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Welcome to The Kickin Crab - Santa Ana

At The Kickin Crab - Santa Ana, vibrant Cajun/Creole flavors meet the ocean’s freshest catch, creating a culinary experience that captivates seafood lovers. Located in a cozy setting, this restaurant invites guests to indulge in a variety of dishes, from mouthwatering garlic noodles to perfectly seasoned crawfish and scrumptious fried shrimp. The casual ambiance makes it ideal for families and groups, whether dining in or enjoying takeout. With numerous vegetarian options and attentive service, every visit promises delightful flavors and a fun, messy dining experience. Dive into the heart of the ocean with every bite at The Kickin Crab!

LOCATIONS

Welcome to The Kickin Crab - Santa Ana, where the vibrant flavors of Cajun and Creole meet the fresh bounty of seafood in a laid-back atmosphere. Situated conveniently at 3611 S Bristol St Ste C, Santa Ana, CA 92704, this restaurant offers a perfect blend of zest and comfort, making it an ideal dining spot for groups or families looking to indulge in a seafood feast.

What sets The Kickin Crab apart is its innovative menu, showcasing a diverse range of enticing options that cater to every palate. From the succulent Kickin' Wings drenched in garlic butter to the savory Cajun Fries seasoned to perfection, there is something for everyone. Seafood lovers will rejoice at the crunchy Fried Calamari and the delectable Popcorn Shrimp, both hitting the right notes in terms of flavor and texture. The menu also features vegetarian options like the Cajun Edamame, ensuring all guests feel welcome.

  • Signature Dishes: Don’t miss their Garlic Noodles paired with grilled shrimp, which offers a delightful twist with its buttery richness. For a true feast, indulge in the KICKIN COMBO, which brings together multiple seafood selections alongside corn and potatoes, an experience perfectly suited for sharing.
  • Soups and More: Warm up with the classic Clam Chowder or the hearty KC Gumbo that brings the heat with its rich blend of spices and abundant seafood.

For those seeking a more relaxed vibe, The Kickin Crab delivers with its casual ambiance, complemented by moderate noise levels and an inviting decor reminiscent of coastal dining. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, making it a great choice whether you're dining with friends or planning a family night out.

Customers rave about the freshness and quality of the seafood, often noting the plump shrimp and perfectly cooked fish. Reviewers like Gwyneth N. and Van V. have highlighted the standout garlic noodles and mentioned the generous portion sizes of sides, like the huge Cajun fries that come with many of the main dishes.

Furthermore, the restaurant embraces convenience with options for takeout, delivery, and catering, catering to busy lifestyles without compromising on quality. You can enjoy your meal at home or bring it to your next gathering!

Don’t forget to check out their happy hour specials, making it easier to savor craft beer and wine as you dive into vibrant conversations over a mound of seafood.

In conclusion, The Kickin Crab - Santa Ana goes beyond just satisfying your seafood cravings; it creates an experience filled with flavor, fun, and a touch of messiness - perfect for those who like to get their hands dirty. The welcoming staff and divine dishes are sure to make this spot a new favorite for both locals and visitors alike!

For reservations or inquiries, feel free to call them at (714) 754-8888.

START YOUR REVIEW OF The Kickin Crab - Santa Ana
Gwyneth N.
Gwyneth N.

Garlic noodles with shrimp-5/5 Clam chowder-5/5 (SUPER HOT but good!) Grilled Tilapia- 1/5 ours was just overcooked :/ Fried fish tacos- 5/5 Cajun fries- 5/5 (HUGE FRY BASKET) Raw oysters- 5/5 (Literally was Amazing omg) 3lb KC fiesta Crawfish- 3/5 3lb Kickin Style Crawfish- 5/5 the table favorite Garlic butter- 3/5 not for us but was really thick and creamy, definitely uses real butter Service was good! We waited 1hr for a walk in on a weekend for a group of 6 at peak dinner hour. This really captured the flavors of viet Cajun and was overall a HUGE win!

Van V.
Van V.

