Dallas, Fort Worth and Denton Locations for LIVE BLUE CRABS!

[buggysdad]

I'm new here, but have spent a lot of time in Dallas hunting down places to buy live blue crab (lived in Maryland & Virginia during my childhood).

Here is a list of some of the local DFW seafood markets that carry the blue goodness. Most of them do not have them on hand, and require special ordering:

Gulf Runner Seafood - Facebook Page
They make runs to the Gulf and grab all sorts of seafood including live blue crabs and soft shell crabs.
Downside: They don't make runs every week, so you have to watch the Facebook Page.

Hong Kong Marketplace
9780 Walnut St.
Suite 360
Dallas, TX  75243
Tel: (972)437-9888
(note: went to purchase crabs on a Saturday and was blown away by the selection - see below for pic)

Hong Kong Marketplace
2615 W. Pioneer Parkway
Grand Prairie, TX  75051
Tel: (972)988-8811
(note: haven't been to this one, but assume it is similar to the one above)

Asia World Market (thanks to user: mitchellseafood)
240 Legacy Dr. #200
Plano, TX 75023
Tel: 972-517-8858

Rex's Seafood
214-351-6363
5200 West Lovers Lane
Dallas, TX 75209
(note: you need to place an order early in the week, and the crabs will arrive Friday or Saturday)

Sea Breeze Fish Market
972-473-2722
4017 Preston Road #530
Plano, TX 75093
(note: usually show up Thursday or Friday)

Bayou Seafood
972-434-8500
101 E Southwest Pkwy #118
Lewisville, TX 75067
(note: I've gone here for about the last 6 years, call early in the week, normally arrive Friday)

Super H Mart
972-323-9700
2625 Old Denton Rd
Carrollton, TX 75007
(note: My brother has used them quite a few times, usually always have them in.)

Ocean Market Seafood
3835 Chesser Boyer Rd
Fort Worth, TX 76111
Website
(I've used them multiple times - will even steam them for you)

If you have any other places, please, please, please let me know. I'm am constantly trying to find new places, because relying on one can leave you "blue-crab-less" if their Gulf contact falls through. I have yet to find a place that cooks Maryland-style blue crabs in this area.

[DaisukiLucy]

Thank you SO much for this! I just moved a week ago from MD to TX and was pretty down about the possibilities of finding any Blue Crab, let alone any that would be cooked East Coast-style. Everyone who grew up here had no idea what I was talking about when I asked (which, when I visited last year scoping out the place was pretty much the first thing I asked, "Yes, nice to meet you, too... Know where I can get some Blue Crabs?"), so it definitely is a jump for joy to find other transplantees striking tasty blue-gold. I look forward to trying some out soon... so glad I bought that big steamer!

[buggysdad]

Glad to hear the list helped you out.

While looking for some last-minute blue crabs on Memorial Day weekend, we found yet another place. This place worked out great! Tons of males (we prefer these), per the pound price and you get to pick them yourself!

Checkout the selection at Hong Kong Marketplace in Dallas:

[tattoo]

SWEET. 

[jefftoleft]

Looks like mostly females in the picture but they look like nice size ones.

[buggysdad]

Looks like mostly females in the picture but they look like nice size ones.

The first and last bin in the photo were almost all females. It looked like they had been picked through. The middle bin had tons of males in it. We left with about 5 dozen males, and there were still plenty to go round.

[mitchellseafood]

you can also get them from Asia World Market in Plano at 75 & Legacy.  They usually have them.  And I like their selection more than Super H Mart.  I wasn't a fan of bayou or sea breeze.  I go to bayou to get their seasoning. 

[buggysdad]

Thanks for the new location - we'll have to try it out. We've been using Hong Kong Marketplace all summer, and it has always worked out. A larger size is the only thing they fall short on, but that seems to be a problem regardless in DFW.

We create our own Maryland-style crab seasoning and top the crabs with rock salt when they come out, since all we can really find around here is cajun seasoning.

Anyone ever find softshell crabs?

[mitchellseafood]

I order JO #2 off the web.  Used them back when I had my business.

I have seen soft shells but i haven't tried them here.  I'm going to try and get at least a dz this weekend from somewhere.  We moved from frisco to plano and every thing's been boxed up.  I'll check my regular place and if not I'll check out Hong Kong Marketplace.

Do you know when they get them in?

[mitchellseafood]

FYI if you're still around cap'n Dave's in Plano TX also carries crabs. I haven't purchased from him yet bu I joined his email list to keep up.  His prices are higher than the Asian markets but he might be easier to purchase bushels or boxes from.

[buggysdad]

FYI if you're still around cap'n Dave's in Plano TX also carries crabs. I haven't purchased from him yet bu I joined his email list to keep up.  His prices are higher than the Asian markets but he might be easier to purchase bushels or boxes from.

Thanks! I'll have to give them a go.

[capt. ron]

If ya don't mind me asking but what are the prices on those crabs?

Ronnie

[mitchellseafood]

If ya don't mind me asking but what are the prices on those crabs?

Ronnie

Asian markets sell for $2.99/lb most of the year.  High season you can get it down to $1.99/lb

The fish markets like cap'n Dave's wants $5.99/lb, bayou seafood was more than the Asian markets as well which is why I don't buy from those places.  I do know they don't sell lots of crabs (when I had my fish market my goal was always to have crabs at what I considered reasonable prices and if I needed to sell them at the equivalent of $5.99 a pound I just wouldn't have them.)

[capt. ron]

Asian markets sell for $2.99/lb most of the year.  High season you can get it down to $1.99/lb

The fish markets like cap'n Dave's wants $5.99/lb, bayou seafood was more than the Asian markets as well which is why I don't buy from those places.  I do know they don't sell lots of crabs (when I had my fish market my goal was always to have crabs at what I considered reasonable prices and if I needed to sell them at the equivalent of $5.99 a pound I just wouldn't have them.)

If ya ever looking to buy crabs just let me know.


Ronnie

[crabbywaters]

That's really cool. I would be standing there doing the pinch test to all the keepers. Nice job on the steamer and the Jo#2 of course.

[buggysdad]

I would be standing there doing the pinch test to all the keepers.

What is the "pinch test"?

Ronnie - I'm always up to buy crabs. It says your in Louisiana - where and how big are they? 

[crabbywaters]

What is the "pinch test"?

Ronnie - I'm always up to buy crabs. It says your in Louisiana - where and how big are they? 

You know how sometimes you get some really heavy crabs that are packed with meat. Well this is a method how you tell if there light(no meat) or heavy(full of meat). Pick up the crab behind his swimmer fin so he doesn't get you with his claw, about a quarter inch from the point of the crab you give the underside of the crab a pinch. If there's some give its a light crab, if its rock hard its a heavy crab. This way you can buy only the best crabs. I always toss the light crabs back when Im crabbing.

[mitchellseafood]

FYI I haven't been able to find crabs for the last month and a half.  Which has been disappointing since I need them for pictures for my new seafood business.

[buggysdad]

FYI I haven't been able to find crabs for the last month and a half.

We made the rounds to all of the above last week with no crabs. The Hong Kong Marketplace did have them the previous 2 weekends, so there is hope.

I need them for pictures for my new seafood business.

A new seafood business?! Congratulations! Great to have a blue crab lover starting a business in DFW!

[mitchellseafood]

See I called Hong Kong marketplace and they kept saying no.  I don't live as close to them anymore so I can't just drop by.  I may do the rounds on Saturday I've been craving crabs!