Crustacean Reviews

Sort of a strange mix of formal and run down... located in what feels like a defunct small shopping plaza you sort of wonder what the place will be like by the time you get to its third floor location. However it's worth the effort. The only reason to go is for it's really amazing whole roasted garlic crab served with garlic noodles We also had the tiger prawns which were also excellent. Definitely go when Dungeness is in season and avoid the other menu options. They were just okay. The star of the show is the crab. Service was good if a bit formal for the setting definitely worth a visit

Local friends brought us here for the salt and pepper (and chili oil I think ) crab. The food was fantastic, we ordered the garlic noodles as well. I don't like crab so I got the halibut which was quite good. The place is somewhat expensive but the service was excellent and they threw in complimentary dessert since they knew our friends were regular patrons.

Friend of ours recommended this and we were not sorry! the garlic noodles with crabs were amazing. They charge extra to order. Quite expensive but worth going if you love seafood!

This is a must stop whenever I visit to Sfo ! Lovely roasted crab with butter and herbs. Rich butter flavour and savoury! Especially the garlic butter noodle to go with. It.. it is sinful. The meat is juicy and easily cracked shell! Rather messy buy is enjoyable. Love the mussel too with reach garlic flavour, butter and herbs. Dip the bread into it and savour it ! Yummy.. the fried calamari in Asian style. With salt and pepper plus specially prepared spicy mayonnaise sauce, it is 🤤 ! Great night with great wine to company too.. shiok.!

It will be the best crap dish you’ve tried. Period. Roasted with pepper and light oil. Must have with Garlic noodle. foods and servers are great!

Pricey elevated Vietnamese fusion in a swanky setting, paired with efficient yet impersonal service. Our party of five made a solid dent in the menu, with mixed reviews. Standouts: Truffle Hamachi - Summer truffle carpaccio, ponzu, tobiko caviar, scallions. The hamachi was rich, buttery, and clean, pairing beautifully with the deep, earthy aroma of truffles. Bright citrus from the ponzu cut through the richness, while the tobiko added crisp, salty pops for contrast. Shrimp & Lobster Dumplings - With squid ink tuile. Plump and juicy with a lovely balance of sweet and savory. The skin had a satisfying, toothsome chew without being thick or gummy. The squid ink tuile didn't bring much to the party. Unnecessary for a dumpling dish. It was more like a flavorless cracker than a meaningful addition. Good, Not Great: Bone Marrow with Escargot - Rau ram, garlic, toast. Decadent and indulgent, but ultimately underseasoned. Both elements leaned heavily into richness without enough acidity or brightness to bring balance. Filet Mignon Shaken Beef - Wok-flamed onions, watercress, twice-cooked potatoes. The beef was nicely tender, but the sauce didn't quite cook down into a glaze, making the dish a bit too wet. It also lacked that signature caramelized, slightly crispy edge you expect from a great shaken beef. Okay, Not Bad: Tiger Prawns with AN's Famous Garlic Noodles. The prawns overly salty. The garlic noodles were pedestrian something easily found at far less "swanky" spots. Seafood Fried Rice - Dungeness crab, scallop, shrimp, egg, scallion. Nicely seasoned with good overall flavor, but light on the crab. Disappointing: AN's Famous Garlic Roasted Dungeness Crab™ (MP) The supposed showpiece fell flat. The crab was on the dry side and lacked the bold roasted garlic punch we were expecting. We had high hopes going in thanks to all the buzz, but the experience didn't quite match the hype. Happy eating!!

We've been to the related Thanh An restaurant several times and enjoyed that. The menu at Crustacean is almost identical. For appetizers we shared the Lobster spring rolls, the Grilled Calamari, and the Tempura Style Coconut Prawns. All were delicious. For the main course, we had both the Roast Crab and the Drunken Crab among the three of us. Both are delicious, though we preferred the Roast Crab because we love garlic. We also had the garlic noodles which are very good. There is a very good wine list, with fairly standard restaurant mark-ups, and a good range of prices. The only complaint was that it would have been good for the waiter to tell us that the crabs were $48 each. Not an unreasonable price, but certainly it's standard for the restaurant to tell you what today's "AQ" is. Otherwise the waiter was good.

It was a bit of a challenge to find since we ventured on the BART and walked half mile up hill but it was worth it to dine at Crustacean! We had the hot sake with the Papaya Calamari salad, Full Crab entrée, and the Garlic Noodles. OH MY GOODNESS!! I'm an expert in digging out every bit of the crab so my family reaped the rewards and dived right in to the salad and the garlic noodles. Food network recommended the noodles and it did not disappoint at all! The service (Nicole, Roy, and Twang) were the best! They laughed with us and made the evening a joyous one. We celebrated my birthday and instead of the usual birthday dessert, we unknowingly ordered the cheesecake brulee. It was remarkable ... so creamy and just the right texture, not too heavy with this amazing crust! All in all an A++ evening!

We went celebrate my husbands birthday. The building and elevator to get to the restaurant is dirty and scary. The restaurant was bright and clean when we got inside. We got a lovely table. The menu was very expensive but we were excited to have crab. At best the crab was mediocre. I was really disappointed when I had preordered a birthday dessert to come to the table and it never can. When I mentioned this to the host it was clear no one had even looked at the request. Not as good as it used to be.

I finally got a chance to go to Crustacean for dinner. It was a nice 30 minute scenic cable car ride from Market Street near the Embarcadero. Once you get off the cable car, it's a short 3 minute walk to the restaurant. You can either walk up, or take the elevator to the 3rd floor. Once inside, it is a picture of luxury. I sat across from the bar (pictured), and was waited on right away. There is an extensive menu with seafood, beef, chicken ,and traditional Chinese food offerings. They are well-known for their Garlic Crab and Garlic Noodle. They also have an extensive small plates menu. I ordered the Yellow Corn Bisque with crab meat, and the Garlic Noodles, from their small plates menu, as well as a Raz-Lemon Martini. All was very good, and just the right amount of food for me. The wait staff is very professional and attentive. Any waiter can wait on any table that needs help. I would highly recommend this restaurant. I want to visit the one in Beverly Hills next to make a comparison.

The whole crew was very friendly and paid attention to their customers. The food itself was really fresh and a nice selection of it. The prices are mid / high but definitly worth it. The only negativ thing from my point of view are the extremly dirty windows of the restaurant. It really costs the last point. But yeah go there definitly!

Couldn't eat the stuffed pockets/wontons, tough ground up shrimp, bland sauce. Crabs & noodles were just ok. Considering you are in San Francisco there are tons of better options. Restaurant lacked ambiance and needed a good cleaning. Returned one dinner, gummy noodles filled the void.

Location, service and ambience are not fantastic, but I love the food here. The dishes are generally Asian comfort food, so don’t expect fine dining here. And my 5-star here is simply because I adore good Asian comfort food. I was in SF for one week, but I decided to come here twice for dinner. Everything I tried were tasty, but my favourites are: Shaken Beef and An’s Garlic Noodles. I can eat these two anytime everyday! The crab is nice too - this is the restaurant’s highlight, but I am not a big fan crab fan, so I was lucky they have other dishes and the other dishes are just as nice as the crab.

We normally go to another (less expensive) restaurant in the city for Vietnamese crab, but our go-to spot was closed on Tuesday. Have been to Crustacean a few times before and this will be my last time. Garlic noodles were overcooked and lacked flavor. Crab lacked favor too and just wasn’t as good as what you can get at rival restaurants. Only thing that was up to par was the salad. If you don’t know any better than I’m sure this place would be fine....but there are much better options in the City.

The restaurant is located on the 3rd floor of a mini market. Decor is bland but the food is spicy (some of it.) I had the whole roasted crab with garlic - excellent. I had two of them. The service was good too.

