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

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Shaw's Crab House

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

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Seafood
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

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

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

Unexpected Sushi Delights
Beyond traditional seafood, Shaw's offers well-executed sushi and maki rolls that impress.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
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
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
What People Dislike
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.
Many reviewers highly recommend the oysters, buffalo shrimp appetizer, crab cakes, lobster rolls, and the raspberry pie for dessert.
Yes, Shaw's Crab House offers a well-executed sushi menu alongside its classic seafood offerings, including various maki rolls and sashimi.
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.
While primarily a seafood restaurant, Shaw's Crab House does offer a limited selection of non-seafood items such as steak and chicken.
Dine in the formal dining room or at the more casual oyster bar. Some reviewers mention tables can be a bit close together.
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Best Seafood Restaurants in Chicago: Top Seafood Spots to Eat at Now
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.
Best Restaurants in Chicago
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.
29 Best Sushi Restaurants in Chicago to Try Right Now
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.
The 18 Best Seafood Restaurants In Chicago - Chicago
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.
Chicago's Best Oyster Restaurants
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.
Where to Eat in Chicago: 9 Chicago Restaurants We Love
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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The lobster roll has all the attributes of classic street food the world over: it’s simple to make, contains ingredients that are typically available in a specific location, and is easy to eat while standing up or walking on, you know, the street. Presented on a special bun, the mayonnaise-based lobster salad usually contains just diced celery. The lobster roll is an East Coast favorite, sold at humble lobster shacks and, now, fine dining restaurants.
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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.
The Best Brunch Spots in Chicago
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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Shaw’s Crab House is currently located in Hubbard Street in Chicago. With an excellent choice of seasonal crab, both function Topgrade shellfish and fish, many sorts of just-shucked oysters, along with ingenious sushi and sashimi blends, made out of the freshest fish in the city. Like most of their fresh fish, they truly are chosen with consideration for the environment, frequently via families Shaw’s knows.
5 Restaurants Serving Up the Best Fresh Crab in Chicago
Shaw’s Crab House in Chicago specializes in classic American Seafood as well as contemporary, globally influenced offerings. The restaurant offers Alaskan Red King Crab Legs, Maryland Style Crab Cakes, and more than 20 fresh fish and seafood selections. The menu at this restaurant includes a $100 per person 3-course Crab dinner featuring Shaw’s classics.
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With four main crab entrees to chose from, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Choose from 1 pound of their specialty, steamed Alaskan Red King Crab Legs, 2 huge Maryland style crab cakes, chilled Florida stone crab served with mustard mayonnaise, or a seasonal crab combination of steamed Alaskan Red King Crab, Dungeness Crab and crab cakes.
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Main Dining Room: Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2pm, Sat noon-4pm; Dinner Mon-Thu 5:30pm-10 pm; Fri, Sat 5 pm-11pm; Sun 5 pm-10 pm; Brunch Sun 10am-1:30pm. Shaw’s Crab House stands out as a busy seafood spot that offers both classic dishes and sushi. The menu features a great selection, including fresh salmon, sweet crab, and tender Alaskan crab legs.
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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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At Shaw’s, you can opt for a lively evening at the oyster bar or select an elegant dinner in the white tablecloth main dining room. Seasonal crab, shellfish, oysters are on the menu along with made-to-order sushi and sashimi. The American seafood restaurant is a local favorite for its Alaskan King Crab legs, but also offers USDA prime steaks.
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Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. Situated near Navy Pier, Shaw’s Crab House is one of Chicago’s top seafood restaurants. Shaw’s Crab House Weekend Brunch is definitely a seafood lover’s delight, offering signatures dishes like fried shrimp, crab cakes, seafood gumbo, and Parmesan crusted cod.
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Shaw’s Crab House is a restaurant that offers a wide variety of options, such as sushi and other classic options. They offer the highest quality of seasonal crab options, along with top-shelf sushi, oysters and shellfish options. Additionally, they offer creative meal options, like innovative sushi and sashimi combinations.
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Shaw’s Crab House has been a Chicago staple for over 30 years, known for serving high-quality seafood in a classic, elegant setting. The restaurant features a raw bar, a sushi bar, and a menu filled with fresh seafood options, including Alaskan king crab, Maine lobster, and a rotating selection of oysters from both coasts.
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When I walked into Shaw’s Crab House, I noticed the vintage vibe right away. The restaurant is split into two areas, so you can choose between the lively Oyster Bar and the more elegant Main Dining Room with its cozy red accents and plush seats. I tried a few different oysters, and each one tasted super fresh.
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Address: 21 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60611Phone:+1 (312) 527-2722Details: $$$, Crab house. Shaw’s Crab House is an outstanding seafood restaurant in Chicago that offers high-quality oysters and seafood with great service. The restaurant has a bar and a dining room for those who want a more formal setting.
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Chicago’s Shaw’s Crab House Sunday brunch buffet costs more than my first car payment, but sweet mother of pearl, it’s worth every penny!. My last visit coincided with my birthday, and I’m still dreaming about it. Oysters so fresh they practically wink at you from their ice beds.
7 Places to Find the Best Oysters in Chicago
This classic American seafood restaurant features oysters from all along the coast–from Maine to Washington and Rhode Island to Nova Scotia. Freshly shucked to order in the heart of Chicago!. Enjoy a half dozen at $21 or a full dozen for $42.
Highest-rated Fine Dining Restaurants in Chicago, According to Tripadvisor
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (3,277 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)- Type of cuisine: American, Seafood- Price: $$$$- Address: 21 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60611-3512- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Shaw’s Crab House is an old-timer in the area and is well-known to be one of the best restaurants for seafood in town. Their seafood is always fresh. If you love crabs, the ultimate experience is the Alaskan King Crab Dinner.
Best Steak Restaurants in Chicago 60611 with People Watching
Just as many great steakhouses in the city serve great seafood, Shaw’s Crab House is a wonderful place for steak and, of course, seafood. Perhaps the most stunning example of the restaurant genius of Richard Melman and
Happy Hour Deals Near You: Chicagoland
The Oyster Bar will offer half-priced Oysters on the Half Shell, along with select bites and drink specials, available from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Happy Hour is available for dine-in only at Shaw’s – Chicago.
Chicago's Best Chargrilled Oysters Spots [2025 Guide]
The first thing that caught my eye was the chop salad specialty that Shaw's Crab House is known for. I mean, who doesn't love a good chop salad?. But let's get down to business: the chargrilled oysters.
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A post shared by Shaw's – Chicago & Schaumburg (@shawscrabhouse). 21 E Hubbard Street / Website. Shaw’s Crab House is a must for any seafood-loving Chicagoan.
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from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit