In the mood for lobster.

[Baron]

The Palm comes to mind. Any other suggestions?

[yogacat]

i had lobster in black bean sauce today for 9.99 at JR in chinatown

it was small but delish

[bagdoodle]

Go to the nearest 99 Ranch Market. Buy a 3 to 6 pound live Maine lobster (always $9.98 a pound or less --- sometimes as little as $7.98 a pound) Take it home and cook it yourself. Do it several times for the price of going to The Palm once. Yum!

[Mattapoisett in LA]

It is not always below 9.98 I have bought it for as much as $13 a lb. at 99 Ranch I have gotten it for the $7.98 price though.

[chowmominLA]

I'm big on buying lobster or crab legs and steaming it myself. Tastes the same if not better for a fraction of the price. Live Maine lobster was $9.99 per lb. at 168 Market on Valley and New a few days ago.

I think $13/lb. is really the exception to the rule -- I don't think I've ever seen live lobster at a Chinese market (e.g., 99 Ranch, Hawaiian on Valley and Del Mar, 168 Market on Valley and New, or the one next to Din Tai Fung on Duarte and Baldwin) running for more than $9.99 per pound. Not saying it's never happened, I'm sure it has, but I've never seen it -- it's consistently been between $8 and $10.

The only time I get lobster in the restaurant anymore is my annual free 3-pound Nova Scotia lobster at the Palm through through their "837" dining club. First you pay a one-time fee of $25 to join, and you get sent a $25 certificate, so that's a wash. Then you get a point for every dollar you spend, good for gift certificates and other stuff. But the real perk is that every single year around your birthday you automatically receive a certificate for a free entree (including a lobster up to 3 lbs.), provided you had dined there within the last several months. Not sure if they're still doing that though because I can't find the "free birthday entree" as a perk on their website:

http://www.thepalm.com/index.cfm

If they're still doing the free annual lobster, I think it's a great deal for lobster lovers. This year they sent me two certificates, woohoo :0)

[lotta_cox]

It seems like a low brow choice, but I actually love Clancy's Crab Broiler in Glendale for some kinds of seafood. Always fresh, and if you order something really simple it is always done well. Oysters in the half shell, crab cocktail, clams, and lobster, all good all fresh and the price is right. I always eat at the bar and watch sports.

[Emme]

for steamed lobster, you can't really beat that summertime deal at the Palm :) frankly, i know there are naysayers here, but i love having steamed lobster at Ruth's Chris; actually, it's the only thing i eat there, along with a iceberg wedge and a head of broccoli. simple, clean, and tasty. more casual, there's also king's fish house in the valley.

lobster frittata at the cafe four seasons

lobster cocktail at wolfgang's

il grano has a lobster antipasto, and a lobster ravioli

mako's half moon lobster w/ crispy spinach

lobster salad at melisse

lobster dishes at Musha

catch has a lobster sandwich and lobster roll

wilshire has a lobster cobb

right now, gelson's is also selling a lobster quiche that's tasty in their service deli.

[New Trial]

The Summer deal is indeed wonderful (alas, now over) but the default preparation at both locations of the Palm in L.A. is broiled, not steamed--though I believe that the Palm will steam upon request. Personally, I prefer them broiled, though will not turn down a steamed one.

I also recently had a very tasty Lobster Thermidor at Anisette (Sunday night's plat du jour), generous with lobster meat and quite rich.

[Emme]

well that's interesting because i've had lobster countless times at the palm and never once had it broiled... im a steamed kind of a gal, but i don't even remember asking for it steamed last i was there, but maybe my memory's just hazy; it's been since last summer...

[ipsedixit]

Lobster ceviche at Matsuhisa.

[sbritchky]

I had a tasty plate of grilled lobster tail with delicious filet mignon at the Pacific Dining Car (SM location) last night. The lobster meat was removed from the shell and finished in a luscious butter saute. I began this simple, very nearly perfect meal with their fine, tangy Caesar salad and drank a glass of Ferrari-Carano cabernet. I'll have to exert willpower not to go back and have the same thing tonight!

[broncosaurus]

For a slightly different twist, try the lobster taquitos at Ocean Seafood in Santa Monica.

[wakko11]

We ordered them the last time we went to Ocean Ave. and they were pretty awful. Very little in terms of filling and flavor. Guacamole wasn't bad, though...

It's a rip-off IMHO.

[broncosaurus]

Been a while but back in the day they were okay. Different stones for different bones, perhaps.

[Servorg]

And just in case you are in the mood for something other than the old steamed with melted butter style go to:

Newport Tan Cang Seafood Restaurant
835 W Las Tunas Dr
San Gabriel, CA 91776
[phone]

and order the green onion / ginger pan fried style "house lobster" special 6 pounder and prepare to become addicted.

[bulavinaka]

Haven't been there but totally agree on the addictive factor of this style - every succulent bite is off the charts and I end up licking the shells clean...

[Baron]

Thanks for the recommendation. My SO and I shared a 5and 1/4 pounder, with ginger and green onion although our waiter tried hard to convince us to have the “house special” with peppers and jalapeno. We took home the leftovers. Nobody warned me that it’s a “cash only” place. Luckily, I had cash. Also, you have to get there early as the place fills up quickly. Obviously a very popular place. $15.95 per pound I thought was reasonable

[JEN10]

The lobster festivals in San Pedro and Redondo beach are this month.
Ports of Call Village, San Pedro Sept 19-21 lobsterfest.com
Seaside Lagoon, Redondo Beach Sept 26-28 Redondochamber.org/lobsterfestival

[Diana]

The long beach lobster fest this weekend?
The Lobster in SM?
San Gabriel Chinese places?
Live Lobster Sashimi at Asanebo?
Bristol Farms down south is having a lobster dinner thing.
Delmonico's in Encino?
Does Roy's do it?

[Fine]

Could someone local and familiar please clarify whether the local lobster fests and the lobster referred to (or implied) in original posting and replies all refer to "Maine" lobster or whether the locals fests aren't "California" lobster, another critter altogether.

[Servorg]

Maine