The fish keg has been around for years. The food is always good but the prices are really high. You have to purchase everything separately, even the sauce. We only come once a year because it's so expensive. read more

I haven been here since the late 80's early 90's. I was never a fan but my husband liked the place until one day he ordered their potato salad and it was spoiled. After eating it he got very sick. When he told them about his exit he next day they didn't even try to compensate him for it. The least they could have done was offer him his money back for the bad potato salad. We haven't been there since that day & we still live in the area, pas it by lots of time. Our only commit is 'there's that place that sells bad food'. read more

I love this place I really do. I been here since I was a toddler and the people there are excellent. But out of all the years I came there, I had one problem issue with my order that I wanted to address to the manager. I known him for years. I was displease with his attitude. He came off a bit aggressive. I was nicely trying to explain to him, but he kept cutting me off and not letting me finish my sentences. I ordered 1 pound of Shrimp through postmates at 5:15PM January 20th. I put a special note on the order stating that I wanted a half pound more of shrimp to my order. When the delivery guy came, I received only 1/2 pound of Shrimp. I tried to explain to the manager that I felt cheated out of my order because it's not what I ordered. I will even post the picture of my order as proof. The manager rudely hang up the phone on me and never let me finish what I was trying to tell him. So yeah that hurt buddy. I forgive you, but you could of not go on a temper tantrum on me over the phone. You should of handle it better. I want you to see and observe the picture closely so you will see that I'm not lying. I am dead serious. The manager told me that they don't deal with postmates, but yet your business is on the service. Interesting. This is why I always keep my receipts. For now I will take a break from Fish Keg. Please in the future talk kindly to customers, when one little problem go wrong. Don't be so rude and let the customer finish speaking before you get ahead of yourself. Thank you. I talked with the manager around January 21, 2019 at 1:04PM. I still have love for you, even when you were rude and disrespectful over the phone. Thanks again for your service. read more

The Fish Keg - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Long ago,perhaps 25 years or more I had some one being food over from fish keg. It was alright. Well tonight 11.17.17 I had a taste for some fish and chips and went there about 9 pm. (STRIKE ONE) everything is a la carte. (STRIKE TWO) This is not fish and chips,this is fish nuggets. (Not the same)These were not light golden brown but dark crunchy bull shit things OVER COOKED. (STRICK 3) french fries are not chips, french fries are French fries. Some thing along the lines of steak fries are chips. I wasnt impressed. BUT before I can condemn an establishment I will need, as in the past, try a place at least 3 times. This was number one., and we're not of to a good start. read more

The Fish Keg is one of those places that makes me realize that my life was incomplete before destiny brought me here. My B.F.K. (Before Fish Keg) self was OK with settling for mediocrity. No longer! For a die-hard fan of fried food like myself, this place is paradise. The old-school storefront is nothing fancy, but who needs that? With friendly faces and speedy service behind the counter, the Fish Keg gives me no reason to go elsewhere for fried shrimp. Their homemade cocktail sauce is divine. I'll definitely have to try the hush puppies next time. read more

Carry out only. I enjoyed the perch and walleye that I ordered, but I would prefer that they did not put the breading on until just before the fish was fried. A place near my office in Dearborn, MI has a wider selection and the fish is on display without breading, which is better. The prices were reasonable. The fries were good, nothing too special. The vinegar coleslaw was decent. If you are in the mood for Fried Fish, its a good choice in Rogers Park with easy parking. read more

I love fried clams. They are one of my guilty pleasures and when I'm craving them my husband fires up the jalopy and off to Howard Street we go! I adore the iconic sign, you can't miss it! Fish and shellfish are always very fresh and you can get your choice prepared how you like it. I've used this place for shellfish platters for parties and they were presented beautifully and again, fresh, super fresh. Prices seem fair for the quality but this place is not cheap, you pay for the quality and freshness. They have a few sides that are homemade. Good chowda, thick with plenty of clams. Lunch will set you back $15-$20 depending on what you order. They have a little outdoor seating area that reminds me of a small, prison yard, go figure. This is a Chicago gem! read more

