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The Fish Guy Market
Category: Food Specialty Food Seafood Markets Seafood Markets [Edit]
4423 N Elston AveChicago, IL 60686
Neighborhood: Albany Park
(773) 283-7400
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
34 reviews for The Fish Guy Market
Review Highlights
"this place also carries kobe beef and grass-fed beef at..."
(in 4 reviews)
"...sell their own ready-to-eat lobster rolls and fish tacos."
(in 5 reviews)
"trout, salmon, tuna, ceviche, heirloom tomatoes."
(in 6 reviews)
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34 reviews in English
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Review from Keith A.
Wilmette, IL
2/5/2012
Let's talk about expectations. They can always vary from low to very high. We have them from word of mouth or reading reviews like we are right here. The Fish Guy certainly falls into both categories as I've been hearing and reading about it for a while.
Seemingly each time the raves get better each time (or maybe that is me just projecting that in my weird head). For me, it has almost been that The Fish Guy has turned into it's own tall tale where a 6' man is now a 10' giant that swings mighty clubs and hacks people down in one giant swoop. It's almost become the thing of myths. But, a myth Fish Guy is not. It's real, and it's spectacular
Now, that is not to say that this is a Fish wonderland, it's not quite that. Fish guy isn't lined with all sorts of sea creatures left and right. It's not very small either, but what they have is a quality selection of top notch seafood. Things change with a relative frequency as it is both a sort of fish deli while also being a fish market as well.
As for what I bought this go around: well, I got some Mediterranean mussels. It was $9 for a lb, so I needed these bad boys to be great. And they were. They were also seriously roided up mussels. Since I'm not bud selig, I'm not complaining. I also got some tuna filets. These were absolutely gorgeous, but far from cost effective. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for, and that's why I dropped some coin to get them.
Fish Guy absolutely rules. It's not a fish wonderland, but everything they have is top notch. I'll gladly take that trade off as I'd rather know what what I'm going to get is awesome as opposed to good -
Review from Cheffrey D.
Beverly Shores, IN
10/21/2011
Oh man, I don't care what the other reviewers say, these are THE best lobster rolls in town. I stopped by yesterday on a whim because I had read about them and had a craving for a lobster roll, it had been almost a year since I had last had one out in Wellfleet MA, on capecod.
The fishguy's lobster roll was BETTER than the ones I was eating on capecod. They claim there is at LEAST six ounces of meat in each one and I swear, that's a lie, it seemed more like a POUND of fresh lobster meat. What took the cook behind the counter a couple minutes to make, I scarfed down in a matter of seconds. It was a culinary orgasm!!!! I wanted more so... I ordered another and was able to slow down a little bit and really took in the unreal flavor, the wonderful mouth feel and the freshness of the product.
I was so impressed with this place that I wound up walking out with over 100 bucks of seafood, some frozen clams, some HUGE prawns, one piece of ultra fresh Walleye, some oysters from... drum roll... WELLFLEET MASS and some cod.
The owner came out and we had a nice chat. He said they are getting ready to remodel and invtited me back, come November. Very nice people, very clean business and unreal seafood products. Five stars all the way. -
Review from Melanie S.
Chicago, IL
8/22/2011
I've never been a big connoisseur of fish, but recently my horizons have been expanded and I've been adding fish to my cooking repertoire more and more. Buying fish just "anywhere" won't do; whenever possible, I like to buy the best quality I can find.
The Fish Guy Market is on a stretch of Elston Avenue and it's pretty easy to miss if you're not looking for it (as evidenced by me driving right past it). Street parking is quite easy.
Their selection isn't abundant, but rather thoughtful and well-chosen. You'll definitely find something to work with here.
In addition to fish, they sell duck breast, Kobe beef burgers, albacore tuna salad, crabcakes, clam juice, and giant pieces of cooked lobster for only $3.50. I think I may just take a stab at making my own lobster rolls with it in the very near future.
The store is immaculate and pleasantly fishy smelling. The staff is friendly and eager to please. When I made my purchase, I was asked how far I was traveling and they offered ice packs so my fish would stay cold. That's good customer service.
