The Boiling Crab

Pretty good spot if your craving seafood boil. Had a pound of shrimp with potatoes, sausage and mussels, a dozen raw oysters, fries, calamari. Everything was pretty good my only complain was the oysters, they were a bit in the small side but still pretty good. Staff was friendly and helpful. Prices were reasonable.

First time there and will definitely go back soon. Had lots of fun. All employees were so helpful and polite. The atmosphere is energetic and lively. There was a wait but it's cool that you can buy a drink while you wait to be called. Food was really good and reasonably priced. Waiter helped us share orders divide bill and explained the menu really well for us. Definitely a fan of this place now.

ALWAYS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!! They know who I am, when I come rolling in. Everything is always hot and delicious 🤤!!! I got a cup of Gumbo, no sausage and added a cup of extra rice. A half dozen of oysters 🦪. I tried a NEW DISH, unfortunately I can’t think of the name. It was fried oysters with a hot/ mild sauce with rice. It was extremely delicious!!!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at The Boiling Crab restaurant and I must say, it was an absolutely delightful experience. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm smiles and excellent service, particularly from our server Natalia. She was incredibly sweet, patient, and attentive throughout our entire meal, making sure we had everything we needed and ensuring that our dining experience was nothing short of perfect. The highlight of our meal was definitely the Cajun seafood. The flavors were bold and delicious, perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. The freshness of the seafood was evident in every bite, and the generous portions left us feeling satisfied and content. The unique Cajun spices added a wonderful kick to the dishes, making each bite a burst of flavor that kept us coming back for more. I would highly recommend The Boiling Crab to anyone looking for a fantastic seafood dining experience. The atmosphere was lively and inviting, the service was top-notch, and the food was absolutely delicious. I will definitely be returning and will be sure to spread the word to all of my friends and family. Thank you, Natalia, and the entire team at The Boiling Crab for a memorable dining experience.

THE BEST! By far my favorite BC location in terms of freshness, taste, and service. Do know that they get pretty busy on weekends! Their chicken wings are amazing considering they're a seafood place! I love their cajun mild seasoning. Their clams are suuuuuper reasonably priced and always fresh and juicy. Goes so well with the cajun mild seasoning and white rice. My other go-tos are their snow crab and if they have it, dungeness crab. Their crab is always fresh and very meaty. Definitely worth it.

Great atmosphere! Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Very quick service and good recommendations.

We got our individual bags with all of our flavors spices and seafood it was really good but how can you go wrong.

Over all not the best boiling crab. Hence the short wait times. As soon as we got sat we had a greeter we gave him our order and he didn't come back. We had to ask for our bibs. Food didn't take long after ordering it. But when we added fries to our order again we were forgotten. The food was blah. I'm not sure why this boiling crab is lack luster. Not my 1st time coming here. Definitely need to work on communicating especially if there are multiple people checking in on tables.

Hard to go wrong with Boiling Crab! They have a formula that works and it shows. This location in Santa Ana is relatively large, and i would definitely expect to wait for any weekend date. Food is always great, staff is friendly, and the drinks are just as easy- the Micheladas are a classic favorite for me. The parking situation is pretty terrible imo, and the waiting area gets a little uncomfortably packed but otherwise- the experience is great all around.

Is the best of the best Clean place and service up maximum quality Food incredible quality

I was in the parking lot when I noticed Quin going above and beyond with a positive attitude assisting someone from their car into a wheelchair and taking them to dine inside. Quin has good customer service. He greeted me right away once I entered the building. I appreciate the hospitality Boiling Crab provides - Familia Alvarez

It's probably been about 10 years since I've been to Boiling Crab and I totally forgot how good it was. This location is in a plaza so there is ample parking, although the spots are on the smaller side. We put our name on the Yelp waitlist on a Friday evening and didn't wait long until we were seated. OYSTERS ($17 for 6) - these were plump and good. Some of them varied in size though so some were visibly bigger than others. 4.5/5 SHRIMP ($16/lb) - I got a pound of this with the whole sha-bang sauce and mild spice. There were tons of garlic and I drenched the shrimp in it right after I peeled them. We thought mild spice was perfect for us and I was licking my fingers at the end. 5/5 CORN ON THE COB ($1.60) - it came in the bag and soaked up the sauce but it was just okay. 3/5 SAUSAGE ($7) - the portions were pretty good and it also came in the bag so it soaked up the sauce. I liked this more than the corn. 4/5 CAJUN FRIES ($6) - these were very well-seasoned and crispy. 4.5/5 SHA-BANG BANG SHRIMP ($12) - I've never had this before and we ordered this last minute. I'm glad I did because this was delicious! The fried batter was thin and very well-seasoned mixed with the whole sha-bang sauce. I was shocked by how good this was. 5/5 When we left we saw that the long was out the door and the waitlist was closed, and we estimated the wait would be at least an hour and maybe two. I definitely recommend putting your name on the waitlist or getting here early. Otherwise, be prepared to wait.

