While our name leads you to believe that we only serve the finest crab that Pier 39 has to offer, we actually provide an assortment of different types of seafood, including all varieties of shellfish. If you’re looking for oysters, shrimp, mussels, or, of course, crab, look no further. Crab House on Pier 39 has menu items that are perfect for the whole family, so you’ll have access to the most popular seafood available.
We provide a host of mouth-watering dishes that are sure to appease anyone who doesn’t eat certain kinds of seafood, or any at all. When you dine at Crab House at Pier 39, there will be no shortage of dining options!
Below, we’ll explore the different types of seafood we offer at Crab House and our favorite menu items in each category.
Types of Shelled Seafood
We know our shellfish here at Crab House at Pier 39. From our crispy crab cakes to our sizzling mussel skillets and crab fried rice, shellfish can be the star of any dish. But not all shellfish are the same. There are two types of shelled seafood that diners should be familiar with: crustaceans and mollusks. We are pros at each of them and cook up some tasty dishes that feature both types of shelled seafood!
Below, we will dive deep into how we define each type of shelled seafood. Check out our favorite menu items that represent these kinds of seafood at Crab House at Pier 39.
Crustaceans
Crustaceans include popular seafood items like shrimp, crab, and lobster. (Pssst, if you’re interested in learning more about Dungeness Crab, check out our blog post here) This type of shelled seafood is typically characterized by its hard outer shell and segmented limbs.
Fun fact: there are over 35,000 different types of crustaceans. We typically stick to only the most common seafood in this category for eating. Check out our favorite kinds of seafood at Crab House at Pier 39 below:
Crab Cakes
Our crab cakes are not to be missed! Crab cakes are an excellent seafood dish to start your meal or to share between two diners on Pier 39.
We pan-sear our crab cakes and serve them up with our garlic aioli. As with all our crab meat, we use Dungeness crab, ensuring guests enjoy the balance between sweet crab meat and a savory patty with the perfect crispy texture. They are bound to become your new favorite kind of seafood at Crab House at Pier 39!
Shrimp Skillet
Yes, yes, we know we are known for our world-famous Dungeness crab dishes, but shrimp lovers shouldn’t pass up our steaming, sizzling shrimp skillet dish. Served up on our cast iron skillet and doused in our secret garlic sauce, you’re in for a San Francisco treat that might take the crown from rice-a-roni.
Shrimp is a juicy treat that is also an amazing source of protein. We love the consistency of this dish; perfectly charred, juicy, and seasoned shrimp make this one we keep coming back to.
Whole Killer Crab®
For all the crab lovers out there who are looking for the best kinds of crab in San Francisco, THIS is the seafood dish for you. The crab that we serve at Crab House at Pier 39 is of the Dungeness variety (crab lovers know this is a delicacy). It has one of the most distinctive and delicious tastes of all the crab species. With its bold and sweet flavor, Dungeness crab is one of a kind. We know you’ll be coming back for more seafood on Pier 39.
Pro tip: if you’re feeling hungry, make sure you order two whole crabs instead of one—they tend not to last long after the first bite!
There are so many different kinds of seafood at Crab House at Pier 39, but this one takes the (crab) cake for our most popular item. Our crab is what puts us at the top of the list for the greatest crab and seafood restaurant on Pier 39 in San Francisco.
Mollusks
Mollusks are also commonly known as bivalves, and include common seafood items such as clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops. With over 100,000 varieties, they are the second most diverse species in the world! Due to this diversity, mollusk types vary greatly and can be found both on land and in the sea.
The main difference between mollusks and crustaceans is the hard shell on crustaceans that protects them as they molt and grow. This is a part of their makeup; mollusks, on the other hand, are defined by their soft, segmented bodies and a thick outer wall, as all bivalves have a soft body.
Oysters on the Half Shell
Sit back, relax, and enjoy all kinds of seafood at Crab House at Pier 39, including our appetizing oysters on the half shell. Let our team do all the hard work of shucking oysters, served with our house mignonette, as you soak up the breathtaking views. You can’t go wrong starting your meal off with, arguably, the most famous bivalves out there.
