Shrimp Heads

I find it interesting how quick some folks are to criticize without considering the full picture. I visited this restaurant this afternoon and could clearly see they had been busy, most of the tables were still being cleared. The gentleman kindly asked us to wait outside, which is standard practice at many restaurants when there isn’t a designated waiting area or when the indoor space is already full. If you’ve been there before, you’d understand why they manage their entrance the way they do. They need to monitor who is coming and going, not only for safety and fire code reasons, but also because they personally carry food orders to each table. Standing in the doorway would only create congestion and make their jobs harder. What stood out to me was that the staff member was doing it all, bussing tables, running food, taking orders, preparing drinks, working the register, and hosting. That’s no small task. It’s easy to leave a critical review, but it’s important to recognize the effort happening behind the scenes. We were seated in a reasonable amount of time, and the service was handled with professionalism despite how busy they were. Hats off to that gentleman and his team. The food service industry deserves a little more patience and respect, it goes a long way.

Dear [SHRIMP HEAD/Management], I am writing to formally express my extreme disappointment regarding a recent dining experience at your establishment on Saturday, February 24th, with my mother. We had visited with the expectation of enjoying a quality seafood meal, but unfortunately, our experience fell significantly short of any acceptable standard. Upon our arrival, we opted for the all-you-can-eat seafood boil, initially choosing the mild house sauce. While this first portion was merely acceptable, we also ordered an appetizer that, to its credit, was quite enjoyable. However, our experience quickly deteriorated with our subsequent order. Wishing to sample another flavor, we requested a seafood boil prepared with garlic butter. This particular dish was profoundly unappetizing. It appeared to consist largely of unsalted butter, haphazardly mixed with large, raw chunks of garlic, completely lacking any cohesive flavor or proper preparation. It was, frankly, inedible. To salvage our meal, we requested an additional side of the mild house sauce we had previously. Before concluding our visit, I requested an extra serving of shrimp. Regrettably, these arrived in an overcooked and burnt state, rendering them unpalatable, and I was compelled to leave them untouched. The most concerning aspect of this entire experience unfolded after we left. Shortly after returning home, I became unwell, experiencing symptoms that I attribute directly to the food consumed at your restaurant. In an effort to address these serious concerns, I contacted your establishment by phone immediately. I spoke with a staff member who noted my name and phone number, assuring me that a manager would return my call and instructing me to call back in approximately one hour. Following this instruction, I called again an hour later but received no answer. The staff member had also stated that the manager would proactively reach out to me. Today, February 26th, I have still not received any communication from management, despite my repeated attempts to call your number, which again went unanswered. The complete lack of follow-up and resolution, coupled with the subpar food quality and the subsequent illness, has left me profoundly upset and deeply dissatisfied. As a patron, I expect a certain level of culinary standard and customer service, neither of which was met during our visit or in the aftermath. Given this highly negative experience, I would be hard-pressed to consider returning to your restaurant or recommending it to others. I sincerely hope that management will take these serious matters into consideration and provide a proper response.

We dropped in for food after spending the morning in nearby Balboa Park and ordered the shrimp + crab boil and the spicy pork basket. The food hit the spot perfectly! Everything was very tasty and the service was above and beyond. This is definitely worth a try.

I was playing tourist in San Diego. A friend recommended this place. No regrets and I highly recommend this place. The food was great! But what really made this place even better was the staff. My server was amazing! I don't remember her name but she had curly hait. I think her name was Emilia, Emily or Emma. Either was, she was phenomenal! Her friendliness and recommendations were spot on! I will come back again to enjoy this place. I already recommended this place to other friends! Love it!

