Categories: Restaurants
Chicago Seafood Restaurants
Author: Jody Robbins
Bordered by the greatest of the Great Lakes, Chicago is a city that's used to large expanses of water, but it's only with the advent of 24-hour-round-the-world shipping that sushi has grown into its own here. On the other hand, serious seafood restaurants have been operating alongside their steakhouse brethren for years.
It's a little pricey, but for sushi that's as good as any you can get in Chicago, visit Mirai , an anchor restaurant in the string of eateries along this bustling strip of West Division Street. It's stylish, and chef/partner Jun Ichikawa ensures that your toro (primo tuna) will be as good as any you've ever had. Meanwhile, the main seafood attraction at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab are the cracked stone crab claws and mustard sauce. You can order them in different sizes: the bigger the better, we say. In a nod to Chicago 's steak culture, this Florida import also has a selection of prime steaks to go with the claws.
Kamehachi Café was serving sushi before sushi was cool, and is still doing a very good job of it at multiple locations. Our favorite is in the Old Town neighborhood. The service here is gracious and crisp, while the sushi chefs work their magic behind the bar, and there is a very generous menu of cooked fare for those who are only dipping a toe in the sushi pool. Variety is the name of the game at Catch 35 , which offers 35 seafood specials on a daily basis. Get a look at your prospective meal at the display cases, which anchor the beautiful space occupied by this perennial standout.
The very original sushi served at Kaze is served with unique toppings, ranging from shitake mushrooms in a butter-and-black-pepper sauce, or the fried lobster topped with sliced strawberries and served with wasabi. Set in the Roscoe Village , this is a cutting-edge spot hidden away on the North Side of Chicago . A seafood chain that doesn't feel like a chain, McCormick & Schmick's set up shop in the Gold Coast area, and has been one of Chicago's premier seafood destinations ever since. More than 30 varieties of fresh seafood are featured daily, including a nice selection of oysters-on-the-half-shell.
Stellar sushi is served in a non-pretentious atmosphere at Naniwa , a spot where you'll see locals galore taking in the made-to-order creations served here. Not far away is a behemoth of a seafood restaurant, Fulton 's on the River . Both sushi and more traditional seafood (including a well-stocked raw bar) is on the menu here, and summer-time diners love the outdoor café tables overlooking the Chicago River .
For trendy-as-trendy-gets, visit always-crowded Japonais . The edgy, flash design of the space mixes well with the menu's blend of Asian and French culinary techniques. Crab cakes and Kobe carpaccio exist alongside the lobster spring roll and kani nigiri (baked King crab). And for classic-as-classic-gets, turn your attention to the Cape Cod Room in the Drake Hotel. Opened in 1933, the dimly lit ambience here is just what you'd expect, and classic dishes like rich, decadent lobster Thermidor are given special treatment here.
Check out places of interest near Chicago Seafood Restaurants:
676 Restaurant & Bar
676 N. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60610
Located on the fourth floor of the Omni Chicago Hotel, 676 offers gorgeous views of Michigan Avenue through the dining room’s expansive windows.
Ai
358 W. Ontario Street,
Chicago, IL 60610
This River North Japanese Sushi Restaurant & Lounge opened it's doors in late-September 2007. From the siblings who brought Ringo Japanese Restaurant and Tsuki to Lincoln Park, comes this lounge/restaurant with authentic Japanese cuisine.
Bonefish Grill
9310 Skokie Boulevard,
Skokie, IL 60077
A restaurant designed to help guests know where their fish comes from, how it's cooked, and how to make it all fun.
Braxton Seafood Grill
3 Oakbrook Ctr,
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
700 E. Grand Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60611
Down home southern cooking themed after the movie “Forrest Gump” is available, offering, you guessed it, shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp. Other options include baby back ribs and other seafood. Kids meals are also available.
Catch 35
35 W. Wacker Dr.,
Chicago, IL 60601
This seafood-focused eatery is a popular business lunch destination, and also is a good pre-theater spot with its proximity to the Oriental and Goodman Theaters.
Devon Seafood Grill
39 E. Chicago Ave,
Chicago, IL 60611
Selecting only the best aquatic cuisine, Devon Seafood Grill features creative dishes from Chef Mick Verheyen.
