You don’t have to go all the way to the ocean to get amazing seafood dishes that will make your mouth water for days. Chicago is home so many top-notch eateries, serving up anything from scallops to lobster to shrimp and in just about any way you like.
Whether you’re looking for a fresh fish shack or a luxury oyster bar, this list of the top 10 best seafood restaurants in the city has you covered. Keep scrolling for all the delicious nautical eats to be had in Chicago.
- The Fish Keg (2233 W Howard Street)
Facebook/The Fish Keg
Facebook/The Fish Keg This fresh fish market has been around since 1951. It is located right on the border of Chicago and Evanston and offers fresh fish that is breaded and fried fresh before your eyes. Patrons order by the pound and select from multiple types of fish like catfish, cod, walleye, salmon, and more. There are also hush puppies, crab cakes, crab legs, and lobster tails.
- GT Fish & Oyster (531 N Wells Street)
Facebook/GT Fish & Oyster
Facebook/GT Fish & Oyster This casual yet upscale restaurant is known for its cold dishes like shrimp cocktails, caviar, clams, oysters, and mussels. You’ll also have the opportunity to try unique eats like swordfish and octopus. Locals visit this place for the food just as much as they do the atmosphere, which is classy and sophisticated.
- The Angry Crab (5665 N Lincoln Avenue)
Facebook/The Angry Crab Chicago
Facebook/The Angry Crab Chicago This independently owned restaurant serves seafood that is delivered fresh daily. Guests enjoy an expansive menu of American favorites and ocean favorites like lobster, crab legs, clams, crawfish, and shrimp. A lovely, rustic atmosphere ties it all together. You’ll never want to leave.
- Brown Bag Seafood Company (3400 N Lincoln Avenue & 340 East Randolph Avenue)
Facebook/Brown Bag Seafood Company
Facebook/Brown Bag Seafood Company If fresh fish is your aim, then this no-frills joint will surely delight. The restaurant offers fresh eats made to order including fish cakes, whitefish, haddock, and shrimp as well as sides like tater tots, slaw, and soups. There are also fish tacos and lobster rolls.
- mfk. (432 W Diversey Parkway)
Facebook/mfk.
Facebook/mfk. Inspired by Spanish cuisine, this seafood restaurant is intimate yet open and bright. Menu items are rustic and often feature whole fish. Dishes consist of many diverse ocean eats like mussels, octopus, prawns, shrimp, and other delights.
- Lawrence’s Fish & Shrimp (2120 S Canal Street & 3242 W 87th Street)
Facebook/Lawrence’s Fish & Shrimp
Facebook/Lawrence’s Fish & Shrimp The Canal Street location is open 24/7 (other than major holidays) and offers both take-out and delivery. The original location opened more than 60 years ago and features a 200-foot dock over the Chicago River. Menu items include chicken in addition to fish, shrimp, frog logs, clams, crab, scallops, and more.
- Shaw’s Crab House (21 E Hubbard Street)
Facebook/Shaw’s Crab House
Facebook/Shaw’s Crab House Enjoy either an upscale 1940s-style restaurant or the lively oyster bar at this place. Patrons enjoy high-quality fish and shellfish as well as freshly-shucked oysters, sushi and sashimi, and varieties of crab. The restaurant even offers brunch on weekends.
- Calumet Fisheries (3259 E 95th Street)
Facebook/Calumet Fisheries
Facebook/Calumet Fisheries Known for smoking its own seafood onsite, this restaurant has been a popular place since it opened in 1948. Guests enjoy eel, trout, salmon, and catfish as well as sides like fries, mozzarella sticks, and coleslaw. This is one of the most iconic restaurants in Chicago.
- Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (60 E Grand Avenue)
Facebook/Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
Facebook/Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab Since 2000, this eatery has been putting out amazing dishes you won’t find anywhere else. World famous for its stone crab, the restaurant also offers many fish, chicken, and steak options. There are also desserts, an expansive wine and beer list, cocktails, and even kids’ dishes.
- The Happy Lobster Truck (varies)
Facebook/The Happy Lobster Truck
Facebook/The Happy Lobster Truck Last but not least is a restaurant on wheels that Chicagoans don’t mind having to chase down. It is known for lobster rolls, lobster grilled cheese, lobster mac & cheese, and fried fish as well as cheese fries. Nothing says street food like these amazing eats.
For more great places to dine, check out Chicago’s tiniest restaurants with the biggest tastes.
Facebook/The Fish Keg
This fresh fish market has been around since 1951. It is located right on the border of Chicago and Evanston and offers fresh fish that is breaded and fried fresh before your eyes. Patrons order by the pound and select from multiple types of fish like catfish, cod, walleye, salmon, and more. There are also hush puppies, crab cakes, crab legs, and lobster tails.
Facebook/GT Fish & Oyster
This casual yet upscale restaurant is known for its cold dishes like shrimp cocktails, caviar, clams, oysters, and mussels. You’ll also have the opportunity to try unique eats like swordfish and octopus. Locals visit this place for the food just as much as they do the atmosphere, which is classy and sophisticated.
Facebook/The Angry Crab Chicago
This independently owned restaurant serves seafood that is delivered fresh daily. Guests enjoy an expansive menu of American favorites and ocean favorites like lobster, crab legs, clams, crawfish, and shrimp. A lovely, rustic atmosphere ties it all together. You’ll never want to leave.
Facebook/Brown Bag Seafood Company
If fresh fish is your aim, then this no-frills joint will surely delight. The restaurant offers fresh eats made to order including fish cakes, whitefish, haddock, and shrimp as well as sides like tater tots, slaw, and soups. There are also fish tacos and lobster rolls.
Facebook/mfk.
Inspired by Spanish cuisine, this seafood restaurant is intimate yet open and bright. Menu items are rustic and often feature whole fish. Dishes consist of many diverse ocean eats like mussels, octopus, prawns, shrimp, and other delights.
Facebook/Lawrence’s Fish & Shrimp
The Canal Street location is open 24/7 (other than major holidays) and offers both take-out and delivery. The original location opened more than 60 years ago and features a 200-foot dock over the Chicago River. Menu items include chicken in addition to fish, shrimp, frog logs, clams, crab, scallops, and more.
Facebook/Shaw’s Crab House
Enjoy either an upscale 1940s-style restaurant or the lively oyster bar at this place. Patrons enjoy high-quality fish and shellfish as well as freshly-shucked oysters, sushi and sashimi, and varieties of crab. The restaurant even offers brunch on weekends.
Facebook/Calumet Fisheries
Known for smoking its own seafood onsite, this restaurant has been a popular place since it opened in 1948. Guests enjoy eel, trout, salmon, and catfish as well as sides like fries, mozzarella sticks, and coleslaw. This is one of the most iconic restaurants in Chicago.
Facebook/Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
Since 2000, this eatery has been putting out amazing dishes you won’t find anywhere else. World famous for its stone crab, the restaurant also offers many fish, chicken, and steak options. There are also desserts, an expansive wine and beer list, cocktails, and even kids’ dishes.
Facebook/The Happy Lobster Truck
Last but not least is a restaurant on wheels that Chicagoans don’t mind having to chase down. It is known for lobster rolls, lobster grilled cheese, lobster mac & cheese, and fried fish as well as cheese fries. Nothing says street food like these amazing eats.
What seafood places do you love to visit in the city? Share your favorites with us!
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