The Boiling Crab — Restaurant in Washington

Craving a messy, saucy, finger-lickin’ good seafood boil that hits the spot every time? Then The Boiling Crab in DC is where it’s at. I decided to finally try it after seeing it pop up on UberEats—and let’s just say, this place brought the flavor and the fun.

What’s the Hype All About? Seafood Boils Done Right – I went in on the shrimp and mussels with their famous Whole Shabang sauce (get it medium spicy—thank me later), and it was honestly perfection. Everything was cooked just right, even via delivery. The sauce had that bold, buttery Cajun kick, and the portion was surprisingly solid for the price. Flavor Bomb Alert – Whether you’re team lemon pepper, a Whole Shabang fan, or a spicy seafood lover, their sauces seriously pack a punch. One review even called it “#bomb”—and yeah, that tracks. Big Groups? No Problem – I brought the whole crew (including a crying toddler) and we were seated upstairs with plenty of room to spread out. The space is bright, spacious, and family-friendly—exactly what you'd want from a casual seafood spot. Lemon Pepper Fries = Hidden Gem – Not gonna lie, these were a sleeper hit. Crispy, tangy, and the perfect sidekick to all that saucy seafood. Oh, and if you're into lobster rolls? Word on the street is they're chef's kiss too. Micheladas, Margaritas & More – They’ve got a solid drink menu if you're dining in—think cold beers, cocktails, and Cajun vibes.

Things to Keep in Mind A La Carte Everything – Be prepared for a piece-by-piece pricing situation. $3 corn, $7 sausage, $X for extra crab legs... it adds up quick. So if you're expecting a combo plate kind of place, you might be a bit sticker-shocked. Parking is Rough – If you’re driving in, just know that parking is... well, classic DC—aka annoying. Might be easier to Uber or Metro it. Service Can Be Hit or Miss – Some folks raved about attentive, friendly service. Others? Not so much. It might depend on the day or how packed it is. My host was on point, but my server was a little slow.

Final Thoughts: Worth It? If you’re down for a Cajun seafood party in a bag, The Boiling Crab delivers—especially flavor-wise. The Whole Shabang sauce alone is reason enough to check this place out. Just be aware that it’s not a budget-friendly feast, and the pricing can feel a bit nickel-and-dime. Still, for a treat-yourself kind of night (or a messy, delicious group dinner), it’s totally worth the splurge. Pro tip: Order delivery if you’re chillin’ at home, or go early if you're dining in with a crew.

Rating: 8.5/10 for flavor, 6.5/10 for value—but I’d definitely go back for that sauce. 🧄🔥

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This is located on H street. So you know, parking is no bueno.

We drove from Northern VA to come here. We had high expectations with recently eating at the Dallas, Texas location and a while back in Garden Grove, (Southern) California. We loved B.C. in Texas. We ordered exactly the same thing then and now. No comparison. Completely different tastes.

We first got our coke which was stale. No "spirit". Tasted like it was watered down coke. This should have been the first warning on what comes next.

The rice was uncooked. Still had hard white portion on the surface. It looked so bad that we had to smell it. The smell was fine, though. But the texture was terrible. The rice needed more time to cook. But, we were so excited to receive the rest of our food, that we let this issue go.

The shrimp was not cooked all the way. Nor were they marinated long. enough. Taste was alright. But the texture was unfair because it was not fully cooked.

The crawfish was supposedly "fresh" because we asked. Not sure if this was true because some of the crawfish were not cooked all the way. Even the lungs were still cold and brown, indicating imbalance in cooking the pot.

The staff were excellent. I just wished the food were too. Unfortunately, it was not. The restaurant was not busy either. Everyone else were outside enjoying the annual H street festival.

The front desk lady asked us to come back to her after eating and give her our feedback in comparison to Texas and Cali. Our entire food experience was so bad, that we didn't even want to embarrass her and make her feel bad knowing that the food was T.E.R.R.I.B.L.E.

We hate wasting money. Therefore, we now hate this Boiling Crab location. We tell all our family and friends to stay away. Not worth it. If they change the way they cook, then maybe we will reconsider. But, why do that when you have Hot N Juicy nearby. At least here, we know our money will go a long way. Unlike B.C. =/

Back to our usual: Hot N Juicy in Falls Church. (D.C. one...

We were so excited to eat here, however, it was one disappointment after another shortly after our original server left. Drinks came out without issue. Our appetizer of oysters came out without issue, and he fufilled the request for horseradish. After waiting for a little bit, our first plate of food came out... then the rest came out individually... about 20 minutes apart.. until the last plate of food which was never served. We had to request the last plate multiple times from servers walking by our table.. No refills on drinks, God forbid you ask for ranch (they'll bring you a substitute of tartar sauce), portions were laughable, FYI the Sha-bang bang shrimp is NOT served with fries as it says on the menu, and they must have forgotten the xxx spice on the fried softshell crab basket because it had zero heat, and the boil bag was missing the corn-guess shrimp and potatoes are the whole boil..Eventually we got up to walk out. They were able to pack the last plate of food to-go as we were walking out. The manager didn't charge us for the last meal but after the whole experience we all have decided to not return.

If taking turns eating one at a time, incorrect orders, passive aggressive fufilling of other requests, and maybe not even getting your food is something you're into, this...