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    Brown Bag Seafood

    4.0 (564 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:30 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Order Brown Bag Seafood Takeout or Delivery

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    BROWN BAG SEAFOOD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Brown Bag Seafood

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    Mallory S.

    I was craving fast casual food and was enticed by the sort of cheap prices and interior decor I saw on this Yelp page. My bf and I were in Chicago for a weekend in April 2026 and needed lunch. We walked over to Brown Bag Seafood and found it empty. The decor was cute so I grabbed a couple pictures and reviewed the menu. As far as the food goes, when we eventually received our carry out bags, was like a 4 out of 5 on taste. I got the miso cashew chicken bowl and my boyfriend got a grilled tofu power bowl. They were about $15 each. If you do eat here, I recommend the miso cashew chicken bowl as I liked it. Now let's talk about the service which I will generously give a 2 out of 5. I have literally never seen a staff member at a restaurant who was so out of it and caring so little as I did with the women who took our orders and made our food at Brown Bag Seafood in Chicago. The ordering system is, imho, a little confusing, and I asked a few questions to get some clarification. I came out more confused than if I had asked nothing at all. We were at first, told we were gonna be charged extra to do a sauce swap out on my dish. I'm cheap so I decided not to swap the sauce out. So imagine my surprise when we opened our carry out order at the hotel and saw a ton of takeout sauces, none of which were the ones I ordered, requested, or were supposed to be included! I won't even elaborate on that I found the workers actually bordering on being mean!! I'm tired and confused even thinking back on it a month later. I probably wouldn't recommend this location.

    Miso cashew salmon bowl
    Joe R.

    Brown Bag Seafood is not only delicious, but I wish there were more places like this to eat on the road while traveling. You walk in and order at the counter, as it's more of a fast casual type dining experience. I ordered the miso cashew bowl with salmon, which came with white rice, carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, cashews, and a delicious tahini sauce. The salmon on it was wonderfully cooked, and the meal was healthy, light, and refreshing. A great place to stop for a healthy, fast casual bite!

    Salmon Whole Harvest Salmon Bowl
    Becca L.

    Recently tried Brown Bag for the first time and really enjoyed it! I got the salmon harvest bowl and the salmon had great flavor and was cooked well. I'm glad I tried the tater tots too, adding a side made the meal complete! Definitely on the pricier end for a quick lunch stop but the quality of food was high.

    Tuna dinner plate
    Crystal C.

    Came here for the golden hour dinner plate and it's honestly a great deal. For $15 you get a large protein, two sides, and a piece of garlic bread, which is hard to beat. Ordering was super easy. You just mark up what protein and sides you want on the menu, hand it to the cashier, and pay upfront. The food also came out pretty quickly. I ordered the seared tuna with sweet potatoes and the veggie blend. The portion of tuna was generous, though the flavor was just okay. The sweet potatoes were also fine but nothing particularly memorable. The veggie blend could have used a bit more attention. It looked roughly chopped and would have benefited from better seasoning. The garlic bread was a nice addition, but it could definitely use more garlic flavor. That said, it is still a solid option, especially if you are trying to eat healthy. I'm currently on a diet and this meal makes it easy to get a good amount of protein and vegetables in one sitting, which I really appreciate. We also shared the green garlic shrimp, which was a highlight. The shrimp tasted fresh and the sauce had a nice acidic kick that brought everything together well. My husband ordered the fried cod with spicy tots and chowder. The fish itself was good, though the batter could have been a bit lighter. The spicy tots were excellent, super crispy with just the right amount of heat. The chowder was solid overall, but a little heavy on the celery for my taste. Overall, it's a good value and worth checking out, especially if you are looking for a filling and protein-focused meal.

    Grilled Catch Mega-Protein Powerbox w/ a mini chowder served with a Gingerade.
    Foodi E.

    The food was delicious and arrived quickly. Staff was friendly and served with a smile! The shop was clean and the ambiance was on point.

    Tuna
    Julie O.

    Brown Bag Seafood is a solid option at Willis. The line usually moves quickly. The seafood seems quality and the portion is good. Flavorful. The prices are on the lunch higher side but you're getting ahi tuna or salmon, so it's what it is. The tots are delightful. Love the sauce bar at the end. The Swedish Fish is a nice touch.

    Dinner plate.
    Peg P.

