Nestled in San Jose, California, The Kickin' Crab has garnered praise for its compelling combination of vibrant Cajun seafood and an inviting atmosphere. Diners rave about the unique experience of ordering seafood in a bag, where patrons can customize their meal to their liking. The garlic noodles stand out as a must-try, receiving accolades for their generous flavor profile, while dishes like the Kicking Combo, featuring crawfish, shrimp, and clams, are frequently highlighted. Many reviews emphasize the attentive and friendly service, even during busy hours, bringing a personal touch to every dining experience. Guests appreciate the cleanliness of the establishment, enhancing their overall enjoyment. One reviewer noted a family-friendly ambiance, making it an ideal choice for a casual outing. Despite mixed initial reviews, newer visitors often find their experiences exceed expectations, as one patron mentioned how quickly their seafood boil arrived, countering complaints of slow service. Overall, The Kickin' Crab thrives on delivering flavorful dishes and a memorable dining adventure, solidifying itself as a staple for seafood lovers in the area. With generous portions and a lively atmosphere, it invites patrons to indulge in an unforgettable culinary journey.
Amenities and More
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Service options
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
Highlights
Has fast service
Has great beer selection
Good for watching sport
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves comfort food
Serves wine
Dining options
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Serves dessert
Has seating
Amenities
Has toilet
Atmosphere
Casual
Trendy
Crowd
Good for groups
Popular with tourists
Popular with university students
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
High chairs available
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Photos
Reviews For The Kickin' Crab
B (Tía Briza)
Jun 4,2025
Some of the best and prompt customer service. Restrooms are clean, staff is super friendly and eager to make sure you have a wonderful experience. Wonderful food/size options. We went as a family of 4. We all had a wonderful time on a super busy Sunday afternoon.
Rocky Quat
May 17,2025
Always a good time at kicking crab. The garlic noodles are it. Order yourself 2 of them and call it a day. Got the kicking combo #1 with crawfish, shrimp, and clams. The sauce was kicking style which is what everyone goes with. This place never disappoints. Again, get the garlic noodles, get one togo, get one for your family.
Maria Kovaleva
Apr 9,2025
Unconventional presentation (lime thrown on the paper covered table, awesome, tasteful seafood delivered in a plastic bag, gloves to protect your fine skin...). We ordered Garlic noodles (must to be tried, generous garlic amount in them!), 2 lb crawfish, mussels, a crab. We played with spice levels of the Kickin sauce, enjoyed both Medium and Spicy. Liked the place a lot. Going to come again and get clams, shrimps. Oh! We had fresh oysters! Best appetizer ever! Servers were very polite, surprisingly nice for such a busy place!
Tiffany H.
Mar 18,2025
Before coming here I saw a lot of miss reviews but I still wanted to come try it out myself before judging. My mom and I came in around 3:30ish on a Thursday afternoon..it wasn’t busy so they told us we could sit anywhere. The menu is digital..we decide on package one. We got 2lbs of shrimp head on and 1 lbs of mussels for our package..we also got an extra pound of shrimp too. We got hot with kickin style sauce. My mom and I also got fried calamari and garlic noodles. The food came out really quick!!! My mom and I really liked the kickin sauce!!! So freaking good over rice!!! The calamari was also very crunchy and good..and the garlic noodles with wonderful!!! Can’t go wrong with garlic noodles!!! My expectations weren’t really high coming here because of all the bad reviews..but Kickin Crab ended up being way better then I excepted. The waiters were great..they were extremely attentive and kept checking in on us. I want to note something..I saw other reviews that said things like they take really long here..my experience wasn’t like this at all..but when my mom and I paid the table next to us had just ordered..and by the time my mom and I got our change the waiter already brought that table their seafood boil (super quick)..but then the table was like where is our fried food..seriously? A little patients goes a long way..their seafood boil came in less than 5 minutes from the time they ordered..and of course fried food would take longer than seafood boil. Come by and try Kickin Crab yourself..maybe you might have a great experience like my mom and I or maybe you won’t..but it’s better to come see for yourself.
Venus Palacios
Mar 10,2025
My first time here and I could say it was pretty delicious. Also, the amount of food they gave you was more than enough. Will be returning soon to take my husband. Service was fast and we didn't even wait very long to be seated.
C Castle
Mar 2,2025
So so soooooo good!! Highly recommend! The sauce (all) was very addictive. Has a hint of sweetness. Medium spice level wasn't very hot. I'll try the next level up next time. Loved the shrimp! It was cooked perfectly! And although the garlic noodles were a bit overcooked, they were still very delicious and garlicky! The clam chowder was also very good! Reminiscent of Monterey or Santa Cruz chowder. Will definitely return to try other things on menu. Service was ok. It was after 7pm and the servers were friendly and tentative. B
Royans Tharakan
Feb 22,2025
Eating here was an unusual experience and I would recommend visitors to know a few things before they enter. (1) they serve cooked crab/lobster/etc in a plastic bag with all the gravy in it (2) they don't serve spoons, forks or even plates... (3) you need to be comfortable eating with your hand (4) and its going to get very very messy. That being said, I would still give it 5 stars for the experience and the food. We went here for my son's birthday and he loved it so much that we were shocked.:) Definely a place I would visit again with my son.
Kat A
Feb 15,2025
First time and I absolutely loved it!!! I was skeptical since I never really see this place packed, but I’m surprised it’s not flooded with people! Super tasty, delish, flavorful, and addicting! We got the #2 bucket thing (forgot the name of it, but its the second page of the menu) and it was fulfilling for four adults! We had plenty left over too. The garlic noodles are sooo yummy too! Clearly its messy as any other like restaurant, but its so worth it. A real experience!
Reviews For The Kickin' Crab