Stone crab were not "Jumbo" $20 each and stunk like rotten seafood... threw them out. Clams were ok, Lobster bisque was passable though not worth $18 for one pint! I would probably just go to Supreme Lobster or Whole foods next year! Staff is totally disorganized. They have no signage for pickup, you have to wait behind the line. 8 people working there all bunched together. No one at register. Even the frozen squid is outrageously priced.....nope! read more

Best lobster rolls in Chicago by far. Amazing staff, Diego was very kind, attentive and knowledgeable! Thanks Diego!

I like this place. One of the survivors after Issac & Stein and Wabash seafood. I went to today and think I got some quality fish. However, I was so grossed out the scale was really dirty and filled with fish residue. I would think it would be health code to clean the scale or put down a wax paper? I wanted to say something but didn't. Was this fish 'scum' there for hours? Days? Don't understand how isn't policy to keep scale clean? I think this place has quality standards, but my experience today questioned that... read more

If you like to cook seafood at home, this is the place to go. It's the best selection I've seen in Chicago. It can get a little pricey but you'll find quality seafood here and lots of fish you can't find anywhere else. They also have cooking classes that I've heard are great. read more

I don't know where to start... I came for the lobster roll and it was amazing, but the coleslaw is the best I've ever eaten. everything is fresh. The staff is very helpful and friendly business is clean. I will definitely come back when I'm in town again. read more

Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop - Seafood Markets Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great staff and wonderful seafood. Everyone is so helpful. We always serve Dirk's seafood at the holidays!

I love this place. Starting with Dirk who introduced me to fish and how to cook it so many years ago. The fish is as fresh as it can be in Chicago, and the staff is very knowledgeable. I have recommended this store for years and continue to do so. read more

Got a Lox bagel and at first thought the price was a bit on the higher side; however, once I get my order I completely understood why the price was what it was. Not only was the bagel loaded with a bunch of salmon, they gave a side of coleslaw with it. Both were amazing. Not only that, but who I believe might be the owner of the place, was cooking salmon, tuna, and shrimp over firewood and was giving out free samples, all three being super super delicious. Great food and great service, highly recommend! P.s. the photo I included does not show what's underneath the salmon- slices of red onion, capers, a slice of tomato and cream cheese. read more

Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop - Seafood Markets Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Having moved to Chicago last year from Los Angeles, this wonderful city (Chicago) has taught me "The Fine Art of Being a Consumer!" By that, I mean food, in particular. Before Chicago, we had one market (Gelsons in Encino); we never went beyond that one place. It was one-stop shopping. It was convenient but boring and had limited selections. Enter the diversity of Chicago. Now, we have: a Bakery (Kasama) a Butcher (Paulina) a Florist (Whole Foods) a Chinese market (88 Marketplace) a Novelty market (World Market) a Mexican market (La Casa Del Pueblo Supermarket) and a Fish market - Dirks! Dirks has just about the freshest fish I've ever had; and I've lived on both coasts and a couple of gulfs. Everything Dirks displays in their refrigerated showcases was alive and kicking a few hours ago. You can smell the freshness as soon as you walk in the door. We've bought everything here from Caviar to large red shrimp. The selection of anything that swims is endless. They also prepare ready to eat foods, like crab cakes, cheviche, and a host of spreads (salmon, crab, and shrimp). Ok, so you're getting my drift on how good their products are. Now listen to how damn knowledgeable their staff is. These fish mavens have more information on how to season, cook, and eat what you just bought, than the Old Man and the Sea. Then, there's Dirk / the owner This guy has more personality than Mohammad Ali. There you have it. This is a "for real" bonifide 5-star review of an excellent market. read more

Such a cute little shop. Was very unassuming outside in the strip mall. It felt like stepping into a seaside fish store. The options were plentiful and the goods were fresh. I got shrimp tacos and they were delicious. The staff was helpful and nice. I can't wait to return! read more

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Despite the high prices, I have always loved Dirks. Party platters are delicious and quality is always amazing. Visited this weekend and bought 2 whole sole and asked for them to be filleted. I didn't look at what I received until I was ready to cook later that night. When I opened the package I had two whole, skinned, uncleaned fish. I called for an explanation and was told this was normal. I paid $89 for 1/2 lb of edible fish when I thought I bought 2 lbs of filets. As much as I've loved Dirks I will never go back. read more

Great shrimp. Behind the counter, not so much. Felt ignored compared to the 'younger' patrons.

