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The crab cake from Rappahannock Oyster Bar at the Wharf
The crab cake from Rappahannock Oyster Bar at the Wharf
Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Where to Grab Stupendous Crab Cakes Around D.C.

Dig into one of the Mid-Atlantic’s famous treasures

by Vinciane Ngomsi and Eater Staff Updated
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The crab cake from Rappahannock Oyster Bar at the Wharf
| Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.
by Vinciane Ngomsi and Eater Staff Updated

The best crab cakes emphasize the seafood itself, putting jumbo lump meat proudly on display. Debates rage on about the type of crab, use of filler(s), and sauce or seasonings, but when done properly, crab cakes are one of the most splurge-worthy delicacies the Chesapeake Bay has to offer. Crab cakes tend to be plumpest starting in September, when harvested Maryland blue crabs are their biggest.

Options include simply-plated entrees, along with more casual sandwiches and crab cake Benedict during brunch, too.

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Crisfield Seafood

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Since 1945, this Georgia Avenue seafood shop operated by the Landis family has pulled in throngs of crab enthusiasts. The Silver Spring restaurant has a diner vibe for lunch and dinner. Dishes are prepared in an old-school “Eastern Shore” style, and customers can order the crab cake as a sandwich or as an entree that’s either broiled or fried.

8012 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 589-1306
(301) 589-1306

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Glover Park Grill

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Designed as a neighborhood spot with a dash of steakhouse classics, a pinch of Italian-American comfort, and a touch of chef Hamilton Johnson’s southern roots, Glover Park Grill aims to please the weekday diner. Johnson’s crab cake sandwich delivers with a light cracker binder holding the meat together with lemon and chives with a choice of tartar or cocktail sauce on the side.

2505 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 625-5400
(202) 625-5400
A crab cake with apple and butter puree from Glover Park Grill
A crab cake with apple and butter puree from Glover Park Grill
Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Blacksalt

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This upscale tavern in the Palisades serves a standout crab cake using fresh crab sourced from its fish market. For dinner, crab cakes are served with corn, okra, roasted red pepper relish, and fingerling potatoes. A crab cake sandwich is offered as well, complete with a brioche bun, house slaw and lemon caper aioli.

4883 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 342-9101
(202) 342-9101

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FishScale

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The seafood burgers from chef-owner Brandon Williams’s restaurant in Shaw use only sustainable, wild-caught seafood. That includes a quarter-pound “True Blue Maryland Crab” cake made without breadcrumbs, or mayonnaise.

637 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 780-7886
(202) 780-7886
WEEKEND:10/20 $20 Diner on FishScale- a new seafood burger joint opened by chef Brandon Williams. He serves only wild caught, sustainable fish, which he processes into burgers. His sister, Kristal, works the front of the house.
A crabcake sandwich from FishScale
Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Tavern at Ivy City Smokehouse

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This smoked seafood hub doesn’t skimp on crab cakes. Grab a seat on the rooftop patio (or take some to go) and enjoy a sizable serving featuring Maryland jumbo lump crab meat. It’s paired with seasonal vegetables and fingerling potatoes, plus tartar sauce and lemon.

1356 Okie St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
202-529-3300
202-529-3300

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Randy's Prime Seafood & Steaks

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This addition to Great American Restaurant group’s Northern Virginia portfolio goes all out with its crab cake, combining jumbo lump meat with broiled Maine lobster. The dish gets dressed with lobster beurre blanc, shaved fennel, and asparagus. For an ultimate surf-and-turf order, opt to add a 7-ounce filet mignon.

8051 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182
(703) 552-5110
(703) 552-5110
Lobster crab cakes at Randy’s.
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

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Hank's Oyster Bar (Multiple locations)

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Hank’s may be known for oysters and lobster rolls, but the crab cakes are no joke. The classic dinner is a Marylander’s dream, plated with Old Bay-seasoned fries and coleslaw. Crab cakes also appear in Benedict form at brunch, available Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

1624 Q St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 462-4265
(202) 462-4265

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King Street Oyster Bar (Multiple locations)

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This NoMa location of this raw bar serves crab cakes for lunch and dinner, joined by fries, cole slaw, and spicy remoulade. Show up during happy hour (3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) to sample slider versions.

22 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 621-8513
(202) 621-8513

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Blue Duck Tavern

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Homey cooking is the calling card of this well-known destination inside the Park Hyatt. Jumbo lump crab cakes come with cress and lemon-caper remoulade for lunch, dinner, or brunch.

1201 24th St NW, Washington, DC 20037
(202) 419-6755
(202) 419-6755

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Parlour Victoria

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Located in a historic 19th century townhouse near City Center, the Maryland crab cakes at Parlour Victoria is served with mixed baby greens and an Old Bay remoulade.

