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a wooden play topped with king crab legs, lemon wedges and melted butter
Wood-roasted king crab legs from Georgia James
Julie Soefer

11 Crave-Worthy Crab Dishes in Houston

Whether it’s sourced from the Gulf or the cold waters of Alaska, sweet and tender crab gets the star treatment in Houston

by Megha McSwain
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Wood-roasted king crab legs from Georgia James
| Julie Soefer
by Megha McSwain

The addition of tender, sweet crab can upgrade any dish. Whether it’s sourced from the icy waters of Alaska or the warmer climes of the Gulf, there’s no denying the luxurious appeal of crab.

Fortunately, crab enthusiasts have a bounty of dishes to choose from in Houston. Whether you’re in search of the perfect crab cake or pasta that boasts a morsel of lump crab in each bite, these 13 stellar crab dishes will definitely fit the bill.

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Pappas Bros. Steakhouse

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Everything is made a little bit more elegant at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, and that includes playful sides like macaroni and cheese — here, jumbo lump crab meats adds a luxurious touch to the super-creamy classic.

5839 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77057
(713) 780-7352
(713) 780-7352

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Turner's

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One of the city’s top notch dining destinations for timeless dishes and chic continental fare, Turner’s serves a sophisticated take on crab with its king crab terrine, a top-notch appetizer that’s accompanied by avocado toast and a drizzle of brown butter mustard dressing.

1800 Post Oak Blvd. Entrance on, Ambassador Way, Houston, TX 77056
(713) 804-1212
(713) 804-1212

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Loch Bar

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Buzzy River Oaks District restaurant Loch Bar is a haven for seafood indulgences, and crab connoisseurs can take their pick of meat-filled bowls and plates. Cream of crab soup, made with lump crab meat, cream, and sherry, is an option, as is a smoky blue crab-artichoke dip. Don’t sleep on the crab cakes from this Maryland export, served with Old Bay remoulade, either. 

4444 Westheimer Rd Suite G110, Houston, TX 77027
(832) 430-6601
(832) 430-6601

Also featured in:

Pondicheri

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Served warm with delicate sesame dosas on the side, chef Anita Jaisinghani’s decadent coconut crab dip is a creative riff on a classic appetizer. It’s spiced with coconut, ginger, and tomato masala, making it decidedly different than any other crab dip on the menu in Houston.

2800 Kirby Dr b132, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 522-2022
(713) 522-2022

Also featured in:

Squable

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This adventurous Heights eatery showcases Gulf blue crab in a seriously flavor-packed way. Bucatini pasta is spiced with Calabrian chili butter and corn giardiniera — a pickled relish — then topped with fried jumbo lump crab.

632 W 19th St, Houston, TX 77008
(832) 834-7362
(832) 834-7362

Also featured in:

Rosie Cannonball

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Rosie Cannonball has a way of upping the “wow” factor of almost any plate, and pasta is no different. Here, order the blue crab carbonara that’s made with premium Mancini spaghetti and guanciale, then crowned with a bright, happy egg yolk.

1620 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(832) 380-2471
(832) 380-2471
Blue crab carbonara in a white bowl topped with an egg yolk
Blue crab carbonara
Rosie Cannonball

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1751 Sea and Bar

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Popular seafood hotspot 1751 showcases plenty of saltwater and freshwater finds, including indulgent king crab. A generous portion, the warm dish boasts a quarter-pound of king crab meat that’s served with English peas, a drawn butter vinaigrette and garnished with katsuo mirin.

191 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007
(832) 831-9820
(832) 831-9820

Also featured in:

Georgia James

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Georgia James presents an honest take on crab with its meaty, center cut king crab legs, a feast for the eyes and stomach for any crustacean lover. Simply roasted over wood and served with garlic-herb butter, sweet, succulent crab meat is the star of the show in this dish. Can’t get enough crab? The steakhouse also serves a stellar collard green and king crab dip.

