Does anyone have a favorite restaurant in San Francisco for crabcakes? We have some friends visiting for the first time and I was hoping to find a place near Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf since they will be in those areas seeing all the sights. Any level of restaurant will do as long as the crabcakes are good.

Greetings from the land of pleasant living and the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Crab cakes on the west cost? pleeeezzzzz! When you come east let me know I will show you what REAL crab cake should be Good luck in your search.

The best crabcakes that I have had in San Francisco are at PJ's Oysterbed near 9th and Irving. I haven't been there in awhile but last time they were great. That's way out in the Avenues so I don't know if hat will work for you or not.
BTW moose, San Francisco is world famous for it's Dungeness crab and you can make a mean crabcake w/ it. Although I'm sure yours are great too. One of these days I'd love to try one.

Hi lisa, FYI, SFO refers to the airport, SF the city. Personally I haven't had any great crabcakes since I was in Portland OR but there must be some great ones somewhere in SF. Hope your friends enjoy their time in SF.

Nope, I agree, only crab cakes worthy of having are in Maryland.

With that being said, you CAN'T GO WRONG with Crab House 39 on fisherman's wharf...awesome crabs! Make a reservation....

<<<Nope, I agree, only crab cakes worthy of having are in Maryland.<<<

cjwo99

Where did you eat crab cakes on SF, that were inferior to the ones in Maryland???

Stu Dudley

Yabbie's Coastal Kitchen, on Polk Street. Good raw bar and daily catches too.

Just watch out for the Gulf of Mexico crabs that get into many many Md. crabhouses!

There was a recent article, I believe in the Washingtonian, covering the use of foreign crab meat in Maryland crabhouses for their crabcakes. Lots of asian crab being used due to the lack of the real thing, with Philips being a major importer.

If this is the case I would rather have a crabcake made with Dungeness crab rather than something shipped in from say India or Mexico, unless fresh blue crabs are available.

The "season" for our Dungeness is
from Christmas to early Feb., yes ?
So, what crab is in those crabcakes
at other times of the year ?

The best crab cakes I ever had were up at the Olema Farnhouse near Pt. Reyes,
and they still trump any crabcake I had while living on the east coast,
pleeeezzzzz !
:0
R5

Now I'm daydreaming about a cozy rainy night in late fall w/ a fire, a bottle of California Chard, crusty french bread and a couple of Dungeness crabs. Now I'm not so sad about summer being almost over.
If you're interested there's travel article at VIA magazine online re: west coast vs. east coast crabs, there's nice looking recipe for crabcakes too.
The web address is www.viamagazine/weekenders/crab.03.asp

Stu, what's the restaurant at Pier 39 that is on the other side of Crab House 39, it has two levels...lower level with outside seating....wasn't overly impressed. I do love Crab House 39...eat everytime I travel to San Fran....

That's a nice visual viamar !
Thanks for the VIA link.
R5

>>>Stu, what's the restaurant at Pier 39 that is on the other side of Crab House 39,<<

Don't know - have not been to Pier 39 in over 20 years.

Like I've said many times on this travel board, locals don't go to Pier 39 or Fisherman's Wharf - and if they did, they wouldn't admit it!!!!

Stu Dudley