1011 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(771) 999-3900
(771) 999-3900

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Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood and Crab

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The special occasion hotspot near Mt. Vernon Square serves up crab cake as an appetizer, complete with a spreadable dill tartar sauce. During brunch, duck fat home fries are topped with jumbo lump crab cakes, poached eggs, jalapeño béarnaise, and Black River caviar.

700 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 898-0680
(202) 898-0680

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Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

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The crab cakes at Joe’s downtown are a combination of jumbo lump crab meat, Old Bay, lemon, parsley, and panko breadcrumbs. They’re baked and served with Joe’s own mustard sauce. Select it as an appetizer or load up with an entree-sized portion.

750 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 489-0140
(202) 489-0140
Joe’s DC crab cakes Christina Slaton/For Joe’s

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Clyde's (Multiple locations)

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Clyde’s offers crab cake lovers plenty of variations at six locations around D.C. Eat this specialty all day long — from the hollandaise-smothered crab cake Benedict during weekend brunch to the entrée-sized crab cakes with coleslaw, fries, and tartar sauce. Sister restaurants Old Ebbitt Grill and The Hamilton also make great crab cakes.

707 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 349-3700
(202) 349-3700

Also featured in:

Rappahannock Oyster Bar (The Wharf)

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The Rappahannock Oyster Bar at the Wharf makes a sustainably sourced Chesapeake crab cake sandwich (or entree) with as little filler as possible. The dish is made complete with succotash, green Beans, fingerlings, and a caper remoulade.

1150 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 484-0572
(202) 484-0572
Rappahannock Oyster Bar’s crab cake.
Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Also featured in:

Jessie Taylor Seafood

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For an easy, no-frills take on crab cakes, head to the historic Maine Avenue Fish Market. That’s where Jessie’s Cooked Seafood serves crab cakes seasoned with Old Bay. You can take them to-go or eat them standing while soaking up views of the Washington Channel.

1100 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 554-4173
(202) 554-4173

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Ada’s on the River

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Since opening on Old Town Alexandria’s waterfront in January 2021, Ada’s has consistently packed the house and won reviews that justify the bustling scene. Here chef Adil Arghandous serves “giant,” cylindrical crab cakes with creamed leeks, pickled shallots, and a preserved lemon remoulade.

3 Pioneer Mill Way, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 638-1400
(703) 638-1400
At Ada’s on the river, a “giant,” cylindrical crab cake comes with creamed leeks, pickled shallots, and a preserved lemon remoulade.
At Ada’s on the river, a “giant,” cylindrical crab cake comes with creamed leeks, pickled shallots, and a preserved lemon remoulade.
Deb Lindsey/for The Washington Post via Getty Images

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Crisfield Seafood

8012 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Since 1945, this Georgia Avenue seafood shop operated by the Landis family has pulled in throngs of crab enthusiasts. The Silver Spring restaurant has a diner vibe for lunch and dinner. Dishes are prepared in an old-school “Eastern Shore” style, and customers can order the crab cake as a sandwich or as an entree that’s either broiled or fried.

8012 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 589-1306
(301) 589-1306

Glover Park Grill

2505 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

Designed as a neighborhood spot with a dash of steakhouse classics, a pinch of Italian-American comfort, and a touch of chef Hamilton Johnson’s southern roots, Glover Park Grill aims to please the weekday diner. Johnson’s crab cake sandwich delivers with a light cracker binder holding the meat together with lemon and chives with a choice of tartar or cocktail sauce on the side.

2505 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 625-5400
(202) 625-5400
A crab cake with apple and butter puree from Glover Park Grill
A crab cake with apple and butter puree from Glover Park Grill
Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Blacksalt

4883 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

This upscale tavern in the Palisades serves a standout crab cake using fresh crab sourced from its fish market. For dinner, crab cakes are served with corn, okra, roasted red pepper relish, and fingerling potatoes. A crab cake sandwich is offered as well, complete with a brioche bun, house slaw and lemon caper aioli.

4883 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 342-9101
(202) 342-9101

FishScale

637 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

The seafood burgers from chef-owner Brandon Williams’s restaurant in Shaw use only sustainable, wild-caught seafood. That includes a quarter-pound “True Blue Maryland Crab” cake made without breadcrumbs, or mayonnaise.

637 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 780-7886
(202) 780-7886
WEEKEND:10/20 $20 Diner on FishScale- a new seafood burger joint opened by chef Brandon Williams. He serves only wild caught, sustainable fish, which he processes into burgers. His sister, Kristal, works the front of the house.
A crabcake sandwich from FishScale
Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Tavern at Ivy City Smokehouse

1356 Okie St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

This smoked seafood hub doesn’t skimp on crab cakes. Grab a seat on the rooftop patio (or take some to go) and enjoy a sizable serving featuring Maryland jumbo lump crab meat. It’s paired with seasonal vegetables and fingerling potatoes, plus tartar sauce and lemon.

