New England Lobster Roll
1 / 10

Shaw's Crab House

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A long-standing Chicago institution offering a comprehensive seafood experience, from raw oysters to classic crab dishes and well-executed sushi.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
New England Lobster Roll

Shaw's Crab House

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A long-standing Chicago institution offering a comprehensive seafood experience, from raw oysters to classic crab dishes and well-executed sushi.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"The oysters cannot be missed. These are the best I’ve ever had."

TIP

Reservations Recommended

Book in advance, especially for weekends or holidays, to secure your spot.

Bar Seating Option

Consider the oyster bar for quicker seating if you don't have a reservation.

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Quick Facts

Closed·Opens Monday 11:30AM

Cuisine

Seafood

Price

$$$

Phone

(312) 527-2722

Address

21 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60611, USA

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Oyster Bar Excellence

Oyster Bar Excellence

A vast selection of oysters served raw or in creative preparations, a true haven for mollusk lovers.

Chicago's Best Oyster RestaurantsWhere to Eat in Chicago: 9 Chicago Restaurants We LoveGoogle Review
Signature Seafood Dishes

Signature Seafood Dishes

From the classic crab cake to the indulgent lobster roll, enjoy expertly prepared seafood favorites.

The 18 Best Seafood Restaurants In Chicago - ChicagoWhere to Eat in Chicago: 9 Chicago Restaurants We LoveGoogle Review
Unexpected Sushi Delights

Unexpected Sushi Delights

Beyond traditional seafood, Shaw's offers well-executed sushi and maki rolls that impress.

29 Best Sushi Restaurants in Chicago to Try Right NowBest Restaurants in ChicagoGoogle Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Reservations Recommended

Book in advance, especially for weekends or holidays, to secure your spot.

Bar Seating Option

Consider the oyster bar for quicker seating if you don't have a reservation.

Don't Miss Buffalo Shrimp

Highly recommended appetizer; reviewers rave about its flavor and execution.

Ask About Specials

Servers are attentive and can provide excellent recommendations for dishes.

Tips

from all over the internet

Reservations Recommended

Book in advance, especially for weekends or holidays, to secure your spot.

Bar Seating Option

Consider the oyster bar for quicker seating if you don't have a reservation.

Don't Miss Buffalo Shrimp

Highly recommended appetizer; reviewers rave about its flavor and execution.

Ask About Specials

Servers are attentive and can provide excellent recommendations for dishes.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Shaw's Crab House is consistently praised for its exceptional seafood, particularly its oysters and crab dishes, and its attentive service, with many highlighting specific staff members for making their experience memorable. The vintage ambiance adds to the classic appeal. However, some diners find the tables to be a bit too close together, which can impact comfort, and a few have noted issues with food preparation, though service recovery is generally effective.

"The service was exceptional. Our waiter was Chris he gave exceptional recommendations. Everything was truly a 10/10. For appetizers we got the buffalo shrimp, and jumbo crab cake. For entree we got fettuccine alfredo, and seasonal soft shelled crab. For dessert we got the sampler but my personal favorite was the creme brûlée."

Abby

"I enjoyed my food thoroughly. I had the buffalo shrimp and the seafood combo with shrimp, scallops, and a crab cake. All were delicious. You have to like seafood to enjoy. I feel like those who just like simple crab boils, this is not the place for you. The best part of my experience was the service! They were very attentive and polite!"

LivingLikeLauren

"Had a great time here. It’s a pretty formal spot, and almost a little dated, but the food was great, and our server was also super. We tried it all, from clam chowder, to steak, crab leg and lobster, and it was all amazing. Food quality was second to none. Only complaint is they do have the tables squeezed in extra tight which made it difficult to get to or from our table, but we survived!"

Jim Alford

What People Like

Exceptional oysters and fresh seafood
Attentive and professional service
Classic vintage ambiance

What People Dislike

Tables are too close together
Occasional food preparation issues

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, making reservations in advance is highly recommended, especially during peak times like weekends or holidays, as the restaurant can get very busy.

The 18 Best Seafood Restaurants In Chicago - Chicago

Many reviewers highly recommend the oysters, buffalo shrimp appetizer, crab cakes, lobster rolls, and the raspberry pie for dessert.

Google Review+1

Yes, Shaw's Crab House offers a well-executed sushi menu alongside its classic seafood offerings, including various maki rolls and sashimi.

29 Best Sushi Restaurants in Chicago to Try Right NowBest Restaurants in Chicago

The restaurant has a classic, vintage Americana vibe, with a polished dining room and a more casual oyster bar area, described as feeling like a vintage steakhouse.

Best Seafood Restaurants in Chicago: Top Seafood Spots to Eat at NowGoogle Review

While primarily a seafood restaurant, Shaw's Crab House does offer a limited selection of non-seafood items such as steak and chicken.

Where to Eat in Chicago: 9 Chicago Restaurants We Love

Dine in the formal dining room or at the more casual oyster bar. Some reviewers mention tables can be a bit close together.