    What a welcome respite after a long day of protesting fascism and reveling in all that is great about Chicago. We came crawling in here for sustenance on an early Saturday evening. Lovely, helpful and kind service. I would come back any time just for the exquisite service. Bonus points that we were supporting a woman owned business. But also that dinner plate was a steal! Very generous portion of tender grilled shrimp and truffle parmesan tots to die for. Veggies cooked perfectly to replenish our depleted nutrients. Don't skip the chocolate chip cookie. Heaven.

    Salmon power box
    Katherine T.

    I loved this place!! It was soooo good, cute interior, nice shaded exterior and I loved the color scheme! Right off of millenium park - it was a cute place to catch some scenery, shade and a good healthy bite. I got the skinny marg and a ginger ale and absolutely devoured my food. The salmon was perfectly cooked, still moist with a bit of crunch on the edge! The servers were amazing and the service was fairly fast and super welcoming! I would definitely come back here again the next time I'm in Chicago!

    Sauce bar
    June K.

    Juicy and plump shrimp, perfectly done. I ordered the greens and grains grilled shrimp. Tasted very healthy and delicious, not overpowering with added flavors and sauces, though there is a sauce bar. A bit bland at first, but after squeezing the lemon, the flavors were perfect- though the tartar sauce was bombb too. The dish felt easily recreateable at home, with nothing special... maybe thats the charm to it. The interior was awesome, felt just like a beach trip. As a visitor, I didn't realize this place was a chain but that didn't take away from the quality.

    Truffle-Parm Tots
    Les D.

    I really like this concept. Simple to order, good selection of tasty options to pair with the fish/shrimp. Fun appetizers. Our shrimp appetizer was slightly over fried, otherwise really good. Great place for a fun, healthy meal. Bright, simple interior.

    Chicken bowl
    Bailey T.

    Neat location with a great view of the city! The menu had great options. The service was great and the food came out quick. They had a unique selection of sauces, we tried a few and they were all delicious. We enjoyed both of our meals and will absolutely be back when visiting Chicago!

    Dennis S.

    I really like this place on Randolph! Small ,cozy and right by Maggie Daley. We had the fish and chips and clam chowder. The fish and chips was on point flavorful and seasoned well chips nice and crispy but the star of the show was a clam chowder boy was that delicious.. If you add a little hot sauce (and they make all their sauces) it's delicious. Check this place out you might like it.

    Fish & Chips
    Julia S.

    When you walk in, expect to review the menu, grab a marker and write down your order. Then take your order to the "order here" area and pay for your food / grab your number. In no time, you can expect a friendly staff member to bring your food to you. There are three main seating areas: dim lit booths by the food prep area, stools facing the park, and tables near the menu area. Food was fantastic! Hot and crunchy. The fish was perfectly battered and flaky, and the fries were delicious. For the area, prices also weren't super ridiculous.

    Lobster Roll with Truffle-Parm Tots

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    22 days ago

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    1 month ago

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    Donna L.

    Thanks for your visit and for your feedback Clara!

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    2 months ago

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    Donna L.

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    2 months ago

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    Donna L.

    Great choice, thanks Joe!

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    3 months ago

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    Donna L.

    Thank you so much Becca, glad you joined us!

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    4 months ago

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    29 days ago

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    Donna L.

    That means so much to us, thank you!

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    9 months ago

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    Donna L.

    Thanks so much for sharing Julie!

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    12 days ago

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    Donna L.

    We love you back Erin, thanks for sharing!

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    10 months ago

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    Donna L.

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    25 days ago

    Delicious food great staff decent size portions. Taste of Chicago 2026!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    1 year ago

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    Donna L.

    Thanks so much for sharing Dennis!

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    10 months ago

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    Donna L.

    Jessica, we'll address this immediately and appreciate you sharing!

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    1 year ago

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    Donna L.

    Thanks very much for your review Julia!

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    11 months ago

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    Donna L.

    Thank you so much Eileen!

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    4 months ago

    Amazing people and food. The seared tuna was really good and the ginger ale was fire.

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    Donna L.

    Fresh choices, see you soon Sherveen, thank you!

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    8 months ago

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    Donna L.

    Thank you so much for sharing, see you again soon!

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    1 year ago

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    Donna L.

    Thank you so much Emily!

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    8 months ago

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    Donna L.

    Thanks for remembering Mel! Hope to see you again soon!

