Crustacean Euro Vietnamese Cuisine

(310) 205-8990

9646 Little Santa Monica Blvd (N Bedford Drive)
Beverly Hills, CA 90210 34.0693 -118.4062

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Neighborhood: Beverly Hills

anfamily.com

Hours:

Mon-Tue, Thu 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm

Wed, Fri-Sat 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-11:30pm

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 4.04.12

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard, Travelers Check

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining, Business Dining, Date Spot, Live Music, Bar Scene

Cuisine:

Seafood

What People Are Saying About Crustacean Euro Vietnamese Cuisine

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – An illuminated, glassed-over river of koi wends its way through the Vietnamese-inspired restaurant, with a veranda overlooking the dining room. The crowd ranges from the primped and polished jet set to tourists and families, all with a penchant for seafood. The eatery's namesake is a tip-off; hard-shell seafood is the premier offering. On any given night, half the restaurant is cracking its way through whole Dungeness crab.

ambiance
96.02999687194824% positive
  1. The decor and the atmosphere is stunning.
  2. It's a beautiful atmosphere with its fish tank integrated floor and very good service.
  3. The atmosphere can be a challenge, especially during busier times; however the food is very good.
  4. The decor and ambiance was nicely done as well as excellent service.
  5. Plus, the ambience is pretty amazing with the underground koi pond/aquarium that guests can walk on top of (you don't see that just anywhere...)
  6. Overall great ambiance, but the hosts/hostesses need to check their attitude, and you'll love it if you love butter.
  7. The decor was romantic.
  8. this place is always fun and amazingly delicious!
  9. Crustacean was really something when it first opened in the '90s, an over-the-top interpretation of Asian seafood in a unique (the underfloor koi-stocked stream trickling through the bar) and quite stunning (the multi-level dining room is warm and comfort
  10. Excellent food, good for groups and romantic.
  11. The famed decor is actually quite impressive, the service and people watching are both excellent.
  12. To start, great location and easy parking.
  13. food was great! we had the lobster w/ garlic noodles. decor was very very nice. and the service was grade +A... one of the best in LA i've ever had.
  14. Great place for a date, unique decor.
  15. The restaurant itself is amazing, with water flowing under your feet on the first floor and a great overhead view from the second floor.
  16. was impressed by the Koi "Walk on Water," and the rest of the decor was absolutely beautiful The waitor was helpful and attentive, and my food was excellent!
  17. The open-air design of the building and the tasteful decor set the mood for what will most likely be one of L.A.'s top "Pan-Asian"/seafood restaurants.
  18. Really, it has an incredible ambience and yet you feel like you have so much privacy.
  19. The atmosphere is nice but a bit loud.
  20. great food, wonderful ambience,
  21. This place is great for a romantic dinner, but not cheap.
dessert
85.71000099182129% positive
  1. We ended with the coconut cake which has a delicious filling.
  2. Lava cake and another, I forget the name, were both very good.
  3. The ginger corbet was good but the music box cake was alright no wow factor.
  4. Dessert is always wonderful too~ yuuum to the chocolate lava cake!
  5. great dessert
  6. After explaining to the waiter that we wre not sticking around for dessert, we asked for the cold appetizer to be credited.
  7. For desert, order the fried bananas with ice cream.
drinks
75.0% positive
  1. had an amazing Kobe burger that is exclusive to their happy hour menu and excellent signature cocktails.
  2. " "Vietnamese" is not a trivial cuisine to cook, and poorly made drinks served with equally mediocre food says something about the business, not the diner.
  3. great happy hour-try some small dishes, have a beer, listen to music..downside-slight delay on table that I don't think was necessary, valet can be really tough, still smell a bit garlicky.
  4. Crustacean was really something when it first opened in the '90s, an over-the-top interpretation of Asian seafood in a unique (the underfloor koi-stocked stream trickling through the bar) and quite stunning (the multi-level dining room is warm and comfort
food quality
87.77999877929688% positive
  1. Definitely recommend the Dungeness Crab and the garlic noodles.
  2. the cracked Dungeness crab (about $40) is awesome although heart-clogging.
  3. worst meal i have had in LA. service was appalling.
  4. delicious seafood
  5. The food is very good.
  6. The food itself was good but it should be considering the prices.
  7. Excellent food, good for groups and romantic.
  8. you can come to my house and i'll make you the best damn garlic noodles in town.
  9. highly recommend this to anyone looking for good crab, good food, or a great environment.
  10. Chef Helene's An's food is so healthy and light and the crab and noodles (a family favorite) is DELICIOUS!
  11. The food was good, but not worth the price.
  12. The food is absolutely delicious!
  13. She enjoyed the fish until the last bite and I my only complain is that, I want more lobster.
  14. Here's a tip: if you pay $1 or $111, it doesn't matter: lousy food is "lousy.
  15. Best garlic noodles EVER!
  16. Well, we paid, but the food was just MEDIOCRE at best!
  17. The best food is from the secret kitchen.
  18. We ended with the coconut cake which has a delicious filling.
  19. This is my favorite restaurant in L.A. Have the crab, cracked, but in the shell and peanut noodles.
  20. My meal was amazing too, but it was the TYku cocktail the waiter suggested that pushed my experience over the edge!
