In a state where culinary trends come and go faster than coastal fog, there stands a bright red beacon of seafood consistency in Newport Beach – The Crab Cooker, where the Alaskan king crab legs arrive pre-cracked and the giant fish sign playfully instructs you “DON’T LOOK UP HERE.”
This maritime treasure chest with its distinctive crimson exterior and green-white striped awnings has been serving some of California’s most straightforward and sublime seafood for generations, refusing to bow to passing fads or unnecessary flourishes.
The moment you spot that vibrant red building among Newport Beach’s upscale boutiques and polished storefronts, you know you’ve found a place that marches to the beat of its own drum – or perhaps the rhythm of its own waves.
The Crab Cooker doesn’t need to impress you with elaborate décor or servers reciting poetic descriptions of each dish…