The hush puppies here are seriously the best I've found in the Chicago area, and my favorite since the ones I had at S&S Barbeque in southern Virginia(South Hill, to be exact) long ago in my youth. You can't go wrong with pretty much any of the fried fish you see in the counter, though I can't comment on some of the other side items people have mentioned(i.e. fruit salads, cole slaw, wings, etc.), as I've never tried any of those. I do like that they give you several sauces you can choose from for the fried fish, though IIRC, they unfortunately charge for at least one or 2 of their sauces. Feel free to PM me on yelp, and correct me in case I'm wrong here. It's very, very strange I never tried this place when I was younger(as I'd occasionally go up with my mom to pick up my brother from choir at nearby St. Scholastica, and would occasionally stop by the now-closed DQ across the street), but glad I finally made it to here. Although I concur with David R. that this is a once in a great while place, I wouldn't mind coming back here again in the future to see how their sides are, whenever again I get a sudden hankering for fried fish. Mmmm! And finally, why do I think this is the type of place Guy Fieri(or for that matter, anyone who's a fan of D,D,+D) would go crazy for? read more

I stopped by to pick up some lunch the other day. Had catfish and hush puppies. What a great lunch. I agree with other reviewers though that the cocktail or tartar sauce should be comped when you buy the meal. They really have a nice selection of fried fish that is cooked to order while you wait. I've been here several times over the years and it is still just as good as it ever was. read more

My mom used to drag me to the fish keg as a kid and it hasn't changed a bit. Fortunately for them, my tastes have! We tried the scallops, shrimp, catfish nuggets, and the whitefish. I simply couldn't believe how tender, buttery and delicious the scallops were, simply the BEST fried seafood I have ever had. The shrimp were a bit dry and overcooked but the fish options were solid choices. My only issue with the place is the SLOW service and the apparent lack of interest in customer service. We didn't receive a part of our order and waited so long we ate most of our food while we waited. With that said, I am a forgiving woman so I will definitely be back next Friday! read more

I've been going here since ... it's been so long I can't remember. 40 years or more! This would be our last stop at 2am before going to the 4am bars when Howard st. had a bar scene. Frankensteins, Sneak Inn, John & Pete's, Twigs and more. All gone now but the Fish Keg is still there and still great. I went there a couple days ago and got a pound of Canadian perch, my favorite. Good, hot, not greasy, light breading and excellent tarter sauce. The shrimp, scallops, walleye, clams etc. all good as well. You have to eat in your car or on the curb like we did a hundred years ago or just take it home, but it's the best to eat it as soon as you can. If Yelp and the Internet would have been around back then I would love to see how many "check in's" I would have had here over the years. It's got to be in the hundreds. They also sell fresh fish, and have an assortment of salads and coleslaw's. Also their fried chicken is good as well and may be the best value in the joint as their prices have crept upward along with everything else I guess. Take out only and forget about going during Lent unless you like waiting. read more

When it comes to fried foods, I'm an absolute snob. Texture and flavor are the first things I look for. Put it another way, crunchy and/or salty sends my endorphins into a frenzy. Just fucking delicious, the Fish Keg is. The fried shrimp is amazing and the Cajun catfish I had was ridiculously good. Their 4 piece fried chicken is also a winner: light breading but still enough to give you some crunch. And at $5.39, it's not only a good deal, it's cheaper than the Popeyes a block over. Only downside was the pieces being smaller than what you'd get from KFC or Popeyes. I just wished I lived closer (or they to me) because I could easily hit this place twice a week without fail. If they offered delivery...oh my fuck, that'd be fantastic! read more

***Do not put the food in your mouth as soon as you get it! It's so hot you'll burn all your taste buds. You have to wait at least 3-5 minutes.*** The best shrimp and fish I've had in Chicago so far! the food is fresh and you can definitely tell when you eat it. For $7 and some change you get half pound of shrimp which is enough for one person. I was super hungry, so I got 1/2 shrimp and 1/2 fish and both were super delicious. Something I do not like is they charge you 50 cents for a small cup of tartar sauce (even if it's your first one). I thought I'd get at least one sauce on the side included in the price. It's not a dine in place unfortunately. So we just sat in the parking lot and ate in the car. I wish there were tables outside or nearby. read more

Bland is what comes to mind. The walleye was not good. Missing seasoning. The catfish was ok. The fish chips were decent, i don't care for bland overpriced food. Not going back. read more

I used to go to the Fish Keg in the 80's and 90's. It has been around forever. There used to be a line out the door. Visiting the area today, I had to stop by and get the shrimp and scallops for my family. Spent $60+ for 2 lb shrimp and 1lb scallops and some fries. I was so disappointed. Maybe the lack of a line should have tipped me off. Seafood was, overcooked, over breaded, and flavorless. The fries were also not good. Such a bummer as I used to love this place. I would not want to return. read more

