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Grilled sword fish in an orange sauce.
Michelin-starred Porto imports fish from Spain.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Chicago’s Top Seafood Restaurants

Where to find the freshest catches in town

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Michelin-starred Porto imports fish from Spain.
| Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

There's something about food from the ocean and other bodies of water that people are drawn to. Perhaps it's the seemingly endless variety of delicacies or maybe it's the brininess of each bite that evokes images of sandy beaches and radiant skies. For chefs, there are waves of opportunities to create diverse and complex dishes. Though Chicago is far from the East and West coasts, many places fly in fresh catch daily so the city is still home to some of best seafood restaurants in the country. Behold the city’s best options for oceanic delights. (Sushi, a culinary genre in its own right, is not included in this map. It has its own guide.)

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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Boston Fish Market

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Head out to Des Plaines for a trove of fresh seafood. Folks can see the products for themselves as the restaurant also doubles as a fish market. The kitchen will prepare anything it sells and that includes a Greek- and Cajun-style lineup of shrimp, scallops, octopus, lobster, and various fishes. A second outpost is located in Wheeling.

The Fish Keg

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Located on the border of Chicago and Evanston, the Fish Keg is a seafood shack that celebrates fish and chips in all its forms. Everything takes a turn in the deep fryer — shrimp, oysters, clams, catfish, cod, perch, and much, much more — and then gets served with a side of fries. Its neon sign is also a local landmark.

The Angry Crab

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Angry Crab was the restaurant the helped launch the Asian-influenced Cajon seafood boil trend in Chicago. Many have imitated the formula where customers pick flavors, spice levels, seafood and devour the messy bagged feast. There’s also a Wicker Park location. Food is also available to go.

Hagen's Fish Market

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This legendary Northwest Side shop has both fresh and smoked seafood available for the home cook. They’ll smoke fish upon request. Crispy fried fish and shrimp are ordered by the pound, as are the smoked items — the barbecue salmon is a treat. There’s a fried pollock sandwich worth checking out.

Half Shell

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It has the ambiance of a dive bar but the food at Half Shell makes up for the environment. The Lakeview oyster bar has operated since 1968, providing diners with bivalves, king crab legs, soft shell crabs, and fishes for less than what comparable places charge. During summertime, the front patio is a busy attraction. Bring some bills because it’s cash only.

Hidden below ground level, this intimate Spanish restaurant in Lakeview captures the essence of seaside eating through coastal delights like seared sea scallops, boquerones, seafood fideos, and Basque cake.

Brown Bag Seafood Co.

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A great choice for customers who want a health lunch option, Brown Bag Seafood has emerged as a reliable restaurant for satisfying fresh fish. With seven locations around Chicago, Brown Bag lets you build your own meal by choosing proteins like grilled salmon, seared tuna and lemon-broiled Lake Superior whitefish served in tacos, on a sandwich or over salad. There are also fried options available for those who want a little crunchy indulgence.

Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop

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For decades, Dirk and Terry Fucik have operated a gourmet fish shop in Lincoln Park with the freshest seafood. When home cooking increased during the pandemic, they ramped up operations. Dirk’s has recently expanded, taking over the neighboring space to create a cafe selling lobster rolls, salmon burgers, crab cakes, and sushi. If customers want to try something new, they can even try copi, the new name for Asian Carp.

Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods

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Chef Brian Jupiter takes diners down to the bayou at this New-Orleans-inspired corner store tavern. Drawing upon his heritage and recipes passed down from his grandmother, the Louisiana native delivers soul food rife with seafood. The fresh catch can be enjoyed blackened (salmon, shrimp) or fried (catfish, oysters, crawfish, shrimp). To sample a bit of each, order the seafood tower that is large enough to feed several people.

Newish Latin American spot Azul rides the line between Bucktown and Lincoln Park with lovely views of the Chicago River. Its menu is a celebration of Nayarit, a state in Western Mexico, with options including huachinango (whole red snapper with veracruz sauce), lobster avocado “toastones,” and cocktails by the pitcher. The restaurant also features a popular brunch.

Salmon a la Parilla (Atlantic Salmon, tequila honey glaze, fire-roasted salsa with avocado)
Azul’s salmon a la parilla
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Alegrias Seafood Chicago

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Mexican seafood — mariscos — is about to have a moment in the mainstream with several big restaurants groups poised to unveil new projects. But let’s not lose sight that there’s a great tradition of mariscos restaurants in Chicago particularly in West Town. Try one of the family platters with heaping portions of Nayarit-style stuffed lobster, prawns, and more. Also, fans of fried snapper should be ready to stuff their stomachs. Alegrias is BYO.

