Oyster flight
East and West coast farms — River North raw bars.
Best seafood restaurants in Chicago
574 restaurants in Chicago
Start here
Three places to start in Chicago
Three rooms we would send a first-time visitor to — complete profiles, strong ratings, and a clear seafood focus.
More places worth knowing
Worth knowing in Chicago
A short second list for when the first three are booked, too far, or not the mood.
Editor's pick
The Dearborn
4.7★ · 10,069
Editor's pick
RPM Seafood
4.8★ · 8,032
Editor's pick
Girl & The Goat
4.7★ · 8,493
Editor's pick
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
4.5★ · 12,512
Editor's pick
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
4.8★ · 5,868
Editor's pick
The Hampton Social - Streeterville
4.7★ · 6,136
Editor's pick
RPM Steak
4.7★ · 5,760
Editor's pick
Sushi-san
4.9★ · 3,485
Top-rated picks
Top-rated picks in Chicago
Highly rated seafood restaurants in Chicago, chosen on ratings, reviews and complete profiles.
Dining tipsChicago oyster bars and inland fish housesChicago proves an inland city can run a fish restaurant: East Coast oysters, a shrimp cocktail, and a seafood-led menu in River North or the West Loop. Prefer a room that names the oyster over a steakhouse that added a salmon.Read the full guide
Chicago proves an inland city can run a fish restaurant: East Coast oysters, a shrimp cocktail, and a seafood-led menu in River North or the West Loop. Prefer a room that names the oyster over a steakhouse that added a salmon.
Planning seafood in Chicago? 574 rated fish restaurants in one shortlist.
Chicago proves inland cities can run serious oyster bars and fish houses: East Coast oysters, shrimp cocktail, stone crab imports, and chef-driven seafood rooms.
River North, Loop, West Loop, and neighbourhood counters each have a different price band — shortlist by rating on this directory.
Travellers searching “best seafood restaurants in Chicago” should prefer named oysters and seafood-led menus over steakhouse add-ons.
What to order
Midwest oyster & lake culture
East Coast oysters flown in, shrimp cocktail, and lake-aware white fish — Chicago raw bars punch above their latitude.
Shrimp cocktail
Classic opener — old-school steakhouse rooms.
Lake whitefish or perch
Regional when available — ask the source.
Cioppino-style stew
Tomato seafood bowl — winter comfort.
Local species & catches
OystersWhitefishPerchShrimpScallops
Dining tips
- Order first
- East Coast oysters, shrimp cocktail, cioppino-style stews, and simply cooked white fish.
- Best areas
- River North and West Loop for oyster bars; Loop for classics; Fulton Market for chef-driven fish.
- Skip
- Steakhouse seafood add-ons with no raw-bar turnover.
Where to eat seafood in Chicago
River North
2 placesOyster bars and raw-counter energy.
West Loop
1 placesChef-driven seafood in restaurant row.
Loop
7 placesClassic institutions and power-lunch fish.
Lincoln Park
3 placesNeighbourhood bistros and lake-aware menus.
Map of seafood restaurants in Chicago
Explore listed fish restaurants across Chicago, United States.
Browse by seafood style
All seafood categories →Seafood guides for Chicago
- Best seafood restaurants in the USA
Coast-to-coast picks across New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco, and more.
- Best seafood restaurants in Chicago 2026
Rated Chicago oyster bars, RPM Seafood, Joe’s stone crab, and Midwest fish rooms.
- Chicago seafood dining guide
Oysters, shrimp cocktail, and how to shortlist fish restaurants inland.
Nearby cities in United States
FAQ — Chicago
What should I order for seafood in Chicago?+
Named East Coast oysters, shrimp cocktail, and seafood-led mains. Prefer oyster bars and fish houses over steakhouse add-on menus.
What are the best seafood restaurants in Chicago?+
Chicago currently lists 574 seafood and fish restaurants on FishRestaurants.com, sorted by rating and review volume where available.
Where can I find fish restaurants near me in Chicago?+
Use the map section and restaurant list on this page to compare locations across Chicago, then open individual profiles for address and hours.
What are the best grilled fish restaurants in Chicago?+
See the grilled fish category block for venues tagged with grilled fish and classic seafood grill styles.