Where Elegance Meets Legacy Few dining establishments in the world strike a chord so profound that they shape your relationship with fine dining itself. Crustacean in San Francisco is one of those rare gems; not just a restaurant, but an enduring institution of opulence, culinary mastery, and cultural memory. From the moment you step inside, Crustacean seduces your senses. The ambiance is nothing short of breathtaking; a symphony of modern elegance and timeless sophistication. The interior is a masterclass in refined design, where rich textures, graceful lighting, and architectural elements crafted from San Francisco’s own urban forest come together to create a space that whispers luxury in every detail. It is the kind of place where every corner has intention, and every detail feels curated for excellence. My personal relationship with Crustacean spans over a decade and a half. I first dined here as a child, dressed to the nines, only to be handed a blazer at just nine years old. That gesture, equal parts refinement and respect, etched an indelible memory in my soul. It wasn’t just about dressing up., it was about rising to meet the occasion. That evening, as my family delicately cracked into their crabs using silver tools, I chose to abandon pretense and sink my teeth in. And to this day, I still do — some rituals are sacred. I have since returned numerous times, and each visit rekindles that original sense of awe. While the dress code is no longer mandatory, I would advocate fervently for its return — particularly on Friday or Saturday evenings. A restaurant of such iconic prestige and atmosphere deserves an equally elegant clientele. There is something deeply harmonious about the interplay between a crisp tuxedo or flowing gown and the rich scent of roasted garlic crab in the air. Now, let’s talk about the food. Crustacean doesn’t merely serve dishes, it orchestrates culinary performances. The roasted garlic crab remains an absolute triumph., buttery, fragrant, and impossibly tender. Paired with their legendary garlic noodles and succulent prawns, this holy trinity of flavor is a rite of passage for any serious gourmand. The textures, the aroma, the balance it’s the kind of meal that silences the table in reverent appreciation. But this time, I plan to elevate the experience further. I will begin with one of Crustacean’s exclusive craft cocktails; a libation found nowhere else, designed to prime the palate and stir anticipation. From there, an appetizer, something exquisite and bold, perhaps a seasonal offering or a reinterpretation of a classic. My main course will follow, accompanied by a wine chosen by their in-house sommelier, a pairing that promises to enhance and refine the plate’s every nuance. Then comes dessert, where indulgence meets artistry, paired with a silky dessert wine. And to close the evening? A glass of celebratory champagne, a few photographs beneath the ambient light, and a toast to a restaurant that continues to define what fine dining should be. Crustacean is not simply a place to eat. It is where heritage, innovation, and elegance converge. It is a space that honors tradition while embracing evolution. It is, in every sense, a San Francisco icon and perhaps one of the finest dining experiences in the world.

I went with friends. Very casual restaurant. Their signature must be crab shack. well-spiced and ver very yam!

We walked to this restaurant from the Golden Gateway Holiday Inn. The food and the dining experience was wonderful from start to finish. Joe our server was excellent. We started with the crab puffs. I had the roast Dungess Crab and my wife had the stuffed Calamari. We shared an order of the Garlic Noodles. With a bottle of Ferrari the meal was perfect. Very nice experience!

Nice place. The food was great and service was also great. Made reservations and everything else was set for us. Nice selection on the menu. Parking is a headache thou.

I had the crab and garlic noodles dish and it was very good. But I thought my bill was a little excessive, my bill was double the price than my two of friends combined!!

My girlfriend and I decided to check this place out a couple of months ago but finally got the chance to visit. In typical San Francisco style, trying to find a parking space became such a pain that we decided just to valet. Now the building didn’t look like much but I promise you when you get inside it’s a different ballgame. The service was amazing. We had Benjamin who was great. He welcomed us and told us what he would recommend for food and drinks and we weren’t disappointed. Benjamin was very attentive to our needs. He was there to clean the table before we even had to ask especially eating crab. We both had the Drunken Crab with An’s garlic noodles. I love seafood but not a fan of crab because of the work and the mess that I make. But these were different crabs. Not only were they large and filling. They were seasoned some how that made the crab meat taste like it had been taken out of the crab cooked, seasoned and put back in the crab. As much as I don’t want to go back to the same place in the same week. We may be back again tomorrow or the next day. It’s certainly on my list of favorite places to eat. The next time I’m in San Francisco I will certainly stop by for dinner. You all should check them out and if your do, tell’em Drew sent ya! Y’all be Easy! Drew✌🏾

Never failed me in term of their food quality, I came here every year when I visit to San Francisco. You have to eat the roasted crab, drunken crab and garlic noodle! Lots of choose of the wine at reasonable price .. lovely and don't miss especially if you are the crab lover ...

I've been to sea food restaurant all over the world, and this is probably one of the best Crab Restaurants I've ever been to.

This place is a real gem for a rare delicious Vietnamese crab and noodle, both are signature and popular dishes here. Its crab is fresh and full with taste of garlic and oil. Very yummy particularly if you eat with its tasty noodle. Highly recommend

I had diner this restaurant 5 years ago. Then back to eating Dungeness carb again. I was really enjoy a good Dungeness crab and garlic noodles. It was a fantastic noodle!

It's a good thing I liked the person I ate here with, because we indulged in the garlic noodles and it was oozing out of my pores after. It is by far one of the most heavenly tastes I have experienced from a restaurant. If I was a spice girl, I would be Garlic Spice, and this is the place you would find me dining at to live up to the name. The Stinking Rose doesn't even come close to the garlic goodness that Crustacean has to offer. On top of the garlic noodles, we had the tiger prawns, which were a delightful consistency, the whole dish, moist enough, but fluffy, with a slight crunch. It was perfect. We also liked the corn bisque, the Vietnamese salad, the banana dessert, and our sake to wash it all down with. The surf 'n' turf rolls were the only thing I would have ditched- didn't live up to everything else we had. The service was decent and the ambiance unique. The bathrooms were wacky, especially having only one stall in a somewhat upscale and spacious setting, but it certainly did not ruin the overall experience.

the secret kitchen produces some of the best food that one can find around town. you must order the carab and the garlic noodle. you will smell like hell for a couplle of days so have your loved ones eatr the same thing .... it is a wonderffull adress do go annd ennjoy.

Excellent food, great service,been going there for over 20 years! Of course the roasted garlic crab, garlic noodles ,garlic rice, and I also love the prawn wonton, crab puffs,and the calamari for appetizer , all yummy!!!

If you're in the mood for some (or should I say a lot) of flavourful and well seasoned dungeness crab then Crustaceans is just the place to go. This restaurant was suggested by my cousin and she told me not to stray from ordering their specialty. And boy were we satisfied. Every piece of crab meat was dug out and savoured. The garlic noodles was a good accompaniment. We left with a void that was filled and stomachs that were filed even more! You gotta eat here!

The garlic whole crab is delicious. It's a messy meal but well worth it. My wife had a lobster salad and she really enjoyed it also.

I always like to come back to this restaurant as it has a unique sea food menu, especially a whole roasted crab, accompany with garlic noodle. Just enough with this 2 favorite menus, I will be very satisfied

I went here on a sat night with no reservation..the only patron at the bar..service was good...I love crabcakes and was hoping this one would be exceptional..it really was okay..no lump meat and a little of the spice filler..crab meat was mostly shredded..which is common..so it was fine but not exceptional. The night I was there the restaurant was filled with some loud parties at tables..so it was not the quiet elegance I like but is instead a good place for larger parties with some loudness at the table.

It's not my first time in San Francisco, but I was lucky enough to visit this restaurant. I was insisted to go for roast crab with no idea of this Dungeness crab. We were all shocked of the size. Then, we were all more than happy with the taste. The next day, we visited Fisherman's wharf and tried the crab at another restaurant. It's totally different. Not that bad, but the taste just can't compare to one at the Crustacean. So, we decided right away to go back on the next day. We ordered lobster with angel hair to go with the Crab. We still think about going back again. So, if you are in the Bay Area, this is a must.