Gabriel's Restaurant
310 Greenbay Road,
Highwood, IL 60040
French and Italian cuisine fill the menu of this fine-dining restaurant in one of Chicago's suburbs.
Holy Mackerel!
70 Yorktown Center,
Lombard, IL 60148
From the Harry Caray family comes this new seafood restaurant located inside the Westin Hotel in Lombard.
Joe's Crab Shack
2000 E. Golf Rd.,
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Joe's Stone Crab
60 E. Grand Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60611
Joe's is a marriage between Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) and the legendary Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach.
Kamehachi
1400 N. Wells,
Chicago, IL 60610
This two-story sushi hotspot has ample selections of sushi, sashimi and maki rolls, plus an extensive cooked menu that includes soba and udon noodles, chicken katsu and salmon teriyaki
Kaze Sushi
2032 W. Roscoe,,
Chicago, IL 60618
KAZE's seasonal cuisine, comfortable décor and knowledgeable service will provide you and your guests a dining experience that is both entirely satisfying and highly memorable.
McCormick & Schmick's
41 E. Chestnut St.,
Chicago, IL 60611
This Chicago outpost of this Oregon-based chain features an ever-changing menu of about 30 varieties of fresh seafood, with multiple presentations.
Mirai Sushi
2020 W. Division St.,
Chicago, IL 60622
The stylish two-level sushi spot offers a minimalist earth-toned lower level with a sushi bar, and an upper level space featuring a more modern vibe geared towards lounging.
Nick's Fishmarket
51 S. Clark St.,
Chicago, IL 60603
This upscale Loop seafood restaurant is a popular pre-theater option, with its close proximity to the LaSalle Bank Theatre (formerly the Schubert Theatre).
Nick's Fishmarket
10275 W. Higgins Rd.,
Rosemont, IL 60018
This upscale eatery is spin-off of the Loop original, and with its close proximity to O'Hare International Airport and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, it's a convenient spot for out-of-towners.
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
921 Pasquinelli Dr,
Westmont, IL 60559
This seafood house, which has multiple outposts in the United States, features Cajun and Creole-inspired seafood in a lively nautical-meets-the-Bayou space.
Redstone American Grill
13 Lincoln Court,
Oak Brook Terrace, IL 60181
Steaks, chops, and chicken cooked in a woodburning grill, rotisserie, and an open-air kitchen.
Shochu
3313 N. Clark St.,
Chicago, IL 60657
Named after the famed Japanese liquor, Shochu, this restaurant is trendy in nature with their Asian-inspired small plate recipes.
Smith & Wollensky
318 N. State St.,
Chicago, IL 60610
This steak location is a Chicago outpost of the New York-based steakhouse chain, which specializes in on-premise dry-aged beef, with choices like a bone-in rib-eye and porterhouse.
Spring
2039 W. North Ave. ,
Chicago, IL 60647
Superstar chef Shawn McClain has made this Asian-influenced seafood restaurant a must-stop when it comes to Chicago fine-dining.
Ai
358 W. Ontario Street,
Chicago, IL 60610
This River North Japanese Sushi Restaurant & Lounge opened it's doors in late-September 2007. From the siblings who brought Ringo Japanese Restaurant and Tsuki to Lincoln Park, comes this lounge/restaurant with authentic Japanese cuisine.
Blue Chicago
736 N. Clark St,
Chicago, IL 60610
Sample the sounds of the sultry saxophone, the bold bass, the thundering trumpet and the daring drum beats at Blue Chicago, one of Chicago's best blues clubs. Open seven nights a week, Blue Chicago features some of the best names in blues and jazz.
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Chicago Symphony Orchestra
220 S. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60604
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is the heartbeat of Chicago. The CSO has numerous concerts and special events throughout the year. See the full list at their website. Tickets range from $10 to $200.
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave. ,
Chicago, IL 60605
Navy Pier, one of the top tourist attractions in Chicago and the country, is visited by almost nine million visitors per years. From dining to shopping, boat tours to countless entertainment options, Navy Pier in Chicago is a must-stop for a wide range of visitors--Chicago residents already know and love it!