Seafood here was amazing! The cajun fries and extra large size for only about $5. The garlic noodles are so soft and had the perfect amount of garlic. They weren't dry at all and were delicious mixed with the seafood boil sauce. The seafood itself was also amazing. It was fresh and perfectly seasoned. Some of the crawfish was definitely frozen longer than it should have been, meaning the tail meat was shriveled and small, but other than that it was great. Service was also really good. We checked in online on yelp and when we arrived we were able to check in on the ipad in the restaurant. Bathrooms are a little dirty, but they get the job done. Overall, would come back here again for the delicious and perfectly flavored seafood boil.

Taylor O.
Taylor O.

Been multiple times, but most recently came with friends who had never been. Staff was friendly and helpful! Came on a Monday evening and had no wait. Food was delicious! A little pricey but still some of the best Cajun seafood in the area. Definitely messy but that's part of the fun! Cozy enough to disclose the messiest of "affairs". Will be back with more friends soon enough. -Monday Night Foodies

Britney M.
Britney M.

Seafood heaven! This was my first time at The Kick'n Crab! My friend who isn't on Yelp, recommended this place to me. I looked it up on Yelp and had to give it a try. I brought my hubby with since he loves seafood. I ordered the popcorn shrimp and the seafood Alfredo. I LOVED the popcorn shrimp! The breading was so good! Addicting really. I wasn't a fan of the seafood Alfredo. It tasted like flour, and wasn't buttery and creamy. I should have known better to order an Italian dish at a seafood restaurant. My hubby was in heaven! He ordered a whole lobster, a pound of king crab, and a pound of shrimp. He handled all of that! Plus he had some clam chowder and some popcorn shrimp. He works out and runs 5 miles everyday lol So, he can eat all that without a problem lol Service was good. The vibe is laid back and ambiance is beachy. We will be back. The seafood is great.

Sung Hyun K.
Sung Hyun K.

Lobster was delicious! So was the shrimp even though it was slightly overcooked. The Kickin style is always recommended. Service was quick and attentive!

Esther M.
Esther M.

Usually I would go to Boiling Crab but the line was too long so opted for Kickin' Crab. Got the shrimp bag but personally I like the flavor of the Boiling Crab the whole shabang flavor more. When I asked for extra spicy, they just added some kind of sour spicy hot sauce which was just okay. However, their garlic noodles were really good! I thought it would be garlic-y but the noodles had some creaminess to it and surprising really good. The ambiance is a bit dark and kinda loud bc they turned up the music pretty loud. It was hard to have convo with my bf. Other than that, good option to go to if Boiling Crab gets too busy.

Linny P.
Linny P.

One of my favorite places to get cajun seafood! I came Sunday afternoon around 2:00 pm and it was about a 15 min wait and still fairly busy. There were several open tables in the back, but I don't think there was enough servers so they weren't seating people there. My go to order is 1lb of shrimp ($17.50/lb) with Cajun fries ($5.99) and a side of steamed rice ($3.25). I love pouring the sauce over the rice. I also like how the shrimp isn't overcooked/super soft at kicking crab. They're also generous with the amount of fries. As with everything else, the prices have definitely increased. The service was okay. No one came around to see if we needed anything, but the server did bring things out quickly when we asked. Overall, kicking crab will always be my go to spot when I'm craving cajun seafood.

Sandra L.
Sandra L.

I can't believe I've never written a review for this Kickin Crab. I've been coming for years, and this place deserves a review. I used to (over a decade ago) go to Boiling Crab, but the long lines and decline in food quality made me search for a new shrimp boil place. Kickin Crab became my new go-to! Their Kickin Sauce is not quite the same as Boiling Crab, but I like it nonetheless! It has a slightly sweeter taste, which I don't mind. The shrimp here is almost always plump where the shells come off easily. There have been a handful of times where this wasn't the case, and we had shrimps that were overcooked or not fresh, and the shells were difficult to peel. Prices for the seafood are all market price... which is annoying because I like knowing how much things cost before ordering. Cajun fries and sweet potato fries are solid here! Service is always friendly and attentive. The interior has an almost identical vibe to Boiling Crab, seashore dock with writings on the wood panel walls. I did a lot of comparison to Boiling Crab because I was looking for an alternative, and I've found it with Kickin Crab. I highly recommend this place!