Shrimp Shack. How can you go wrong with a name like that? I pictures an old wooden shack in the deep South with two guys in it making the cornmeal breading from scratch and then deep-frying the fish and shrimp to a golden brown perfection. Eh, kind of close. It's just a corner restaurant on West Archer in Garfield Ridge with a wooden screen door added onto the standard Chicago double glass front door (which is kept open to keep the air flowing during the summer months). Had the scallops, seasoned shrimp, walleye and catfish. All fried. The scallops and shrimp were pretty good. The walleye a little dry, and the catfish tasty but too much breading. I do like that all of the fish (to-go) is served up in those little wax paper bags that say "French Fries" on them. A true bag of fish is handed to you as you pay! Shrimp Shack is good. Not excellent, but quite good. It's no Trohas, but then again, in my recent quests to find the ultimate Chicago fish house, I'm starting to think that nothing will match Trohas. But, I'll probably go back here sometime.
(3)
Angie G.
We've been going here for a few years to get some decent food, especially during Lent. The place is CLEAN, which I really appreciate. I take issue with restaurants that aren't clean--I don't want my food being prepared in an arena that's a breeding ground for God-Knows-What. Shrimp Shack? Spotless. The food is decent. Like another reviewer said, it's lacking a little "wow" but overall it's good food for a good price. If it was a dine-in, 5 star restaurant I'd be wicked pissed about the food, but it's not. This is a neighborhood joint. They've been in business forever, and they've got great customer service to boot. Food is good, place is clean, and people are friendly. Overall, you can't complain!
(4)
Jordan I.
If you want fried, they have it. Just about anything that you can get here is fried. I personally like seafood, just not all fried. I think that this place has potential to become something better than a-ok. Like if you have fried shrimp and fried clam strips come up with a delicious po'boy sandwich. I also think that the seasoning in the batter could be bumped up a notch. So this place is alright, just doesn't do a whole lot for me.
(3)
amanda l.
I'm not usually one to give anywhere one star.... but this place just didn't cut it for me. The quality of the fish and shrimp was not good. The fish was dry and the shrimp did not taste like good quality shrimp like I have had at other local seafood places. The breading was kind of blah. I just was not impressed. Maybe they should worry less about their "looks" and work on the quality and taste of their food!
(1)
Jason B.
Wow!!! Shrimp Shack is the place to be in Garfield Ridge. The people there are almost as specials as the food they serve. Their shrimp is the best around - sorry to those who prefer Trohas, but I think Shrimp Shack takes the case here. Their shrimp are so big and tasteful that I have to get my fix once a week there. They even deliver for my lazy days! DEFINITELY A GREAT CHOICE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD!!!
(5)
Corny C.
not bad not bad at all my first time here i had a 1 lb of smelt and a half pound of calamari rings the smelt the best i ever had with a garlic twist to it and the calamari nice and crispi i am going back next week nice and clean you could see the kitchen spottles
(4)
Athea G.
Soooo good! They sure know how to use a fryer!! I first thought this place would be a dive, whole-in-the-wall. Boy was I wrong!! The restaurant is immaculate! And the staff (I think family owned/operated) couldn't be better. I mostly get the jumbo boiled shrimp, 1/2 pound and the trio shrimp dinner. It's a lot for one person, but I just have to get both because its sooooo good. The jumbo boiled are fine as leftovers...the fried shrimp, not so much because the bredding gets soggy...as with any left over fried food. I've also had the lake perch, cod, and cajun catfish...everthing was great. Their french fries, fried mushrooms, and even the bread roll that comes with the dinner order is the best too. When I eat shrimp anywhere else now, I get disapppinted and wish I had Shrimp Shack shrimp instead.
(5)
Robin Hood I.
Wanted to change my review. Had a much better experience this time around and everything was great. Still wish they offered regular bread instead of garlic bread. But save that, everything was delicious. Fast, courteous service. Nice casual dining room. Great neighborhood place!
(5)
Roy H.
Always awesome!!! Quality and cleanliness, cannot go wrong. I wish all places were run this well! The shrimp is so good, they must have the cleanest oil for the fryers, never a burnt taste!
(5)
Caroline B.
This is a good place to go in Garfield Ridge of you want shrimp. The place is clean and the people are always friendly.
(4)
Brian G.
If I have a craving for some good fried shrimp this is the place I usually go. The jumbo shrimp are huge for a decent price.....it's no lawrence fisheries, but still very good and the place is extremely clean with a fresh product. They also cook your food to order which is a plus.
(3)
Liz M.
I just ate 1/2 lb of regular fried shrimp and it was amazing, I devoured it. I had it a couple months ago after hitting up Guides on archer; I was a little tipsy but as far as I remembered very good. So, again today more so wanted shrimp cuz of lent and it was super packed, but well worth the wait. I have to say it's the BEST fried shrimp I've ever had. Enjoy!
(5)
Naygie R.
Boom boom good! My first time & I can't wait to return! Is it dinner time yet? Really good new England style seafood. Great food, great prices, great staff.
(5)
Brian M.
The Shrimp Shack is a diamond in the rough. The facilities are clean and neat. There is parking outside. And most of all, the shrimp is really damn good. I'm a fan of Frank's Chicago Shrimp and Lawrence's, but this, imo, wins. Had the jumbo shrimp, seasoned shrimp, hush puppies, and clam strips. All were fabulous. They gave us a sample of their crab salad too, which was really damn good.
(5)
l g.
kinda costly for the quality and portions and not too flavorful either. trohas and franks are better, i like franks the best. the place is clean, probably cleaner than franks and the oil looks like it gets changed regularly but nothing is special or great here, the shrimp just isnt that great and the sides are subpar.
(1)
Don P.
Hugely disappointed in Shrimp Shack. Sparkling clean, good service, really bad food. I love lake perch, the ones about the size of your thumb...but the ones served were questionable (ocean perch) and were large and not tasty. The filets were impossible to cut with the plastic (!!!)knife and fork provided and so I had to eat them by hand. My hand smelled of the fried odor the rest of the day. Asked for malt vinegar for my fish (as every fish house has) but they said they had none! Never heard of that. I'd never go back
(1)
Angela P.
So after my El Muelle experience last night I made my husband stop at one of the two fried fish places nearby and this is the one we chose! And I am so happy we did!! I was so disappointed with my dinner and this totally made me feel better! We ordered some jumbo shrimp, lake perch and clam strips...and everything was delicious!! I am partial to Johnson's Fish in Lombard, but this is a close second! The shrimp were huge...so huge that we ordered a half pound and it only came with 5! And they were delicious! The clam strips were meaty and very flavorful and the perch was tender and not fishy at all!! I can't rave about this tiny little place anymore! I will definitely be going back in the near future to get some more fried goodness!
(4)
Lupe T.
I have been to the Shrimp Shack several times. First, this place is immaculately clean! It is amazing! The food is delicious. I have never been disappointed! This place gets 5 stars in my book. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Jeff G.
I can't eat here anymore because everything is deep fried but the seafood here is fantastic! The seasoned shrimp are to die for!
(5)
Michael K.
I found this place by accident. A friend was driving me home from a meeting in the area, and he said it's the best shrimp. I brought some home for my mum one night, and she said they were fabulous. I went to eat in this evening with a friend.I absolutely adore frogs legs. I had a 1/2 pound order tonight, and they were spot on. My fiend had a taste for shrimp, She recently found out she has the Egyptian Flu...Yes, she's going to be a mummy. :) The food is spectacular. More fries than you can possibly stand, and a small side of either cole slaw, or maccaroni salad. Just the right amount. While you're there, do have a go at the lobster game. $2, you get the chance to catch a live lobster. They will cook it up for you. I will definately be back. The place is clean, the restroom well kept up, and I highly reccomend it. Just fabulous.