I've been going to Fish Keg for over 50 years and frankly, they've had their ups and downs. But after today, regardless of the convenience - they're practically next door - I won't go again. The shrimp were small - barely medium size, tasteless, and at $21.99/lb. ridiculously expensive for shrimp that was mostly burnt breading. It will be much less convenient but it's Snappy's on Irving Park from now on. read more

I was introduced to this place several years ago by a girlfriend of mine. She lived nearby and I am so glad she did! Catfish Nuggets??? Hot Sauce??? does it get any better? If you're wondering the answer is NO. This place is a complete hole in the wall but in my experience those are typically the best places! Unfortunately, I'm never this far north anymore so I haven't been in awhile but I think it's time to make a special trip. read more

I'll eat it raw. I'll eat it baked. I'll even eat it with a slice of cake. Most of all I'll eat fried in my car in the parking lot. Yummy crunchy crust lots of yummy dipping sauces and clam strips I feel dirty ordering them but they taste so good. I need to go back soon so I can sample many more of their fried delights and think I shall because no one is going to watch me lick my fingers and wipe my hands on my jeans when I'm done. read more

Let Me Make This Simple 1. Dried up old seafood sitting in thick breading 2. Unseasoned, Bland Dry, everything! 3. Way over priced 4. Charge for condiments, ( So I am paying $16 for shrimp in a old dusty greasy bag and you cant give me sauce? Listen, this is Chicago there is great food on every corner as a matter of fact, you can drive directly down the street in Evanston to old dusty Chicken Shack and get better tasting food with lower prices great sides included with you meal. And get this you'll actually get sauce, napkins and a fork! OK I would rather drive 30 minutes away to DiColas Seafood, all the way out on 10754 S Western Ave, for actual fresh seasoned & superior tasting seafood! "Because its worth it" And I live right around the corner from the Fish Keg. P.S. I don't know the reasons people gave this place a favorable review, maybe Fish Keg paid a marketing agency or had family and church members write fraudulent reviews. read more

Put Fish Keg on your list fort fried seafood spots! A few days ago I was comparing Groupon offers for two fried shrimp and seafood joints in the city, neither of which were near my usual travelings. My mom began to reminisce about a place her and my father used to go for excellent fried seafood in the 70s, Fish Keg, and wondered if it was still open. A quick search showed it was, so we made plans to hit them up for dinner yesterday since we weren't going to be far. Mom was surprised to see how nothing changed, and the employees said it was run by the same owners from back in the day. We ordered 1lb shrimp, 1lb fish chips, 1/2lb clams, 1/2lb smelts, and 1/2 chicken fried out of curiosity since it was only $6. Most of the food was brought home to the burbs but I ha to try the smelt, shrimp, and clams first. Oh wow, I seriously have superhuman will power to not eat it all because it was damn good! While heating the food up a little in the oven wad the best way to warm it up, it wasn't the same. The seafood itself was fine but the breading turned a bit hard and did a number on the roof of my mouth. The chicken wasn't bad but if you want chicken specifically you'll go elsewhere, this place is first and foremost seafood. To the few critics I saw below, either you went on an off day or you're judging Fish Keg to lesser quality establishments. First, the prices are in line with other quality seafood joints of this caliber. I just checked 5 other popular places and the shrimp cost the same while a couple other items were higher or lower. None had anywhere near the number of options Fish Keg had either. Second, dried up and bland? No way, sorry. A couple people said the breading was too thick but I didn't think so, it was pretty sufficient and wasn't as much as some places that actually do get carried away with breading. Charging 49 cents for condiments is lame though, and it would be nice if they had a coupler seats. read more

Most of the good fish houses I grew up with were situated along side of a body of water however this is the exception, no river on Howard Street.... But the Fish Keg gets my vote! Authentic little fish house with awesome fried shrimp by the pound along with a host of various other fish and seafood. Great display and wonderful assortment of fish spices. A great place to visit on the far north side! read more

This place has the right stuff!! I've been coming here since I was a kid, and, let me tell you, they have this prepping and frying fish thing down to a science!! The fish chips are amazing! The oil in the fryers is always fresh and clean and everything is fried at the perfect temp... No nasty excess grease.. You pick what you want by weight and they fry it up right there while you wait. Oh did I mention fried chicken as well?? Yeah. That's right. Chicken too. Of course they have fresh fish and shrimp available as well. And, just a heads up, this place is tiny and old school so expect to be carrying your stuff out, there's a nice big parking lot right next door so parking is no problem. read more

