Charleston’s Soft Shell Crab Crawl: 23 Spots To Indulge In This Coastal Delight
The much-anticipated soft shell crab season has returned! This seasonal delicacy is making its way onto menus throughout Charleston & whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer to the soft shell experience, there’s a dish to satisfy every craving. From Fleet Landing’s crispy fried version served with grits and bacon jam to The Darling Oyster Bar‘s elevated take on the coastal delight with a smoky soubise and cherry heirloom tomatoes, Charleston’s culinary scene is brimming with mouthwatering options. Scroll on to discover some of our go-to spots to enjoy soft shell crab dishes this spring.
167 Raw
Tempura fried soft shell crab sandwich topped with Yuzu Kosho butter & Tsukemono pickled Napa cabbage, served on a sesame bun with black garlic mayo
39 Rue de Jean
Dish one: Soft Shell Ratatouille with lightly battered pan fried soft shell crab, served over a warm bed of Ratatouille with eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, fresh herbs & garlic
Dish two: Soft Shell Tartine with fried soft shell crab on grilled sourdough with avocado spread, watermelon radish, over easy egg & truffle aioli (served during brunch)
Beautiful South
Softy with fermented chilies prepared in a signature “salt & pepper” style, featuring a light, crispy crust with a slight kick
Coast Bar & Grill
Dish one: Soft shell salad featuring grilled soft shell crab over an heirloom tomato & arugula salad with crispy bacon, gorgonzola cheese & extra virgin olive oil
Dish two: Fried combo of two with one fried soft shell, choice of fried shrimp, fried oysters or fried flounder with hand-cut fries, bacon & blue cheese slaw, tarter & cocktail sauce
Fleet Landing
Dish one: Crispy soft shell crab with fried green tomato, grits & bacon jam
Dish two: Soft shell crab BLT
FIG
FIG has a tradition of simply sautéing the crabs in golden brown butter. The crabs that they purchase are as soft as they come. With their shells only being shed hours before, it’s not really possible to get a softer crab — we call them “silkies.” Due to their delicate nature, they tend to prioritize the cooking then garnish minimally.
Frannie & The Fox
Semolina fried softy with local corn Maque choux, amandine butter, lemon & herbs
Grand Bohemian Charleston
Dish one: Softie sandwich with soft shel crab, miso slaw, garlic aioli & fries
Dish two: Soft shell crabs with two crispy softies, field peas, bacon, tomatoes & lemon
Hank’s Seafood
Fried soft shell with English peas, potato puree & lobster bisque
Island Cabana Bar
Fried soft shell crab tacos, served with cilantro slaw, pico de gallo & avocado crema on a flour tortilla
Kwei Fei
Crispy & aromatic, this Chongqing-style softie is wok-fried with a bold blend of Sichuan peppercorns, dried chilies & fragrant spices for a balance of heat & numbing spice.
Lillian’s Petite Market & Eatery
Waiting on description
NICO
Soft shell sandwich buttermilk fried with pickled sweet peppers, radish, artisan lettuce & saffron aioli, served with fries
Prohibition
Dish one: Soft shell crab rangoon club sandwich with sweet chili sauce, whipped cream cheese, bacon & bibb lettuce
Dish two: Soft shell crab lettuce wraps with thai peanut sauce, mint, shredded carrot & cabbage
Rudy Royale
Softy with lemon chive aioli & cabbage slow on an Annie Mae’s milk bread bun, served with crab bisque & cucumber salad
Slightly North of Broad
Soft shell crab with curried French lentils & a pickled vegetable salad
*Note: Soft shell crab can be added to any SNOB entree.
Sorelle
Piccata-style softy with brown butter, lemon & Sicilian capers
The Darling Oyster Bar
Soft shell crab atop a smoky soubise with cherry heirloom tomatoes, spinach & oyster mushrooms, finished with micro thyme
The Ordinary
The crabs get a light dredge in The Ordinary’s mix of cornmeal & rice flour before being fried, & are then served with an incredible cherry tomato conserva & ramp aioli.
The Restaurant at Zero George
Crispy fried soft shell crab with fresh local spring vegetables, featuring spring onion, garlic & a tempura batter made with blue corn masa. Also available at The Caviar Bar, elevated with Regiis Ova caviar on top.
The Select
Flash-fried, beer-battered local soft shell crab accompanied by a vibrant green papaya spring salad, drizzled with a savory umami sauce & complemented by Calabrese pepper jelly for a perfect balance of flavors
Victor’s Seafood & Steak
Surf & Turf 6 oz. filet mignon, fried soft shell, mixed vegetables & remoulade
Virginia’s on King
Dish one: soft shell garlic crab with two soft shells, sauteed in old bay garlic butter & green onion
Dish two: soft shell crab salad with one fried soft shell, spinach, bacon, goat cheese, pickled red onion, roasted red peppers, sweet & sour whole grain vinaigrette
Dish three: soft shell crab sandwich with deep fried soft shell, fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, bacon & old bay aioli
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