Russ Kendall's Smoke House

If you find yourself in Duluth, this smokehouse is a must-visit. We have returned time and time again, and their smoked fish consistently maintains exceptional quality and flavor. My personal favorite is the sugar-cured lake trout, which is perfectly balanced in sweetness and saltiness, with tender, juicy meat that is never dry. I have also tried the smoked salmon and walleye, which, in my opinion, were decent but slightly on the drier side. Undoubtedly, this is the best smokehouse in Duluth, complemented by excellent service!😋

Quick stop for smoked trout on our way north to Cook County and Boundary Waters. If you like smoked fish Kendall’s is where it’s at! We had smoked trout and it was delicious!

Best smoked fish in MN! I bought black cod and sugar trout, and I liked the cod the most.

I come from the cities just to get my smoked fish here. Absolutely, hands down the best!! They smoke their fish on-site and a lot of the fish come straight out of Lake Superior. Delicious!

This place is simply AMAZING! First off, take the scenic route to get there. The place is small. Sometimes there will be quiet of bit of people so also keep that there may be some wait. Any of the smoked fish are excellent! Reasonable prices. They also have some drinks and other prepackaged food items for sale. Fish is packed up in newspaper which is really cool! Place looks super clean as well. Staff was super nice. Asked the staff about recommendations and they were really helpful.

Have been coming here for years, and it is consistently excellent. They don't over-salt or over-smoke. The classic lake trout is particularly outstanding. If you think supermarket smoked fish is just as good, think again. These people know what they're doing.

Love the walleye and trout! Soooo good! Even in Duluth, it's worth the 45-minute drive up.

I have been a fan of another smokehouse in Two Harbors for years. Tried Russ Kendall's today and it was at another level. Warning if you haven't been there before, it comes up fast, I actually missed it and ended up stopping on the way back. The fish is fantastic and prices are reasonable. Highly recommend it. The lake trout is awesome.

Kendall's had frozen Lake Superior white fish, not smoked, which we were looking for. We sauteed it. It was tremendous! I need to do some research, but it had bones that I cut out. And skin that I had to remove. But it was so good. I'll definitely be back for more!

The place is a legend. Something out of Garrison Keillor's Lake Woebegone Universe. As a Californian, it's beyond my poor ability to magnify or praise. All I can do is give thanks that they exist.

This small smokehouse on the North shore of Lake Superior is by far the best place to get smoked fish in Minnesota! The dudes behind the counter are friendly and helpful with recommendations. My favorite smoked fish is their smoked black cod, but you can't go wrong with their two options for smoked salmon either. Props to them for using locally sourced fish by the way

Small, quick, great selection, friendly, most of all delicious!! We got the smoke salmon and smoked string cheese.

Every time we take the scenic route from Duluth to Two Harbors we stop at this Fish Smoke House. Delicious smoked fish, and great customer service! The busier it is the more people come up out of nowhere

This is not just smoke fish, this is fish you can die for. This store is so good. Any time I'm in Duluth, I'm stopping there. I always but a lot, but next day I feel sorry I didn't buy even more. I can eat their smoke fish 3 times in a day and repeat. Thank you guys for so good business. Very recommend.

Great fish particularly the smoked salmon in knife River on Lake Superior. Great fish particularly the smoked salmon in knife River on Lake Superior.

Not a place that I would think of as a tourist staple (more local business) along north Lake Superior (ie not fancy decor/been there for years, etc). But my husband (the driver) insisted on stopping on our way down Scenic Drive. I was not impressed UNTIL I nibbled on some of the smoked lake trout he bought. Holy smoky! Ok, now I'm hooked and see why this spot merits stopping. Stop by and try it. Don't be a tourist on the North Shore, be a local!

Great fish and service, sugar cured salmon is the best, add some cheese curds toske a great lunch.

This is a deli with a few picnic tables outside, some homemade jams, cheeses and trinkets etc. inside. It is a cute shop. This came up as a restaurant on my map app which it is not. We stopped in looking for smoked fish and wow, we were not disappointed. They had sugar cured and original fish. Today they had salmon, white fish, walleye and a few others. The service was quick even though it was busy. Exactly what we were hoping for. (Ps. they sell sleeves of crackers for your goodies).

Simple...it's Fabulous! The fish is moist, sweet, tender, and flavorful. I purchased the whole whitefish and the sugared lake trout. Yum and yum. To repeat an oft used phrase "I'll be back!"

Fish was delicious. Could be a line. Very popular for smoked fish. Straight forward fish market. Service was good.

