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    The Boiling Crab

    4.0 (1.9k reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 week ago

    Waitlist - The Boiling Crab

    Live Current wait: 20 - 35 mins

    Order The Boiling Crab Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    THE BOILING CRAB ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - The Boiling Crab

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    Cristian B.

    This place was packed and I'm just glad I was able to get my cha bang because it's the only thing that seems to make me satisfied. I often like getting the sharing but this time I gotten the scallop. I was happy and I wasn't disappointed. The girl who served me was awesome and attentive. I was wanting to eat inside but this place was so packed I had to take to go for the beach so it wasn't bad. I say the place is cool place to bring a party. Maybe in another time it be a party I bring.

    Shrimp n Steamed Rice

    The last time I went was amazing The waiter who recommended me to try the mild garlic shrimp was the best choice. Everyone is friendly and attentive. The food was so delicious that I would definitely come back. The atmosphere is so fresh and cheerful.

    Cajun fries
    Jordan H.

    I haven't been to Boiling Crab in nearly 10 years. Back when it was really hyped and trendy. It was time to try it again. Me and my wife arrived on a Sunday around 3:30 PM. We put our name down on the Yelp waitlist and the wait for a party of 2 was maybe 90 min. Essentially if you go anytime on the weekend expect to wait at least an hour. There is no such thing as "off times" on the weekend. Evidently Boiling Crab is still as popular as ever. We didn't mind waiting. Once our number was next we were promptly seated. First thing I noticed was how great the service was from the host, to the waiters, to the helpers. We ordered shrimp and Cajun fries. Shrimp is $18/pound and it is the only seafood you can order by the half-a-pound. After ordering the food came out in less than 10 min. Besides the initial wait, everything else about the dining experience was very efficient, which tells me the long waits are not a fault to slow service. I think they are being as efficient as they can. The dining experience was pleasant. They supply bibs, gloves, etc for easy clean-up. There are TVs showing sports. We were out of there at $45 for two. A pretty good deal considering the unique dining experience. I can see why Boiling Crab remained popular after all these years.

    the good quality shrimp the manager said was totally up to standard

    Absolutely horrible experience. I ordered shrimp and received shrimp that was black with obvious freezer burn, along with soggy shrimp that I didn't even feel comfortable eating. I understand that there may be limitations on what the restaurant can do regarding a refund, and that part I can understand. What I cannot understand is the way the manager handled the situation over the phone. He actually tried to tell me that it was okay for the shrimp to be black. That was honestly shocking and came across as extremely dismissive, like he was trying to gaslight me about what I was seeing. If you can't issue a refund, fine... but you can still be professional, apologize for the quality of the food, and at least try to make the situation right. Instead, I felt completely dismissed. I didn't even eat the shrimp because of how bad it looked. After this experience, especially because of how the manager handled it, no more Boiling Crab for me. There are plenty of restaurants that actually care about their customers and the quality of the food they serve.

    Chelsea M.

    My family and I love coming here. The food is delicious and the service is always wonderful. On our last visit a young guy called Aaron was taking care of us and he was very attentive to my sisters shrimp allergy ( I know it's the last place we should be at but we love it and she loves it), he made sure everything was perfect for her order. Aside from that he was really sweet and kept checking up on us. We were sat about 5 minutes upon arriving because we joined the waitlist! We love this spot for the ambiance and the employees.

    Inside
    Megan O.

    Oh my goshhhh. For years I have heard how good The Boiling Crab is and I have always wanted to try it. Tonight was the night and I am so glad I did! Food -10/10. We got snow crab, shrimp, potatoes, corn, and sausage. All were amazing. We got the sauce that's all 3 in one at mild spice, which was so delicious. Service- 10/10. Everyone was soooooo kind and helpful. Johnathan G was our server and was amaaaazing. Multiple people also came to check in us periodically to make sure we were doing okay. I really appreciated how attentive they were! They also brought us extra gloves, tools, and sauces to help elevate our experience. Environment- Parking was great. Location was great. There was a lot of seating. Clean restaurant and bathrooms. The restaurant was hoppin but not too loud. I can't wait to come back :)

    Been here 69,000 times and each time is fire !!!!!!! Def come also staff was amazing !!! Food was delicious like all 69,000 times !!! And the ambiance got better now that they added the ability to chill and order drinks while you wait !!! Smart cookie whoever thot of that if you ask me !!!! Anyways that's all I have for tonight folks have a good day/night

    tv
    Michelle Q.