My Wife and I had a very nice relaxing dinner at the bar with bartender Sean! His knowledge of the menu, recommendations and conversation was perfect! Cocktails dinner and dessert all perfect,

We have been stopping bye Crustacean for over 15 years now and they have become a solid San Francisco "establishment" restaurant. The Asian-fusion cuisine is now copied by hundreds of restaurants across America. Our favorite dishes remain the signature garlic crab and garlic noodles. The other dishes are fine too, but we always have the crab--it is uniquely prepared. The garlic is infused into the crab--and unlike other restaurants that use cheap garlic that will haunt you the following morning, we have always noticed that the manner of preparation, or perhaps the type of garlic that the Crustacean chefs use is not a part of your "morning mouth" the morning after. Amazing. Keep doing what you are doing and Crustacean will be around for a long time.

We had a group of 10 meet for a business meeting. The staff certainly took care to ensure we had a great experience. They had a great selection of wine which we took advantage of. Appetizers were nicely prepared and great tasting. The Crab was great. Everyone got a bib, which was needed. We also had the Prawns and noodles which were very good as well. It was a bit hard to find and the neighborhood was not the same as Union Square. It's ok to walk there, but a cab is a good option as well. Will certainly go again.

Apparently, this is the destination for Dunginess Crab, a dish I had never before sampled. Because I am on a low sodium diet, they modified their normal preparation and served my order steamed with garlic and oil on the side for dipping. I love it and wish these were on the East Coast of the US. Alas, I will have to wait until I am back in San Francisco to indulge in the sweet crab meat again. My friends ate their with the normal prep, along with garlic noodles and other side dishes. Finger-licking good!

This restaurant is known for its roasted Dungeness Crab and it didn’t disappoint! The crab is roasted with garlic and other seasonings in a secret recipe of the Vietnamese owner. I’ve visited the restaurant many times and the menu has many more dishes but crab is their signature dish. However don’t miss the the Sea Bass steamed in Ginger, unbelievable tenderness and flavor. The wine list is extensive with great choices and the bar is excellent!

My wife and I wanted to eat some fresh Dungeness Crab while staying in San Francisco. It is not cheap but never trust a cheap crab. The last time I ate a whole crab at Fisherman's Wharf I had a mild case of food poisoning. This Vietnamese chef has three delicious ways to prepare crab and we tried all three.

Quite excellent restaurant. Service and food were great. Very busy restaurant but still our service was timely. I got the ahi tuna appetizer (yum) and a side of the vegetable medley. My husband got the dungeoness crab and garlic noodles. We shared with each other. All were wonderful taste treats. A little on the pricey side but well worth it!!

We had a relative in town for the night and choose Crustacean for its unique offering of Dungeons Crab cooked in very interesting ways. Our party had both the Roasted and the Drunken crab. The Roasted is cooked with butter and is very delicious in that buttery kind of way. The Drunken is steamed in wine so there is not alcohol to the finished dish. It is lighter than the Roasted version. Both use black pepper to give the dish a little bit of heat. The service was excellent and very attentive. Always removing the dishes that had accumulated shells. This is a place to take your time to eat your dinner, don't go here for a quick meal, not because of the service, they are very good about you taking you time but for the time it takes to eat a whole crab. The menu also includes a large variety of other seafood dishes. We noticed a couple of large groups eating here so it looks like a good place for a group.

Was recommended. We tried and loved this place. The garlic noodles are terrific. Had the dungeness crab. Great meal. A bit pricey, but food was great. Nice atmosphere. Danny our waiter was very attentive.

We went here because it was near our hotel and a friend had recommended it to us. Everything said here about the food is true. All the food was fresh and delicious. The market price for the crab was $62 which we felt was a little steep. The noodles, which is the most common side dish, were extra. Overall worth the vacation splurge, but get your wallet (and your palate) ready.

Crustacean was recommended by the concierge at our Hilton Hotel. I cannot begin to tell you how fantastic it was. Being from Connecticut, and an avid bluecrab crabber, this was insane. There is so much to eat. Garlic butter dripping down both arms. Yippee is all there is to say. Absolute MUST go there!!

If is Dungeness Crabs your craving for, suffer no more. Crustacean will fullfill all your earthly dreams!!

It's some of the best seafood ever and the Garlic noodles are to die for! Its a bit pricey but still a lil less then the Beverly Hills location, but so worth it.

All the dishes we ordered were quite good, but we ordered their featured garlic noodles. Even though the service was casual, including appetizers, giving them plenty of time to cook the noodles, they did not arrive until we had finished eating our main courses. Because of that we did not have to pay for them, but we really didn’t want garlic noodles for desert. The service was OK, but it took a while to get the waiter’s attention a couple times. We did not try their other signature dish, the whole crab, which was quite expensive, with an extra $5 to crack the shells for you and an extra $15 to extract the crab for you. It seemed a choice of a lot of work for an expensive dish ($58), or a very expensive dish, if you add another $20.

We were invited to this restaurant for a business meeting, and had a chance to sample several dishes. We loved the calamari, shrimp roll, and skewered beef appetizers. But the real treat was the roast crab, which was absolutely delightful. It is an impressive presentation, and comes completely cracked if you wish so you don't need to do that job yourself. The meat was sweet and had an absolutely wonderful taste. The garlic noodles are a nice addition. You need a bib and a lot of napkins to complete the experience. There are several tasty desserts if you have room after this feast. Service was friendly and prompt. Parking can be difficult, but there is valet parking immediately around the corner on California Street for $12, and this is well worth it. We will be back.

Been going here for 10 plus years even celebrated my wedding here too. Food especially the crab was always consistent. They have had some excellent managers and servers too. This was the first time that service sucked, there was attitude from one of the servers after I asked to switch tables. We got served appetizer and not even finished when the main course came. There was no break between services. I know there is a crab issue right now but they imported their crabs from China - which tastes as if they fished it out of the China sea. Even better was the fact that they were not selling their normal crabs and they still charged the same prices. Not sure what has happened there but they have lost long term customers which from their poor performance this evening they don't seem to care much.

The restaurant was recommended to me by a taxi driver. The Roast Crab was amazing and the nicest crab I've ever had. I will definitely be back next time I'm in San Francisco.

Crustacean is a hidden treasure on Polk and California Streets. It's locatde upstairs in a small shopping center that looks a little worn. For that reason I never checked it out. I was treated to a meal there last night and Oh my God! The food was delicious. It's a primarily a seafood restaurant but they do serve other kinds of dishes. It is a small upscale place with excellent service and nice modern decor. I had the halibut with mashed potatoes and it was beyond what I was expecting in terms of how good it was (loved those mashed potatoes). Be sure to try the garlic noodles as a side dish to share. It is not a cheapa cheap place to eat. My entree ran about $35.00 but well worth it for a treat or special occasion. Wine , beer and cocktails are available.

If there is a place for crab lovers, it must be Crustacean. I am very impressed with the giant Dungeoness crab garlic butter sauce which is tasty and very well eye catching presentation. The crab meat is firm, fresh, and flavorful. The sauce is just right for you to keep licking on the crab shell! In my observation, customers with different races enjoy very much this dish. Apart from that, I also love the creativity of another dish: Vietnamese carpaccio, which is a perfect marriage between Vietnamese and Italian style of raw beef appertizer. Well done! Highly recommend this restaurant for upper end casual dinner.

