Best seafood in Chicago

49 people recommend, 7 warn against itvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago

Shaw's Crab House is recommended by many commenters, and the oyster bar is the part they send people to. Several praise the oysters and suggest sitting at the oyster bar rather than in the main dining room, and a couple single out the mignonette. A few recommend the lobster bisque. A few commenters describe the oyster bar side as the casual option, away from the main dining room. Opinions on the lobster roll are split: a couple call it really good, while one was underwhelmed. A couple of commenters advise skipping Shaw's, one of them saying the seafood where they live is better.

33 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/chicagofood

Calumet Fisheries is praised mainly for its smoked fish. Many commenters recommend the smoked salmon, often the pepper and garlic style, and many recommend the smoked shrimp; a couple name the smoked trout. A couple rate the fried shrimp as the best in the city, and one praises the fried oysters. Several suggest taking the food to a nearby park, beach or picnic table, and one warns you may end up eating curbside or in your car. Not everyone is sold: one visitor found the fried fish basic and the smoked salmon flavorless, and another thought the salmon fine but not memorable.

31 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/chicagofood, r/chicago, r/AskChicago

Duke of Perth, near Clark and Diversey, is a place that many commenters name first for fish and chips, and a couple call it the best in the city. Several mention the all-you-can-eat fish and chips on Wednesdays and Fridays, and a few say a single portion is already large. One likes the peas served with it. Three commenters were let down: one thought it had slipped, one had soft fish with little crunch to the batter, and one found the chips wrong.

Clark and Diversey

21 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/chicagofood, X

Half Shell is a casual, dive-like seafood spot in Lincoln Park that many commenters recommend. Several point to the crab legs, several praise the oysters, and a few like the peel-and-eat shrimp. Several mention its happy hour oyster deal. A few note that it takes cash only, and one says the patio feels less dive-like than the basement bar indoors.

Lincoln Park

17 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Armitage Alehouse is recommended mostly for fish and chips. Many commenters praise them, and a few call them among the best they have had. One says the fish is northern pike, which is rare on Chicago menus. A couple speak well of the oysters and the cozy room, though one notes the choice is limited and suggests a weekday midday visit may be quieter.

16 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Hagen's Fish Market on Montrose is recommended for fried seafood and smoked fish. Several commenters praise the fried shrimp, a couple like the shrimp po'boy, and several single out the smoked fish, especially the smoked salmon. One says you can pick a fresh fillet to be battered and fried instead of getting the default cod square, naming catfish and walleye as favorites. One commenter says you end up eating in the parking lot, and one doubts the po'boy can match New Orleans versions.

16 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago

Mariscos San Pedro, a Mexican seafood restaurant in Pilsen, is recommended by many commenters. A couple single out the whole fish, one naming the dorade as delicious, one loved a crab rangoon empanada, and one called a meal there one of the best seafood feasts of the year. A few describe it as more upscale than a typical mariscos spot. One diner was disappointed on a recent visit and says there are better mariscos on Ashland.

Pilsen

15 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/chicagofood

Maple & Ash is a steakhouse, but commenters here recommend it for its seafood tower. A few praise the fire-roasted version, and several say to add the pasta mixed in with the juices. A few mention a weekday tower hour with smaller towers, and one says the crab was of incredible quality. It does not win everyone over: one diner found an order far too smoky, and another was let down overall, calling it a good steakhouse that leans on easy fine-dining flourishes.

15 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/chicagofood

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab is recommended by many commenters, and several single out the stone crab, with two calling it a specialty or the whole show. A couple praise the crab bisque, though one says it is rich enough to share, and one recommends the king crab. Commenters comparing it with Shaw's are split: one finds Joe's the better restaurant overall, another prefers Shaw's oysters and crab, and a third prefers Shaw's layout and finds Joe's cramped.

Prime & Stone

14 people recommendvia r/chicagofood, r/chicago

Pleasant House Pub in Pilsen is a popular pick for fish and chips; many commenters recommend it, and a few call it their favorite or the best they have had. Several say fish and chips are served only on Fridays, and one adds that Saturdays sometimes work too. One commenter likes the pub but says it does not match the style of fish and chips the asker described.