    LOVE BOILING CRAB DOWWWNNNN. First time visiting on a Friday at around 6PM. It was a thirty minute wait, no biggie just waited with friends in the meantime. After like 35ish minutes our table was ready. Really sweet workers, some in passing would say hello when entering and bye when exiting. Got the sha-bang(?) mix in mild and it sure did have a kick to it. Shrimp was good, sausage even better. Potatoes were just potatoes and the corn was yummy and sweet, good palate cleanser. Service workers were really attentive and helped out if needed! Environment was great which is what pushed the review to a five for me. Just lively chatter, tv's going. No intense fishy smell which I was first worried about lol. It was also hUUUUGGGGEEEE. Would come again!

    TBC Cajun Fries and shrimp, potato, sausage and corn in SB sauce (mild spice level)
    Yau-Ru C.

    Nice and spacious restaurant suitable for small families and also large gatherings. You can scan the QR code on the napkin holder to see the menu but staff will stop by to take your order. Stick to shrimp and skip the crab. We got 2 lbs of shrimp ($36) and 2 clusters of snow crab (1.5 lbs = $66). There's barely any meat in the crab... most of the weight is the crab shell. Next time we will do 3-4 lbs of shrimp for our family of two adults and two kids. Corn and sausage were good. Potato was ok. We got the whole sha-bang (SB) sauce (combo of all 3 sauces: Cajun, lemon pepper and garlic butter) with mild spice level. A bit too salty and spicy for kids. Next time, will get garlic butter with no spice. Kids enjoyed the add on Cajun fries. Saw someone order rice, might try that to go with the garlic butter shrimp. Staff was friendly. Relaxing and family-friendly atmosphere.

    Doryaneh M.

    I've been to this place once before for dine-in, but this time we decided to order food instead. One thing I really appreciated is that they were open on January 1, especially since many places were closed for the holiday, and I do want to acknowledge the staff who were working that day. The food was good overall. If you're a seafood lover, this is definitely a place worth trying--especially the shrimp, which was amazing. The fried calamari was also very good and flavorful. The ambiance is okay, but it could be cleaner. As for the service, the staff was average--not rude, but not especially friendly or attentive either. They may have been busy, which could explain it, but a bit more attention to customers would make a big difference. Overall, it's a good spot to try, especially if you enjoy seafood.

    Jenny P.

    Crawfish and shrimp was not as fresh as I remember it to be, but still a solid spot. Sauce is good.

    Michelle N.

    We came here on a Saturday night with 9 people so it was an expected long wait. We waited over 2 hours and finally got sat around 9pm. Prior to this we tried waitlisting in person around 6pm, letting them know we wanted to eat around 8:30. One worker almost put our name down, and the two others said no Which is fine. We got sat at a booth which is a little inconvenient for our group and didn't want to wait for another table. We ordered 3 fries and 1 of them came out first, then the other 2. I ordered the mild shebang, and I'm pretty sure this was a medium. It was so spicy, it didn't fulfill my cravings. Even my friend's sauce that my sauce color was a lot more redder than theirs and they ordered mild too. Their service is pretty decent/good they check up on you periodically maybe because it was near the end of the day and they wanted to wrap up so they could go home lol. But things would've been good if it wasn't so spicy!!

    Shrimp
    Andrew T.

    First time here at the recommendation of our fried and was blown away at the quality and ambiance of the restaurant. I had been hesitant to eat here due to the idea of having to eat with my hand, but they have gloves and a bib for you to wear if you want when handling your food. Service was warm, friendly, and accommodating. They have a variety of seafood In a bag, or fried options for those who do not want to go down the flavorful bag route. I also love that they have wings and fries--vast menu to accommodate various palates!

    I love their corn

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    2 months ago

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    Thank you, Mellay! We hope you’ll come visit us again soon!

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    2 months ago

    We had a great time here everything is full of flavor so if you don't like spice as for mild lemon pepper preparation.

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    2 months ago

    There is no one better than the boiling crab the food the service everything is the best !

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    3 months ago

    The amazing food and the friendly staff always makes it worth the wait. Definitely recommend!

