SFReview
Dungeness crab and Maine lobster dishes anchor the menu at this family-style Vietnamese spot. Here you may be tempted to zero in on the roasted garlic crab and garlic noodles, a nod to the longtime popularity of the house specialties at Thanh Long, which is just two miles away in the Outer Sunset. But there are five preparations of crab to consider at Golden Crab House, including a stunning rice-battered and salted egg yolk-washed option. The menu also includes things like Chinese soup dumplings and Vietnamese imperial rolls. And when Dungeness is out of season around here, the restaurant sources from Washington, so you can get your giant crab fix year-round.
Food Rundown
Garlic Noodles
The local obsession for garlic noodles originated at a restaurant in the same neighborhood, just a few miles away. These are not quite as good as Thanh Long’s often-imitated version, but they still belong on the table with your crab and lobster orders.
Crab Soup Dumplings
A Chinese dim sum dish that is executed as well as the Vietnamese dishes here. Though it’s not articulated on the menu, these actually soupy dumplings have both crab and pork filling as well.
Spicy Chili Crab
A whole Dungeness crab is battered, fried, and crowned with thick slices of jalapeño that you can brush aside if you just want a few sparks, or go all in for a more electric experience. Just remember to thoroughly wash your hands after eating and avoid rubbing your eyes or nose.
Peppercorn Crab
If you like crispy fried garlic and numbing your face, the peppercorn crab is the one to choose. Like the other crab dishes on the menu, it’s battered and deep fried in the shell, so you’ll definitely get messy while you’re picking the meat out.
Imperial Rolls
These should ostensibly be the same as their neighbor and sister restaurant PPQ. They look alike and also have a pork, taro, carrot, egg, and rice noodle filling, yet they may not end up on your table living their best crispy lives. Asking for them to be extra fried may help.
Egg Yolk Prawns
Tail-on prawns are dipped in a batter with a thick paste of egg yolks and fried. They’re large, but you may find yourself treating them like popcorn shrimp and cleaning your plate quickly.
House Special Maine Lobster
You should be here for crab, but if you want to shake it up a bit, you can get one of two kinds of lobster dishes. The house special stir fries lobster pieces in the shell in a buttery soy sauce that’s supposed to be mildly spicy, according to the menu, but may only barely reach that category.