Trying soft shell crab might feel daunting at first, but once you do, you’ll be hooked.
Crabs are crustaceans that regularly shed their exoskeletons, and soft shell crabs must be harvested quickly before the shells harden again — sometimes within just a few hours. That fleeting window is what makes them such a delicacy and often commands a premium price. Most American soft shell crabs come from blue crabs, though the tender crustaceans are also highly prized in many Asian cuisines.
Whether you’re indulging a longtime craving or satisfying your curiosity for the first time, these restaurants are serving some of the best soft shell crab dishes around.
Potente
This upscale Italian restaurant in Downtown offers a $69 soft shell crab dish that is the ultimate dish for spoiling oneself. Chef Danny Trace and his team are so proud of the Granchio that they highlight it on Instagram for everyone to drool over. It’s a stunning, crispy soft shell crab, plated with refreshing elements like avocado, fire-roasted corn, and Louisiana tomatoes. It gets a decadent addition of lump crabmeat for a luxurious seafood dish that you won’t forget. 1515 Texas Ave., Houston, potentehouston.com
Le Emperor
This locally-owned Vietnamese restaurant has Houston’s inner-loopers driving to the Cypress suburbs for its authentic flavors and zen atmosphere. The soft shell crab appetizer features two crispy crabs, drizzled with a slightly spicy sweet chili sauce, set atop a blend of arugula and lettuce mix. Whereas some restaurants serve soft shell crabs with enormous price tags, the soft shell crab at this establishment is only $16. That leaves plenty of moolah to spend on one of the rich curries or pho.11702 Grant Rd., Cypress, leemperor.com
Latuli
Chef Bryan Caswell is renowned for his seafood-centric cuisine, but his newest venture, Latuli, features a mix of Mediterranean and Gulf Coast flavors. Seasonality is important to Caswell, and diners wanting soft shell crab need to be quick about it. His version is tempura-style, sitting atop a bed of marinated and julienned butternut squash, accompanied by a zesty sauce and a sprinkling of cashews. Pair it with a glass of light, dry bubbles like Bisson Glera or Lambrusco di Sorbara. 8900 Gaylord Dr., Houston, latuli.com
Pappas Seafood House
There are two Greater Houston locations of this seafood restaurant from the Pappas Restaurants family; one in Humble and one in Webster. Its soft shell crab is a straight forward fried offering, served with French fries and cole slaw. It also comes on the Pappas Deluxe platter for a go-big-or-go-home fried seafood feast. Multiple locations, pappasseafood.com
Uchi
James Beard Award-winning chef, Tyson Cole, has opened a number of outposts of his Austin-based sushi restaurant across the country and Houston was its second one in 2012. Sushi, sashimi, and makimono variations abound, with vegetarian options, as well as wagyu choices. One mainstay of the menu is the soft shell crab handroll, with fried bits of crab perfectly rolled with avocado, cilantro, and soy aioli. 904 Westheimer Rd., Houston,uchi.uchirestaurants.com
Kata Robata
The season for soft shell crab runs from late March to September, but May and June are the peak months to enjoy it. At this popular sushi restaurant, chef Manabu Horiuchi has been serving his take on the crustacean for over a decade and it often sells out. For those lucky enough to score the special, the fried soft shell crab is served in several pieces, making it easy to dip into the Singaporean chili sauce, which gets an Indian touch of flavor from garam masala. The crispy crab is served with a side of Bibb lettuce for those who prefer to make a wrap. If the special is sold out, the menu often has soft shell crab sushi rolls as an alternative. 3600 Kirby Dr., Houston, katarobata.com
Pappadeux
Another concept from Pappas Restaurants, Pappadeaux serves fried soft shell crab with a kick of Cajun spices. Guests can order a two or three-crab platter, or they can add a crab to a menu item for $11. Pair with a cup of crab gumbo, and make all your crabby dreams come true. Multiple locations, pappadeaux.com
Willie G’s Seafood
Located at the Post Oak Hotel, this high-end seafood restaurant is part of billionaire Tilman Fertitta’s restaurant empire, Landry’s Inc. There are a couple of ways to get your soft shell crab fix here, starting with the jumbo gumbo, a dark roux seafood soup filled with oysters, shrimp, and crab. It’s made extra with the addition of a fried soft shell crab on top. The menu also has a spider roll with fried crab, wasabi aioli, and a dab of tobiko caviar on top. 1640 W. Loop S., Houston, williegs.com
Fat Bao
For a variety of bao, this fast casual eatery has a list of everything from bulgogi to roasted duck. Its Crab Daddy bao is a perfectly fried soft shell crab tucked into a fluffy, steamed bun with Asian slaw and spicy mayonnaise. Guests can order a side of Da Dip, a soy, cilantro, and onion sauce, for some dipping action. The house-made chips with kimcheenaise dip make a great side. 3419 Kirby Dr., Houston, fatbaohouston.com
Bluewater Seafood
With nautical elements throughout, the casual atmosphere at Bluewater Seafood lends itself to fun. The fried soft shell crab is well-seasoned and can be ordered as an appetizer or a meal. There are also tasty fried crab fingers, plus a crawfish pistolette that has its own cult following. A cold beer or frosty margarita pairs perfectly with the seafood. Multiple locations, bluewaterseafoodonline.com
Drunken Lobster
This Vietnamese eatery in Houston’s Asiatown has an extensive menu of seafood dishes, and crab cravers can try all kinds of dishes like crab noodle soup and crab fried rice. The soft shell crab is served with a crispy batter and makes a great snack, especially with the sriracha mayonnaise for dipping. There’s usually a tamarind-sauce version on special, and at lunch, there is a bargain soft shell crab slider. 10804 Bellaire Blvd., Houston,drunkenlobsterbellaire.com
