With San Francisco's close proximity to both the freshest seafood and garlic, it's a given that our creatively culinary city will cater amazing places that specialize in the perfect union of both.
This savory marriage of locally-sourced roasted garlic and dungeness crabs is usually reserved as a delicacy due to its delicate balance of richness and pungent garlic flavor. These restaurants we highly recommend, however, are known for providing not only large and flavorful year-round portions, but also for their inviting atmospheres and marvelous service.
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2419, 133 Clement St / http://lesoleilsf.com/
As a family-run restaurant, Le Soleil is devoted to emulating Asian homestyle-cooking, but with a gourmet and innovative twist. Highly awarded Chef Dennis Wong channels not only his 40 years of experience into his precisely crafted cooking, but also his passion and creativity, which reflects in his signature dishes, the Squid Ink Fried Rice, tableside Flambeéd Quail, and of course, the Garlic Roasted Dungeness Crab. This feast includes crab roe and brown butter, effortlessly fusing Vietnamese and Chinese flavors.
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1475 Polk St / Website
The House of An is a prolific California staple, having multiple elegant locations in both the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Crustacean in Polk Gulch is their very first success, and for great reasons! Master Chef Helene An's Whole Roasted Dungeness Crab and Garlic Noodles are both highly-awarded and highly-coveted, as her cuisine is enhanced by polished and imaginative Euro-Asian fusions of "immunity-enhancing herbs and spices."
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2332 Clement St / Website
PPQ Dungeness Island has two locations, one in San Francisco's Outer Richmond district, and one in Millbrae. Both are equally bustling, as this homestyle Vietnamese restaurant guarantees to whisk you away into a enjoyable island paradise, especially with their signature crab dinners, served fresh and offered in a range of sizes with an equally expansive array of accompanying sides.
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1830 Irving St / Website
Primely located right between Stow Lake and the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps in the Sunset, this sister restaurant to PPQ Dungeness Island prides itself on only sourcing their fresh Dungeness either locally or right from Washington state. Aside from their delicious Garlic Butter Crab, they also offer a plethora of unique varieties available year-round, like their Salted Egg Yolk, Spicy Chili, and Japanese-Style Curry Crabs. Also a must-try is their exquisite House Maine Lobsters also sourced exclusively from the crustacean capital east coast state.
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39 Pier, Ste A - 202 / Website
Fog Harbor Fish House in the famous Pier 39 is acclaimed for being fresh, flavorful, and totally family owned and operated. Its no surprise that this quintessential waterfront restaurant has been highly awarded, as they are 100% sustainable and serve all their superb seafood with complimentary sourdough for the full San Fancisco harbor experience. You can even expect to be greeted by a member of the family themselves!
These exceptional restaurants are sure to serve their whole roasted dungeness crab with a portion that's as generous as they are decadently garlicky!
Photography by: Hanxiao/Unsplash
