was honestly so surprised by the quality. I'll be real, I used to be a Boiling Crab skeptic and would go to other seafood boil spots because of some bad experiences here a few years ago. It seems like a lot has changed since then, especially the quality. There was a short wait but nothing crazy. We were seated within about 15 minutes, which is pretty good considering how big and busy the restaurant is. There's both patio and indoor seating and this is probably one of the largest seafood boil spots I've been to. Once seated, the host walked us through the digital menu and got us started. Our server came by quickly, took our order, and brought out bibs, gloves, and the usual setup with lemon, salt, and pepper. Food came out in about 10-15 minutes which felt pretty fast. We started with the Cajun fries to share. They were okay, nothing spectacular. Some fries weren't as crispy and the Cajun seasoning felt a little flat. The crawfish though... that was the star. I got a pound of the seasonal crawfish with corn and potatoes and they did not disappoint. The crawfish were big, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The meat was tender and I was even able to pull out claw meat which usually doesn't happen with lower quality crawfish. The who-shabang sauce (mild) was so good, a perfect mix of Cajun and garlic. The corn was super sweet and the potatoes soaked up all that sauce. Overall, my opinion has completely changed. This visit turned me around and I'll definitely be coming back more often. read more

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Came here on a Sunday night because the girlies and I were craving seafood boil. We came here during Super Bowl and it wasn't crowded until we finished and left. The game was playing on every single TV so we weren't missing much. Normally boiling crab is always super busy (and for good reason) but we only had to wait like 5 min for our table to be prepared and then we were seated. Our waitress took our order but skipped over me by accident. I thought it was strange because my friend didn't order a lot of food prior. Not sure if she thought we were sharing or not. She just ordered a pound of crawfish. Weird. I ordered one pound of shrimp in the whole sha bang with medium spice. It definitely had a kick but was enjoyable. I took one star off because my shrimp was overcooked to the point it was mushy. Taste wise it was fantastic. Strong garlic flavor - just the way I like it. I also ordered a side of sweet potato fries on the side and a bowl of rice. The sweet potato fries came out hot and crispy. In the past it's always been soggy so it was nice to get it fresh. I'll be back once the craving hits again for seafood boil. The sauce is what keeps me coming back. I've tried other places and I don't like it because the same tastes sweet. read more

The Boiling Crab - Seafood boil spread. Crawfish, shrimp, rice, and sweet potato fries. - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

We just ate at The Boiling Crab, and Huy was our waiter. He was outstanding. Clever, funny, quick, and somehow great at riddles. I asked him four different riddles, and he actually thought through each one and got the answers. Apparently, he cannot be stumped. Seriously though, it was an amazing experience, and Huy was the main reason. He made the whole meal more fun and memorable. Great service, great personality, and exactly the kind of person who makes you want to come back. read more

Had a long trip for work & happen to stop by "The Boiling Crab" in Kearny Mesa San Diego because my girls wanted seafood. The service was good. The food was fresh & piping hot. Flavor was delicious as it always is in whatever The Boiling Crab restaurant we go to. The crawfish seems to taste a little funky. We ordered live crawfish but it did not taste fresh. Other than that, we enjoyed our dinner. read more

i always love coming here as you order by the pound and can adjust your spice level and flavor. they also have eggs, sausage and potatoes that you can add on. read more

The Boiling Crab - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

LOVE boiling crab! Checked out this location, and it was as amazing as the others. Wonderful service and it definitely is a popular place on a Friday evening (~2 hour wait on peak times). We joined the waitlist in advance so it was just a one our wait for us. The quality of the shrimp and crawfish were amazing! The sauce also had chunks of garlic in it that I loved read more

The Boiling Crab - Shrimp, crawfish - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

King crab legs are empty shells, shrimp are not fresh either, food is terrible, great waiting stuff (2 stars)

