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    The Crab Station

    3.3 (405 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Order The Crab Station Takeout or Delivery

    The Crab Station Photos

    THE CRAB STATION ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - The Crab Station

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    Reviews With Photos

    Dennis D.

    Arrived at Fisherman's Wharf 9am Friday morning to walk around, see the seals at Pier 39 and check it all out. At around 10:30am my friend wanted to try the Crab. $33 for a whole steamed crab. They must have just delivered the crab that were in a box and he was steaming them fresh. Still alive in the box. She loved her crab, I had the shrimp. Pricey of course, you are at Fisherman's Wharf. Food was fresh and tasty. We found them very helpful but of course it was early and they were not busy. Tables are in front and very basic. After we sat, 4 other groups stopped by to order their fried offerings, soup in the bread bowl, etc. We just stopped for a morning snack.

    Crab Sandwich
    Winson S.

    The crab sandwich was not good and was a huge disappointment. Multiple sandwiches was already pre made and kept refrigerated and cold! Nothing about it is fresh. I thought it was going to be made fresh then served but no it wasn't. The clam chowder was 80%-90% potatoes! Barely clams in the chowder. The inside dining tables were also unclean. Trash of food was left on the table until me and my party walked then it was then the employee came to clean it. I would not come back. Huge disappointment for being on the fisherman strip which is the first thing tourist see when they enter.

    Lobster Roll
    John D.

    Lobster Roll is a staple food at Fishermen Wharf in San Francisco, and finding the right restaurant is very difficult. There are many locations to choose from. The Crab Station was randomly chosen and it was definitely the right choice. The bread was soft and fluffy, filled with delicious lobster. The service was fast, got the Lobster Roll right after paying. There are outdoor seatings which were kept clean, but the seatings are located next to the busy sidewalk. The price was steep, but it is no different than any of the other locations serving Lobster Roll.

    Fish n chips $19.50 (w/tax)
    Han H.

    This is solely regarding their fish and chips menu. And if I could give this menu a negative rating, I would. I honestly can't believe I paid $19.50 for a flat, and dry piece of fish they call fish and chips -- I've had better texture and taste from a McDonald's Filet-O-Fish. While I wait I realized that the inner place they're cooking looked chaotic, coated with Chinese letterings and Buddhist stuffs. There were four guys running this place but they run around like they had no idea what each person is doing what. I don't think they know how fish and chips are supposed to be. Honestly, I don't know why I didn't cancel the order while looking at all that. But hey, lesson learned --no fish n chips available here.

    Menu
    JJ W.

    San Francisco is known for their lobster rolls and it was bit of a tough decision to choose which restaurant to get a lobster roll from. The Crab Station opens early and they have an open kitchen showcasing all of their foods. The tables and seats were clean and right in front of the restaurant. The man who took my order was very nice and excited to take my order. I ordered the Lobster Roll and it was expensive as it came out to $36.00; so be aware of that. The price did not bother me since I have been wanting to try one for a very long time now. The roll is PACKED with lobster and each bite was messy, but in a good way. The lobster was tender, sweet, and fresh. I did find a couple pieces of shell, but I did not mind. The mayonnaise brought it all together and the lemon and melted butter paired very nicely. The roll itself was soft and fresh as well. The lobster roll is a lot for one person so I recommend sharing. Overall, I enjoyed it very much and the service was great. I can understand if some people may be skeptical because of the "looks" of the restaurant, but it's the style of the food spots in this area and I recommend trying new places and things. I'll definitely be back in the future.

    Frozen fish & chips. This makes Morton's look deluxe!
    Richard R.

    Food was the worst food I've ever ATTEMPTED to eat. Frozen years ago in a rectangle and no chance it would survive. One bite and threw away the rest even though crazy expensive. Clam chowder was straight out of the can and not a good brand. When we complained, the employees could not care less. DO NOT GO HERE!

    Popcorn Shrimp
    Aaron H.

    The best places don't always have a flash! Crab station sits on the corner and from the naked eye, it's just another corner spot. However, you'll see quickly why The Crab Station stays with a line compared to those in the area. Baskets are always fried fresh and plentiful in size. Whether it's the fresh cod, fresh popcorn shrimp or crab, The Crab Station serves it up right. Kudos for a quick lunch while strolling the pier area.

    Crab cake wharf 2024
    Denise C.

    What else do you do on your vacation to San Francisco? You wanted to see a vacation for 22 years? At the wharf...to eat harbor style seafood bistro...crab cakes, fish and chips...harken back to 1997...harken back to your high school days....harbor style seafood bistro...is so fun and it was raining lightly...the world doesn't stand still..the crab shack is back Here's to my father and all the good people...de ja vu

    Paulina G.

    The clam chowder In the bread bowl was delicious. Only thing I will complain about is that the bread wasn't warmed up. They had both indoor and outdoor seating but the day was too Beautiful to sit inside. The fish and chips were yummy too. The French fries reminded me of jack in the box fries, which I'm a huge fan of! Service was super quick! Loved it

    Clam Chowder
    uatesone t.