(5)
Hernan T.
MOVE OVER, LAWRENCE'S! This place became my favorite for wonderfully deep fried seafood....well...within distance. If you want to head over to Howard, then my top place would be The Fish Keg. But since I live on the Southwest Side, Shrimp Shack is my local fav. I passed this place a few times when going down Archer and I thought it looked decent enough from the outside. So when I stopped by on Halloween a couple years ago, the first thing I noticed while walking in the door was the space. This isn't a large place but finding seating in a shrimp house nearby is already a plus. They have a good amount of tables with condiments provided. The place looks inviting and clean. You'd think the black wooden chairs and tables would clash with the clay colored walls but it actually works. So I stroll up to the counter and was greeted warmly by the girl behind it. Already, I liked this place better than the grumpy robots that work at Lawrence's. Example greeting from Shrimp Shack: (Smile on the face) "Hi, what can I get for you?" An actual greeting I got from Lawrence's Fisheries: (Serious face like I ran over your dog recently) "Next! (I walk forward) Yeah?" I don't expect everyone to be super friendly, but seriously, don't bring your problems to work and take it out on the customers. You don't have to smile, but don't look like I'm the cause of your problems. So, as your can see, I appreciate the service. So me and my girlfriend made our orders for 1/2 lb shrimp and catfish. The shrimp and breading seem to go together better than the somewhat flavorless shrimp from Frank's. The shrimp also tastes fresher than most other places. The catfish was good as well. On my next couple visits, I've tried the popcorn shrimp dinner and the walleye. I'm not a big fan of walleye, but only because the texture of the fish itself is a little too rough. The popcorn shrimp is bigger than the salad shrimp I get from some places but still bite sized. They give you a HAYSTACK of fries so it's best to share or take home. I don't like wasting food. The dinner also comes with bread and a side. The bread used to be soft dinner rolls though my visit earlier this month shows that they switched to garlic bread which was made fresh and was better than the usual cheap butter and garlic powder bread from some places. The sides are small. They come in little cups that will leave you wanting more. You get a choice of cole slaw or macaroni salad. I'm not a fan of creamy coleslaw or sweet macaroni salad but this stuff is pretty decent. And the cocktail sauce is close to how I like it. Tangy, with a bite, and not watery. Speaking of water, they have water, iced tea, and other beverages along with slices of Eli's in the fridge. All in all, I'm happy with the Shrimp Shack and I will frequent their establishment as often as I can and try to cover the whole menu. I plan on trying the gator bites next. Funny how they are right across the corner from another shrimp place. One would hope they can co-exist just like McDonald's and Nicky's do on Kedzie and 58th. But if not, may the better shrimp win. And one more thing about this place....their bathroom is ACTUALLY CLEAN!!! HOLY POO POO!!! Tip: Looking for the ketchup, catsup, Cat Soup? It's in the fridge on the side. Looking for cat soup? You're out of luck and far from rural China.
(4)
Michael D.
I will be back. Two visits and the first thing I notice is how clean the place is. A very good sign indeed. The second thing I notice is that I'm the only one there. Not too surprising since my visits have been outside peak dining hours. On both occasions I ordered the Shrimp Trio dinner. Once with fries, once with hush puppies. The order of fries you receive is huge. The hush puppy order is very small by comparison. On both occasions the shrimp were outstanding. These guys know how to properly bread and fry shrimp. They taste so fresh and are coated just right. A lot of fried shrimp I've had is just thick with breading. These are perfect. The jumbo shrimps are huge! When you bit into these you get just the right amount of crunch and the shrimp are so juicy. Outstanding! I would love to be able to place a phone order and have it ready to be picked up, but they will not make your order until you come in and pay for it. It's probably best. While the shrimp stay hot for a while I can imagine them losing quality fast if they sat too long. I love this place and whenever I get a hankering for fried fish or shrimp this will be my first choice. Gotta try the smelts when I go next!
(4)
Jim S.
Ive tried them 3x now and am not impressed. To be fair, their new place is done really nice and service is friendly...but.... 1. Price - So so...Franks is slightly cheaper - price point isnt a deal killer though. 2. Gulf shrimp - Their gulf shrimp isnt nearly as sweet as Franks..or as big 3. Seasoned - Nowhere near as seasoned as Franks. I tried their Cajun catfish which was really good...heres a tip..offer that cajun breading for your shrimp and you WILL have a winner! 4. Clam strips - TOUGH....again, Franks has them beat..This place needs to change wholesalers.
(2)
Edward B.
Oh my...drove by Shrimp House and Shrimp Shack on Archer last night after a stop at Archer Liquors for some awesome craft beers, and had a hankering for fried shrimp for lunch today. Thought about going all the way to Trohas or Frank's (would be first time visits), but decided on the Shrimp Shack since it was closer. Oh my, I may have had the best fried shrimp I have ever had today! Very good, crunchy, fresh, high quality and just the right amount of breading. Had the Trio Dinner (3 jumbo, 3 regular and 3 seasoned) - great hushpuppies and cole slaw too. Friendly staff as well and the place is immaculately clean. Will definitely be back. The jumbo shrimp were unbelievably good. Clam strips were pretty darn good too. And I have enough left overs for dinner - pretty decent deal.
(5)
David K.
I travel to Midway Airport a few dozen times per year...been doing this for ten plus years now...I have went by the Shrimp Shack lighted sign so many times...wanted to try, just never happened...until now. I had just returned from New Orleans, so a fried seafood taste challenge was on! I will start off with that the facility is well lighted, bright. This revealed how clean the restaurant is. Some might be dated, such as carpet, but obviously well cared for. This is good also. Kitchen and work area also right in sight lines for customers...also spotless. Good again. So what about the food? I ordered the shrimp and fish special. It was HUGE. Portion was enough for two hungry people. So, for around 15 dollars, you can feed two. I ordered the seasoned fried shrimp and added walleye. The walleye is 1.50 add on. The walleye was fair...I travel to Canada so I am tougher to please. There were four large pieces of fish in the order. Included are enough French fries to feed a small army and either cole slaw or Mac salad. I loved the Mac salad. Cold and creamy. Obviously it was properly refrigerated. The shrimp took me a few bites...but I came to like it more as I eat them. I did enjoy the shrimp with the cocktail sauce. All in all...good. Good enough to return!
(4)
Clarissa J.
I'm sorry Shrimp Shack. I wanted to love you, and I mean REALLY love you, but I just don't think it's going to work out between us. I mean, I LIKE you and all. You are very, very good.... Okay, I loved that the lady at your counter was very friendly and knew right away that we must have been the people to call in our order -- meaning you probably get a lot of regular visitors (you're quite the catch). I love that you sell bottles of different kinds of hot sauce at the counter, just in case a to-go order may need a little kick in the pants (you're so thoughtful that way). I also love that you kept and posted the sign that you once had up at your old location telling people you were moving to this current one (so sentimental)...but... I still can't get over Troha's, I'm sorry. When I bite into your crispy-on-the-outside and juicy-on-the-inside scallops, I can't help wishing that I was biting into a Troha's scallop, and think maybe your scallops are a bit TOO juicy and eager to please. And when I savor your catfish I enjoy it, but wonder if there's too much talk about breading and not enough succulent love from the sea. Well.... We can still hang out and be friends, you know. I mean, I'll come visit every now and again because you ARE very good and treat me kindly, but I'm afraid Troha's has my heart. Even if Troha's drains my purse dry, it has me under a spell and I will keep going back, and back, and back...sorry. But I'll never forget you Shrimp Shack. And I will see you again sooner or later, I promise. Please be well. Yours truly, Clarissa J.
