
Faidley's Seafood
A no-frills Baltimore institution in Lexington Market, famous for inventing the jumbo lump crab cake and serving fresh, award-winning seafood since 18...

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Faidley's Seafood

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A no-frills Baltimore institution in Lexington Market, famous for inventing the jumbo lump crab cake and serving fresh, award-winning seafood since 1886.
"Possibly the best crab cake I've ever had - bursting with flavor and so tender."
Avoid Peak Hours
Visit during off-peak hours to avoid crowds, as seating is limited and often standing room only.
Try the Jumbo Lump
Highly recommended by critics, the jumbo lump crab cakes are a signature item not to be missed.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Seafood
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Iconic Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Indulge in possibly the best crab cake you've ever had, bursting with flavor and tenderness and large chunks of crab meat.

Freshly Shucked Oysters
Savor incredibly fresh, locally harvested oysters that are a must-try alongside other classic seafood options.

Unique & Flavorful Sides
Complement your seafood with unique sides like mashed potato salad and well-seasoned collard greens.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Avoid Peak Hours
Visit during off-peak hours to avoid crowds, as seating is limited and often standing room only.
Try the Jumbo Lump
Highly recommended by critics, the jumbo lump crab cakes are a signature item not to be missed.
Explore Other Seafood
Beyond crab cakes, consider butterfly shrimp, cream of crab soup, or Coddies for a full seafood experience.
Don't Forget Deviled Eggs
Complement your crab cakes with a side of their delicious deviled eggs.
Tips
from all over the internet
Avoid Peak Hours
Visit during off-peak hours to avoid crowds, as seating is limited and often standing room only.
Try the Jumbo Lump
Highly recommended by critics, the jumbo lump crab cakes are a signature item not to be missed.
Explore Other Seafood
Beyond crab cakes, consider butterfly shrimp, cream of crab soup, or Coddies for a full seafood experience.
Don't Forget Deviled Eggs
Complement your crab cakes with a side of their delicious deviled eggs.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Faidley's Seafood is renowned for its exceptionally flavorful and tender jumbo lump crab cakes, often hailed as the best. Diners also praise the freshness of their oysters and unique side dishes. However, some recent reviews suggest a decline in quality and value compared to the past, with concerns about pricing and portion sizes for certain items.
"Possibly the best crab cake I've ever had - bursting with flavor and so tender. I found myself taking smaller and smaller bits, just to make it last longer. The sides were unexpectedly great as well. Didn't expect a mashed version of a potato salad, but it works."
Ayon Ibrahim
"Big, delicious crab cakes in a fun, no frills environment - and make sure to get a few deviled eggs!
My daughter and I stopped in here on a Friday for lunch in May, 2025. We parked in a nearby garage and walked a block or two to visit the market, but specifically Faidley's after doing a search for "biggest crab cakes in Baltimore."
The entire market is great with a ton of options available to complement your crab cakes if needed. The service was quick and it's standing only with high top tables.
The crab cakes were a little pricey but worth it for both the taste and the experience."
Chris Hanes
"Best crab cake ever! We also had the clam strips and the coddie. Located in Lexington Market, Faidley’s is a destination worth the trip by itself and there are a lot of other interesting food options inside too. 💯awesome"
Thomas O'Brien Realtor
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Faidley's Seafood is most famous for its jumbo lump crab cakes, which they are credited with inventing.
Faidley's Seafood is located in the historic Lexington Market in downtown Baltimore.
No, Faidley's Seafood is a standing-room-only establishment with high-top tables.
Yes, Faidley's Seafood offers shipping for their famous crab cakes, but some customers have reported inconsistencies.
Besides crab cakes, Faidley's offers raw oysters, clams, butterfly shrimp, cream of crab soup, and Coddies.
Faidley's menu primarily focuses on seafood. Side dishes like mashed potato salad and mac and cheese may be available.
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If you’re talking Maryland, you’re talking crab cakes—specifically the ones from Faidley’s, a seafood stand located in Downtown’s Lexington Market. They literally invented the jumbo lump version in the early ’90s (before, it was made with a mix of crab meat, lowering the cost but lessening the flavor). These consist of huge chunks of jumbo lump, a dash of crushed saltines, dry mustard, Old Bay, and secret sauce that makes for something not too salty, not too Old Bay-y, and almost all crab.
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Faidley Seafood not only serves the city of Baltimore, but their famous lump crab cakes can be shipped and Faidley’s caters for events as well. This restaurant is well-known for its crab cakes and headquartered in Lexington Market, which is located in downtown Baltimore city. Faidley Seafood has been featured on the Travel Channel, Food Network, and many other media outlets.
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Co-owner Nancy Faidley Devine’s grandfather started the business in the 1800s, and it’s said that the family matriarch invented the jumbo lump crab cake as we know it, earning national acclaim in the process. The casual seafood stall is located inside the recently rebuilt Lexington Market, a massive downtown food hall just next door to its shabby but beloved predecessor. Despite its upgraded digs, Faidley’s retains the quirky character that has for generations made it a local institution and a necessary stop before baseball games.
