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A round metal bowl holds a circle of raw oysters on the half shell. It sits on a table beside two beers in tall pint glasses.
The ocean may be far away but Chicagoans are still hungry for oysters.
Swift & Sons Tavern

Where to Find Oyster Specials in Chicago

Slurp beautiful, briny bivalves all over town

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The ocean may be far away but Chicagoans are still hungry for oysters.
| Swift & Sons Tavern

Despite its significant distance from both coasts, oyster specials in recent years have become a happy hour staple for seafood-hungry Chicagoans. The raw bar scene took a hit (alongside the rest of the hospitality industry) during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, but many local offers have now returned — albeit with some slightly higher prices due to inflation, staffing issues, and a variety of other increased expenses.

Below, find an updated list of Chicago restaurants that offer $1 to $3 oyster deals — yes, inflation is affecting meal deals. Most are happy hour specials, which usually means discounts on drinks, too. Hours and prices are subject to change, so diners would be wise to double-check before making plans.

Do you know of any $1 - $3 oyster deals that we didn't mention? Let us know via the tipline.

For updated information on coronavirus cases, please visit the city of Chicago’s COVID-19 dashboard. Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may still pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.

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Uvae Kitchen and Wine Bar

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This mellow Andersonville wine bar includes $2 oysters during its happy hour, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday. There’s also $2 shrimp cocktail and $5 draft bubbles.

Swift & Sons Tavern & Oyster Bar - Wrigleyville

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Wrigleyville’s casual seafood companion to Boka’s Swift & Sons steakhouse in Fulton Market serves $1.50 oysters and rotating drink specials during happy hour from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Quality Crab & Oyster Bah

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Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises operates several seafood spots around town, but when it comes to oyster specials, fans of the group should head straight to New England-style spot in Lincoln Park. Oysters on the half shell go for $2.50 each, alongside fry-and-oyster towers ($18 for six oysters, $33 for 12) with a rotating weekly fry special. Notably, this happy hour comes with a major drinks deal: every Bah beverage is half price from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Chop Shop

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Score $1 oysters from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays this meat-centric spot and music venue in Wicker Park. There are also half-price bottles of wine available all day.

Queen Mary

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Heisler's British sailor-inspired cocktail bar in Wicker Park serves $1 oysters Sundays (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and Mondays (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.) while supplies last. The briny bites pair well with $6 martinis.

The Signature Lounge at the 96th

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The Hancock Center, the 100-story landmark on Michigan Avenue, may be a tourist trap, but take a pro tip and head to the lounge on the 96th Floor for $2 oysters, $2 jumbo shrimp, and several drink specials available all day on Wednesdays.

Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar

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Drop by chic Eastern European-inspired Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar for $2 oysters (and a number of other food and drink deals) during happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily in Humboldt Park. The team gives a playful nod to Chicago with giardiniera mignonette.

Lure Fishbar - Chicago

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New York-based seafood spot Lure Fishbar, known for an energetic and crowd-pleasing vibe, has gotten in on the oyster game with a happy hour special featuring a half-dozen Blue Points for $12 and a dozen for $24, served with classic cocktail sauce and mignonette. Snag this deal from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

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A joint operation between Lettuce Entertain You and Miami's Joe’s Stone Crab this Streeterville steakhouse is famous for surf and turf. Fortunately for Chicago, that approach includes a happy hour special featuring a half-dozen oysters for $7 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in the lounge.

Bar Sótano

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Celebrity chef Rick Bayless and daughter Lanie’s popular Mexican-inspired cocktail den features $1 oysters all day on Wednesdays and from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays.

Hubbard Inn

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This clubby River North bar and lounge adds $1 East and West Coast oysters to the mix during its “spritz and shuck” happy hour, which runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Spritz cocktails are available for $10.

The Smith

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New York import the Smith doesn’t skimp on happy hour offerings: find a half-dozen oysters for $13 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at the bar. Other specials include $10 cocktails and a $13 spicy fried chicken sandwich.

Tortoise Supper Club

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Swanky throwback Tortoise Supper Club in River North showcases $1 oysters (plus $1 shrimp and half-price cocktails) from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays in the lounge and patio spaces.

Fisk & Co.

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Kimpton Hotel’s mussel and beer bar offers a “$2 Buck Shuck” oyster special from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday with a curious maximum of two-dozen oysters per person. There are also $6 glasses of select red, white, and rosé wines.

The Publican

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One Off Hospitality’s pork palace the Publican is a reliable local favorite for $2 happy hour oysters. The salty treats are available from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday alongside drink specials, frites, and a pub burger.

Prime & Provisions

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Loop steakhouse Prime & Provisions typically charges $22 for a half dozen oysters and $44 for a dozen, but from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, they’re just $1 a pop. The selection can change daily and all come with lemon ginger mignonette and cocktail sauce.

