The Best Dungeness Crab In The West Can Be Found At This Unassuming Seafood Spot In Southern California

The Crab Cooker in Newport Beach, Southern California, is renowned for its delicious seafood, especially its Pacific-caught Dungeness crab, and has been a local favorite for over 70 years.

Are you crazy about crab? If so, you've come to the right place. Southern California has its fair share of seafood spots where you can enjoy freshly-caught eats. However, there's just one spot that's been doing it for over 70 years! The Crab Cooker is a local hotspot for delicious seafood including, of course, the best Pacific-caught Dungeness crab the West Coast has to offer. Just be sure to bring your appetite and get ready to get crackin' - this SoCal seafood spot never disappoints!

When you've got a craving for crab, there's one destination in Southern California that should be at the top of your list. The Crab Cooker has been serving up some of the West Coast's best seafood for generations, so you just know it's gotta be good.

The Crab Cooker has been a fixture in Newport Beach since it first opened its doors in 1951. That's right, this local institution has been around for over 70 years. They are credited as one of the very first restaurants to adopt the now-popular method of mesquite-grilling.

The first thing you'll notice about the Crab Cooker is its casual, unassuming atmosphere. It ain't fancy, but that's exactly what we love about it. The quirky nautical theme is perfectly fitting, as well!

It's the food that has solidified this restaurant as a SoCal legend, though. The menu is filled with tasty options, but their namesake item is probably the most popular. Nothing is better than their North Pacific Dungeness crab served chilled in the shell with a big scoop of Italian Romano mashed potatoes.

The Crab Cooker also claims to be home to the World's Best Clam Chowder. Made from a house-made secret recipe, many happy diners would agree with that statement.

The restaurant also contains its very own fish market where you can pick up a fresh catch to enjoy at home. The market's fine selection of fresh fish typically includes Atlantic Salmon, Alaskan King Crab, Lobster Tail, Swordfish, Northern Halibut, and much more.

A landmark restaurant that combines casual ambiance with some of the best seafood in Southern California, the Crab Cooker should be on any crab lover's radar. Learn more about the restaurant and see the full menu by visiting their website.

We hope you can see now why we think this place has the best crab legs in Newport Beach! So, if you were to do a search for "best crab legs near me," this spot would most certainly pop up at the top of the list!

For more information, check out The Crab Cooker website, as well as The Crab Cooker Facebook page.

Have you been to The Crab Cooker? What's your go-to order at this longtime seafood restaurant? Is there anywhere else you can think of that has some of the best crab legs in Southern California? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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If you’re still in the mood for more California adventures, take a look at this video about the Castle Winery in Napa:

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