Han Phan
The saw the sign “world best seafood” with good rating so I decided to give this place a try. This place unfortunately did not “wow” me or give me that “world best seafood” vibes. I would say it’s a little pricey for the quality of the food. The shrimp cocktail tasted ok. The claim chowder was tomato soup based and it definitely tastes like tomato soup with tiny pieces of clams. You have to order the sourdough separately. Soft shell crab was definitely soft and you can eat the whole thing. The potato and rice were lack of flavors. There was only one waitress and multiple cooks in the back and our order/food took forever to arrived.
… moreMichael Fung
The Crab Cooker is my new favorite seafood place. It’s been around for 70 years. I don’t think they’ve ever redecorated so it’s pure authentic vintage.
This place has a lot of authentic charm and character. The staff, especially the waitress was particularly attentive and knowledgeable.
The shrimp and scallop skewer was cooked perfectly and very tasty. They somehow imagine fuse bacon into it, not wrapped it, but somehow infuse because it was not overwhelming.
Coleslaw is finally very finally diced and shredded, but not too sweet not too sour is very good. The mashed potatoes is like none other. I’ve had slightly coated in cheese and then grilled so there’s a little crust on it.
The south shell crab was OK not crispy enough so you had to bite down and chew a little bit which well no one really wants to do with a crab.
The clam chowder was OK definitely not the best. It did not have much clam in it.
They do bake their own sourdough bread, which is very chewy crusty and tasty.
Definitely stop in if you’re in the area parking can be tough, but there is a structure nearby.
… moreAndres
Crab Cooker in Newport Beach looks charming at first, but sadly, the food tells a different story. This isn’t a proper seafood restaurant — more of a casual diner setup, but with restaurant-level prices and low quality. All plates, glasses and cutlery is single use and thrown away.
We ordered 2 crab cakes $18 per plate, deep-fried in what tasted like reused oil — soggy and lacking flavor. The *clam chowder* (tomato-based, not creamy) was honestly the worst I’ve had anywhere, Wholefoods is even much better. Our server was friendly and upfront about the chowder being different (tomato base), but it still didn’t taste like clam chowder at all — just a bland tomato broth with tough pieces of clam.
We also had fried calamari and 3 lemonades. Total bill $90 before tip. For that price, you’d expect fresh seafood. Sadly, this felt more like a (tourist) trap with nostalgic branding.
Our waiter was kind, but it doesn’t make up for food that just doesn’t deliver. Many reviews mention the same issues — poor food quality, small portions, and high prices.
Plenty of better seafood spots in Newport Beach. Skip this one.
… moreErica Wright
My first time visiting, flew in from Atlanta. The crab cakes were delicious, and the service was excellent. Everyone was friendly and polite.
… moreFixi handyman services
One of the best salmon dishes I’ve ever had in my life. I recommend it! A place with history and an interesting interior.
… moreJacob Stackhouse
A couple friends and my wife and I enjoyed a fantastic meal here the other night. We had oysters, clam chowder, lobster, and scallops. Everything was very good! It was our first time trying non-new England style chowder, and while I do prefer New England style, this was very very good. Highly recommend anything off of the grill as that’s what the groups consensus was the best. And the potato side was phenomenal!!
… moreTink Love
If you are a seafood lover, especially crustaceans you will love this place. Came here for my husband’s birthday and Mary Jane took great care of us. They do not take reservations but when we arrived at 6pm on a Saturday they had some open tables for my party of 4. We enjoyed the fried calamari and shrimp cocktail to start. Their main dishes come with sides with choices of coleslaw, rice, tomatoes or mashed potatoes. We had the soft shell crab, lobster, scallops and shrimp skewers. Everything was delicious, well prepared and seasoned. The mashed potatoes come in a big scoop and are seared on the bottom on their griddle, really tasty! They gave a complimentary slice of cake for the birthday celebration and all sang happy birthday. The atmosphere is casual with fun decor.
… moreAaron Gale
I love this place. Normally I just get a point of the smoked albacore and cooked shrimp cocktail to go but this time I ate I. The restaurant. Clam chowder was excellent as was the fish and skewers pictured.
… moreJohn Hornick Chef’s Apprentice
Category: Fish House and Local Icon. This place is so much of a Newport Beach institution that it’s featured in a painting on the wall, the original of which hangs in the Hilbert Museum on the Chapman U campus in the City of Orange, and was even acted out in Newport’s annual Pageant of the Masters. So what’s the restaurant like? It’s sharkingly good (there was a huge taxidermied Great White shark hanging over our table). The first thing you see upon entering is the fish counter/display for purchase and home cooking. From there, proceed to the shark-dominated dining room with the aforementioned painting, the photo of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra dining there, seafood-themed stained glass above the street level windows, hardwood floors, Tiffany-ish hanging lamps, lifesized mermaid lamp, and fun, fish-related things wherever you look. There’s a similarly themed dining room perfect for private parties, and beyond that the rear dining room with raftered ceiling and fans, and a wall of nautical mementos. All of this, combined with booths and tables with banquettes throughout, make this neighborhoody seafood joint exactly like you would expect. You can even view the busy kitchen through the glass to see the giant, namesake cookers. The crabs and all of the other seafood are sharkingly fresh: crab (of course), shrimp, fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. I can vouch for the clam chowder (Manhattan), shrimp skewer, soft shell crabs, crab cocktail, and grilled halibut special. All delicious and all well prepared. Almost all wines were under $40 (our sweetspot for restaurant wines), with a couple under $30. Excellent service. YouTube’s Chef’s Apprentice
… moreMaxemiliano Padilla
A quintessential part of Newport. Been coming here since the breadsticks were already on the table and the salt water taffy was complementary on the way out. 30 some odd years now? For our family it’s a tradition to stop in for a bowl of the clam chowder.
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