I came for lunch for a birthday party. Everyone ordered a variety of menu items including crab legs, Cajun hot wings, Shabang Bang shrimp, Shabang Bang scallops, corn, and fries. I ordered the clams in butter sauce. I wanted the Cajun seasoning on the side so I could control sodium levels but they wanted an $5 up charge for a small little side of seasoning. I thought that was ridiculous, so I passed. The clams were pretty good. The garlic butter sauce was tasty and each clam had a decent amount of meat in them. The only problem is that they disappeared quickly. Thankfully I had ordered a piece of corn. At over $20 both items, the meal was not filling. I went to eat elsewhere when I was finished here because I was still hungry. The service was good. The employees were in high spirits and had good attitudes. The place is fairly loud and they don't give you plates. read more

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They are always busy! It's best to set a reservation ahead of time or try to add yourself to the Yelp waitlist beforehand. Outdoor and indoor seating available. Considering how busy they were, our service was excellent. They used to offer pretailored seafood bags but not anymore. Everything is ordered as a la carte now. Prices have sky rocketed and can become quite expensive. The seasonings of everything we ordered were quite tasty but some seafood were well overcooked, which made it hard to peel and eat. Warning for those who'd order mild flavor: it still has a good spicy kick. read more

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The best place! The service the food is spectacular! I'm here almost every week after Sunday service atmosphere is the complete vibeeee loveee it here read more

Boiling Crab will always hit! I originally used to go to the one back in Rowland Heights/ LA area - they definitely need to open more locations because it's always so popular but always so far! I'm a foodie so I'll make the drive, but I'd go even more if it was closer. The line is what gets you every time, but if you're down to wait, it's so worth it! It's always fun bringing people here who've never tried a seafood boil before - they never know what to expect, and watching their reactions when you're all eating straight off the table is the best part. Messy, spicy, buttery goodness everywhere. The calamari is amazing! The Cajun fries are an absolute 100/10 - dangerously good, honestly could eat them all day. I tried the rice once too - super fluffy, soft, and hot. The menu's pretty easy to follow: you pick your seafood and your sauce. I always go with mussels and shrimp in the Whole Sha-Bang sauce, medium spice. I add potatoes, egg, sausage, and sometimes corn - it hits every time. One thing I've noticed though: the last few times I've gone, they've gotten a little skimpy on the sauce. They used to be really generous with it, and now they charge extra if you want more. I usually don't take pics here since the food's already messy as is, so the picture ends up looking the same. You just gotta get in it and enjoy the moment with this one! They do provide gloves, but I always end up just using my hands - part of the whole messy experience. Service is okay - no complaints here! Everyone's usually pretty quick and friendly once you're seated. Parking's easy too; there's a big lot, so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a spot. Oh, and FYI - you can't bring any outside drinks in. I think that even includes water; they might hold your tumbler at the front. Just something to note before you go so you're not caught off guard. read more

The Boiling Crab - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

A little pricey, but good for a combo bag of seafood. Every one should try it one time. read more

Celebrated a birthday service was great and so was the food. We didn't have to wait long to be seated our server was attentive . read more

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The absolute best service I've had at a restaurant ! I joined the waitlist on the website which was helpful to view the queue and wait time. The staff made my experience absolutely amazing!! It was very very busy we had to wait about 25-35 minutes for the two of us (first date). And I fully recommend I admit the prices are a bit..expensive $45/lb for snow crab and $75/lb for king crab They were out of dungeness & blue crab as well as crawfish which was a bit disappointing but I really appreciate that the staff highlighted what Was available. From the servers to the host everyone was extremely attentive and helpful. Our server was Lau and she explained the menu with detail and patience. She even let us know when she was leaving for a little break and who we could speak to in the meantime. The team work was so beautiful staff that noticed me looking around asked if they could help with anything . When bringing out crab legs they explained exactly how much they weighted and what to expect. I was thoroughly surprised by the service especially because it was so busy. Everyone was professional and welcoming. The food was AMAZING perfectly seasoned with quick service (once seated) . I recommend for a date night or even family dinner if your pockets can handle it ! read more

The Boiling Crab - Margarita - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

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The staff is what brings this place alive! I come here every so often and am always greeted with a smile. The food is amazing, there is a vast variety of different seafood options you can choose to put into your boil bag, as well as different seasonings and spice levels. If you like spice, this place is for you. There are also a ton of different appetizers and fried foods available to pair with your boil, as well as beers both small and imported available. The vibes inside give a cajun/pier vibes and music is always poppin. We will for sure be back! read more