Pilsen

14 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/chicagofood

RPM Seafood is recommended by many commenters, and one calls it the best seafood they have had in Chicago. A few recommend the seafood tower, a few like the fish and chips, and single commenters praise the octopus, miso cod and branzino. A couple like the outdoor view. Opinions are mixed: one visitor called it bad and said to stay away, one ranks its tower below those at other restaurants, one says the lobster roll was weaker than one from Door County, and another advises avoiding the flashier dishes but says the fish is cooked well.

14 people recommend, 3 warn against itvia r/chicagofood

Legal Sea Foods is a Boston-based seafood chain; a few commenters name its Marina City restaurant on the river, which is the location shown here. Several speak well of the oysters, mostly at happy hour, and several praise the clam chowder, with one calling it among the better New England versions in the city. Several mention the lobster roll, most of them positively, and a few like the river views. Others are cooler: one found it average, and one was disappointed that steamers were left off the Chicago menu.

Marina City

14 people recommend, 3 warn against itvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago

The Fish Keg in Rogers Park is a takeout-only counter selling fried fish, shrimp and clams, with no indoor seating. Many commenters recommend it, and a few note it has been around for decades. One highlights the fried catfish nuggets, and another the shrimp. A couple are less keen, one finding the breading bland.

Rogers Park

13 people recommendvia r/chicagofood, r/chicago

Lawrence's Fish & Shrimp is recommended by many commenters for fried seafood. A couple single out the fried oysters, a couple the whole fried catfish, and a couple name it among their favorite fried shrimp spots. Commenters mostly name the restaurant without an address; one describes a 24-hour spot by the river, and the location shown here is the Canal Street one. One commenter suggests it for a no-frills fried seafood meal.

13 people recommend, 5 warn against itvia r/chicagofood

Redhot Ranch is better known for hot dogs and burgers, but many commenters here recommend its fried shrimp, and one calls it the best they have had. Commenters mostly name the brand rather than an outlet; the location shown here is the Ashland restaurant, where one commenter found the shrimp massive and fresh. Opinions are mixed: one finds the coating too thick and hard, one says the shrimp are good but not outstanding, and a few say they prefer the fried shrimp at Fatso's or Captain Shrimp.

Ashland

12 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago

Chief O'Neill's is a place that many commenters recommend for fish and chips, and a couple rank it the best in the city. One says fish and chips come with its Sunday brunch buffet, and one says all-you-can-eat fish and chips runs on Fridays.

11 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Publican is a restaurant that commenters name for oysters and mussels. Several praise the oysters, one noting they are perfectly shucked with six varieties on offer, and several mention its happy hour oysters. A few rate the mussels highly, and one calls them their favorite in the city. One commenter says the menu rotates often, so dishes change.

10 people recommendvia r/chicagofood, r/chicago

Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House is recommended by commenters. Several mention its happy hour oysters, a couple praise the mussels, and one calls it a great old-school seafood joint.

10 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Wilde in Lakeview is a place that commenters recommend for fish and chips and curried mussels. Several praise the fish and chips, and one notes the malt vinegar comes with them. A few single out the curry mussels, with one saying they were surprised how good they were.

10 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

HaiSous in Pilsen that commenters recommend for seafood. Several single out the whole fried fluke, with one calling it a signature dish and another saying they still think about it. A couple praise the seafood tower, one calling it the best they have had, and a few more praise the whole fish in general.

9 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

The Dearborn is a place that several commenters recommend for fish and chips; one says it is the best they have had in Chicago and another calls it fantastic. One praises a shrimp and lobster pizza. One commenter found the fish and chips good but not memorable.

9 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Le Bouchon is recommended by commenters for its mussels. Several single out the mussels, one describing a savory, smooth broth with perfect bread, and another suggesting you start with French onion soup and finish with mussels. One diner says the meal lived up to the hype, with baked oysters among the dishes, and another loves the trout en croute.

9 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/chicagofood, r/chicago

The Gage, near Millennium Park, is a place that commenters name for mussels, fish and chips and oysters. A few recommend the mussels, a few name its fish and chips, and one praises the oysters. The lobster roll splits opinion: one visitor called it very good, while two others did not like the celery or the dill in it. A couple say the fish and chips are good but not among the city's best.

8 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Bistro Monadnock in the Loop draws oyster praise: a few commenters say the oysters are among the best they have had, one noting the variety is not always the same. One loved the mussels and another the lobster bisque.

