Hnina’s Crab

delicious blue crab and shrimp served the way it was in the old days. Here’s a huge platter of perfectly steamed garlic crab, here’s a huge table with a plastic table cloth (cause they are messy) eat till you can’t eat anymore!!! not much service not much pandering but that huge platter of crabs is the soul of the south

This place is one of the best kept secrets. Seems that even some of the locals don’t know about it because it looks closed all the time. Like the saying goes, Don’t judge a book by it’s cover
The place is open! The smell of garlic and old bay seasonings will awaken your senses and appetite as soon as you open the door.
The staff was helpful and the shrimp was amazing, tasty, and fresh. I will go again and try need menu items soon… Like next weekend.

Well, it’s been over 5 years and a few hundred blue crabs later and Hnina’s remains a consistent 5*.

The food deserves 4stars and the establishment deserves 1 maybe 0. The building looks really sketchy on the inside and the outside. Upon arriving I almost didn’t go inside because I thought it was an abandoned building. I would definitely love to return based on the taste of the food alone but, with the condition of the place factored in, I don’t think I’ll be visiting a second time around.

I love love love the garlic crabs here. I’m giving the 3-​star review here for the broken tables, the room off to the side full of junk, and the sketchy vibe. This is definitely a call-​ahead and carry-​out place. I’ve seen multiple people walk in, look around, and walk back out. But I keep coming back because those garlic crabs are amazing!

Fresh seafood and great taste. The owners are very nice too. I love it. It is near Oviedo and you do not have to drive all the way to Cocoa beach for great seafood.

Loved it. Hnina’s was the perfect place for me. I wanted good seafood without all the fancy trappings of a fine restaurant. I travel alone for business and often feel uncomfortable in such places when dining alone. When I arrived, the previous reviews were so accurate — no ambiance but great seafood. Unfortunately, crab was largely out of season but they offered other options that I couldn’t have enjoyed more. Steamed shrimp, peeled and cooked in garlic butter with potatoes. It was so good and I probably should have stopped there (I was so full) but I also ordered Flounder and couldn’t stop myself because it was delicious too.
Many thanks to the folks there that not only helped me order but also let me hand pick the fish. They were so happy to make me feel special. I can’t wait until I return to this area again in a few months. Maybe then, I can try their specialty — blue crab.

Got there at 6:45 on a Saturday and there were only four people in the place, all of whom were employees. If business is that slow there is no telling how old the seafood is. So we went somewhere else.

This place is so yummy… I was nervous when we walked in, but now I love this place. The shell off with garlic butter crab is amazing and get a side of corn and potatoes. Don’t let the outside or inside scare you!

GOOD SEAFOOD EATING!
If all you care about is the taste of your food being fresh and tasting the best then this is the seafood place you need to eat seafood from. The seafood is always fresh and the crabs are so delicious no matter how you order them. I have been eating here for years and have sat in to eat but mostly order to go so I can enjoy the food while I watch a movie and call ahead a pick up order. The owners are super nice and if you go here enough you will begin to realize who they are and see for yourself how good the food is.
I normally get the garlic grabs at least once a week sometimes more if I feel like driving from Deltona to get it and if they are available. I think I’m addicted to seafood, lol. I also like the shrimp corn and potato combo when I am «trying» to take a break from crabs. I also had grouper and snapper done here and it was fresh and delicious.
Give Hnina’s a try if good seafood eating is what you want. Trust me you won’t be disappointed. All the other reviews are right about the building and the fact that it is a seafood market and smells as such but it doesn’t stink there is a difference and if you love seafood you should be use to the fishy smell, duuhhh! Also ask they can make your seafood how you like it if you want a special order.