One of my favorite seafood boil restaurants! My usual order is Shrimps, mussels and sausages, mild. We always get the whole sha-bang with extra garlic! Unlike the other seafood boil restaurant I've went to, you have to order the corn and potatoes separately. My son loves the soft shell crabs! Sometimes we spoil ourselves with the king crab legs or Dungeness crabs but it's pricey! They are always busy but service is fast and the place is clean! read more

The Boiling Crab - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is a review of the fry side of the menu. Our grandson enjoyed the gumbo with rice. We shared family style soft shelled crabs, scallops, calamari and fried oysters. Two of the dishes came with fries, both ordered Cajun. One not spicy one moderately spicy. The seasonings were perfect and the seafood was tender. Our grandson enjoyed the fries so much we ordered an extra one. The features IPA was perfect for a West Coast IPA Lover. The service was impeccable. We Waitlisted on Yelp and were seated immediately upon arrival. The servers worked together as a well oiled machine. The ambience was cosy with lots of graffiti everywhere. There was even a humorous sign about a $100 fine for writing on the walls. Will return with a larger group to try the boils. read more

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THE BOILING CRAB This place is amazing! Long lines, wait time takes a long minute, but it's worth it! This is my second time coming to Boiling Crab, parking is pretty massive as it's in a complex. They do not take redecorations, you must come in to ask to be seated / on the waitlist, they use Yelp, so you can easily see what place you are in! I was #28, pretty insane of a time wait on a random Thursday night. I waited for about an hour and a half, and time went by pretty fast especially since there are other things to do in the complex. We got seated and the server was so so nice! She was super helpful and gave us all the good recs! My boyfriend and I got 2lbs of shrimp $18.00/pound, and added potatoes, corn, and sausage for an extra cost each. It gets pricey fast! It came out piping hot in a bag, and they gave us bibs, gloves, water, lemon, and pepper! So delicious, and loved every part of it. Ambiance was bright and I love the decor they put around this place. It's worth the line, i'd recommend trying this place! read more

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The food here is excellent and definitely worth a visit if you're looking for quality. That said, the service could use some improvement. Our server seemed like he didn't want to be there and wasn't very helpful. With a little more hospitality, this place would be top-tier." read more

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We eat here at least twice a Year typically for someones bday or special occasion. Service is always good greeted with smiles as well food comes out pretty fast even with a line. We had the peppered wings and sweet potatoes fries simple but good. Bbq sauce was different as well good. The dinning room is pretty cool lots of tvs for sports. read more

The crawfish took some work to eat ;however, the over all experience was awesome! I highly recommend if you are in the area this is the go to ! read more

The Boiling Crab - Finish product! - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

We visited on a Saturday afternoon, and as expected, there was a bit of a wait. However, thanks to the Yelp waitlist, we were able to get a head start and cut down on some of the wait time. We ordered 2 lbs of crawfish, 1 lb of shrimp, cajun fries, and a side of rice. Everything came out as expected, though we did have to wait a little longer for the rice. Additionally, the eggs we added were a bit overcooked with a slighty grey yolk, which was disappointing. The medium spice, with whole shabang which had great flavor and just the right level of heat, but the bags felt a little dry and lacked some of the juicy goodness I was hoping for, especially given the amount of food. On a positive note, our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal, which was much appreciated. Overall, the meal had its ups and downs, but the service was great, and I'd still return for the good flavors! read more

The Boiling Crab - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came into this experience for my first time not knowing what to expect and leaving it talking about what I should get next time overall amazing meal read more

Gumbo with rice 3/5 Cajun sauce medium 3/5 (could be thicker) Fried shrimp basket 5/5 The service by Jason was great and the wait was very short even on Ash Wednesday! I personally just wasn't a fan of the texture and taste of the gumbo, as someone who was born and raised in NOLA. The sides to add to any boil is a good price, but I just wished the sauce would be thicker. The fried shrimp basket w Cajun fries were great along w the cocktail sauce though! The place is more casual and overall you should give it a try! read more