Well we're not big clam or mussels eaters, but we are big crab legs eaters. So when we stumbled upon Instagram reel we were very enthused to hear there was a all you can eat crab place right here in the Northpark area. The disappointment came when we learned that the 39.99 deal which initially seemed great, is not a flat fee. It is only that price if you opt out of paying the additional $14 fee for a lb of crab legs, which is why we came. And if then theres any leftovers that you can't finish that will be a $20 fee. Oh and dont forget the 18% gratuity fee. After 45min of waiting, when we finally got a table for only 2 people, we thought we were pretty close to actually eating, but instead we were still waiting for another 30min. It would had been nice if they included or offered fries or small appetizer along with our beverage to hold us over until main course was ready. You do get choice of chicken wings, tenders, fries, and fried shrimp. But it seems they kinda skimp you by only serving 3 pieces at a time. It would make more sense if it was an even number so your not fighting over 3 small morsel sized pieces of food. We spent almost 3 hours there, half of which was mainly wait time. I really felt like it was sort of a bait and switch with advertising an all you can eat boil for a reasonable price to get you in, only to up charge with fees that you didnt expect to initially pay. But your there already, your hungry, then they got you. And although the atmosphere, food, and service is good, it is not $150 good which is what we paid in the end. For these reasons mentioned and long story short we probably won't return.

I got the #1 shrimp, snow & king crab with the house sauce at atomic heat for $69.99. I added sausage and quail eggs for a few bucks more. They had 5 beer buckets for $22. The flavor was good and atomic heat was so spicy that I had tears running down my face and I eat spicy. The reason they get 2 stars is because the seafood wasn't cooked correctly. Usually you can snap the crab at the joint and pull the meat out but when I attempted to snap the legs on both snow & king crab it folded like a wet balloon. Not sure if that means over cooked ? The shrimp when taken out of the skin was almost mushy. At the price we pay i expect better quality. For that reason I won't come back. Good service, good sauce, cheap beer but the star of the show was bad.

Tore down, coming from the east coast this shit was bomb! Just as good as hook and reel or chasing tails out in the dmv. Try it

Hidden gem! We got here at 6pm on a Friday before the rush and thank goodness. Two servers and a full restaurant they were struggling and did their best!! Food was really good and reasonably priced seafood. We shared the house combo for 2 adults and a toddler! Also got the okra amazing and soft shell crab. Will definitely be back

Shrimp Head! My family and I tried Shrimp Heads for the first time and I was THOUROUGHLY IMPRESSED with everything. From Cleanliness, Service, and the food!! All of it was just CHEFS KISS We came in with a big group of 12 people (6 of them being kids ten or younger). We came in for the All You Can Eat Crab Boil, not only was the food amazing, but the service was also amazing! The rules of the AYCE is straight forward and easy to follow! the sauces and spices are amazing, the amount of food you are able to get per "round" makes it so fun to mix and match! you will not be disappointed! I can't rave enough about the service that we had! From the host to the servers, everything was top tier! A gentleman by the name of Wayne was absolutely amazing and was extremely accommodating to our large party, and he was so polite and nice! Our server Kai was also very nice, accommodating, and just overall extremely helpful throughout our dine with them. he came around multiple times and if there was a change of order or mixup, he was on it!! Sometimes with large parties, servers begin to get annoyed or frustrated because of order changes and trying to make things work, but the service here was amazing and they just made it seem so effortless!! A final note! the overall vibe of the place was intimate and family style! and i can't forget to mention Wayne's great taste in music, we were jammin to 90s and early 2000s R&B while we were demolishing crab legs, shrimp, crawfish, eggs, and lobster tails!! This place is a MUST TRY in San Diego for those who are craving a crab boil!! it will not disappoint! THANK YOU WAYNE AND KAI for your amazing service and for the awesome experience!!

seafood boil time in San Diego shrimp heads is a good spot for a solid seafood boil. i ordered combo #3, with head-on shrimp, potatoes and my choice of clams. i went with their mild house sauce, along with a thai soda float! my dessert was their fried oreo with ice cream. although the vanilla melted quickly, it was all worth the $4 for dessert! ambiance was busy, with many parties inside. customer service was also good, up to pair with the food experience! i got shrimp head now

A Cajun seafood boil type establishment with a friendly atmosphere and tastebud kicking flavor! Food: Got the Shrimp Heads bucket deal which includes 1 lb shrimp, 1lb mussels, and 1lb clams, and a whole lot of sides including corn, sausage pieces, potatoes, and a sauce. We went with the House sauce with medium spice. The seafood was fresh and meaty, the sauce had a great kick to it, and the inclusion of everything else filled us up. Nothing crazy or outstanding, just a really solid, flavorful meal. Nitpicking, I do wish the sausage was a bit more special and the corn was sweeter but overall not much to complain about. Service: Fast and friendly. What more can you ask for? Atmosphere: Had nice open dining with a friendly, oceanic vibes. Perfect for the meal.

