While crab can be found as a feature item at numerous restaurants, only a handful of markets in San Francisco offer live crab during the season.

It’s fun to splurge on creative crab dishes with a night out on the town, but home cooks can also enjoy the fresh crab at home for about 0ne-third of the cost. Below are some of our favorite San Francisco markets with live crab.

Share your tips for buying live crab in our comments section.

Wing Hing Seafood Market
INNER RICHMOND
We found the best price for crab here during opening week of the crab season. The market has a two-tier pricing system for large and small crab handpicked from large tanks.

Alioto-Lazio Fish Co.
FISHERMAN’S WHARF
The Alioto and Lazio families have been a fixture in San Francisco’s seafood scene for more than 70 years. Alioto-Lazio Fish Co. is one of the last legitimate fish companies to operate among the tourist attractions at the Wharf. However, the hours are a little tricky. Live crab is available during business hours, 6am to 2pm on weekdays and 7am to noon on Saturdays.

Sun Fat Seafood Market
MISSION
Sun Fat Seafood Company is well stocked with live crab. The staff is always helpful and happy to pick out the best large or small crab for customers. Try the Slap Ya Mama spicy seasoning, also on sale here, for some Creole-style flavor.

Heart of the City Farmers Market
CIVIC CENTER
The fish stand at Civic Center’s Heart of the City Farmers Market sells live crab on Sundays and Wednesdays. It’s best to shop here early. Crab and other popular items often sell out quick when there is high demand.

Stockton Street
CHINATOWN
The Chinatown scene on Stockton Street can be a little overwhelming and messy for the uninitiated. Among the crowded produce shops and meat and poultry markets, live crab is available at Liang’s Seafood Inc. and Liang’s Food a few doors down. We’re not sure what the connection is, but we prefer the one with the blue awning (Liang’s Seafood), only because the language barrier is not as difficult for English speakers.

San Francisco Fish Co.
FERRY BUILDING
Located in San Francisco’s one-stop foodie paradise at the Ferry Building, there are not likely to be any bargains at San Francisco Fish Co., but shoppers can expect top-quality live crab and other seafood. Cooked and cleaned crab is also available, and It’s also a great stop for fresh oysters.