(3)
Sabrina S.
Great place it you are looking to splurge. Prices are a little high but the quality of the fish is worth it. Freash fried fish and shrimp that is really good.
(5)
Robert M.
Great food! Recommend trio shrimp, diablo shrimp, and crab salad. Kinda expensive, but worth it once in awhile.
(5)
Fernando U.
This place is my new favorite shrimp place. And I've tried them all, Lawrence's, frank's, papadoxs. Family owned , very, very clean, and the food was amazing, top notch. The tables and carpeted floors give you this " at-home" feeling. Me and my fiancee went for the jumbo diner and an order of the seasoned shrimp. We also added on some crab salad and these strange little jalapeno bacon wraped fried shrimp; that for the life of me I can't remember what she called them. Anyway, they were absolutely astonishing. If your in the area, this place deserves at least a try. Keep in mind that seafood is in the more expensive side of the food pyramid, be prepared for a bill larger then your normaly accustomed to paying.
(5)
Normy L.
mmm mmm good! The shrimp is amazing and fish is awesome. A little on the pricey side, but what can you expect for some good seafood. Well worth it!
(5)
Christopher L.
We recently tried the shrimp Shack after being extremely loyal to Franks and I must say I was pleasantly impressed with the taste of the shrimp. The location is extremely clean and very organized inside. The shrimp for absolutely outstanding very tasteful huge proportions. The bacon jalapeno wrapped shrimp are a must try. The shrimp shack definitely gives franks a run for their money and now they have now become my favorite.
(5)
N E.
Let me tell you right up front, I love shrimp. Almost an issue, but I can't stop myself! They have great fried food here. And they have a very clean business. The service is always great. My only issue is (with all shrimp places) I feel they are priced high. But that doesn't stop me from going there at least once a month.
(4)
Damian P.
For shrimp, no one on Archer avenue can touch Shrimp Shack. They moved here from a few blocks down and so glad they did. The place is still rocking it out but in a nicer venue. The plasma TV with food channel is the perfect sit down and eat here ploy. I loved it, munching on shrimp and fries while watching Ina make some kind of concoction out of jello. The 80's theme "art prints" could be updated but the nice atmosphere and the food of course works the look out! Tell them you seen them on YELP!
(4)
Melanie N.
Not bad. I got the cod dinner. It was more than enough food. It comes with alot of fries, and choice of mac salad or coleslaw. I had to get hush puppies and loved them. Everything was fried to perfection. It is pricy but my man loves the huge shrimp so I guess it is worth it. They deliver to, which is convenient.
(4)
Jeffery S.
Last Sunday, my friend wanted to stop at the Weber Bakery for some kolackes and bread. We bought bread and cookies, but unfortunately they were out of kolackes. We had a bit of time before I needed to get to Midway Airport, so we decided to try one of the several shrimp houses that exist along Archer Avenue. The Shrimp Shack caught our eye so we decided to give this place a go. When you first get in, the first thing that hits you is how clean this place is, usually shrimp joints subscribe to the philosophy that if a place is clean, you're not spending enough time worrying about the food. This place sparkled, the tables were glossy black laquer, the floors were a bright tan color, the walls white, and you can see the entire kitchen gleaming with freshly sanitized stainless steel. And no stale vegetable oil smell. The menu is posted on a billboard on one wall. They offer a variety of fried shrimps and fish. We decided to go with a fried shrimp combo plate and a shrimp cocktail. We seated ourself at one of the tables and noticed that each table had a different brand of hot sauce used to kick up the seafood. Our shrimps arrived in about five minutes. The shrimp cocktail was OK. The shrimp was fresh and firm, they do a great job of cleaning the shrimp so there were no veins or tail. The sauce however was a bit bland for my taste, not enough horseradish. The hot sauce was no subsitute for the nose burning sensation of cocktail sauce with fresh horseradish. The fried shrimp platter was supposed to be a combination of three different types of fried shrimp, seasoned, spicy and plain. The breading was a conventional corn meal breading. The difference between the different seasonings was pretty subtile, my freind and I had trouble telling which was which. Overall, the place was OK, it was clean, the staff was freindly and the food was fresh. However, the shrimp seemed to lack a certain "wow" factor. Maybe it is because I have a preference for shrimp made with tempura batter as opposed to corn meal batter. It would be fine if you lived in the neighborhood but I wouldn't say it was a "must stop".
(3)
Sandy V.
Great serves very good jumbo shrimp , salads are d-lish the perch is great eat inor take out you won't be unhappy
(5)
Lauren P.
#NAME?
(4)
Adam S.
Fantasic shrimp! I will never go anywhere ever again! Never ever! So much better than anybody else! Everything else is nothing compared to the shrimp shack! This food is faaaaaaantastic
(5)
Oscar S.
I've really enjoyed my visits to The Shrimp Shack.I started coming here after getting a tip from my cousin.I've been stopping in ever since.The food here is really good.I was surprised to see that they have walleye on the menu.I can't think of any other restaurant that carries that.Nope.Not even Lawrence's.It's quite tasty.I dont come here too often because I'd blow up to 300lbs QUICK if I did.lol.Seems everytime I come here I EAT ALOT.hahaha!!! But every so often I crave some deep fried fish and shrimp and this is my neighborhood go to spot.Service is really good and very friendly.Also very clean.They dont serve alcohol.I do recommend this place.
(4)
Joel M.
Impressive. Expectations were high when they rang up my order of the "half and half" shrimp dinner and the taste, quality and appearance of the food exceeded my expectations. I couldn't tell which I liked more, seasoned or traditional and all I though about while I ate was what friends and family members I could share this treasure of a restaurant with. I have only been here once but plan to return soon, I hope they're consistent! Highly recommended.
(5)
Rosa J.
"What? This ain't no shack; this place is cleaner than my living room!" One of Rosa J.'s favorites is deep-fried seafood. There are many places on the north/near south side of Chicago, such as Fish Keg (West Rogers Park), Hagen's (Portage Park), and Lawrence's Fisheries (Pilsen/Chinatown). What if you end up on the south/southwest of Chicago? Will you be out of luck on finding a decent seafood-fry joint? Well, you will be fine if you're in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood (close to the Midway Airport). Shrimp Shack is located on Archer, almost on border of Chicago city limit and Summit. There's customer parking available on the back of the store. We went in, and were amazed by how organized and clean the entire place was. The menu was simple and I found it easy to understand. Hubby and I shared the 1/2-lb. shrimp and 1/2-lb. catfish dinner, which came with garlic bread, macaroni salad (or Cole slaw if that was what you preferred), and fries. In other words, that dinner combo was enough for two (2) individuals with healthy appetites. The total was $21, with two (2) cans of Pepsi added onto our order. The lady who took our order was Midwestern-style nice (meaning nice indeed ...don't think I was playing on words). Fish and shrimps were weighed before frying; food was made-to-order; the entire order was ready in ten (10) minutes. Their shrimps were huge; they were as large as fish nuggets. The breading was crispy, even though it was coated a bit heavy to my liking. However, both fish and shrimps were fresh. The macaroni salad was slightly bland, but it was still tasty. I actually liked their garlic bread very much. I haven't seen many joints that would include garlic bread as part of the dinner combo. I thought this was a nice touch! Overall, this neighborhood, mom-and-pop place was as solid as it could be. If you ever head this way to visit or to catch a flight from Midway, I will highly recommend Shrimp Shack (accessible through CTA bus #62 and close to Stevenson Expressway, or I-55).
(4)
Brenden B.
Pretty delicious shrimp and you bet your ass Bubba Gump would be pretty pleased with the variety of shrimp offerings. I will have to say though, your eyes are bigger than your stomach. 1lb of shrimp lasted me 3 meals. You have been warned.
