The Crab Cooker

This entire meal was wonderful. My skewer of shrimp and scallops was amazing! My husband got the swordfish 🗡️ 🐠.. very delicious! It was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. Service was great, e even got to taste the Manhattan clam chowder, surprisingly it was delicious! I'm definitely going back!

The saw the sign “world best seafood” with good rating so I decided to give this place a try. This place unfortunately did not “wow” me or give me that “world best seafood” vibes. I would say it’s a little pricey for the quality of the food. The shrimp cocktail tasted ok. The claim chowder was tomato soup based and it definitely tastes like tomato soup with tiny pieces of clams. You have to order the sourdough separately. Soft shell crab was definitely soft and you can eat the whole thing. The potato and rice were lack of flavors. There was only one waitress and multiple cooks in the back and our order/food took forever to arrived.

The Crab Cooker is my new favorite seafood place. It’s been around for 70 years. I don’t think they’ve ever redecorated so it’s pure authentic vintage. This place has a lot of authentic charm and character. The staff, especially the waitress was particularly attentive and knowledgeable. The shrimp and scallop skewer was cooked perfectly and very tasty. They somehow imagine fuse bacon into it, not wrapped it, but somehow infuse because it was not overwhelming. Coleslaw is finally very finally diced and shredded, but not too sweet not too sour is very good. The mashed potatoes is like none other. I’ve had slightly coated in cheese and then grilled so there’s a little crust on it. The south shell crab was OK not crispy enough so you had to bite down and chew a little bit which well no one really wants to do with a crab. The clam chowder was OK definitely not the best. It did not have much clam in it. They do bake their own sourdough bread, which is very chewy crusty and tasty. Definitely stop in if you’re in the area parking can be tough, but there is a structure nearby.

When I was working in the hotel across from Disneyland back in late 80s, people would ask me for a good place to eat. Crab cooker. A 30 min drive without traffic. Almost 3 years there only one person took me up on it. Not sure who was more happy. Love what you've done with the place. Don't look up here!

The Crab Cooker is one of those places that’s as much about the experience as it is about the food. The atmosphere is fun, quirky, and full of character, the service is friendly and attentive, and the food is fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. 🦀🐟🍷

My first time visiting, flew in from Atlanta. The crab cakes were delicious, and the service was excellent. Everyone was friendly and polite.

Crab Cooker in Newport Beach looks charming at first, but sadly, the food tells a different story. This isn’t a proper seafood restaurant — more of a casual diner setup, but with restaurant-level prices and low quality. All plates, glasses and cutlery is single use and thrown away. We ordered 2 crab cakes $18 per plate, deep-fried in what tasted like reused oil — soggy and lacking flavor. The *clam chowder* (tomato-based, not creamy) was honestly the worst I’ve had anywhere, Wholefoods is even much better. Our server was friendly and upfront about the chowder being different (tomato base), but it still didn’t taste like clam chowder at all — just a bland tomato broth with tough pieces of clam. We also had fried calamari and 3 lemonades. Total bill $90 before tip. For that price, you’d expect fresh seafood. Sadly, this felt more like a (tourist) trap with nostalgic branding. Our waiter was kind, but it doesn’t make up for food that just doesn’t deliver. Many reviews mention the same issues — poor food quality, small portions, and high prices. Plenty of better seafood spots in Newport Beach. Skip this one.

Cute restaurant with neat decor! Got the salmon, cheesy potatoes, and rice. I really liked the salmon and sauce it came with.