Best Place to buy seafood to cook at home

[dphals]

Looking for the best place to puchase fresh seafood to cook at home in the Lincoln Park/Lakeview area. Moved here from Boston and have had some difficulty finding good fresh seafood.

[Whereisit]

Nice to see someone else from Boston here in Chicago! If you're looking for some seafood(its even run by Sox fans!), then I suggest you try the New England Seafood Company Fish Market over on:

3341 N Lincoln Ave
(between Marshfield Ave & Roscoe St)
Chicago, IL 60657

I usually don't say this about food, but the chowda is wicked pissah!

[mountsac]

The new French Market in Ogilvie also has pretty good seafood.

-----
French Market Cafe
1973 W 111th St, Chicago, IL 60643

[igorm]

Isaacsons's certainly has great prices and selection. Other two places not mentioned are Whole Foods and The Fish Guy on Elston and Montrose.

[chicagowinediva]

I second the rec for Fish Guy on Elston. Selection is not huge, but quality is superb.

[rachelschreider]

If you have a car and are willing to drive, head up to Skokie/Niles area to the Fresh Farms market on Touhy. It's just west of 94 on the north side of the road in the same lot as Walmart, Kids R Us. They have everything from Conch, oysters, whole shrimp, octopus, shark, northern Pike, snapper, and the list goes on............. It's one of the best selections I've seen in Chicago.

[nsxtasy]

You can find additional recommendations for fish markets in these two discussions:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/418724
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/477536

[Masonville]

Yes, I have to second this place--admittedly on a limited basis. I went there first time last week, was simply overwhelmed by the selection. I have no basis for judging quality, since I didn't buy anything. But the selection is enormous. I haven't seen barracuda since the Caribbean. Based on other items I've purchased there, I'm inclined to say "Give it a try". In any case, i've never seen--at Isaacsons, Burhops, whatever--anything even remotely approaching the selection at this place, and given the heavy business in the seafood section, it's at least clear that a lot of people like this place.

[lilmomma]

Is that just for seafood or is it a full service grocery store. I believe it is where there used to be an Asian market, right?

[Masonville]

It's a multi-ethnic store, and unfortunately I can't speak to the quality of the various national/regional products. (Indian/Pakistani, Hispanic, Greek, Italian, German, Eastern European) I have to say the place is overwhelming the first time you go there, because it's the United Nations in a Big Box. I take all the package/frozen stuff with a grain of salt, but one thing that lingers in memory is some skate wing I saw in the seafood section--it was the most incredibly fresh-looking seafood I've ever seen. The meat and seafood departments are so huge that you really need to go there with a specific focus. Otherwise, "browsing" will leave you bonkers.

[Chicago Mike]

As an alternative, if you don't want to cook at home, you can get nice seafood to go from Joes and Bob Chinns..... nice crab, shrimp platters, etc.....

[traderjeff]

Isaacson's is by far the BEST. They have the best fish at the best prices. On Saturdays go early because they get picked-over pretty quickly (I would also recommend leaving the open toe shoes at home.) This is a no-frills location located in the cold storage warehouse district (Halted & Fulton Mkt). I've been told that Isaacson's supplies most of the seafood restaurants in Chicago.

Dirk's is good but pricey. Supreme Lobster (located in Lombard) is also very good and a little cheaper than Dirk's. But, neither of these two seafood supply houses compare to Isaacson's prices.

[amoncada]

Been going to Isaacson's my entire life. Dad and I recently made a killer bouillabie (sp?) with seafood from Isaacson's. I must say, it was better than the one from Spring or Rioja. Isaacsons is the best in the city for fresh seafood.

[vcackerman]

Second Issacson's and also toss in Supreme Lobster if you want to drive out of the area

[conroyea]

I'm a third vote for Dirk's. I've had great tuna, salmon, and scallops from there. The guys know their fish and are very helpful.

[elainedarer]

I am also a big fan of Dirk's on Clybourn! Great variety of fresh oysters!

[leek]

Dirk's on Clyborn (in the Pier 1 shopping center on the W side of the street)

2070 N Clybourn

http://www.dirksfish.com/

[YoYoPedro]

Isaacson, Stein & Sons on Fulton at Halsted St. is my favorite for selection and price. Also, Costco occasionally has fresh ahi tuna that is superb, as well as some great fresh halibut.