We usually come here on way back from Wisconsin for fall colors. It was great the 1st time here, which was several years ago. It stayed good, but then became okay, but this time made me decide it will be the last time I'm stopping by. We ordered a lot of things: crabmeat nugget, mussels, edamame, clam chowder, crabmeat vermicelli, lobster roll, and king crab lags. Other than the king crab legs and lobster roll, everything was not impressive or even bad. Crabmeat nuggets were shockingly terrible - it's mostly batter and can't taste any crab. Mussels are extremely small, the actual muscle is about 1/4 of the size of the shell. Clam chowder was too thick. Edamame has a generous layer of oil on the shells. Vermicelli was very dry and fell apart. My kiddo, who eats all kinds of French fries, wasn't a fan of theirs... The server offered to de-shell the crab, which made our lives much easier! The overall bill (pre tips) was almost $300. Given the food quality, I will never go back there any more. read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

found this place on the way back home, what a pleasant surprise! food and service were exceptional. Will return soon.

Got there hungry on my 20th anniversary. Left the place hungry. Got home and had golden grams. After leaving a 10 dollar tip on top of spending 107.56 I guess the waiters don't explain the ala cart and the 10 oz snow crab legs that.thats all you get. I hate bob chins.in wheeling il read more

Always a good meal and friendly staff. Great daily menu with many specials...and the tasty garlic rolls. Get there early to avoid the crowds. read more

I really hate to do this because it use to be a great place to go. Notice, I said USE TO BE. Hubs and I had dinner here with some friends. It has been a few of years since our last visit and we use to have to wait in a long line just to get in the door. Our 1st sign was no extensive line on a Saturday night at 7:30. The inside looks as it did years ago, not much in decor seems to have changed. The tiki vibe is real here. Service was ok, our server started out good and then disappeared during our meal, reappeared in time for dessert and again with the check. Garlic rolls are still good and so was the clam chowder. Black mussels appetizer were ok, kinda fishy tasting. We had the steak and snow crabs, sautéed scallops with lemon butter, fried jumbo shrimp, and oysters. Our entrees arrived warm which was pretty disappointing. The steaks were supposed to be medium rare (love the old fashioned Sizzler temp sticks) but were not. They were medium well and dry which was disappointing. Our server didn't come back to check on us so we had no choice but to let it get colder or eat it so we ate it. The fried jumbo shrimps were really greasy. It was a VERY underwhelming dinner. We split dessert of coconut cake, slice of paradise and key lime. Like our meal, they were warmish. We felt so rushed through our meal, but there wasn't a wait for our table. It just seemed like the succession of sit down, order apps, order food, order dessert was so rushed we didn't have time to really enjoy or chat. Overall, it was a pricey and mediocre meal leaving all of us disappointed. To top off a bad meal, I spent early morning & the next day sick as well as a friend with us. We all shared our food so I'm not sure. Can't say it was food poisoning, but it wasn't pleasant and only after we both had dinner here. Hubby was reminded the last time we ate here he got food poisoning and ended up in the hospital for dehydration. Not going to gamble again and dine here. Way too many decent seafood places and the novelty of a Bob Chinn's has passed. read more

It was better than last time. Ordered the same thing as last time. Better salad bar, main course was tasty, even the service was better. Went much earlier in the day for dinner. Note to self - go early or stay home. read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

This is not the Bob Chinn's we used to love. The place was empty compared to the long lines we knew to get into the best seafood place in Chicagoland! The menu is extremely pared down to very limiting choices. I was looking for the crab fingers but not on the menu. I decided to go for the Alaskan King Crab Legs @200.00 no way! We were forced to take what was on the menu of the day gone are the great fish selections too. Our fish entree was decent @$47.00 plus blue crab appetizer I believe $50.00! Not sure if I'll give Bobs another try, very expensive for just an average meal. This is t the first time we've been disappointed there. We have been going to Bob Chin's since it opened and it was one of our favorites. Highly doubt if we will go back .. it's definitely not Bob Chinn's Crab house but "no crab"house now. read more

