The Best Seafood Boils in Greater Milwaukee

Messy hands, butcher paper tables, and piles of spiced shellfish await Milwaukee-area families at more than a dozen restaurants serving Cajun, Viet-Cajun, and New England-style seafood boils. Whether you're in downtown Milwaukee or the outer suburbs, options range from festive Louisiana-themed spots to fresh-flown New England lobster boils—with most welcoming families and offering customizable spice levels for young palates. This guide covers every county in the metro area, from the lakefront to the Illinois border.

The seafood boil scene in Milwaukee has exploded since 2016, when The King Crab Shack opened the area's first dedicated Cajun-style boil restaurant. Today, families can find build-your-own boil concepts, Vietnamese-fusion styles, traditional Wisconsin fish boils, and even at-home meal kits. Here's everything you need to plan your family's next seafood adventure.

Milwaukee County

The heart of the metro area delivers the widest selection, with restaurants concentrated downtown, on the East Side, and in the western suburbs. Families have choices ranging from national chains to locally-owned gems.

Lowcountry Milwaukee

1114 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 | (414) 252-0015

This Mardi Gras-themed spot in downtown Milwaukee brings Louisiana Low Country boils to Wisconsin with festive decor featuring pergolas, picket fencing, and colorful whirligigs. Part of the Chicago-based chain, Lowcountry lets diners build their own boils with snow crab, crawfish, shrimp, lobster, mussels, and clams—all served with corn and potatoes. Families love the communal tables and bibs-and-gloves dining experience that turns dinner into an event.

• Style: Louisiana Low Country

• Hours: Wed-Fri 4-9pm, Sat-Sun 2-9pm (closed Mon-Tue)

• Service: Dine-in, takeout, delivery

• Price: $$-$$$ (shrimp combo ~$27, snow crab combo ~$37)

• Family features: Lively atmosphere perfect for celebrations, full bar for adults, online ordering

The King Crab Shack

Milwaukee's original seafood boil concept operates three locations, each with slight variations:

Brady Street | 1330 E. Brady Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 | (414) 210-4287

27th Street (Viet-Cajun Fusion) | 3881 S. 27th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53221 | (414) 763-0551 | thekingcrabshack27th.com

Glendale | 5265 N. Port Washington Road, Glendale, WI 53217 | (414) 635-0094 | thekingcrabshackglendale.com

The 27th Street location is the only one offering Vietnamese dishes alongside Cajun seafood, making it the metro area's best Viet-Cajun fusion option. All locations feature combo meals ranging from $42-$77 including clams, mussels, crawfish, shrimp, snow crab, king crab, or lobster tail with corn, potato, and sausage. The signature "Crazy Cajun" and garlic butter sauces have earned devoted followings.

• Style: Cajun (27th St adds Vietnamese fusion)

• Price: $$-$$$ (combos $42-$77+)

• Family features: Reservations accepted, casual atmosphere, DoorDash delivery

Red Crab Juicy Seafood

5547 N. Lovers Lane Road, Milwaukee, WI 53225 | (414) 429-9574

This national chain location stands out as one of the most family-friendly options in the metro, with a dedicated kids menu, wheelchair accessibility, and a lively atmosphere featuring a DJ on weekends. The build-your-own boil format lets families customize everything from protein (snow crab at $36.99/lb, dungeness, lobster tail, crawfish, shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops) to sauce (Cajun, garlic butter, lemon pepper, house special) to spice level.

Budget-conscious lunch combos start at just $13.99 for crawfish and sausage, making this an accessible introduction for families. Daily specials include Tuesday ($35.99), Thursday ($41.99), and weekend platters ($46.99).

• Style: Cajun

• Hours: Daily noon-10pm (11pm Fri-Sat)

• Service: Dine-in, takeout, DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub

• Family features: Kids menu, high chairs, wheelchair accessible, lively DJ atmosphere

Crafty Crab

11340 W. Burleigh Street, Wauwatosa, WI 53222 | (414) 312-8291

Located in the Mayfair Collection shopping area, this New Orleans-style spot makes an ideal suburban family destination. The three-step ordering process—choose your catch, select a signature seasoning (Buttery Garlic, Crafty Cajun, Lemon Pepper, or "The Boom" which mixes all three), and pick your spice level—gives families complete control over the experience.

