Add yummy seafood to your ‘bucket list’

By Ellise Kakazu

Crab Bucket’s diners may feel like they stepped aboard a cruise ship for a fresh and tasty meal with its walls covered in nautical-inspired décor and hand-written messages, compliments of past visitors.

The eatery — known for its Cajun-Creole cuisine with an Asian twist — is an oasis with good food and a welcoming environment. “(Crab Bucket is) very chill; it’s not too fancy and not too upbeat — you come here, eat your food, drink a little bit and hang out,” says manager Beverly Nguyen.

The menu presents an array of seafood options, from crawfish to crab. If guests want to indulge in some of the eatery’s best sellers, Buckets No. 1 ($50; with snow crab, crawfish, shrimp and clams) and No. 5 ($70; with king crab, snow crab and Dungeness crab clusters) delight with scrumptious goodies.

For visitors craving a certain sea creature, a la carte options are available (cost is per pound). A seasonal dish — Florida Stone Crab (market price; currently $40 per pound) served with fresh lemon and a special mustard sauce — will be offered from October to May. Owner Lyna Nguyen explains that the crab is flown in from Florida and Crab Bucket is the only restaurant on the island to offer this delectable seafood selection.

Almost all of the dishes are completely customizable. There are five sauces diners can choose from — House Sauce, Garlic Herb, House/Garlic Mix, Original Louisiana and Lemon Pepper — to accompany the steamed-to-perfection seafood. Guests also can choose from the following levels of spiciness: mild, medium, spicy, extra spicy and “fiyah,” which contains ghost peppers, to turn up the heat.

Crab Bucket is the perfect place for a good ole’ party with its customizable options, fresh ingredients and selection of drinks (guests also are welcome to bring their own bottle of wine). For those planning a holiday gathering, celebration or large party of 15-25 people, it is best to make reservations a week or two in advance.

The restaurant notes that social-media users can find Crab Bucket on Instagram (@crabbucket808).

Crab Bucket

1020 Keeaumoku St.
591-2722 (CRAB)
Daily, noon-10 p.m.; Happy hour: Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m.