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    El Cangrejo

    4.0 (72 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    El Cangrejo Photos

    Business Info

    EL CANGREJO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Very loud
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Rice
    Monika W.

    Oh. My. Gosh. I came here on a date and the food changed my life. First they start your off with a complimentary fish ceviche served with tostadas and crackers. You know a place is gonna be good when the first thing they bring you before the menu is ceviche! This was my first time having langostinos in Nayarit sauce and I'm worried I'll never find anything as good as how this restaurant does it. Their Nayarit sauce is absolutely flavorful and delicious, I could not get over it. Put it on your rice, dip your tortilla in it, dip some bread in it and it all pairs nicely. The langostinos were cooked perfectly, the sauce was flavorful but not to the point that it overpowered the flavor of the langostino as well. The service was fantastic and they're BYOB as well! We washed everything down with agua de jamaica. I can't wait to come back and bring my friends!

    Pulpo a la diabla Langostinos Chicken nuggets

    To start off with it's packed for the hype It's not that great We got the langostinos and they where too salty We got the pulpo a la diabla and they tasted like bar barbecue sauce and some hot sauce and weren't that good And on top of that my little girl got some nuggets and didn't even eat them she said McDonald's nuggets were better Only pro it's byob but they took my miche mix cuz they said they sell it

    12 oz shrimp ceviche, cooked

    4/5 Food 4/5 Service 3.5/5 Atmosphere / Seating Arrangement 3.5/5 Value (good but better at other places) 4/5 Cleanliness I was really craving some fresh ceviche on a hot 80 degree day in May. El Cangrejo did not disappoint! We were given fish ceviche as an appetizer which was enough for 2 tostadas. The small 12 oz shrimp ceviche was a great size, enough for 3-4 tostadas more. After 2, I was full so I took the rest home.

    Osiris R.

    I'd give them more stars if i could! Best seafood in all of the Chicago area ! Bit of a wait on weekends , but trust me it is very much worth it !! The restaurant is BYOB friendly and they have live music . Make sure you check it out

    Raw oysters
    Angie 'Nana' M.

    You must try the cucaracha style/sauce. It is straight FIRE. I eat it on its own. It's amazing on tostadas, shrimp, langostinos...haven't tried it, but for sure would be bomb on oysters. The restaurant is BYOB. The waitresses are really nice and professional. The restaurant is clean and adheres to social distancing and reinforce wearing masks. The aqua mineral preparada (with salt and lime, served in a salt- rimmed cup) is my go- to drink.

    Lino I.

    Bro this shit it bad 20 dollar for the this shit. I might as well go to Los Magueyes Seafood there pasta taste better and it's more for sure. This is how I got it my plate all I did was push everything together. Not even for three bits I have her in the dish. It's a rip off

    The sign.
    Damian P.

    This place at one time was La Isla Maria's and wow the seafood was awesome. With that said: We decided to come on down on a Sunday afternoon for some seafood soup and a shrimp/octopus cocktail, since we do live about 5 minutes from their front door. Now, back in the day (a few years ago actually), we use to come and have the above concoctions and be so satisfied and always we would leave with a smile. Of course, they are BYOB so that was a plus. Today was different..... We came in and of course my partner wanted the Sopa de Mariscos which is seafood soup. I, on the other hand wanted a cold and cool dish such as a cocktail of shrimp and octopus. We brought in our beers, from the outside. And they seemed warm so of course, the waitress gave us glasses with ice, ummm corona's so don't taste good when they are watered down. So I asked: "Miss Waitress, what is the Mendiga Especial"? It was in the section with the cocktails so this had to be good. Of course, she said it was minced up jalapenos, octopus and whole shrimp. Okay this is an easy hit, I want it. My partner of course got his seafood soup ("Why am I not surprised), so I was happy. Until she came with a cocktail glass and HOT SOUP! Oh no, I thought this was a cocktail, and I didn't really bitch about it because it took a while and I didn't want to wait any longer. But she did state, would you like something else instead. Ummmm no I am hungry! (YELPers, we never compromise on a meal and I am sorry to say, I broke that mantra, I COMPROMISED)!!! It was weak, the shrimp still had their shells on and their feelers looked so unappetizing. What is wrong with me? But I take full blame, but it still doesn't help the taste. They just don't have that. So of course I give it a 3 Star, yes my friends, a rarity, but it happens. Next time we go to a real seafood joint that we are familiar with. So not worth the $30+ tip we spent. *(Well the partner spent). Go somewhere else if you want seafood that has flavor. It just didn't make the cut. But you be the judge,