Family platters range from $60-$84 and include snow crab, whole shrimp, crawfish, mussels, clams, corn, and potatoes. Cajun fries ($6) and chicken tenders provide familiar options for hesitant young eaters.

• Style: New Orleans Low Country

• Hours: Sun-Thu noon-9pm, Fri-Sat noon-10pm

• Service: Dine-in, takeout, delivery apps

• Family features: Shopping center location, high chairs, Southern-charm atmosphere

St. Paul Fish Company

Milwaukee Public Market: 400 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 | (414) 336-1111

For families seeking New England-style seafood rather than Cajun, this acclaimed restaurant offers lobster boils, king crab boils, and mixed seafood boils with East Coast preparations. Located inside the Milwaukee Public Market, it's ideal for families where some members want seafood while others prefer different cuisines from neighboring vendors.

Voted #1 Seafood Restaurant in Milwaukee by the Shepherd Express multiple times, St. Paul also serves famous lobster rolls, fresh oysters, and fish fry seven days a week. The attached retail fish market lets families purchase fresh seafood for home cooking.

• Style: New England

• Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-6pm

• Service: Counter service dine-in, takeout

• Price: $$-$$$

• Family features: Market setting offers variety, counter service is quick

Additional Milwaukee County options

Crab It Your Way | 2730 N. MLK Blvd Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53212 | (414) 455-3837 | crabityourway.com Louisiana-style with a Midwestern twist. Standout feature: free fries to sample sauces before ordering. Offers vegetarian boil options (broccoli, sweet potatoes, corn) and unique fried deviled eggs. Hours: Tue-Sat 4-10pm, Sun 1-7pm.

Laughing Crab | 5712 W. Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53216 | (414) 763-4855 | laughingcrabmilwaukee.com Cajun seafood boils, gumbo, crawfish, and catfish sandwiches in northwest Milwaukee. Budget-friendly option with delivery available. Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm.

Crawdaddy's on Greenfield | 9427 W. Greenfield Avenue, West Allis, WI 53214 | (414) 778-2228 | crawdaddysccb.com Authentic Cajun, Creole, and BBQ including the bestselling Scallop & Shrimp Cajun Pasta ($23). Kids menu available. Friday fish fry ($13-15) and Sunday brunch with bottomless mimosas. Live music and patio seating.

Maxie's | 6732 W. Fairview Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53213 | (414) 292-3969 | maxiesmke.com Southern-inspired dining with shareable seafood bakes, raw bar (oysters flown in five days weekly), and $1 oysters during 4-6pm happy hour. More upscale than typical boil spots, with private dining for groups and Monday jazz nights.

Waukesha County has one standout destination

The western suburbs have limited dedicated seafood boil options, but one exceptional restaurant makes the drive worthwhile.

Fishbone's Cajun & Creole Restaurant

1704 Milwaukee Street, Delafield, WI 53018 | (262) 646-4696 | fishbonesrestaurant.com

This lakeside gem on Lake Nagawicka has served New Orleans-inspired cuisine since 2000, making it Waukesha County's only dedicated Cajun/Creole establishment. The French Quarter-themed interior and outdoor patio with lake views create a festive family atmosphere.

While not a traditional "dump it on the table" boil experience, the menu features excellent Cajun seafood including Nawlins Seafood Pasta, Shrimp & Crawfish Ravioli, Crawfish Soup, and Gumbo. Families appreciate the budget-friendly Throwback Thursdays when half the menu is offered at $10 per item, and Taco Tuesdays featuring $2 grouper tacos.

• Style: Louisiana Cajun/Creole

• Hours: Tue-Sat dinner 4-9pm, Sat-Sun lunch 10am-3pm (closed Mon)

• Service: Dine-in, takeout, delivery

• Price: $$ (moderate)

• Family features: Good for kids, outdoor seating, lake views, wheelchair accessible, vegetarian options

For Waukesha County families craving build-your-own Cajun boils, Crafty Crab in Wauwatosa sits just minutes from Brookfield and offers delivery throughout the area. Red Crab Juicy Seafood also delivers extensively via apps.

