AYCE King Crab

[Mindymc]

My husband loves king crab and I've heard rumors of all you can eat king crab places in Alaska but can't find any currently open (or whose menus back up the online review that they offer it). We will be in Anchorage, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point. Anyone know of any in these areas? Thanks!

[Glaciers]

King Crab is a winter fishery so what will be served will have been previously frozen. Most of it is shipped directly from Dutch Harbor to the lower 48 and bypasses Alaska. It is then shipped back up to retailers and grocery stores.  It’s the same stuff you can get at your home grocery store when available.

 

You may find an all you can eat King Crab place but it will be ridiculously expensive. Over $100 for a few legs and a couple claws is what is listed on menus from Tracy’s Crab Shack in Juneau and Dwyers in Ketchikan.

 

The difference may be that they know how to cook it in Alaska.

[mapleleaves]

perhaps you're thinking of this Ketchikan location which is offered as an excursion by most cruiselines.

https://catchcrabs.com/portfolio-item/world-famous-crab-feast-at-george-inlet-lodge/

[Crew News]

18 hours ago, mapleleaves said:

perhaps you're thinking of this Ketchikan location which is offered as an excursion by most cruiselines.

https://catchcrabs.com/portfolio-item/world-famous-crab-feast-at-george-inlet-lodge/

 

Not King crab but Dungeoness crab feast is memorable but skip the appetizers and concentrate on how many half-crabs you can eat:

 

[Mindymc]

Thank you both! That looks awesome!

[bottom-dragger]

22 hours ago, Glaciers said:

King Crab is a winter fishery so what will be served will have been previously frozen. Most of it is shipped directly from Dutch Harbor to the lower 48 and bypasses Alaska. It is then shipped back up to retailers and grocery stores.  It’s the same stuff you can get at your home grocery store when available.

 

No, no they are not. The crabs are processed (steamed and frozen or canned) soon after being off loaded. Handling increases the risk of morts (mortalities). There have been attempts to fly live crab south but the extreme transportation costs and deaths prevent it from being anything but filling a boutique niche.

 

[Glaciers]

Yes, yes they are. Of course they are frozen shortly after being off loaded. Then they are shipped south and then back to Alaska.  We're talking about the same thing.

[xlxo]

Not AYCE, but if you visit Vancouver.  The premium Chinese Seafood restaurants offer live crab to be cooked for consumption.  After the crabs are caught in the winter, they are shipped to Vancouver seafood hotels to be kept alive for year round consumption.

 

You want to be in a group of 6 to 8 for a crab dinner as the creatures are massive!  Have you heard about "Vancouver Style"?  This is when a single crab is prepared as several presentations.  http://www.followmefoodie.com/2014/04/dynasty-seafood-restaurant-alaskan-king-crab-dinner-vancouver/

 

 

 

Edited April 23, 2019 by xlxo

[Mindymc]

That sounds interesting. We will have to check it out! Thanks!