Came here on my birthday on a Thursday night and we were seated immediately! Surprised because the last time I went the line was so long we weren't able to dine in. The service was extremely quick and friendly. The inside is decorated just as other seafood boil places but it is smaller and more intimate. We ordered the AYCE with clams, crawfish, shrimp. We ordered the medium spicy which we felt wasn't that spicy so we got the atomic and omg that one was just spicy. There wasn't much flavor for the atomic so I wish there was a middle ground for the medium and atomic. The star of the show was the cajun fries. The seasoning was perfect and it was cooked just to my liking

Wanted to try this place out after hearing all about it! We were interested in doing AYCE but building our own boils were better for us price-wise. Servers were nice and answered any questions we had. We all ended up getting mild house sauce on all of our boils, their sauce is a bit thicker than other seafood boil places but not a bad thing! Not sure if it's crawfish season but the crawfish here were huge and limes were super juicy compared to other places I've been (Crab Town, Boiling Crab, and Submarine Crab)! One downside is that there's only a single bathroom with the sink so you gotta wait to wash your hands if you opt out of using gloves. Would come back again.

Our order was delivered to the hotel. Ordered grandson's fav Cajun Seafood broiled crawfish with corn and shrimps with heads and corn, plus a side of Cajun French Fries!!! Too spicy for my taste but grandson had a feast just enjoyed every bite till they were all gone !!

Shrimp Heads was fire! I had the shrimp and snow crab legs boil with corn, potatoes, and added sausage--sooo good. Everything was packed with flavor, and the fries and garlic bread were solid too. The staff was super nice and helpful, which made the experience even better. I'll definitely be back!

AYCE Seafood Boil Monday, Wednesday & Friday $39.99 per person kids 4.5 ft $17.95 Worth it? Yes! Comes with Fountain Drink Includes: Shrimp Crawfish Clams Mussles 1 Appetizer You can add corn, potatoes, sausages, egg and rice to it Extra for Crab and Lobster tail Service has always been good. We have eaten on regular days and it doesn't get as busy as AYCE days. Free Parking I like the house sauce.

The ambience is good with great music playing, easy parking. I personally think that the AYCE and the price ($39.99 per person) is not worth the hype. We only had one round and now that I think of it I could've gotten the same thing for $70 instead of $300 plus $14 per lobster or crab added. Also, they will add 18% gratuity if there is more than 4 ppl in your party. The Cajun & lemon fries as well as wings were okay. The sauce didn't have that kick or not enough seasoning in my opinion. I asked for lemons twice and never got them for the 1 hour I was there but I watched the table next to me instantly given some. Also, $20 per lb if you have any leftovers, which is wild after a $300 bill. Overall, I wouldn't come again. I've experienced better places. I recommend improving sauce recipe and quality of service.

If I wasn't such a seafood boil snob,I would give this place 4 stars . It's not the freshest , the house sauce and other sauces available aren't anything special . However this is close to where I live and the prices are reasonable and the drink selection is one of the few impressive things . It was slow when I went in and it took a bit to get seated and finally order . But I must add that slow periods are rare and it does pick up quite a bit and it appears they are short staff. So patience is a must ! My waiter was super kind and couldn't have been anymore professional. In short , don't expect to be blow away from this restaurant but if you are on a budget and need to quickly suffice a seafood boil craving, this is will be your go to spot. Also, the vanilla ice cream and fried Oreo is a delicious way to end the meal.

was craving a really spicy seafood boil so bad so had to stop by to get some. all the food was pretty fresh! my only wish was that the house sauce had more garlic flavor :') ooo and if you order the atomic spice level, just know the sauce is made with carolina reapers !!!

A bit disappointed at the quality of the seafood but the pork chops was awesome. It really tasted like salt and pepper pork chops. I came a long time ago when this place first opened but for some reason never wrote a review. I'm pretty sure it was along the lines of 4 stars as well. It was busy this night and there was only one server, but he did well. He was nice and did his best. I got everything from oysters, calamari, fries, pork chops, shrimp and sausage. It didn't quite hit the mark for me but the pork chops supercedes anything I imagined and expected. This is my main reason for coming back!

