Wats Crackin Garlic Crabs in Atlanta: What to Know Before You Go

If you love Southern seafood with big flavor, chances are you’ve either heard of Wats Crackin Garlic Crabs or you’re trying to figure out what the buzz is about in Atlanta. This style of garlic-loaded crab, often paired with classic soul food sides, fits right into the city’s love for bold, comforting dishes.

This guide breaks down what “garlic crabs” usually mean in Atlanta, what to expect from spots like Wats Crackin–style restaurants, how to order, typical prices, and tips for locals and visitors looking for this kind of seafood experience in and around Atlanta, Georgia.

What Are “Garlic Crabs” in the Atlanta Food Scene?

In Atlanta, garlic crabs usually refer to:

• Blue crab or snow crab clusters
• Coated in a buttery, garlicky sauce
• Often seasoned with Cajun, Lowcountry, or house-blend spices
• Served with tools for cracking shells and lots of napkins

The flavor profile is typically:

• Rich and buttery
• Heavy garlic (sometimes with visible chopped garlic)
• Spicy or mild, depending on how you order
• Often served with corn, potatoes, sausage, or eggs, similar to a seafood boil

While the style has roots along the Southeast coast, Atlanta has made it its own by pairing garlic crabs with soul food sides like collard greens, mac and cheese, or hush puppies.

Where Garlic Crab Fits in Atlanta’s Southern & Soul Food Culture

Atlanta’s restaurant scene blends coastal seafood traditions with soul food comfort. Garlic crab spots—whether they specifically use the name “Wats Crackin” or a similar concept—tend to:

• Serve takeout-heavy, casual meals
• Focus on saucy crab, shrimp, and seafood bags
• Attract late-night crowds, families, and groups
• Offer seasoned fries, wings, and classic sides along with seafood

You’ll see garlic crab platters and “crab trays” around:

• The Southside (College Park, Forest Park, Riverdale areas)
• Southwest Atlanta and East Point
• Parts of Decatur, Lithonia, and Stone Mountain
• Near busy corridors like Old National Highway, Camp Creek Parkway, and Memorial Drive

Even when the restaurant name isn’t “Wats Crackin,” many spots advertise “garlic crabs,” “garlic butter crab,” or “seafood bags” in window signs, menus, or social posts.

What to Expect at a Wats Crackin–Style Garlic Crab Spot in Atlanta

While every business is different, many Atlanta garlic crab and soul food restaurants share some common features.

Atmosphere

Most are:

• Casual and fast-casual
• Focused on counter service rather than full table service
• Designed for takeout and delivery, sometimes with limited dine-in seating

You’ll often see:

• Bright menus with build-your-own seafood combos
• Photos of crab trays, shrimp, and sides
• A mix of families, couples, and groups picking up large orders, especially on weekends

Typical Menu Items

A Wats Crackin–style garlic crab restaurant in Atlanta often features:

• Garlic crab trays (snow or blue crab)
• Seafood bags (crab, shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes, eggs)
• Garlic shrimp and shrimp & sausage combos
• Fried fish (whiting, tilapia, catfish)
• Fried shrimp and wings
• Sides like corn, potatoes, broccoli, boiled eggs, hush puppies, fries, and sometimes soul-food style sides

Many menus are built around customization—you choose your:

1. Seafood type (crab, shrimp, lobster tail, etc. if offered)
2. Flavor/sauce (garlic butter, Cajun, lemon pepper, “house special”)
3. Heat level (mild, medium, hot, extra hot)

Price Range

Prices vary by location and market cost of crab, but in Atlanta you can generally expect:

Higher prices usually reflect larger crab clusters, premium seafood, or bigger combo bags.

How to Order Garlic Crabs Like a Local in Atlanta

If it’s your first time at a garlic crab spot that feels like Wats Crackin, the menu can seem overwhelming. Here’s a simple approach.

1. Choose Your Crab

Common options:

• Snow crab legs – Very popular, easier to crack, sweeter meat
• Blue crab – More traditional in some Southern styles, more effort to eat, lots of flavor

If you’re new to cracking crab, snow crab is usually the easier starting point.