The ambiance here is nice - takes you back a little too. Love the walls with all the celebrities on them. The service here is pretty good. We've had a really good waiter once who made us feel special and another who was pretty blah - just depends I guess - but everything always came out nice - they just don't come around and ask if you want another drink sometimes. The food- so fresh and the flavors are really good. I was surprised how good the steak was from a fish place but it hit! The lobster tail too was cooked to perfection and a real nice treat. The scallops on the trio are so very tiny but they have real good flavor. Come on down! This place is tasty! read more

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It's been years since we've been here. They still rock! The ambience was warm like we remember it. But man has is become expensive! $300 for 2 people! The eggrolls with crab inside are awesome. The complimentary bread buns with chopped garlic and butter were fine but not as good as we remember. Their famous Mai Tai that uses guava juice is wonderful. We got a pitcher but my wife didn't have more than one cup, so next time we definitely don't need a pitcher. The 18oz King Crab Legs were great but my wife only ate about half. So next time I can share her crab in addition to my steak. Don't forget to ask for the side of crab sauce to go with your meal. I used to think it was horseradish, but she educated me that it is mayo, lemon, and mustard powder. The latter of which gives it a kick. The Filet Mignon was amazing! Well seasoned with a perfect sear on a medium rare. I added king crab to it but in hindsight she charged me for a steak and pasta combo plus crab. I never wanted nor received the pasta, yet it seems I paid for it. Also next I didn't finish my steak so next time I only need the 6oz. The special Mirai Corn on the cob was great. read more

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Very nice crews! The atmosphere is good. The food are fresh and tasty. The price are reasonable. read more

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This is first restaurant I had when I visited Chicago years ago. The standard of food quality has not been changed. It's always very fresh and delicious. The restaurant is not a traditional Chinese restaurant, it's more of an American restaurant with Chinese touches. My all time favorite was Black fish, which they don't have this time. I had the Surf and turf, the Thursday lunch specials today. The filet mignon was absolutely perfect, however, the scallops were a little disappointment. The taste is delicious, but the breading outside of the scallops made it taste too heavy. Salad bar is so lovely with so much choice. Service was good today. read more

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Another excellent meal. It looks as though they've trimmed the menu to concentrate what they do best. We were highly entertained by our engaging longtime server who gave us lots of back stories. The garlic rolls are always delicious and then we were cracking our crab legs. The bread pudding was the perfect end to our meal. read more

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Friggin awesome seafood, straight and to the point no bs, just extra fresh great seafood. read more

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What a fall from grace. Trimmed down menu Pasta dishes from the past lacked any flavor and seafood tasted previously frozen. Garlic butter bread was borderline cold and stale. Server looked like a broken person. Restaurant was mkstly empty and depressing overall. Never returning. read more

First off this place is HUGE! I haven't been here in well over a decade. I was excited they now take reservations. I am the only person in my family who doesn't eat seafood. I always get a fillet...and drinks. Mai Thai's are delicious and strong. Fillet is cooked perfectly! For sides I did green beans and sweet potatoes. All were delicious and everything anyone ordered they loved. Specials were flown in earlier that day from Hawaii. The bob's slice of paradise is the best thing ever! Key lime pie was good too. read more

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My drink came in a plastic cup! That's all I needed to know and should have left! I asked for fresh fish and was served fresh frozen. Yuck!! read more

