Crab King Cajun Boil & Bar

A pleasant experience in-terms of hospitality and service! However, the food upon delivery (15-20min wait) the sauce (specialty sauce) was very bland and more on the garlicky side. I’ve experienced many, many seafood boils in my tenure. The overall food was a little bland and didn’t really reel me in based off of past reviews. Would I recommend?Possibly, however there are other staples around the area that truly deliver!

Was good. Was okay. 20% charge when you dine in. Decent flavor. Not salty, Good spice kick when Extra Spicy is ordered. Wished they would have used fresh garlic. But it was okay. More yellow in color than compared to Louisiana. Hennessy something drink. Extra shot almost same price as entire drink…🤔

This was an awesome experience. I am from the North East so I’m used to The Boil experience and I can confidently say this is the exact same. Wonderful food. I got the 2 (shrimp and crab). Others in the group got 3 with either clams or mussels and all around everyone had a great experience. Medium spice was everyone’s pick, I got extra spicy and my husband got extreme. We all loved it. We got the mixed shake sauce. Love it. Good pricing. Street parking available. I feel like if this was literally in the downtown it would be thousands of positive reviews. Amazing all around, and our waiter was awesome.

The staff was great and friendly, they even changed the tv to a football game for us. They have a very casual atmosphere. Drinks were very strong. The food was the upset of the experience. The crab cakes didn’t have much flavor or crispiness to them, it was just mushed crab meat. The crawfish were bad and could tell they were probably frozen for too long. The snow crab legs were decent, along with the potatoes, corn, and sausage. However you could also tell the boil was just tossed in the seasoning sauces and not cooked in. There was a mandatory 20% gratuity. Parking was very difficult to find. But there were lots of bars and clubs in the area to go to afterwards.

I ordered the beginner combo and a fried calamari basket for delivery, and I am beyond disappointed. When I opened the calamari box, this is what I got. The menu description said, “Crispy calamari with a choice of sauce.” It did not say anything about fries, yet the box was filled with soggy fries and barely any calamari. This is absolutely not what was advertised. The little calamari that was included wasn’t even crispy, and I paid $19.99 for this. Completely unacceptable and extremely misleading.

We had such a great experience at Crab King Cajun Boil & Bar! From the moment we walked in, the staff was incredibly friendly and accommodating. We ordered the platter for four, and it was more than enough food for me, my boyfriend, and our two nephews. And trust me, those boys can eat! It was their first time trying a Cajun boil, and the staff was so patient and helpful in answering all of their questions. The food was absolutely delicious! Everything was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and the flavors were spot on. I also really loved the overall vibe of the restaurant. The decor and atmosphere made it feel fun, welcoming, and full of energy. You could tell a lot of thought went into creating a great dining experience. We’re already talking about coming back the next time we’re in the city. Highly recommend it to anyone craving flavorful seafood and a good time!

Best Seafood I had this year! Great attention from Ana!, food was delicious with extra kick of spicy 🥵 yummy. Drinks tasty made with love. I haven’t been here nights but afternoons are great if you like to be taken care with extra sweetness.

I recently returned to this restaurant because I remembered my first visit so fondly. The food, service, and atmosphere were all wonderful back then everything felt perfect. Unfortunately, this time around was a huge disappointment. We arrived excited, expecting the same great experience, but our waitress immediately made us feel uncomfortable. She was awkward, unwelcoming, and distant throughout our visit. We tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, assuming she might have been having a rough day. However, it became hard to ignore when we noticed her being warm, friendly, and attentive to other tables while continuing to treat us coldly. My partner and I were nothing but polite and respectful, so the treatment felt uncalled for. To make matters worse, we ordered the same dishes we had loved before, yet the food tasted off, bitter and unpleasant which only added to our disappointment.( I wouldn’t be surprised if the waitress managed to sabotage our food) Our waitress checked on us just once, while frequently visiting the table directly in front of us multiple times. This was a place I once would have recommended to friends and family without hesitation. Sadly, after this experience, I’ll be looking elsewhere for seafood.