(4)
Tonya H.
Searched for a seafood restaurant close to the airport and found this one. It's lil on the pricey side but you get what you pay for. The shrimp are huge. But I wish they had healthier side dish offerings. Even if it were a side salad, veggies, or something. So save this place for a cheat day! Lol. Great customer service and quick service. I had the 1/2 regular 1/2 seasoned shrimp dinner with a ton of fries and coleslaw. Yum....yum....yum. Next time I think I'll try some of their fish. Also a heads up they don't take American Express.
(4)
Paloma C.
This place is so awesome. Clean and friendly and delicious food to boot! Can't go wrong with the freshness and I'm sorry, SHRIMP DIABLO are to die for. bacon wrapped jalepeno + shrimp then deep fried? Need I say more? Great spot for walleye, lake perch, and tasty shrimp (obviously? )
(4)
Judi V.
Love this place! Everyone the works here rocks!!! The shrimp and crab and shrimp salad is delicious!!!!!
(5)
Dawn S.
Great shrimp.. We have tried them all.. The seasoned, The Diablo and Coconut Rock!!!
(5)
Brianna L.
I can't even believe I've never written a review of this place!! I've been coming here for years especially during lent. The fries are worth the trip alone. The fried shrimp is so tasty! They are seasoned to perfection. They have a hint of garlic and they're just good. Get them!! The shrimp is so fresh! Shrimp diablo = heaven in your mouth. Be like nike and do it! Shrimp cocktail is good too, but not much to say about that. As far as the fried fish goes. I've only had the perch. Its really good too. I normally just get shrimp tho. Basically this place is a gem. You have to know about it otherwise you'll drive right past. It doesn't look special from the outside, but I promise you won't regret stopping in. When you're inside eating you feel like you're at someone's house rather than a restaurant. At first its a bit odd, but you'll come to enoy the comfortable factor.
(5)
Ryan G.
This place is a joke...I paid for jumbo shrimp and they gave me popcorn shrimp..what a rip off..i paid $22 for 1 pound of small ass shrimp...never again...theres a shrimp place on the opposite east side corner a couple blocks away..east not west which has a red sign with a shrimp on it...this place has huge real jumbo shrimp around same money..but much less breading and much larger... You screw me once wont screw me again...no wonder I never knew there where there for 6 yrs...nobody likes them
(2)
Gus L.
Great place to be , nice people big portions and my favor place to work !!! I will be making some new pasta dishes on the coming weeks and desert !!!
(5)
Marryann S.
I love this place..They have the best shrimp. And there crab salad is the very best. .If you have not tried it please do so..You can eat in or order out whichever you prefer. .But please try it..It is great.And I promise you this place will be one of your regular stops...
(5)
Mark M.
WOW! Just had lunch from this place and it was wonderful. We placed an order form the office and when I got there they were just putting the order together. The order was correct, nicely labeled, hot and fresh. Walking from the parking lot I glanced into the kitchen and noticed it was VERY clean and VERY orginised. At the order/pick-up counter you can see more of the same. The entire place is clear and orginized like a militery operation. Quick, friendly and efficent. Now the food; everyone in the office said there food was good. I have the Seasoned Jumbo Shrimp $11 for a 1/2 pound (7-each), it comes with garlic bread. The shrimp was moist, plump and indeed jumbo. The seasoning was slight not overpowering, the breading was slightly heavy but not overly heavy, the breading was a dried, fine bread crumb. The shrimp had a seasoning on it (in the raw state) maybe before it was cooked. The seasoning wasent hot but just a kind of a shrimp cocktail flavor, maybe oldbay. The cocktail sauce was good and could stand as the definitation of what a standard cocktail sauce is. They offer hot sauce for .50 if you prefer something spicy. The prices are not cheap but I don't think you want cheap when you think seafood. It may seem expensive but I think it is a good price value. Several posted phots are true to form. I will return to explor the menus other options.
(5)
Ashley C.
Amazing place. 2nd next to Lawerences! Clean and friwndly. Fresh food and good prices for the amount they give you.
(5)
Sofia B.
First time going there and can honestly say that the food was as exceptional as their service. I went there with my fiance and we ordered the jumbo shrimp and crab meat salad which were both delicious! I usually don't like eating too much fried shrimp but I will definitely be coming here anytime I crave some good ol seafood! Also the place was really clean even at what seemed to be their busy hour.
(5)
Sarah P.
I took my dad here, thanks to help from the other reviews. Great place! We ordered the Trio (shrimp 3 different ways) with a side of hush puppies. Although neither of us could figure out which shrimp were the ones that were garlic seasoned, we both greatly enjoyed the food and the experience! The interior is carpeted and comfortable, and the lady who helped us was super nice.
(4)
Paula P.
Wow, this place was great! The owners were very helpful and the food was terrific. I had cocktail shrimp and jumbo shrimp. He had catfish. Sauces were excellent. These guys really know what they are doing. Better than what you'd expect. Great value too! I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Mark Z.
Go for it Cooked fresh, Good fast Service, Had the jumbo shrimp and fries. Make it one of your regular stops The Rush on Roosevelt
(4)
Lupe G.
They're kinda pricy for fried seafood & cold salads but they have a few items like frog legs & hush puppies which aren't found in seafood places nearby
(3)
Christian C.
This is my top spot for seafood on the Southside. There shrimp/popcorn shrimp is real good. I also love there fries taste so good. Macoroni salad is also great. A bit pricey but u get what u pay for.
(5)
Eric M.
The frog legs were good, shrimp excellent, service...impersonal. Needs a few smiles or at the very least a hello or goodbye a wave? No?
(4)
Jaci Y.
Rock N' Jumbo shrimp and mild sauce. Their claim strips were good but I like Lawerance fishery more. I found their place to be very clean and their prices to be fair. I would go back to get more jumbo fried shrimp if I happen to be in that area.
(3)
Jessica L.
If your lookin for some good shrimp on te south side this is the place! Clean, friendly, and the portions are good! There potato pancakes are by far some of the best ive had. My only wish is that you could call ahead to pick it up. When you come to pick up your food Is when the cook it... Kinda cool to have fresh foo but kinda defeats the purpose of call ahead ordering. Regardless.... It's a great little mom and pop place!
(4)
Danny I.
seems like a family owned place , good shrimp and service
(5)
Bobby O.
The shrimp were plain. The place is clean but I think they tried to copy off the classical SOUTHSIDE SHRIMP and failed miserably. On top of that, they opened directly across the street from another shrimp house. Who does that?
(2)
Blue L.
sorry shrimp shack I wanted this to be my spot because its so close to my house ..The place was nice clean and everyone was friendly, But I hoped it had a great homemade dipping sauce and a one of a kind breading recipe, but what I got was the regular cookie cutter jumbo shrimp that you can get at any shrimp house anywhere nothing more , nothing less and nothing different. I ordered the trio dinner had some crab cakes and tried the onion rings even the so called seasoned shrimp was normal flavor. . .maybe im reaching , and maybe my expectations are too high. . .didnt hit the spot for me or my wife. . .I would go back when we're in the mood for regular fried shrimp because of the location or maybe ill just go to leons ribs they got the same shrimp but better sauce or lawrences shrimp even though they have bad service.
(2)
Vick C.
Great deep fried seafood and the best variety! Gotta try their deep fried scollop so moist and not over cooked, no complaint at all!
(4)
Eric A.
Found this place on yelp as we headed to a fire game (2 miles). Nearly everything is fried here but it is all very good. Had chicago shrimp, clams and fish, all excellent. This place is very clean, friendly service, no grease hanging in the air For what it is, 4 stars!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
John L.