Northern suburbs find quality over quantity in Ozaukee County

St. Paul Fish Company - The Cannery

6200 W. Mequon Road, Mequon, WI 53092 | (262) 200-9909 | stpaulfish.com/mequon

The premier seafood destination for North Shore families, this Mequon location offers what its downtown sibling cannot: reservations, spacious seating, and a seasonal patio. The New England Seafood Boil ($54.95) includes one pound whole lobster, Alaskan king crab pieces, sausage, shrimp, clams, and mussels seasoned with Old Bay, served with red potatoes, corn, and drawn butter.

Opened in 2019 specifically to serve the North Shore suburbs, this location features the same quality that earned the brand its "Best Seafood in Milwaukee" accolades—fresh fish flown in daily from both coasts. The attached retail market lets families purchase fresh seafood for home cooking.

• Style: New England

• Hours: Daily 11am-8pm

• Price: $$-$$$ (seafood boils $50-55, fish fry $17-25)

• Family features: Reservations accepted, outdoor patio, private room available, retail fish market

Washington County has no dedicated seafood boil restaurants

Families in West Bend, Hartford, Germantown, and surrounding communities will need to travel to Mequon (St. Paul Fish, about 20-30 minutes) or Milwaukee for seafood boil experiences. Consider purchasing fresh seafood from St. Paul Fish Company's retail counter for a DIY home boil.

Southern counties offer local spots plus Illinois options

Racine and Kenosha counties have limited in-state options but benefit from proximity to excellent Illinois border restaurants.

Racine County

Juicy Lucy's Kitchen | 3701 Durand Avenue, Suite 375, Racine, WI 53405 | (262) 456-4077

This Black-owned, woman-owned soul food restaurant offers Cajun-fusion seafood boils alongside Southern comfort favorites like oxtails, catfish po'boys, and famous mac and cheese. The casual atmosphere features old-school R&B, and catering is available for events up to 80+ guests.

• Style: Soul food/Cajun fusion

• Service: Dine-in, takeout, delivery (Uber Eats, GrubHub, DoorDash)

• Price: $-$$ (seafood boils ~$50+)

Kenosha County

The Fire Pitt | 12417 Antioch Road, Trevor, WI 53179 | (262) 862-9886 | firepitt.com

For a different take on boiled seafood, this family-owned spot serves all-you-can-eat traditional Wisconsin Door County-style fish boils—North Atlantic cod boiled outdoors with sweet onions, red potatoes, and real butter. While not Cajun-style, it's a regional Wisconsin tradition worth experiencing. The family explicitly welcomes children in their marketing.

• Style: Wisconsin Door County fish boil

• Service: Dine-in, takeout, catering

• Family features: Explicitly family-focused, full bar but designed for families

Boat House Pub & Eatery | Kenosha Harbor | boathousekenosha.com

Voted 2024 Best Seafood in Kenosha, this lakeside pub offers snow crab legs ($29/lb), king crab legs ($59/lb), peel-and-eat shrimp ($18/lb), and all-you-can-eat fish fry ($25). The harbor views make it a destination for family outings.

Just across the Illinois border (under 30 minutes from Kenosha)

Captain Porky's | 38995 US Route 41, Wadsworth, IL 60083 | (847) 360-7460 | captainporky.com Build-your-own premium seafood boils with Cajun or garlic butter seasoning, plus unique options like alligator tail and frog legs. Established 1984; also operates as a fresh seafood market.

Wild Crab Boil | 2450 N US Route 12, Spring Grove, IL 60081 | (815) 581-0142 | wildcrabboil.com Full Cajun boil experience with crawfish, snow crab, king crab, and dungeness. Kids love the rolled ice cream made tableside. Delivers to nearby Wisconsin communities.

Family & Crab | 2101 Grand Avenue, Waukegan, IL 60085 | (224) 545-3663 | familycrabwaukegan.com Named specifically for families, with dedicated kids menu and party tray catering options.

Events bring seafood celebrations to Milwaukee

The Great American Lobster Fest

Location: Deer District / Fiserv Forum Plaza, Milwaukee

This three-day summer festival features fresh East Coast lobster flown in via Lobster Gram®, games, live music, and family activities. Entry is free; lobster meal experiences run $29-$39 (VIP $69-$99). First held in Milwaukee in August 2019. Check AmericanLobsterFest.com for 2025/2026 dates.