A restaurant dedicated to the highly sought-after seafood of Galicia, Spain and coastal Portugal, Porto is a singular spot in Chicago. Fans of fish and crustaceans will find a wide range of delights, from hot dishes cooked over wood or charcoal to cold conservas, or canned seafood, that ownership imports from Europe. It also features a wine bar, in a nod to the region’s winemakers.

A fancy grilled filet of fish with sauce in a white bowl
Porto whisks diners’ tastebuds to Galacia with top-notch seafood.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

GT Fish & Oyster

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Giuseppe Tentori’s celebrated eatery is one of the best in town for fresh seafood. Post up at the bar and watch the crew expertly shuck bivalves while enjoying a Maine lobster roll with pickled vegetables or hiramasa crudo with wasabi tobiko. Big spenders can opt for fully-customizable seafood towers and luxurious caviar service.

Shaw's Crab House

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Lettuce Entertain You’s venerable crab house is still a standard bearer for pristine seafood more than three decades after opening. The space is split into a formal dining room and a lively oyster bar, where diners can crack into crab legs, lobster, and seasonal specials like fried soft shell crab and stone crab claws.

RPM Seafood

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This jewel by the Chicago River is a beautiful restaurant from giant Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises. It’s a place to be seen with gorgeous views of the Loop. But what about the food? The charcoal-grilled specialities are worth the hassle of downtown dining for locals. The mixed seafood grill, with octopus and blue prawn is ignited table side and both tasty and worth a social media snap.

A sliced swordfish steak with lemon wedge Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

The seafood-focused lobby restaurant in the Emily Hotel fuses Mexican flavors with Japanese and French techniques for dishes including scallop aguachile with gooseberries and kanpachi with smoked beets. Masa made using heirloom corn sourced from Mexico and grown on the rooftop is another highlight of the menu, showcased in the octopus huarache. The agave-focused drink list includes customizable margaritas and cocktails incorporating sotol, mezcal and reposado tequila. When the weather cools, gather around the fire pits on the patio.

Leña Brava

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At Leña Brava, the flavors of Baja California come through on sustainably sourced seafood. It’s available in cold preparations – oysters, ceviche, aguachile – and as hot dishes that are cooked on an open hearth or wood-burning oven. The can’t-miss item is the whole Spanish branzino, which is avocado-tomatillo and habanero salsas. The beverage list highlights tequila and mezcal plus Baja wines.

Bar Mar by José Andrés

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José Andrés combines land and sea in one address, with Bazaar Meat upstairs and Bar Mar on the first floor. A giant octopus hangs above the main bar, which provides a perfect place to enjoy the view through the floor-to-ceiling windows while sharing snacks like cones stuffed with smoked hamachi and oysters on the half shell paired with a glass of Spanish wine. For larger bites, try the lobster roll or walleye pike with grilled gem lettuce.

Sueños X Soho Friends

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Executive chef Stephen Sandoval’s take on Baja mariscos has proven so popular that what was meant to be a six-month pop-up at Soho House has been extended to January 2023. The Leña Brava veteran’s menu incorporates raw fare and wood-fired seafood with dishes including oysters with cantaloupe mignonette, beer-battered cod tacos and octopus skewers with chimichurri. The drink menu from Danielle Lewis (Boka) builds on the Latin flavors with micheladas and Mexican beer and wine.

Lowcountry South Loop

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Put on a bib and get ready for a Southern boil at Lowcountry. Diners order shrimp, snow crab, mussels, crawfish, or lobster tails by the pound, which are served in a bag with different sauces and add-ons like corn and sausage. It’s a communal experience that includes eating directly off the table. To finish, there are beignets and deep-fried Oreos.

Lawrence's Fish & Shrimp

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Satisfy those late-night cravings with fried seafood at this 24-hour spot. Lawrence’s Fish and Shrimp has fried up crispy shrimp, fish, oysters, scallops, clam strips, and more since 1950. The restaurant also delivers and has a dock behind the building for easy access from the Chicago River.

A to-go container of french fries and fried fish
Lawrence’s is a local institution.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Two Fish Crab Shack

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Two Fish has accrued a loyal following in Bronzeville where it delivers its own spin on bagged seafood. There are no plates or utensils offered so don a bib and prepare to get messy by digging into lobster, crab, shrimp, crawfish and mussels coated with jerk, lemon pepper or garlic butter sauces. The BYOB spot also serves fried bites including oysters and catfish daily and grilled lobster and oysters on Saturdays.

