Over the past few years, the concept of “gourmet fast food” has surged in popularity because of its simplicity, richness of flavor, and inexpensive nature. Thus, the Rollup Sushiburrito owners have invested in a new gastronomic venture called Craby that follows this trend. Unlike any other seafood restaurant in Medellin, not only does Craby sell quality seafood, but they also do it in hotdog style. With unique twists and flavor combinations, Craby is one for seafood lovers. 

A restaurant being launched in the middle of a global pandemic isn’t ideal, but Craby has succeeded with an innovative system of deliveries and orders. When it first opened its (virtual) doors on May 12th, Craby’s products became available on all Sushiburrito locations in El Poblado and Laureles, through Rappi, domicilios.com, and a Whatsapp chat advertised on their Instagram. After waiting until November 6th to try the now-famous dishes, I experienced helpful service through the chat. However, the food was estimated to be delivered about an hour after I ordered it, and it did indeed take this long. As I opened the delivery box, I could tell that the food was cold. This was surprising, as Sushiburrito’s products hadn’t taken this long before, and have always arrived in a perfect state. 

Either way, I was still pleasantly surprised by the rich and complementary flavors of the “Craby Hotdog”. The saltiness of the breaded crab was contrasted by the sweetness of perfectly caramelized onions, while the guacamole enhanced the Sriracha mayo’s spice. All these flavors were held in a salty and fluffy bun. Although it looked similar to Mikaela’s cheesy bread, it was saltier, and perfect to hold all other flavors. The fries were also the perfect crisp; soft inside and crunchy on the outside. While the coldness of the food took away from the experience, the originality of the flavors intrigues me, hence encouraging me to give them another chance.

A diverse menu made me question what I was to order. With options ranging from hotdogs with shrimp to those with crab meat, and even including a crab meat burger, there’s something in the menu for all seafood lovers. Some hotdogs are customizable, with the option to enlarge them, or add a large fries serving. The only appetizer offered were the Cheesy Crab Meat Bites, which resembled Sushi Market’s crab meat appetizer, although they included a little culinary twist with a bit of tomato marmalade. However, there weren’t many drink options. Coke, Coke Zero, Bretaña soda, and beer were the only ones, making it difficult for people who don’t drink soda or alcohol. Nonetheless, the range in food and drinks is clearly advertised on their Instagram page, smoothing the experience for clients to plan ahead and prepare their ideal meal. 

All these wonderful dishes are delivered in most, if not all, recyclable packaging like cardboard boxes and aluminum foil. The sustainability of the brand, however, doesn’t make it any more expensive. When ordering from Craby, diners get exactly what they pay for, and in my case, more than they can handle. Regardless of me having to share my hotdog with my family because I was so full, I greatly appreciated the brand’s clear message of environmental responsibility. Other popular takeout restaurants in the city, such as Naan, package all their meals in individual plastic containers, which is incredibly polluting, and one of my dealbreakers. While you feel good about buying from Craby, they also add a sweet twist. The cardboard box is decorated with a personalized message, which is a pleasant surprise in a time when we’re all feeling a little lonely. The notecard that said “Made with love for you” was complemented with my name written in metallic sharpie, and this reminded me of my commitment to local restaurants in this recent economic crisis.  

Everyone who loves seafood or unique culinary experiences should try Craby, although I would highly suggest going directly to the Sushiburrito locals in Laureles and El Poblado to avoid the food getting cold on the delivery. The experience was immensely positive, and whilst it did have some hiccups, it ended up making me want more while feeling good about my sustainable and local choice. 

Rating: 3/5 stars.