Where to go for stone crabs in Miami, from old-school institutions to waterfront gems

This is the very place that first served stone crabs, so just based on that, Joe’s should be on this list. But here’s the thing: Joe’s is a Miami institution for good reason. People wait, sometimes for hours, for limited-reservation tables because Joe’s does so many things right, including the stone crabs. Fresh? Yeah, Joe’s has its own fleet hauling in claws. Mustard sauce? This is the place that invented that too. If you like stone crabs, you should just accept that you have to pay Joe’s pretty exorbitant prices to eat at the original.

The two family-owned and operated Blue Runner trucks have become a go-to for those seeking extremely fresh, high-quality seafood at a reasonable price. By cutting out the middle-man (the fish markets) altogether, the tell-tale blue trucks have become hubs for those who’d rather not pay restaurant prices for claws during season. At whichever truck is closest, expect to find some of the freshest, most affordable stone crabs in town—that is if they haven’t already sold out for the day. Biscayne Blvd and 114th St; NE Second Ave and NE 36th St

Holy Crab used to be a popup inside MKT Kitchen, but when that operation closed, Holy Crab is planning to continue on during stone crab season with pickup, delivery and shipping of medium, large, jumbo and colossal stone crabs. Holy Crab’s homemade mustard sauce and butter for dipping come alongside in abundance with every order. 1831 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables; 305-781-4808, holycrabdelivery.com

Get claws of all sizes from this Little Havana seafood institution, around since 1976. The best thing about going to La Camaronera for stone crabs is that you’ll get to pair them with other favorites from the sea, like their famous minuta sandwich (fried snapper—tail and all!—on a lightly toasted Cuban roll) and the fried lobster tail, which absolutely no one can ever turn down.

Chains don’t end up on our lists very often, but S&W is a rare one. It’s good, first off, but it’s also got a location that’s downright stunning, right on the water at the very tip of South Beach. It makes for an ideal spot to order a seafood tower dotted with stone crabs as the sun sets across Government Cut just feet away.

There are few more iconic waterfront spots in Miami than Rusty Pelican, where many Miamians celebrate birthdays and graduations with their grandparents while watching the sunset over the bay. So this seems like an appropriate place to order stone crabs served cracked, over ice and seaweed, with an as-it-should-be mustard-mayo sauce. 

Garcia’s is a no-fuss riverfront restaurant that’s also a Miami landmark. This is one of those places that have enough regulars and loyal customers to fill a stadium. Why? Because the product is fresh as can be, occasionally coming off the owners’ own fishing boats. The open-air spot makes for an ideal destination to bring visiting tourists—this is the Miami they hoped would exist.

The Sunset Harbour mainstay from chefs Janine Booth and Jeff McInnis serves stone crabs with the traditional mustard sauce and also with a champagne mustard aïoli (seriously, restaurants, it doesn't all have to be dijonnaise). Plus, score outrageously cheap $7 happy hour claws from 4 to 7pm every Thursday.

There are fewer more appropriate places to crack stone crabs than at a thatched-roofed, open-walled tiki hut next to a marina with reggae and calypso bands nearby. Expect deals during the 4 to 7pm happy hour, when, even if it’s not stone crab season, you can still score good drinks and fresh seafood.

The waterfront bar and restaurant next to one of our favorite new happy hour spots, Regatta Grove, serves stone crabs the traditional way, on ice with mustard sauce. But the real way to go here is the Crab & Shrimp Cocktail Cooler, where a charming little teal Igloo arrives tableside overflowing with shrimp and stone crab claws priced at $15 each.

Golden Rule is a family-run joint that dates back to 1943. Unlike some of the fancier options on this list, feel free to show up in a bathing suit and flip-flops. Just make sure you’re hungry. On a nice night, Golden Rule’s impressive backyard tiki hut is the perfect place to crack open some claws, have a cold beer and pretend you’re on vacation somewhere tropical.