All of the fish I bought was delicious: salmon, tilapia, trout and mahi mahi. To be honest, I really don't know how their prices compare with other fish markets as I'm a novice, but I just know the quality is there and I assume you get what you pay for.
ps - they also sell their own ready-to-eat lobster rolls and fish tacos.Listed in: It's getting hot in herre (the…
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Review from Andrew M.
Glencoe, IL
2/4/2012
I visited today for the first time with my kids and Mom. It's a cute little place, half luncheonette, half fish market. The selection is what I would call "severely edited." The Fish Guy is smart enough to only do what he can do really well. It works, as far as I'm concerned. The clam chowder was good enough to rival the best clam chowder I've ever had, which was at the Black Pearl in Newport, RI. The lobster roll was packed with super fresh lobster meat, tossed with just the right amount of fresh herbs and mayo, loaded onto a toasted New England style hot dog bun. Insane. We ate a white pizza that wasn't anything to special but it didn't matter. By the time they served the pizza I'd already fallen in love with the chowder and lobster roll. We also noshed on some albacore tuna salad from the fish market side of the restaurant, and that was superb as well. They have some nice looking fish dishes that we saw today but didn't try. I'm already thinking about my next trip there. Can't wait!
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Review from Sharon C.
Chicago, IL
12/20/2011
RESTAURANT QUALITY akami tuna. Frozen, by the pound...need I say more? Whole foods ain't got nothin' on this place. We're so happy they are open again after the remodel. We missed you so!
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Review from Sam K.
Chicago, IL
12/17/2010
A single fresh oyster. I consider this to be one of the world's great taste experiences. Chicken tastes like chicken. Trout tastes like trout. Lamb tastes like lamb. Wonderful foods, but the oyster is special; it evokes something primal and pure and indescribable.
Oysters don't have their own taste. To slurp a single oyster is to take a walk along the beach on a beautiful morning, feeling the ocean's salty spray on your lips, and appreciating nature and earth and fresh air and salt and endless space and suspended time.
Alternatively, you might *really* fucking love the beach. So you can bring a Nalgene bottle with you, crouch in the waves, fill it up with seawater, ocean drudge and sand, shake it up, and then chug it. Taste all that fish poop and rotting seaweed and the shell grit and decomposing sea animal. Savor it. To me, this is what it's like to eat ten oysters.
I'm afraid I'm not hardcore enough.
I called Isaacson and Stein, which has stellar reviews on Yelp, and asked them if they sold freshly shucked oysters.
"We most certainly do."
"And they're meant to be eaten there, on the spot?"
"Of course. Everything we have is fresh."
And so, in search of a fleeting sense of summer and freedom, I trudged to the West Loop, only to find that their "fresh" oysters came in large plastic wrapped packages, shucked and vacuumed and without shells. Just little naked orphaned oysters, huddling together for warmth and hope. It brought tears to my eyes.
December days can be so dark. But in its midst I discovered The Fishguy. And a display of beautiful blue point oysters, alive in their shells, strong and authoritative. They're $1.50 each, and $2 if shucked and served on the spot, though he gave it to me for free. And yes, I can have just one. I threw in a crabcake and an ahi tuna steak (both excellent, though I will be back to partake in their fancier stuff) to go, but the oyster was the star of the day. He handed it to me, and then reached for a napkin, but alas!, by the time he gave it to me, I had already consumed my oyster.
And no, I will not be dabbing even a little of this precious salty brine that lingers on my lips. I will be walking out with it, to breathe and savor and taste for the rest of this miserable cold day. Thank you very much.Listed in: It's pretty tough to make this…
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Review from Johnny R.
Updated - 11/1/2010
Hey guys, updating my review.
I bought a bunch of tuna on Saturday, and made some killer sashimi. Family loved it!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/25/2010
Even though I love seafood, I found myself going years without cooking any. I eventually started… Read more »
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Review from Sharlene K.
Chicago, IL
9/27/2007 ROTD 10/5/2007
Upon entrance, my immediate thought was the staggeringly small size of the store. Then I realized something: the place smelled great! No, really, probably the best smelling fish market I've ever shopped.