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    2 months ago

    WE LOVE THEIR FOOD!!! Plus really nice people that work here :) thanks for the great service guys!

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    Thank you very much, Kelsey! We look forward to seeing you again soon!

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    Page 1 of 48

    The Boiling Crab Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Boiling Crab

    What's the difference between chicken tenders basket vs the kids chicken tender basket? How much is in each?

    Thanks for asking! The Kids' Chicken Tenders Basket comes with two tenders, while the regular comes with 3-4 tenders (it's about twice as much quantity).

    Is there fresh crawfish right now?

    Yes, this location currently has live crawfish! Supplies are limited, so please call ahead to confirm availability.

    Where can I find an updated menu?

    Hi, you can find this location's menu here: https://theboilingcrab.com/menu/south-coast/

    Do u guys take apple pay?

    Yes their terminals accept Apple pay

    Do you open at 12 on fridays?

    Monday through Friday they open from 3pm to 10pm Saturday & Sunday they open from 12pm to 10pm

    What does JUICY ($5) mean when ordering online?

    "Extra Juicy" is an additional side of sauce.

    Is there a bar?

    Nah fam

    Are sauces gluten Free?

    Yes, all seafood boils with choice of sauce are gluten-free.

    Is dog allowed at this location?

    Thanks for asking. No dogs allowed except for service dogs.

    How much is 1 lb of shrimp with shell?

    Current market prices range from $15-$16 per pound.

    Is there a long wait for take out orders on a Friday night?

    Best to phone ahead normally take 30 minutes....

    Do you offer delivery at this time?

    Delivery for this location is available through DoorDash, GrubHub, UberEats and Postmates.

    How does the 'e' waitlist work?

    You add yourself to the waitlist through YELP. The system will tell you how many minutes the wait time is. It will also tell you the time you should arrive by or they will need to move onto the next person and you will lose your spot. There is a… 

    Will they be able to accommodate a large group of 18 in one long table?

    I think because of the restaurant layout and how packed it gets in there that they may have to do 2 tables of 9. However I could be wrong so I would give them a call and see how they can accommodate you and maybe allow you to make a reservation due… 

    Do they offer bday specials or sing happy bday?

    I believe so

    Do they take Apple Pay for takeout orders? -I just called, they don't.

    Not so sure about Apple Pay - I paid reg credit card.

    Are any of your seasonings gluten free? whole Shebang?

    Not so sure - I'll give them a call

    Roughly how pricy is this place ? For about a party of 6?

    Depending on what you order, it can be fairly reasonable to extremely expensive. Shell your own shrimp and the the fried items are reasonably priced. I liked the fried catfish. The corn cobbettes are only $1.25 each. But beware of the Market… 

    Why doesn't it open for lunch during weekdays?

    Idk I'm not an employee

    Does the whole shabang sauce contain sugar?

    My friend; no matter what kind of sauce you have they'll have sugar. Believe me!

    View All 31 Questions

    The Great Room

    The Great Room

    4.3(7 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    The great room is a restaurant within the Weston. It's got a casual but ups ale type vibe. I had…read morebreakfast there and it was on point. I had the classic American breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns and sourdough toast. The servers were attentive without being too present. I always appreciate that. I'd come back tomorrow if I was staying another night.

    Brunch at The Great Room in Costa Mesa was such a classy casual vibe. The ambience feels modern and…read morerelaxed, and we had a lovely view of the fountain outside which made everything feel a little more elevated and serene. We ordered the Lox and Bagel with smoked salmon, capers, cream cheese, pickled red onions, fresh dill, and sun dried roasted tomatoes. The salmon was fresh and silky, and I loved the brightness from the pickled onions and dill. The roasted tomatoes added a nice depth of flavor. I also had the white crab white omelette with spinach and substituted the fruit for hash browns. The omelette was light and fluffy, and the crab added a subtle sweetness. The hash browns were crispy and satisfying. Cappuccinos were great, rich, smooth, and perfectly foamy. Just note they are nine dollars each, which feels a little steep, but they were well made. Service was pretty good overall, attentive and friendly without being overbearing. Overall, a solid four stars. Great atmosphere, quality brunch options, and a polished setting that feels perfect for a relaxed weekend catch up. I would come back for the vibes and the cappuccino.

    Photos
    The Great Room - Fire Table

    Fire Table

    The Great Room
    The Great Room

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    Pioneer - Transfusion...sooo good!