2. Pick Your Sauce and Heat Level

Typical Atlanta sauce options include:

• Garlic butter – Classic, rich, not always spicy by default
• Cajun or house special – Blend of garlic, butter, and Cajun-style spices
• Lemon pepper – Sometimes combined with garlic butter

Heat levels might be listed as:

• Mild – Mostly flavor, low heat
• Medium – Noticeable spice, but manageable for many diners
• Hot/Extra hot – For those who like serious heat

If you’re unsure, ask the staff how spicy their “medium” usually is; spice tolerance can vary a lot between spots.

3. Add Sides

Common add-ons in Atlanta garlic crab restaurants:

• Corn on the cob
• Red potatoes
• Boiled eggs
• Beef or pork sausage
• Broccoli
• Rice or fries

If you want a classic “tray,” a common combo is:

• Snow crab clusters
• Corn
• Potatoes
• Sausage
• Extra garlic butter on the side

4. Plan for the Mess

Even if you’re taking your food home:

• Ask for crab crackers and picks if they’re not automatically included
• Grab extra napkins and sometimes plastic gloves if offered
• Consider laying out newspaper or disposable tablecloth if eating at home

When Locals Typically Go for Garlic Crabs in Atlanta

Garlic crab and seafood boil–style meals are especially popular:

• Weekends, particularly Friday and Saturday evenings
• Game days and big sports events
• Holidays and long weekends
• After work in neighborhoods with lots of commuters or nightlife

If you want shorter waits and faster pickup, aim for:

• Late afternoons on weekdays
• Earlier in the day on weekends before the dinner rush

How to Find Wats Crackin–Style Garlic Crabs Around Atlanta

Atlanta’s food landscape changes quickly, so exact restaurant lineups can shift. To locate garlic crab and similar spots:

• Search for “garlic crabs Atlanta,” “seafood boil Atlanta,” “crab trays near me,” “garlic butter crab Atlanta,” or “soul food seafood Atlanta”
• Check neighborhoods known for Southern and soul food and takeout seafood, like:
  • Southwest Atlanta
  • Cascade Road area
  • Camp Creek Parkway / East Point
  • Old National Highway (College Park)
  • Parts of Decatur, Lithonia, and Stone Mountain

Delivery apps commonly list many of these restaurants and can give a sense of:

• Popular items
• Estimated price range
• Prep and delivery times

Tips for Visitors Coming to Atlanta for Garlic Crabs

If you’re visiting Atlanta and want a Wats Crackin–type garlic crab experience:

• Consider transportation: Many popular seafood and soul food spots sit in car-heavy corridors outside the immediate downtown and Midtown core. Rideshare is often more convenient than trying to walk.
• Check hours carefully: Some locations open late afternoon and stay open into the night; others close earlier on Sundays or weekdays.
• Call ahead for large orders: If you’re feeding a group or ordering multiple trays, calling first can reduce your wait and confirm availability of crab, shrimp, or lobster.
• Ask about spice and shellfish: If anyone in your group is sensitive to spice or shellfish, clarify how things are cooked and whether they share fryers, pots, or sauces.

Practical Considerations for Atlanta Residents

If you live in the Atlanta area and plan to make garlic crab nights a regular thing:

• Watch traffic patterns: Reaching Southside or Eastside locations during rush hour can significantly lengthen your trip. Many locals schedule pickup for after peak traffic.
• Budget for fluctuating seafood prices: Crab prices can change based on supply. Some restaurants adjust their menu frequently; you might see slight price jumps during certain times of year.
• Check for combo deals: Some Atlanta seafood and soul food spots offer family trays, party platters, or “two-person combos” that can be more cost-effective than ordering separate plates.
• Store leftovers safely: Garlic crab and seafood shouldn’t sit out at room temperature for long. If you plan to save some, refrigerate promptly and reheat thoroughly.

Making the Most of a Garlic Crab Visit in Atlanta

To get the best experience from a Wats Crackin–style garlic crab restaurant in Atlanta:

• Go hungry – Portions, especially combo bags and trays, are often generous.
• Wear something you don’t mind getting messy – Garlic butter has a way of traveling.
• Order a mix for the table – Many groups in Atlanta share crab, shrimp, sausage, and sides family-style.
• Ask about house favorites – Staff can usually point out their most popular sauces or combos.

Whether you live in Atlanta or you’re visiting, Wats Crackin–style garlic crabs fit perfectly into the city’s love of big flavor, casual vibes, and Southern comfort food with a seafood twist. If you’re craving buttery, garlicky crab that you crack with your hands and eat over piles of napkins, Atlanta has plenty of places where you can dig in.