The Boiling Crab - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

Always love coming to Boiling Crab. Their service is always fantastic. The wait can be long sometimes but that's with any great establishment. We always get the Whole Shabang sauce for our seafood boil and get the medium spice. The spice is always a hit or miss, sometimes it's extremely spicy and sometimes it's more of a mild spice. On top of that, be weary of the corn and shrimp and for some reason every time we get those items they're also a hit or miss. Typically if it's hit or miss, the corn will be undercooked and the shrimp overcooked. Other than these inconsistencies, everything else is great! The sweet potato fries were wonderful and sometimes we get the gumbo which is amazing, especially with tobacco packets! Seatings is abundant. We love the booths but often those are longer wait times. They have plenty of outside seating as well. Inside the restaurant there a multiple tvs that typically run sports channels. They can provide gloves and bibs if needed. A wonderful place for seafood boil! 8.5/10 read more

The Boiling Crab - Seafood boil - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've always had great service and food is really good, only downside the wait time is long all the time but can't complain since I it's always worth it read more

Finger lickin good. Great food, great service, banging playlist. Staff helped each other and were on point. 10/10. Was 1hr and thirty min wait. Worth it read more

The Boiling Crab - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Boiling Crab. I don't know how they manage to nail the flavors at every single location, but they do. I always forget how spicy their medium is. They remind me that I'm not as good at handling spice as I think I am. Seafood always tastes good, even their frozen crawfish, and they never overcook anything. I like getting a separate container of sauce to really dip my shellfish in, and it's perfect. Everytime I leave here, I'm back to craving it again the next day. read more

We went on a weekday and the two of us were seated right away in a booth. Our wonderful server was Ron and he did a great job advising us what to order. I would say that this place would be better suited for larger groups. They did not have a seafood bucket with a variety of seafood like other restaurants. Each order for the seafood boil had a 1 lb minimum, except for shrimp where you can order 1/2 lb. Since there were only two of us, we were limited on what we could order. We ordered 1 lb of Alaskan snow crab legs, 1 lb of clams, and 1/2lb of shrimp (with heads). All in the Sha Bang sauce, which was pretty tasty. We were advised to order it in Mild. Glad we did because it did have a little heat and Medium might have been a bit too spicy. Food came out pretty quickly. It was fun to dump everything on the table and eat with our hands. We were given bibs, gloves, lots of napkins, crackers, lemons, salt and pepper, melted butter, and hand wipes. Not much of a selection for alcohol drinks and no wine. read more

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Great food and service. The on line wait list was convenient. Highly recommend the aslakan snow crab and shrimp with the whole she bang non spicy sauce. read more

Great food all ways ! Only I have to stand in queue for hours ' But yelp has online reservations! Safe time read more

Amazing good. The service was amazing. We were a part of 20. Kept our cups full. And continued to check on us thru the evening.

The Boiling Crab is the place to go if you're looking for a good seafood boil! Everyone here is so helpful and the restaurant itself is a very fun vibe! I enjoy getting shrimp with the whole shabang and it's very flavorful! The crabber fries are also super tasty if you're looking for a side option. The wait here can get long, so I'd recommend looking at the waitlist before going. Needless to say, I will be back! read more

Boiling Crab never disappoints. Be prepared for a wait if you are going on a weekend night. We went on a Friday night at 7:00 pm and was told the wait would be 1-1.5 hrs (definitely worth the wait though). Since the wait was so long we went to grab a drink somewhere but did not realize they only give you 5 minutes to return once your table is ready. Our table ended up being ready closer to 30-45 minutes and despite us showing up 15 minutes (after we got our text that the table was ready). We were still seated which was extremely nice of the staff as we were getting ready to enter the waitlist again. Chris was our server and he did an amazing job making sure we were taken care of. He always checked in to see if we needed anything else and our food came out fairly quickly. Food was demolished and they had the game on to keep my boyfriend entertained. read more

The Boiling Crab - Whole Shebang Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

I love this place. The food is so good, from the boiling seafood to the the breaded shrimp with fries

My family and I going to this place, best service and amazing food! We have been going since I can remember, we live further away from this restaurant but it's our go-to! read more

Great food and fast service the waiting I always lots but at the end service and food are great

Excellent service all around and delicious food. The wait is usually a Long wait but it's worth it.