What are the best crab dishes in San Francisco?

Based on diner recommendations, the best crab dish in San Francisco is at Original Joe's. We compared 15 restaurants serving crab dishes.

How much do crab dishes cost in San Francisco?

Crab dish prices in San Francisco range from $8.25 to $185.00 across 15 restaurants.

Best Crab Dishes in San Francisco

15 restaurants compared

Price range: $8.25 – $185.00

Avg recommendation: 92%

Top 5 Crab Dishes in San Francisco (Quick Answer)

Based on diner recommendations across 15 restaurants:

Cioppino at Original Joe's, $36.95 (North Beach)
Bun Rieu (Tomato Crab Noodle Soup) at Pho 2000, $8.25 (Tenderloin)
Garlic Noodles with Crab at Thanh Long, $26.00 (Outer Sunset)
Seafood Cioppino at Tadich Grill — 98% recommended, $38.00 (Financial District)
Whole Roasted Dungeness Crab at Thanh Long — 97% recommended, $88.00 (Outer Sunset)

Scroll down for detailed comparisons, prices, and diner tips for each restaurant.

All 15 Crab Dishes

Cioppino

Original Joe's

North Beach·$$$

$36.95

San Francisco-style seafood stew with crab, clams, mussels, and other shellfish in tomato broth.

Tip: Order cioppino to share — portions easily feed two people and the flavor develops as you eat through the bowl.

Bun Rieu (Tomato Crab Noodle Soup)

Pho 2000

Tenderloin·$

$8.25

Vermicelli noodles in a tomato-forward broth with crab and crab paste.

Tip: Try this if you want to break from beef pho. The tomato and crab combination is distinctive and really hits.

Garlic Noodles with Crab

Thanh Long

Outer Sunset·$$$

$26.00

The same legendary garlic noodles topped with fresh Dungeness crab meat.

Tip: Order this if the whole roasted crab is sold out or if you want the crab flavor in a noodle form — the sweet crab meat is a nice variation.

#498% recommend

Seafood Cioppino

Tadich Grill

Financial District·$$

$38.00

San Francisco's signature stew with Dungeness crab, shrimp, oysters, clams, and fish in a tomato-wine broth with grilled bread.

Tip: The price and portion vary daily based on market cost. Ask your server about the day's pricing before ordering.

#597% recommend

Whole Roasted Dungeness Crab

Thanh Long

Outer Sunset·$$$

$88.00

A whole Dungeness crab roasted until the shell cracks, finished with black pepper and crispy shallots.

Tip: Reserve this dish at least one week in advance during crab season — whole roasted crab sells out quickly, especially on weekends. Available only winter months.

#695% recommend

The Best Damn Crab Cioppino

Sotto Mare

North Beach·$$$

$42.95

Tomato-based seafood stew with crab legs, prawns, scallops, and cod in a rich broth.

Tip: Order at least one cioppino to share — portions are massive and two people can easily finish one bowl together. Great for splitting with the table.

#794% recommend

Chilled Dungeness Crab

Waterbar

Embarcadero·$$$

$58.00

Whole or half fresh Dungeness crab, chilled and served with cocktail sauce and lemon.

Tip: Dungeness crab season peaks November through May. Order then for the best quality and most generous portions.

#894% recommend

Dungeness Crab Cocktail

Swan Oyster Depot

Nob Hill·$$

$26.00

Sweet Dungeness crab meat in a seafood cocktail sauce with shrimp.

Tip: The crab cocktail is more generous than expected. The ratio of crab meat to sauce is heavily weighted toward the crab.

#992% recommend

Crab Back

Swan Oyster Depot

Nob Hill·$$

$18.00

Dungeness crab shell filled with tomalley, butter, and house seasonings.

Tip: The Crab Back is rich and filling—order it alongside oysters for balance. Ask for extra sourdough to soak up the butter.

#1090% recommend

Chilled Shellfish Platter

Waterbar

Embarcadero·$$$

$185.00

Dungeness crab, Maine lobster, prawns, oysters, clams, and ceviche on ice.

Tip: The shellfish platter is perfect for sharing and celebrating. Reserve it when booking—the kitchen prepares them fresh to order.

#1188% recommend

Leo's Plateau

Leo's Oyster Bar

Financial District·$$$

$48.00

Two-tier raw bar platter with oysters, shrimp cocktail, and snow crab claws.

Tip: The Leo's Plateau is perfect for celebrating or sharing. It's visually impressive and offers a variety of raw bar items.

#1288% recommend

Dungeness Crab Cakes

Tadich Grill

Financial District·$$

$16.00

Pan-fried crab cakes with Dungeness crab, minimal binder, and house remoulade.

Tip: Order the crab cakes as an appetizer with the cioppino. They're a lighter starter that doesn't overshadow the main course.

#1388% recommend

Crab Cocktail

Waterbar

Embarcadero·$$$

$26.00

Fresh Dungeness crab meat in a chilled glass with cocktail sauce, served with saltines and lemon.

Tip: The crab cocktail pairs perfectly with oysters—combine them for a balanced, light meal at the bar.

#1488% recommend

Crab Ravioli

Sotto Mare

North Beach·$$$

$24.95

Fresh pasta pockets filled with generous portions of crab meat.

Tip: Ask for extra sourdough bread on the side — essential for finishing the sauce on your plate.

#1586% recommend

Crab Cake

Leo's Oyster Bar

Financial District·$$$

$16.00

Pan-fried crab cake with fresh lump crab meat and house remoulade.

Tip: The crab cakes are an excellent lunch appetizer or light main paired with oysters. High crab-to-binder ratio.