Free garlic rolls were kind of terrible, but that's not what we're here for. Very busy, nautical restaurant. (I mean, it's a crab house.) Lots of available seating but like I said, they're busy. Smaller groups usually got booths or small round tables. Larger groups can sit at long tables BUT ideally, you want a large round table with a lazy Susan, which is a classic Chinese restaurant move. There are sinks all around the restaurant for you to wash your hands after wrestling your seafood, which I thought was a nice touch. We came here for a going away dinner. We ordered some scallops as appetizers and they were okay; didn't really taste like much. We also got the black mussels in the tomato and white wine sauce and they were a hit, especially for my Chinese grandparents. Crab cake nuggets were also a hit. The star of the show is of course the king crab legs. They're expensive, yes, but man are they delicious. Each order comes with 2-3 legs. You could definitely split an order but you'd probably want to order something else as well to feel full. Swordfish was meh. Stuffed basa was raved about. Service was amazing - truly above and beyond. Our server (I think his name was Alex?) was super attentive and personable. He gave us a demonstration on how to efficiently crack open crab legs with ease, which everyone got a kick out of. He also got us some extra crab leg tools to take home at the end of the night. We put in 4 orders of crab legs for 9 people. One of the orders came out with three smaller crab legs instead for two big legs so that each person could have their own leg, which I thought was a nice touch. All in all, a great send off dinner that I'm sure my whole family will reminisce about for years to come. read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - FRESH Premium Select Alaskan Red King Crab Legs, Maryland Crab Cake Nuggets, Swordfish, Stuffed Asian Basa, - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

Had the hawaiian snapper special with a sides of green beans, broccoli and red skin potatoes and it was all delicious! Our service was a little slow because our server Jorge, who was so friendly and professional, was covering too many tables! He brought us a free birthday strawberry shortcake treat that had the most yummy fresh strawberries and we shared the apple pie which was amazing! The restaurant seems a little dated but the food is worth every penny! read more

This review was done over 20 days ago and I have yet to be acknowledged! I wasn't only speaking about food I started off with the treatment I receive Reputation and Integrity is all we have in the end and Bob Chinn's has none of that for me anymore! It was one of my favorite places Food,Atmosphere and Wait Staff for at least 20 plus years personal and professionally ! The world is an ugly place now and to able to have a fantastic meals at these prices mean alot without the side dish of mistreatment read more

Salmon and red snapper were excellent. Steak was amazing. Salad bar was fresh with exceptional variety as always. Friendly and timely service. A great dining experience. read more

Our dear waiter Felipe was the best, and I'm going to my repeat myself, the best waiter I've ever had . He was extremely pleasant and kind. He had a contagious smile and he was the best waiter I could have asked for. The vibe within the restaurant made me feel as if I was in Hawaii. The food was fresh and scrumptious, and If I had the chance I would 100% return again. read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

Eaten there many times for years. Dine in & take out. Never had bad experience. Yesterday. Super Bad. Take out 2 orders whole Maine lobsters $72 each. Asked for steamed. They said they "top off" in broiler to give more palatable red color. Said OK. Tails were barely edible. Cut in half. Old warmed up looking. Chewy. Stringy. Tasteless. Originally Wanted King Crab Legs but they have taken them off the menu. Don't get the whole Maine lobster. read more

The classics never go out of style. Bairdi snow crab is one of the better things you can eat on this planet. It was so sweet and clean-tasting, the more expensive king crab paled in comparison. Enjoyable fries, good creamy coleslaw, and pleasantly buttery potatoes and green beans rounded out the show. The side dish portions are not big, but that was fine with me because the crab was generous and meaty. We forgot to take a picture of Bob's slice of paradise, the ube and coconut pie with macadamia crust. Don't skip it! Ube filling is often heavy, but this was angel soft and light. The nuts give a terrific crunch to the crust. Take it to go if you're too full for dessert. read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - King Crab Bites, fries, coleslaw - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

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Such a beautiful memories growing up. Bob Chinn's is just one of those place that you grew up with. Went in for bday dinner! Classic, but good food. My favorite blue crab claws! read more

