Anyone who has bitten into a crab cake and found mostly bread crumbs knows the letdown, because a good one should taste like crab first and everything else second. Virginia has plenty of kitchens that take that idea seriously, from marina spots on the Lynnhaven Inlet to a small storefront at the edge of the Shenandoah Valley and a colorful roadside shack on the Eastern Shore.
The seven seafood houses below are known for crab cakes built around big pieces of lump meat, with only enough binder and seasoning to hold things together. Some come with bay views, some come in a takeout box, and a couple keep limited hours, so it pays to save this list before your next crab craving shows up.
1. Bubba’s Seafood Restaurant, Virginia Beach, VA
Shore Drive has no shortage of seafood signs, but Bubba’s has been a longtime inlet go-to for a simple reason. Crab cakes and she crab soup sit at the center of the menu, and the marina out back gives the meal a view of the water.
The crab cakes lean on fresh lump meat with very little filler, just a touch of celery and parsley mixed in. You can order them as a platter or grab the Crab Cake Sandwich if you want something easier to handle…