Crab King on Broadway is an absolute seafood explosion, the kind of place that makes you forget Chicago is 900 miles from the nearest ocean. You walk in and it's instant party vibes: neon lights, hip-hop and R&B bumping just right, and tables full of people wearing bibs, cracking shells, and laughing like kids. The energy is contagious. Within five minutes you're high-fiving strangers over spilled butter sauce and it feels completely normal. The Cajun seafood boils? Life-changing. We got the Crab King Special (king crab legs, snow crab, shrimp, lobster tail, potatoes, corn, and sausage) in the "Crab King Sauce" (their signature mix of Cajun, lemon pepper, garlic butter, and medium heat). It comes out steaming in the bag, they dump it on the table, and the smell alone deserves its own Michelin star. Every bite is juicy, perfectly seasoned, and that sauce is so addictive I considered drinking it straight. The king crab legs are massive, sweet, and pull apart like a dream. The headless shrimp are some of the plumpest I've ever had, and the lobster tail is cooked to buttery perfection. Pro tip: get everything "extra juicy" and add the Crab King rice on the side, it soaks up the sauce and becomes its own masterpiece. Cocktails are strong and fun (try the Hurricane or the electric-blue Mermaid Water), the fried baskets are killer if someone in your group isn't ready for the full boil experience, and the service is lightning-fast and genuinely hyped that you're there. Prices are shockingly reasonable for the amount and quality of seafood you get, especially in Chicago. Come hungry, wear clothes you don't mind smelling like garlic butter for the rest of the night, and prepare to leave in a glorious food coma. Crab King isn't just dinner, it's an event. Hands-down the most fun seafood feast in the city. I'm already counting the days until I'm back cracking crab and licking sauce off my fingers again. Broadway just got its crown. Long live the King!

On June 28, 2025, my friends and I dined at your establishment under circumstances that raise serious concerns, not only about service quality but also about discriminatory treatment. We arrived late for our reservation, but your staff assured us our party of 12 could be seated as long as everyone arrived before 10 PM--conditions we met. The restaurant willingly chose to seat us one hour before closing, yet the service we received was inconsistent, negligent, and disrespectful. Two drinks, one red wine and one beer, tasted stale and oxidized. Oxidized wine becomes sour, flat, and vinegary when a bottle is left open too long; that is exactly what we were served. We returned both drinks without conflict. When server Juan took orders, he stood at the far left end of the long table and collected all requests from that single spot instead of confirming face-to-face with each guest. I clearly ordered a build-your-own seafood boil with shrimp, sausage, and broccoli. When my food arrived, there was no shrimp. After I pointed this out, Juan conferred with the manager at the order screen, proof he was unsure of what he entered. If shrimp were never on the ticket, there would have been nothing to "double-check." He returned at 10:45 PM with no apology, saying the kitchen was closed and nothing could be done. The manager echoed this, again, no apology, discount, or substitution. When we pressed for accountability, Juan grew argumentative, saying things like, "Well, if I come to a restaurant an hour before they close..." and "I repeated your order and you said it was fine." His attitude was unprofessional and gaslighting. Throughout service he rarely left his post, reached over guests without saying "excuse me," and remained inattentive. As a former restaurant employee, I recognize the harmful stereotype that Black patrons "don't tip." Your policy of automatic 20% gratuity effectively rewarded negligent, even hostile, service on our $300+ bill. The lack of managerial intervention only deepened our perception of bias. I have phoned the restaurant three times requesting a managerial call back, without a single response. Your silence speaks volumes. Given the poor service, lack of accountability, and what I believe to be discriminatory treatment, I will be escalating this matter to the following entities if it is not properly addressed: Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR) Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) Illinois Attorney General - Consumer Protection Division I strongly encourage management to take this complaint seriously and address the issue appropriately before formal complaints are filed.

Quick service for the food. We came in starving and the food did not disappoint. We did our own combo with Cajun butter sauce and it was pretty spicy. I would go back for more. Even though it was really crowded it was quick service with soft background music.

