The Boiling Crab, Cajun seafood restaurant in MacArthur Boulevard, Santa Ana, US.
The Boiling Crab is a Cajun seafood restaurant in Santa Ana, California, where shrimp, crab, crawfish and other shellfish are boiled and served inside sealed plastic bags. Diners choose what they want by weight and pick a sauce and spice level to go with it.
The chain started in 2004 and grew by bringing the Louisiana boil tradition to cities across the western United States. The Santa Ana location was part of that early wave of openings that helped establish the format outside the South.
Guests eat with their hands and wear plastic bibs to protect their clothes, which gives the meal a relaxed, informal feel. Sharing a bag of seasoned shellfish at the table tends to bring people together in a way that a fork-and-knife dinner rarely does.
The restaurant does not take reservations, so arriving early or outside peak dinner hours helps avoid a long wait. The space fills up quickly on weekends, and there is no formal dress code, so comfortable clothes are a good idea given the style of eating.
One of the signature sauces is called the Whole Sha-Bang, a mixture of butter, garlic, lemon and spices that combines several flavor options into one. It was created as an answer for guests who could not decide between sauces and has become the most ordered option.
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