The selection is really small, but it is probably some of the freshest and highest quality stuff I've ever bought after 5 AM and without bribing a supplier. I do things like cure my own lox and being able to talk to the monger about that is a huge plus in my book. The types of fish are indeed rare to the average consumer and usually bought up by restaurants such as wild-caught Scottish salmon or big-eye blue fin tuna (a good reason for their slightly higher prices). On the level of wholesale sale of whole tuna, blue fin can fetch $2500 for a fish and yellow fin (ahi) might only be $800.
Really, anyone who knows their sushi can attest to the beauty and wonder that is the blue fin tuna in all it's rarity in landlocked Chicago with its ahi enthusiasts. Don't get me wrong, I dig on ahi, but blue fin tuna is like trying to compare a grass fed cut of delmonico to a cafeteria's chopped steak.
Speaking of steak... this place also carries kobe beef and grass-fed beef at reasonable prices. If you like steak, or any part of a cow, then you probably noticed the sharp decline in the taste of beef in the past 10 years or so as cows were shot up with hormones and feed corn instead of grass. Like your dog and cat at home, they really shouldn't be eating corn, and the taste of beef by grain and by grass is markedly different.
What's also great about this place is service. These guys definitely know their fish and can talk about all sorts of fishy things, but they're also super sweet and friendly about it.
As a biker, on a hot summer day, you want some ice to stuff in your bag so your fish doesn't rot as you find your way home, but ice? Better than that, they use ice packs in sealed plastic bags. Take that heat-induced bacterial colonization!Listed in: Supplies for Foodies
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Review from Y M.
Chicago, IL
7/31/2008 1 photo
This is my favorite fish market in Chicago. It's small store, but they offer
several varieties of fish, shellfish, and more.
I love sushi, but I generally don't go to sushi restaurants. I used to... until I went to The Fishguy a few years ago. I've purchased their sushi-grade bluefin tuna and made sushi with friends. I did this a few times and realized how fun and easy it was to make my own sushi. I felt no desire to go to snobby, overpriced sushi restaurants anymore.
They have everything here - from monkfish cheeks (yum) to langoustines. They even carry kobe beef! On Fridays & Saturdays, they offer fried shrimp for lunch. And if you want to purchase their lobster rolls, call them in advance.
Overall, it's a great fish market with a nice variety of fish & shellfish to choose from. Plus you can grab a bite to eat here. Go now!Listed in: Albany Park, Sandwiches galore
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Review from Bella E.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2008
Plain and simply THE best fish market in Chicago. I've been to several, and this one is the cleanest, the friendliest, and the standards here are the highest.
$10 Tuesdays are fantastic, and the sandwiches they make here are unbelievable.
My only wish is that they had a little place for you to sit and eat your sandwich, lobster roll, or fish taco. If that were the case, I'd be there nearly everyday for lunch.
All in all a great place for fresh seafood. Try the Stone Crab Claws while they're in season. YUM! -
Review from Pam D.
9/1/2009
Stopped here today to take advantage of $10 Tuesday. I got some rainbow trout fillets. We fixed them tonight and they were very good. I also had a fried clam sandwich that they made on the spot. I am not usually big on clams, but the sandwich was very tasty and well prepared, and the coleslaw that came with it was flavorful and unique.
I got a few things for future consumption, cioppino and some caviar. Both came frozen and will provide delightful dining in the weeks to come.
I shall return, or my name isn't Douglas MacArthur .... oh wait, it isn't, but I shall return!!! -
Review from Jabber W.
Chicago, IL
11/3/2007
Although a fairly small selection, the seafood in this store is the best in Chicago and probably the Midwest.
This isn't the kind of store that you can enter looking for something specific the day off and expect to find it. Instead I find it best to call ahead, and ask whats the freshest.
The staff can probably give you half a dozen things to do with each product.
The food I've made from this store has gotten me laid enough times to make it worth the cost and the travel time. -
Review from Nick W.
Chicago, IL
4/26/2011
This was my first time visiting the Fish Guy and it will not be my last. As everyone else has said it's immaculately clean inside, selection is great and the staff is super knowledgeable and very friendly. I was there to pick up the makings for bouillabaisse. The staff member was able to make some excellent suggestions for the fish and mussels. The only downer was that I wanted to purchase some fish heads and bones for stock, but they don't typically save those unless requested to, but they said just call the morning of next time and they will happily set some aside for me. In the end it wasn't a big deal because they sell homemade fish stock, which work beautifully in my soup. I am super happy to have this business in our neighborhood!
