Soft Shell Crabs

[Mottmott]

Where do I find the best soft shell crabs? I'm hoping its not too late to find some.

[jsmeeker]

which city/area ??

[Andrew Fenton]

which city/area ??

At a guess (and from the title) in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs.

I see them at the Reading Terminal Market, though I can't speak to quality or season. (Not a fan myself; the texture is a little too... toenail-like for me.)

[dcarch]

Not completely off-topic.

I have seen frozen soft shell crabs in the markets.

I have not tried them before.

dcarch

[KatieLoeb]

Don't buy them frozen. It does something weird to them texturally. You have to buy them fresh, alive and snip their little faces off and clean them yourself or they just aren't the same.

We have them at Oyster House. I'll find out for you which purveyor we buy them from.

[Mottmott]

My bad, I was not at all clear. I'm really looking for a restaurant that serves a good version of soft shell crabs. For some reason this is something I only eat when out. (Silly, as I will cook lobster, mussels, etc. at home.}

I think of this forum as a restaurant forum, so wasn't properly specific. However, Katie's response suggests that they have them at the Oyster House, so I guess I can find them there.

[philadining]

I thought the season was more like May-July-ish, but perhaps we're still in the tail end of it. I haven't really been paying attention to the specials boards recently, but if they're in-season and available fresh, they're pretty common in many kinds of restaurants around here.

Oyster House is certainly going to be a good choice. We've had some really delicious ones at Ken's Seafood in Chinatown, and a crazy spicy version at Han Dynasty in Old City. Softshell Po-Boys pop up as specials at Cajun Kate's out in Boothwyn, and at Khyber Pass Pub in Old City. I've had both, and they're really good, but you'd have to check to see if they're available.

[KatieLoeb]

When we have them depends on when they molt, so sometimes a few weeks will pass with no softshells and then they reappear, as if by magic. Jeff is right, though. Season is coming to a close soon. When they're in we usually have them as a Po'Boy sandwich at lunch and as an entree at dinner. But if you call ahead they can give you a better description of that day's presentation as the menu changes daily both at lunch and at dinner.

FWIW, we had them on Monday this week. I've been off the last few days, but I can let you know tomorrow if they're still around.

Edited August 10, 2011 by KatieLoeb (log)

[angevin]

The best I've ever had were at Sagami, a sushi place in Collingswood, NJ. Simple and unadorned, light and crispy and loaded with flavor. They were a special, so yes, only in season. You'd have to check and see if they have 'em.

[nolnacs]

I've had good soft shell crab at Sakura in Chinatown

[wkl]

koozeedoo has a a soft shell crab and potato stew as a special tonight (friday).

[Andrew Fenton]

Matyson had a soft-shell sandwich as a lunch special today.