Got A Craving For Steamed Shrimp? These 7 Maryland Carryouts Pile It High

Maryland may be famous for crabs, but steamed shrimp quietly runs the show at plenty of local carryouts. A pound of shrimp dusted in seasoning, a roll of paper towels, and a picnic table is a summer plan that never gets old.

The seven spots below range from Baltimore city corners to Eastern Shore waterfronts, and each one steams shrimp to order so you can grab a bag and go. Save this list for the next time the craving hits, because it will.

1. Cravin’ Crabs, Baltimore, MD

Shrimp and a snowball in the same stop is a very Baltimore kind of combo. Cravin’ Crabs sits at 4609 Annapolis Rd, and it pairs a seafood counter with ices and ice cream for dessert.

The menu lists a 1 lb Texas Gulf Steamed Shrimp order, and the kitchen will load it up with heavy seasoning if you ask. Steamed crabs are the headliner, with extra-large and female crabs, plus steamed mussels and corn on the side.

For something different, try the Crabby Eggs. It is a fun little extra you will not find on every crab shack menu.

Hours start at 2 PM on weekdays and 11 AM on weekends. There is no restroom and no table service, so plan on taking your haul home or to a nearby spot.

Parking is free and usually easy.

2. Crab Stop, Ocean City, MD

Beach week calls for shrimp you can carry back to the condo still hot. Crab Stop, at 1511 Philadelphia Ave in Ocean City, keeps things low-key with peel-and-eat shrimp, steamed crabs, and fried seafood standards.

The Half Pound Shrimp is an easy order for a quick lunch. Add a crabcake sandwich, a soft shell crab, or fresh corn on the cob to round it out.

The house seasoning is a big part of the appeal. Plenty of regulars buy the large size to use in their own kitchens back home.

Curbside pickup makes busy summer evenings simpler. Just note the schedule: it closes Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and reservations are not taken.

3. Captain Smith’s Seafood, Solomons, MD

Colossal jumbo shrimp are the reason to pull over in Solomons. Captain Smith’s Seafood steams them while you wait, so they come out plump and fresh rather than sitting under a heat lamp.

Part kitchen and part seafood shop, the place sells uncooked seafood alongside fried or steamed platters of fish, clams, and oysters. That means you can grab dinner now and something to cook later.

Steamed crabs, soups, sandwiches, and salads are also available for carryout. Prices are friendly for a waterfront town.

It opens at 11 AM daily and closes by 6 or 7 PM. Friday afternoons are the busiest stretch, and parking is free.

4. Kent Island Crab Co, Pasadena, MD

Light, medium, or heavy. At Kent Island Crab Co, you choose how much spice goes on your shrimp and crabs, and the staff cook them to that exact order.

This Pasadena market at 2905 Mountain Rd sells live and steamed crabs plus a range of fresh and frozen seafood. Extra-large steamed shrimp are a popular takeout pick, and a regular shrimp special helps stretch the budget.

The team is knowledgeable, which helps if you are deciding between sizes. Male steamed crabs also show up on the menu.

It is takeout only, with no delivery and no table service. Saturdays get busy in the afternoon, so a weekday lunch run is calmer.

5. TL Morris Seafood, Trappe, MD

Eastern Shore road trippers, take note. TL Morris Seafood in Trappe pairs fresh steamed seafood with a waterfront view at 1606B Marina Dr.

The shrimp here are gigantic, and they can be steamed right there while you wait. Do not skip the house-made cocktail sauce, which is a treat on its own.

Snow crab clusters, crabs, and corn round out the menu. It is a family-owned business, and the care shows in how fresh everything is.

Call ahead for curbside pickup to save time. Hours run 10 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 PM on Sunday.

6. Happy Times Seafood, Baltimore, MD

Some days you want steamed shrimp, and some days you want a little of everything. Happy Times Seafood on Wilkens Ave handles both.

The steamed shrimp and crabs come out fresh and well seasoned, and the shrimp appetizer is a solid starter. From there, the menu branches into boiling bag combos with crawfish, snow crab legs, and lobster.

Fried fans can grab a whiting fish sandwich, an oyster platter, or a soft shell crab sandwich. A seafood platter with lake trout, scallops, and both fried and steamed shrimp covers a lot of ground.

There is a kids’ menu, which helps for family dinners. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest times.

7. Anne Arundel Seafood, Pasadena, MD

Picnic tables and a fish market counter set the tone at Anne Arundel Seafood, 230 Mountain Rd in Pasadena. It is a down-home stop where steamed shrimp to go comes out fast.

The shrimp are tender and well seasoned, with melted butter on the side. Shrimp salad platters, raw oysters, and cream of crab soup are also strong picks.

Crab cakes and fried hard crab get plenty of attention too. Sides include potato salad, steamed broccoli, and buttery corn on the cob.

Unlike most stops here, it has seating, a restroom, and a kids’ menu. Thursday through Saturday evenings draw the biggest crowds.