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Review from Sue K.
7/22/2010 1 photo
oh Fishguy, I expected so much from you. Maybe that was my problem. High expectations. Or maybe it was because I was looking for Lobster Rolls in Chicago..
To preface my review, I came here to try the Lobster Roll because google and yelp said this is the place to go for lobster rolls in Chicago. I didn't come here for their fish/seafood selection, which I hear is excellent. So this review is on the Lobster Roll alone.
The more I think about what I ate and how it tasted, I don't think I would come back here for a Lobster Roll. It kind of tasted like...eh. And I was so excited to have one and have been craving/wanting one for days! It was 40 dollars for 2 and a very very tiny side of cole slaw. The lobster itself tasted okay. I wish they added more something to put texture in - lettuce, celery..something. And my friend concluded that the bread had that freezer taste..like it was stored in the freezer and then warmed up for us. But then again, they said they ran out of the normal bread? But also, if I'm paying 40 dollars, I want good bread!
Whatevs. I spent 40 dollars to try to have a lobster roll in Chicago. I guess I don't have anyone to blame but me.. -
Review from John Z.
Chicago, IL
8/27/2008
After being hounded relentless by my fiance about writing my first review, I figure The Fish Guy should be my first review. To me, The Fish Guy represents what is best about Yelp. It is not in the touristy guides, it does not throw away its money on empty advertising, it just does one thing, and does it very well.
As the name would imply it is all about the fish, but don't overlook the fact that they also carry Wagu Beef and even odd finds like Wild Boar Ribs. While the retail store front is small, the main portion of the business, from what I can gather, is servicing the restaurant industry. I won't name names, but in talking with the owner Bill (one hell of a nice guy), he said that they supply many of Chicago's finest places with seafood. The best part is you get access to good stuff that will never be found at COSTCO or Jewel no matter how hard you look.
I won't go on and on about the fish, which is amazing, but I will say this place is all about the people working there. Bill and his staff won't only proudly tell you about their top-notch products and their sustainable sourcing, but they will even give you suggestions on how to prepare. They even wrapped it up and gave me enough ice to get it home on the bike. What service.
If you are lucky, you may even get a small taste of what they are cooking. I had a Five-Fish Indian Soup sample that instantly made me buy a whole container. I yet to have another soup since then that could compare. If that is what Well Fleet (they turn the store into a BYOB on Friday's), I will gladly pay the buck for a meal as good.
Be aware that this place only has the FRESHEST of seafood. They will not stock something just to have it around, and they will often sell out of things fast, and once it's gone......it's gone for the rest of the day.
Also check out the website for the weekday specials.
Tuesday: $10 Tuesday with selected fish for ONLY $10 per pound. Come early for the best selection
Wednesday: Family Day - Get your Seafood on..... Trust me if you know how to cook you can have a great meal for under $20. Try the King Salmon Burgers, they are the best I have ever had.
I could sit here and write about this place for the rest of the day, but I will save you the gushing. Just get yourself to Fish Guy.....you won't regret it. -
Review from Jenn K.
IL
8/25/2008
Because of Fishguy, we've turned every Saturday into Fish Saturday. The guys behind the counters are extremely helpful and ever-so friendly-- they'll help you find the perfect fish whether you come in the door with a recipe, a list of possibilities or just a vague hankering for seafood.
If you don't see what you're looking for (and you might not--Fishguy is small), don't be shy-- ask! We went in looking for whole trout and didn't see any, but the man behind the counter (Dave, possibly?) announced that they had just gotten their daily delivery and there additional fishes behind the scenes. In the end we had our choice between equally gorgeous golden and rainbow trout. We took ours with bones and head & tail on, but they would have cut it any way we liked.
Even though I've had good experiences at other seafood stores (we have a favorite, honest fish guy at Treasure Island on Clybourn), I won't be buying fish from anywhere other than Fishguy if I can help it.
(And I'm making a reservation for Wellfleet, the Fishguy's 12-seat, 2-night a week, fixed-price menu restaurant, as soon as I can!) -
Review from Jean C.
