The “chef’s special” at the Silver Spring eatery is lightly battered and fried, topped with yellow curry or chili basil sauce and served with white jasmine rice ($19.95).

Mt. Pleasant’s acclaimed all-day cafe tops a fried soft shell crab sandwich with smoked ranch, avocado, pickled green tomato, and iceberg lettuce.

Shaw’s beloved cocktail bar, well-known for its fried chicken, batters and fries soft shell crab that’s served on a Martin’s potato roll with ramp aioli, slaw, dill pickles and pickled jalapenos ($16).

The West End restaurant sells the spring delicacy several ways for dine-in, delivery, or carryout.

There’s a soft shell crab app with garlic sauce and butter ($15); a soft shell crab sandwich with fries or slaw ($17), or a softy-and-crab cake tower ($33). An entree arrives with mashed potatoes and pineapple-mango salsa ($33).

The local chain of trusty bar and grills just added a soft shell crab entree dressed with a fingerling potato and watercress salad, nuoc chom sauce, and avocado-buttermilk aioli ($16.99).

D.C.’s long-awaited New Orleans-style restaurant with a Mid-Atlantic touch debuted downtown just in time for soft shell season. Chef Kristen Essig sends out a blackened softshell Creole over creamed Prairie Ronde rice and file. Over at Navy Yard sister spot Salt Line, chef Kyle Bailey brings back his popular Nashville-hot softshell crab dish with black-garlic honey.

Tom Cunanan and Paolo Dungca’s fast-casual Filipino stall in the downtown outpost of the Block food hall tucks chicken-fried soft shell crab in a bright purple ube mantou (steamed bun), dressed with chili/crab-fat mayo, cilantro, hot honey, and cucumbers. Available Fridays through Sundays while they last.

The glitzy steakhouse tucked inside Rosewood hotel in Georgetown plans to add a tempura soft shell crab to its menu this weekend. The crispy crab comes adorned with red curry, snow peas, and pickled ramps (market price).

The Chinese staple’s salt-and-pepper soft shell crab entree, located under the “chef’s suggestions” section, brings the heat ($21.95).

Arlington’s cult favorite for Vietnamese food is back with a hefty helping of two Saigon-style soft shell crabs that are deep fried and sauteed with garlic, ginger, jalapenos, and house seasonings, all served atop a bed of fresh salad. The gluten-free entree (market price) comes with a hit lemon pepper dipping sauce made on-site.

Shipments are sporadic, so call ahead to the Wharf’s signature seafood stand to pick up live soft shell crabs that run around $4.50 a pop.