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My family has been going to Chinn's at least twice a year, since they opened in 1982, and we even had dinner at the restaurant that used to occupy the same building, which was then The Hartmann House, where, in the huge basement downstairs, on certain days of the week, featured all you can eat fried chicken, fish, and spaghetti dinners for one dollar each! I personally have eaten at Chinn's over a hundred times, because my company was nearby and used Chinn's for business lunches, anniversary parties, impromptu meetings, celebrations, and is where my buddy and I went to lunch quite often, where he'd get their great steak sandwich and I'd get whatever seafood I craved. It's been a tradition of over ten years for the family to go to Chinn's on Easter Sunday where my mother the matriarch, would treat the entire extended family for dinner, and now I'm carrying on the role of the patriarch, and doing the same. And now, the problems: 1. The porch in front is now enclosed with a big black wall since they're probab;y renovating 2. Lots of empty tables. 3. Not a single customer in the bar at 4:30 PM. 4. Slow service; My daughter ordered a bowl of Clam Chowder and it took about a half hour to finally arrive. 5. No picks were supplied, so we had to use the tines on the dinner fork to cut the shells open 6. This last problem was the most egregious for me seeing that I only ordered raw clams at Chinn's and no other restaurant, since they were jet fresh as if they came directly off the boat a couple hours ago. I also enjoyed all the other clam dishes that Chinn's served, and would order all of them. This time, there were absolutely NO clams whatsever! I got the impression from a server I asked, that clams were not profitable and were now discontinued indefinitely. It makes me wonder what they're using for clams in the clam chowder. Could they be using canned clams, frozen, or do they get the fresh clam meat from a local store. Right up north on Milwaukee Avenue is Boston Fish Market and they have everything that Chinn's doesn't have, such as a happy hour, clam dishes of all kinds, blue crab claws, ...etc. I informed my family that Chinn's is out! read more

Always fresh seafood and as regulars we have our tried and true favorites: shrimp cocktail - as long as it's served with cantaloupe and cocktail sauce. (Amazing!) and shrimp are huge. A must try for an appetizer alongside the free garlic rolls. The stuffed basa is our go to fish dish- fish stuffed with a creamy crab mix and broiled. So good with their red potatoes - ask for Bob's special salt seasoning to take this over the top! And you cannot possibly go to Bob Chin's without their famous Mai Tai. read more

You can't go wrong with a lunch or dinner at Bob Chinn's! After you've enjoyed the garlic rolls hot out of the oven - the soup or salad bar is always a good idea to enjoy before the meal comes. And your main course is going to be some of the freshest seafood you've ever eaten. We always try and save room for dessert, but that usually means taking some of our dinner home so we can have room for their delicious island treats. read more

First time going to Bob Chinn's. I was prepared for it to look like a cafeteria , given past reviews. I was pleasantly surprised by the wooded exterior. Inside, although we had reservations, we stood in a short line for the 2bd host stand. At the front of the line, she handed us menus and sent us to a 3rd host deeper into the restaurant. He was extremely welcoming. However, we waited almost ten minutes at our table without any server greeting us, and no waters. Plus, although we did get the menus from the host, we didn't get a drink menu. After waiting almost ten minutes, my husband spotted an open booth in a nicer area, against the windows and asked the host if we could move, explaining we still hadn't been served. He was profusely apologetic, and moved us to the large booth in a pretty section with a lovely view of trees outside and immediately our excellent server came up (Daniel, I think?). From then on, the dinner was perfection. The rolls came quickly. They were warm and covered in a lovely garlic olive oil. I could see others loving this but we'd prefer to skip them next time. A bit hard and just extra carbs when we'd rather save room for the meal. We ordered two appetizers. The mushrooms arrived almost immediately and were excellent. With only two people, though, it was a bit too much for us - better for a group. We also got the scallops. Omg. I like scallops but I did not know they could be that succulent. Flavorful, tender, with just a hint of crisp at the edges. Lovely sauce without being greasy. I got the Basa stuffed with crab. Other reviewers complained that they're fished from rivers with chemicals but many websites claim that cooking the fish fully solves the problem. Who knows. At any rate, it was delicious. Flavorful and flaky. The crab is not just perched on top but stuffed. I asked the hollandaise sauce on the side. The meals come with choice of two sides. I chose the rice and slaw. Both were good. Slaw is very thinly grated and a refreshing sauce. My husband got the swordfish blackened. I normally don't like steak-like fish but this swordfish was so tender and juicy that I'd consider getting it next time. We both had a cocktail and I'd suggest skipping them and getting wine or beer instead. The blackberry bramble was excessively sweet and not balanced. Just tasted like fruit juice. The Manhattan was smooth but was the weakest Manhattan I've had. Normally those are quite strong for me and I didn't feel a buzz. So if you just want the flavor and like sweet drinks, get it. Otherwise, skip. I didn't knock a star down for this because to each their own - some people love sugary drinks so I didn't feel it was a fault, just not what we like. But the luau cake is not to be missed! Light and airy, it was a perfect way to close a delicious meal. Only lightly sweetened without being cloying. And a delectable effervescence of coconut. Light enough (and low enough priced at only $7) that I could almost order one just for me next time ! read more