We recommend eating the oysters with a hit of lemon and a dash of mignonette. We also recommend a chew or two before you swallow. This allows you to get the full flavor of the oyster.
Crispy Calamari
This is an iconic starter to share with parties, large or small. There is something so satisfying about the crunch of good calamari; our crispy calamari dish is the kind of seafood at Crab House at Pier 39 that does just that. We like to keep our calamari lightly fried, so you get the satisfying crunch without the heaviness that comes with extra fried food.
We also serve our version up with pepperoncinis, which help add a nice freshness and brightness to the dish. You may want to put in two orders of this – they’re that good!
Mussel Skillet
Mussels are a kind of seafood at Crab House at Pier 39 that have a mild salinity to them. They can sometimes be compared to mushrooms. Because of their umami and savory qualities, they deliver great complexity. For preparation, mussels don’t always have to be steamed, and this dish is a great reason to explore other cooking methods over traditional steaming. Our skillet mussels begin to pop open as they cook, so we toss them in our secret garlic sauce for a balanced dish.
There probably won’t be much left over, but if there are any leftovers, we recommend taking these mussels home, remove them from their shells, and toss them with pasta and cooked spinach.
Common Seafood and Fish
It’s no secret: Crab House at Pier 39 is most popular and sought-after for all kinds of shelled seafood dishes, from our beloved cioppino dish to our World-Famous Killer Crab®, but we also serve delicious, non-shelled dishes like salmon and cod. When you’re in search of your seafood of choice, Crab House on Pier 39 has exactly what you need.
In this section, we’ll talk about some of our more typical tender seafood dishes that aren’t shelled. These are excellent options for anyone in your party who can’t eat shelled seafood or has a preference for different kinds of seafood at Crab House at Pier 39.
Make sure to order these on your next visit!
Fish and Chips
Talk about a classic! Fish and chips are an iconic, quintessential fish dish—a legendary English staple. This is our go-to for a quick and appetizing lunch or a more casual dinner. We use Pacific cod for our fish and chips. We love this fish because it has a mild flavor that has a slight sweetness to it. Plus, it works well with a crispy, crunchy batter on the outside. At Crab House at Pier 39, we serve up this kind of seafood dish with coleslaw and tartar sauce so you get the full experience.
Cod Piccata
You already know we love Pacific cod because of its tender texture and delicate flavor. We highlight the cod in our next recommended kind of seafood at Crab House at Pier 39 by pairing it with our piccata sauce that is prepared in the kitchen for optimal flavor. For those who don’t know what piccata sauce is, it’s a buttery, lemony, and tangy sauce that gets its brininess from capers. The sauce is indescribable. There is something so crushable about this elegant pan sauce. Typically, you’ll see a chicken or pork piccata on the menu; however, we created a piccata dish that is meant to highlight our delicious cod seafood.
Salmon
Salmon is one of the most ordered kinds of seafood in the US today. At Crab House at Pier 39, we approach this dish as a chef typically would, by pan-searing it to order. We also serve it with a tarragon butter sauce. Salmon is still a mild fish, although not as mild as cod; it tends to have a bit of an oily texture and richer body. Salmon can also be one of the healthiest fish to eat. It’s not only a great source of protein and healthy fats (hello omega-3), but also includes some of the essential vitamins and minerals that we need. It’s an easy seafood choice to make, and it’s always flavorful on Pier 39!
Mollusks
Mollusks are also commonly known as bivalves, and include common seafood items such as clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops. With over 100,000 varieties, they are the second most diverse species in the world! Due to this diversity, mollusk types vary greatly and can be found both on land and in the sea.
The main difference between mollusks and crustaceans is the hard shell on crustaceans that protects them as they molt and grow. This is a part of their makeup; mollusks, on the other hand, are defined by their soft, segmented bodies and a thick outer wall, as all bivalves have a soft body.
Oysters on the Half Shell
Sit back, relax, and enjoy all kinds of seafood at Crab House at Pier 39, including our appetizing oysters on the half shell. Let our team do all the hard work of shucking oysters, served with our house mignonette, as you soak up the breathtaking views. You can’t go wrong starting your meal off with, arguably, the most famous bivalves out there.