6/27/2007
Don't come here expecting some upscale market. This is a stripped down to the essentials kind of place. My father used to walk up here for the boiled shrimp, and for good reason. These guys know their fish, they know how to cook it, too, and the shrimp he brought home was never chewy and dry or flaccid and undercooked. It was always spot-on.
Yeah, their prices are high, but you're also paying for impeccable freshness and an almost encyclopedic amount of fishy expertise from the staff. The fish on display is gorgeous, and if you're a true fish lover you'll be tempted to buy everything you see. Try some of the prepared dishes. I'm partial to their tuna salad, though I didn't care much for their fried shrimp.
I understand they're now carrying Kobe beef and a few other types of meat. I'm not a big meat-eater so that doesn't do much for me, but I'm betting it'll be the same high quality as the fish. The Fish Guy also hosts "Wellfleet" an "occasional" restaurant. I couldn't begin to do this concept justice, so check their website for an explanation. Oh, and their ten buck Tuesdays? Great deal! -
Review from Steven M.
Denver, CO
8/30/2008
Great place. Small, intimate, super friendly, very reasonable prices, and a diverse selection. I made the mistake of going there the day before a long weekend so they were running out of a lot of items, but thanks to the helpful service and spot on advice, I was able to cobble together a pretty nice mix of stuff to take home and grill up.
About the best seafood possible in the Midwest. Check them out, you won't be sorry! -
Review from Bryan C.
Skokie, IL
7/22/2010
I can't say much about the seafood for sale that they have under the counter since I only went in for the infamous lobster roll, but the lobster roll was less than average... This could be due to the fact that I go to school in the New England area, and the lobster rolls there are amazing.
In my opinion for having to order the lobster roll a day earlier, they should not have run out of the bread it's supposed to come on. Instead I received something that looked like a hamburger bun that was surely frozen previously.
The lobster inside was somewhat bland and didn't come with much else inside.
Aside from the lobster roll, the place very clean. -
Review from Lois A.
Chicago, IL
2/20/2010
I can see how this place could get four or five stars as a seafood store. This is the cleanest fish counter I have ever been to. It is spotless and they have excellent prices on a large variety of seafood and kobe burgers. This is why I was hoping the lobster roll I bought from here would be the best lobster roll in the world. It wasn't. And after paying $50 for it I felt sad. I could have gone to almost any seafood restaurant and ordered a lobster dish I felt more satisfied with. Maybe I had hyped it up in my mind too much before getting it but after all the reviews I had read about it I just expected something mind-blowingly delicious and I felt a little cheated and the person I shared it with felt the same.
I wouldn't think twice about coming here to buy seafood to cook at home. In fact, I'd come here again before going anywhere else. But I will never buy the lobster roll again. -
Review from Kristen W.
Chicago, IL
4/29/2006
Very nice, clean seafood market. Prices are decent, maybe a bit on the high side, but these folks know their fish and the stuff is always very fresh. Best shrimp in the city- way better than Fox & Obel!! They can tell you anything you want to know about preparation, sushi etc.
I believe they even offer sushi classes. Sign up for the monthly email specials- very nice! -
Review from Eric W.
Chicago, IL
4/1/2009
I've recently become a bigger fan of seafood and this place is awesome. Good selection of fresh fish and really helpful staff. Definitely worth a trip. If you aren't a seafood person embrace your fear and ask questions! The counter staff will tell you what to do with anything you buy. I don't have much reference, but the prices seem reasonable for a dedicated shop.
They also transform into a 12-seat restaurant occasionally (check the website) with a BYOB ~6 course prix-fixe for ~$100. This may sound like a lot, but the menus I've seen look tremendous.
Last time I went they had also started selling oyster knives. So I bought some oysters and had my foodie friend teach me the technique (wrap the oyster in a towel to avoid a bloodletting and start at the "knuckle" end). Good fun!
Check out the giant fish head on the north wall, the guy behind the counter told me it is a 1-ton "sea bass" (don't trust me here) that they actually "butchered" (not sure this is the right lingo). The oceans are so crazy to my landlubber brain sometimes. -
Review from Emma M.