Tried this place after reading the reviews as well as many recommendations from friends. I must say that the food quality is really good with great service. The grilled calamari and Vietnamese rice paper rolls tasted really good for starters. Between the 2 crabs we had, I preferred the baked one over the drunken style. Remember to keep space for the desserts as well - Baked Alaska was delicious! Pricing is definitely not cheap but I would say you get what you pay for!

My husband, mother, and I had dinner at Crustacean after spending 14 hours in transit to get to San Francisco from Rochester, NY. We had survived since breakfast on power bars, so I really wanted protein and vegetables. I had the salad of seafood (scallops, prawns and mussels tossed with red and green bell peppers and fresh Asian basil in a light miso dressing) and goji berry brown rice with kale and bok choy. Both were delicious and exactly what I had been looking for. My mother and husband also enjoyed their meals. The total bill was $100 including 2 drinks. I know it would have been a lot more expensive to have the house specialty roast crab, but I was very pleased with my meal and thought the price reasonable given the location. Also, I liked being on the third floor, looking down on Polk St.

Had dinner for a birthday celebration. Crabs were superb, fantastic. We had 2 crabs, noodles, vegetables, mussels. I suggest definitely if you are in town...go at the crustacean

Oh my goodness! This place has amazing crab! The pasta a la carte was also delicious!! It was not a fancy place but the food makes up for it. Make reservations to eat at a decent time.

If you like Dungeness crab, seafood, this would be the place. Expensive, but very good. The garlic noodles are addicting.

It's one of the higher class restaurants in San Francisco, so you may not want to walk in here with T-shirt and jeans. But, we're talking crabs, so your clothes may get some of that. People come for the delicious crabs here, but if you're allergic to crustaceans like myself... well there are still great meat-based dishes to enjoy. I don't mean that as a patronizing euphemism - it's actually very delicious. Make sure to order the garlic noodles: whether you're for or against carbs, this one's great.

We walked to this restaurant from Union Square. It was quite a walk but was it ever worth it! The roasted crab was probably the best I've ever had. We had heard you needed reservations but were seated right away. The staff is wonderful. I do recommend this place! Loved it.

Sat at the bar, ordered a guiness and off I went. I had the drunken crab ($40). side of veggies and some rice. It was a good meal. the place was very busy with locals. Will repeat if I'm in the neighborhood.

Ate there again after more than 10 years. It was as good as i remembered it before, if not better. Garlic grab, garlic noodle and calamari are all excellent.

The food at Crustacean is actually a 4.5 however the service SUCKS! Well not all the way but it is not very good and makes for a bad meal!

The place is run down, the food is over cooked, as a tourist we just wanted to taste it because it was something that we do not get in Singapore, check out the pictures and don’t expect to much.

Excellent seafood but the crab is something else. Highly recommended, especially with the garlic noodles. Starters are all very yummy. The shrimp toast is baguette based and very well done.

The decor is poor to average. The service variable, some staff were excellent, others not. The food was also mixed with some dishes being exquisite & others being either bland or too strong. If they could improve the decor & stabilise the standards of food & service it would be great.....

Dad was visiting from out of town and I also took a friend. We got the roasted crab and garlic noodles and had shrimp toast(3 pieces)for appetizers. It is very good. Very greasy/buttery. Be careful even with the bib that is given. I've been to their sister restaurant previously and they both are good. Beware the crabs are expensive ($58) and NO free refills. Our waiter and staff was great. Be monetarily people,prepared people, 3 crabs, 2 noodles, 1 appetizer, 4 cokes =$255

First off - reservation a must. Not a fancy place and by all means ask for the main dinning room. Some of the tables are in undesirable small alcoves. We asked to be moved. roasted Crab and praws were crazy good along with garlic noodles. I was familiar with their location in Beverly Hills so thought this would be a good pic. Loved the food. Also great Lava cake.

I have never before had melt in your mouth garlic noodles. No matter what is ordered here, I highly suggest the noodles. We had Dungeness Crab in garlic and when I thought I could not eat the entire thing, I did! It is mouthwatering. The salt and pepper prawns are amazing as well. The location is hard to find. Look up and use the elevator or stairs. The staff is very attentive.

We ordered the roasted crab: it is incredibly tasty, with specks of black peppers. What I didn't realize at first was what I thought was the sauce on the plate was actually oil. I stopped dipping my crab in it. I have to take off a star for the sheer amount of oil that came with the crab. Vietnamese spring roll appetizer: one spring roll cut into 5 pcs., looking like sushi. Just Ok, nothing special. Very overpriced. Garlic noodle: again, very tasty, but extremely oil. If you like oily noodles, go for it. Dessert: we ordered the orange mango (?) sherbet? mouse? I think it costs $8? I have never ever seen a restaurant dessert smaller than this one: it is served inside a SMALL HALF ORANGE shell. Think of the size of half a small orange. It tastes fine, but who in their right mind wants to pay $8 for it?

We have been recommended this place by a lady we were renting the car from. We decided to give it a try. Again, always doble check with TripAdvisor because you don’t know what to expect when you don’t do your research. I still haven’t learned. In SF you tend to walk, and we decided that it was such a nice day to walk to the restaurant. Don’t. No matter where you are located, just don’t. Unfortunately we walked across (we knew about it later) the most pour area in SF to get to the restaurant. When arrived, it looked ok-ish as some people were dressed nicely got out of the restaurant so I agreed on giving it a try. The service was mediocre and annoying at the same time. The guy explained everything in details (too much when you haven’t looked at the menu yet and have an idea of what you would like to start with); and after specifically advising that I didn’t want pepper on my crab, they still did it and when I told me they were like “oh sorry!” But they didn’t do anything, no apologies and no discount as I don’t eat specific types of food. The speciality the lady recommended were garlic noodle and crab with butter. Honestly we didn’t go with garlic noodles, and not even with the butter crab as it was just not my cup of tea. I still went with the crab but the one cooked in 3 types of sauces I believe, and we even paid $5 for them to open the crab for me. Worth it if you really need to come to this place. We ordered some appetizers before the crab and everything was presented terribly, and for sure not worth the money they ask for! I believe $58 for the crab only. Worst experience in San Francisco. The owner (an Asian guy with a an elegant jacket) never came once to ask how we were doing.. just to the people from the city to keep his clientele! Oh well, that says it all. I would just say, go to better places. Not worth your money. Value: N/A

Nice, upstairs restaurant featuring "destination" dish of Dungeness crab and garlic noodles. Paired with a Chardonnay and life gets real good, real quick.

San Francisco has a dizzying array of restaurants from which to choose. A staff at our hotel suggested the Crustacean on Polk Street. It's a bit tricky to find - you enter via an elevator on California Street. It's an Asian restaurant described as "Asian fusion". We call it just plain delicious. The yellow corn bisque soup is amazing. The seafood salad actually contained tons of seafood in a superb light dressing that did not overpower the seafood. People kept coming in so it is clear this is a highly popular eating spot. We are happy to recommend this restaurant to our fellow travellers.

The racist claims are true. We booked a reservation for 10 people (all black, by the way) and we ended up having 12 people. Two in our party was happy to sit this one out, but the restaurant made an excuse and turned us away. They were really abrasive about it, too. I came here previously before with my company (we booked a similar reservation and had 4 extra people) and it was SUPER busy. They easily made the accommodation likely because we were primarily a white/Asian party. If you support a clearly discriminatory establishment, come here. If not, there are better restaurants in SF.

My wife and I had been all over Northern California and ended our trip in San Fransisco. While in Eureka a local at a sporting goods store recommended Crustaceans if San Fran if we were looking for the best dungeonous crab nor cal had to offer. After receiving what I considered to be a very credible review we ended up being fairly disappointed. We had eaten comparable crab in Eureka for nearly half the price. Also they are known for their garlic noodles, which I was also pumped about. I was disappointed to find out these noodles are an extra $12 for their signature crab dish!? Making this crab dish $65+. And I assure you these are just ramen noodles with some Parmesean sprinkled on them. I get it that San Fran is pricey, but I expect it to be tasty too.....

