Unpretentious spot for boiled, Cajun-style seafood dinners served in bags with customized sauces.
Joah Kim
I took my boyfriend to Boiler Shrimp & Crawfish since we were craving Cajun seafood, and he had never tried this place before. We ordered a full headless shrimp, crawfish, snow crab, and a half order of mussels. For sides, we added 2 corns, garlic noodles, and a Diet Coke. The total came out to around $135, including the tip. We got seated right away. After ordering and getting our food, we noticed our snow crab was missing. We let our server know, and after checking, he said it was on its way. We asked if it normally comes out separately, and he told us that it actually never got printed on the ticket. Halfway through our first bag, the snow crab came in a separate bag. They didn’t bring any tools to crack the crab legs, and since no one checked in on us, my boyfriend got up to ask for them. Unfortunately, on his way back to the table, he cut his leg pretty deep on a sharp edge of the wall near our table. The way the table is set up, there’s a hidden edge that comes out awkwardly, and if you’re not looking down, it’s easy to run into it. We let our server know, just so the staff could consider adding a cushion or some sort of padding to prevent others from getting hurt. The food was good as usual. We both preferred their trifecta sauce over Tasty Crab’s, which says a lot. The headless shrimp and mussels were our favorites. They were very flavorful and worth the price. The crawfish were on the smaller side and not our favorite. The garlic noodles were a bit too cheesy for our taste. The cajun fries were pretty good, but got soggy pretty quickly. The meal itself was delicious, but the overall experience was disappointing. We’ll likely stick with the headless shrimp and mussels only if we go back, but we both prefer The Tasty Crab for their service, good value, and deals. Small details like customer service really make a huge difference to your dining experience. P.S. They go by market price, which is listed on a blackboard on the wall. The day we went: Snow crab: $45 for full (2 clusters), $24 for half (1 cluster), Headless/Head-on shrimp: $22 full, $13 half, Crawfish: $21 full, $14 half, Mussels: $18 full, $12 half.
… moreYasha Zehra
This was an amazing experience. I ordered headless shrimp trifecta, medium spice, with Cajun fries, hush puppies, corn bread, and garlic noodles. Everything tasted fantastic! The shrimp had a good amount of flavor, and they gave us lime on the side which was a nice addition. The Cajun fried were served hot and crispy, with tons of seasoning on them. Highly recommend!
… moreEmma
So good!!! Very delicious and good prices – the workers are also very friendly and helpful if it’s your first time getting a boil the wings are surprisingly very good as well!
… moreMichael Evans
Love the food and staff. Was a frequent customer but unfortunately will be a lot less likely to return since they removed the Tuesday all you can eat deal. It’s unfortunate that people took advantage of the deal to the point they had to stop offering it. I think implementing a limit or additional charges after a certain weight would help keep the business profitable while still enticing those of us that drive quite a distance to enjoy the food.
… moreMike Goji
We came in on a Friday at 6:30 PM and were told the wait would be about 30–35 minutes. We gave our number and were directed to the Yelp waitlist app to track our place in line. Sounds easy enough, right? Nope. After waiting 45 minutes, our spot just vanished from the app. We checked with the host, and somehow we were still in line—meanwhile, other parties of two who arrived after us were being seated ahead of us. Definitely frustrating and unorganized.
After 1 hour and 45 minutes, we finally got seated. We were already committed by then because the host kept saying “you’re next” every time we asked. Once seated, things didn’t get much better. We ordered two Pepsis that didn’t show up for 20 minutes, only arriving after we flagged down a server to remind them. Not a great start.
The sweet potato fries were a huge miss—mushy, soggy, and basically sweet potato mash in fry form. I’d rate those a 0.5/5.
Now, the seafood boil itself? Solid. The shrimp were fresh, bouncy, and packed with flavor. Mussels were okay. The snow crab, though, was disappointing—$45 for a full order and barely any meat. The corn was surprisingly good and fresh.