    Clam chowder was really good. The two guys working were nice and quick. Would come back.

    Crab and Shrimp Combo
    Alyssa Y.

    One of the last things we did before leaving SF was to hit up crab shack for a crab and shrimp cocktail. We got there right when they opened, maybe a little early, but they had no problem serving us. We ordered just one to share and it was full of delicious crab and baby shrimp. The sauce and cracker accompaniments made it that much better. It's a roadside stand kind of vibe so don't expect fine dining but for a what it is, it was perfect and hit the spot. Only downside was that it was a little expensive, which may be to be expected since it's seafood and in the most touristy spot in SF. But the taste and customer service made up for that! If you're looking for a quick, yummy seafood cocktail, give this a try.

    Medium-sized Dungeness Crab (around $30) - VN
    Vince N.

    Turns out we've eaten in their dining room before but actually brought in food from a neighboring biz. Whoops! I was extremely saddened to see that neighboring restaurants, Tarantino's and Guardino's, both closed for good due to the pandemic. They were our go-to's for crab and chowder. Luckily, Crab Station weathered the storm. ATMOSPHERE: Located in the heart of Fisherman's Wharf on Taylor Street, the takeaway stand has a few outdoor tables along the sidewalk and a lesser known indoor dining room. The "dining room" is in back of the stand and features three double counter seats and two high tops. We had it all to ourselves until a few stragglers took notice. MENU: Seafood apps, soups & mains. Soft drinks & beer. FOOD: Dungeness Crab - $ MP Our two medium-ish sized crabs came out to $59. They cooked it, cracked it and served it up with lemon wedges, drawn butter and cocktail sauce. Simply divine. Clam Chowder - $10.00 (bowl) Very tasty and creamy. Served in a paper bowl with oyster crackers to the side, we took it to nearby pier 45 where we consumed it all while enjoying the sensory experiences of the area and view of Alcatraz. My heaven... SERVICE: Surprisingly really good and professional, especially from a sidewalk stand. Kudos! OVERALL: This is exactly how we like to consume crustacean in SF. No glass plates, waiters in tuxes, or climate-controlled rooms.

    Crab station venue! Next to Fisherman's Wharf iconic sign.
    Kat K.

    Been eating the crab on Sourdough since 1986! It's a full to the brim with crab on a fresh roll. We always need a bit of salt on it but it's delicious! Clam chowder is great too! Place is not fancy but food is amazing!

    This is pretty much what it looks like on the outside...seating and all. It's Fisherman's Wharf, babeeee!

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    Ask the Community - The Crab Station

    When do they close?

    Yelp says 10pm but when I went down there between 9-9:30pm they were closed and all of the other ones were closed. I was informed that they had closed a few minutes before 8pm. I am curious about what time they open now since I know I need to get… 

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    Sea Forager Seafood

    Sea Forager Seafood

    4.7
    (87 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    I have subscribed to other CSF and Sea Forager is by far the best. I have a "Neptune's Delight"…read moresubscription for 2 people every other week. I love the packaging, and the fact that fish is on ice rather than surrounded by those frozen plastic packets (which end up in the landfill). The fish is packaged in environmental "friendly" bags rather than in plastic. They also deliver at the beginning of the pickup period (i.e. The pickup range is 3:30-8pm, and it's at my pickup point at 3:30). That is different than other CSF who deliver sometime within their published pickup period. Now about their seafood. It has been nice to get clean cut fish, not something that looks like it was hacked from a larger fish. Everything is fresh. They send you an email letting you know what you'll receive. They also have recipes. The last item I received was 4.5 dozen mussels! I look forward to doing business with them for the foreseeable future. Just an aside. My daughter took a sea foraging tour with Kirk in 2012. She raved about how knowledgeable he was and recommended him to me. I, unfortunately, did not follow through. I found Kirk just by chance when the person whose home is used for deliveries asked, on NextDoor, who might be interested in a fresh fruit CSA. I'm glad I did.

    Totally sold on them after a 4 week trial. * Seafood is SOOO…read morefresh. You can taste it. * I get to learn about how fish is caught, who caught it and how to cook it. I feel like I'm learning about the sea and the food, which is awesome. * Bonus that it's family run, they're super friendly and well meaning, give you great flexibility and they're funny too and down to earth * Super easy to order and trial, lots of pick up locations. Summary: can't go back to eating WF/Molly Stones/Costco fish no more. Uh uh.

    Photos
    Seared tuna confetti, over rice, cooked in the wok.
    Seared tuna confetti, over rice, cooked in the wok.
    Kirk Lombard loves his fish
    Kirk Lombard loves his fish
    Nico and Damián rocking the albacore rolls!

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    Nico and Damián rocking the albacore rolls!

    The Crab Station - seafood - Updated August 2026

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