1100 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(832) 241-5088
(832) 241-5088
Crab dip in a cast-iron bowl served with spices crackers
Collard green and king crab dip.
Julie Soefer

Also featured in:

Field & Tides

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This cozy seafood destination in the Heights offers a number of ways to satisfy crab cravings of every variety. Start with the crab and brie fondue, which pairs Gulf Coast blue crab with creamy brie and herbed baguette for dipping, or consider the comforting she-crab soup, served with jumbo lump crab, sherry, and boiled egg. 

705 E 11th St, Houston, TX 77008
(713) 861-6143
(713) 861-6143
cheesy crab dip with a side of herbed bread slices
Crab and brie fondue
Field & Tides

Also featured in:

El Tiempo Cantina - Westheimer

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Jumbo lump crab gets the Tex-Mex treatment at El Tiempo where quesadillas are crafted with lump crab and bacon and jumbo lump crab enchiladas — or “enchies” — are gooey with white cheese and mariscos cream.

322 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 807-8101
(713) 807-8101

B.B. Lemon

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Typically served with a flurry of powdered sugar, beignets get a savory upgrade at this Washington Avenue eatery. Stuffed with tender jumbo blue crab and mascarpone cheese, these beignets are fried to golden-brown perfection every single time. Exposed claws add a visual flourish, and make each beignet a little bit easier to dip. 

1809 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 554-1809
(713) 554-1809

Also featured in:

Guard and Grace - Houston

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The mesmerizing dining room at Guard & Grace is enhanced with fresh finds from within the raw bar where, among oysters and fresh fish, diners can peek at crab legs — available chilled or grilled, and served with lemon butter and cocktail sauce.

Allen Center, 500 Dallas St, Houston, TX 77002
(346) 326-0789
(346) 326-0789

Also featured in:

Potente

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Chef Danny Trace’s famed spaghetti al tartufo often steals the spotlight at chic Downtown destination Potente, but for when seafood is on the brain, the agnolotti di granchio does not disappoint. Tossed with jumbo lump blue crab, artichoke, blistered tomato and limoncello, the dish boasts all the best flavors of spring in a bowl.

1515 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002
(713) 237-1515
(713) 237-1515

Also featured in:

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Pappas Bros. Steakhouse

5839 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77057

Everything is made a little bit more elegant at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, and that includes playful sides like macaroni and cheese — here, jumbo lump crab meats adds a luxurious touch to the super-creamy classic.

5839 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77057
(713) 780-7352
(713) 780-7352

Turner's

1800 Post Oak Blvd. Entrance on, Ambassador Way, Houston, TX 77056

One of the city’s top notch dining destinations for timeless dishes and chic continental fare, Turner’s serves a sophisticated take on crab with its king crab terrine, a top-notch appetizer that’s accompanied by avocado toast and a drizzle of brown butter mustard dressing.

1800 Post Oak Blvd. Entrance on, Ambassador Way, Houston, TX 77056
(713) 804-1212
(713) 804-1212

Loch Bar

4444 Westheimer Rd Suite G110, Houston, TX 77027

Buzzy River Oaks District restaurant Loch Bar is a haven for seafood indulgences, and crab connoisseurs can take their pick of meat-filled bowls and plates. Cream of crab soup, made with lump crab meat, cream, and sherry, is an option, as is a smoky blue crab-artichoke dip. Don’t sleep on the crab cakes from this Maryland export, served with Old Bay remoulade, either. 

4444 Westheimer Rd Suite G110, Houston, TX 77027
(832) 430-6601
(832) 430-6601

Pondicheri

2800 Kirby Dr b132, Houston, TX 77098

Served warm with delicate sesame dosas on the side, chef Anita Jaisinghani’s decadent coconut crab dip is a creative riff on a classic appetizer. It’s spiced with coconut, ginger, and tomato masala, making it decidedly different than any other crab dip on the menu in Houston.

