Lexington Market, 203 N. Paca St., 410/727-4898,
www.faidleyscrabcakes.com

HOURS: Mon.–Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

COST: Most entrées between $10–20

Don’t expect fine silverware and tablecloths here; in fact, don’t even expect seats. Guests at Faidley Seafood on the west side of historic, busy, and very un-gentrified Lexington Market eat communally, standing up at long wooden tables—surrounded by a winding line of people waiting to order the city’s famous crab cakes. Three styles are available: Skip the cheapest option and decide between the mid-range backfin (which consists of the less-prized meat of the blue crab) and jumbo lump, the Cadillac of crab cakes.

The cakes are served fried, adorned only with a little garnish and a two-pack of crackers in a plastic wrapper, and served on red cafeteria trays. It’s a humble-looking meal, but once you taste the divinity of these morsels, you’ll understand the lines and the legend. The area around Lexington Market is not one of the city’s best, and visiting after dark is not recommended.