Legal Sea Foods, Marina City
14 people recommend, 3 warn against itvia r/chicagofood19 comments cited below
What people say, in short
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.
Address
Legal Sea Foods - Chicago, 315 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60654
At a glance
- Price
- Budget
- Signature dishes
- Clam chowder, Oysters, Lobster roll
- Best for
- Budget
- Opinions divided
- Yes
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to Legal Sea Foods, Marina City, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Mixedu/No_Spirit6577 in r/chicagofood · Jun 2025taste
Author enjoyed the oysters but was unsure where they came from; found the clam chowder unremarkable.
- Recommendsu/TripInternational232 in r/chicagofood · Aug 2025taste
Says the weekday happy hour has very cheap oysters in several varieties and rates them very good.
- Recommendsu/Foofightee in r/chicagofood · Dec 2024value
Sees the chowder and the lobster roll as strong value for a casual spot; advises lowering expectations.
- Recommendsu/kl5 in r/chicagofood · Dec 2024taste
Liked the fried clams and the meal overall, though noted fried clam bellies weren't available.
- Recommendsu/saintpauli in r/chicagofood · Jul 2026taste
Visited for the $1 oyster deal; found it good and preferred it over the other spot visited.
- Recommendsu/Corgisarethebest123 in r/chicagofood · Sep 2024taste
Calls the lobster roll and clam chowder excellent at a spot near Smith & Wollensky.
- Recommendsu/LionTameratLaw in r/chicagofood · Nov 2025taste
Says the oysters are high quality and notes happy-hour oyster deals; finds the place a bit corporate.
- Caveatu/Roboticpoultry in r/chicagofood · Jul 2026taste
On a family visit, the meal arrived cold and the breaded fish tacos tasted of spent frying oil; strongly negative.
Show all 19 cited comments
- Recommendsu/Initial-Board-7440 in r/chicagofood · Dec 2024taste
Calls the general food just okay, but says it has some of the city's better New England-style chowder.
- Recommendsu/Madz510 in r/chicagofood · Dec 2024value
Thinks the lunch combo of a small lobster roll plus chowder ranks among the better bargains around.
- Recommendsu/Michykeen in r/chicagofood · Nov 2025price
Advises reserving since it fills up; rates happy-hour oyster and shrimp offers fairly well.
- Recommendsu/Academic-Business-45 in r/chicagofood · Dec 2024value
Would pick Legal Sea Foods for a budget like the one discussed.
- Caveatu/yramt in r/chicagofood · Dec 2024taste
Found the place average and says better seafood exists in Boston and locally.
- Mixedu/Upbeat-Constant9895 in r/chicagofood · Jul 2026taste
Friend rated the lobster roll as merely okay.
- Recommendsu/Beta-60202 in r/chicagofood · Apr 2026taste
Recommends this downtown spot for whole lobster, which they say is cooked well and not overdone.
- Recommendsu/NicholasXlV in r/chicagofood · Dec 2025taste
Recommends the clam chowder there.
- Recommendsu/Mister3Putts in r/chicagofood · Jan 2025taste
This diner found the oysters fine and rated the calamari about the same.
- Caveatu/amdio in r/chicagofood · Dec 2024variety
Wanted steamers but says they're missing from this location's menu.
- Recommendsu/troubleseemstofollow in r/chicagofood · Dec 2024taste
Says the oysters on a summer special visit were fine; slow service was expected given the shucking volume.
More maps in Chicago, United States
- Places to visit in Chicago
- Best restaurants in Chicago
- Best steak in Chicago
- Museums in Chicago
- Best pizza in Chicago
- Best burgers in Chicago
- Best cafés in Chicago
- Best breakfast in Chicago
- Best bars in Chicago
- Best sushi in Chicago
- Best ramen in Chicago
- Indian restaurants in Chicago
- Best brunch in Chicago
- Bookstores in Chicago
- Parks in Chicago
Did this page answer your question?
Freshness
Details last checked 11 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.