2800 Kirby Dr b132, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 522-2022
(713) 522-2022

Squable

632 W 19th St, Houston, TX 77008

This adventurous Heights eatery showcases Gulf blue crab in a seriously flavor-packed way. Bucatini pasta is spiced with Calabrian chili butter and corn giardiniera — a pickled relish — then topped with fried jumbo lump crab.

632 W 19th St, Houston, TX 77008
(832) 834-7362
(832) 834-7362

Rosie Cannonball

1620 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006

Rosie Cannonball has a way of upping the “wow” factor of almost any plate, and pasta is no different. Here, order the blue crab carbonara that’s made with premium Mancini spaghetti and guanciale, then crowned with a bright, happy egg yolk.

1620 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(832) 380-2471
(832) 380-2471
Blue crab carbonara in a white bowl topped with an egg yolk
Blue crab carbonara
Rosie Cannonball

1751 Sea and Bar

191 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007

Popular seafood hotspot 1751 showcases plenty of saltwater and freshwater finds, including indulgent king crab. A generous portion, the warm dish boasts a quarter-pound of king crab meat that’s served with English peas, a drawn butter vinaigrette and garnished with katsuo mirin.

191 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007
(832) 831-9820
(832) 831-9820

Georgia James

1100 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006

Georgia James presents an honest take on crab with its meaty, center cut king crab legs, a feast for the eyes and stomach for any crustacean lover. Simply roasted over wood and served with garlic-herb butter, sweet, succulent crab meat is the star of the show in this dish. Can’t get enough crab? The steakhouse also serves a stellar collard green and king crab dip.

1100 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(832) 241-5088
(832) 241-5088
Crab dip in a cast-iron bowl served with spices crackers
Collard green and king crab dip.
Julie Soefer

Field & Tides

705 E 11th St, Houston, TX 77008

This cozy seafood destination in the Heights offers a number of ways to satisfy crab cravings of every variety. Start with the crab and brie fondue, which pairs Gulf Coast blue crab with creamy brie and herbed baguette for dipping, or consider the comforting she-crab soup, served with jumbo lump crab, sherry, and boiled egg. 

705 E 11th St, Houston, TX 77008
(713) 861-6143
(713) 861-6143
cheesy crab dip with a side of herbed bread slices
Crab and brie fondue
Field & Tides

El Tiempo Cantina - Westheimer

322 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006

Jumbo lump crab gets the Tex-Mex treatment at El Tiempo where quesadillas are crafted with lump crab and bacon and jumbo lump crab enchiladas — or “enchies” — are gooey with white cheese and mariscos cream.

322 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 807-8101
(713) 807-8101

B.B. Lemon

1809 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007

Typically served with a flurry of powdered sugar, beignets get a savory upgrade at this Washington Avenue eatery. Stuffed with tender jumbo blue crab and mascarpone cheese, these beignets are fried to golden-brown perfection every single time. Exposed claws add a visual flourish, and make each beignet a little bit easier to dip. 

1809 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 554-1809
(713) 554-1809

Guard and Grace - Houston

Allen Center, 500 Dallas St, Houston, TX 77002

The mesmerizing dining room at Guard & Grace is enhanced with fresh finds from within the raw bar where, among oysters and fresh fish, diners can peek at crab legs — available chilled or grilled, and served with lemon butter and cocktail sauce.

Allen Center, 500 Dallas St, Houston, TX 77002
(346) 326-0789
(346) 326-0789

Potente

1515 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002

Chef Danny Trace’s famed spaghetti al tartufo often steals the spotlight at chic Downtown destination Potente, but for when seafood is on the brain, the agnolotti di granchio does not disappoint. Tossed with jumbo lump blue crab, artichoke, blistered tomato and limoncello, the dish boasts all the best flavors of spring in a bowl.

1515 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002
(713) 237-1515
(713) 237-1515

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