We recommend eating the oysters with a hit of lemon and a dash of mignonette. We also recommend a chew or two before you swallow. This allows you to get the full flavor of the oyster.
Crispy Calamari
This is an iconic starter to share with parties, large or small. There is something so satisfying about the crunch of good calamari; our crispy calamari dish is the kind of seafood at Crab House at Pier 39 that does just that. We like to keep our calamari lightly fried, so you get the satisfying crunch without the heaviness that comes with extra fried food.
We also serve our version up with pepperoncinis, which help add a nice freshness and brightness to the dish. You may want to put in two orders of this – they’re that good!
Mussel Skillet
Mussels are a kind of seafood at Crab House at Pier 39 that have a mild salinity to them. They can sometimes be compared to mushrooms. Because of their umami and savory qualities, they deliver great complexity. For preparation, mussels don’t always have to be steamed, and this dish is a great reason to explore other cooking methods over traditional steaming. Our skillet mussels begin to pop open as they cook, so we toss them in our secret garlic sauce for a balanced dish.
There probably won’t be much left over, but if there are any leftovers, we recommend taking these mussels home, remove them from their shells, and toss them with pasta and cooked spinach.
Non-Seafood Options
We understand that not everyone loves seafood. No matter the kinds of seafood we have at Crab House at Pier 39, there be someone in your large group or family who is looking for a non-seafood item. We have them covered. Check out our noteworthy non-seafood options. Some of our favorite menu items can be made without any meat or seafood. These are great for non-seafood lovers that also work as add-ons to any seafood-centric meal.
Skillet Roasted Sourdough
The perfect dish for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike when you’re ready to take a break from all kinds of seafood: our skillet bread is a house favorite. Sourdough is synonymous with San Francisco, and we take that to heart here at Crab House at Pier 39. Sourdough bread has a long San Francisco history dating back to the gold rush. With that, we knew that sourdough had to be featured on our menu. The sweet and distinct tang of sourdough bread is paramount to this dish. We go one step further and pair that tang with cheesy, tomato goodness. The bread is served in the sauce, making it easy to scoop up and coat the bread. You’ll never want to order just bread and butter again.
Killer Veggies
Don’t eat meat or any kind of seafood, but want the fun experience of a sizzling dish at your table? At Crab House at Pier 39, our Killer veggies are served up on a cast-iron skillet and have all the pizazz of our sizzling seafood-type dishes. The variety of our killer veggies changes based on what’s in season.
If you’re looking for your veggie serving for the day, look no further. Always cooked and seasoned beautifully, these vegetables are also served up in our secret garlic sauce that is extremely cravable.
NY Steak
You might know someone who wishes you were headed out to a steakhouse instead of a restaurant with all kinds of seafood on its menu. At Crab House at Pier 39, we understand that sometimes people prefer their meals to be a bit more landlocked. Lucky for you (and your guest), we have a steak option that will make any meat-eater happy.
Pan-seared and finished in the oven with rosemary and fresh garlic, this 10-oz New York Steak is the hallmark dish for anyone looking for a hearty, meat-heavy meal. Not only that, we bring the same quality to our steak as we do to any type of seafood on our menu. Our chefs are eager to prepare it to your liking. We are determined to make sure all the guests at your party leave fully satisfied and happy.
A Dish for Every Palette
At Crab House at Pier 39, we pride ourselves on serving the finest crab and all kinds of seafood at our restaurant with an amazing view in San Francisco. With thoughtful consideration, we offer an incredible variety of seafood and non-seafood items for our guests to choose from. We also prepare our foods in unique and interesting ways while putting flavor first.
We hope this helps you plan out your next dining experience with us at Crab House at Pier 39. Whether you’re coming in for the different kinds of seafood from our menu or for more common seafood that you just can’t get enough of, we have it!
We can’t wait to welcome you to the best seafood and crab restaurant on Pier 39 in San Francisco for not only a killer meal, but an unbeatable view of the San Francisco Bay. We’ll see you soon!