    Krystal R.

    Wow!! From BYOB (family had micheladas, in which the place gave them the mix and they brought their modelos), to the live music, and of course all of the yummy, spicy seafood!! I'm just mad I haven't found out about this place sooner!! P.s don't go with a large group on a Friday because you'll wait a while for a table. Pic of the stuffed pineapple I had but family had way more delicious food as well.

    Platillo de chapuzon...spicy! But yummy!
    Stephanie R.

    This is my favorite spot for langostinos! Every time we've come here we are sat immediately and the service is usually good. Beside the delicious langostinos, the shrimp empanadas and the chapuzon are among my favs on the menu. The patrons are always served an appetizer of ceviche and tostadas to share and an unbelievably spicy (but also delicious) habanero salsa. El Cangrejo is a BYOB restaurant which is a major plus but it's does tend to get pretty loud when there's a band playing, so if you're looking for a nice romantic date night spot this is NOT the place for you lol. But it is great for large groups.

    Camarones a la Diabla
    Andrea R.

    This little restaurant has delicious spicy seafood to fill your cravings! The presentation and taste of the food was al cien! I arrived before 3:30pm on Friday and there was plenty of tables available but were immediately filled so my suggestion is to arrive timely! Since it's BYOB, tables take a lot more time to empty.

    Coco Relleno

    Soo so good! The shrimp ceviche, mussels, stuffed coconut and paella are delicious! It's a BYOB restaurant so it keeps the bill low and they don't take reservations.

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    6 months ago

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Service was not bad but the food was oily :( not worth returning. I ordered lagostinos and pastas

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    6 years ago

    Best Mexican seafood in Chicago! Staff is great and its BYOB! Best Langostinos & Red snapper, both must try...

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    8 years ago

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    6 years ago

    This is a great place the food is cooked perfectly. The Saturday nights karaoke is a great time.

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    6 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Literally the best seafood place in Chicago. Everything on the menu is FIRE! Cucarachas and garlic bread is my fave!!!

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    5 years ago

    My parents go to place for mariscos. They are very timely and quick with orders during covid.

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    7 years ago

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    Wentworth Seafood House - Shrimp n eggs.....great dish......couldn't make it my own tho....

    Wentworth Seafood House

    4.3(216 reviews)
    4.8 miChinatown
    $$

    Tl;dr this place is very solid and my go-to dim sum place. I'm sure the seafood and everything else…read moreon their huge menu is also good. Be prepared to wait a little bit for a table, or share a big one with another party at peak times. Prices are reasonable and portions are pretty generous. ===== Kind of lost count of how many times I've been. Love getting the dim sum and noodle dishes here. Some favorites: beef cheong fun with egg, siu mai, Singapore noodle, xo rice noodle rolls, spare ribs, pork and century egg congee. All the food has been very solid. Inside is always bustling and can be a bit crowded. Service is pretty friendly as far as Chinatown goes, and very efficient. There's a guy who works there who I think is the manager or something, because he puts in 200x effort and is always hustling. When he's not around it feels like something is missing. Prices are very reasonable and we like ordering a lot here so that we have tasty leftovers for later. This place has quite a few big tables and is good for large groups. My only nits are that very occasionally a dish or teacup will have a dirty spot, and that the bubble tea here is kind of meh. I don't remember exactly which one I ordered, but it was a little watery and lacking in flavor. It's also probably tough since they're boxed in by boba places now. Pro tip: When you first get your table, they'll ask you what kind of tea you want. If you ignore them or don't know how to answer, the default is green tea. Another one is to come at off-peak times. Not only will you get a table faster, but I think they tweak their portion sizes depending on how crowded it is. Definitely will be back! And I recommend you visit too