Barnacle Bud's Annual Seafood Boil

Location: 1955 S. Hilbert Street, Milwaukee, WI 53207

This annual June event offers all-you-can-eat low country-style seafood including shrimp, clams, mussels, whitefish, crab knuckle, andouille sausage, corn, and potatoes. Two seatings (6pm and 8pm) with Lakefront Brewery tastings and live music. The 2024 event sold out—follow Barnacle Bud's for 2025/2026 announcements.

At-home options let families create their own experience

Several services deliver complete seafood boil kits to Wisconsin addresses:

Crabby Bags (crabbybags.com) ships pre-seasoned, frozen snow crab boils in Original, Cajun, or Sweet Heat flavors. Arrives in 1-2 business days with dry ice; free shipping on orders over $150.

Washington Crab Low Country Boil Box (washingtoncrab.com) serves four adults with 3 lbs snow crab, 2 lbs shrimp, 1.5 lbs andouille sausage, potatoes, corn, and all seasonings included. Shipping runs $20-40.

ALDI's Fremont Fish Market Seafood Boil (35 oz package) offers a budget-friendly grocery option with shrimp, mussels, corn, potatoes, sausage, and Cajun seasoning—available for same-day pickup or delivery.

For fresh seafood to prepare yourself, St. Paul Fish Company's retail markets in Milwaukee and Mequon sell everything needed for a quality home boil.

Making seafood boils work with kids

The hands-on, messy nature of seafood boils can delight children or overwhelm them—preparation makes the difference.

Before you go: Dress everyone in dark clothes (stains are inevitable), pull long hair back, and remove jewelry that might interfere with shell-cracking. Prepare children for the unusual experience of food dumped directly on paper-covered tables and eating with their hands.

Ordering strategy for families: Start with mild spice levels—every restaurant offers customization. For hesitant eaters, corn, potatoes, and sausage from the boil provide familiar flavors. Most restaurants offer fried alternatives (chicken tenders, fried shrimp) and many have dedicated kids menus. Shrimp makes the best introductory seafood for children: easy to peel and mild-flavored.

Timing matters: Early dinner hours (around 5pm) avoid weekend crowds. Allow extra time—this is meant to be leisurely, social dining. Restaurants provide bibs, gloves, wet wipes, and shell buckets, but bringing extra wipes and a change of shirt for young children prevents post-meal stress.

The seasonal angle: While Milwaukee's seafood boil restaurants operate year-round, crawfish—sourced primarily from Louisiana—peak in quality and value from March through May. Summer months offer outdoor dining options and align with festival season.

County-by-county quick reference

County Best Family Option Best Budget Option Best for Groups Milwaukee Red Crab (kids menu, DJ) Red Crab lunch combos ($14-27) Lowcountry (communal tables) Waukesha Fishbone's (lake views) Fishbone's Throwback Thursday ($10) Crafty Crab, Wauwatosa Ozaukee St. Paul Fish Mequon St. Paul fish fry ($17-25) St. Paul private room Washington St. Paul Fish Mequon (30 min) DIY with St. Paul market seafood — Racine Juicy Lucy's Juicy Lucy's comfort food Juicy Lucy's catering Kenosha Fire Pitt (family-focused) Fire Pitt AYCE fish boil Boat House (lake views)

Conclusion

Greater Milwaukee's seafood boil scene has matured significantly since The King Crab Shack pioneered the concept locally in 2016. Families now have genuine options across most of the metro area, with Milwaukee County offering the most variety (including the area's only true Viet-Cajun fusion at King Crab Shack's 27th Street location), St. Paul Fish Company anchoring both the downtown and North Shore markets with New England-style preparations, and Fishbone's providing a lakeside Cajun destination in Waukesha County.

The southern counties present more of a drive-worthy adventure, but options like Juicy Lucy's soul food-Cajun fusion in Racine and the traditional Wisconsin fish boil experience at The Fire Pitt in Trevor offer experiences unavailable elsewhere. For families living far from dedicated restaurants, the growing market for shipped seafood boil kits makes home preparation increasingly viable.

The key insight for families: customizable spice levels make these restaurants far more kid-accessible than their sometimes-intimidating menus suggest. Start mild, embrace the mess, and you'll likely create memories worth repeating.