Venteux Brasserie, Cafe & Oyster Bar

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Venteux, the luxurious French restaurant inside the Pendry Hotel (which resides in the stunning and historic Carbide & Carbon building off the Mag Mile), offers an oyster of the day for $1 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant

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Housed inside a beautifully restored historic firehouse in the South Loop, this upscale restaurant offers an all-$5 food and drink happy hour with options such as a pair of oysters with the usual accouterment and lobster bisque crowned with a puff pastry. It’s available from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Uvae Kitchen and Wine Bar

This mellow Andersonville wine bar includes $2 oysters during its happy hour, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday. There’s also $2 shrimp cocktail and $5 draft bubbles.

Swift & Sons Tavern & Oyster Bar - Wrigleyville

Wrigleyville’s casual seafood companion to Boka’s Swift & Sons steakhouse in Fulton Market serves $1.50 oysters and rotating drink specials during happy hour from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Quality Crab & Oyster Bah

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises operates several seafood spots around town, but when it comes to oyster specials, fans of the group should head straight to New England-style spot in Lincoln Park. Oysters on the half shell go for $2.50 each, alongside fry-and-oyster towers ($18 for six oysters, $33 for 12) with a rotating weekly fry special. Notably, this happy hour comes with a major drinks deal: every Bah beverage is half price from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Chop Shop

Score $1 oysters from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays this meat-centric spot and music venue in Wicker Park. There are also half-price bottles of wine available all day.

Queen Mary

Heisler's British sailor-inspired cocktail bar in Wicker Park serves $1 oysters Sundays (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and Mondays (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.) while supplies last. The briny bites pair well with $6 martinis.

The Signature Lounge at the 96th

The Hancock Center, the 100-story landmark on Michigan Avenue, may be a tourist trap, but take a pro tip and head to the lounge on the 96th Floor for $2 oysters, $2 jumbo shrimp, and several drink specials available all day on Wednesdays.

Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar

Drop by chic Eastern European-inspired Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar for $2 oysters (and a number of other food and drink deals) during happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily in Humboldt Park. The team gives a playful nod to Chicago with giardiniera mignonette.

Lure Fishbar - Chicago

New York-based seafood spot Lure Fishbar, known for an energetic and crowd-pleasing vibe, has gotten in on the oyster game with a happy hour special featuring a half-dozen Blue Points for $12 and a dozen for $24, served with classic cocktail sauce and mignonette. Snag this deal from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

A joint operation between Lettuce Entertain You and Miami's Joe’s Stone Crab this Streeterville steakhouse is famous for surf and turf. Fortunately for Chicago, that approach includes a happy hour special featuring a half-dozen oysters for $7 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in the lounge.

Bar Sótano

Celebrity chef Rick Bayless and daughter Lanie’s popular Mexican-inspired cocktail den features $1 oysters all day on Wednesdays and from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays.

Hubbard Inn

This clubby River North bar and lounge adds $1 East and West Coast oysters to the mix during its “spritz and shuck” happy hour, which runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Spritz cocktails are available for $10.

The Smith

New York import the Smith doesn’t skimp on happy hour offerings: find a half-dozen oysters for $13 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at the bar. Other specials include $10 cocktails and a $13 spicy fried chicken sandwich.

Tortoise Supper Club

Swanky throwback Tortoise Supper Club in River North showcases $1 oysters (plus $1 shrimp and half-price cocktails) from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays in the lounge and patio spaces.

Fisk & Co.

Kimpton Hotel’s mussel and beer bar offers a “$2 Buck Shuck” oyster special from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday with a curious maximum of two-dozen oysters per person. There are also $6 glasses of select red, white, and rosé wines.

The Publican

One Off Hospitality’s pork palace the Publican is a reliable local favorite for $2 happy hour oysters. The salty treats are available from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday alongside drink specials, frites, and a pub burger.

Related Maps

Prime & Provisions

Loop steakhouse Prime & Provisions typically charges $22 for a half dozen oysters and $44 for a dozen, but from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, they’re just $1 a pop. The selection can change daily and all come with lemon ginger mignonette and cocktail sauce.

Venteux Brasserie, Cafe & Oyster Bar

Venteux, the luxurious French restaurant inside the Pendry Hotel (which resides in the stunning and historic Carbide & Carbon building off the Mag Mile), offers an oyster of the day for $1 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant

Housed inside a beautifully restored historic firehouse in the South Loop, this upscale restaurant offers an all-$5 food and drink happy hour with options such as a pair of oysters with the usual accouterment and lobster bisque crowned with a puff pastry. It’s available from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Related Maps