We stopped by for a Sunday lunch, and while the ambiance was no-frills and the seating could be more comfortable, the food completely stole the show. We went all-in on their Cajun seafood boil, loaded with plump shrimps, sweet snow crab clusters, juicy crawfish, and smoky sausages - plus an extra side of broccoli and white rice to soak up all those delicious flavors. We customized our boil with a trio of seasonings: Cajun spice, garlic butter and lemon pepper, all at a medium heat level that gave it a nice kick without overpowering the seafood's natural sweetness. Paired with an ice-cold beer, it was the perfect combo. Yes, we waited nearly an hour for our food (definitely test your patience!), but the second that steaming bag of seafood hit the table, we knew it was worth it. Every bite was packed with fresh, high-quality seafood and bold, well-balanced flavours - the kind of meal where you don't mind getting a little messy. If you're craving a hearty, satisfying seafood boil and don't mind a no-nonsense setting, this hit the spot. Just come hungry - and maybe bring a little extra patience!

First time coming to this place with my friend. After our self care day and being on spring break we decided to go grab seafood boil. The server were very cool and nice, the food came out quick. Now the best part, everything we order are so flavorful and delicious at the same time. You can pick 2,3, or 4 in you bag. Then pick the flavor and spice level. You can add anything you want in the bag for additional charges. Got the garlic noodle, man I was doing my happy dance while eating it. We then order beignet to close out our lunch. It the cherry on top to do this! Highly recommend and wild definitely come back! Street parking and can hold a group gathering.

Very tasty and the food came out very fast for the seafood boil. I just went by myself and sat at the bar and the bartender was very friendly and sweet! Would go again for sure if I wanted to treat myself to a boil.

Ordered this for take out and it was soooo yummy! The food remained really hot and the flavor was really good oh wow.... I am salivating. The crab legs are pretty thin if you just get the normal crab legs but the little bits were still yummy nonetheless. I just did not have money to get the big legs :( Wanted to drink the leftover sauce for real.

The food is great here but the restaurant itself needs work. It smells like backed up sewage inside and we have eaten here 2 separate times but we won't be coming back to eat there. You lose your appetite because the smell is so pungent.

The food was very good. My mom and aunt were visiting from out of town and we went here on a chilly night. The staff was friendly and patient in explaining the menu and we did not have to wait long for the food. Nice price for the amount of food you get!

Came here on the recommendation of a friend! The Cajun Boil was good overall! We got the Spice level 4 which had a punch of heat for a spice over like me. Was definitely reaching for water from time to time so it was a perfect spice level for me. The sausages were a favorite. Juicy but not too salty. The other seafood was also a good portion size and tasted pretty fresh. Get the order or garlic noodles too! There were delicious and paired so well with the cajun sauce. Just douse the noodles in the sauce after you finish most of the protein!

Great service, this place is delicious! Amazing flavor and the medium heat level has a little spice to it.

How have I not had this experience sooner? Soon after ordering, two huge bags of seafood were brought to our table. We opted to get rid of the bag for ease of eating. There's also bibs and plenty of napkins- this is not a clean dining experience. From the shrimp to the crab to the corn, everything was amazing. I wanted to finish it all, but couldn't. The service was great and the place itself is pretty large. We'll definitely be back!

My first seafood boil experience! My niece goes to school in New Orleans and took us here to give us a taste of the cajun experience. The space is cute with a nautical theme throughout. Our server was really nice and walked us through the ordering process. I got the snow crab seafood boil with garlic butter spice flavor and no heat. The flavor was so tasty! It's served with potatoes, corn, and a bib - haha! I also got to try crawfish for the first time. They are a little tricky to eat, but once you get the hang of it it's not bad. As a table we shared the gator bites and hush puppies. Neither of these impressed me much so I would probably pass next time. Would love to come back for the boil again though!

Did takeout to avoid the service charge and it was very worth it! Our build a bag was filled with more than we were expecting. I love the corn and sausage and we got the Dungeness crab which was amazing. The shake special flavor could have been more flavorful and the crawfish were a little hard to eat but lessons learned for next time :). Oh they also give you bibs and gloves for takeout which was very kind.