Shrimp Shack. How can you go wrong with a name like that? I pictures an old wooden shack in the deep South with two guys in it making the cornmeal breading from scratch and then deep-frying the fish and shrimp to a golden brown perfection. Eh, kind of close. It's just a corner restaurant on West Archer in Garfield Ridge with a wooden screen door added onto the standard Chicago double glass front door (which is kept open to keep the air flowing during the summer months). Had the scallops, seasoned shrimp, walleye and catfish. All fried. The scallops and shrimp were pretty good. The walleye a little dry, and the catfish tasty but too much breading. I do like that all of the fish (to-go) is served up in those little wax paper bags that say "French Fries" on them. A true bag of fish is handed to you as you pay! Shrimp Shack is good. Not excellent, but quite good. It's no Trohas, but then again, in my recent quests to find the ultimate Chicago fish house, I'm starting to think that nothing will match Trohas. But, I'll probably go back here sometime.
(3)Angie G.
We've been going here for a few years to get some decent food, especially during Lent. The place is CLEAN, which I really appreciate. I take issue with restaurants that aren't clean--I don't want my food being prepared in an arena that's a breeding ground for God-Knows-What. Shrimp Shack? Spotless. The food is decent. Like another reviewer said, it's lacking a little "wow" but overall it's good food for a good price. If it was a dine-in, 5 star restaurant I'd be wicked pissed about the food, but it's not. This is a neighborhood joint. They've been in business forever, and they've got great customer service to boot. Food is good, place is clean, and people are friendly. Overall, you can't complain!
(4)Jordan I.
If you want fried, they have it. Just about anything that you can get here is fried. I personally like seafood, just not all fried. I think that this place has potential to become something better than a-ok. Like if you have fried shrimp and fried clam strips come up with a delicious po'boy sandwich. I also think that the seasoning in the batter could be bumped up a notch. So this place is alright, just doesn't do a whole lot for me.
(3)amanda l.
I'm not usually one to give anywhere one star.... but this place just didn't cut it for me. The quality of the fish and shrimp was not good. The fish was dry and the shrimp did not taste like good quality shrimp like I have had at other local seafood places. The breading was kind of blah. I just was not impressed. Maybe they should worry less about their "looks" and work on the quality and taste of their food!
(1)Jason B.
Wow!!! Shrimp Shack is the place to be in Garfield Ridge. The people there are almost as specials as the food they serve. Their shrimp is the best around - sorry to those who prefer Trohas, but I think Shrimp Shack takes the case here. Their shrimp are so big and tasteful that I have to get my fix once a week there. They even deliver for my lazy days! DEFINITELY A GREAT CHOICE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD!!!
(5)Corny C.
not bad not bad at all my first time here i had a 1 lb of smelt and a half pound of calamari rings the smelt the best i ever had with a garlic twist to it and the calamari nice and crispi i am going back next week nice and clean you could see the kitchen spottles
(4)Athea G.
Soooo good! They sure know how to use a fryer!! I first thought this place would be a dive, whole-in-the-wall. Boy was I wrong!! The restaurant is immaculate! And the staff (I think family owned/operated) couldn't be better. I mostly get the jumbo boiled shrimp, 1/2 pound and the trio shrimp dinner. It's a lot for one person, but I just have to get both because its sooooo good. The jumbo boiled are fine as leftovers...the fried shrimp, not so much because the bredding gets soggy...as with any left over fried food. I've also had the lake perch, cod, and cajun catfish...everthing was great. Their french fries, fried mushrooms, and even the bread roll that comes with the dinner order is the best too. When I eat shrimp anywhere else now, I get disapppinted and wish I had Shrimp Shack shrimp instead.
(5)Robin Hood I.
Wanted to change my review. Had a much better experience this time around and everything was great. Still wish they offered regular bread instead of garlic bread. But save that, everything was delicious. Fast, courteous service. Nice casual dining room. Great neighborhood place!
(5)Roy H.
Always awesome!!! Quality and cleanliness, cannot go wrong. I wish all places were run this well! The shrimp is so good, they must have the cleanest oil for the fryers, never a burnt taste!
(5)Caroline B.
This is a good place to go in Garfield Ridge of you want shrimp. The place is clean and the people are always friendly.
(4)Brian G.
If I have a craving for some good fried shrimp this is the place I usually go. The jumbo shrimp are huge for a decent price.....it's no lawrence fisheries, but still very good and the place is extremely clean with a fresh product. They also cook your food to order which is a plus.
(3)Liz M.
I just ate 1/2 lb of regular fried shrimp and it was amazing, I devoured it. I had it a couple months ago after hitting up Guides on archer; I was a little tipsy but as far as I remembered very good. So, again today more so wanted shrimp cuz of lent and it was super packed, but well worth the wait. I have to say it's the BEST fried shrimp I've ever had. Enjoy!
(5)Naygie R.
Boom boom good! My first time & I can't wait to return! Is it dinner time yet? Really good new England style seafood. Great food, great prices, great staff.
(5)Brian M.
The Shrimp Shack is a diamond in the rough. The facilities are clean and neat. There is parking outside. And most of all, the shrimp is really damn good. I'm a fan of Frank's Chicago Shrimp and Lawrence's, but this, imo, wins. Had the jumbo shrimp, seasoned shrimp, hush puppies, and clam strips. All were fabulous. They gave us a sample of their crab salad too, which was really damn good.
(5)l g.
kinda costly for the quality and portions and not too flavorful either. trohas and franks are better, i like franks the best. the place is clean, probably cleaner than franks and the oil looks like it gets changed regularly but nothing is special or great here, the shrimp just isnt that great and the sides are subpar.
(1)Don P.
Hugely disappointed in Shrimp Shack. Sparkling clean, good service, really bad food. I love lake perch, the ones about the size of your thumb...but the ones served were questionable (ocean perch) and were large and not tasty. The filets were impossible to cut with the plastic (!!!)knife and fork provided and so I had to eat them by hand. My hand smelled of the fried odor the rest of the day. Asked for malt vinegar for my fish (as every fish house has) but they said they had none! Never heard of that. I'd never go back
(1)Angela P.
So after my El Muelle experience last night I made my husband stop at one of the two fried fish places nearby and this is the one we chose! And I am so happy we did!! I was so disappointed with my dinner and this totally made me feel better! We ordered some jumbo shrimp, lake perch and clam strips...and everything was delicious!! I am partial to Johnson's Fish in Lombard, but this is a close second! The shrimp were huge...so huge that we ordered a half pound and it only came with 5! And they were delicious! The clam strips were meaty and very flavorful and the perch was tender and not fishy at all!! I can't rave about this tiny little place anymore! I will definitely be going back in the near future to get some more fried goodness!
(4)Lupe T.
I have been to the Shrimp Shack several times. First, this place is immaculately clean! It is amazing! The food is delicious. I have never been disappointed! This place gets 5 stars in my book. I highly recommend it!
(5)Jeff G.
I can't eat here anymore because everything is deep fried but the seafood here is fantastic! The seasoned shrimp are to die for!
(5)Michael K.
I found this place by accident. A friend was driving me home from a meeting in the area, and he said it's the best shrimp. I brought some home for my mum one night, and she said they were fabulous. I went to eat in this evening with a friend.I absolutely adore frogs legs. I had a 1/2 pound order tonight, and they were spot on. My fiend had a taste for shrimp, She recently found out she has the Egyptian Flu...Yes, she's going to be a mummy. :) The food is spectacular. More fries than you can possibly stand, and a small side of either cole slaw, or maccaroni salad. Just the right amount. While you're there, do have a go at the lobster game. $2, you get the chance to catch a live lobster. They will cook it up for you. I will definately be back. The place is clean, the restroom well kept up, and I highly reccomend it. Just fabulous.
