Lobsta Shack

What can I say? Lobsta Shack is amazing! The customer service (shout out to Jamie !) is right on point, very warm and welcoming. The fries are so addictive and perfect and everything has a balance of texture, taste and presentation. Highly recommending the crab and lobster rolls and cheesecake and most definitely the lobster bisque. My daughter and I loved it. Great experience overall!

Last Friday was Lobsta Shack’s two-​year anniversary and they were selling their fish and chips as well as their shrimp and chips at the very affordable price of two dollars! I didn’t believe it at first until my friend showed me their Facebook post so I made sure we went during lunch. The fish was melt in your mouth tender. Such a clean and fresh flavor which was only enhanced by squirts of lemon juice. The battered shrimp were crunchy and paired well with the fish’s tartar sauce (I’m not a big fan of cocktail sauce). I love their shoestring seasoned fries. Everything was so delicious and I would’ve ordered more had there not been a maximum on two orders per customer, haha. I’ve ordered their lobster roll before, so it’s no surprise that the fish and shrimp were just as good.

Drove across town to try this place out after seeing it on Facebook and Unilocal.I love seafood so I figured it would be worth the drive. I’m sorry to say that I wasn’t very impressed. I ordered a lobster roll with butter and a lemonade. The lobster was bland and lacked seasoning and barely had any butter on it. I had to request some butter on the side. The lemonade was watered down. The restaurant was clean and charming. Three stars from me. I wouldn’t drive back again but would likely give them another shot if I’m ever in the area.

Little slice of seafood heaven in Downtown LA… Freshhhhhh like it was caught in front of me ! Lobster Roll and Truffle Fry Nirvana !

This place was HORRIBLE! First they ran out of mac & cheese. Had to wait forever to order when no one was even in the restaurant. What ever you do don’t order the LOBSTER ROLL. For $ 20 it is the most skimpy meal I have ever ate in my life. The lobster was drenched in butter which made it taste saturated. The portions are NOT hooked up. Believe me I rather pull my eyes out than ever return here again. Don’t let the pictures fool you. IT IS RIDICULOUSLY WACK!

The lobster roll is 100% lobster. Ask for the butter on the side. I love the house salad to go with any meal or even by itself — and the entrée plates are pretty great! BUT I have to say — I think they have the best burger in town. The cheese, the avocado, the patties –. Plus, parking is really easy in the (previously Walmart) garage and the crew is great! We love you guys, lobsta shack!

Since I am on the search for the best lobster roll I decided to come here. I got onviously their warm
Lobster roll which comes with fries. It was good its a normal size lobster roll which means I probably shouldve gotten a soup bc i was still a little hungry. I wasnt wowed but i did like it! Parking is kinda of a hassle if theres no st parking.

My family and I visited this restaurant as my daughter was not feeling well and she wanted lobster bisque and truffle fries. I know, where can we get both of these things in one place? I usually frequent another restaurant, but since the young one was out of sorts, we decided to go somewhere nearby. My sis and I Unilocal’ed Lobsta Shack which is a brick of mortar of the Lobsta Truck. Who knew? I didn’t. I like the fact that the restaurant is a bit of a hole in the wall, inconspicuous place. It has ample seating, is quiet and from what I gathered, is a family restaurant as we saw another group at a booth. Please note, we dined between lunch and dinner time which would not be peak hours. Although it is a bit higher in price range from where I get my lobster roll fix, they did have the comfort food with generous portions. I can’t have dairy, but I could not resist the Lobster Grilled Cheese and bowl of Lobster bisque. Man, my family and I were satiated. All of the orders we had did not disappoint.

Food service was better then I expected!!!
I had the lobster sandwich with butter !!
BOMB!

Was okay. I ordered the calamari and clam chowder.
Clam chowder outside tasty-​peppery but calamari was bland. Dipping sauce good but still did not help the calamari.
Chowder was so so. Sorry to saw not worth the $ 8 for the large. Nothing exciting.

Lobsta shack is a very cool idea. Hard to find lobster on the go in Los Angeles. I have already been there three times so I can test out the whole menu. Every time I go I don’t know what to pick, because it all looks so good. It is fairly new so it is quite empty in there. So you can bring large groups but I know it’s going to start booming. Great Job!

A nice spot to fulfill a lobster craving.
A friend brought me here having heard I have a thing for lobster sandwiches. I was surprised to find this semi hip place down the street from my grandma’s house in Chinatown.
Lobster rolls $ 20 and comes with truffle shoe string fries. One thing I don’t like is by the time the lobster roll makes it to my table, it is drenched in butter/​oil. This significantly reduces the texture of the bread. Not as crunchy as the ones I had in NY. The rolls are also relatively small, although lobster portions are generous. I can finish one in a few bites.
Overall, a nice place to go to for cravings but not a place I’d frequent.