I absolutely love this place. I had a dream last night about their bagels. I haven't been here in a while. I just got the best bagel I've ever had in my life. The staff was also so helpful and friendly. So refreshing. (They always are.) I'm actually dining in for once and the vibe here is so awesome. I HIGHLY recommend this place to everyone. I've been treated like royalty and all the food has always been fresh and amazing. Today I give special thank you to Carlos. Thank you for such amazing service. 100 stars. read more

This place is awesome! Wanted to make poke bowls for dinner, they had pretty much everything I needed. The staff was super helpful and fast. The store is the perfect size! Ended up getting sushi grade tuna, seaweed salad, ginger, sesame seeds, and salmon roe. I thought the prices were great for the quality. Will definitely be back next time I need fish! read more

Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop - Poke bowls - Seafood Markets Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best fish/seafood store in Chicago! All good. Come on Saturdays 12-2 for free samples cooked on grille in front of store ( weather permitting) it's a gas and u can try fish & spicing that u may never hav read more

Great fresh selection and knowledgeable staff. I've been going for years and although it's pretty expensive, I gotta say it's probably the best place to buy seafood in the city. The owner Dirk also started Burhop's but then lost it in a nasty divorce. read more

Very fresh seafood. Great caviar selection! Interesting dry good foods. Great variety of refrigerated and frozen foods made right there in the shop! Great owners too! read more

Dropped into this seafood market a few times. Guys in there are super helpful. They have a large selection of fish and even smoked fish, expensive but it's fresh fish+city costs. Lots of house made sauces/marinades for sale and lots of other random market things. The deli serves sushi and sandwiches. They usually have a sandwich of the day for sale. Got the shrimp burger and salmon burger, which both come with coleslaw. Usually salmon over shrimp but I actually enjoyed the shrimp more. Salmon brioche? Bun was a bit burnt. Both burgers had a bit too many breadcrumbs/fillers and not enough fish. Flavor/salt/lemon kind of lacked but the coleslaw added creaminess and enhanced the flavor of the burgers. Overall good. Will have to go back to try the lobster roll. read more

Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop - Shrimp burger - Seafood Markets Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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As much as I love Dirks, the prices have gotten out of control expensive. Yes there is inflation and everything is getting more expensive, but it was just Passover and they were selling gefilita fish balls for $10 a piece. That's insanity. They are no bigger then the ones in the can and taste about the same. I have my limit, and that's clearly beyond it. read more

Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop - Shrimp tacos for lunch - Seafood Markets Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was in the area and needed a refill of fish and seafood, so I popped in. Arriving at an empty parking lot, it got super busy no sooner than I entered. It got to be rather scrambled inside. I bought branzino, red grouper, red snapper, gulf shrimp, another fish, clam strips, and crab claws. The selection was indeed fresh, so I went all out. I also got a small container of cioppino that reminds me of gumbo without the roux and okra. The prices are what I expect from a fishmonger. The quality of the fish was worth repeat visits. You can tell by look and smell if seafood isn't good. I will have to perhaps place an order and pick it up because the customer base waffles between fickle and indecisive. Waiting behind individuals like that can be a deterrent, but they are paying customers. I'll just do my paying online and arrive for pickup. read more

Great quality fish- have picked up some of the sushi grade tuna and salmon as well as soft shell crab! Service is top notch too- they prepared the soft shell crab so we didn't have to do any of the clean up and they were ready to hit the grill. Check ahead to make sure what you want is available if you're looking for something specific, and reserve it. Was able to score the last few soft shell crabs just by luck when we stopped in but wouldn't want to risk it next time. They also were running a great deal with gift cards where you get a free bonus if you buy in $100 increments so look out for that. read more

We had a fabulous lobster roll, but writing this review as the service was just so bad. Not sure if I'd go back because of it.