Best Seafood Restaurants in Chicago: Top Seafood Spots to Eat at NowGoogle Review

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If the ocean had a Now That’s What I Call Music-style roundup of the greatest hits, it would look a lot like the menu at Shaw’s Crab House, a longstanding bastion of seafood in all styles and cuisines. It’s the kind of place where you can slurp oysters (or get them Rockefeller-style, bubbling in Jarlsberg cream), gorge on grand shellfish towers, eat your weight in sushi, and bob for clams in a bowl of chowder. Drawing inspiration from across the country, and across the globe, the menu takes a something-for-everyone approach that offers various price points and flavors in a dining room—and casual oyster bar area—that feels like vintage Americana at its most polished.

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This seafood institution in River North debuted in 1984 and is still—pardon the pun—swimming along, with a second location since in Schaumburg. Dine for lunch and dinner in the wood-paneled, white-tablecloth dining room or at the oyster bar. You’ll find the typical seafood fare—such as oysters, fish fillet, Maryland crab cakes, Santa Barbara stone crab, and even Lake Michigan whitefish—but also sushi, poke, and fish salads.

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Shaw's is one of our go-to spots for oysters and lobster rolls, but the sushi menu is also worth exploring. Given how serious Shaw's is about seafood, it's not surprising that its takes on sushi are simple and well-executed. There are neatly rolled and balanced maki, including combinations like shrimp tempura, cucumber, wasabi mayonnaise and tobiko, while the slices of salmon, tuna and yellowtail sashimi are precisely cut.

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Shaw’s is one of those places that you probably know about but don’t often choose for dinner. The longstanding River North restaurant is basically the seafood equivalent of a steakhouse, and you’re most likely not planning on dropping that kind of money regularly. But it’s still really good, and it’s always a reliable place to take the family.

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A monument to not only Chicago’s past (there’s a palpable old-timey vibe about the place), Shaw’s is also a testament to the diversity and wonderfulness of the simple oyster, served raw and, usually, unadorned. Come nightfall, both the main dining room and the more bar-like Blue Crab Lounge are packed to the gills with seafood lovers. What that means is that Shaw’s goes through a lot of oysters, and that’s a very good thing: As with all seafood, freshness is key, and you want to eat oysters at a place that regularly receives them fresh and runs through them quickly.

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At both the Chicago and Schaumburg locations of Shaw’s Crab House, guests can pick up a three-course fish-and-chips package ($30) that also includes a cup of clam chowder and a slice of mini key lime pie to go along with Alaskan cod, fries and coleslaw. There’s also a family option at each location. The Chicago version includes clam chowder, parker house rolls, Caesar salad, Parmesan-crusted haddock, mashed potatoes and chocolate cake ($80), while the Schaumburg edition features 10 pieces of fish, fries, a pint of coleslaw and four pieces of chocolate cake ($60).

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Shaw's Crab House has been the authority on fresh seafood for decades and you'll be flummoxed with desire when you open the menu: lobster, sushi, sea scallops, King crab and a boatload of seasonal swimmers from bone-in Halibut to the exquisite Copper River King Salmon (Shaws may be the only spot in Chicago offering this flavorful Omega-3 bomb). When it's chilly, go for velvety lobster bisque or a chowder. Seafood is perfect for summer and Shaw's signature chopped seafood salad, heaped with crab, shrimp, lobster, hearts of palm and avocado, is a revelation.

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The four-course Alaskan king crab dinner, Maryland-style lump crab cakes, lobster bisque, and oysters on the half shell make Shaw’s Crab House a must-visit restaurant for seafood lovers in Chicago. The seafood-centric menu also features Caribbean stone crab claws, sushi, whole Maine lobster, oyster Rockefeller, Maryland soft shell crabs, and surf-and-turf combos. Beyond seafood, the menu offers a limited selection, including a burrata appetizer, salads, Parmesan chicken, steaks, seasonal vegetable side dishes, and house-made desserts.

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Open since 1984, Shaw’s Crab House is a Chicago seafood institution where you can find the freshest catches converted into comfort classics. With leather booths, white table linens, and sharply dressed staff, this place is ideal for date nights as well as other gatherings. The menu here, at Shaw’s, is constant, making it the kind of place you can visit knowing exactly what you’ll get and that you’ll be extremely satisfied with the same.

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Just a short walk away from the Navy Pier, Shaw's Crab House is one of Chicago's most highly regarded seafood restaurants. A family-style brunch is served every Saturday and Sunday featuring a fixed four-course menu to share among your table. Since this is a crab house, you can expect the menu to include some of the best seafood in Chi-Town, including oysters, shrimp cocktail, chilled mussels, and lobster bisque.

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21 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60611312-527-2722 Visit Website. A 1940s-style oyster bar and seafood joint, Shaw’s Crab House sits just a stone’s throw from Lake Michigan and the Chicago Riverwalk. With parks and famous attractions all around, Shaw’s is a popular destination for anyone looking to hop inside for a quick bite of delicious seafood.

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