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    1 year ago

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    Donna L.

    Thanks so much for the review Erik!

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    3 years ago

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    Donna L.

    Sam, thanks so much for sharing!

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    2 years ago

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    Donna L.

    Angela, this makes us so happy to read, thank you for sharing!

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    3 years ago

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    Donna L.

    Thanks Sam, well said! We appreciate you and appreciate you sharing!

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    You must have some cool coworkers Jeff! Thanks for sharing!

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    Donna L.

    Thanks so much Tim!

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    Donna L.

    Great comments and thank you Cindy!

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    Page 1 of 15

    Brown Bag Seafood Reviews in Other Languages

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    Can pets sit on the patio?

    Hello Jon, yes, absolutely pets can sit on the patio!

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    Shaw's Crab House

    4.2
    (2.8k reviews)
    0.5 mi
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    Shaw's Crab House | Chicago's ultimate happy hour just got a major upgrade!…read more Sip on a savory $10 Mignonette Martini or a crisp $7 Wine of the Month. Treat yourself to $15 mini lobster rolls on pillowy, buttery brioche. Turn up the heat with crispy buffalo shrimp tossed in signature blue cheese. Live large with the $57 Happy Hour Tower loaded with fresh oysters and lobster tails! Shaw's Crab House | 21 E Hubbard, Chicago | Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 4-6pm

    (Kari's Rating 8/10)…read more Came for an early dinner as we were seated by 5:30. I actually love coming to eat early because the servers are a little more attentive since they just started their shift and the service is a little faster as there are less tables. Let me tell you, though, whatever we came it was quite busy with graduations and family dinners-which I didn't mind at all! What ate a relatively large meal as I had eaten a smaller lunch. We started off with the wedge salad and a yellowtail sushi roll. The wedge salad was pretty average, but the dressing was really delicious. The yellowtail was also pretty good and the jalapeño topping gave an extra kick last minute. For the entrées, we ordered the scallops as well as the pan seared Chilean Seabass. The scallops are buttery, rich, and had a perfect crispy crust. The Seabass was flaky and light-overall a very good combination of flavors. We got a side of the broccolini and then the crème brûlée and a piece of Keylime pie to go. Overall a very filling and delicious meal-I was pleasantly surprised with the scallops and how light the sea bass was.

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    Inside main dining room
    Inside main dining room
    Full Dozen Oysters
    Full Dozen Oysters
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    Lobster Roll
    The Gage

    The Gage

    4.2
    (3.7k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Had lunch here and were seated right away. Our server greeted us promptly and took our drink order…read moreimmediately. We ordered the venison burger and, honestly, I was hesitant at first because I was worried it might be too gamey. However, our server did a great job explaining what to expect, and she was absolutely right. The venison patty was juicy, flavorful, and exceeded my expectations. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. Service was attentive and efficient throughout our meal. They also have an impressive selection of signature cocktails. I didn't end up trying one because the drink I was interested in sounded a bit too strong for lunch, but it's definitely given me a reason to come back later for drinks. Overall, I left as a very happy customer and would gladly return.

    To be fair, we've been here before and absolutely LOVED it. However, this past visit on 6/19 was…read morerather problematic. After we sat down, our server took her sweet time getting to us and was largely absent the entire visit while the servers for the others tables were attentive and present as I've come to expect. We started with the Crispy Brussels and Burrata Toast which was an amazing and fun combination of flavors textures with the sherry glaze and pickled onions providing a perfect counter to the richness of the cheese. Our second course was the Gage Caesar which we've had before and have enjoyed sharing multiple times, but this time the lettuce was full of grit as if the prep chef did not even bother washing the lettuce. The server never came by to check on us so I had to wave the manager to complain about the salad. The server also never checked to see if we wanted refills on our cocktails so we placed our orders with the manager. The final dish was the venison burger which was perfectly cooked and seasoned if you like venison, which I do so we enjoyed that greatly. The condiments that came with it were perfectly matched to balance the game of the meat and the fries were perfect as usual! The server then FINALLY got more involved with our dinner and was predictably perky and present at the end, something that always irks me when they have been otherwise absent for the meal. The ONLY reason they are getting 3 stars instead of less for this visit was the flavor of the food and the response of the manager in dealing with the lack of service (and the gritty salad). I would give the initial server a zero if I could.

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    The Gage Bar
    The Gage Bar
    Blueberry French toast
    Blueberry French toast
    The Gage Bar Area

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    The Gage Bar Area
    Bar Mar

    Bar Mar

    4.3
    (643 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$$

    After years of driving by and seeing the hanging octopus I finally stopped in to celebrate a…read morefriends birthday!! A seafood birthday dinner has become her tradition, can't say I'm upset about this!! We started off with drinks! Two of us got the Floral Cloud and the other two got the salty air margarita! The salty foam (replacing the traditional salt rim) was perfection!! The presentation of the floral cloud was so cute! For starters we got the patatas bravas, 10/10 would recommend!! The sauce was delicious!! I personally got the poke bowl, it was love at first bite!! While it may not look like a huge portion I was only able to finish 3/4 of it. Shared with the after in an attempt to save room for dessert!! Two of my friends got the scallops and the other got the lobster roll. Scallops were delicious, they shared a bite with me! The lobster roll left me a bit unsatisfied. While it had plenty of meat it lacked lasting flavor!! Now let's talk about the MVP's of the night- Dessert! HIGHLY recommend the key lime pie if you're a fan! It also includes some of that salt foam! The sticky toffee was a huge hit at our table!! And the passion fruit in the flan was a very yummy add on!! Our server was the best!! She was so lovely and made excellent recommendations!!

    We loved this place! We initially thought we would be sitting looking at the river but it's a bit…read morefarther in and we couldn't see the river from our table but no big deal. The ambiance was beautiful, our waiter was so kind, and the service was great. The waiter misheard my order so I didn't get my right entree the first time but they were super kind, quick, and accommodating to bring out my correct order. The food was AMAZING! We shared the tuna tartar as an appetizer and it was one of the best things i've tried! The presentation was also so fun and pretty, served inside a coconut with plantain chips on the side. I ordered the lobster roll and it was so so so amazing, definitely best i've ever had. The bun was toasted and buttery and the lobster filled with flavor.. I could eat 5 of them!! They also had brought seasoned corn nuts to the table when we were seated and salted caramels for dessert, both fun and yummy. Would recommend to anyone looking for a bit of a nicer dinner in Chicago. We had a reservation on a Saturday night and it looked like the place was full, we were glad we had one and got seated right away.

    Photos
    Bar Mar
    Bar Mar
    Bar Mar

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    Lowcountry South Loop

    Lowcountry South Loop

    3.9
    (493 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I've never been a fan of the seafood boil dining thing, just too messy for me, but I must admit I…read moreenjoyed my visit and the food was really good. My daughter asked to come here so we came downtown on a Friday around 7:30pm and it was pretty crowded, but by it only being two of us our wait time was less than 10 minutes. Once seated you scan the QR code to look over the menu and once decided you go to one counter to place your food order and the bar to place your drink order, they then bring your food to the table and our food came pretty quick after ordering. Bib on, gloves on, time to dig in... My daughter ordered the bag with shrimp, crab legs, corn and potatoes and I ordered lobster tails, corn and potatoes and two lemonades (lemonades were delicious!) We ordered our food with the everythang sauce (which is a mix of all their sauces) and it was really good and really flavorful. Messy is to be expected but surprisingly the food mess was manageable and did not take away from my dining experience. The amount of crab legs in my bag to me did not justify $32 and if it wasn't for the potatoes and two corns I'm sure I would of still been hungry. Seafood boils are not a cheap experience neither, our meals with the two lemonades and no alcohol was $110, so definitely not an every weekend dining option, but leaving I did see on their info board that their shrimp, crab bags are $28 Monday - Thursday and they look to have a pretty good happy hour so this might be a reason for a quicker return. Overall my experience was pretty good.

    This place is like a self-serve where you order at the counter and the bring it out to you. Perfect…read morehappy hour options but the drinks is really strong that we didn't even finish half. The ambiance is nice inside and gets busy a little after happy hour. I would say their happy hour deal is such a good deal and if you wanted to you can share with other people. Loved that they have spice levels like hot to extra spicy. The jalepeno corn bread was really good and flavorful. The mango lemonade is also good but wished it was a little colder. The beignets can get a little messy but they were good as well being that it was my first time.

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    Lowcountry South Loop
    Lowcountry South Loop
    Inside

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    Inside

    Brown Bag Seafood - salad - Updated August 2026

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