I've come back to chicago and i had to come back to Crab King Cajun & Boil! Their service is always on point and I've tried different things this time! Their cajun noodles were creamy and spicy and had just the right kick! The ambiance is very family friendly with lots of cool seafood decor and was an awesome place to drink beer, eat some seafood and watch the game! The oysters and mussels were the fattest ones i've ever seen served a cajun boil restaurant and they were so worth it! Crab King never fails me! Must try!

My daughter and I came here for a late lunch/dinner, we both thought the food was incredible, the service was top notch ! My daughter thought it was expensive ( she was 6 years old at the time) but since her father was paying she left the tip.

Came for dinner after watching Blue Man Group. It was my birthday celebration and my handsome son paid. We ordered the boil and had the tastiest boil I've ever had. Made with all kinds of seafood, corn, potatoes and sausage. It was clean. The staff is so nice and they give you little bibs. What's not to love? The bathroom. Also clean. Street parking so you have to pay but it's in the city so... makes sense, I guess.

We had the oysters on the half shell and seafood boil in the shake sauce medium spicy with snow crab, langostine shrimp, black mussels and clams. Delicious! We also had the beignets which was a great ending to our meal. The service was very good. The restaurant was pretty quiet for lunch. The space is very comfortable and cute with its nautical decor.

Amazinggggg I love their spices and you can order their sauce to goooooo! I would appreciate if they open up a restaurant in Milwaukee. I live in mke and would definitely know it would be a hit for business we're tired of kind crab shack lol

A real review from a real Louisianian. This shit was nasty!!!!! Awful!!!! I would give it 0 stars but i don't have the option. Yall don't know what real flavor or spice is. The people in the reviews are lying down on their side getting a thigh tattoo !!!! I expected more from the presentation and the smell but as usual just like Houston and everywhere else the food was nasty af. Yall need to start passing around tonys round this heaux!!!! Damn even old bay like please!!! Save your money. Salt wont even help this mess.

Crab boil and a happy hour?! Say less. My mom and I are down! While it does seem like the kind of touristy restaurant you'd find on the beach, it's right in the heart of lakeview east. We split a crab boil and a few happy hour chardonnays. Our waitress was sooo helpful in being honest with how much food we were getting and helping us get the most of the happy hour. It was so much fun to get messy and eat a delicious meal. Absolutely will be a special memory for my mom and I.

Everything was delicious! The seafood boil had the perfect flavor and wasn't skimpy on the seafood

The food was amazing! We loved the lobster. Service was very attentive and quick. They made good recommendations for us based on what we wanted. We went for lunch so it was a little quiet, but the playlist was on point! We had a great time and can't wait to be back.

Food was fantastic. Loved all the apps off their new menu: Takoyaki balls, crab Rangoon. Seafood boil was so flavorful, reminded me of a Houston seafood boils

Horrible service. Looks like they split one order into two. Looks nothing like the pictures online. Don't order from here.

The food was incredible and the prices really affordable. My son and I were visiting from out of town and took a chance on this place based on reviews. Oh my goodness. It was SO GOOD. We ordered way too much which was a shame but we stuffed ourselves properly.

Second time here and first and foremost I've never had 20% gratuity added to my bill for one person. I saw nothing warning me of this. Was not expecting that. Servers should get their tips in cash and they should get an amount that reflects their service. This is one of two reasons for 2 stars. The second reason was the corn on the cob. The kernels were shriveled up . The king crab was huge and fantastic. The service was worth 20% tip but I didn't appreciate it just being taken from me with no warning. It was a bit hot in the joint though.

I loved the boil that we chose. We got the shake special blend sauce which is cajun, garlic butter, and lemon pepper. I thought it was super tasty and flavorful. The waitress was really sweet and patient which was appreciated being it was our first time. Good selection of beers and other sides and menu items.

Very good food! Very good service! Great cocktails and nice chill ambiance. Kristian is a very good server, personable and knowledgeable. The blackberry collins was very good; balanced and fruity. If you wanted to try it for the first time, try the beginner boil.

I was taken to King Crab Cajun Boil for my 74th birthday it was soooo good. The staff was very polite and professional...the bathrooms could have been a little more clean. Still give them 5.