Food was AMAZING -- easily a 10/10. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. Service was great and the staff was super friendly. Definitely coming back!

SHRIMP 1 LB was soggy! CRAWFISH (Frozen) 1LB were okay . BLACK MUSSELS was ew . I made to go order Everything was soggy and the sauce favor was thick and nasty I'm sorry do not like it at all ...

Good parking, prices are average, sauce has heavy tomato base profile. We ordered 2 lbs shrimp, it was cooked well, shells didn't stick. Good service, he was attentive and friendly. Appetizer and alcohol prices were quite high. Due to the amount of similar restaurants we are not planning to go back. Overall, very average experience.

This place is always on point. The fried shrimp, both butterfly and homestyle, are served crisp, quick, and piping hot. The Cajun fries were as well. Add a friendly & cheerful staff to the mix and you have a winner!

Shrimp heads has some pretty awesome happy hour specials such as lbs of food items and drinks. You have several combo options you can fully share with friends or have a nice hefty meal for yourself. I recommend getting the all in one flavor for your boil! Service is pretty attentive and fast! There is plenty of room at this spot for many tables to be served at any time of the day. Parking is scarce and kinda tricky, it's only one side of the building, street entrance otherwise you'd have to make a u turn at the light and go back around to enter or go around the whole block...

Great service and great food! One of the best seafood boils I've had in a really long time. I will be back!

Came here because I saw they offer AYCE on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday for $39.99 per person. They don't allow each person to have their own individual bag so my friend and I shared. If your friend doesn't eat the same spice level as you, then you'd have to just order a difference spice level sauce on the side.($2 each) You can pick 4 seafood option at a time and they come in 1/2 pounds. You can also chose an appetizer and additional 4 add on. ( See pictures for the menu) The sauce itself isn't the best in my opinion...compared to crab hut/pub etc. but I'm glad I tried this place out.

We went for all you can eat Thursday, our 1st visit. Food was spectacular, will be back!

Wow! I love this place. They were so accommodating for a group of 9. Fun atmosphere and delish food.

Great food and the staff is a vibe. Would recommend if you are looking for a seafood boil

food was mid compared to boiling crab. Sauce didn't hit. only went here because boiling crab was too far but I left disappointed

Another amazing service from Weezy, thank you! + the food was fresh, timely, delicious, & the playlist was the cherry on top lol. 'Til next time!

Unfortunately our experience did not live up to the current high rating. The fried catfish was the best thing we ate. We got catfish basket and the #4 boil combo. The house sauce, ordered "mild" was very bland, although there was a hint of cayenne or something. The crab absorbed the flavor, but the head-on shrimp did not. The service was good, friendly and efficient. So I'm left with disappointment, because it's the food I'm coming for. We perhaps should have ordered a bolder sauce, but it wouldn't make up for the shrimp being a bit overcooked and having a very dirty digestive track--quite unappealing. They do show a lunch special now, that is a fairly good deal, but I don't know that I will make the effort again.

Great food, great service! Incredible, atmosphere. Awesome for big groups. Will be back for sure :)

The food was great here! This place was very accommodating, the ambiance is very laid-back (shout-out to the staff member with the R&B playlist in rotation!), and the staff were very friendly. Definitely coming back here the next time we're in the area!

Shrimp/corn weren't super fresh and on the small side + sauce was watery and wasn't very flavorful (my guess is because it didn't have very much garlic or spices). Pretty disappointing after reading all of the good reviews about this place. The Cajun seafood boils in NorCal are definitely much better. Garlic noodles were also really salty and I had to drink a lot of water. The only reason they get two stars instead of one is that the waitstaff was pretty nice and the food came out pretty quickly. But would not come back here again and would probably just skip Cajun seafood in San Diego for good after this experience. Lots of significantly better options serving fresh locally-caught fish. I hate to say it but this was probably the lone miss food-wise on my recent trip to San Diego.

We had the all-you-can eat seafood boil. Generous portions and delicious. Loved the home style shrimp appetizer. Super friendly service. Ambiance is nice, casual and family-friendly. They have their own parking lot- convenient. We will be back!