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Great customer service. I ordered the pork chops with fettuccine Alfredo and they were cooked perfectly. My friend had 2 3 ounce filets, 3 scallops and a 5 ounce lobster tail. Cooked to perfection. Not very crowded for a Sunday night which was nice. I am definitely coming back! read more

We were served by Christina P. When I tell you that this server knows how to make new customers feel welcome; it is an understatement. Tina went above and beyond. Her recommendations were excellent and enhanced our first time at this restaurant. We told her that we were visiting from out of town and she went as far as to give us detailed directions on how to take a water taxi in the city. If you have never been here, you must try this place. Nothing was canned or processed and the taste showed it. The salad bar had homemade pickles! The clam chowder was buttery and perfectly seasoned. The lobster roll was full of real lobster and accompanied by a delicious garlic butter. My pork chops were moist and perfectly seared. To top it all off, the cups they use to serve your soda are sent home with you! Bravo Bob Chinn's read more

Our Server, Erik was excellent taking care of our large group. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the food. The person sitting next to me ordered the same as me; Cup of Clam Chowder and the Fresh Grilled Grouper. The Chowder was tasty but not the best in the area since it wasn't as creamy as other locations. Yet the clams were tender. Our Grouper was very good but I would have liked a little more olive oil or butter and herbs in the preparation. It was not dry but lacked a bit of flavor. My sides of Green Beans and Red Potatoes were excellent. Kudos to the chef for not oversalting anything. Other entrees ordered were the Seafood stir fry and another near me ordered the Fresh Red Snapper. Food is pricey and not a place I can visit that often. Yet the atmosphere and food are worth it. read more

Expensive but good and garlicky this has changed since Bob passed away It actually changed a lot during and after COVID read more

Really bad value and pretty bad food. You can charge high prices if the food is good, but you're literally overpaying for bad food. I got the frutti di mare, and the first round of mussels had 2 spoiled ones. They smelled SO bad. I sent it back and got a new one, and it was better but still one of them didn't smell that fresh. The pasta was tasteless and there wasn't really a sauce. Really disappointing pasta fish. Even with the Monday special discount, it was still $30! Two king crab legs is nearly $100. One halibut is $30. Those were decent, but expensive. Fries were pretty good, at least. The Monday special crab carbonara was $40 somehow, and it was flavorless. Restaurant was empty. The fish tank at the front was empty except for one sad lobster. The restaurant's ambiance, prices, and flavor all disappointed. The service was pretty good, though. You can go to Chicago and enjoy a Michelin starred meal at these prices. I probably won't be coming back :( read more

