Crab Hut — Restaurant in San Diego

Be warned: rude and very minimal service and it's a MANDATORY 18% GRATUITY charge is implemented here. It's CRAP HUT. Go dine somewhere else if you want good food, service, and reasonable price!

Horrible experience at Mira Mesa branch on Valentines evening.

I responded to the server that's it's been more than 10yrs I have not been there. Didn't even mention to us that menu us via QR code, which was printed small on the corner of the napkin holder. We just had to look around our table/around us to figure that out.

45+ mins wait to be seated then 30+ mins more wait and our seafood boil still havent been served. The dozen oyster and chicken tender basket came out first and that was it. We understand waits and especially on a Vday /Friday night but theirs was pretty unreasonable. The table we were seated at was available and empty the entire time we were waiting.

Staff gets annoyed when asked nicely about order status. All they say is "we are busy." Later on, another staff (male) came to our table and said "we have a lot of to-go order to fulfill". Then when got asked about 18% AUTOMATIC GRATUITY when no service is being provided, GM (the male staff) IMMEDIATELY refused to serve us and kicked us out (special needs toddler and kid, a senior, and 2 adults). GM did not even attempt to provide proper customer service to the situation and just became rude right away. Not only we waited long only to end up starving, we were also embarassed by the GM infront of staffs and other customers dining in there. My bf still planned to pay for the oyster and the tenders so he was at least trying to finish it but soon as he reached the platter, the GM went behind my bf and grabbed the the oyster tower slighlty hitting my bf on the face.

We then just left. A busy Chinese restaurant across the street got us seated in less than 15 mins and all 5 dishes got served fresh in 3mins by friendly staff - without mandatory 18% charge but I wholeheartedly tipped way more than that!

It was a very bad choice to give this place a try again. I should have stucked with Boiling Crab because Crab Hut is such a CRAP HUT.

2 days later me and my fam just went to our usual/fav Boiling Crab - it's like day and night comparison. Crap hut charges at least $23-26/lb on items whole at BC it's around $15-$17. Staffs at BC are waayyy friendlier, attentive, and nicer and so as the ambience of the place. And of course, tastes way better! Crap hut does not offer non-spicy option BC does. I'm not paid nor sponsored by BC just layin it out here to point out to consumers where you will have better value for you money and way better dining experience.

Just avoid crab hut.

Oh and i messaged crab hut on IG the day after, all they can say is "thanks for reaching out. We'll inform the team." - not even a hint of...

Last weekend, we decided to go for a crab bake at Crab Hut and ended up sampling two of their enticing dishes. The restaurant was a well-organized space adorned with a charming oceanic theme. We ended up sitting outside in the sun and it was amazing, although the interior was equally inviting. Parking was a breeze, especially if you opt for the southern end of the lot rather than vying for a spot directly in front of the establishment.

Our dining experience kicked off with stellar customer service. It's worth noting that a gratuity of 18% is automatically included in the bill—an arrangement we found reasonable given the exceptional service we received. In fact, our waitress went above and beyond, promptly seating us with a warm smile and attending to our needs with remarkable attentiveness. Despite the tip being pre-added, we felt inclined to add more as a token of appreciation for the outstanding service.

Turning to the food, we started with a serving of calamari and fries. While the portion sizes justified the price, we found the calamari lacking in flavor and seemed overcooked. However, the fries salvaged the appetizer, boasting a satisfying crunch and delightful seasoning.

For our main courses, we opted for the Spicy Cajun Pasta and the Spicy Jambalaya. Both dishes were executed flawlessly, with the pasta perfectly cooked and infused with just the right amount of spice to complement the succulent shrimp. The Jambalaya, teeming with an abundance of seafood and meat, surprised us with its robust flavor profile. Though I would have preferred a bit more heat, the dish still left a lasting impression.

In conclusion, our dining escapade at Crab Hut left us with a generally positive impression. While the appetizer fell short of expectations, the exceptional service and well-prepared entrees more than made up for it. We look forward to revisiting Crab Hut in the future for another taste of their enticing...

Starting off, 18% forced gratuity for a service of being served the high priced for low amount of food doesn't make sense to me. My experience was negative. After ordering and getting our waters, I waited 21 minutes for my water to be refilled while our server was talking and laughing with their peers. Our server checked up on us only once in a span of 45 minutes in a restaurant that was less than half capacity. The quality of the food for price was horrid. It seemed like they chose the runt of the litter when deciding which crab to use for their bucket option. The "flavor" provided was Cajun, but none of the seasoning was actually absorbed into the meal. All the seasoning was just laid out on top of everything. Then having to pay a forced 18% gratuity while also paying more since the gratuity is also taxed. The total bill was $198 for the seafood bucket, Cajun fries, and clam chowder. If you are reading the 1 star reviews to change your mind about eating here, then hopefully, reading my review was able to help you decide on eating...