    We came during Thanksgiving for brunch. We came around 11ish an was able to get the last 4 top…read more We ordered a few dim sum dishes, fried rice, gai lan and a few drinks. Service was quick and we had no issues with the food nor service. They are consistent with our last visit and are a dependable place for dim sum when we something other than the bigger places. We will be back!

    Photos
    Wentworth Seafood House - Interior of the restaurant

    Interior of the restaurant

    Wentworth Seafood House - Nice shrimp rolls

    Nice shrimp rolls

    Wentworth Seafood House - Dim sum menu

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    Dim sum menu

    Shaw's Crab House - Oysters, East coast

    Shaw's Crab House

    4.2(2.8k reviews)
    6.8 miNear North Side
    $$$

    Loved it - again! We…read morewere here last night for dinner as a party of 5 and dinner was fabulous. As we no longer live in the Chicago area and we're staying downtown, we felt we should pop back over here for lunch today so glad we did. Our server, was quite pleasant and attentive. The support staff were efficient. My wife and I shared the following: - Lobster Mac and Cheese - Seafood Salad - Parkerhouse rolls and butter - Hot tea - Iced tea See you this summer Shaw's Crab House!

    (Kari's Rating 7/10)…read more TLDR: -Louder atmosphere -Good for corporate events -Price is average Came in around 7:30pm on a Friday and it was busy! We waited like 5 minutes for a table but were seated at a small two person booth/table. Our server was pretty busy but attentive and knew a lot about the menu. We ordered the wedge salad and the yellowtail sushi roll. It was spicy and had a nice touch of yuzu on top and the fish was relatively fresh. The wedge salad had plenty of dressing on it and it was pretty good. For the main we got the Chilean sea bass which was very sweet and savory. The scallops had a perfect sear and they were pretty very rich and buttery. The broccolini was steamed and fresh. He finished off dinner with the crème brûlée and the Keylime pie, both of us we had to take home because we were so full. I think overall this experience is pleasant, not something very memorable, but I'm happy I've came here!

    Photos
    Shaw's Crab House - Inside main dining room

    Inside main dining room

    Shaw's Crab House - Full Dozen Oysters

    Full Dozen Oysters

    Shaw's Crab House - Lobster Roll

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    Lobster Roll

    La Palapa - Chicken taco

    La Palapa

    3.3(395 reviews)
    2.2 miMcKinley Park
    $$

    We were driving home from an event looking for a place that was still open at 8 pm and drove past…read morethis brightly lit up restaurant so we made a U-turn and were pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness, service and delicious food! The portions are huge and filled with flavor. We definitely needed to go boxes and the food tasted amazing even the next day. The green salsa is to die for! Sad we didn't order a container to go, but will definitely be back. Seems like the summer time is a great time to visit given all the outdoor space they have.

    I had no idea this place even existed until a friend invited me for dinner. I pull up to La Palapa…read moreto find a spacious restaurant with cute, lit palm trees outside, reggaeton music blasting through the speakers and fast and friendly service. My friend was already there munching on ceviche and once I sat down, our friendly waitress came over right away and gave the menu rundown/highlights. I was overwhelmed by the all the amazing offerings and finally decided on a large Jamaica (a refreshing hibiscus tea/kool-aid like drink and the rompecolchon, a delicious grilled seafood and rice dish. My friend ordered the pineapple chicken, which was half a pineapple grilled and stuffed with chicken, seafood and veggies. Our food came out quickly and we proceeded to pig out. The rompecolchon was similar to a paella but with more seafood, more citrus and lots of cilantro. I was in heaven. The portions were so generous, we had enough to take home for lunch the next day (or a midnight snack). I've already been back and can't wait to go again.

