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    Ocean Grill & Bar

    4.2 (185 reviews)
    ModerateVietnamese
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Ocean Grill & Bar Takeout or Delivery

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    OCEAN GRILL & BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Ocean Grill & Bar

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    Connor L.

    Saw that out of 47 Chicago Banh Mi locations this restaurant was ranked 4th overall, so I had to drive down south just to stop by- I haven't tried any of the top 3, but if anybody tops this, color me surprised. From the moment we walked in, service was excellent- not only timely and attentive, but the waitstaff seemed genuinely excited to interact with the customers and see how everything came out. Place was packed but our walk-in only took 5 minutes to seat. No messing around with appetizers, drinks, sides, or any other distractions- we were here for one purpose only. We got two Banh Mi- one classic grilled pork, and one shredded pork skin just to compare. They were both fairly similar of course, and the shredded pork skin was solid, but the grilled pork was the star of the show. Not a lot of times in my life I've audibly said "wow" after biting into something, but I couldn't help myself. The grilled pork itself had a phenomenal spiced smoky flavor to it, the type of flavor that you savor for as long as you can. The bread was crisp and warm, the pickled vegetables were plentiful fresh and delicious, and the jalapeño gave it just enough spice to keep me on my toes. Cannot recommend the Banh Mi here highly enough. Will be returning.

    Alvin T.

    Aesthetically the restaurant is actually very impressive and spacious. You don't really get the Asian hole in the wall feel like other Viet places in Chicago but space-wise it's honestly very aesthetically pleasing. The food can be hit and miss, but also looks very impressive. While the banh mi is large, I felt like the bread wasn't crispy enough. The pho hit the spot but felt like most other places. The cooked clam dish was fire and was the most unique thing I've tasted here. No matter what stray away from the oysters, while it's likely not the restaurant's fault, me and a friend got food poisoning from them and is why I have a slightly lower review for them here.

    Special - Crab and Tomato Soup
    Rosie L.

    The broth for all their phos are rich and tasty. I also love how much seafood variety they have. Their Bun Cha Hanoi is one of my favorites, the meat ball was very moist! Highly recommend! They also have sugar cane juice!

    Bun bo hue
    Ankit S.

    This place is great for family gatherings or if you're just craving Vietnamese food. The menu has such an amazing variety and absolutely love thier spring rolls which were so fresh. The band mi was nice and warm and dispy as well. The bun bo hue was good with a little kick to it. I like the veggies on the side and it's great for sharing as well. Their grilled oysters was a nice flavors. The also have drinks options as well. We got their milk tea with boba.

    Leah N.

    We went here today for lunch. We had the razor claim, snail in garlic and Vietnamese crab noodle soup. All was delicious. The sauces were great. This place was busy even at opening time today. Everything came out within a reasonable timeframe.

    O22. Oc Mng Tay Nuong Mo Hnh Grilled Razor clams w/ scallion oil O8. Nghu Nuong Mo Hnh (7)Grilled clams w/ scallion oil
    Amy N.

    Ocean Grill and Bar was busy when we went. It took some time before our order was taken however food turn around time was quick. We ordered (sorry many not pictured): 1. Lotus Root salad- not bad, kinda bland. 2. Grilled pork skewers- good flavor. 3. Razor clams- lived up to hype. I thought the meat was tender, and I am here for the scallion oil and shallots. 4. Clams in scallion oil- meh. Not as tender as razor clams. Should've tried a different clam dish. 5. Steamed snail / lemongrass- first time having snail. It was meaty and the flavor of the lemongrass was there- not bad! 6. Pho dac biet- it was fine. Wish the broth had a little more flavor and depth. 7. Bun bo hue- this was ok, probably wouldn't order again. 8. Bun rieu special- broth was not hearty at all (i later read the sign and it said tomato soup based..) so No crab cakes/crab pieces/anything crab in there. 9. Cafe sua da. Very tasty. Overall, would recommend for the clams and pho, perhaps.

    Menu
    Kayla S.

    Amazing!! Ocean Grill is known for their seafood. Unfortunately, I didn't get to try it. I was craving pho. Their pho here tastes very good and they cook it traditionally. There is an option to pay an extra $1.50 for their homemade noodles, but didn't think it was worth paying for with the pho bowl being around $18. Their fish sauce wings are so flavorful. I recommended everyone to try it! I will definitely be coming back to try more. They have a large menu with great items.

    Pork Banh mi (not the spicy one!!)
    Carly M.

    Love coming to this pho place since it opened. Although on the pricier side, I can't pass up on the fresh noodles they offer (for $1 extra). No other pho restaurants I know have that option. I also like this place because it's clean and service is always great. What we got: B3 Hanoi style Noodle bowl S1 rare beef noodle, but the meat was a little chewy and dry.. usually made better. I think I'll stick with the rare beef and brisket pho (S2) for more variety. Also highly highly recommend the pork banh mi, it's been a hit every time. They also have parking right outside!!

    Lemongrass Clam
    Tony V.

    Have gone here a handful of times to treat my family out to unique seafood offerings. Location isn't directly in Chinatown but worth the little bit of travel to get here as they have their own parking. With Snails and Clams, we always order a few to try. The noodle soup dishes like Pho and Bun Bo Hue are delicious and the drinks are fantastic. We order the green Thai tea and corn milk every time. Service is always fast and the kitchen keeps up. The restaurant usually is empty from what I've seen and then fills up to the brim during peak dinner time.

    S7. Bun bo - Spicy Lemongrass soup
    Ellie N.

    Decent Vietnamese food. The razor clams is a must. It's perfectly cooked and seasoned. The dipping sauce is the highlight. Bun Bo is good but not super authentic. The quail eggs baluts are very well seasoned but they are all too young, and therefore too crunchy.

    Coconut jelly
    Tess L.

    Razor clams - fresh and beautifully cooked - Must have. (Oops, forgot to take pictures) Coconut jelly nice and refreshing.

    Ann L.

    Was craving pho so started searching and came across this cute restaurant just on the outskirts of downtown Chicago. Big plus for private parking spaces. Interesting part about this place is they served a plethora of sea snail dishes sauced with a variety of seasoning to satisfy all types of palates. I chose the recommended charred garlic sauce which wasn't too overwhelming (although would not have complained if it with pasted with garlic). The other one I wanted to try was the Tom yum sauce and lemongrass among others. Wish they had a variety option where you can pick 3 or so different flavors to try. Nevertheless more reason to come back. The pho was good but thought the broth was a little watered down than the usual soup that I've tried elsewhere. Still very tasty. Looking forward to try their sea snail with Tom yum and their razor clam appetizer the next trip.

    Nolan F.

    1. Phở Đặc Biệt - beef tenderloin, brisket, tendon, tripe, meatballs 2. Grilled razor clams with scallion oil, fried shallot and ground peanuts 3. Crabmeat Fried Rice 4. Fish Sauce Chicken Wings Pho meat was exceptional, far more tender than most other pho in Chicago which are dry. Tendons however were hard and not thoroughly cooked. I love that they have a fresh noodle option but I think it was overcooked, too soft. Broth lacked depth of flavor. Grilled clams, crab fried rice, and fish sauce wings were all properly cooked and flavorful. If I'm craving Vietnamese noodles, I would still return to try a dry noodle option. No issues with service. Plenty of tables and free parking available.

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    Great food everything taste delicious great preparation. Good drinks like this place.

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    Ocean Grill & Bar - vietnamese - Updated July 2026

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