Everything was super good. The normal seafood boil was super flavorful and the corn was actually amazing in the whole shabang sauce. For the king crab legs, it was unfortunate that there wasn't much sauce in the bag and the sauce was kinda bland, so thankfully we still had the sauce from the first bag. The sweet potato fries were solid and the wings were great - they reminded me of wingstop wings

Good food excellent service the only problem is the wait time but I am still going I always get all sha bang shrimp and corn Loving the fries too

The wait is very long on weekends so we expected it to be a while. We were seated after about 2 hours and we were famished. Our host was extremely kind and there were others walking around assisting tables. Service was great up until the food runners brought out our meals. Simply no smiles and very serious. the food itself was absolutely delicious. The shrimp was cooked perfectly unlike the last time we came and it was overcooked, making it soft and hard to peel. They've improved in the cooking method since then. There are only 2 bathroom stalls so there may be a short wait, just a heads up.

Boiling Crab is the best place for a seafood boil! You gotta order a pound of shrimp with the WHOLE SHABANG sauce, it's sooo good. With a side of cajun fries too! This is my fav location as well. I recommend adding yourself to the waitlist if you have a party under 6 people.

Five of us came here today. We decided to come a bit earlier for dinner to avoid the crowd. We came at 4:30 pm but oh boy, were we wrong or what? The place was already jam packed and people were waiting all the way out to the parking lot. We had the chicken wings for appetizer. I didn't really care for it since I do not like chicken skin, but everyone seemed to enjoy it. I also ordered a bowl of gumbo soup without rice. That was very good. We had several pounds of shrimp, corn, and sausage boiled in cajun sauce, medium spicy. This is very good. We also had the king crab legs, and it was $63/pound. The crab meat wasn't as sweet as I've had before, and the legs were skinny, considering they are "king" crab legs. I wouldn't order these again. My brother-in-law also ordered some fried catfish. I had a little taste since I do not like the smell of catfish. The fish was okay, but the fries that came with it was good. Everyone like the fries and the seasoning they used in it.

Diva W. was so sweet and handled or to go order with care and patience. She even took the time to separate things as we requested once we recur ex the order. Shout out to Diva!

The Boiling Crab in Santa Ana is my favorite place for a seafood boil, and it always provides a great experience. I've visited several times, and each experience has been enjoyable. The vibe is relaxed and energetic, making it ideal for sharing a delightful meal with friends or family. It can be a bit noisy, but that's all part of the fun, especially when you're enjoying a messy boil. The seafood is consistently fresh and cooked just right. I usually choose the shrimp and king crab legs, paired with the Whole Shabang sauce at medium spice--it's tasty with just the right kick. The servings are ample, and the sides such as corn and potatoes are perfect for absorbing that tasty sauce. The fried items, such as the soft-shell crab basket, are a delightful addition and are consistently cooked just right. The service here stands out as a key feature. Even during busy times (which is frequent), the staff stays friendly, attentive, and ensures you have all you need. They manage the busy environment with skill and a friendly demeanor, making the wait times and crowds feel more manageable.

Food is great, atmosphere is lively and fun. Service is a bit inattentive, but they are very nice! Last 2 times we have gone, food did not come out all together and I was left waiting for 20+ minutes for my food while the rest of my party ate.

Came with a friend at 6:30pm on a Thursday night and it was buuuuussssyyyy! Good thing I used Yelp waitlist to get us a table! We got so lucky and was seated in Noah's section. Noah was AWESOME! Going to try to request to be seated in their section every time I go from now on! We ordered way too much for 2 people: 2 orders of snow crab legs (because they were out of live Dungeness crab), 2 pounds of clams, 2 pounds of shrimp, 1 pound of frozen crawfish, and Cajun fries. Even though every table was busy, multiple staff members came by to check on us and make sure our drinks were always filled and that we didn't need any more food. It was never too noisy that I couldn't hear my friend talking. There were TVs lined up along the walls if you're into sports, and the restrooms are clean and tidy. Had a great time and would definitely go again!