Calumet Fisheries

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This Chicago landmark dates back to 1948. Visit the southern city limits for seafood that’s smoked on site in a roadside shack. There’s limited seating so prepare to eat outside or in the car. But it’s a small price to pay to try the James Beard-recognized selection of shrimp, sable, salmon, herring, trout, and whitefish.

Boston Fish Market

Head out to Des Plaines for a trove of fresh seafood. Folks can see the products for themselves as the restaurant also doubles as a fish market. The kitchen will prepare anything it sells and that includes a Greek- and Cajun-style lineup of shrimp, scallops, octopus, lobster, and various fishes. A second outpost is located in Wheeling.

The Fish Keg

Located on the border of Chicago and Evanston, the Fish Keg is a seafood shack that celebrates fish and chips in all its forms. Everything takes a turn in the deep fryer — shrimp, oysters, clams, catfish, cod, perch, and much, much more — and then gets served with a side of fries. Its neon sign is also a local landmark.

The Angry Crab

Angry Crab was the restaurant the helped launch the Asian-influenced Cajon seafood boil trend in Chicago. Many have imitated the formula where customers pick flavors, spice levels, seafood and devour the messy bagged feast. There’s also a Wicker Park location. Food is also available to go.

Hagen's Fish Market

This legendary Northwest Side shop has both fresh and smoked seafood available for the home cook. They’ll smoke fish upon request. Crispy fried fish and shrimp are ordered by the pound, as are the smoked items — the barbecue salmon is a treat. There’s a fried pollock sandwich worth checking out.

Half Shell

It has the ambiance of a dive bar but the food at Half Shell makes up for the environment. The Lakeview oyster bar has operated since 1968, providing diners with bivalves, king crab legs, soft shell crabs, and fishes for less than what comparable places charge. During summertime, the front patio is a busy attraction. Bring some bills because it’s cash only.

Mfk.

Hidden below ground level, this intimate Spanish restaurant in Lakeview captures the essence of seaside eating through coastal delights like seared sea scallops, boquerones, seafood fideos, and Basque cake.

Brown Bag Seafood Co.

A great choice for customers who want a health lunch option, Brown Bag Seafood has emerged as a reliable restaurant for satisfying fresh fish. With seven locations around Chicago, Brown Bag lets you build your own meal by choosing proteins like grilled salmon, seared tuna and lemon-broiled Lake Superior whitefish served in tacos, on a sandwich or over salad. There are also fried options available for those who want a little crunchy indulgence.

Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop

For decades, Dirk and Terry Fucik have operated a gourmet fish shop in Lincoln Park with the freshest seafood. When home cooking increased during the pandemic, they ramped up operations. Dirk’s has recently expanded, taking over the neighboring space to create a cafe selling lobster rolls, salmon burgers, crab cakes, and sushi. If customers want to try something new, they can even try copi, the new name for Asian Carp.

Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods

Chef Brian Jupiter takes diners down to the bayou at this New-Orleans-inspired corner store tavern. Drawing upon his heritage and recipes passed down from his grandmother, the Louisiana native delivers soul food rife with seafood. The fresh catch can be enjoyed blackened (salmon, shrimp) or fried (catfish, oysters, crawfish, shrimp). To sample a bit of each, order the seafood tower that is large enough to feed several people.

Azul

Newish Latin American spot Azul rides the line between Bucktown and Lincoln Park with lovely views of the Chicago River. Its menu is a celebration of Nayarit, a state in Western Mexico, with options including huachinango (whole red snapper with veracruz sauce), lobster avocado “toastones,” and cocktails by the pitcher. The restaurant also features a popular brunch.

Salmon a la Parilla (Atlantic Salmon, tequila honey glaze, fire-roasted salsa with avocado)
Azul’s salmon a la parilla
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Alegrias Seafood Chicago

Mexican seafood — mariscos — is about to have a moment in the mainstream with several big restaurants groups poised to unveil new projects. But let’s not lose sight that there’s a great tradition of mariscos restaurants in Chicago particularly in West Town. Try one of the family platters with heaping portions of Nayarit-style stuffed lobster, prawns, and more. Also, fans of fried snapper should be ready to stuff their stomachs. Alegrias is BYO.

Porto

A restaurant dedicated to the highly sought-after seafood of Galicia, Spain and coastal Portugal, Porto is a singular spot in Chicago. Fans of fish and crustaceans will find a wide range of delights, from hot dishes cooked over wood or charcoal to cold conservas, or canned seafood, that ownership imports from Europe. It also features a wine bar, in a nod to the region’s winemakers.