Shrimp Heads was fire. The all-you-can-eat seafood hit the spot, and the vibe in the place was super chill. Everyone working there was super friendly and made the whole experience feel easy and welcoming definitely had that mom-and-pop feel in the best way. If you go, get the house sauce mixed with mild it's the move. Perfect mix of flavor and heat without being too much. Shrimp was fresh, and they don't hold back on the portions. Also, if you're stuck choosing between the lemon pepper wings or the buffalo... just get both. Seriously. Both were juicy and packed with flavor hard to pick a favorite. If you're looking for good seafood, good people, and a relaxed spot to grub, Shrimp Heads is where it's at. Definitely going back. If you're looking for all you can eat make sure to check what days they have it!

Friends and I were craving seafood boil and I saw this place had pretty good ratings! We went on a Friday night and it wasn't too busy, there were a few empty tables. We were a party of 6 so we needed to have two tables be pushed together. When I walked in, there was a man who kind of side eyed us and gave off the attitude that he was tired and didn't really want to deal with us. We assumed it was because he had a long day and only saw it was him and another guy waiting on people so we cut him some slack. He told us it would take a while because we had a large party and after us two small parties showed up. Almost 20-30 minutes later we were finally seated and it took another 15-20 minutes for us to be able to order. Then another 15-20 minutes for food. The reason why I didn't dock off more stars for the wait is because it seems like they're a small business and after interacting with the waiter he was really nice and chill. They just need more people working so that the wait for seating/ordering/food doesn't take so long. I got the 1lb shrimp with house sauce and it was so good! My group got the combo with house sauce and it was pretty good as well. I would say if you are on a time crunch to not come here, but if you have time this place is great!

If an establishment is going to have week day specials, it's going to bring people in. But when people come in and don't get greeted for a long time; when they finally get sat, their orders aren't taken for a long time; after they finally get talked to, they don't receive their drinks for a long time; when they finally get their drinks, now it's time to take their order...It's basically been an hour later. This was extremely bad service. We came on a Monday afternoon for lunch, mind you, not the weekend or a busy time to be seeing such bad service all around. My group patiently stayed for our entire encounter there but witnessed several tables leave because of this poor style of service. Mind you, we had small children with us and they even knew the service was taking too long and not good. I live down the street and finally came to try this place so I didn't want to just leave like that but it was a a very long lunch time spent there. The ambiance was very bad too because it's not a big restaurant, so all of us witnessed this bad service to everyone else that was there. We could overhear every tables concern who was present. I felt bad for every group before and after us who was ignored. A lot of families too. 2 sets of mothers with their children walked out and they seemed like they really wanted to eat there too. That was quite disappointing.

Place was awesome crab was excellent!!!! Fried Oreos were a nice after crab light treat! Thank you Shrimp Heads!

The food was great, cooked well, and fast service. The downgrade was service. The server acted as though we were an imposition. This brought down what was a great eating experience.

The food was AMAZING!! best seafood boil i've ever had for a reasonable price. The fresh catch of the day oysters were also so so good i was shocked how fresh they are. I loved the customer service as well, super kind, quick, and attentive with the tables. The ambiance of the place is very homey and comfortable. 10/10!!!

Don't let Tik-tok reviews fool you... it's nasty... all the sauces have a sweet taste to it, and they are expensive.

Went with the 4-person combo special, and overall, it was a great experience for the price. We opted for the mild house sauce, which had a nice balance but wasn't too spicy. So, if you're into more heat, I'd recommend going for a hotter option. The fried foods definitely help round out the meal and keep you full. The seafood boil itself was solid--the shrimp had a great texture, and not mushy like you sometimes get elsewhere. While it wasn't the absolute best I've ever had, it was still very satisfying. What really stood out was the excellent customer service. The staff made sure we were taken care of throughout the meal, and their attentiveness pushed this review to 5 stars. They offer dedicated parking, but it seems like it could fill up quickly, so plan ahead, especially during busy hours. As a fellow big back I recommend giving this place a shot.