Chicago, IL
7/25/2010
We were having a fish taco party (fantastic recipes from Bobby flay) and wanted to get a different assortment of good fish. We had heard good things about the fish guy so thought we'd check out the place. Right of the bat, it was very clean and smelled fresh (like the ocean). Although they didn't have the swordfish I was looking for the guy behind the counter offered red snapper- sushi grade. They only carry fish that's in season or in the market so if you are looking for a certain kind call first to make sure they have it. They had items like shrimp, scallops, lobster, halibut, catfish, salmon, tuna, etc. It was pricey, but you are paying for quality and freshness. And those are 2 important qualities to me when eating seafood. I look forward go going back for more fish!
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Review from Alex M.
Chicago, IL
2/8/2009
Based on one visit: The staff (of one young dude) was very helpful. We perused the selection, which was not vast, but it was varied, and all very fresh. Not fresh: the frozen section, but that's only b/c it's done frozed and we weren't shopping for that kind of thing. On the fresh side, ample supplies of shellfish: mussels and littleneck clams. There were also shrimpies in at least two sizes. On the fish side were sushi grade tuna, yellowtail, the non-evil kind of sea bass, and something called kingfish, plus a few more. The one not-in-stock empty spot was salmon, we went late in the day on a busy saturday. But that's ok, salmon's delicisous, but I've been around and around that fishy block. We asked for a description of the kingtip, which we'd never heard of, and the guy behind the counter helped us understand the texture, flavor, and best cooking methods. We ended up with 1.5lbs of Kingfish, which was prepared thusly:
Salt, pepper, lemon juice
Dredged the filets in flour
Sauteed till golden on each side, about 5mins per side depending on thickness of the cut.
Served with a brown rice medley, asparagus, and hollandaise sauce.
If you like fish like grouper, or halibut, or even lighter flatfish, you may want to try kingfish, it's very tasty - not too "fishy". It is not wimpy in the pan at all, either. Very good fish, very good help at the fishguy market, and we'll definitely be back! -
Review from Drew S.
Chicago, IL
10/12/2009
The best fish monger for the casual fish enthusiast. Lots of clean and fresh fish, the guy behind the counter knew where they all came from and had other good info besides. Not nearly as cheap as Isaacson or any other retail/wholesale place but if you don't like buying fish with their delicious heads on its your place.
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Review from Jacob K.
Chicago, IL
8/12/2007
The best fish in the city, buy it and prepare yourself or have a sandwich, or catering perpared by skilled chefs. The only problem is now I can't enjoy fish anywhere else.
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Review from Chris K.
Chicago, IL
8/17/2006
Best fish monger in Chicago. Go... befriend them..... and you'll practically have a sous chef before you leave.
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Review from Andy D.
IL
2/4/2007
These guys have great product and always carry high quality stuff, but MAN are they pompous.
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Review from david g.
Chicago, IL
4/5/2009
Great Staff, and Great Prices...I will be going back for sure!!
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Review from mildred g.
Chicago, IL
1/26/2011
I'm no foody. So, this review is really just based on how helpful, informative and nice the employees are. However, something tells me that this place has good stuff.
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Review from katrina b.
Chicago, IL
3/4/2010
when they're not cutting you some crazy deal on trout filets or cooking up something you'll be hoarding in a secret part of the fridge from your spouse, they're dishing with you about recipes. how much can you love a fish guy.
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Review from Roger H.
Cook, IL
8/26/2010
I live down the street from Dirk's fish market, but I travel all the way to the Fishguy, at least 15 min away. They are much cheaper and have better quality seafood. The fish selection is great, and they also have daily specials such 10 buck Tuesday, which is $10/lb fish.
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Review from stephanie m.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 8/8/2009
consistently great service and product. trout, salmon, tuna, ceviche, heirloom tomatoes. its all good. go, fish guys, go, fish guys, go!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/27/2008
i've only been here once. i live right around the corner and after reading yelp reviews i decided to… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer L.
Chicago, IL
5/7/2010
This is a bit out of the way for us but we go almost every week to get fish for sushi. Typically salmon, tuna, and scallops. Very fresh. Obviously no room for error when you're eating raw fish. Most of the staff is friendly and helpful.
