The smell of salt air, the feeling of sand between your toes, and the taste of a fresh, flavorful crab cake on your tongue. It’s the quintessential coastal, summer vibes. So whether you’re patiently awaiting your coastal vacation, impatiently stuck between tropical excursions, or are simply craving quality seafood, treat yourself to the finest crab cakes in San Diego. Check out our picks for the seven absolute best crab cakes the city has to offer.
See Also: The 7 Best Barbecue Places In San Diego
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880 Harbor Island Drive / Website
Head to this oceanside restaurant for fabulous views and delicious crab cakes. The menu features a Chesapeake Bay-style crab cake served with an arrangement of chicory, orange slices, granny smith apples, and a pickled Fresno pepper and togarashi aioli. Other crabby menu items include an ahi crab and avocado stack and a creamy crab Oscar. Reservations can be placed here.
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1 Market Place / Website
Enjoy coastal sights and al fresco dining at Sally’s Fish House & Bar. The flavorful crab cakes are made with jumbo lump crab and topped with lemon basil aioli and mango relish. Check out their happy hour menu for a loaded crab sandwich and $7 margaritas, available Mondays through Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations for the restaurant can be placed here.
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2805 Emerson Street / Website
The menu is stocked with tasty, fresh, and sustainably sourced seafood, so there’s always a huge variety at Point Loma Seafoods. The crab cake is made from a secret family recipe and each meal comes with four, making it a satisfying, shareable snack for the whole table. Other crabby items include a Dungeness crab sandwich and a Dungeness crab and Canadian Bay shrimp salad. The joint closes at 6 p.m. each day, so it’s an ideal spot for lunch or an early dinner.
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7702 Fay Ave., La Jolla / Website
Enjoy crispy, flavorful, and fresh crab cakes at The Cottage. The Capellini crab cake is made with pan-seared lump crab and topped with Old Bay aioli. The aesthetically pleasing, Victorian-inspired spot has a menu filled with seafood dishes, including other crab items like the shrimp and lump crab salad and a loaded crab cake melt.
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750 North Harbor Drive / Website
Dine on the finest quality seafood at Top Of The Market. The luxurious menu features the Market’s signature crab cake, served with charred corn, spring onion escabeche, daikon, and topped with roasted poblano aioli. Aside from an array of seafood dishes, indulge in Tsar Nicoulai American Caviar. Reservations can be placed here. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
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8990 University Center Lane / Website
This high-end restaurant serves a divine crab cake, made with jumbo lump crab and served with dill tartar sauce. The menu features a variety of other crab dishes that are worth trying, like the crab and shrimp Napolean, the Crab Louie cocktail, and a King Crab stuffed heirloom tomato. Formal dress code enforced. Reservations can be placed here.
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615 J Street / Website
Coastal cuisine is abundant at this waterside spot. The jumbo lump crab cake is wonderfully crispy and served with a celery root remoulade. There’s a lengthy list of tasty craft cocktails as well as a burgeoning raw bar. This spot is sure to please any and all seafood lovers. Reservations can be placed here.
Looking for more fabulous local seafood options? Check out our picks for The Best Seafood Restaurants in San Diego
Photography by: From My Point Of View / Getty Images
