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5 Best Seafood Restaurants in Chicago (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Thorne Savarin
By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

RPM Seafood holds a 4.8 rating across 7,356 Google reviews, the highest score on this list at real scale, and the river view alone accounts for only part of that. What stands out across the best seafood restaurants in Chicago is how tightly clustered the ratings run, 4.6 to 4.8, so the real difference comes down to specialty: stone crab flown in from Florida, oysters at a 1984 crab house, or a chef-driven raw bar on the water.

Short answer: RPM Seafood leads Chicago seafood at 4.8 stars across 7,356 reviews, a River North restaurant known for crudo, seafood towers, and river views. Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab follows at 4.7 with its famous Florida stone crab claws, and Shaw's Crab House brings a 40-year raw bar tradition to River North. A seafood tower or stone crab dinner for two typically runs $80 to $200+ in 2026.
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Chicago's Best Seafood, Compared

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 RPM Seafood 4.8 ★ 7,356 Overall / River North with a view View ›
2 Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab 4.7 ★ 5,674 Stone crab claws View ›
3 Shaw's Crab House 4.6 ★ 5,745 Classic raw bar since 1984 View ›
4 The Gage 4.6 ★ 5,169 Seafood-forward gastropub entrées View ›
5 Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House 4.6 ★ 2,517 Gold Coast oysters and frog legs View ›
5 Best Seafood Restaurants in Chicago (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

RPM Seafood logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

RPM Seafood

4.87,356 Google reviews

RPM Seafood is a River North restaurant along the Chicago River offering crudo and tartare, seafood towers, globally inspired preparations, signature pastas, and both beef and seafood steaks. It runs floor-to-ceiling windows over the river, an expansive patio, and a robust wine and cocktail program, with private boardrooms suited to corporate events and larger gatherings.

What people praise

  • Highest rating on this list at 4.8
  • Branzino and grilled seafood mix repeatedly called out as standouts
  • Riverfront patio and view called genuinely special for occasions
  • Crab cake starter praised as exceptional even by frequent diners

Worth knowing

  • Main courses can arrive later than expected during busy dinner service
  • Premium pricing for a seafood tower or the larger raw bar orders
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume7,356 · 97th
Confidencevery high
Recency5 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown87% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The highest-rated seafood name in Chicago at meaningful scale, and the riverfront setting makes it a strong pick for celebrations. Reserve ahead, especially for a window table.

Website Book now+1312-900-9035 Directions

317 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab logo
#2🕑 Open 7 days

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

4.75,674 Google reviews

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab is a River North outpost of the Miami Beach original, serving Florida stone crab claws, prime steaks, and classic sides like hash browns and creamed spinach. It runs valet parking and welcomes walk-ins alongside reservations, with a menu that also includes a full raw bar and Joe's famous fried chicken.

What people praise

  • Stone crab claws called the clear centerpiece, cracked and served chilled with mustard sauce
  • Petite filet and other steaks consistently cooked to the requested temperature
  • Staff accommodate dietary restrictions with genuine care, not as an afterthought
  • Key lime pie called properly tart and a must-order dessert

Worth knowing

  • Among the pricier options on this list, with dinners regularly running $100 or more per person
  • Busy dining room noise can run loud during peak hours
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.7 / 5
Review volume5,674 · 86th
Confidencevery high
Recency3 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown84% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The name to know for stone crab specifically. A Chicago outpost of a century-old Miami institution that delivers on the reputation, worth the splurge for a special occasion.

Website Book now+1312-379-5637 Directions

60 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Shaw's Crab House logo
#3🕑 Open 7 days

Shaw's Crab House

4.65,745 Google reviews

Shaw's Crab House is a River North seafood restaurant that has sourced daily catches from coast to coast since 1984, built around an East Coast seafood-house aesthetic with a dedicated oyster bar. Its menu spans raw bar selections, whole Dungeness crab, New England clam chowder, and beef tenderloin, with a more casual walk-in oyster bar alongside the main dining room.

What people praise

  • Oysters and raw bar called properly cold and well rotated seasonally
  • New England clam chowder praised for real richness without heaviness
  • Whole Dungeness crab called a genuine shared-table showstopper
  • Long-tenured servers who know the menu deeply

Worth knowing

  • A few reviewers found smaller dishes like the bread service underwhelming
  • Service can feel distant rather than warm during busy periods
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.6 / 5
Review volume5,745 · 92th
Confidencevery high
Recency3 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown77% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A more than 40-year Chicago institution built around a serious raw bar. The oyster bar side offers a more casual, walk-in-friendly way to experience the same seafood without a reservation.

