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Brown Bag Seafood

4.0 (570 reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 8:30 pm
Updated 3 months ago

Order Brown Bag Seafood Takeout or Delivery

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BROWN BAG SEAFOOD ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Brown Bag Seafood

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Interior
Cylia B.

*EVEN BETTER THE 2nd TIME* highly recommend the fish and chips with the bang bang sauce Been wanting to try for so long so I'm glad I finally was able to! The interior is so cute and "boat" themed. We placed our order ahead and it was ready when we got there which is always a plus. I really enjoyed my chicken bowl and the ginger lime sauce really elevates the overall bowl. Totally recommend for a lunch break with coworkers.

Menu from June 2026
Clara C.

This seemed like a healthy lunch spot. You order at the cashier, then get a number and find a seat. There is indoor and outdoor seating available. The food is brought to you. Drinks are at the soda fountain. Sauces are next to the drinks. Food was ok. It wasn't memorable other than the portion size was small. I think the clam chowder was a crowd favorite. They give you a Swedish fish at the end of your meal. Bathrooms are available in the back.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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1 month ago

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Donna L.

So glad your daughter put you on Karen! Thanks for sharing :)!

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

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Donna L.

Thanks for your visit and for your feedback Clara!

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5 months ago

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Donna L.

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4 months ago

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Donna L.

Great choice, thanks Joe!

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6 months ago

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Donna L.

Thank you so much Becca, glad you joined us!

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6 months ago

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11 months ago

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Donna L.

Thanks so much for sharing Julie!

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1 year ago

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1 month ago

Great service, tasty food, and healthy options. It 's right across the park with the best playground.

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Donna L.

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3 months ago

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Donna L.

That means so much to us, thank you!

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10 months ago

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1 year ago

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Donna L.

Thanks so much for sharing Dennis!

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1 year ago

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Donna L.

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

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2 years ago

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Donna L.

Thanks very much for your review Julia!

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1 year ago

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Donna L.

Thank you so much Eileen!

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3 months ago

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

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2 years ago

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8 months ago

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10 months ago

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Donna L.

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3 months ago

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Donna L.

We love you back Erin, thanks for sharing!

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6 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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2 years ago

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Donna L.

Thank you so much Emily!

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

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10 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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5 months ago

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Donna L.

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

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2 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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2 years ago

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

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3 years ago

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

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Page 1 of 15

Brown Bag Seafood Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Brown Bag Seafood

Can pets sit on the patio?

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

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Cindy's Rooftop

4.1(2.9k reviews)
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Cindy's Rooftop has beautiful views of the city. It's overlooking Millennium Park and The Bean…read more Perfect place to bring out of town visitors or if you just want to enjoy rooftop views. We definitely picked a beautiful fall day to come by. Came around 3pm on a Tuesday and they had a limited menu until 5pm. Ordered the cheese curds and arancini as appetizers. Both were tasty and the sauces were great. The smashburger and fries were really good too, and filling. Overall food was good but pricey. Guess you're paying for the downtown rooftop views with your food Our server was nice and attentive and my water glass was never empty.

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Cindy's Rooftop - Inside the rooftop bar and restaurant

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Shaw's Crab House

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My husband and I returned back to Shaw's Crab House a year later, and it was still just as fabulous…read moreas it was before. We were lucky enough to get the same amazing waiter. He'd been there 32 years. Hope to get him next time we're back. Honestly, it's the freshest seafood around. They know how to shuck oysters and prepare them perfectly anytime of the year. The oysters were absolutely amazing. And then the crab legs....oh my goodness..delish. Everything was just so delicious. And I have to give a shout out to their sweet, creamy butter. Lastly, we love sitting in the thick of it where you get to see them preparing the oysters and all the seafood. Love this place. Thank you Shaws!

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Shaw's Crab House - Inside main dining room

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Shaw's Crab House - Full Dozen Oysters

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Bar Mar
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Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

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Brown Bag Seafood - salad - Updated October 2026

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