I boiling crab. This place always hits the spot. Today we went close to opening at 12:15 and there was no wait. If you go later on in the day there is normally a wait. The servers when you sit down bring you lemon and salt and pepper which is so good when you dip the crawfish in it. I got 2 pounds of the frozen crawfish the whole shabang style which is with cajun, lemon pepper, and garlic butter. We added potatoes too which is amazing to dip in the sauce. The price was reasonable coming out to 31 total for the two pounds of crawfish and potatoes. The restaurant is very spacious and has nice bathrooms to wash your hands after you feast. I can't wait to come back and get the live crawfish when they have some.

SHOUTOUT TO DIVA! She was absolutely fantastic--an amazing, fast-paced, and incredibly attentive employee. Even though we placed a to-go order, she made sure everything was handled with care and efficiency. From the moment we arrived, she greeted us with a warm and friendly attitude, making the pickup process smooth and stress-free. She double-checked our order to ensure everything was correct and even took the time to make sure we had all the necessary utensils, sauces, and extras. It's rare to find someone who puts that much effort into a takeout experience, but Diva truly went above and beyond. Her professionalism and dedication to great service made all the difference. Not only was the service top-notch, but the ambiance of The Boiling Crab added to the experience. Even for a to-go order, the lively and welcoming atmosphere made picking up our food enjoyable. You can tell the staff takes pride in creating a fun and energetic environment for customers, whether they're dining in or taking their meals to go. The food, as always, was amazing, but DIVA'S outstanding service and the great ambiance made the experience even better. The Boiling Crab is lucky to have such a hardworking and customer-focused employee! If I could give DIVA more than just 5 starts I would definitely!!

I've been coming to this specific boiling crab for so many years dining in and pick up orders but today I came to boiling crab to pick up my order and had asked for a coke without ice and they couldn't even fill my drink up all the way because I didn't want ice in my drink??? I didn't think it was a big deal. On top of that they were so unprofessional throwing receipts at other workers while helping me out and making comments. Short interaction but pretty rude and unsatisfied.

Ive been coming here for years and never left a review . Ived liked it all the time. Today was an exception Andrew exceeded my expectations we were catered too he kept on asking us and making sure we were good. My husband also felt the same he went to go tell the front desk that he did a awesome job. Just wanted to make sure he gets the Acknowledgement he deserves.

Not too long of a wait even though the place was packed. Customer service was great! Very nice seating options, felt a little tight inside. There were decent sized tvs places throughout. The waiters were super kind and fast. Food wasn't my favorite...the butter tasted more like margarine and the season just tasted very plain. Market Price was a little high when we went. I could've made at it at home for the $150 we paid for a family of 5 with healthier ingredients.

One of my favorite places ever. Service excellent, food excellent, and I think I have an addiction to their triple X whole shebang sauce. Why is it so good? It hurts so much but I can't live without it!

This is the second time I went the first time I did not like it because it was too messy, but I found that I can just get naked crab with melted butter! Yum Yum Yum and I love the sauce on the rice excellent!

Great food I love the music and our server was attentive. Totally worth the wait time.

Love the food and the waiting time for my takeout order was 20 minutes on a Monday !!

Love their all shabang sauce! I did take out of their dungeness crab with some sausages. It was delish! However the total came out to $93!! The crab was less than 3lbs so the price is a bit steep and that's why I knocked down one star.

I love boiling crab and usually go to the Rowland Heights location, but decided to go here as we were already in the area. Parking was pretty good, there's just a gym nearby so it can get a little busy but not too bad. They have a large waiting area to the side that is pretty decently sized! We were seated rather quickly and of course ordered our favorites: Shrimp, Whole ShaBang Mild which was just as good as I remember! Service was excellent, only gripe I have is how small the bathrooms are! But def recommend this location

I love to enjoy a pound of shrimp with potatoes. There was over an hour wait but I forgot it was Friday afternoon and it would be busy. Was able to walk around TJ Maxx for over an hour. Was able to see the number I was in line. Got a text and went to be guided to our table. It was easy to place an order. Also got a side of fries. Overall, this is a big place with seats. There are restroom. They also have other items in their menu. You also get a bin, lemon, salt and pepper. Easy to place an order and also pay. There is also a lot of parking available.