Website Book now+1312-527-2722 Directions

21 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60611

The Gage logo
#4🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

The Gage

4.65,169 Google reviews

The Gage is a Michigan Avenue gastropub across from Millennium Park serving seafood-forward entrées, including scallops and coconut curry, alongside its award-winning libations program and raw bar. It's been a fixture on Michigan Avenue for more than a decade, with a menu that blends European influence and American style in a vintage, historically landmarked setting.

What people praise

  • Scallops repeatedly praised as well prepared and flavorful
  • Kitchen accommodates dietary swaps like using oil instead of butter
  • Warm, stylish dining room suited to a proper seafood dinner
  • Watermelon feta gazpacho and other starters called standouts

Worth knowing

  • Entrées like the scallops could use a more substantial included side, by a couple of accounts
  • Popular with large business groups, which can affect noise levels
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.6 / 5
Review volume5,169 · 81th
Confidencevery high
Recency3 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown69% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The scallops and seafood entrées here are the draw, a more composed, plated seafood dinner than a raw bar or crab house. A strong pick for a Millennium Park-area dinner with a mixed group.

Website Book now+1312-372-4243 Directions

24 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House logo
#5🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House

4.62,517 Google reviews

Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House is a Gold Coast restaurant celebrated for fresh seafood, prime steaks, and its signature frog legs, delivered daily since 1997. It runs alongside the neighboring Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, sharing private dining spaces, and it's known for oysters on the half shell, Alaskan king crab legs, and a dedicated happy hour with half-priced oysters and wine.

What people praise

  • Oysters and Alaskan king crab legs consistently praised for freshness
  • Frog legs called out as a genuine, memorable specialty
  • Pet-friendly patio seating appreciated by regulars
  • Happy hour oyster and wine deal called a standout value

Worth knowing

  • Fish and chips singled out as good but not the strongest order on a seafood-heavy menu
  • Premium pricing typical of the Gold Coast dining scene
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Rating4.6 / 5
Review volume2,517 · 75th
Confidencevery high
Recency6 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown77% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The place to go specifically for frog legs and a serious happy hour oyster deal. A Gold Coast seafood staple since 1997 with real staying power.

Website Book now+1312-640-0999 Directions

1024 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611

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How we score

Every number on this page is computed from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the business’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many customers have rated them, ranked against other Chicago seafood restaurants. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.8 from thousands of diners carries more weight than a similar score from a smaller base. Recency reflects how recently customers are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much does seafood cost in Chicago? (2026)

Chicago’s top seafood restaurants lean upscale, and pricing reflects that, especially for stone crab and seafood towers. Based on per-person prices reported directly in reviews for the businesses on this page:

JobTypical price
Raw bar starter or oysters (half dozen)$20 to $30
Seafood entrée, per person$40 to $70
Stone crab or seafood tower dinner, per person$70 to $150+

Ranges compiled July 2026 from per-person price data reported directly in Google reviews for the businesses on this page. Stone crab and seafood tower orders push the higher end of these ranges.

Serving all of Chicago

These seafood restaurants cluster around River North, the Gold Coast, and Michigan Avenue, putting most of them within a short walk of each other downtown. Searching for a seafood restaurant near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and directions so you can find the closest option fast.

What to ask before you book a seafood dinner

  • Is stone crab or a specific catch in season right now?
  • Does the restaurant take reservations, and how far ahead should I book?
  • Is valet parking available, and what does it cost?
  • Can the kitchen accommodate shellfish allergies elsewhere on the menu?
  • Is there a more casual raw bar or happy hour option if I don’t want a full dinner?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these seafood restaurants?

We started from every seafood restaurant in Chicago with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (July 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Where can I get stone crab in Chicago?

Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, a Chicago outpost of the Miami Beach original, is the name most associated with Florida stone crab claws on this list.

Which Chicago seafood restaurant has the longest history?

Shaw’s Crab House has run its River North raw bar since 1984, making it the longest-established name on this page.

The bottom line

RPM Seafood is the safe default for the highest rating and a genuine river view for a special occasion. If stone crab is the goal, Joe’s is the name to book, and Shaw’s remains the classic raw bar choice for anyone who wants four decades of consistency.

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