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We ordered carryout for 3 dishes - lobster meat, Mediterranean whole sea bass, and crabmeat vermicelli.   For the lobster meat, we chose the Cantonese style, which basically is stir-fry in soy and pepper sauce.  It was pretty delicious, and actually better than our expectation.  The lobster meat comes with 2 side dishes.  Tip: for the best enjoyment, you may want to eat the lobster meat with a lot of rice.  The rice would taste super yummy with the soy and pepper sauce, and you can order steamed Jasmine white rice as a side dish.  Since we wanted the other side dishes (such as green beans), we have cooked a pot of rice at home. We tried the sea bass in Bob's version, in which they steamed the fish in soy sauce.  Our daughter does not like black beans and olives, and we have asked to remove these two ingredients.  Without the black beans and olives, the sea bass looked a little bland in the photo.  But in fact it tasted pretty good.  Aside from the Bob's version, the other styles are fried or broiled.  I would recommend the Bob's version, as steaming is the only way to preserve the freshness of the fish.  Just like the Cantonese style lobster meat, it's best to eat it with rice. With an interesting mix of ingredients, the crabmeat vermicelli has a unique combination of flavors. The crabmeat was stir-fried with cellophane noodles, bacon, onion, and egg.  It was cooked with oyster sauce and was quite yummy.  While the lobster meat and sea bass dishes each came with two side orders, the crabmeat vermicelli only had one.  However, all 3 dishes came with 2 garlic rolls each.  I can say that Bob Chinn's has the best garlic rolls. We have been to Bob Chinn's for many years, both dining in and carry out.  I am glad that they have been able to maintain the standard even with the passing of the legendary founder Bob Chinn in April of last year. read more

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We love Bob Chinn's. We have been coming here every year for my dad's birthday for almost 10 years. It's a great tradition and the food has always been delicious. The service is consistently good and the wait staff are friendly, attentive and knowledgeable on the menu. The mai tais are a staple here and my dad always orders them. We love how they let you take home the mai tai cups. This recent visit, I ordered the 2 pc 5 oz lobster tails with fries and cole slaw on the side. The lobster tails are incredible! 3 other people at our table ordered the same thing. It's a pretty decent deal that includes two sides. Our server, Dan, was awesome! We did notice that some of the menu items are overpriced. For example, the salad bar is now $16. Also, we found it strange that Saturdays are the only days in which you cannot use your birthday coupon for $25 off. Saturdays are extremely popular days for people to celebrate their birthdays at a restaurant. If you're going to offer $25 off as a birthday gift, you should allow the person to use it on any day they want. We will have to remember that for next time. Overall, this is a fun place to come for a celebration or just for a nice dinner with family and friends! read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - 2pc 5 Oz lobster tails with fries and cole slaw - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

Yesterday was my first time at Bob Chin's and I really enjoyed the experience! Our server was very attentive , kind and always kept our "shell bowl" clean despite all of our discards! The ambiance was relaxing, welcoming and casual , the energy was very good and I loved seeing the jet fresh documents! The food was tasty and nothing was bad! A bit expensive but that's to be expected with seafood. The buns were garlicky and soft! And you could order as much as you want! The calamari was incredible, super tender and I loved the jalapeños and red sauce 5/5 The spicy tuna on crispy rice was a yummy bite! Nothing outstanding but good! 4/5 The oysters were huge! So fresh and delicious, I could have had another dozen! 5/5 For being a seafood spot , the porterhouse was impressive, very tender and a nice sauce! A pleasant surprise and a cool take on a classic steak! 5/5 We also got snow crab , king crab and all the sides! Snow crab was definitely the sweetest and tastiest! Thank you to the staff at Bob Chin's ! Can't wait to go back ! read more

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Food, service, wine and beer all excellent. Place is old school but great restaurant; albiet steamed crab bites little overpriced for what you get. read more

Jorge was amazing and we went home full! We love our stuffed shrimp and pasta!!! And can't forget those delicious mi ties yummy!

Well ... we would go for the crab legs No crab legs unless you want to pay$200 We ordered the carbonara dish based on the description Not even close Very little seafood, no bacon, no sauce but lots of noodles for $60! Totally not worth it! What happened to this place!?!? Good thing we went for the people and not the food. So sad read more

Alaska king crab is over priced otherwise it's a great place to eat good food good staff great oysters