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According to Coastal Living, “Hands down, Faildey’s Seafood is where you should head for a crab cake if you have only one day in Baltimore.” It is famed for being highly tasty to the point of winning awards from critics and magazines for its lump crab cakes. It has been family-owned and operated since 1886 bringing all kinds of seafood selections to the Baltimore region and beyond. The Award-Winning JUMBO LUMP crabcake is set alongside the Backfin crabcake and the soft crab sandwich.
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Faidley Seafood: This Lexington Market institution is so famous it made an episode of The Wire, when Jimmy McNulty bribes two patrol cops to stand watch in an alley with a dozen of what many say are the best crab cakes in town. The jumbo lump cake is an eye-popping $12.95 and there aren’t any chairs, but neither fact seems to stem the flow of faithfuls standing at the counters gobbling down softball-sized chunks of Chesapeake goodness. (203 N. Paca St, faidleyscrabcakes.com)
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Serving one of the “best sandwiches in America,” as stated by Adam Richman, host of Man vs. Food, and labeled one of the “most iconic food destinations in the country” by Smithsonian Magazine, Faidley’s Seafood stands out among other seafood restaurants in Baltimore MD. This basic eatery located in Lexington Market continues to churn out crab cakes and fresh fish to its loyal customers. It makes it to the list of leading seafood restaurants in Baltimore year after year.
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A family-owned business, Faidley’s has been serving its world-famous seafood since 1886. Located in the historic Lexington Market, the oldest continuously operating public market in the country, Faidley’s has been serving its massive crab cakes since 1886. Third generation co-owner Nancy Faidley Devine still helps make each one—comprised of jumbo lump and backfin crab with a saltine crust and secret “magic sauce”—by hand, and her labors of love have not gone unnoticed.
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While Faidley Seafood really pushes its crab cakes as its claim to fame, the fish are the unsung heroes of the Faidley menu. Boasting six different kinds of fish on its menu, Faidley is one of the few holdout locations in Baltimore where a person can still throw back a delicious Coddie. The Coddie is a traditional Baltimore food consisting of deep fried cod and potatoes evoking a flavor that may well rival the crab cake for hearty seafood delight.
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Asking for the best crab cakes in Baltimore is kind of like asking New Yorkers who serves the best pizza or Philadelphians where’s the best cheesesteak—you’re bound to get passionate opinions and recommendations. My favorite crab cakes in Baltimore are from Faidley’s Seafood, a restaurant/market found inside the historic Lexington Market. They’re so good, in fact, that I still remember the very first time I had the jumbo lump crab cake there.
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Faidley’s Seafood, established in 1886, is a renowned seafood market and one of the best Baltimore restaurants located in the historic Lexington Market. Its award-winning jumbo lump crab cake, made from hand-picked jumbo lump crab meat is the famous dishes that you must have a try. The menu also features a variety of fresh fish, steamed crabs, and homemade soups, all prepared with high-quality and unique flavor.
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Address: 203 N Paca St, Baltimore, MD 21201Phone:+1 (410) 727-4898Website:faidleyscrabcakes.comDetails: $$, Seafood market. Faidley’s Seafood in Baltimore is a renowned American restaurant that promises an exceptional dining experience. Stepping into the establishment, the unique atmosphere immediately captures your senses with the nostalgic aroma of freshly fried fish and crab, transporting you to decades past.
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The crab cakes at Faidley’s are exactly the size of Nancy Faidley Devine’s hands. “I never measure anything, I just put it in my hands,” said Devine, 83, whose grandfather started the business in 1886 when Lexington Market was an open-air shopping center and the shop still sold terrapin. In the past few decades, their Maryland crab cakes have received local and national recognition for their deliciousness.
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Crab cakes at Faidley are a must," says TV food star Adam Richman. "If they were kosher, it would be a commandment. They have one for every price point — back fin, claw, and lump — and its jumbo lump crab cakes are joy and happiness rolled in a ball." Plus, the restaurant's location, "in the rough and tumble Lexington market, earmarks a trip to Faidley as a slice of real Baltimore," Richman says.
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Founded in 1886 by John W. Faidley, Sr., this Baltimore landmark has been holding down its corner of Lexington Market for 137 years. They offer crab cakes of backfin or jumbo lump — some Marylanders prize jumbo lump for the massive chunks of sweet, delicate meat, but the backfin crab cake is just as delicious. Both are a generous 6.5 ounces, made with Old Bay and minimal filler.
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Inside Lexington Market (400 W Lexington Street), you’ll find Faidley’s where the character McNulty gets food for police officers on a stakeout. You’ll find Viva House at 44 S Mount Street, where Bubbles cooked and served at the soup kitchen. And the McCulloh Homes, which were the low-rise housing projects you see in season one, can be found on Preston Street.