  21. However, as long as the food is good it doesn't matter.
  22. I love coconuts shrimp,garlic noodle and crab.
  23. *** Great food (I recommend the dungeness crab with garlic noodles)
  24. we had crispy chicken rolls, corn soup, crab, and noodles.
  25. couple of empty Lobster tails with 5 pieces of meat on a plate full of noodles $40.
  26. "Vietnamese" is not a trivial cuisine to cook, and poorly made drinks served with equally mediocre food says something about the business, not the diner.
  27. It is a very beautiful restaurant if food isn't that important.
  28. Nice meal for seafood lovers
  29. And the noodles are awesome!
  30. would definitely come back again for the crab - you get a LOT of crab so the price makes it worth it - and like I said the garlic noodles are fantastic, but I would skip the other courses.
  31. The food was delicious -- try as many different things as you can if you get the chance.
  32. I've heard people rave about the garlic noodles and dungeoness crab, their specialty.
  33. always enjoy the cuisine
  34. Horrible service, cold food, warm water - why spoil your meal in Beverly Hills when there's so much better?
  35. however, the garlic noodles and cracked crab swimming in garlic are EXCELLENT!
  36. honestly cant believe the horrible quality of food and price they charge here.
  37. The dungeness crab and garlic noodles are awesome.
  38. had an amazing Kobe burger that is exclusive to their happy hour menu and excellent signature cocktails.
  39. Of all the dishes I tried, I think I liked the Tiger Prawns best (and it comes with the garlic noodles!)
  40. the crab was divine, aswell as the noodles.
  41. The food, however, was wonderful.
  42. The garlic noodles are great.
  43. Their fish dishes are very unique, and the prawns are huge!
  44. It's a beautiful atmosphere with its fish tank integrated floor and very good service.
  45. food was great! we had the lobster w/ garlic noodles. decor was very very nice. and the service was grade +A... one of the best in LA i've ever had.
  46. the food is just terrible, and we ordered everything
  47. EXPENSIVE, poor service, loud, mediocre food, EXPENSIVE
  48. love their crabs and garlic noodles.
  49. This place is my boyfriend's favorite for the crab, and the "to die for" garlic noodles.
  50. The food was absolutley AMAZING!
  51. Amazing food
  52. Waiter's crab recommendation was great.
  53. The crab was a little oily, but nevertheless, tasty and infused with lots of garlic.
  54. Give the interior an evolutionary, not revolutionary update, dredge the stream for any missing Hollywood starlets and hire a chef who wants to do great new things with seafood--and make sure the fish is as fresh as Crustacean once was.
  55. The garlic jumbo prawns are good too but I perferred the crab.
  56. Crustacean was really something when it first opened in the '90s, an over-the-top interpretation of Asian seafood in a unique (the underfloor koi-stocked stream trickling through the bar) and quite stunning (the multi-level dining room is warm and comfort
  57. great happy hour-try some small dishes, have a beer, listen to music..downside-slight delay on table that I don't think was necessary, valet can be really tough, still smell a bit garlicky.
  58. The garlic noodles were delicious.
  59. The restaurant has exquisite Vietnamese cuisine, and my grandma literally died over the coconut shrimp.
  60. It's really expensive for deep fried or microwave food, beautiful place to look and being look at, but if you go for the food, you are in the wrong place.
  61. had family visiting from the east coast and wanted to take them out for a memorable meal.
  62. The food is also great, the garlic crab and the garlic noodles are two of my favorite.
  63. this place is always fun and amazingly delicious!
  64. Beautiful food, beautiful people
  65. don't mind paying for delicious food but this was a joke.
  66. Everyone rave about the garlic noodles and they should because they are delicious.
  67. The garlic noodles are delicious, as well
  68. The best dish was the noodles but it's not a dish to go out of your way for!
  69. The shrimp was good (however, only four came on the plate) the beef was overly marinated and very salty.
  70. The open-air design of the building and the tasteful decor set the mood for what will most likely be one of L.A.'s top "Pan-Asian"/seafood restaurants.
  71. The bad experience continued from there with the food being nothing more than over spiced, over cooked, under sized portions, of not so special items.
  72. Excellent service, average food
  73. was impressed by the Koi "Walk on Water," and the rest of the decor was absolutely beautiful The waitor was helpful and attentive, and my food was excellent!
  74. great food, wonderful ambience,
  75. The atmosphere can be a challenge, especially during busier times; however the food is very good.
  76. The mango and lobster salad is also excellent.
  77. The crab was very good, but for $50?
  78. o-- and the new york steak is sooo juicy and tender.
  79. Fine, I will pay ANYTHING for great food, right?
  80. The highlight of the meal was the appetizer special lobster salad which was decent.
  81. You walk over a large fish tank as your path, which is really cool and unique.
  82. The food was very delicious.
  83. Enjoyed the garlic crab and noodles.
  84. The interior of Crustacean is beautiful, the service is supreme but the food is a RIP OFF.
  85. Food is not authentic (and I am Vietnamese)
  86. So I sat quietly and looked forward to the so-called great food.
  87. The service was great and the food was splendid (of course if you spend the $$$$$).
  88. must order is the garlic noodle side dish, it tastes amazing as well!
  89. Very cliched, but yes the noodles are really good
  90. Everything was fresh and delicious.
menu variety