Solid spot solid service great fried appetizers and nice servers as well. Every time I'm here I have multiple people checking in on me so it gets kinda confusing but they are all pretty helpful. This locations pretty busy but it's also pretty big. Parking is very limited. To me Boiling crab is a little salty and there is very little sauce in comparison to their competitors.

This spot is great but Natasha and Johnny made tonight extra memorable, customer service was excellent and the little accommodations that are usually over looked were above and beyond. Only leaving a review to highlight their customer service!

Always a live and fast pace restaurant for great crab boil style food. Not like most but i always get XXX whole shabang flavor, cynical i know but the flavor is just so different and good! Service is always great at this location. Accommodating to big parties as long as everyone is there.

The food is fast and the service is spot on... However, get the seasoning mild and absolutely do not mix them all together cuz it's a little much unless you like spicy everything seasoning

My recent experience at The Boiling Crab was a mix of highlights and areas for improvement that are worth sharing. Upon entering the restaurant, the maritime decor and sports playing on the TVs set a lively and engaging atmosphere. The unique "boil" style of dining added an interactive dimension to the meal, making it a fun and engaging experience for our group. The standout feature of the meal was the variety of sauces, notably the cajun, lemon pepper, and garlic blend. While the flavors were exceptional, the sauces' oiliness was a bit overwhelming and could be toned down for a more balanced taste. One aspect that requires attention is the consistency of the seafood, particularly the shrimp. While some were perfectly cooked and a delight to peel, others were overcooked and proved quite challenging. Ensuring a consistent standard would greatly enhance the overall dining experience. Our server's attentiveness was a positive aspect, as they regularly checked in and ensured our water glasses were filled. However, the gloves provided for the hands-on dining experience could be of better quality, as they tended to tear easily. In conclusion, The Boiling Crab offers an engaging and enjoyable dining atmosphere with its interactive concept. With some refinements in sauce balance, seafood consistency, and glove quality, this restaurant could easily earn a top rating. If you're a fan of interactive seafood dining experiences, The Boiling Crab is definitely worth considering.

I really like seafood, specially Crab. When I in the boiling crab, I can eat like animal that feels like so good.

Wonderful Cajun flavor! Shrimp and crab 2 lbs was awesome. More than plenty of food and got a great kick of heat! Service was solid and very kind! Helped with different spices Ambiance is very cool! Could definitely get a better cleaning overall with tables and chairs before sitting down

We have been waiting for 45 minutes for a table. They did not verify the name of the party and took someone else's party with the same name. Food is always good but I believe there is lack of communication and you need to come up with a new system. Server is a real big help.

Food: 10/10 every time, they never fail! Service: 3/10 the wait time was over the 2 hour mark, thank fully we got seated before hand since a large party before us left due to increasing wait times. I'm not sure if it's a staffing issue or location issue, or not being able to keep up with orders but our waiter was great. The food is definitely worth the wait but sometimes people don't have hours to spare for their favorite meal. Wish the location was bigger to fix that. Other than that, if you don't mind waiting or are able to plan out the time, I recommend. Ambiance: 8/10 the music creates a cool vibe for the weekend, game days, & family or friend outings and they play games on the tv's

Food was delicious and on point as usual. Exceptional service. Better than some fancy restaurants!! Will be back soon

Had a fun night here catching up with my besties! BC is always a great time, and I'm consistently impressed with how fast the service is, even when it's busy. We split 2lbs of whole shabang spicy shrimp, 1lb clams, a catfish basket with medium cajun fries, and got some margaritas. Everything was delicious! :) Also, shout out to our amazing server, Chanell She was super personable, caring, and brought great energy to our table. I appreciated how she made sure we were well taken care of the whole night. Highly recommend this spot for both the atmosphere and the incredible staff!

The food was delicious and the service was outstanding. Was seated right away and the food came right to our table didn't have to wait long !

I absolutely love coming here when I'm craving some seafood boil! The service is great - the waiters always check up on us to make sure we have everything we need. I always get a pound of sha-bang mild shrimp and a pound of sha-bang mild crawfish when i'm here, along with cajun fries. They give you a lot of sauce in the bag which I enjoy. I've also had the soft-shell crab that was really good as well! I did notice this location was a little bit spicier compared to other locations I've been to though. Overall, love Boiling Crab and will be back here again!