Seafood boil: 4/5
Sweet potato fries: 0.5/5
Service: 1/5
Waitlist system: 0/5
Honestly, we stayed because we kept getting told we were “almost up,” but the whole system felt misleading and chaotic. Once we sat down, it felt like we were left to fend for ourselves. Would I go back? Maybe for takeout—but definitely not for the dine-in experience.
… moreElayssandria Lacy
My daughter had been to The Boiler shrimp and Crawfish before and had a bad experience with the staff, but she told me, “The food was really good, so I’m willing to give them a second chance.” So, we decided to check it out together—and I’m glad we did!
Ambience & Vibe:
Right away, I loved the relaxed, chill atmosphere. The music was on point, setting the perfect vibe for a seafood feast. And the graffiti wall? Such a fun touch! I loved the idea of adding your name or a little doodle while you wait—it gave the place a cool, personal feel.
The Food:
Now let’s get to the real reason we came—the seafood boils. Everything was seasoned well, the potatoes were big and hearty, the corn was sweet and juicy, and the portions were generous. But let me tell you—the mussels stole the show. Oh wee! They were BIG, JUICY, and packed with flavor—Hook & Reel, y’all better take notes!
And let me not forget to mention the arugula apple salad—absolutely amazing! The fresh, crisp arugula paired with the sweetness of the apple created the perfect balance to complement the richness of the seafood boil. Highly recommend it!
Service:
Since my daughter’s last visit wasn’t the best, we were curious to see how things would go this time. Thankfully, the experience was much better. And huge shoutout to our server for keeping those waters with lemons coming! LOL. It’s the little things that make a difference, and we definitely noticed.
Best Part?
BYOB. Yes, you read that right. Bring. Your. Own. Bottle. A good seafood boil with your favorite drink in hand? That’s an automatic win.
Final Verdict:
I believe in second chances, and The Boiler Crab made this one count. Great food, great vibes, and BYOB? That’s a solid combination. If they keep up the good service, I’d definitely return. 4.5/5 ⭐️
Would I recommend it? Absolutely—come hungry, bring your own bottle, don’t sleep on those mussels, and do yourself a favor—get the arugula apple salad!
… moreMuhammad Waqas
I recently visited The Boiler, and it was a fantastic dining experience! The food was absolutely delicious, from the perfectly cooked seafood to the flavorful sauces that complemented every bite. The menu offers a variety of options, ensuring there’s something for everyone, and the quality of the ingredients really stands out.
The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with a cozy yet modern vibe that made the meal even more enjoyable. The staff were friendly, attentive, and quick to ensure we had everything we needed.
If you’re a fan of seafood boils or just looking for a unique place to dine in Skokie, I highly recommend The Boiler. It’s a hidden gem that I’ll definitely be visiting again!
… moreMubeen Kamani
We’ve had Cajun food all over and even in Nee Orleans, but the Boiler is still one of the best place to have shrimp boil! Eating without plates is abit different but it was a great experience.
Even though the other flavors are good, but the trifecta is hands down the best. we came here after seven years and the food quality was just as good as it was before.
Their garlic noodles and fries go well with the trifecta sauce that the shrimps are boiled in.
We got the fried fish and the fried shrimp for people that thought that they wouldn’t like the boiled shrimp and they were amazing.
I really wish their wings were Halal as he used to be before. Their seating is kind of tight to be honest.
The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The kids love putting their names on the wall and looking for it.
… moreChristian Perez
Mediocre service, we were seated and nobody ever came to check on us. We ordered snow crab but they said they ran out of tools to crack it open. How does a seafood place that sells crab, not have enough tools for everyone ? Food was ok, but way too over seasoned. The staff will prioritize bigger parties rather than individual tables. Very disappointed with how this place has been going downhill decently. It used to be good. What a shame. Wasted $200+ and couldn’t even eat what I came there for due to lack of preparation by the restaurant.
… moreAshley Tolbert
The boiler is always Have to get Trifecta sauce mild, catfish w sweet potato fries, and hush puppies every time I come. Service was good not great but the music and atmosphere is a vibe! Will be back
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