Came here around 12.30 pm. The store was not full. Thank God! Since we have our three antsy hungry kids with us. We just need to go in and out. We wanted fresh seafood for our christmas meal and we had a great experience with the store so why not go here again? The people that work here are super nice. They try to accommodate us since we looked confuse. To be honest, my "chef" husband doesn't have a grocery list so we practically went here blank. Anyways, the stone crab leg looked super yummy so we got those along with lobster tails and turtleneck clams. They were also so nice to gave us free lemons and a recipe. One thing that the store need to improve is the price tag. They didnt place the correct tag for the items on the display. My husband was a bit shockes when he got charge $60 per pound for the stone crab leg. He thought it was $16 per pound since the price tag was right in front if the crab. Overall, the store and the staff were pretty much on point. read more

Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop - Big lobsters! It was juicy! - Seafood Markets Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My partner and I had a strong hankering for soup and Dirk's was recommended on a Reddit thread so I thought I'd travel into the city to give them a try and pick up 3 different soups. I purchased the New England Clam Chowder, Seafood Gumbo, and Salmon Corn Chowder. I ordered online so I could be in and out but the overall pick up took about 10+ minutes. Upon arrival I was a bit confused as to where to pick up online orders (since this was my first time visiting and trying Dirks) and made my way over to a counter (there were multiple and the store's layout was confusing) to share that I was picking up my order. I shared my name and that I had ordered 3 soups; I was expecting they'd hand me a stapled bag with the soups, crackers, and utensils I requested, but that wasn't the case. After a few moments, a gentleman brought out my soups but I noticed that one of them wasn't filled up completely. Mind you, these soups were pretty expensive (the clam chowder was $10, the salmon chowder was $12, and the gumbo was $15). I asked if they could add more soup to the one that wasn't full and I waited longer because they had to thaw out more soup. After getting the soup, I asked if they had soup crackers (which seems like something that normally comes with soup, or even bread) and they said they had run out. So on top of not seeming prepared, charging a lot for soup, they didn't have crackers nor provided the utensils I requested online. I was frustrated because in total I paid $41+ for 3 soups (not even including the crackers I had to find on my own) which feels absurd now; luckily I'm all about trying things at least once. I get home and warm up the soups and man did the gumbo and salmon chowder disappoint! First off, the salmon chowder (texture wise) tasted like old water with torn up paper in it; flavor-wise I was dumping pepper and salt in it because it was incredibly bland and not creamy enough. There seemed to be way too much salmon or the salmon broke up and made the texture gritty (like paper water). The gumbo was for my partner but I tried it and it seemed over spiced, in a horrendous way. It was so poorly spiced that it took my breath away and I needed to drink water to clear my throat and flush out the taste. I can't put my finger on the spice that overpowers the gumbo but it might be the cayenne or paprika. It was not good at all. But the consistency of the gumbo's broth was LEAGUES better than the salmon chowder. It also felt like a genuine soup. Both of these soups were pretty fishy tasting which also wasn't super great either. The only reason I'm leaving 3 stars is because of the New England Clam Chowder--the saving grace of this entire experience. The broth and the flavors in it were almost perfect; my only complaint is that there just wasn't enough clams or potatoes or actual ingredients in the soup. It felt like I paid $10 for clam chowder broth than a soup which was incredibly disappointing. For the distance I drove, to the price point, I don't recommend Dirk's at all. If I was desperate and had no other options, I'd visit again for the clam chowder but that's about it. It wasn't worth the effort and definitely isn't a good representation of New England or seafood fare. read more

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Everything - Seafood is fresh and sauces are amazing. The staff is extremely helpful. I love this place!

Ordered lobster meat 80 a pound. Walked in the fish counter is dirty but ok I'm still getting the lobster meat. They hand it to me it's still in its shell. I tell them that weighs more and I ordered just the meat.the two men tell me they already cut the shells and it will slide right out. Lied straight to my face. It cost double the price plus not one was cut. I wanted to use them weekly. Now you can't give it to me free from them. Quality was average of the lobster. Don't go in if you're expecting quality and cleanliness. read more

We have been purchasing our fish at Dirk's for a couple of years now, and it is our favorite place (aside from our local butcher shop) for fresh seafood. We are weekly visitors, stopping in 3x a week, and each visit never disappoints. Scallops, king salmon (wild), tuna steaks, swordfish, shrimp, walleye, lake trout, red snapper, sea bass, halibut, ... you name it, and they'll have it (or something better). The shrimp are a must- have with each visit, as they are so fresh, and are excellent as a pre-meal meal. They sell a shrimp sauce that is delicious (although shrimp are so good, you'll enjoy them alone). Service is friendly. Pick up a complimentary lemon on your way out, and enjoy. read more

Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop - Caviar, $60ea or $100 for 2. 1oz. jars - Seafood Markets Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Walked in close to closing time but despite the kitchen being closed young man still went back and made me a lobster roll. Besides great seafood and the best lobster rolls in the city this place has some great local food items. I usually grab some smoked whitefish when I'm there. Place is always clean, well organized and gets you out quickly. read more

Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop - Fresh-Made Lobster Salad Sandwich - Seafood Markets Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A Chicago hidden gem! They have seafood on seafood on seafood here you'd think you're living in the ocean .. in a good way like Little Mermaid of course. Food - got to try their spicy salmon sushi roll (10 pcs.). Fish was great, fresh. Could use more spicy flavor in it but they sell sides of the spicy mayo which I bought & was well worth it. Got the $3 container of tobiko in the frozen section & boy was it legit! I added the tobiko to the sushi and it kicked it up flavor big time! The store - they have an amazing selecting of fine foods. I was very impressed with their products. Their grocery side reminds me of an episode of Frasier. Service - When you walk in you are greeted with a fresh fish deli section. You order your fresh fish & sushi there. They are very observant & was happy to help me when they saw I was ready to order. A lady next to me told me that she goes there a lot & had a big order. While I was waiting for my sush, I noticed the employee helping her knew his fish & helped answer her questions. It feels like a well-ran store. Very homey. I can't believe I never knew about this place as it's not a far walk from home & it's next door to the physical therapist my dog sees so thank you universe! I can't wait to try the cali roll! read more

This place does an outstanding job in providing high quality fresh seafood. I have always had a good experience talking to the fish experts who are knowledgeable about the product. read more

Faroe Island Salmon was fresh and tasty. Had a sample of the lobster salad and it was delicious. Will definitely go back!

The best fish shop! I like buying my fish from a fishmonger and meat from a butcher shop whenever I can. Not always convenient, so I often compromise and shop at a grocery store. But for fish, it's worth a trip to Dirk's. The quality of the fish is good, clean, and scaled. The staff is skilled in estimating the weight of the fish well. (At a fish counter at a grocery store, I am often asked if I take a lot more or less because they cut it too big or small). They carry just the right vegetables and other ingredients to make a good fish meal is impressive, so I don't need to stop at different places. The other day, I wanted to make marinated swordfish with cucumber and avocado salad. They had everything I needed right there. read more

I got some things we needed for a paella dish, little neck clams, mussels and fish stock. Everything is really fresh, I was impressed with the selection they had. I also got the spicy crayfish salad sandwich to go and it was amazing, like 10/10. Very nice people working here helped me out. Hidden little gem! read more

Still a great place for fish but no more lemon. I am not a fan of your tip jar. Please pay your worthy staff a living wage.

I've been coming here for years to buy fresh lobster however I was unaware that they served lobster rolls for carry out. Let me state that this is by far the only fish market I'd be willing to shop at within Chicago. Their prices are a tad steep especially for lobster however the quality is there. My experience with the lobster roll was somewhat bittersweet as I prefer my lobster served warm. This particular roll is served chilled however if felt like there was at least a full pound of lobster meat atop it. Most places are shy in this regard & I'd be willing to bet that this is the biggest one in the city. The restaurant also has my preferred choice of jerk sauce which isn't strictly spice but some actual & tolerable flavor. Every seafood condiment known to man is sold here & you can spend a ton of time simply researching different products & ways to prepare classic dishes. read more

Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop - Fresh-Made Lobster Salad Sandwich - Seafood Markets Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First visit-stopped for lunch and a few items- the take home baked beans and croutons are awesome. From counter got the salmon burger, ceviche and smoked salmon bagel. read more

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Got a few red snapper for Christmas it was a unbelievably efficient operation for such a busy time! Beautiful fresh fish even more importantly! read more

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I love the expanded space!! This place is so so so good. Often you will find them grilling fish outside on the charcoal grill. The tuna and salmon tartare are incredible and the best ever. In addition the king ora salmon is the absolute greatest salmon in the world. It will ruin all salmon for you ever again. Love everything about this place read more

My wife and I had a free night thanks to my parents so we decided make sushi. We have been to Dirk's before so there was no doubt where we needed to go. It's a nice small place that sticks to what they do best seafood and fish. The staff is always helpful and friendly. They even allow you same the products prior to purchasing. Dirks has the sushi grade items that we are looking for. The product has always been fresh and delicious. It would be tough to go anywhere else after our great experience with Dirks read more

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OK place. The salmon burger was fresh and the crayfish sandwich was spiced well. The crayfish sandwich was a little bit on the drier side though and overall the sandwich could've used more ingredients, felt like it was missing something. The price is a little hefty especially for the portions you get. But I'm glad I tried this place (the coleslaw was really good!). read more

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