1356 Okie St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
202-529-3300
202-529-3300

Randy's Prime Seafood & Steaks

8051 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182

This addition to Great American Restaurant group’s Northern Virginia portfolio goes all out with its crab cake, combining jumbo lump meat with broiled Maine lobster. The dish gets dressed with lobster beurre blanc, shaved fennel, and asparagus. For an ultimate surf-and-turf order, opt to add a 7-ounce filet mignon.

8051 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182
(703) 552-5110
(703) 552-5110
Lobster crab cakes at Randy’s.
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Hank's Oyster Bar (Multiple locations)

1624 Q St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Hank’s may be known for oysters and lobster rolls, but the crab cakes are no joke. The classic dinner is a Marylander’s dream, plated with Old Bay-seasoned fries and coleslaw. Crab cakes also appear in Benedict form at brunch, available Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

1624 Q St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 462-4265
(202) 462-4265

King Street Oyster Bar (Multiple locations)

22 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002

This NoMa location of this raw bar serves crab cakes for lunch and dinner, joined by fries, cole slaw, and spicy remoulade. Show up during happy hour (3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) to sample slider versions.

22 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 621-8513
(202) 621-8513

Blue Duck Tavern

1201 24th St NW, Washington, DC 20037

Homey cooking is the calling card of this well-known destination inside the Park Hyatt. Jumbo lump crab cakes come with cress and lemon-caper remoulade for lunch, dinner, or brunch.

1201 24th St NW, Washington, DC 20037
(202) 419-6755
(202) 419-6755

Parlour Victoria

1011 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Located in a historic 19th century townhouse near City Center, the Maryland crab cakes at Parlour Victoria is served with mixed baby greens and an Old Bay remoulade.

1011 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(771) 999-3900
(771) 999-3900

Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood and Crab

700 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001

The special occasion hotspot near Mt. Vernon Square serves up crab cake as an appetizer, complete with a spreadable dill tartar sauce. During brunch, duck fat home fries are topped with jumbo lump crab cakes, poached eggs, jalapeño béarnaise, and Black River caviar.

700 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 898-0680
(202) 898-0680

Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

750 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

The crab cakes at Joe’s downtown are a combination of jumbo lump crab meat, Old Bay, lemon, parsley, and panko breadcrumbs. They’re baked and served with Joe’s own mustard sauce. Select it as an appetizer or load up with an entree-sized portion.

750 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 489-0140
(202) 489-0140
Joe’s DC crab cakes Christina Slaton/For Joe’s

Clyde's (Multiple locations)

707 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Clyde’s offers crab cake lovers plenty of variations at six locations around D.C. Eat this specialty all day long — from the hollandaise-smothered crab cake Benedict during weekend brunch to the entrée-sized crab cakes with coleslaw, fries, and tartar sauce. Sister restaurants Old Ebbitt Grill and The Hamilton also make great crab cakes.

707 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 349-3700
(202) 349-3700

Rappahannock Oyster Bar (The Wharf)

1150 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024

The Rappahannock Oyster Bar at the Wharf makes a sustainably sourced Chesapeake crab cake sandwich (or entree) with as little filler as possible. The dish is made complete with succotash, green Beans, fingerlings, and a caper remoulade.

1150 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 484-0572
(202) 484-0572
Rappahannock Oyster Bar’s crab cake.
Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Jessie Taylor Seafood

1100 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024

For an easy, no-frills take on crab cakes, head to the historic Maine Avenue Fish Market. That’s where Jessie’s Cooked Seafood serves crab cakes seasoned with Old Bay. You can take them to-go or eat them standing while soaking up views of the Washington Channel.

1100 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 554-4173
(202) 554-4173

Related Maps

Ada’s on the River

3 Pioneer Mill Way, Alexandria, VA 22314

Since opening on Old Town Alexandria’s waterfront in January 2021, Ada’s has consistently packed the house and won reviews that justify the bustling scene. Here chef Adil Arghandous serves “giant,” cylindrical crab cakes with creamed leeks, pickled shallots, and a preserved lemon remoulade.

3 Pioneer Mill Way, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 638-1400
(703) 638-1400
At Ada’s on the river, a “giant,” cylindrical crab cake comes with creamed leeks, pickled shallots, and a preserved lemon remoulade.
At Ada’s on the river, a “giant,” cylindrical crab cake comes with creamed leeks, pickled shallots, and a preserved lemon remoulade.
Deb Lindsey/for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Related Maps