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Faidley’s Seafood is an iconic walk-up restaurant inside Lexington Market (more on that, below) that has been serving softball-sized crab cakes since 1886. This veteran seafood joint is not fancy, but the make what is easily the best crab cake in Baltimore– and Maryland itself. Their award-winning jumbo lump crab cakes average about 6.5 ounces of crab.
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Faidley's is located in historic Lexington Market (George Washington shopped there),family owned and operated since 1886. Located up the hill from the Inner Harbor and blocks from the city's seats of power, you're just as likely to see national celebrities as neighborhood folks. Grab a few fresh, local raw oysters before walking down to an O's game.
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If you're looking for the best crab cake sandwich in Baltimore, look no further than this place. Crabby's is one of the most well-known crab restaurants in the city and serves giant jumbo-lump crab cakes and raw oysters in a space that is always packed. The standing-room-only establishment has been around for over four decades.
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Founded in 1886, Faidley Seafood is one of the oldest and best-known seafood providers in the Chesapeake region. Today, it’s owned and operated by Bill and Nancy Devine, descendants of founder John W. Faidley, Sr. Faidley’s is headquartered on its original location in the World Famous Lexington Market in Baltimore.
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Founded in 1886, Faidley Seafood is one of the oldest and best-known seafood providers in the Chesapeake region. Today, it’s owned and operated by Bill and Nancy Devine, descendants of founder John W. Faidley, Sr. Faidley’s is headquartered on its original location in the World Famous Lexington Market in Baltimore.
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Looking forward to enjoying a meal full of fresh and scrumptious seafood when in Baltimore?. Visit Faidley Seafood, which offers a wide range of seafood delicacies. Begin your meal with delicious crab soup and then order some fish, shrimp, crab cakes, fried oysters, or calamari, to satisfy your appetite.
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Established in 1886, Faidley’s is renowned for its jumbo lump crab cakes. Situated in the historic Lexington Market, this seafood restaurant also offers oysters, fried fish, coddies (a fried blend of salt cod and potato served between saltines with mustard), classic Maryland crab soup, and more.
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Founded in 1886, Faidley Seafood is one of the oldest and best-known purveyors of fresh and prepared seafood in the Chesapeake region. Located in the "World Famous Lexington Market", it is best known for is its award-winning lump crab cakes. They are made by hand and average around 6.5 ounces.
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For a simple fried version for lunch, try Faidley Seafood (203 N. Paca St.). Woodberry Kitchen (2010 Clipper Park Rd.) and Heavy Seas Alehouse (1300 Bank St.) serve more dressed up versions. To taste a different preparation, try Pierpoint (1822 Aliceanna St.), where the crab cakes are smoked.
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Faidley’s Seafood, located in Baltimore, Maryland, is not just a restaurant but also a seafood market. This family-owned establishment has been serving up fresh seafood for over 130 years. From crab cakes to steamed crabs and oysters, Faidley’s is a go-to spot for locals and tourists alike.
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203 N Paca St, Baltimore, MD 21201(410) 727-4898 Visit Website. Crab cakes define Baltimore cuisine, and Faidley’s very well may take the “crab cake” of them all. They’ve been in business since 1886, so they’ve had plenty of time to perfect their recipe that’s received world-renown awards.
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Lexington Market 203 North Paca Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 727-4898www.faidleyscrabcakes.com/. You can order these award-winning crab cakes shipped to anywhere in the continental US. Faidley's makes each crab cake fresh, which means that you're not eating one that's ever been frozen.
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Established in 1886, Faidley’s Seafood is one of the most magnificent restaurants well-known for fresh seafood. Faidley’s award-winning jumbo lump crab cakes are one of the best crab cakes to taste in Maryland. The crab cake sandwich is a highly recommended dish in this restaurant.
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Faidley Seafood is known for its extra-large portions when you place an order for jumbo-lump crab cakes. This is a no-frills seafood eatery that boasts some of the best seafood in the city and the servings are huge for a reasonable price. They also offer raw oysters.
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It is a rite of passage to sit down to a paper plate of fat half-shells at the central raw bar of this O.G. seafood establishment in Lexington Market. In ole Bawlmer fashion, they serve them on the “flats,” or top shell, with lemon and a pack of Saltines.
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If you want to try the most authentic Baltimore food recipe for crab cakes, check out Faidley’s Seafood, known for its colossal lump crab cakes. Another popular spot is Nick’s Fish House. Be sure to try the Pappas-style crab cakes if Nick’s is your pick.
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Berger’s was one of two requisite stops I had to make at Lexington Market – the other being Faidley’s seafood. Of course, I went to Berger’s to try their famous cookies. These cookies are sold by the pound, and I asked how much a quarter pound is.
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If you don’t want the work of cracking and picking crabs, family-owned Faidley’s Seafood has been serving jumbo lump crab cakes since 1886. It’s located in Lexington Market, one of the longest-running public markets in the U.S.
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One of the long-standing seafood restaurants in the Chesapeake Bay and the most famous one in the Baltimore Lexington Market. Moreover, the main features of this place include;
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