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    Brown Bag Seafood

    4.0 (569 reviews)
    Closed • 11:00 am - 8:30 pm
    Updated 2 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 kids
    Dogs allowed

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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.

    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.

    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.

    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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    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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    1 month ago

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

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    25 days ago

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    Donna L.

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

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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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    Donna L.

    That means so much to us, thank you!

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    Donna L.

    Thanks so much for sharing Dennis!

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    Donna L.

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

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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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    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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    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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    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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    Donna L.

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    4 months ago

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    Donna L.

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

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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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    Donna L.

    Thanks so much for the review Erik!

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    2 years ago

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    Donna L.

    Sam, thanks so much for sharing!

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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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    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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    Since we were visiting Chicago to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday, I wanted to make sure that…read morethere was a wow factor wherever we went on her special day. In browsing through the pictures of Cindy's Rooftop, it looked like it hit that criteria spot-on. The pictures did not lie. When entering the restaurant, the views of Lake Michigan through floor to ceiling windows were amazing and it was nice to enjoy the bright natural light from the glass roof. Once seated, I told our server, Gerardo that it was her birthday and he immediately got her a glass of bubbly on him! He was positive and easy to talk to. This was quite the contrast with the service at Bar Mar for dinner the night before where the server made no attempt to make the night special. We ordered the Blueberry French Toast and the Chilaquiles. The french toast was superb, being thick, fluffy and sweet. The Chilaquiles were pretty average...what I'd expect at a cheap Mexican joint so at $25, it was quite pricey but I will say the over-medium eggs were cooked perfectly. Throughout brunch, Gerardo checked on us frequently and when I asked for the check, he came back with a dessert and a candle as a final gesture to making my girlfriend's day special. I am so glad we came here because it truly was an experience, thanks to the great service, beautiful rooftop, and good food.

    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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    Shaw's Crab House - Oysters, East coast

    Shaw's Crab House

    4.2(2.8k reviews)
    0.5 mi•Near North Side
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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!

    Incredibly delicious. Everything was as fresh as can be. Definitely come if you like crab!!…read more We were a little mislead by some of the pictures online / on the website of the Norwegian crab (not by any fault of their own, just a poor assumption from our side). When we received it we were a little disappointed by the size. But the pieces were still so juicy and delicious! Just want to give a heads up also that their menu is on rotation, what you see online may not be what you get! Love me some sushi, so I was excited to try the California roll, although it was hard to justify it being $18!!! The crab was very minimal, as you can tell by the pictures... it was missing the classic California roll taste given barely any meat. The Mac and cheese side was good. Nothing too special. plus. But standard is the best word I can think of. Shareable portion, which is a plus. Service was excellent. The server was friendly and personable. Ambiance is great, it's an elevated crab house aesthetic. There is a dress code to enter. Overall, I can't say we had the experience of the price we paid. They gave us free the dessert sampler for our anniversary, yay!!!

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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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    Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab - Ahi Tuna Tartare*

    Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

    4.4(3.3k reviews)
    0.6 mi•Near North Side
    •$$$$

    Went yesterday to celebrate my 40th birthday. The service was impeccable. From the high-five I…read moregot at the Host stand to the well-wishes on my way out the staff made the experience very enjoyable and memorable. Our server, Jacob, was helpful and his recommendation of the Lyonnaise Potatoes did not disappoint. We had the small whale, an aged ribeye sandwich, and I got the filet mignon with bone marrow butter. The chilled seafood was delicious, especially with the house mustard sauce. My partner said the steak sandwich was the best they ever had. The filet was easily the best steak I've ever had though the dry-aged ribeye at Abrasado in Mendoza, Argentina is a close second. The grand martini was a perfect pairing for the chilled seafood. They threw in a complimentary brownie with ice cream for a bday dessert which was appreciated on multiple levels. We're not affluent and a meal like this was definitely a splurge but I have zero complaints and would 100% come back for a comparable special occasion. Everything was perfect and I'll remember this meal forever. Thanks, Joe's!

    Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab was a highlight of my time in Chicago. I started with East…read moreand West Coast oysters, then had the filet mignon and lobster tail. Both were fantastic: the filet had a beautiful sear and rich flavor, while the tender, sweet lobster was perfectly cooked, especially with butter. The service was top-notch. Everyone was welcoming and attentive without being overbearing, and our knowledgeable server offered great recommendations. The staff made the meal feel special. Joe's also delivers a classic Chicago steakhouse atmosphere: dark, polished, and lively, with families, business diners, and couples. It's a confident, established spot for more than just steak; a proper night out with polished service and timeless ambiance. Great food and exceptional hospitality made this an experience I'll remember. I'd gladly return on my next visit to Chicago.

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    Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab - Interior

    Interior

    Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab - Creamed Corn

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    Lowcountry South Loop - Seafood broil

    Lowcountry South Loop

    3.9(495 reviews)
    1.2 mi•South Loop
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    Never heard of a self serve seafood boil bag place, that was different. If you don't want to do…read more"self serve", you have the option of sitting at the bar which charges a service fee. Service fee at bar is $16 dollars and some change. Quality of seafood was subpar at best, the snow crab was overcooked and the "Everythang" sauce was nasty, in general the sauce was too thick for my liking. No Dungeness crab only snow crab. No black mussels only green mussels. Bill was high for nothing, overly priced. The service was poor and also irritating. Obviously a bar maid attending to guests who are eating is not such a great idea. Non attentive, and well as taking shots with customers. I've eaten at many seafood establishments and this is the worst boil bag seafood place I've ever patronized.

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    Ocean Prime - Dining room

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    4.4(472 reviews)
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    Brown Bag Seafood - salad - Updated October 2026

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