It's been a long time since I've had The Boiling Crab, but not because I don't like it (I have learned to recreate this recipe at home myself, but with extra garlic exactly the way I like it). But coming here reminded me that The Boiling Crab is still bomb and just as good as I remembered it. I ordered half a pound of shrimp ($16/lbs) with the whole sha-bang and XXX-hot. The spice is hot, but so damn good. Half a pound was equal to only 10 pieces of shrimp though, so this wasn't really fulfilling. I also ordered the Fried Softshell Crab Basket ($16) to share. This was smaller than I expected as the crab were pretty tiny although it came with two pieces cut in half. It also came with Cajun fries, but the basket it came in was on the smaller side too. Food is delicious; but like all places, it's gotten pricey. The whole shebang sauce is bomb though, so make sure you take the leftovers home to put on rice, potatoes, seafood, etc.

I was a regular. I used to take my family and friends several times a month. However, The wait is always so long and the service has declined. And for the amount of money spent the experience could be better sadly. Hope it goes back to being customer centric. However, if you have time to wait, the food is good. Just make sure to get on the Que early.

Been craving crawfish, but sadly this place ran out the day I went T-T. I got 1 lb Shrimp w/ Medium Spice, the Whole Sha-Bang sauce, & 1 link of Sausage. I also got a TBC Margarita to make the meal even better. The medium spice here was just perfect and not crazy spicy. I was definitely full quicker with shrimp instead of crawfish. The sausage and shrimp were PACKED with flavor. There are so many things to add to it to make it to your liking so I'd highly recommend coming here for your seafood boil cravings.

Love boiling crab and could eat this every day. Went here for lunch with my friend and we got dungenous crab and shrimp. It was delicious and there was no line.

The Boiling Crab is a fast casual Cajun Boil restaurant chain serving delicious seafood with a punch of flavor. The outside of the building was well kept with plenty of parking. The inside of the restaurant was eclectically decorated with a light house at the host/hostess stand, a shark above the door to the restrooms. I walked in with no reservation, and didn't even have to wait for a table. One of the many servers on duty, took my friend and I to a table immediately. Less than 2 minutes, and another person came up to ask if we'd like a drink, or if we were ready to order. I asked the server how much the market price of a pound of shrimp was. When I asked if a pound of shrimp would be enough for one person, she made it sound like it would be too much; and suggested that I order just a half pound. So I did with The Whole She-Bang sauce XXXL hot level. Food came out fairly quickly. It was a SMALL bag. In total, 10 shrimps. Not a lot of food at all. It wasn't even spicy as I was lead to believe it would be at XXXL hot level. The food had great flavor, the spice level was NOWHERE NEAR what I was expecting. The service was top notch. Definitely would come back again; but would order the full pound of shrimp instead of just 1/2 pound.

Within minutes of being seated, you can tell that this is an establishment that takes service very seriously. Excellent customer service, hats off to the management. The servers check in with you without being overbearing and I never found myself wishing a server would notice us for a refill or additions. The food is good, but don't expect your mind to be blown. It is tasty and acceptable quality. The fries are better than you might expect. The shrimps are big and juicy.

Got on the waitlist on a Tuesday evening. We came here to have fresh crawfish. They seated us at a bench with a lot of room and we were ready to get our hands dirty. We ordered 2 lbs each. It was my first time trying crawfish but I copied my friend and ordered 2 lbs anyway. Crawfish has a big head and small body. The meat is in the body and the head has the juice. It was a fun experience and my friend satisfied her craving. We also had fries and it helps to cleanse my palette from some of the sea water taste from the head. They had good service and cool atmosphere. It's a big place and a lot of people are there.

It's really expensive seafood boil, but it is really good. Love the lime salt and pepper sauce.

I love coming here but the last 2 times i think they changed their shabang sauce. It used to be more cajuny but it looks like more oily now. It tastes ok, since they changed it, it doesn't have that much flavor. Other than that everything else is still pretty good.

Food is okay, but is also very expensive. Service needs improvement. I don't know if I'll come back. Ambiance very noisy.

You can't go wrong with Boiling Crab. Just be prepared to wait for seating because they get busy. Service is friendly and quick and food comes out hot . I never really had a bad experience with BC. Always go here when I'm craving some seafood