(5)Hernan T.
MOVE OVER, LAWRENCE'S! This place became my favorite for wonderfully deep fried seafood....well...within distance. If you want to head over to Howard, then my top place would be The Fish Keg. But since I live on the Southwest Side, Shrimp Shack is my local fav. I passed this place a few times when going down Archer and I thought it looked decent enough from the outside. So when I stopped by on Halloween a couple years ago, the first thing I noticed while walking in the door was the space. This isn't a large place but finding seating in a shrimp house nearby is already a plus. They have a good amount of tables with condiments provided. The place looks inviting and clean. You'd think the black wooden chairs and tables would clash with the clay colored walls but it actually works. So I stroll up to the counter and was greeted warmly by the girl behind it. Already, I liked this place better than the grumpy robots that work at Lawrence's. Example greeting from Shrimp Shack: (Smile on the face) "Hi, what can I get for you?" An actual greeting I got from Lawrence's Fisheries: (Serious face like I ran over your dog recently) "Next! (I walk forward) Yeah?" I don't expect everyone to be super friendly, but seriously, don't bring your problems to work and take it out on the customers. You don't have to smile, but don't look like I'm the cause of your problems. So, as your can see, I appreciate the service. So me and my girlfriend made our orders for 1/2 lb shrimp and catfish. The shrimp and breading seem to go together better than the somewhat flavorless shrimp from Frank's. The shrimp also tastes fresher than most other places. The catfish was good as well. On my next couple visits, I've tried the popcorn shrimp dinner and the walleye. I'm not a big fan of walleye, but only because the texture of the fish itself is a little too rough. The popcorn shrimp is bigger than the salad shrimp I get from some places but still bite sized. They give you a HAYSTACK of fries so it's best to share or take home. I don't like wasting food. The dinner also comes with bread and a side. The bread used to be soft dinner rolls though my visit earlier this month shows that they switched to garlic bread which was made fresh and was better than the usual cheap butter and garlic powder bread from some places. The sides are small. They come in little cups that will leave you wanting more. You get a choice of cole slaw or macaroni salad. I'm not a fan of creamy coleslaw or sweet macaroni salad but this stuff is pretty decent. And the cocktail sauce is close to how I like it. Tangy, with a bite, and not watery. Speaking of water, they have water, iced tea, and other beverages along with slices of Eli's in the fridge. All in all, I'm happy with the Shrimp Shack and I will frequent their establishment as often as I can and try to cover the whole menu. I plan on trying the gator bites next. Funny how they are right across the corner from another shrimp place. One would hope they can co-exist just like McDonald's and Nicky's do on Kedzie and 58th. But if not, may the better shrimp win. And one more thing about this place....their bathroom is ACTUALLY CLEAN!!! HOLY POO POO!!! Tip: Looking for the ketchup, catsup, Cat Soup? It's in the fridge on the side. Looking for cat soup? You're out of luck and far from rural China.
(4)Michael D.
I will be back. Two visits and the first thing I notice is how clean the place is. A very good sign indeed. The second thing I notice is that I'm the only one there. Not too surprising since my visits have been outside peak dining hours. On both occasions I ordered the Shrimp Trio dinner. Once with fries, once with hush puppies. The order of fries you receive is huge. The hush puppy order is very small by comparison. On both occasions the shrimp were outstanding. These guys know how to properly bread and fry shrimp. They taste so fresh and are coated just right. A lot of fried shrimp I've had is just thick with breading. These are perfect. The jumbo shrimps are huge! When you bit into these you get just the right amount of crunch and the shrimp are so juicy. Outstanding! I would love to be able to place a phone order and have it ready to be picked up, but they will not make your order until you come in and pay for it. It's probably best. While the shrimp stay hot for a while I can imagine them losing quality fast if they sat too long. I love this place and whenever I get a hankering for fried fish or shrimp this will be my first choice. Gotta try the smelts when I go next!
(4)Jim S.
Ive tried them 3x now and am not impressed. To be fair, their new place is done really nice and service is friendly...but.... 1. Price - So so...Franks is slightly cheaper - price point isnt a deal killer though. 2. Gulf shrimp - Their gulf shrimp isnt nearly as sweet as Franks..or as big 3. Seasoned - Nowhere near as seasoned as Franks. I tried their Cajun catfish which was really good...heres a tip..offer that cajun breading for your shrimp and you WILL have a winner! 4. Clam strips - TOUGH....again, Franks has them beat..This place needs to change wholesalers.
(2)Edward B.
Oh my...drove by Shrimp House and Shrimp Shack on Archer last night after a stop at Archer Liquors for some awesome craft beers, and had a hankering for fried shrimp for lunch today. Thought about going all the way to Trohas or Frank's (would be first time visits), but decided on the Shrimp Shack since it was closer. Oh my, I may have had the best fried shrimp I have ever had today! Very good, crunchy, fresh, high quality and just the right amount of breading. Had the Trio Dinner (3 jumbo, 3 regular and 3 seasoned) - great hushpuppies and cole slaw too. Friendly staff as well and the place is immaculately clean. Will definitely be back. The jumbo shrimp were unbelievably good. Clam strips were pretty darn good too. And I have enough left overs for dinner - pretty decent deal.
(5)David K.
I travel to Midway Airport a few dozen times per year...been doing this for ten plus years now...I have went by the Shrimp Shack lighted sign so many times...wanted to try, just never happened...until now. I had just returned from New Orleans, so a fried seafood taste challenge was on! I will start off with that the facility is well lighted, bright. This revealed how clean the restaurant is. Some might be dated, such as carpet, but obviously well cared for. This is good also. Kitchen and work area also right in sight lines for customers...also spotless. Good again. So what about the food? I ordered the shrimp and fish special. It was HUGE. Portion was enough for two hungry people. So, for around 15 dollars, you can feed two. I ordered the seasoned fried shrimp and added walleye. The walleye is 1.50 add on. The walleye was fair...I travel to Canada so I am tougher to please. There were four large pieces of fish in the order. Included are enough French fries to feed a small army and either cole slaw or Mac salad. I loved the Mac salad. Cold and creamy. Obviously it was properly refrigerated. The shrimp took me a few bites...but I came to like it more as I eat them. I did enjoy the shrimp with the cocktail sauce. All in all...good. Good enough to return!
(4)Clarissa J.
I'm sorry Shrimp Shack. I wanted to love you, and I mean REALLY love you, but I just don't think it's going to work out between us. I mean, I LIKE you and all. You are very, very good.... Okay, I loved that the lady at your counter was very friendly and knew right away that we must have been the people to call in our order -- meaning you probably get a lot of regular visitors (you're quite the catch). I love that you sell bottles of different kinds of hot sauce at the counter, just in case a to-go order may need a little kick in the pants (you're so thoughtful that way). I also love that you kept and posted the sign that you once had up at your old location telling people you were moving to this current one (so sentimental)...but... I still can't get over Troha's, I'm sorry. When I bite into your crispy-on-the-outside and juicy-on-the-inside scallops, I can't help wishing that I was biting into a Troha's scallop, and think maybe your scallops are a bit TOO juicy and eager to please. And when I savor your catfish I enjoy it, but wonder if there's too much talk about breading and not enough succulent love from the sea. Well.... We can still hang out and be friends, you know. I mean, I'll come visit every now and again because you ARE very good and treat me kindly, but I'm afraid Troha's has my heart. Even if Troha's drains my purse dry, it has me under a spell and I will keep going back, and back, and back...sorry. But I'll never forget you Shrimp Shack. And I will see you again sooner or later, I promise. Please be well. Yours truly, Clarissa J.