The food was very good, I loved the garlic noodles. Service was excellent, and the place is super honest - the person paying in our group added a tip not realizing that a gratitude had already been added (big group!) by the restaurant. The restaurant chased us down after we had left to clarify if the tip was added on purpose or by accident (not realizing that gratitude was already included).

I'm not a big fans of Crab coz it's not easy to eat. But, Since I led a tour and had one of our lunches at Crustacean which is famous as the best place to eat crab in town, so, why didn't i I give a shot. At first, I was kinda shocked by the look of the crab. It's huge! I'd never had such a big crab in my life. But it tastes really good. one bite leads you to anothers. It's not only the crab but The garlic noodle is also the winner. It doesn't look tempting but once you have it, you'll crave for some more and more and more. It tastes really yummy. I migt say that San Fransisco culinary adventure won't be complete if we do not come by to Crustacean. It's a must.

My June 26, 2016 dinner visit was my third visit to Crustacean. I have rated the restaurant as poor based on this visit. First the good news. The steamed crab is delicious but completely overpriced at $69. The other appetizers and entrees we had that evening were perfect, and at those prices they should be perfect. Our server was attentive, but he was shill. Out of courtesy, we did recognize that with a 20% gratuity, which brought our total bill for four diners(one of whom was a child of six years of age) to $434. Now, on to the BAD news and there is plenty of bad news! We ordered a bottle of sparkling wine with dinner. When the bottle arrived, the bottle was warm....and I do mean warm, as in the beverage manager screwed up and did not even have a chilled bottle of sparking wine ready to be served. Total screw up! Server tried to cover up the mistake(which makes it even worse), but he did take the bottle back after opening the bottle and it was warm. We had a bottle of Sterling Chardonnay which was chilled and ready to go. And there was another screw up. This time the screw up was by the bar and it was with the commonly known drink of an old fashioned. I told the server what I wanted with the old fashioned, meaning the traditional recipe of bourbon, sugar, bitters, and club soda. What I got from the bar was some recipe that substituted either Blackberry brandy or Creme de Cassis for the bitters. The drink comes out to me looking as black as a pint of Guiness(which is a dark porter style beer by the way) and I knew it was a screw up immediately. I tasted the drink and it was crap. I sent it back and the bartender sent the same drink back ( blackberry brandy and all). And just in case you all think I am some uneducated rube, I happen to teach at the college level, culinary arts, wine appreciation, and bartending. Now to our servers credit, he graciously removed the charges from the bill for the God awful excuses for an old-fashioned. One final note too about the beverage manager. You people are pushing a dessert wine from Hungary for $17.50 per demi-glass. When I and my son got the two glasses of dessert wine at $17.50 per glass, I immediately realized an aroma and a taste of sherry. What that means is that the bottle of dessert wine is so damned old, that it has begun to oxidize! No wonder you people were pushing that out on your customers. Now, if anyone from Crustacean actually reads this review, which I seriously doubt that they will, you may want to actually take my comments seriously. Those of you who are reading this review as potential customers, just remember that you are going to spend at least $100 per person at Crustaceans, and you will get really good, but overpriced food, very good service, but when it comes to beverages, it is buyer beware.

Had dinner here with Roast crab and garlic noodles. No question it's really good and their speciality but for us it was a bit pricey for what you get. I think we would have enjoyed some of the other seafood dishes on the menu more but still very good and easy to get to on the California St cable car.

My husband had the Dungeness Crab, it was to die for. I had beef skewers and chicken rice paper rolls. Both very good. The garlic noodles were very garlic-y, not the greatest but certainly enjoyable (My husband is a great cook so standards are high 😁). Great Staff!

Recommended to Crustacean by a fellow traveler while in Cabo...We had a great waiter who basically ordered for us...we had papaya calamari salad, crab puffs, mussel in pesto, tiger prawns with garlic noodles...and dessert...baked Alaska. All dishes were good with interesting flavors...prawns with garlic noodle...were good...but pricey at $39. Dessert was a surprise and was quite good. Location was unassuming in a "tired" building.

There's a lot of seafood in SF, but if you want a different, truly different and one of a kind experience of seafood while visiting, you MUST come here!!! And try the mussels and garlic noodles! Fantastic service, clean, delicious. Worth what you're going to pay!

The decor is a little dated but the food is the best - by far, one of my favorite places in SF. The drunken or garlic crab is so worth it!

Went here for dinner on tuesday night. The place was not crowded. The ambiance is good. The roasted crab was great and huge! Loved the garlic noodles too. Excellent service.

Old fashioned restaurant in traditional San Fran, BEST CRAB in town, my favourite is the roasted crab, just get it with garlic noodles and some greens, cocktails all the way through (lychee martini's for me)

went with children. served big crab, tasty crab will interrupt you enjoying conversation cause you should concentrate on enjoying crab. 小さな子供連れで、ディナーで行きました。ステーキに食傷気味の方にオススメです。蟹料理は、見た目のインパクトもさることながら、味も美味でした。

Really the only things needed for a great meal. Having said that, had the drunken beef as well. It’s kinda like Costco. You won’t walk out with spending less than a $100 so not inexpensive. Would have given 5 stars but didn’t have the beer I wanted and then ran out of the beef dish we ordered. It was an hour before closing so can’t blame them completely.

Garlic Noodles and Roasted Crab are the only thing I eat here. The restaurant can get packed so pick your times wisely. Lunch might be better than dinner. We sat outside under a heater...the fresh air was wonderful and looking down on the streets were much better than sitting inside where it can get loud.

I ate at Crustacean last night with my parents, and we had two roast crabs and two plates of garlic noodles. It was an absolutely wonderful meal, especially due to the garlic noodles. They weren't as oily as one would expect from its name, but were just nice. Not too dry either. The roast crabs were large, fresh and flavorful. My parents last came to Crustacean almost 20 years ago, and according to them, the restaurant has not changed at all in terms of its great taste and quality. So kudos to Crustacean for that!

A wonderful hidden spot. From the outside it does not appear like a place you would randomly pop in. But when arrived on the first floor you can smell the scent of delicious food. The tips are included, waiters and crew are all very friendly and helpful. One reason to go there would be to enjoy the roasted crab with garlic pasta. I would say this is a locals place. The only negative aspect is that the tables are a little sticky. Feel free to discover this place. It is highliy recommended by me. And the food is delicious!

Have been here a number of times and they never disappoint! Roast crab and garlic noodles are the best ever. Not the best location but we didn't spend any time outside so it didn't really matter! The service was excellent - everyone was so attentive and helpful.

Outstanding. Having lived in Asia we appreciate excellent Asian dining and Crustacean delivered on all fronts. Delicious appetisers including calamari and giant prawn wontons followed by the Dungeness crab with garlic noodles. Service was great - Paul guided us through the menu and ensured that we hit the highlights without over-ordering.

We had a wonderful family dinner in this restaurant. It is located in second floor, and new comers may not easy to spot the elevator entrance. We saw people missed the entrance. The service is great, and roast crab and garlic noodles are top notch. Worth every penny!!

It's not the most inviting location or facade but it's worth a visit purely for the roasted butter crab & garlic noodles, which are wonderful. It does have a broader & varied menu & other items we tried were nice. Drink selection is also pretty good.

On Polk street in downtown San Francisco is the famous Vietnamese restaurant the Crustacean. We arrived by Taxi and went upstairs to their main dining room and lounge. On the weekends there can be long waits so make reservations well in advance of your visit. Three generations of the An family have made this one of the most favorite restaurants in San Francisco that serves gourmet dishes and is known Nationally for their incredible "dungeness crab roasted to perfection with garlic and spices". I especially also love their steamed seabass, crab cakes and their outstanding desserts. I highly recommend this fabulous cuisine and dining experience to everyone!