Bottom line: -seafood is fresh & cooked to perfection! -shrimp was perfect, easy to peel, not mushy/overcooked. -sauce WASNT SALTY!!!! It was flavorful wasn't overly garlicky, or salty. -service was so fast. -bucket deals are awesome for two to share. -my hands didn't smell because they provide gloves!! Long story long: Wayne was single handedly handling tables like a pro, super attentive & so sweet. The music/playlist was immaculate as well. I have been to so many seafood boils, big chains, other ma&pas, Shrimp Heads was finally a spot that embodied the best of them. Nothing smelled fishy, a non salty sauce that didn't depend on strong garlic, & most importantly the seafood was not over cooked. My manicure being preserved was a huge huge plus due to the gloves provided to protect you during your shrimp head peeling fun!!! Loved this spot. Will def be back when we are in town!!

House sauce is definitely the way to go. Boil was delicious. We did all you can eat. We got two rounds. I would say it was worth the money ended up paying around 120 for two people that includes tip. It's a small little restaurant, but it's nice inside. Bathrooms are clean and service was fast.

This was our first time going and doing all-you-can-eat, and for the price, it was so worth it! The service was amazing; the staff was attentive and friendly, ensuring our drinks were always filled and that we had everything we needed. They checked in frequently but were never intrusive, making us feel valued and welcome. The seafood was so fresh and the sauce wasn't overly salty! I will definitely be coming here again

We decided to try this place based on its great yelp reviews. We get there and the place is maybe 3/4 full? There were two servers, they were nice but it didn't seem like they could keep up the pace and had zero sense of urgency. So we were standing at the door for several mins until we finally got seated. The calamari we ordered was good, particularly the garlic butter but it had a lot of breading. Some of what we had in our basket was just that, deep fried breading without anything in it. The crab boil itself was ok. No real seasoning or flavor. For a $100 bucket, it didn't fill anyone up...the portions were small which is to be expected as seafood is expensive but the lack of flavor was disappointing.

The service was very friendly and the food was very tasty! We had the AYCE and the variety and amount you get totally outweigh the cost. Recommend trying the crab legs too! Came in on a Thursday evening and wasn't very busy. Would totally recommend coming here!

Typical seafood boil. Snow crab and shrimp were delicious. Casual laid back atmosphere that is inviting for a fun dining experience. Can't wait to come back for the all you can eat.

I enjoyed this place. The service was fast and the food was amazing. Fair portion and good amount of seasonings. I would definitely come back.

This place is ehhh. I thought it was gonna be good because of all the reviews but it doesn't come close to boiling crab or crab hut- The shrimp and mussels were not very fresh. I only ordered half a pound each because I wanted to try and I'm glad I only ordered a little bit. They have an option for all you can eat and I'm also glad I didn't choose that. The bathrooms are dirty and it just felt sticky in there. Service wise the lady who served me didn't seem very happy at all, and I probably won't ever come back here again. The place definitely needs some improvement.

I Absolutely LOVED My Food!! I Haven't Ordered Here Since 2023 Via DoorDash. But Today I Wanted Fried Catfish .. Good Fried Catfish lol. I Came In and Was Immediately Welcomed in. I Sat @ The Bar & Ordered My Catfish Basket w/ White Rice & An Extra Filet. I Was Offered Water After My Order Was Taken And The Music That Was Playing Was Too Good. Highly Recommend 100/10. I Drove 16 Minutes Home and My Fish Was Still Hot & Fresh. Can't Wait To Come Back For The Seafood Boils.

Hubby and I came to the beach today. I had been craving boiling crab so hubby gave me the option of going there or trying this new place. We came here and it didn't disappoint! Food is so good and they have great deals here. Everyone is so kind and attentive! Love the music playing. We got the smothered fries - delicious Fried zucchini- best I've ever had! Calamari-crispy, delicious and hubby said the sauce that came with it was really good Gumbo-yum Shrimp in house sauce with corn, sausage and potatoes. So good!! If you like boiling crab and such, definitely recommend this place!!

Shrimp Heads is the go to place for a seafood boil. There's nothing like awesome seafood and R&B music. Great ambience. The service is spectacular as well. Will come back again.

Delicious food in a relaxing environment! Absolutely love the gumbo here. Shout out to the crab, crawfish, Mac n cheese. Quick tip! Order extra potatoes. Thank you!