Cool funky scary weird… good eatin’!
By Parham P Baker
This place would have scored more, a five based on food, but… read on.
My cab dropped me off after dark and I walked up to the double doors. The glasswork made it obvious that at one time this was an oriental restaurant or buffet. I walked in and wondered if it was even open. The area to the right was pitch black and the entry foyer wasn’t much brighter. Lights to the left, so left I went.
A bit in shock, I looked around. A few aquariums with nothing in them. Two oddball booths, a couple of oddball tables with oddball chairs and the area surrounded by oddball counters (get a theme going here?)
Counter to the left most was in fact a display case for a selection of iced down fish. Had probably a half dozen varieties. The fish looked very fresh and tantalizing making me wish my hotel room had a kitchen. Next counter turned out to be a large (5′ diameter) tub loaded with live crab. Hmmm… Next counter, a small array of candy bars, then finally the register counter.
Menu? A printed piece of paper on a clipboard sat on an oddball counter by the crabs. Only one copy.
«Everything is cooked to order, Ok? Most popular are the shrimp or crab in Garlic Butter… comes with potatoes and corn, OK?»
At this point I’m not totally sure I want to hang around, but the other reviewers commented on how good it was, so what the heck.
«I’ll try the 16 shrimp thing…»
«Ok, want a drink? Have canned Cokes and Pepsi in bottles.»
I settled on a Pepsi, but noted they had a selection of beer in the long glass front, convenience store style wall cooler as well.
You can somewhat see into the kitchen area behind the fish case counter and watch the interesting assortment of folks cooking it up. The Asian lady who got the crabs out of the bin, the french beret’d fellow who was cooking, the… you get the idea.
Ten minutes or so, «Baker!» I get up from the Naugahyde captains chair and go to the counter where my dinner was in a styro box already in a bag. After telling the fellow (very nice) that I was going to eat it there he pointed me to the silverware (to the right of the TV) and I picked it up, noticing a selection of sauces they had there. (OK. it was plastic forks… but…)
Sitting down, I opened the styro to a delicious smell. Ahhh. then WOW! I started peeling the shrimp which, along with the large cubed, skin on potatoes and a ½ corn on the cob, were swimming in a unbelievable garlic butter. Frequent visits to the paper towel holder in the middle of the table were required to keep the wonderful mess I was making cleaned up.
As I peeled on, more folks wandered in and placed their orders, all to go, and sat in their captain’s chairs or oddball booths. Others came in and picked up orders they had obviously called in.
Then I dredged one of the (finally) peeled shrimp in the garlic butter, placed it on my tongue and mmmmmmm. Ecstasy!

I must say, all the food was delicious! The potatoes were perfectly done and the corn on the cob (also dredged in the garlic butter) was sublime. The styro had a small cup of «regular» melted butter but… why?
The place is decidedly thrown together with furniture, artifacts and wall ornaments from here and there, and is not at all to be considered a family place. It makes no effort at being attractive or comfortable. It’s also not a place to take kids or to go into if you are squeamish or easily intimidated.
It is a cool-​funky local fish market that also cooks up some super good eats.
Perhaps I’ll drop back there for lunch tomorrow…
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FOOD 5, AMBIANCE 4. Funky and cool for someone that is used to the offbeat. But uncomfortable for most. These other negatives drop my rating to a 3 as I want others to understand what the place is like. If they made even a small effort to make this a comfortable place to sit and eat. WOW.

First of all Brandi B’s review should be erased since she hasn’t even eaten here.
This place, is awesome! Visiting from San Francisco, we decided to look for a good, fresh seafood dinner in Florida. Looking through Unilocal we stumbled upon this place…
Yes, it is really run down, inside and out, but it IS a fish market. They just so happen to cook your purchase for you, (deliciousily I might add,) if you choose for them to do so. We ordered 8 blue crabs, a pound of king crab legs, steamed in Old Bay and served with garlic butter, with 4 Lime-a-Rita’s, (haha,) and it was around $ 30 bucks. We decided to eat in, (tables could have used a spray and a wipe,) however she threw in a FREE order of boiled, seasoned, red potatoes! All of the food was fresh, cooked perfectly, and very tasty. We sat there FEASTING for about an hour and a half…
The place did get packed with to go orders and the phone rang off the hook until they finally ran out of the days catches. Also, super friendly, the lady knew so many customers by name!!! If only we could take this place home with us…
Get there early to get the best, and biggest crabs!!! (Also, 99¢ tall boy beers!!!)