I’ve always been a fan of Lobsta Truck, so it came as no surprise that when I came to Lobsta Shack, they did not disappoint. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised with many items on the menu. Let’s start with some of the items that I’ve tried and loved:
1. lobster roll — excellent in taste! Yes, they cook it in butter and brings out the juiciness of the meat, not to mention the freshness, and the lobster portion was huge! How do I know it was fresh? Ask my histamine allergy, which flew south for the winter after I’ve had one of these babies. Just one roll could’ve stuffed me, luckily I shared it with a best bud.
2. Their crab salad was really great too — I loved the design and the delivery, thought it was a good mixture of greens and crab meat — the creamy taste is what I like best though — went well with the chicken.
3. Fried Chicken — this was a pleasant surprise and totally blew my mind! Like how on earth do they make chicken taste like lobster? Jk — all jokes aside, I’ve never had such juicy fried chicken — ever! And you have to try it with the tartare sauce, brings out the taste to another level.
4. Clam chowder — this is the reason why I keep coming back. The thing that was different, though, was they added celery. not sure how I like it, but definitely warming up to it.
5. Lemonade — the lemonade reminds me of the one from Hot Dog on a Stick– which you should know has the best lemonade on earth. Yes, it’s an exaggeration, but there really is an art to lemonade, it either is too sour or too sweet, and this one was just right.
With free parking in the garage, and conveniently located next to Neighborhood Walmart (which has great produce, btw — fyi), you can grab some groceries after eating — making it a nice afternoon/​evening outing.
Plus, I really like the décor — the wide seats made it very easy for my toddler and they even have kiddie cups, How Awesome is that? Anyway, totally recommend to try — who knows, maybe you’ll see me there one day stuffing my face with some good eats.

Came in and ordered a Lobster roll (by itself with no fries) $ 18, portion size was decent but completely drenched in butter! Yikes.
You can finish the sandwich is 5 – 6 bites. It’s filling though. :) mine had too much claw, not enough of the plump meat.
I think the lobster sandwich at Knuckle & Claw is better and much lighter /​less greasy.
If you want a Lobster roll with truffle fries, the price is $ 20.
Metered Parking on the street $ 0.25 for 30 minutes

Lots of menu choices, cute décor and friendly service but the food has way too much salt in it. I had the Cajun lobster with an andouille sausage and spicy coleslaw (instead of corn on the cob). Lobster was super seasoned but had too much sodium. Loved how it was grilled because it had a great smokey flavor. The spicy cole slaw was okay (definitely spicy) but the andouille sausage wasn’t anything special. Wouldn’t recommend.
Had a bite of the fish and chips and some fries… The salt shaker was working double time on those fries. I liked the fries but I had to dust off the salt. The tartar sauce for the fish and chips was a tad bland. Could use some mustard or capers to give it more acidity and zestiness.
Overall I liked this place but I am not in a hurry to go back because I am pretty sure I consumed more than enough sodium for a month.

I was planning on going to Fisherman’s outlet a few miles down the street, but last minute changed my mind when I spotted Lobsta Shack. They’re actually owned by the same folks that brought us Lobsta truck and now newly reside at permanent spot on the corner Grand and Cesar Chavez near DTLA and Chinatown.
The atmosphere and space reminds me so much of my vacation trip to New England. Though small, it’s quite cozy and welcoming. Dining style is semi-​casual and you place your order at a counter.
I ordered the lobster roll for $ 20 and went with the traditional buttered version. The only true way to really enjoy lobster without masking the taste. It comes with fries, but got the cole slaw instead. The lobster roll was fanstastic, lightly sweet and really meaty. I enjoyed the warm and perfectly toasted buttery bun which complimented the super fresh texture of the lobster. Simplicity at its finest — lobster, bun and butter. Thinking about it as I write this reviews makes me hungry for more. It was quickly devoured without any spillage. No plastic bib required during this sitting. The cole slaw was alright though I found it to be a bit too tangy and watery. I probably should have went with the fries.
All in all — Wonderful dining experience. The service was friendly and my food came out quickly, which was much appreciated considering how hungry I was. Definitely looking forward to coming back and trying other scrumptious offerings from the menu.

Sitting in this unique space, I can understand why they don’t have more business than they should. The Chinatown locals will find the food to be too pricey. Foodies have yet to flock their way to this particular block because it’s a bit of a dodgy neighborhood and there’s nothing else going on (but Walmart, Subway, Papa Johns and Burger King). They do takeout orders and it appears some people call in theirs for pick-​up.
What they really need is some MUSIC. I swear, it would really change the vibe of the restaurant. The space is cute, well-​lit and you can almost imagine waves of the Atlantic Ocean crashing outside the windows with a lighthouse in the distance but then the sound of the screeching bus stopping right outside and the shouting children bring you back to where you are.
The food is good. The prices are OK in my opinion. I ordered the buttered/​hot lobster roll which came with truffle thin-​cut fries for $ 20, a side salad for $ 4 and a fountain beverage (refillable) for $ 2. After taxes, this meal was $ 28.34.
Lobster roll: The lobster portion is pretty generous for the price. My points of comparison for quantity and price are Son of a Gun’s teeny-​tiny (but amazing) lobster roll and Connie and Ted’s. The lobster was just a tiny bit tough here but undoubtedly fresh.
Fries: These are delicious. There are bottles of Heinz ketchup and Heinz malt vinegar on each table. Yum. I prefer thicker cut fries but people who like them thin would love these. The truffle flavoring is special.
Side salad: This salad was delicious but was served on the smallest plate EVER. I was playing a game with myself to see if I would drop any of it on the table. There was no way I was able to poke my fork through it or sweep up a bite. I ended up eating my lobster roll first and then pouring the salad into the paper tray to eat it. The salad is composed of fresh mixed greens, tomatoes, candied walnuts, cranberries, goat cheese and a nice balsamic vinaigrette. I would totally order this again and it provided a light veggie balance to the heavier buttered lobster roll and fries.
I look forward to coming back to try some of their pastas. PLEASE PLAY SOME MUSIC!