The Fish Keg - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Picked up lunch from here. I got the lemon pepper whitefish, which is precooked adn they just reheat it for you when you order. They told me before I ordered, but still, it was way overcooked and the seasoning did not work well. I couldn't finish eating the whole filet because it just didn't taste good to me, although I did feel good about myself for choosing the healthier option. My bf got fried shrimp, walleye, and hush puppies, and I tried a bit of each. The seafood didn't taste fresh, although I did like the hush puppies. read more

Some of the BEST fried seafood around the City of Chicago! These guys have been around for over 50 years and I've had the pleasure of enjoying their delicious fried shrimp and perch since the early 90s. Monty and the rest of the guys are a great bunch and fun to have a conversation with. Wish they opened a bigger location since there is no where to sit, however I'm not going to complain. Well worth the drive from across town or even the suburbs read more

Terrible ordered from grub hub and no sauces how can u have fish and chips with no tarter or any sauce and we bought them too for .60 cents each and they forget them u would think they would t every time bs read more

Just OK. $16.00 for 1/2 shrimp and 1/2 catfish nuggets, that have so much batter you can't even taste the fish (and the shrimp are so tiny). To top it off, each order comes with absolutely nothing else! I can't imagine that this product is even fresh once you take a gander at the seafood case. Looks like everything has been sitting there forever (probably purchased from the local Jewel). I'm spoiled by places like "Shrimp Express" on the far south side- lines out the door because the product is so fresh, succulent and less expensive! I'm not sure how they are staying in business, as there is hardly anyone in there on a busy dinner evening! read more

Decent fried food. It's a walk-up (my favorite kind of fried fish stand). Very oily and flavor is decent. The fried scallops are good. However, Hagen's Fish Market and Calumet Fishery are far better. Hagen's has somehow figured out how to make fried fish that is not oily/greasy. Calumet is oily but just tastes so much fresher and better than Fish Keg does. read more

The fish keg is probably one of the more random places I visit every now and then. While I don't ALWAYS get a hankering for fried fish, I can always count on consistent quality from the Fish Keg. They always have the standbys of shrimp and chicken fingers, but change it up every now and then with the fish selections. Even if the place is packed, the service is fast. Calling in an order can help if you have a lot of items you're ordering. Also, the creamy cole slaw is the best! read more

Hush. Frickin. Puppies. I've never had better. My arteries still hurt from last time I ate here -- but if you want fried fish and hush puppies, this place does them absolutely perfectly. read more

1/2 pound of shrimp fried light, 2 cans of RC, and some fries. 2 BBQ sauce. Make the perfect meal to scarf down in your car. Seriously this is the best fried shrimp you can get anywhere in the city, if not the country. My father has been taking me here since I was 5 and I have never found any better fried fish out there. I've tried nearly everything else they serve and the only thing I would stay away from is the breaded fried salmon, only because salmon is weird with breading on it and it's already a really fatty fish to go frying it. I don't even like Hush Puppies but I get a craving for their all the time. Don't let the dingy interior/exterior, the abandoned Dairy Queen, and the wandering crack heads fool you...the only reason this place has existed for so long is because it is the best damn fried fish you can ever eat. After writing this review, I am going to head over there for some shrimp right now. read more

Fish Keg is awesome. Want good fish and homemade salads? This is the place to go. Their fresh seafood can either be packaged as is or made to order in their store. I usually just order their shrimp which is fantastic and sometimes a side salad. I used to only go to the Fish Keg on the way back to the city from Evanston and looked forward to each visit. Now that I moved a little farther north, I am lucky enough to be a short distance from this hidden jewel. They are open until 1am on weekends and usually are waiting for you to just place your order for take out. I would NEVER go there on a Friday during Lent though! Watch out! read more

For deep-fried goodness, look no farther than the Fish Keg. Homemade batter, hand breaded and fried to perfection: there really is no topping this place. It's a dive, to be sure. But it's one of those venerable dives that has stood the test of time (almost 60 years under the same ownership!), and this is clearly a result of their superior food. If you're there for the first time, I highly recommend you get a mix of shrimp and fish chips. These are the specialties. Pick up a container each of the made-from-scratch cocktail and tartar sauces (skip the BBQ and hot sauce, they're premade) and enjoy. For those not looking for seafood (I can't imagine why you're reading a review for the Fish Keg), they have a delicious fried chicken entree. Add hush puppies and a side of homemade coleslaw and you've got your meal. Cons: - For frozen fish, some of their prices are a bit inflated. - No seating here! No seating here! Be warned, you'll be eating this in your car. Crack a window, it's fried seafood. - Their tropical fruit salad is bland and definitely frozen. Tip: - Call it in! You can place your orders ahead of time to avoid waiting - particularly useful on weekend nights or anytime during Lent. Remember, though: it takes them like five minutes tops to cook your order and then it's sitting under heat lamps. Don't be late; fresh fish is good fish. "Not too dark, not too light. I want my fish chips cooked just right." read more

