Where to Find Soft Shell Crabs in Charleston, 2017

Spring is here a few days early, and soft shell season is finally upon the Lowcountry. Charleston residence and visitors go absolutely mad for softies each year, whether they be fried, pan seared, or on a sandwich with bacon, lettuce, and tomato. As the short-season delicacy makes it to local restaurant menus, we’ll put them on this map, along with a description of the dish. These specials won’t last for very long, so double check with the eatery to see if they’ve sold out. Go forth and crunch into a few crabs around town — legs and all.

Note: Map points are not listed by Rank

Beer and cocktail wonderland Edmund’s Oast offer two choices for crab lovers: softies with spaghetti and wild garlic or a soft shell sandwich on a brioche bun.

Chef Kevin Johnson pan roasts the soft shells and serves them with a spring vegetable remoulade and green garlic aioli.

Seafood master at The Ordinary offer an Instagram-worthy plate of crispy, seasonal crabs and bright, local radishes.

Salami slayer Artisan Meat Share has a crispy soft shell covered in Burnt & Salty chili glaze between two buns.

The softie special constantly changes at seafood house The Darling, so stop by to see what the kitchen is offering today.

Italian eater Indaco features fried softies with fregola, fingerling potatoes, caper aioli, pickled red onion, and grilled lemon.

Stop by The Macintosh for a softie served crispy with red romaine lettuce, saffron aioli, and bacon.

French brasserie Rue de John plates up a soft shell BLT with jalapeños, creole remoulade, and truffle fries.

Seafood eatery Coast has softie tacos with citrus slaw, pico de gallo, and avocado lime crema.

At Michael’s on the Alley, guests can choose a grilled crab paired with prime filet mignon or a grilled softie with with black garlic butter, house-made challah bread, and pickled carrot and pear slaw.

Stop by Vincent Chicco’s for tempura soft shell crab spaghetti with charred artichokes, blood oranges, local cayenne pepper purée, arugula, and Meyer lemon.

Southern space Virginia’s gives guests a choice of a soft shell crab omelette or a soft shell po’ boy.

The specials at seafood emporium Hank’s includes soft shell crabs over pimento cheese grits, sweet corn, and a ham hock bisque.

Rooftop restaurant The Watch serves an artful plate of local softies with a shaved vegetable and herb salad with remoulade.

5Church prepares soft shells two ways: crispy with fire-roasted corn and tomatoes, sautéed fennel, uni emulation or cornmeal-dusted with caramelized sweet potatoes, tasso marmalade, and braised greens.

Brave Market Street and head to Noisy Oyster for a local soft shell crab, fried golden brown, and served on a buttery roll with cole slaw, lettuce, tomato and onion.

Eat those softies by the water at Fleet Landing. The restaurant has a crispy soft shell crab sandwich with lettuce, tomato jam, a corn tuile, and lemon verbena aioli.

Southern staple High Cotton has the soft shells you desire.

Cypress was among the first restaurants in Charleston to get its supply of softies. Stop by to see how chef Craig Deihl whips them up.

Stop by Mexican/Italian restaurant Congress for a softie plated with a watercress and jicama salad, avocado vinaigrette and lime supremes.

Roaming ramen outfit 2Nixons will offer a softie noodle bowl at Two Blokes Brewing on Friday, March 14.

Mount Pleasant restaurant Napa serves its crabs on housemade bun with sriracha aioli, tomatoes, and mecsulin for lunch and for dinner with prik nom pla and napa slaw.

Stop by Morgan Creek Grill for ramen with wheat noodles cooked in a soy-based broth, tempura fried soft shell crab, a sunny-side up egg, matchstick watermelon radish, charred scallions, tobiko wasabi and garnished with microgreens.