The Kickin' Crab

If not for the pandemic, I don’t think it ever would have occurred to me to order takeout from a place like The Kickin’ Crab. Cajun-inspired crawfish restaurants like this local chain and countless others are ubiquitous in Orange County. And at

roll of paper towels and a big, fun, spicy mess.   I don’t know why I never thought to bring something like this home before now. I guess I feared the mess. But The Kickin’ Crab supplies all the butcher paper you could possibly need to cover the table

Grill copycat named Fish Grill Factory, went belly-up before anyone noticed. Even as the latest tenant, the Kickin' Crab, moved in, whispers labeled the place as cursed. But so far, so good. This newest contender seems to be on steadier sea legs than

those that came before. The Kickin' Crab might just stick around awhile, breaking the spell and proving that something, anything, can survive here. We've seen the likes of the Kickin' Crab before. It aspires to replicate the success of the Boiling Crab

Beach, 949-715-1530, harleylagunabeach.com Dr. Pepper braised pork shoulder and street corn from the takeout menu at Harley in Laguna Beach (Photo by Brad A. Johnson, Orange County Register/SCNG) The Kickin’ Crab You’ll need to stock up on PPE for this

Andrei's    Birrieria el Bandido    Buttermilk Fried Chicken    Clay Oven    Harley    The Kickin' Crab    Lola Gaspar    Noble Bird    Taco María    Vaca   

Croissants at Blackmarket Bakery DTSA  23. Lobster Elote at Dos Chinos  24. Garlic Noodles at the Kickin' Crab 25. Fish Tacos at Anepalco 26. Sauteed Shrimp at Cafe Hiro  27. Uncle Lou's Fried Chicken at Playground  28. Bo Ssam at Mountain  29. Bentos at

It was two years ago when the first Kickin' Crab opened in a Santa Ana storefront that previously saw two other concepts fail. I wondered then whether this Boiling Crab aspirant would buck the trend. Cut to two years later and it seems that not only

ply them with beer. So far, among the many recent Boiling Crab imitators, only one has come close. The Kickin' Crab is a clone that talks and walks so much like the Boiling Crab it's close to infringement. If there is one difference, it's the one that

the Kickin' Crab 25. Fish Tacos at Anepalco 26. Sauteed Shrimp at Cafe Hiro  27. Uncle Lou's Fried Chicken at Playground  28. Bo Ssam at Mountain  29. Bentos at Tenkatori  30. Pork Belly Bites at Coastal Kitchen  31. Pizza Omelet at Old Vine Cafe  32

. Stuffed Croissants at Blackmarket Bakery DTSA  23. Lobster Elote at Dos Chinos  24. Garlic Noodles at the Kickin' Crab 25. Fish Tacos at Anepalco 26. Sauteed Shrimp at Cafe Hiro  27. Uncle Lou's Fried Chicken at Playground  28. Bo Ssam at Mountain  29

joint inspired by the likes of The Boiling Crab called The Kickin' Crab. Why do I think it's cribbing Boiling Crab and its other Little Saigon competitors? Look at the menu and see for yourself. I peeked in and saw that they've done little to the old

over the space should the Kickin' Crab kick the bucket (so far that location has been home to a sushi-joint named Bluefin, Fish Grill Factory, and now this) I'm hoping this concept sticks like a barnacle. The Kickin' Crab, 3611 S. Bristol St. #C, Santa

IN OCTOBER:   Kami Sushi, Tustin Le Napoleon, Irvine Liang's Kitchen, Irvine Pizzelle's Bistro, Tustin The Capital Grille, Costa Mesa The Kickin' Crab, Santa Ana ] RESTAURANTS/VENUES CLOSED IN OCTOBER Illiano's, Tustin Fish Grill Factory, Santa Ana

most viable competitor, will move into the space that Itriya Cafe abandoned at Diamond Jamboree. It will be the fourth Kickin' Crab location and the second crab joint of this type in Irvine. More details on the opening as they come. To read my review of