3.5 stars
Really more of 3 star place in my book but I’m giving them an extra half star for the BOGO promotion they had on their grand opening day. Lobsta Shack is really just the new brick and mortar for the Lobsta Truck, but with higher prices. A lobsta roll with fries costs $ 20 (pre-​tax), which is a pretty hefty price tag when the roll itself at the truck is only about $ 14 or $ 15. This means the fries are costing about $ 5, which is kind of a lot. Don’t get me wrong, the fries are really delicious. Probably some of the best I’ve tasted and seasoned very well too. However, in the end, everything is just too pricey. Plus, I didn’t see the lobsta roll by itself on the menu, which is a bit odd. I could be wrong though.
Taste-​wise, it was alright. You can choose either butter or mayonnaise. The butter is the way to go, but the flavor is pretty subtle. The lobster portion is generous and the customer service is good. Overall, not bad but too expensive. You have to really feel like splurging since you probably won’t be full after just one roll.
Located in that new shopping plaza in Chinatown where Walmart is. Free 1 hour parking in the back structure.

First review of 2015, woot woot!
As a huge fan of Lobsta Truck, I can honestly say I squealed when my boyfriend and I stumbled upon Lobsta Shack randomly one night. He is definitely a bigger fan than I am, considering he’s the one that introduced me to LT, so he was excited to say the least. The menu holds all the food truck favorites, plus a ton more, like pasta and other seafood dishes.
We went for our favorites: lobster rolls and clam chowder. I love the lobster rolls with just butter, but you can also get it with mayo or half and half. The lobster rolls here are $ 18, which come with a side of truffle fries. The truffle fries are very skinny, crispy and extremely good. I always get the clam chowder at the truck so I had to get it here. It was just as good as I remembered, served with mini oyster crackers. I think a cup of the chowder was $ 5.
The prices are quite high, but compared to the truck, its about the same. Regardless, for just me and my boyfriend, our dinner cost a bit over $ 60. That’s for 3 lobster rolls, a cup of clam chowder, and a soda. The lobster rolls can’t be bought on it’s own, the truffle fries (or you can substitute another side) have to come with it. We chose cole slaw for one of the rolls and it was tasty. Just be warned, make sure you bring a pretty penny when dining here. There was a couple that came in wanting to try some lobster rolls and ended up leaving without buying anything because it was too expensive :(
The location isn’t very convenient. It’s easy to miss and the parking is weird, which isn’t unusual for being in LA. The neighborhood isn’t the best either. Don’t come alone.
The workers were very nice and helpful when ordering. It was completely empty when we dined here so I guess they didn’t have a choice but give us good customer service (lol).
Overall, I would come back simply because my boyfriend and I are big fans of LT. We’re most likely going to hunt down the truck instead of coming to the restaurant because it makes eating lobster rolls a bit more fun and the restaurant is quite far from us.

Heard good things from the truck and saw that it opened up near the area I was in! First of all, it was so clean and surprisingly homely and cozy inside. It does look closed and quiet from the outside due to the bar-​like window design, but I promise it’s awesome when you get in. This is the type of place where you order and pay first, then sit down to eat. The cashier was super sweet and she gladly gave me suggestions on what to order. Even the employees were super thoughtful and told me not to throw any of my trash away and that they’d take care of everything. Definitely want to come back!
LOBSTER ROLL: Have never tried it, so this order was a no brainer. It comes in a hot dog sized bun, but it’s stuffed with 3.5 oz of lobster. You can order it with mayo or butter. I got butter and it was amazing! I know this costs $ 18 and it’s not the most filling order, but I appreciate how they do try to stuff the lobster in the small sized bun. The fries that came with the roll WERE SO GOOD. I’m a sucker for the thin crispy fries. I know that means it’s extra deep fried, but they were pretty much perfection to me.
I heard their shrimp scampi spaghetti and lobster mac n cheese are awesome, so I can’t wait to come back and try those!
SIDENOTE: When I came, I saw a family celebrating a birthday there. They must have a package deal available because they had a tablecloth and center piece out for the family. Something to look into if you want celebrate a simple special occasion!