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. had an amazing Kobe burger that is exclusive to their happy hour menu and excellent signature cocktails.
  2. tried to reason that this mess up was not our fault and my father is hard of hearing so the available options were not reasonable.
  3. The waitress was very friendly and helpful with the menu selections.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. Other than that, this place is a true pleasure if you're looking for a nice evening (birthday, anniversary, or a really impressionable date), not a place I can afford to see once a week, but when you do go, you'll remember it.
  2. It seem as if every table was placed with much thought and with great attention to the feeling of the place.
  3. This is my favorite restaurant in L.A. Have the crab, cracked, but in the shell and peanut noodles.
  4. *** NOT a good place if you are bringing young kids.
  5. This had been my mother's favorite restaurant for many years until that night.
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. would definitely come back again for the crab - you get a LOT of crab so the price makes it worth it - and like I said the garlic noodles are fantastic, but I would skip the other courses.
service
75.0% positive
  1. The waitress was very friendly and helpful with the menu selections.
  2. was impressed by the Koi "Walk on Water," and the rest of the decor was absolutely beautiful The waitor was helpful and attentive, and my food was excellent!
  3. EXPENSIVE, poor service, loud, mediocre food, EXPENSIVE
  4. The waitress was nice; she was enthralling with her description about Crustacean's history and the "secret kitchen" into which only An family members or employees with 10 years' + experience are allowed.
  5. Excellent service, average food
  6. The waiter was very good.
  7. Once seated our waiter was amazing and made sure we loved everything we got.
  8. The front desk rude and snobby!
  9. It's a beautiful atmosphere with its fish tank integrated floor and very good service.
  10. Once seated at a lovely table in front of the wait station and half hanging out into the main aisle our poor service began.
  11. The famed decor is actually quite impressive, the service and people watching are both excellent.
  12. The hostess was ridiculously rude.
  13. Horrible service, cold food, warm water - why spoil your meal in Beverly Hills when there's so much better?
  14. The bartenders were nice and attentive while we waited for our table.
  15. The service was impeccable, even for our high-maintenance party of about 8 or so.
  16. Also, we had no problem with rude watistaff or a long wait to be seated, and we were there on a busy Friday night.
  17. The server was knowlegable and told an interesting history of the restaurant which enhanced our anticipation.
  18. The service was great and the food was splendid (of course if you spend the $$$$$).
  19. My meal was amazing too, but it was the TYku cocktail the waiter suggested that pushed my experience over the edge!
  20. Our server was amazing, polite and attentive.
  21. *** Very good service.
  22. Beautiful food, beautiful people
  23. worst meal i have had in LA. service was appalling.
  24. Service was prompt, and our waiter was always attentive.
  25. Our server was attentive and suggested some great picks.
  26. I've heard people rave about the garlic noodles and dungeoness crab, their specialty.
  27. Then came the horrible service.
  28. The decor and ambiance was nicely done as well as excellent service.
  29. The interior of Crustacean is beautiful, the service is supreme but the food is a RIP OFF.
  30. good service.
  31. food was great! we had the lobster w/ garlic noodles. decor was very very nice. and the service was grade +A... one of the best in LA i've ever had.
  32. Our waiters/waitresses are always friendly and attentive.
  33. Overall the place is beautiful, the entire staff was completely on top of things.
  34. After explaining to the waiter that we wre not sticking around for dessert, we asked for the cold appetizer to be credited.
value
61.11000061035156% positive
  1. The food itself was good but it should be considering the prices.
  2. also had the Dungeness Crab which was a huge portion and I ate all of it!
  3. Crustacean is overrated and not at all worth the money.
  4. honestly cant believe the horrible quality of food and price they charge here.
  5. Crustacean is pricey, but definitely worth every penny.
  6. Bill was expensive, but we were all aware of the price beforehand, so no jaw dropping when we were handed it.
  7. But of course you are willing to live the fantasy and pay for the big bucks for it.
  8. This restaurant is very good but not worth the bucks.
  9. It's really expensive for deep fried or microwave food, beautiful place to look and being look at, but if you go for the food, you are in the wrong place.
  10. The inside looks great, but spend your money elsewhere and get better value and better taste.
  11. The bad experience continued from there with the food being nothing more than over spiced, over cooked, under sized portions, of not so special items.
  12. would definitely come back again for the crab - you get a LOT of crab so the price makes it worth it - and like I said the garlic noodles are fantastic, but I would skip the other courses.
  13. This place is great for a romantic dinner, but not cheap.
  14. Their fish dishes are very unique, and the prawns are huge!
  15. The food was good, but not worth the price.
wait time
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. Also, we had no problem with rude watistaff or a long wait to be seated, and we were there on a busy Friday night.
  2. However, as long as the food is good it doesn't matter.
  3. First of all, this place is amazing from the minute you walk in the door.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/14/11

