Settling down to eat blue crabs is a tradition around the Chesapeake region. No summer would seem complete without the scent of Old Bay seasoning and cider vinegar wafting in the humid air, as shells are cracked on newspaper or grocery bag-lined tables
and cold beers are guzzled by the bucketful.
While, sadly, the tradition is a little less common around D.C. than in Baltimore or along the Delaware shore, there are still plenty of places to enjoy a satisfying crab boil any day of the week. And for those going the all-you-can-eat route, be sure to check availability and/or make reservations to get the best crabs. More D.C. restaurants are throwing sporadic crab-picking parties this summer, and Fish Shop at the Wharf has a big one planned for Thursday, September 10. Around town this season, market prices for a dozen crabs generally start around $40 for females, and a bushel of males can soar past $300.
For this summer 2026 refresh, we add: Tiki TNT and Cowbell, for ongoing feasts right in D.C., and Fat Boys and Crab Boss in Maryland. Since this last update, Chevy Chase’s the Avenue and its Capital Crab truck have closed, and Hyattsville fixture Ruff N Ready Crab House appears to be offline this season.
Here are 16 reliable places to pick—or pick up—crabs closer to home.