Great restaurant you can find in San Francisco if you like seafood. Serving one of the best Dungeness crab in town and you must try. They can come with their signature roast crab, tamarind and drunken crab. Tasted great and you must complete with their signature garlic noodle for sure .. some appetisers you can try like calamari, mussels , fried prawn wanton and lobster salad.. good selection of wines at reasonable price. However the whole crab is not SH Rao that cost you $55 per crab! Worth it and do make early reservation to avoid Long queue especially the weekend and dinner time!

I came to Crustacean after a local friend suggested it. I had heard about the garlic noodles, the roasted crab, etc. I was eagerly looking forward to this restaurant. I was deeply disappointed. As another reviewer pointed out, this restaurant is located in a seedy area. I didn't see a homeless person there (as mentioned by another reviewer), but I wouldn't have been surprised if I did. The restaurant is on the 3rd floor of a run down mall. I took the very slow elevator to the third floor. The furnishings are very dated and borderline cheesy. Once we were seated, we had a "view" (if you can call it that) of a consignment store across the street. Disappointing. The crab was great. The garlic noodles were spaghetti heavily doused in garlic. Seriously? I paid 11 bucks for a plate of garlic spaghetti? C'mon, step up your game. The iced tea was not real iced tea. It was that Lipton pre-made garbage from a tap. That was literally the last straw for me. My husband had the halibut. It was nicely prepared and presented. The service was great. They did refill our water and drinks frequently. The bill for our meal was $150 (including tip) and another $12 for valet parking. For $162+ I would expect a better overall experience. I was deeply disappointed with this restaurant.

Had dinner here with 15 other business associates and most of us ordered the roasted crabs, the king prawns, and the garlic noodles. The prawns came with heaps of the garlic noodles enough to be shared. Those who ate the crabs ordered garlic noodles al carte. Watch out as the servings are good for two. Must be pricey even for an unassuming restaurant facade but since I'm not paying, I got to enjoy my meal in every way! Make sure to have reservations as the place gets full quite easily.

My dear Friends were visiting San Francisco and made a special request for a good crab dinner to celebrate his milestone birthday. I looked at TripAdvisor and found ‘Crustacean.’ We we’re not disappointed. The food and service were ‘out of this world’ and to make the evening more special for my friend on his birthday, they provided dessert for him with a birthday candle as we all sang ‘Happy Birthday’ truly a night he’ll remember..

That's all you need to know about the menu!! It is Delicious every time. I've never had anything else in the menu & never once been disappointed.

The drunken crab was delicious! The place was great and the staff was friendly. I don't think it's a good place for kids though. The food was delicious but $50.00 for one crab each? Maybe that's just the way it is in San Francisco fine dining but this small town boy sure wasn't expecting that! I should have suspected something when there was no price on the menu.

Been coming here 10 plus years and absolutely love this place. The garlic roast crab is outstanding and consistent and the best pick of crabs. Other favorites salt and pepper calamari and garlic noodles.

Returned to eat at Crustacean after about 8 years. Still great food. The restaurant service at the bar was very good. The decor is looking neglected and the building definitely has seen better days. Too bad because the service and food is still great. Had the garlic crab and garlic noodles!

What an awesome experience!! The crab and garlic noodles were off the charts!!! Ordered three different appetizers and all were great!!!!! Shrimp were awesome, too!!!! From cocktails to wine to appetizers, entree to dessert... All was fantastic!!! Oh, and the staff was just as awesome!!! Will go back!!!!!

Fabulous restaurant on the 3rd floor of a nondescript building. Like no other Vietnamese restaurant I’ve ever been to. Beautiful! Impeccable service. House specials roast crab and the garlicky noodles are a must! Sublime! Also ordered seasonal veggies which arrived as sugar snap peas perfectly prepared. Dishes are large enough to share.

This CRUSTREAN LOCATION IS RACIST! I have been dining at Crusteceans Los Angeles for years. I was so excited to find out there was a location in SF. I called the restaurant to see if there were any reservations I also asked how long they had this location immediately the manager cut me off and said I don’t have time for this are you coming in or not ! I was completely thrown off but thought maybe he was busy and it was cultural difference. I get to the location we were asked to sit down until our table was ready the same manager I believe his name is Klee not sure exactly but he is at the front helping all the customers. He kept telling me there was 20% gratuity added to every order, multiples times before being seated he stated this as if this was going to make me want to leave the restaurant. He kept repeating this as if we aren’t aware of the policy. I began to notice he only did this to African American customers. I counted 3 African American groups he did this too. Also, I noticed that when white customers walked in he seated them in a different area. He sits black people on one side of the restaurant and white/ Asian on the other. This made our dining experience very uncomfortable. A large African American party walked in and obviously they sat us on the side they sit us and I heard the manager talking negatively about them saying they would be loud And they better only pay with one card. I understand every restaurant has there policy’s but it is never okay to racially profile anyone. I will probably never dine at any of there locations again. On top of that the food was terrible the crab was oily and the noodles were not cooked properly!

If you are a crab lover this is the place to be in San Francisco. The crabi is huge, cooked ala maritess but with pepper and quite flavorful. The appetizers which were vietnamese were quite good and so were the noodles. Service is good. Its a Vietnamese resto with a Bisto vibe.

I was a bit put off by this place from the smells outside but, once inside and adjusted, the food was very good and made up for the odd odor. The interior decor is very tired... flattened carpeting, aged furniture. But once you settle in, you'll enjoy the attentive service, the tasty crabs and delicious fish. Don't miss the salmon sashimi appetizer! Good wines by the glass as well. I'd probably not visit a second time and wouldn't bring a friend to 'show them' the place, but I'd encourage you to try it for the dungeness crabs!

Black pepper dungenous crab and halibut. Nice ambiance and good service. Used Uber and was very convenient.

Great food and service - it seems they really know how to cook! Roasted crab and garlic noodles were outstanding! Service was great - timely and very pleasant.

Every time we return to this place I threaten to try something other than the roasted crab. I succeeded only once so I get the crab and garlic noodles every time. You can't go wrong at this place!

Well, it was ok but seriously overpriced for one 2lb crab and a bowl of noodles, $69 dollars for crab steamed in wine and served in oil. Way to oily! What ever happened to a crab steamed and served with drawn butter? I will do my crab at home from now on

To start with, I am not a huge seafood fan. Went to this place yrs ago while on a work conference and loved it so much I couldn't wait to take my family here. The crab is sooo good. Just the right amount of garlic. Tried the garlic noodles also and they were also delicious but a fairly small portion. Had two crabs for three people which was perfect. Very oily and messy so be careful you dont wear clothes that cant be washed!! Service was excellent. Everything is ala carte which is disappointing for the price of $55 per crab but it was a nice treat!

Super service. Food is very tasty and well presented. Fried calamari was fresh and crispy with a delicious dipping sauce. The beef carpaccio was sensational. Tamarind crap was tasty as well. Overall, a great meal.

So my wife dragged me to yet another celebrity bragged about place. I actually liked it, but it's a seafood restaurant. I'm allergic to seafood. Overall, It was still pretty good, if I were in San Francisco, and was able to eat shellfish, I would certainly eat here.

Surprised to see that they serve the crab without removing the indigestable parts such as the lungs and stomach. People might not know that it's not recommended to eat. The manager said that some people actually likes to eat it, which I believe is a lame excuse based on lack of knowledge. The drunken crab was however quite nice to eat. Nothing for kids on the menu, they couldn't even make nudles without garlic. Shame since I called them ahead and they said they have a few choices. Atmosphere makes it unsuitable for kids, which they could have mentioned on the phone.

