Best Crab Dishes in San Francisco
15 restaurants compared
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$36.95
San Francisco-style seafood stew with crab, clams, mussels, and other shellfish in tomato broth.
Bun Rieu (Tomato Crab Noodle Soup)
Pho 2000$8.25
Vermicelli noodles in a tomato-forward broth with crab and crab paste.
Garlic Noodles with Crab
Thanh Long$26.00
The same legendary garlic noodles topped with fresh Dungeness crab meat.
Seafood Cioppino
Tadich Grill$38.00
San Francisco's signature stew with Dungeness crab, shrimp, oysters, clams, and fish in a tomato-wine broth with grilled bread.
Whole Roasted Dungeness Crab
Thanh Long$88.00
A whole Dungeness crab roasted until the shell cracks, finished with black pepper and crispy shallots.
The Best Damn Crab Cioppino
Sotto Mare$42.95
Tomato-based seafood stew with crab legs, prawns, scallops, and cod in a rich broth.
Chilled Dungeness Crab
Waterbar$58.00
Whole or half fresh Dungeness crab, chilled and served with cocktail sauce and lemon.
Dungeness Crab Cocktail
Swan Oyster Depot$26.00
Sweet Dungeness crab meat in a seafood cocktail sauce with shrimp.
Crab Back
Swan Oyster Depot$18.00
Dungeness crab shell filled with tomalley, butter, and house seasonings.
Chilled Shellfish Platter
Waterbar$185.00
Dungeness crab, Maine lobster, prawns, oysters, clams, and ceviche on ice.
Leo's Plateau
Leo's Oyster Bar$48.00
Two-tier raw bar platter with oysters, shrimp cocktail, and snow crab claws.
Dungeness Crab Cakes
Tadich Grill$16.00
Pan-fried crab cakes with Dungeness crab, minimal binder, and house remoulade.
Crab Cocktail
Waterbar$26.00
Fresh Dungeness crab meat in a chilled glass with cocktail sauce, served with saltines and lemon.
Crab Ravioli
Sotto Mare$24.95
Fresh pasta pockets filled with generous portions of crab meat.
Crab Cake
Leo's Oyster Bar$16.00
Pan-fried crab cake with fresh lump crab meat and house remoulade.