    Pioneer

    4.6(212 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    We made a reservation at Pioneer and really enjoyed this little spot! It's tucked inside a diner,…read moreso it can be a little hard to find at first, but it's just inside the back patio area with a cute wooden saloon-door entrance. The space is small, cozy, and intimate with just a few tables. Our waitress was super friendly and took the time to explain the menu and different options to us. - Guava Y Queso (4.5/5): I loved this! It was really unique with the cream cheese topping, but the combination worked so well. Definitely a fun spot for cocktails and something a little different!

    Lets try this again since my original review was removed…read more The night was going great. We just had dinner near by and decided get drinks here. We've been here a few times before and always thought it was decent. So, we made the last minute reservation online and got here 15 minutes early. When we arrived, there was a short line, but per the reservation instructions, one of my friends went in to check in while we waited outside. Friend: Hi, I'm checking in for a reservation. Bartender: What time is your reservation. Friend: 10 Bartender: What time is it now? Friend: 9:45 Bartender: Then I'll see you at 10pm. Friend came back annoyed and explained what happened. The bartender didn't say it in a joking way, but with attitude and annoyance. Most staff would respond "Thank you for checking in, we will let you know when your table is available." We weren't going to let this ruin our night, so we waited and were seated by the hostess. The bar itself is dimly lit and very tight. The music was loud enough that we had to almost yell to hear each other. The waiter came by soon after and was extremely friendly. We said we'd been here a few times before, but it's been a while. He refreshes our memory by saying they specialize making variations of classics. They want customers to focus on the flavors and that's why the menu doesn't list the spirit in their drinks. Also, they only make drinks on the menu because their drinks are prebatched/premade. We ask for recommendations which he was happy to give. We each order a drink and a snack for the table. As we're talking (very loudly so we can hear each other), we lose track of time before we realize that it's been 20 minutes and we haven't gotten our drinks yet. For something that's prebatched, it shouldn't take long. Before we can flag down the waiter, he comes by and apologizes that they lost our order and had to put it back in. We appreciate the honesty and say it's no problem. 5 minutes later, our drinks and food arrives. He again apologizes for the wait and has a second order of our food that he's including for free. Honestly we were ok with just the apology, but extra food too? Hell yea. Sounds like it was turning around. The drinks were okay. Not amazing, but definitely above average 3.8 / 5. The snack, bread and butter, were surprisingly good. 4.5 / 5 When we asked for the check, the waiter brought the credit card reader and told us we can swipe our card any time and left it on our table. We look at the bill and realize the waiter not only gave us the 2nd snack for free, but comp'd 2 of the drinks also. We all agree this waiter is GREAT. So why the 2 stars? Well first let me say, I would leave it at 1 star, but the waiter definitely earned them another. We wanted to pay cash, so we waited for him to come back. Instead, the original rude bartender comes by and realizes we haven't paid yet. We ask if we can pay with cash. He explains that they don't accept cash. Friend: Are you sure? *Proceeds to try to insert cash into the chip reader slot* Bartender: You're pretty stupid, aren't you? Friend: Maybe if I swipe it instead *Doubles down and proceeds to swipe the cash through the magnetic strip reader* Bartender: Wow, you really are stupid. My friend is a 100% a goofball and having fun with the bartender. It was OBVIOUS that he was joking. Was it funny? A little. Was it stupid? 100%. But for the bartender or ANY customer service staff to call a paying customer "stupid", that's simply unacceptable. We're all pretty pissed at this point and simply swipe the card and the bartender leaves. As I said earlier, we've come here a few times. We don't live especially close, but when we're in the area, we would always consider coming here. Now, there's no chance. For any business, even if your drinks and food are great, customer service can easily DESTROY your experience and that's exactly what the bartender did. Note to the male bartender with no hair: You really shouldn't be interacting with customers. You were rude from the start and have no sense of humor. Could you be having a bad day? Sure, but that's not an excuse to be rude to customers. I know management saw my original post because it was removed, probably because I referred to the bartender by his hairstyle (or lack thereof) multiple times. If they rather remove my post than deal with their bartender, that's another sign to avoid this place.

    Photos
    Pioneer - Sourdough bread

    Sourdough bread

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    The Boiling Crab - seafood - Updated September 2026

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