We’ll start with a quick history. King crabs, or rock crabs, are of the Lithodidae family (sometimes listed as the only occupant of said family) and are classified as decapod crustaceans. 

Unfortunately, they are quite a common victim of overfishing, a seafaring phenomenon in which some creatures are caught faster than they can replenish themselves. As of May, 2025, they have 15 subspecies, or genera, ranging from the Lithodinae to the Hapalogastrinae.

When you take a bite of some delicious king crab, you are eating a whole lot of history. Potentially developing in the Early Miocene Epoch (~19M years ago), king crabs have evolved to live in cold conditions, such as the waters near Alaska and some of South America.

Some would say that pure Alaskan king crab is some of the best seafood on the planet. Combined with the clarified butter it comes with, you’ll be craving it for the rest of your life. 

The butter enhances the flavor so that it almost becomes sweet. The crab itself is already incredibly tender, so it only falls apart and melts in your mouth even faster.

The taste comes at a cost, though. A $60-150 price tag specifically. That much for a single pound (usually 2 or 3 legs) can discourage you fairly easily, safe to say. 

But think of this: king crab is actually extremely healthy to eat. You might find it surprising that something so delicious can be so good for you, but it’s really packed with nutrients and protein.

According to the Alaskan King Crab Co., a 3-ounce portion has barely any fat and a bunch of protein. You’ll also get well over your daily recommended amount of cobalamin, more commonly known as vitamin B12, which is a vitamin that is necessary for producing red blood cells and is responsible for energizing you throughout the day.

One more thing is the looks. Immediately when you buy it, you can see the claws through the clear packaging. It feels like it’s just calling out to you that it’s so appetizing.

So then, king crab is a prestigious, elegant delicacy that is extremely healthy and flavorful. Sounds like the perfect food to me. Just be careful about the price, but other than that, it’s earned its place as a fantastic seafood dish. I would rate it 5/5 stars, though the price brings it down to a 4.5. On everything but the price, it’s an easy 5.