Tasty food!

by CarrieD1

Great food! I love this place, delicious menu. I can never get enough of it but it's pricy to go there often. Beautiful inside with littple koi pond.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/05/11

For the money it should be good!

by MasakoT

This is the place you take someone to show how much money you can spend on food. I loved the Garlic crab, the atmosphere was a little uptight, but knowing how outrageous the prices were, I couldn’t help thinking all the other places I have had Vietnamese food for 1/100th the cost. I didn’t make the reservation, but I we were seated almost 15 minutes late.. This was a fun experiment, but in my opinion not quite worth the money.

3 Star Rating: Average

04/19/11

Good Food But Expensive

by lorenal

I like the decor. Very chic. Good service and the place is fun. I love the garlic noodles. The food is all very creative. But they charge you extra to crack the crab legs! This is a rip-off because trhere is no way to eat them without paying this extra fee. Stop this lame fee!

3 Star Rating: Average

04/05/10

good but relies on its BH too much.

by EagleRockGrl

Its good, but needs a bit of the neuvo. Now I am an oldschooler, and love the simple. This restaurant is very good but not worth the bucks. there are so many wonderful places now that make Crustatean hide out. Please do some new things, or the same things but better.

  • Pros: strong on foodies
  • Cons: way way way too expensive.
1 Star Rating: Poor

02/26/10

the food is just terrible, and we ordered everything

by 786LA786

worst meal i have had in LA. service was appalling. the waiters just plain don't care. food was not well executed and heavily salted. will never go back. ugh.

  • Pros: it is in beverly hills
  • Cons: staff, food, wine service

The Details on Crustacean Euro Vietnamese Cuisine

Place Categories:

  • great average food
  • delicious damn garlic noodles
  • love cracked dungeness crab
  • beautiful place
  • good service
  • favorite restaurant
  • lousy food
  • like crustacean
  • good garlic jumbo prawns
  • quite impressive famed decor
  • memorable meal
  • loved everything
  • bad experience
  • beautiful interior
  • beautiful atmosphere
  • always attentive waiter
  • helpful waitress
  • incredible ambience
  • helpful waitor
  • always friendly waiterswaitresses
  • excellent appetizer special lobster salad
  • enjoyed roasted garlic crab
  • love coconuts shrimp
  • sophisticated clientele
  • attentive server
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