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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Where/When can I find you?

We are located at 3809 North Croatan Highway in Kitty Hawk, NC 27949. That's at MP 4.25 on the beachside of the bypass in a stripmall with a blue roof. You'll see a large flag pole out front with an American Flag as well as a bright orange, crab flag. We open daily at Noon. We close at 8 PM Sunday - Thursday & at 9 PM Friday & Saturday. We are closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. We close at 5:00 PM on Christmas Eve.


  • Do you take reservations?

We do not take reservations or offer call ahead seating of any kind. For shorter wait times, we recommend coming right at open or at off-peak hours. Large parties may benefit from allowing us to seat your party in smaller groups. We do ask that everyone in your group be present before you're seated.


  • What kind of wait time should we expect on [this day] at [this time]?

In season, there isn't a certain day that's slower than the rest. While we would love to give you an estimate in advance, there's no way of knowing your approximate wait time until your party arrives. Being such a small restaurant means that even one large family can fill up our dining area. With that being said, we CAN tell you that our shortest wait times in the summer are in the middle of the day on the sunniest day of the week.


  • What should we know about ordering blue crabs?

For pricing and availability, please call the restaurant directly at (252)449-2483 to ensure that you get the most accurate information in a timely fashion. We recommend reserving crabs the day before you want them, and you can only do so by phone. Please note: We do require a credit card number or payment in advance to hold orders.


  • Do you offer takeout?

Yes! The entire menu is available for dine in or takeout. Being a small restaurant, we are sometimes forced to stop accepting takeout orders so that we can maintain efficiency for our dine in guests. We will do our best to feed as many as possible, but our kitchen simply doesn't have the capacity to feed as many as we'd like. Because of this, we encourage calling ahead the day before to schedule takeout orders. This lets us know when to expect you, gaurantees we will save room to prepare your order, and keeps you from waiting.


  • How do I shuck blue crabs?

If you're dining in, we're happy to give first-timers a one on one tutorial at your seat. If you want to try at home for the fist time, check out this instructional video by our owner. You'll be a pro in no time!


  • Do you have outdoor seating?

No. While we do have some picnic tables outside, we do not provide waiter service to that area. You are welcome to enjoy takeout there, but please call ahead to order takeout and check that we are still accepting orders.


  • Where do you get your crabs?

Our owner is an active third-generation commercial fisherman. He crabs daily in the Currituck Sound. It's a small body of brackish water that separates the Outer Banks from the mainland. You can see it when driving over the big bridge that takes you into the Outer Banks from mainland Currituck.


  • What's a soft crab?

When crabs grow, they develop a soft layer under their hard shell. When the soft layer is ready, they shed their hard shell and are completely soft for a short time. They will reharden in the water but are a local, soft delicacy if promptly removed. Soft crabs are most often fried and eaten whole - shell and all. When they're in season during the Spring and early Summer, we carry them live. Cleaned and frozen soft crabs are available year-round.


  • How can I keep live, hard crabs fresh?

Whether you've got a long drive ahead of you or you're hours from getting the key to your cottage, we understand that you might be concerned about traveling with live crabs and are here to help you get them home safely.

Crabs are remarkable animals and can live for several hours as long as they are kept in a cool, damp place. We recommend putting a layer of ice in the bottom of a cooler, placing a layer of newspaper over it, and putting your crabs on top. The air conditioning in your car/home will do in a pinch. We do not recommend placing them in the bed of a truck. If that is your only option, place a bag of ice next to your bag of crabs.

*The fridge will kill them as will leaving them in your hot car, dumping ice directly on them, leaving them belly up, or putting them in fresh water. If you aren't going to eat them until the next day, go back through them and throw away the dead ones. DO NOT EAT HARD CRABS THAT DIE BEFORE YOU COOK THEM. They will not taste good and might make you sick.*


  • What's the safest way to handle crabs?

When crabs pinch, they can do serious damage. Even with gloves on, it can be painful so please be careful when handling them. We recommend using tongs to pick them up at home.


  • Can you cook them for me?

Of course! Blue crabs are available live or steamed. They are cooked to order and available plain or seasoned.


  • Do you still sell crabs at the Border Station?

*DISCLAIMER* Due to staffing constraints and market demand, we are currently unable to open our Border Station trailer in 2023. Stay tuned for updates.

Yes. Summer through about October, you can find our original trailer at 101 Caratoke Highway in Moyock, NC every Saturday, Sunday, and the 4th of July from about 10 AM until we run out of that day's catch. Crabs are only available live on a first come, first served basis. No reservations. No exceptions. Arrive early for the best selection. Prices are available in person only. You may call (252)207-4686 for a detailed recording, but the location does not have a direct line and messages are not checked.

Exact dates may vary year to year, but beginning and ending dates will always be announced on our facebook page.


  • I don't see my question. Can you help me?

Absolutely! Email your questions to Info@IGotYourCrabs.com and we'd be glad to answer them for you.


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