Best Dungeness crabs in SF

[bwalkley]

Can anyone give me some pointers on where to get the best dungeness crab in San Francisco? I have thought about just going to whole foods to see if they have them but would love to get them from the actual fishermen/crabbers? Is there anywhere to do that here?

[nooodles]

They're going for about $3/lb live now, so try not to pay too much more than that. I'd hit the Chinese markets in Chinatown, the Richmond, or the Sunset, or the various seafood markets on Mission street (there are many from 16th street all the way down to 24th street). Prices among these places is pretty constant, just look for crabs that are alive and kicking. Heck, I even saw a market in the Tenderloin (Larkin/O'Farrell?) selling healthy large crabs for $3. This time of year, they're everywhere. No need to go to Whole Foods and spend three times as much.

If you need a specific market post what neighborhoods are convenient to you and I or others will chime in.

[deanne]

I bought 2 lb. crabs last weekend at Princeton Harbor for $3.50 per lb. In front of the Harbormaster's Office there is a white board which lists all of the boats selling crab that day. They were delicious.

[Benny Choi]

I second this recommendation for going to Princeton Harbor. The crabs bought from there last weekend were excellent - very alive, feisty, meaty crabs. In addition to buying directly from the boats, you can also walk to the end of the pier and to the right to the processor building and buy direct from the processor from gigantic metal crates of live crabs for the same price, $3.50 lbs (last weekend's price).

[Benny Choi]

Princeton Harbor is located a few miles north up Hwy 1 from Half Moon Bay.

[Ruth Lafler]

Every year there are reports on where to get them direct from the crabbers -- keep watching here. One place you can always get them is at the harbor in Half Moon Bay, but there are sometimes closer sources.