(3)Sabrina S.
Great place it you are looking to splurge. Prices are a little high but the quality of the fish is worth it. Freash fried fish and shrimp that is really good.
(5)Robert M.
Great food! Recommend trio shrimp, diablo shrimp, and crab salad. Kinda expensive, but worth it once in awhile.
(5)Fernando U.
This place is my new favorite shrimp place. And I've tried them all, Lawrence's, frank's, papadoxs. Family owned , very, very clean, and the food was amazing, top notch. The tables and carpeted floors give you this " at-home" feeling. Me and my fiancee went for the jumbo diner and an order of the seasoned shrimp. We also added on some crab salad and these strange little jalapeno bacon wraped fried shrimp; that for the life of me I can't remember what she called them. Anyway, they were absolutely astonishing. If your in the area, this place deserves at least a try. Keep in mind that seafood is in the more expensive side of the food pyramid, be prepared for a bill larger then your normaly accustomed to paying.
(5)Normy L.
mmm mmm good! The shrimp is amazing and fish is awesome. A little on the pricey side, but what can you expect for some good seafood. Well worth it!
(5)Christopher L.
We recently tried the shrimp Shack after being extremely loyal to Franks and I must say I was pleasantly impressed with the taste of the shrimp. The location is extremely clean and very organized inside. The shrimp for absolutely outstanding very tasteful huge proportions. The bacon jalapeno wrapped shrimp are a must try. The shrimp shack definitely gives franks a run for their money and now they have now become my favorite.
(5)N E.
Let me tell you right up front, I love shrimp. Almost an issue, but I can't stop myself! They have great fried food here. And they have a very clean business. The service is always great. My only issue is (with all shrimp places) I feel they are priced high. But that doesn't stop me from going there at least once a month.
(4)Damian P.
For shrimp, no one on Archer avenue can touch Shrimp Shack. They moved here from a few blocks down and so glad they did. The place is still rocking it out but in a nicer venue. The plasma TV with food channel is the perfect sit down and eat here ploy. I loved it, munching on shrimp and fries while watching Ina make some kind of concoction out of jello. The 80's theme "art prints" could be updated but the nice atmosphere and the food of course works the look out! Tell them you seen them on YELP!
(4)Melanie N.
Not bad. I got the cod dinner. It was more than enough food. It comes with alot of fries, and choice of mac salad or coleslaw. I had to get hush puppies and loved them. Everything was fried to perfection. It is pricy but my man loves the huge shrimp so I guess it is worth it. They deliver to, which is convenient.
(4)Jeffery S.
Last Sunday, my friend wanted to stop at the Weber Bakery for some kolackes and bread. We bought bread and cookies, but unfortunately they were out of kolackes. We had a bit of time before I needed to get to Midway Airport, so we decided to try one of the several shrimp houses that exist along Archer Avenue. The Shrimp Shack caught our eye so we decided to give this place a go. When you first get in, the first thing that hits you is how clean this place is, usually shrimp joints subscribe to the philosophy that if a place is clean, you're not spending enough time worrying about the food. This place sparkled, the tables were glossy black laquer, the floors were a bright tan color, the walls white, and you can see the entire kitchen gleaming with freshly sanitized stainless steel. And no stale vegetable oil smell. The menu is posted on a billboard on one wall. They offer a variety of fried shrimps and fish. We decided to go with a fried shrimp combo plate and a shrimp cocktail. We seated ourself at one of the tables and noticed that each table had a different brand of hot sauce used to kick up the seafood. Our shrimps arrived in about five minutes. The shrimp cocktail was OK. The shrimp was fresh and firm, they do a great job of cleaning the shrimp so there were no veins or tail. The sauce however was a bit bland for my taste, not enough horseradish. The hot sauce was no subsitute for the nose burning sensation of cocktail sauce with fresh horseradish. The fried shrimp platter was supposed to be a combination of three different types of fried shrimp, seasoned, spicy and plain. The breading was a conventional corn meal breading. The difference between the different seasonings was pretty subtile, my freind and I had trouble telling which was which. Overall, the place was OK, it was clean, the staff was freindly and the food was fresh. However, the shrimp seemed to lack a certain "wow" factor. Maybe it is because I have a preference for shrimp made with tempura batter as opposed to corn meal batter. It would be fine if you lived in the neighborhood but I wouldn't say it was a "must stop".
(3)Sandy V.
Great serves very good jumbo shrimp , salads are d-lish the perch is great eat inor take out you won't be unhappy
(5)Lauren P.
#NAME?
(4)Adam S.
Fantasic shrimp! I will never go anywhere ever again! Never ever! So much better than anybody else! Everything else is nothing compared to the shrimp shack! This food is faaaaaaantastic
(5)Oscar S.
I've really enjoyed my visits to The Shrimp Shack.I started coming here after getting a tip from my cousin.I've been stopping in ever since.The food here is really good.I was surprised to see that they have walleye on the menu.I can't think of any other restaurant that carries that.Nope.Not even Lawrence's.It's quite tasty.I dont come here too often because I'd blow up to 300lbs QUICK if I did.lol.Seems everytime I come here I EAT ALOT.hahaha!!! But every so often I crave some deep fried fish and shrimp and this is my neighborhood go to spot.Service is really good and very friendly.Also very clean.They dont serve alcohol.I do recommend this place.
(4)Joel M.
Impressive. Expectations were high when they rang up my order of the "half and half" shrimp dinner and the taste, quality and appearance of the food exceeded my expectations. I couldn't tell which I liked more, seasoned or traditional and all I though about while I ate was what friends and family members I could share this treasure of a restaurant with. I have only been here once but plan to return soon, I hope they're consistent! Highly recommended.
(5)Rosa J.
"What? This ain't no shack; this place is cleaner than my living room!" One of Rosa J.'s favorites is deep-fried seafood. There are many places on the north/near south side of Chicago, such as Fish Keg (West Rogers Park), Hagen's (Portage Park), and Lawrence's Fisheries (Pilsen/Chinatown). What if you end up on the south/southwest of Chicago? Will you be out of luck on finding a decent seafood-fry joint? Well, you will be fine if you're in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood (close to the Midway Airport). Shrimp Shack is located on Archer, almost on border of Chicago city limit and Summit. There's customer parking available on the back of the store. We went in, and were amazed by how organized and clean the entire place was. The menu was simple and I found it easy to understand. Hubby and I shared the 1/2-lb. shrimp and 1/2-lb. catfish dinner, which came with garlic bread, macaroni salad (or Cole slaw if that was what you preferred), and fries. In other words, that dinner combo was enough for two (2) individuals with healthy appetites. The total was $21, with two (2) cans of Pepsi added onto our order. The lady who took our order was Midwestern-style nice (meaning nice indeed ...don't think I was playing on words). Fish and shrimps were weighed before frying; food was made-to-order; the entire order was ready in ten (10) minutes. Their shrimps were huge; they were as large as fish nuggets. The breading was crispy, even though it was coated a bit heavy to my liking. However, both fish and shrimps were fresh. The macaroni salad was slightly bland, but it was still tasty. I actually liked their garlic bread very much. I haven't seen many joints that would include garlic bread as part of the dinner combo. I thought this was a nice touch! Overall, this neighborhood, mom-and-pop place was as solid as it could be. If you ever head this way to visit or to catch a flight from Midway, I will highly recommend Shrimp Shack (accessible through CTA bus #62 and close to Stevenson Expressway, or I-55).
(4)Brenden B.
Pretty delicious shrimp and you bet your ass Bubba Gump would be pretty pleased with the variety of shrimp offerings. I will have to say though, your eyes are bigger than your stomach. 1lb of shrimp lasted me 3 meals. You have been warned.