Let’s be frank… this place is not beautiful. It’s a run down building, but damn the seafood is great. The garlic butter blue crab is so good and fresh. Do not let the building deter you, just get it to go and enjoy!

Grew up on the Cheasapeake Bay. This is the real deal using JO crab seasoning. Crab sizes run with the pane sea of the moon. Expect the best in FL.
Take out is best

Sooooooooooo good! Hnina’s isn’t the luxury dining establishment you’re probably accustomed to because it’s not. It’s a divey, hole-​in-​the-​wall place that carries super-​fresh seafood, including fish, blue crabs, shrimp… We always order our meal to go because Hnina’s is also a fish market and smells like it.
We get a couple of crabs, some shrimp, potatoes and corn on the cob boiled with their delicious seasoning. Whenever we get Hnina’s, it truly is the highlight meal of the week. I can’t even describe how delicious everything is. It’s definitely worth driving out there.
Apparently, they also accept EBT for nom-​cooked seafood.

Omg I love their seafood. Always a great southern taste and seasoned so well. I absolutely eat here every chance I get. I’m a crab addict and I always get my fix here. The only thing I tried are the crabs and shrimp. Some crabs were small but some were big. You can pay extra for the shrimp to come with potato, corn on the cob, and sausages. Its not really clean in the inside. Infact the only reason I eat here instead of running out the door is because my parents use to get seafood from here all the time when I was a little girl so I know what to expect. Give this place a chance! You don’t have to sit there and eat. Just call in, order your food, take it home and eat it with a wine cooler! You can buy the food cooked or very alive. Since I’m a lazy duck I rather them cook it. It will taste a 100% better anyways. Go try it out. Make sure you order ahead of time because it can get PRETTY hectic in there. The crowd of people waiting to get their food never look friendly :(oh wait that’s because its in sanford lol. Try it out.

This food is freaking delicious! This is the most delicious crab I have ever had in my life. Order a bunch of garlic shrimp with corn and potatoes and then get at least one crab per person; a la carte. Or just eat lots of crab.
The place looks like a run down bar & lounge. It smells like a fish market; but not dead fish. Order to go and lay out some news paper onto your dining table. This crab is awesome. Boiled and then some nice butter and seasoning. Mmmmmm.

BEST crabs since Baltimore! They were steamed Maryland style but also could have been Garlc style. We loved them, they were big and just perfect.
We also bought a Red Snapper and a plate of Spicy Steamed Shrimp. Wow, we will be back often!

The place isnt the nicest place… its actually kinda dirty. but blue crabs is what they got and lots of it! its either here or the asian places around town. but i like getting it here they have more and get them daily.
dont dine in though get it to go and take it home to enjoy…

This place is a well kept secret. I’m only telling you about it because I like you.
If you need to satisfy a craving for fresh blue crabs, this is THE place to get yo’ some.
About 18 – 20 bucks will buy more than enough fresh, live crabs for two crab lovers to seriously pig out. with enough leftovers for crab cakes tomorrow.
They also have fresh shrimp, and a limited selection of fresh fish.
This shop mostly caters to an urban /​ethnic clientele, but they have the best live blue crabs you’ll find this side of Palatka. They sometimes sell out by late Friday afternoon, so try to come early, or call ahead.
They will cook crabs or shrimp for you, if you like, but the place is severely lacking in atmosphere [dive], so its best to get takeout or cook it yourself.
Personally, I would rather eat blue crab than lobster.
Sure, cleaning them is a lot of work, but well worth it, IMO.
[I actually took the photo in their huge ‘crab corral.’]
Tip: If you’re going fishing, they’ll sell you the ‘less than perfect’ crabs for bait at a reduced price.