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Best Seafood In Chicago

The Midwest isn't near an ocean, but Chicagoans still demand good seafood. Don't think that all you can get is Lake Superior Whitefish either. Fresh fish of all varieties can be found if you know where to look. Some of the best seafood joints are right here in the city, and here's a list of the top ones. - Jeff Pearl

Bob Chinn's
Crab legs from Bob Chinn's. (credit: bobchinns.com)

Bob Chinn's

393 S. Milwaukee Ave.
Wheeling, IL 60090
(847) 520-3633
www.bobchinns.com

Some people will go to Chinn's just for the garlic dinner rolls. When you get past those, you're in for some great crab and some mai tais. One big attractant is the high-end, quality food with a relaxed atmosphere. Shorts and a T-shirt will cut it here, and if you make a mess they have hand washing stations in between the tables.

Devon
Ahi tuna from Devon Seafood Grill. (credit: devonseafood.com)

Devon Seafood Grill

39 E Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 440-8660
www.devonseafood.com

What looks like a bar on the street level has an intimate seafood restaurant in its basement. Specials like at cost Lobster bring in huge crowds. The honey biscuits are to die for. They keep the dishes large, reasonably priced, and full of diverse flavors. Go for the special or the multi course prix fixe and you won't be disappointed.

Di Pescara
A simple preparation from Di Pescara. (credit: Jeff Pearl)

Di Pescara

2124 Northbrook Ct
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498-4321
www.di-pescara.com

Turning simple ingredients into clean flavors is the mantra at Di Pescara. It's all about high quality filets of fish. You start off by picking a specific fish and then pick one of their specialty preparations. Try the Halibut. Make sure to save some room for the peppermint ice cream dessert.

Glenn's Diner
Fare from Glenn's Diner. (credit: glennsdiner.com)

Glenn's Diner

1820 W Montrose Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 506-1720
www.glennsdiner.com

Leave it to a diner to crank out monstrous menus of seafood. They get shipments in fresh daily and it shows. Get there before they start crossing items off their huge chalkboard menu. The clam chowder and crab cakes are unbelievable. Each dish comes with a ton of potatoes and fresh veggies. Also, for some of the best prices in town you'll get some huge portions.

Hugo
Fresh whole fish from Hugo's. (credit: hugosfrogbar.com)

Hugo's Frog Bar and Fish House

1024 North Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 640-0999
www.hugosfrogbar.com‎

Right in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast is Hugo's Frog Bar and Fish House. Surrounded by a riveting nightlife and some of the more popular restaurants in the city, Hugo's definitely holds its own in the neighborhood. The flavors range from classic dishes to fare for the adventurous, such as their frog legs. You'll find most anything at Hugo's.

Joe's Stone Crab
Joe's stone crab. (credit: joes.net)

Joe's

60 E. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 379-5637
www.joes.net‎

Joe's is the perfect mix between steakhouse and seafood joint. If you want a filet or some crab legs, there's nowhere better than Joe's. Salads, entrees, sides, and desserts all approach perfection. It's consistently one of the best meals in the city which is why people keep jumping at the chance to get in.

Spring
A dish from Spring Restuarant. (credit: springrestaurant.net)

Spring

2039 West North Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647-6380
(773) 395-7100
www.springrestaurant.net‎

You may have to look carefully to find Spring since it's underground, but it's not something you'd want to miss. It's the attention to detail that makes Spring a dining experience instead of just a meal. From the amuse bouche to carefully matched wine pairings for your creatively designed fish course, Spring has everything your taste buds ever wanted in a seafood restaurant.

Jeff Pearl
The author. (credit: Jeff Pearl)

Jeff Pearl has lived in the Chicagoland area his whole life and is currently a medical student at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. Food has always been a passion of Jeff's. In his free time, Jeff enjoys either cooking for his friends, going out to a new restaurant, or training for his next triathlon. Check out his blog, Jeff Eats Chicago.

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