After living in NY for 7 years, EVERY time I've come back home I've made it my business to hit up Fish Keg, as a matter of fact over summer vacation last year, I got a free t-shirt to rep in NYC I raved so much. Win! Now that I'm back in the area, I am in fish keg heaven! I have to say that there are a couple of "fish fry" places I enjoy like Lawrence's and Goose Island, BUT Fish Keg is my favorite. I've had absolutely everything (almost) including the sides (the mac salad and creamy cole slaw are AMAZING) and my favorites are the cajun catfish, catfish, shrimp and the fish chips. I notice that different people fry the fish slightly differently so the batter seems extra "crunchy" and occasionally the batter is slightly too thick and it could use a few more hand shakes of Old Bay or something...but nothing so much as to take away from the fresh fish and the bomb dot com job they do!! I see some complain about the "a la carte" menu, but it's nothing to break the bank. If you're a first timer try 1/4 pound of a few things to get a taste, definitely do the Mr. Pure lime juice and OH! they have these ginger thins--please get a box, you'll thank me later. read more

I've lived in Rogers Park all my life, and I finally started coming here - better late then never. Here is how it works - it is take out only - you look at their selections and you order by weight - 1/4, 1/2, etc. Their shrimp, scallops, and oysters are the best! I'm not a huge fan of fried fish, but I think I'm willing to venture out and try some next time. They also have non fried fish items, but they're already cooked and normally cold (you can ask it to be warmed up if you don't have a microwave, or have to eat on the run). The only thing that surprised me the most - how much I like their fried chicken - you can't beat a huge 1/2 chicken for $4.95. read more

Fresh fish, fried to order! Great variety, with options like spicy Cajun catfish (my favorite). Ready to go in minutes. Hush puppies or fries on the side, piping hot. They offer an array of cold homemade sides like creamy or vinegar cole slaw, three bean salad ect. They also have a variety of quality sea food kitchen staples items for sale. (crab boil, lobster bisque from Maine, fish fry breading mix ect) Its a take-out only, so don't expect to sit and eat. This is a great spot just bordering Evanston, in Chicago. Easy parking every time at the lot right next door. The staff is always super nice, and happy to chat if you engage them. Its nice to have a family business like this near by. read more

I have been coming here for at least 20 years always high quality - friendly service the owners were often there and they are great but... went there a few weeks ago- terrible service- 2 young employees talking with each other - not paying attention I asked if the owners were there - I got a sullen 'uh...no...' fish cooked in oil not hot enough 36 $ of fish and chicken- greasy and tasteless and very disappointing not sure I'll be back used to spend at least 12$ a week for decades might not be back read more

so glad I FINALLY stopped in and picked up some deep fried goodness...i've lived so close to this place for YEARS and always kept saying "i'm going to try it one of these days." Did a pound of shrimp, a pound of scallops, and half a pound of hush puppies. let me tell you, the scallops are HUGE....like GINORMOUS huge. Ordered way too much food for two people and figured we could reheat the leftovers for lunch the following day. guess what? they leftovers were great (make sure to reheat them on a cookie sheet in the over...i figured microwaving it would make the breading soggy)... will definitely go back. just enough breading on the seafood w/o being too "bready"....great service....quick service...and there's parking ! read more

In Evanston at Northwestern U for a legal conference and some of the faculty said we should try this place. Very close to Northwestern and well worth the trip. Order by the pound. We got a variety of shrimp, scallops, and fish. Perfectly fried, piping hot, very tasty. Add some tartar and some hot sauce and you have a great meal. No place to sit so we stood around the restaurant and ate. Very old school. Very legit. Loved it. If I get back to Evanston, I'll certainly go back. read more

I grew up about 4 blocks from Fish Keg. That was 50 years ago. The best deep fried breaded shrimp. On earth. Absolutely incredible. Went there a while back and nothing has changed. Best yet the same shrimp I ate as a kid. Perfect quarantine food . read more

CONS: -batter is a little bit too thick for my liking, but it tasted good -bit pricey, but then again it is seafood -no tables to sit -charges me for sauce? whaaaa????? PROS: -the taste... super fresh, and really makes up for the cons. I got the shrimp and the scallops.. i liked the scallops the best. they were super fresh and tasty read more