This place is amazing! We came here last year only a few weeks after they opened and we absolutely loved our meal. All 4 of us got boils and man o man were they delicious. The crab, shrimp, and andouille were intensely flavored and I really wish we had this place in Nashville as we'd go often. The potatoes and corn were good too, but I didn't eat much of that as the meat and seafood was just too good. The beer selection was good as well and a nice cold one paired so well with this meal. Service was good too and we had a great time overall. We'll definitely be back on our next trip to Chicago!

5/19/2025. I just left Crab King Cajun Boil on Broadway. I have eaten here twice before, dine-in, with a group. It was good both times so decided to place an order for pick up today while on my walk home. While ordering I wanted to add an extra garlic sauce for my order but there is no option to add sauces online so I figured I would ask in the store. When I arrived I asked if it was possible to add a garlic sauce and I could pay with cash or card. (paying was not the problem) the lady at the counter told me you had to dine in to add sauces to your order! what kind of policy is that?? I ordered about $40 worth of food through Doordash! seriously. And the lady looked at me like I was crazy! she was kind of rude. Just a disappointing experience overall and now I don't want to go back but that shouldn't be the case!

Let's start with deserts - best beignets I've had since cafe du mond in NOLA. That is reason alone to be here. Get the seafood boil combo shake special blend - you won't be disappointed. Better yet the deluxe combo for $159.00 will feed about 5 to 6 people. It's huge. You will need extra potatoes or corn. I also suggest you get sausage with that. What I like about this shake special blend sauce as opposed all the other Cajun seafood establishments, is it's really flavorful without drowning in butter. We had oysters for appetizers- really fresh they were excellent! Shoutout to our sever Shawnee working really hard that Saturday!

This place was super good .. they had the best sushi I will I didn't get so full fast because I wanted to try more stuff but I will be returning soon to try other things ... the boil bag was great we also had wings they weren't all that but u know we gotta get wings as appetizers no matter wat .. the service was great also.. it looked kinda small to me but luckily we went on a slow day on a Tuesday .. no wait !!!

If you don't take your Gurleys here for a nice little crab boil, you are a terrible friend. I have never had a better experience eating this messy meal in my entire life. I have never had this before and the weight staff was telling me what to get and I could not, agree with what they told us to get more. They hooked us up and made sure we had a good time. Loved the meal. You could get one giant plate to share or your own we chose to get one to share so yes. Point blank, the ambiance is so good. Yasss queen

This is my go-to place for a solid seafood boil. I love their combination sauce - it's thick, garlicky, buttery, and savory. Their seafood tastes fresh, plump, and seasoned - I've tried their shrimp head on, crab legs, mussels, crawfish, and langoustines. I like to add on some sausages and highly recommend their appetizer garlic noodles!

Sooooo good. We got the mild butter and garlic flavor. Try the scallops! Not cheap, but well worth the money for a special time. Don't wear fancy clothing and the seafood gets everywhere.

UNBELIEVABLE. Okay so I'm looking for some real seafood. Not that imitation crab that they serve at Japanese restaurants (which to be fair I really enjoy) but real crab and big juicy shrimp. So this place came up with the name crab in the title and I figured I'd might as well give it a try. So I grad a seat at the bar and I order the Pick 2 special because I wanted Crab (see above) and Shrimp (see above) with the heads off (I don't love my food looking at me). I was told to pick my sauce and I got the combo shake special blend (lemon pepper, garlic butter, and Cajun) and got it with no spice because I am a baby. It comes out in this massive bag with 2 corn cobs and 2 pieces of potato just soaking and simmering in the shake special blend. Now it took me a minute to figure out how to crack open my crab claws... but once I got the hang of it I was cracking, pulling and dipping. I at first didn't see any shrimp and was disappointed, but then saw a bunch of little bumps at the bottom... the bag had SO MUCH SHRIMP. I swear at some of these places they give you "1/2 pound" or "1/4 pound" and it's like 4 pieces. There was so much shrimp here it was perfection and they were drowning in the shake... not complaining!!! I slowly make my way through the bag and I begin to hit a wall. I eventually make it through the legs but I have some shrimp left over. The bartender (oh yeah I'm eating alone sitting at the bar, good experience no qualms) mentions that it travels well and it's even better the next day because everything sits and marinates. Also to eat it cold. So needless to say I have four shrimp waiting for me for lunch tomorrow. In addition, a guy at the bar ordered Beignets and..... HOLY CRAP. Like it's worth stopping in just for them. They're a little bigger than I expect beignets to be but there's something magical about them and they're fried fresh as they should be. This long review is all to say run don't walk to this new Lakeview staple!