The Loop

8 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/chicagofood

Trivoli Tavern is a place that commenters recommend for fish and chips. Several praise them, one saying they are made in proper style with malt vinegar, and one likes its crab rangoon made with real crab. One visitor was disappointed after trying it with other famous Chicago spots.

7 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Captain Shrimp on Irving Park Road (formerly Snappy's) is recommended by several commenters. A few like its fish and chips, one noting they are closer to fish nuggets, one suggests the catfish, and one praises the variety of seafood. One finds the fish strips not that great.

7 people recommendvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago

Mariscos La Costa is a Mexican seafood restaurant with more than one location; commenters mention a location on Central Avenue near Belmont and one on Ashland, which is the location shown here. A couple recommend the Ashland branch, one naming the whole fried snapper and another calling it top-tier Mexican seafood. One suggests the Nayarit-style shrimp, and one says the Central Avenue one is the better of the two.

Ashland

7 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Lady Gregory's is recommended for fish and chips by several commenters. A couple say the fish is better than the chips, one says the fish is crispier at night, and another calls it delicious.

7 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Swift & Sons is a place that commenters recommend for oysters. A couple praise the oysters, one recommends the crispy rock shrimp, one the lobster bisque, and one likes its seafood tower more than RPM Seafood's. One names its cold seafood platter as an option.

7 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Asador Bastian is a restaurant where commenters point to the seafood, naming the turbot, the tuna carpaccio, a tuna steak, sardines and tuna as starters, and off-menu seafood.

7 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/chicagofood

Hopleaf is best known here for its mussels, and several commenters praise them, one calling them among the best they have had and praising the broth. One says the bread and fries that come with them are excellent. Opinions differ: one was disappointed on a visit and another says it is hit or miss.

6 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

El Barco Mariscos is a Mexican seafood restaurant on Ashland that commenters recommend for its whole snapper. Several praise the whole fried snapper, one noting the chipotle sauce, and one also calls the shrimp and ceviches stellar. One commenter has heard it may have fallen off a bit.

6 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Frank's Chicago Shrimp House is a counter-service spot; one commenter says most everything on the menu is fried. Commenters recommend it for shrimp: one calls its Chicago-style shrimp a favorite and the best fried seafood they have had, and another says it is strictly a shrimp house. It has more than one location; the location shown here is the Irving Park Road one, which several commenters name.

6 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Gretel, a Logan Square restaurant, is recommended for lobster dishes. A couple praise its lobster bisque, one saying it may be the best they have had, and several recommend the lobster roll, with a couple wondering whether it is on the menu all year. Another calls its cold and hot rolls pretty decent.

6 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/chicagofood

King Crab House is a casual seafood restaurant on Halsted that commenters recommend for crab, lobster and oysters. One says the crab is tasty, another calls it objectively good, and a couple say it serves lobster. One calls the oysters fresh and large, but one diner found the seafood low quality, the oysters in particular.

Halsted

5 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Tzuco is recommended by commenters for its mussels. One calls them fantastic, describing a chorizo and saffron beurre blanc, and one says they are truly excellent. A few more name it as their pick, and one describes the mussels as underrated.

5 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Little Bad Wolf is recommended for its green curry mussels. Several commenters praise them, one calling them insane and wanting to drink the broth, and one says they ate a whole bowl on their own.

5 people recommendvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago

Alegria's Seafood is a Nayarit-style Mexican seafood restaurant on Ashland, recommended by several commenters. One recommends the garlic-crusted whole grilled snapper, one says it is a great place to eat heaps of seafood with friends and has outside seating, and one praises the huge portions and fresh fish.

5 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Fatso's Last Stand is recommended by commenters for its fried shrimp. One calls them some of their favorites in the city, one says the breading is light and the shrimp cooked just right, and a couple say they are better than Redhot Ranch's.

5 people recommendvia r/chicagofood

Five commenters recommend Jeong for its seafood courses. Four single out the scallop dish and the salmon tartare, and one calls it a favorite spot for seafood.

5 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/chicagofood

Venteux is on Michigan Avenue. Several commenters mention its oysters and happy hour, one saying you can watch them being shucked at the bar, and one likes the mussels. One found a mini seafood tower great. But one diner found the oysters low quality.