If you are in the Bay Area - anywhere in the Bay Area, you MUST stop by Crustaceans for dinner. The service is great, the ambiance of the restaurant is great and most importantly the crab and garlic noodles are the best.

Whenever we come to San Francisco, we come to Crustacean for their amazing seafood. My wife's favorite meal is the roasted crab with garlic .... really wow!!!

If you never go to Crustacean San Francisco, it’s mean never go to SF. Because this restaurant have amazing crab noodle. One Crab not enough, at least you need to portion. But you need, to book by call before you go there.

This place was wonderful. A must order...Dungeonous Crab with the garlic noodles. Topped off with a Leche martini.

We came here with a large group for dinner and ordered one of the dinner packages. For starters, we had crab puffs, mussels, and rice paper shrimp roll. Among the 3, crab puffs were definitely my favourite! For entree, we had the famous roast crab with garlic noodles and sweet peas on the sides. The roast crab with noodles are definitely to-die for! Sauce was soooo good! For dessert, we had fried banana and creme brûlée cheesecake. Of the two, I prefer the cheesecake. This branch is smaller compared to the one in Los Angeles; but food is equally as good. Service was prompt and excellent. Recommended for people who love crabs!

We had a great time! The crab were amazing. I ate 2 whole ones! Fabulous flavor. Formappetizer, we had the prawns wontons- fabulous! The lobster roll were really good. Our server, Iris was very good, very professional and friendly. Never had to wait for,refills of water.

We had not booked but managed to get a table on a busy Saturday evening. We knew it would not be cheap but this was our last day in the States after a 22 night Great Rail Journey. We loved every minute and the seafood was terrific. My whole crab was $53 dollars but worth every penny. My wife had catch of the day with 4 fillets of fish! Worth every penny for great fusion food & just round the corner from The Holiday Inn on Van Ness Street.

We came here because their sister restaurant I had gone to THANH LONG in the outer Sunset was full. Thanh Long is over hyped but tourist like to go because it's out near the beach. Crustacean on Polk Street is uniquely bad. The only kind words is their Valerie attendant. Inside the restaurant, service doesn't care and one of our attendant actually tried to pawn us one bottle of wine over another - like we wouldn't notice?! The food is over priced nothing. This is a PASS. If you don't believe me. Go. And walk away fleeced and angry. The "An" chain of restaurants, great marketing bad food bad service bad price. 2 stars for the valet attendant.

Perfect food, wonderful atmosphere and amazing waiters, especially Julie. Roasted crab has always been one of my favorite food but I had never eaten such a delicious one! Roasted to perfection and accompanied with amazing spices. A dream restaurant, made even more special by Julie's kindness.

We followed everyone's advice and ordered the roast crab and noodles. Not sure what crab everyone raving about this place had, but ours was greasy, lacking in seasoning, with hardly a hint of garlic, and a slightly fishy flavor. We split it three ways, and were glad we hadn't ordered more than one. What was very good were the royal tiger pawns, served with the same garlic noodles. In retrospect, we would have done better skipping the extra order of noodles, as there were quite enough with the shrimp. Of course in retrospect, we would have done better to skip the crab, or better yet, to have skipped eating at this overpriced restaurant. Check out their menu online and you will notice that they do not list the price of any item. There is a reason for that, as you will find out when you get your over-inflated bill.

Its quite expensive, but after one bite, you know where your money has gone. One of the best meals i have ever had.

This restaurant was recommended to us by someone who lived in the SF area for some years with the promise of huge Dungeness crabs served with an assortment of Euro-Asian sides, including the house special of garlic infused pasta dishes. The promise of an unforgettable meal was more than met - I highly recommend this dining treat on your visit to SF.

Recommended by friends, we went to the Crustacean eager to eat amazing crab! Crab was delicious, more then enough food, and cracked for a small fee! Service was amazing and prompt! The only negative was the price, one crab with noodles on the side and one cocktail drink came to over $100, so just be prepared for the bill!

We were treated to a fabulous dinner at Crustacean. The dungeness crabs were huge and tasty. The garlic noodles was very tasty and original. Great atmosphere with attentive service.

This is a must every time I'm in California.... This was my first time at the Bay Area location but the food is the same as the LA location. Service was excellent and the food didn't take long to come out at all...

I had a pretty good dinner with excellent service. I had the tiger prawns with garlic noodles. I think 4 Tiger prawns with noodles for $39 is pretty pricey. My other friends had crab cakes and he almost licked his plate.

We ordered a meal for 2 that was delivered by Doordash.com, We paid $125.00..for 2 small seafood salads...VERY light on the seafood. Seasonal Vegetables...or really pea pods soaked in oil..a 4" piece of COLD Sea Bass for $36.95, 2 orders of stale garlic bread and then the worst of all...a dish that we couldn't even identify...grilled calamari..see the photo...the calamari was cold & hard. The restaurant manager told me there was nothing they could do about the meal being COLD and that they would get back to me if there was anything else they could do....no call back...I hate to write negative reviews but this was really unacceptable.

Been hearing a lot about this restaurant and we booked a reservation. The service was excellent. We had all the house specialties, like the Dungeness crab. Wow! If you like crab, it would be a shame to miss this restaurant. Make reservations well in advance. They were booked solid before and after we arrived. Parking is by valet only. Reasonable charge for San Francisco.

We visited this restaurant as we were staying in walking distance on Van Ness Street. As you would expect very seafood orientated with an extensive menu. The staff excellent and service quick and untroubled. Must say found it a little expensive for the area it's situated in, but worth a visit.

Every trip to San Francisco is a trip to Crustaceans! The crabs and garlic noodles are consistently great over the years. A must visit for crab and garlic lovers!

I’ve been here twice now and it’s still the best crab and noodles I’ve ever had. Service is fantastic and the environment is very relaxed. Food is excellent! Order the garlic crab and An’s Noodles!! You WILL not be disappointed! OH, and maybe the Shaken Beef ;)

The garlic crab was as tasty as can be and the shell melts in your hand. The green muscles were exquisite and then very very tasty sauce. A meal well worth the trip to San Francisco

The food is awesome! Be sure to visit when you're in San Fran. The garlic noodles are the bomb...the crab finger lickn! Awesome, awesome, awesome!

We were able to make our reservations through Yelp. Which was very convenient. Once we checked-in, we were seated right away. The staff was very attentive, and their attention to detail was spectacular. They refilled our drinks frequently and once we were done with a dish, they quickly cleared the dirty dishes. Their timing was perfect as well. From giving us ample time to settle in, to looking over the menu, and then placing an order. Once we completed our appetizer, like I said, they quickly came around and cleared the dishes and switched them out for our entrees. They bought extra plates for sharing and additional bowls for “trash” (used to throw the shells into). It felt like they anticipated what we needed and delivered it without us asking for it. The food was very delicious. We ordered the tiger prawns, fried calamari, garlic noodles, and lemon grass chicken. As other reviewers have mentioned, they automatically add their service charge into the bill so additional tipping is optional.

I traveled to San Francisco to meet up with a friend and before I even thought to Google restaurants, my taxi driver suggested Crustacean to be a must-go , so I thought, "what the heck? i'll have him to meet me there." I arrived before he did and sat at the bar where the bartender mixed up a drink that included champagne and peach juice (yummo)! When my friend arrived, we were seated in a nice and quaint table that had a nice view of the ocean and I decided to order what the taxi driver suggested: dungeness crab and garlic noodles. I'm so glad I did! I'm from Texas and seafood in California tastes so much better! I forget the name of the wine we had but it went perfectly with our dinner. I'll definitely be coming back to Crustacean when I visit Cali!