    Photos
    La Palapa - Dining area

    Dining area

    La Palapa - Chicken Taco Carne Asada Taco Rice and Beans

    Chicken Taco Carne Asada Taco Rice and Beans

    La Palapa

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    Langosta Nayarita - Chapuzon

    Langosta Nayarita

    3.9(29 reviews)
    1.8 miChicago Lawn, Marquette Park
    $$

    Avoid This Place: A Dive Bar Masquerading as a Restaurant…read more​If I could give this place zero stars, I would. We came to Langostra Nayarita expecting a decent meal, but what we got was four and a half hours of pure frustration. ​We arrived ahead of our group and were seated quickly, but that was the only efficient part of the entire experience. They dropped off a tiny cup of ceviche and some tostadas, and then we effectively ceased to exist to the staff. ​The service was nonexistent. Our waitress (the one with blonde hair) was the definition of unprofessional. She spent the entire afternoon doing shots with other customers and lounging at their tables rather than doing her job. In the nearly five hours we were there, we only saw her twice. ​To make matters worse: ​The Food: Completely average. Nothing justifies the lack of service. ​The Atmosphere: They're acting more like a messy dive bar than a professional restaurant. ​The Exit: We have currently been waiting for our check for over an hour. ​It is insulting to pay for a meal when you have to beg for the bare minimum of attention. Save your time and your money--skip this place. I will never be back.

    The vibes here are always great! Musicians come in and play and then you can find karaoke playing…read moreas well. It's always a fun and great time. Now the food is amazing as well. We always come for family events or for a good dinner here. Good always hot and tasty. Their mussels and shrimp are flavorful. Also BYOB so perfect place to come to eat and drink and enjoy. Service is always good too as the workers are super friendly and nice.

    Photos
    Langosta Nayarita - Fixed water

    Fixed water

    Langosta Nayarita - Chapuzon

    Chapuzon

    Langosta Nayarita

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    Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Dry Aged Bone In Ribeye

    Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

    4.5(3.5k reviews)
    6.5 miRiver North, Near North Side
    $$$$

    I hate that I loved this place so much! I live in Michigan and was determined to get a reservation…read more So when I finally got it I was elated. First the service, now the host stand can be a little flat but I think they get so busy and it's so in demand they have to be stern but all the staff was amazing. I never needed a thing. They were so nice and checked on us constantly. The food... omg the fooddddd! Healthy portions! You could definitely share if you wanted to be more waist or budget friendly lol. My favorite had to be the shrimp and the steak. The steak was cooked perfectly and the au poivre was a great accompaniment. Dessert was also amazing. Healthy portions for sure shareable. I would definitely make that drove from Michigan to come back! Perfect start to my 30th birthday!!

    I visited for my birthday dinner, and overall the experience was decent. This place has been on my…read morelist for a little bit as I'm all about discovering Chicago's best steak restaurants. The ambience is dimly lit, cozy, with speakeasy-like vibes and seemingly intimate, so it would make a good date night too. Service was great, and our waiter was very attentive and offered his advice and input on food items. I opted for the Lyonnaise Salad, thick-cut bacon, truffle mac n cheese, and Steak frites. My friend had the Double Wagyu cheeseburger. Everything was relatively good, the steak frites cooked a little too done for me though. The salad, the thick-cut bacon, and the cheeseburger were delicious. I am not a fan of the truffle mac n cheese, but then again I don't really like truffle, so take that into consideration. Dessert was delicious! Apple Pie and ice cream were literally so good. While I don't think it's spectacular or anything, it's on par with other Chicago restaurants in this category, and I would visit again.

    Photos
    Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Waiting area and first floor dining

    Waiting area and first floor dining

    Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Bone Marrow

    Bone Marrow

    Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Truffle Mac & Cheese

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    Truffle Mac & Cheese

    El Cangrejo - seafood - Updated May 2026

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