Service was nice but this location is stingy with the butter and although I ordered garlic butter with Cajun spice it was bland. The bottom barely had enough butter to cover the contents of the bag. Oaklawn location is the best one.

Yum. I love me some seafood, and Cajun seasoned boil is delicious! We did two Pick 2 (Medium Spicy, Shake Special Blend, 1 Cluster Snow Crab, 1/2 Lb Shrimp Head Off and Noodle On Side, 1/2 Lb Crawfish, 1 Cluster Snow Crab, Cajun, Medium Spicy)- good quality for the price and portions! Will definitely order again if not dine in!

Went here many months ago but forgot to leave a review. I haven't been back since but I'm planning a trip soon! High quality seafood with great customer service.

YAAAAASSSS BISH'! Walked in sat down and ate. The food and sauce was bomb!! Shrimp was TRUE GULF shrimp made just right. The green mussels OMG the mixed sauce I want to pack it up and take it home. My soft shell crab was ok needed a lil more spice and corn kinda cold but the food overall I was very satisfied. Living in Htown for 20 years I KNOW A GOOD SEAFOOD BOIL. Spending time in New Orleans as well this was good. I didn't walk away stuffed but it hit the spot. I'm only mad I was too full to order my beignets :0(. I will be back for sure! My mango passion needed more alcohol though but again bomb food!

Food was on point, ambiance perfect, not too noisy, service was great not too in your face. They let me eat in peace.

We came to Chicago for my birthday and saw this place on TikTok, I ordered it on DoorDash because we had to make it to the club in time, they accidentally gave us the wrong order but after calling and talking to Mackenzie and Andrew they not only had DoorDash reimburse us but also gave us our exact order FREE the next day!! The food was amazing and flavorful and I would recommend this place to everybody, fast and friendly service and truly made my birthday amazing! Thanks again Andrew!

Messy but amazing! Next time I will swap out the crawdads but otherwise very good! Highly recommend.

So. As a dude from Louisiana I just haveeee to try places that claim the Bayou, and a boil place is always on the list. I didn't try the boil this time though, I decided to try the catfish platter and garlic bread. Meh. Catfish is a hard fish to fry. You can season it up to the heavens, but if you don't remove all of the silver fatty skin that lines the filet, it'll taste fishy. Unfortunately this catfish tasted fishy. IYKYK. Though, eating the nice seasoned edges was definetely a vibe. The fries were the star of this meal. Seasoned, soft, and just delicious. I would go back for the fries alone. I got a order of garlic bread as well. It was giving....garlic bread from the grocery store. Not a fan of that at all ‍

The best seafood in a bag I've had- and I've tried quite a few different places. Ordered oysters as an appetizer and they were fresh and tasty. Seafood in a bag was seasoned well- I ordered mine with crab legs, sausage and shrimp (head off). Ordered the combined seasoning and mild temperature. Drinks were tasty as well. We ordered margaritas. All the items on the drink menu looked good. The service was great. Definitely coming back to try a different cocktail and seafood in a bag.

Since the Angry Crab close to us closed, we had to look for another seafood boil restaurant. This was not a fail. Plus Garlic butter noods! Nuff said. Service was great too!

I absolutely LOVED this place. The atmosphere is beautiful and the food is delicious. I ordered a CYO bag with snow crab, shrimp, potatoes, eggs, and a lobster tail as well as a strawberry margarita and I was expecting my bill to be at least over $100 but it was only $89! I also got the mix of cajun spices with medium spicy and the flavor was immaculate. I would say the service is not the best because our server barely checked on us and when we needed lemons she brought them when we were halfway done. But i'm writing this review the next day because i'm reminiscing how delicious this truly was :)