(4)Tonya H.
Searched for a seafood restaurant close to the airport and found this one. It's lil on the pricey side but you get what you pay for. The shrimp are huge. But I wish they had healthier side dish offerings. Even if it were a side salad, veggies, or something. So save this place for a cheat day! Lol. Great customer service and quick service. I had the 1/2 regular 1/2 seasoned shrimp dinner with a ton of fries and coleslaw. Yum....yum....yum. Next time I think I'll try some of their fish. Also a heads up they don't take American Express.
(4)Paloma C.
This place is so awesome. Clean and friendly and delicious food to boot! Can't go wrong with the freshness and I'm sorry, SHRIMP DIABLO are to die for. bacon wrapped jalepeno + shrimp then deep fried? Need I say more? Great spot for walleye, lake perch, and tasty shrimp (obviously? )
(4)Judi V.
Love this place! Everyone the works here rocks!!! The shrimp and crab and shrimp salad is delicious!!!!!
(5)Dawn S.
Great shrimp.. We have tried them all.. The seasoned, The Diablo and Coconut Rock!!!
(5)Brianna L.
I can't even believe I've never written a review of this place!! I've been coming here for years especially during lent. The fries are worth the trip alone. The fried shrimp is so tasty! They are seasoned to perfection. They have a hint of garlic and they're just good. Get them!! The shrimp is so fresh! Shrimp diablo = heaven in your mouth. Be like nike and do it! Shrimp cocktail is good too, but not much to say about that. As far as the fried fish goes. I've only had the perch. Its really good too. I normally just get shrimp tho. Basically this place is a gem. You have to know about it otherwise you'll drive right past. It doesn't look special from the outside, but I promise you won't regret stopping in. When you're inside eating you feel like you're at someone's house rather than a restaurant. At first its a bit odd, but you'll come to enoy the comfortable factor.
(5)Ryan G.
This place is a joke...I paid for jumbo shrimp and they gave me popcorn shrimp..what a rip off..i paid $22 for 1 pound of small ass shrimp...never again...theres a shrimp place on the opposite east side corner a couple blocks away..east not west which has a red sign with a shrimp on it...this place has huge real jumbo shrimp around same money..but much less breading and much larger... You screw me once wont screw me again...no wonder I never knew there where there for 6 yrs...nobody likes them
(2)Gus L.
Great place to be , nice people big portions and my favor place to work !!! I will be making some new pasta dishes on the coming weeks and desert !!!
(5)Marryann S.
I love this place..They have the best shrimp. And there crab salad is the very best. .If you have not tried it please do so..You can eat in or order out whichever you prefer. .But please try it..It is great.And I promise you this place will be one of your regular stops...
(5)Mark M.
WOW! Just had lunch from this place and it was wonderful. We placed an order form the office and when I got there they were just putting the order together. The order was correct, nicely labeled, hot and fresh. Walking from the parking lot I glanced into the kitchen and noticed it was VERY clean and VERY orginised. At the order/pick-up counter you can see more of the same. The entire place is clear and orginized like a militery operation. Quick, friendly and efficent. Now the food; everyone in the office said there food was good. I have the Seasoned Jumbo Shrimp $11 for a 1/2 pound (7-each), it comes with garlic bread. The shrimp was moist, plump and indeed jumbo. The seasoning was slight not overpowering, the breading was slightly heavy but not overly heavy, the breading was a dried, fine bread crumb. The shrimp had a seasoning on it (in the raw state) maybe before it was cooked. The seasoning wasent hot but just a kind of a shrimp cocktail flavor, maybe oldbay. The cocktail sauce was good and could stand as the definitation of what a standard cocktail sauce is. They offer hot sauce for .50 if you prefer something spicy. The prices are not cheap but I don't think you want cheap when you think seafood. It may seem expensive but I think it is a good price value. Several posted phots are true to form. I will return to explor the menus other options.
(5)Ashley C.
Amazing place. 2nd next to Lawerences! Clean and friwndly. Fresh food and good prices for the amount they give you.
(5)Sofia B.
First time going there and can honestly say that the food was as exceptional as their service. I went there with my fiance and we ordered the jumbo shrimp and crab meat salad which were both delicious! I usually don't like eating too much fried shrimp but I will definitely be coming here anytime I crave some good ol seafood! Also the place was really clean even at what seemed to be their busy hour.
(5)Sarah P.
I took my dad here, thanks to help from the other reviews. Great place! We ordered the Trio (shrimp 3 different ways) with a side of hush puppies. Although neither of us could figure out which shrimp were the ones that were garlic seasoned, we both greatly enjoyed the food and the experience! The interior is carpeted and comfortable, and the lady who helped us was super nice.
(4)Paula P.
Wow, this place was great! The owners were very helpful and the food was terrific. I had cocktail shrimp and jumbo shrimp. He had catfish. Sauces were excellent. These guys really know what they are doing. Better than what you'd expect. Great value too! I can't wait to go back.
(5)Mark Z.
Go for it Cooked fresh, Good fast Service, Had the jumbo shrimp and fries. Make it one of your regular stops The Rush on Roosevelt
(4)Lupe G.
They're kinda pricy for fried seafood & cold salads but they have a few items like frog legs & hush puppies which aren't found in seafood places nearby
(3)Christian C.
This is my top spot for seafood on the Southside. There shrimp/popcorn shrimp is real good. I also love there fries taste so good. Macoroni salad is also great. A bit pricey but u get what u pay for.
(5)Eric M.
The frog legs were good, shrimp excellent, service...impersonal. Needs a few smiles or at the very least a hello or goodbye a wave? No?
(4)Jaci Y.
Rock N' Jumbo shrimp and mild sauce. Their claim strips were good but I like Lawerance fishery more. I found their place to be very clean and their prices to be fair. I would go back to get more jumbo fried shrimp if I happen to be in that area.
(3)Jessica L.
If your lookin for some good shrimp on te south side this is the place! Clean, friendly, and the portions are good! There potato pancakes are by far some of the best ive had. My only wish is that you could call ahead to pick it up. When you come to pick up your food Is when the cook it... Kinda cool to have fresh foo but kinda defeats the purpose of call ahead ordering. Regardless.... It's a great little mom and pop place!
(4)Danny I.
seems like a family owned place , good shrimp and service
(5)Bobby O.
The shrimp were plain. The place is clean but I think they tried to copy off the classical SOUTHSIDE SHRIMP and failed miserably. On top of that, they opened directly across the street from another shrimp house. Who does that?
(2)Blue L.
sorry shrimp shack I wanted this to be my spot because its so close to my house ..The place was nice clean and everyone was friendly, But I hoped it had a great homemade dipping sauce and a one of a kind breading recipe, but what I got was the regular cookie cutter jumbo shrimp that you can get at any shrimp house anywhere nothing more , nothing less and nothing different. I ordered the trio dinner had some crab cakes and tried the onion rings even the so called seasoned shrimp was normal flavor. . .maybe im reaching , and maybe my expectations are too high. . .didnt hit the spot for me or my wife. . .I would go back when we're in the mood for regular fried shrimp because of the location or maybe ill just go to leons ribs they got the same shrimp but better sauce or lawrences shrimp even though they have bad service.
(2)Vick C.
Great deep fried seafood and the best variety! Gotta try their deep fried scollop so moist and not over cooked, no complaint at all!
(4)Eric A.
Found this place on yelp as we headed to a fire game (2 miles). Nearly everything is fried here but it is all very good. Had chicago shrimp, clams and fish, all excellent. This place is very clean, friendly service, no grease hanging in the air For what it is, 4 stars!
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