Our World-Famous St. Elmo Steak House Shrimp Cocktail. Nothing else tastes like this! It’s made with 100% natural, sustainable, giant Black Tiger Shrimp and served with our spicy, signature cocktail sauce. Even the heartiest eaters have shed tears over the spicy, fiery sauce. Elmo just isn’t complete without taking part in the ritual.
Shrimp cocktail is a classic appetizer that never goes out of style. The combination of tender shrimp, tangy cocktail sauce, and lemon wedges is irresistible. As someone who loves shrimp cocktail, I’m always on the lookout for the best places to buy ready-made shrimp cocktail platters. After tasting my way through grocery stores, warehouse clubs, and online retailers, I’ve discovered the best places to buy shrimp cocktail for serving at your next party or just enjoying at home.
Grocery Stores – Quick and Convenient
Grocery stores are my go-to for picking up shrimp cocktail on short notice. Major chains like Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, and Publix usually carry pre-made shrimp cocktail platters in the deli section or seafood department. I’ve found the quality to be decent, with shrimp that tastes relatively fresh and cocktail sauce with a nice horseradish kick. The downside is that the shrimp tend to be on the small side. But for a quick weeknight appetizer, grocery store shrimp cocktail definitely hits the spot.
Some of my favorite grocery store options
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Publix Shrimp Cocktail Platter – Nicely arranged platter with lemon and cocktail sauce Shrimp is a good size
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Kroger Private Selection Cocktail Shrimp – Lots of small-ish shrimp for the price Cocktail sauce is pleasantly spicy.
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Safeway Signature Cafe Cocktail Shrimp – Good flavor and texture on these peeled, deveined shrimp. Tangy cocktail sauce.
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Wegmans Shrimp Cocktail – Firm, sweet shrimp from a trusted brand. Plus you get a lot of shrimp for the price.
Warehouse Clubs – Best Bang for Your Buck
For the biggest shrimp and the most value, warehouse clubs like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale Club are the way to go. Their jumbo shrimp cocktails serve a crowd and cost just a few dollars more than grocery store versions.
My favorites:
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Kirkland Signature Shrimp Cocktail from Costco – Jumbo shrimp that taste super fresh and bundles of cocktail sauce. Can’t beat the quality.
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Member’s Mark Shrimp Cocktail from Sam’s Club – Nearly 40 shrimp in every platter! Smaller shrimp but still tasty.
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Wellsley Farms Cocktail Shrimp Platter from BJ’s – Large, nicely cooked shrimp for a reasonable price. Zesty cocktail sauce.
Online Retailers – Specialty Shrimp Delivered
Looking for the highest quality shrimp cocktail? Online seafood retailers like Citarella and Fulton Fish Market ship freshly prepared platters overnight. Expect large wild-caught or sustainably farmed shrimp and premium cocktail sauces. The downside is the price – these platters can cost $60-$100 – and having to plan ahead. But for a special occasion, it’s worth it!
Some top picks:
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Citarella Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail – Wild-caught Argentine red shrimp. Sweet and tender.
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FultonFishMarket.com Colossal Shrimp Cocktail – Buttery, meaty shrimp. Horseradish-forward sauce.
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Columbia River Seafoods Cocktail Shrimp – Wild-caught Pacific shrimp. Refreshing cucumber cocktail sauce.
Make Your Own Shrimp Cocktail
You can also buy shrimp raw and make your own boiled or poached shrimp cocktail. This takes more effort but lets you control the ingredients. Buy raw, peeled shrimp from the seafood counter or frozen section. Cook until just opaque, chill, and serve with your favorite cocktail sauce. I like to use extra-large shrimp for the best presentation and texture. Add lemon, parsley, and chilled martini glasses and you have elegant homemade shrimp cocktails!
Tips for Buying and Serving Shrimp Cocktail
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Look for shrimp that are translucent, firm, and curled tightly – signs they are fresh. Avoid mushy or discolored shrimp.
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Bigger is usually better – go for large or jumbo shrimp when possible.
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Allow 4-6 jumbo shrimp or 8-12 large shrimp per person.
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Serve shrimp cocktail ice cold. Nestle the platter on ice to keep chilled.
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Let guests peel their own shrimp – provide small cocktail forks.
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Make a seafood station with other chilled items like lobster tails, crab claws, and oysters.
So next time you get a hankering for shrimp cocktail, visit your local grocery store, warehouse club, or online retailer to get your hands on the freshest, highest-quality pre-made shrimp cocktails. With this guide, you’ll be ready to serve the perfect shrimp cocktail at your next gathering!
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Our World-Famous St. Elmo Steak House Shrimp Cocktail. Nothing else tastes like this! It’s made with 100% natural, sustainable, giant Black Tiger Shrimp and served with our spicy, signature cocktail sauce. Even the heartiest eaters have shed tears over the spicy, fiery sauce. Elmo just isn’t complete without taking part in the ritual.
This package serves 4 people and includes:
- 16 Black Tiger Shrimp
- St Elmo’s Famous Cocktail Sauce (8 oz.)
Instructions / Storage
- There are ice packs in this package, but they may melt while moving.
- Shrimp ships uncooked and frozen, may thaw slightly in transit
- Upon arrival, refrigerate shrimp
- Refrigerate cocktail sauce, do not freeze
- To Serve: instructions are included in box
Shipping Details
- Includes free overnight shipping
- Items are prepared fresh and shipped directly from the shop
- St. Elmo Steak House ships Tuesdays through Thursdays of each week .
- Orders cannot be shipped to P.O. Boxes
- Order limit of 1 per order
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Orders processed within 1 business day
Fast free shipping for US orders
Free nationwide shipping on all orders over $39 (except gift cards).
Orders are processed & shipped from Indiana within 1 business day and packed for freshness.
Once shipped, expect your order to arrive within 1-3 business days.
A taste of Indy at home
Ships from our Indiana Facility
Thanks to our nationwide community
Gifts from the steak house.
Weve bundled our most popular sauce and seasonings into sets that ship for free
- Rather than a gift, give a gift card that can be used at St. There’s Elmo Steak House, Harry
I tried this for the first time at a steakhouse in Indiana, and I had to get more! Everyone loves it!
I have a love of horseradish sauces, and have tried many, but St. Elmos is the best. I’m almost done with my first bottle, and the “bite” is just as good in the last half ounce as it was in the first. Most other horseradish sauces fade down the stretch.
Ive stopped wasting my time and just use St. Elmos every time. And my family and everyone I feed, especially myself, loves it every time. I could not recommend it any more highly.
I stumbled upon this cocktail sauce a couple years ago, I order every month since then. It tastes great and has a strong kick, which is important for a good cocktail sauce. You don’t need to use much to get that kick; my wife likes to add a little ketchup to it to tone it down. I love it right out of the bottle!.
Sure wish I had known about yall sooner. Thanks for such great products!
YUM. The glaze packs heat and a hint of sweetness. A sauce I never knew I needed.
Since our inception in 1902, St. Elmo Steak House has become world-famous for professional service, perfectly aged steaks, fiery shrimp cocktail and award-winning cocktails.
Enjoy Indianas finest at St. Elmo Steak House, Harry & Izzys, 1933 Lounge or The HC Tavern + Kitchen.
Weve received national acclaim for our “sinus-clearing” cocktail sauce which has become world-famous for its one-of-a-kind heat.
A dinner at St. Elmo Steak House traditionally begins with our famous St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail – served since 1902.