This is the worst restaurant in San Francisco and I DO NOT recommend anyone to patronize this place. My party and I made a reservation and it was the worst decision ever! Most of us ordered the crab cakes and it took FOREVER for our food to come out and when it did, it was disgusting! The crab cakes were bland and had no real taste to them, the eggplant was terrible, and we were given salads with no dressing! Also, the chicken and shrimp fried rice was terrible as well! Just overall nasty food! Then, when it came time to pay, we were told that they couldn't split our checks and that WE would have to do the math on our tab to divide up the bill and tell the server what to pay on each card. What a headache! Then, after we painstakingly did this, the server made an error with the bills and overcharged one of the guest and had a terrible attitude about it! Lastly, make sure you DO NOT get Philipe as your server as his attitude was horrific as the night went on as the manager of the restaurant was very unsympathetic to any of our needs and had a snarky attitude as well! Overall, this was a horrible experience and I recommend you do not waste your money or time with this establishment!

It's No. 1 in my list when I go to San Francisco. This time, it's chance for me to bring my wife and cousins (who live in SF) to try their famous roasted dungeness crab. Even though we had one in a Vietnamese restaurant the other day, Crustacean's roasted crab is special. Of course, it's more expensive but it's not everyday that we eat like this.

Visiting Crustacean is a MUST if you're a lover of crab! The succulent crab meat drenched in THE BEST garlic butter ever!!! Accompany this with their garlic noodles and it's a WIN!! WIN!!!

We went here bc of a tip from a local. It’s a little pricey depending what you order. My husband had garlic noodles with shrimp which was more moderately priced. My garlic crab on the other hand was $58! (market price) Then my garlic noodles cost extra. They really should just serve you some noodles once you pay that much for crab. Their garlic noodles are AMAZING tho, so don’t pass them up. Their namesake drink “The Crustacean” was not great. The facility is kinda hidden up a janky elevator, but nice once you get inside. Ask to sit in the back dining room area.

The only reason i am giving them 2 stars is because they have really good roasted crab. But I do not like being extorted. I made reservations for father's day today. Went with my husband and three sons. (5 of us) when I recieved my bill i noticed a 43.00 18% service charge, in addition to another 9.00 fee. I thought maybe they made a mistake and thought we were a party of 6 or more and added the gratuity of 18%. When I enquired about it we were told that they add the service charge for father's day, mother's day, valentine's day, etc. holidays. The manager told me it could not be adjusted and that it was in small print on the menu. My issue with this is that I should have been notified of this when i made the reservation. But wait it gets better. They then gave me a receipt to sign and put bold writing on it that read. "This does not include gratuity". I told him to enjoy that because it would be my last time patronizing them. I think they are completely taking advantage of their customers and that does not sit well with me. If you do patronize them. Make sure it's not on a holiday or with a large party.

The food was great specially the miso beef, garlic noodles and calamari. The servers were friendly but our food took very long. The restaurant was packed so that may have been a factor. Definitely coming back again to try other dishes. The restaurant is a bit dark and the seats are tight. I would suggest they renovate so the great food matches the great environment.

Beef carpaccio, garlic noodles & garlic roast crab!!! The best I have ever had!! We've been bringing our kids since they were little, they love it too!!!

The crab tasted great but everything else was poorly cooked. They recommended the butter pasta which was overcooked and mushy. The garlic bread was the worst bread and I'm not sure how you mess up garlic bread.

And I don't use the word "best" lightly. Everything posted about the roasted crab and garlic noodles is absolutely true. Crackling crisp shell and the most luscious, tender crab ever. Generous use of garlic. Never would have found this one without the help of a local, but now it's a favorite!

We always go here to have the roasted dungeness crab and garlic noodles. It is a bit pricey, but the service is good and it is easy to make a reservation.

The most wonderful seafood in a long time. The food is exquisitely prepared with unique herbs and spices. Don't miss out on the crab and garlic noodles. What a pleasant memory!

We visited the Crustacean several years ago and had a wonderfyl time. We returned this time and again had an oustanding dinner. Garlic and pepper crabs with white wine. Service was good as well as the ambiance. I strongly recommend if you like crabs.

Recommended by concierge at our hotel and did not disappoint. Fairly expensive but really good service and all of the food was very tasty. Salt & pepper calamari appetizer and garlic noodles are amazing. Outside appearance is deceiving and décor is a little tired but the food makes up for it. one of our better meals in SF.

Came across this restaurant by accident, there we were in the Nob Hill area of S/F feeling a bit disappointed as we could not find a nice restaurant, then I happened to look up and noticed this place, up the stairs we went and what a surprise, the place was packed and we had to wait a short while for our table, we sat at the bar for a short time. Absolutely fabulous food here, especially the fish/shell fish, the crab is fantastic and all our meals were great. Wine list good too. Price $$

My brother recommended that we visit this restaurant while we were in town. He said we just had to have the garlic noodles and he was absolutely correct! The noodles were great, but the roasted crab was the star of the show. My husband and I shared both. The service was wonderful. The wait staff is extremely attentive. We enjoyed our meal so much, we went back two days later for lunch. It will definitely be a must whenever we're in the city.

In the area visiting my best friend; she LOVES this restaurant. Yes, the food and service is amazing but the overall restaurant is dated and needs some work (i.e. the furnishings, carpet, walls & elevator - scary). There is difference between old and historic. The restaurant needs to embrace the historic and find some updates. Again, Good Food!

Six words: I should have ordered the crab. I went back and forth, and back and forth debating about getting the crab or the prawns. I opted for the prawns (comes with garlic noodles) while everyone else (four others) ordered the crab. While my dish was good (not amazing or incredible, just good), I couldn't stop looking at everyone else eating their crab. I was actually slightly envious. A friend shared some of hers with me and I must say, it is some of the best crab I've ever eaten. Prawns were overcooked and the garlic noodles are not as good as their sister restaurant Thang Long. It took way too long for us to receive the bill, so that factors into my 3-star rating. This was my first time eating here and I'll probably just stick to going to Thang Long because it's the same food and dare I say, it’s just better over there?

Crab flavor was weak. I like the flavor at the sister than long restaurant. The garlic noodle was the same. Shaken beef was tough. I used to remember it as being filet mignon and tender. Seems like lesser cut of beef and they put string beans around it to fill out the plate. Most disappointed with this restaurant . Gave it two rating since the garlic noodle was good.

We had the best roasted crabs with Ahn’s nodded. The service was great ... very attentive Good experience all around

The crab is in season and this is where I go for a 2 lb treat! Okay, there is only about 10 ounces of meat in these monsters, but get the peppered crab and you cannot go wrong. My visit this time was a little disappointing in its service but I will try again .

The best seafood I’ve ever had in San Francisco. The roasted crab with garlic noodles can’t be beat. They also have the best creme brûlée cheesecake...good enough to rival any Cheesecake Factory cheesecake. I’ll make this a regular spot for all my trips to San Francisco.

We really enjoyed our dinner at Crustacean. It came recommended by our hotel. the roasted crab with garlic butter was unbelievable. Coming from New Orleans, never had crabs that way - it was impressive. Will definitely do this again.

Quality Vietnamese experience, not to die for but very consistent and offers a good variety of options. I stop here at least once a year when visiting the Bay Area and never walk away overwhelmed but I never leave disappointed. Overall prices are a bit excessive but most people know that when they arrive. Stairwells occasionally smell like urine. I'll be back

If you are ready to roll up your sleeves and get in and get dirty, this is the place. Great garlic du genes crabs and addicting garlic noodles. Flat out yummy!!

Love, love love the crab here. This is a great place to come with family or as a date night. Order the garlic noodles and the crab with spices, you wont be dissapointed!