A fancy grilled filet of fish with sauce in a white bowl
Porto whisks diners’ tastebuds to Galacia with top-notch seafood.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

GT Fish & Oyster

Giuseppe Tentori’s celebrated eatery is one of the best in town for fresh seafood. Post up at the bar and watch the crew expertly shuck bivalves while enjoying a Maine lobster roll with pickled vegetables or hiramasa crudo with wasabi tobiko. Big spenders can opt for fully-customizable seafood towers and luxurious caviar service.

Shaw's Crab House

Lettuce Entertain You’s venerable crab house is still a standard bearer for pristine seafood more than three decades after opening. The space is split into a formal dining room and a lively oyster bar, where diners can crack into crab legs, lobster, and seasonal specials like fried soft shell crab and stone crab claws.

RPM Seafood

This jewel by the Chicago River is a beautiful restaurant from giant Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises. It’s a place to be seen with gorgeous views of the Loop. But what about the food? The charcoal-grilled specialities are worth the hassle of downtown dining for locals. The mixed seafood grill, with octopus and blue prawn is ignited table side and both tasty and worth a social media snap.

A sliced swordfish steak with lemon wedge Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

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Fora

The seafood-focused lobby restaurant in the Emily Hotel fuses Mexican flavors with Japanese and French techniques for dishes including scallop aguachile with gooseberries and kanpachi with smoked beets. Masa made using heirloom corn sourced from Mexico and grown on the rooftop is another highlight of the menu, showcased in the octopus huarache. The agave-focused drink list includes customizable margaritas and cocktails incorporating sotol, mezcal and reposado tequila. When the weather cools, gather around the fire pits on the patio.

Leña Brava

At Leña Brava, the flavors of Baja California come through on sustainably sourced seafood. It’s available in cold preparations – oysters, ceviche, aguachile – and as hot dishes that are cooked on an open hearth or wood-burning oven. The can’t-miss item is the whole Spanish branzino, which is avocado-tomatillo and habanero salsas. The beverage list highlights tequila and mezcal plus Baja wines.

Bar Mar by José Andrés

José Andrés combines land and sea in one address, with Bazaar Meat upstairs and Bar Mar on the first floor. A giant octopus hangs above the main bar, which provides a perfect place to enjoy the view through the floor-to-ceiling windows while sharing snacks like cones stuffed with smoked hamachi and oysters on the half shell paired with a glass of Spanish wine. For larger bites, try the lobster roll or walleye pike with grilled gem lettuce.

Sueños X Soho Friends

Executive chef Stephen Sandoval’s take on Baja mariscos has proven so popular that what was meant to be a six-month pop-up at Soho House has been extended to January 2023. The Leña Brava veteran’s menu incorporates raw fare and wood-fired seafood with dishes including oysters with cantaloupe mignonette, beer-battered cod tacos and octopus skewers with chimichurri. The drink menu from Danielle Lewis (Boka) builds on the Latin flavors with micheladas and Mexican beer and wine.

Lowcountry South Loop

Put on a bib and get ready for a Southern boil at Lowcountry. Diners order shrimp, snow crab, mussels, crawfish, or lobster tails by the pound, which are served in a bag with different sauces and add-ons like corn and sausage. It’s a communal experience that includes eating directly off the table. To finish, there are beignets and deep-fried Oreos.

Lawrence's Fish & Shrimp

Satisfy those late-night cravings with fried seafood at this 24-hour spot. Lawrence’s Fish and Shrimp has fried up crispy shrimp, fish, oysters, scallops, clam strips, and more since 1950. The restaurant also delivers and has a dock behind the building for easy access from the Chicago River.

A to-go container of french fries and fried fish
Lawrence’s is a local institution.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Two Fish Crab Shack

Two Fish has accrued a loyal following in Bronzeville where it delivers its own spin on bagged seafood. There are no plates or utensils offered so don a bib and prepare to get messy by digging into lobster, crab, shrimp, crawfish and mussels coated with jerk, lemon pepper or garlic butter sauces. The BYOB spot also serves fried bites including oysters and catfish daily and grilled lobster and oysters on Saturdays.

Calumet Fisheries

This Chicago landmark dates back to 1948. Visit the southern city limits for seafood that’s smoked on site in a roadside shack. There’s limited seating so prepare to eat outside or in the car. But it’s a small price to pay to try the James Beard-recognized selection of shrimp, sable, salmon, herring, trout, and whitefish.

Related Maps