An inspiring success story that began way back in 1998 with a group of seafood lovers simply looking for a chill spot has grown to become one of the metro's enduring go-to destinations for succulent crabs and Filipino comfort food. Since then, it still is definitely crackin' at The Red Crab...
Large crabs prepared in a variety of tasty renditions have always been popular in the local dining scene and one name stands above the rest since 1998. The inspiring feat is a testament to its uncompromising commitment to consistency and quality for an incredible run in the ever changing culinary landscape. For twenty-six years, The Red Crab has been synonymous with comforting and sumptuous local cuisine bannered by succulent crabs. Now with seven locations including their newest branch at Gateway Mall 2, The Red Crab continues its enduring culinary tradition with its popular specialties and yes, delectable crab dishes for an exciting new chapter in its long history. Now let's get crackin'...
The talk is real, and for all the certified Crab Maritess fans The Red Crab is still the undisputed and top-of-mind pick for a memorable and hearty crab feast. Now with seven restaurants including its newest location at Gateway Mall 2, The Red Crab remains the go-to hotspot for fresh and plump crabs (for more on The Red Crab, see my posts ECQ Eats: The Crab Lay, A Sumptuous Feast of Succulent Crabs at The Red Crab Alimango House from three years ago adapting to mandated protocols due to the pandemic and Let's Get Crackin' with Succulent Crabs Conveniently Delivered to Your Table from Alimango House by Red Crab from 2021 with its pivot to home delivery during the quarantine experience).
Inside The Red Crab's newest location, the stage is set for an epic feast of comforting local flavors to warm and please the palate. The revitalized Araneta City is quickly emerging as the next dining destination up north with the countless options at Gateway Mall 2. But when it comes to crabs, The Red Crab is your guaranteed sure bet.
A refreshing Sago't Gulaman opens up the palate with its refreshing sweetness before the savory specialties from the kitchen of The Red Crab makes its way to your table. The casual vibe of The Red Crab sets the mood for some of the very best Filipino comfort food in the metro. The longevity of The Red Crab is no small feat as food trends come and go in quick succession. Good food still reigns supreme over short-term viral sensations that quickly fades away, and The Red Crab has been doing exactly that since 1998.
A Capampangan inspired dish becomes the first act in a culinary performance of comfortingly familiar and nostalgic flavors at The Red Crab with the Sinigang na Baboy sa Bayabas with slabs of tender pork belly in a rich broth infused with sweet and mildly sour guava along with a garden fresh medley of bulanglang vegetables. Each sip takes you back to countless summers at your grandmother's home for the perfect start at The Red Crab. Good food they say always triggers a memory or emotion transporting you back in time or a different place. The Sinigang na Baboy sa Bayabas by The Red Crab does exactly that.
The savory richness of the fork-tender slabs of pork belly are perfectly tempered by the gentle sourness of the guava-infused broth and the sweetness of the vegetables for that balanced finish. Like butter, the slabs of pork belly just melts in your mouth while releasing savory notes lingering long after the last bite.
The Green Chili and Chorizo Oysters is the first of many seafood dishes served at The Red Crab that day for a blend of fresh and bold notes. The briny sweetness of the plump oysters comes through followed by the pronounced sharpness of the homemade chorizo and gentle whisper of heat from the green chilies. The homemade chorizo perfectly complements the delicate notes of the oyster without overpowering it. The freshness of the ingredients deliver all the flavorful richness. The quality of ingredients and masterful execution combine for an open secret behind the enduring success of The Red Crab.
The Seafood Tortang Talong is another masterful rendition of a local staple in the classic style of The Red Crab. Imagine lumps of succulent crab meat inside soft and fluffy eggplant omelet topped with a fresh ensalada of tomatoes and green mangoes. A dipping sauce of crab roe completes the dish. The addition of crab meat simply elevates this rustic yet elegant take on a popular local dish. This one's high up on my list of personal picks at The Red Crab.
The Red Crab draws inspiration from traditional Visayan flavors with the Shrimp Bam-i, a comforting stir-fried noodle dish with vegetables and shrimps. A fresh squeeze of lime and a dab of chili sauce brings out even more vibrant flavors from the dish.
The fresh shrimps brings a layer of sweetness to the flavorful noodles complemented by the mix of vegetables. Simple and uncomplicated with clean and real flavors, the Shrimp Bam-i is another hit from The Red Crab's winning playlist.
Sweet and salty notes combine for another flavorful hit from The Red Crab with the Honey Bagoong Shrimp. Plump shrimps tossed with sweet honey, fiery chili and the pronounced flavors of the shrimp paste sauce is another combo to add to your feast at The Red Crab. The freshness of the shrimps are announced by an audible snap with each bite, peeling clean from the shell followed by the sweet and salty hints of the sauce. It just doesn't get better than this...
Did you say extra rice? The Crab Tobiko Fried Rice with vegetables, crab meat and fish roe is a meal in itself with its multiple layers of flavors. The crab meat and tobiko takes this fried rice up a notch with its briny notes. After all, did you expect anything less from The Red Crab?
Then, the dish that placed The Red Crab on the local culinary map was served. The famous Crab Maritess started all the talk and it continues to this day twenty-six years later. Named after one of The Red Crab's famous customers, the whole crab is generously smothered in garlic, butter and chilies in olive oil and gently simmered in white wine. And this dish still impresses...
The layers of flavors from the nutty garlic, fiery chilies, olive oil and white wine perfectly complements the fresh, clean and briny sweetness of the succulent crab. It's this play on flavors anchored on the delicate notes of the fresh crab that makes this dish an all-time bestseller. And don't forget to add a scoop of that crunchy garlic and olive oil to your rice for a flavorful burst.
Asian flavors shine with the Malaysian Chili Kangkong Crab cooked with fresh herbs in sesame oil. The clean flavors of the large crab remain the star of the dish, ably supported by the stellar and flavorful cast of chilies and leafy water spinach. The sweetness of the sauce with just a whisper of heat from the fresh chilies packs a savory punch complementing the sweetness of the crab.
Crabs and Filipino comfort food at its best, this is The Red Crab we all love. And it's still at the top of its game twenty-six years later.
And that's just two crab dishes from the extensive menu of The Red Crab. From the Toasted Coconut Crab, Thai Chili Crab, Szechuan Chili Crab and Chavacano Curry Crab to Ms. Bea's Beehon Crab, Crab Talipapa, Typhoon Shelter Crab, Crab Singapura, Lakambini Crab and Raymund's Salt & Pepper Crab, The Red Crab has the right crab for you. What's your pick?
For dessert, The Red Crab served the Pinoy Mango Sticky Rice with ripe and sweet mango and Muscovado sauce for the picture-perfect sweet ending to a sumptuous feast. The local dessert from down south is almost similar to the iconic Thai dessert but wrapped in banana leaf with sweeter and nuttier hints from the Muscovado sauce along with subtle smoky hints.
And as a special treat, grab your cool Abaniko Pro Max fan FREE with every order of the 26th Anniversary Barrio Set (P 2,600) good for 3-4 starting November 13, 2024 onwards. Through the years, The Red Crab has solidly positioned itself as the top go-to spot for succulent crabs and comforting local cuisine. And there's just no stopping the enduring restaurant concept from reaching even greater milestones in its storied history. For certified Crab Maritess fans it's time to stop the talk and start crackin'. At The Red Crab, now open at Gateway Mall 2...
Red Crab is located at Upper Ground B of Gateway Mall 2, 255 General Araneta, Araneta City. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/RedCrabPH and https://www.instagram.com/theredcrabph/ for more information and updates or call 0995 976 4314 for inquiries.
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