Loved it, bought salmon smoked and trout. Went multiple times. Froze some of it too. It was still good

We love the smoked lake trout! Our favorite!! Salmon spread is pretty darn good too! Never had a bad fish there, ever!!

Writing about Russ Kendalls Smokehouse Review, I can't pin down how long they have been in business, but I certainly remember stopping there with my dad 60+ years ago.  Long an institution on the north shore of Lake Superior, about 15 miles north of Duluth, Kendalls smokes and sells herring, walleye, lake trout, ciscoes, cheese, and other goodies, as well as selling locally produced preserves, honey, and craft beer. I went for the ciscoes, because it's what we always used to purchase, and just like back then, the fish comes wrapped in newspaper and freezer paper.  What's a ciscoe? Sometimes called small lake herring, they are actually a member of the Salmonidae family. They are lightly smoked, it's easy to pull out the entire spine intact, but watch for small bones the size of hairs. Not really a "fishy" taste, but the flesh feels a little oily, just an FYI. Best eaten with your fingers, atop a cracker if you wish, Kendalls offers a number of different kinds, including Scandinavian flatbread, which would be ideal, but we didn't need that kind of quantity, so we just got a sleeve of saltines. Parked ourselves along the lake on an agate-strewn beach, and polished off the fish and crackers in no time. Glad I got back there, glad they were open, they had a pretty severe fire a few years back but were able to rebuild after some time and difficulty.  Imagine they'll be there still 65 years from now!

Excellent service and smoked fish plus iother goodies We will be back Definitely worth going here

Great smoked fish, reliable and friendly service. I love lakers and silver salmon, yummy !!!

Excellent experience. Very fresh, good options and very Delicious! Plus it's a Great location.

Awesome place to stock up on some protein and snacks before you hit the trails. This was better then eating in any restaurant in town in all honesty. It's simple, filling and they have a variety of dishes for any budget. They also had other local made products that were also great. This is the type of shop I love visiting when I travel somewhere new. A place to showcase the best of what the area has to offer. The staff is also super helpful in helping you decide what to get

Great smoked fish, friendly service, beautiful scenery! Had the lake trout and herring- both were delicious. We will come back next time we are going to the North Shore.

Good smoked fish, however, poor customer service totally changed the experience. We thought that the first visit was an off day, when we returned the same angry man was working so we left after watching him yell at a customer.

I rushed here right before it's closed. The lady in the shop is super nice to let me take my time. I bought a bunch of different fishes to try, oh my gosh, everything is awesome. Price is very reasonable. No wonder it's highly recommended!

I bought a smoked whitefish, 2 weeks ago at Kendall's, and just polished it off today. It was delicious!!!!

This place is awesome! Do drive out of your way to get some of their smoked fish. Their smoked black cod/sablefish is simply mouthwatering amazing! We will stop by anytime we are again within 100 miles of Russ Kendall's Smoke House. It's SOOOO worth driving out of the way for excellent smoked fish.

Best smoked fish on the shore. Stepping inside getting the smell of smoked fish brings me back to being here as a kid. White fish fave. And the salmon maple/sugar cured is moist and yummy. Don't forget a sleeve of crackers and why not get a bag of squeaky cheese curds. All good.

This place is simple that's what makes it so amazing the product absolutely speaks and smells for its self I was driving up the north shore when I was enticed in through the smell of yummy smokehouse though the vents of my car! I immediately knew what was up ahead and knew that I had to stop in for my mom who is a total fish fanatic who's birthday it happens to be today, I picked up two types of fish and when I arrived at her house up on the shore she couldn't have been more appreciative and we are currently devouring fish and some white wine and reminiscing about all the fabulous things that Minnesota staple businesses have to offer our incredible community that you cannot get anywhere else in the world I am so happy to have picked up a piece of the homeland and appreciate all the feels I get when eating this delicate and comforting treat!

Without a doubt the BEST smoked salmon that I have ever had! Oddly enough until a few years ago I had never heard about Russ Kendall's. As much Yelpsearch, research and TV shows that I watch, this was a new place for me. In fact thanks go to our friends who enlightened us to the best smoked salmon anywhere. We used to make an annual trip up to Duluth for the day. We'd get some smoked salmon and some crackers then go to the boardwalk or sit by the water and enjoy our fish. Then life gets in the way and we didn't visit for a few years. Well that changed this year when my nephew was in town. We took a trip to Duluth and Russ Kendall's was one of our first stops. The first time I was here was before their fire. They are still in the same location and a lot of the building looks the same. Walking into Russ Kendall's is walking into a real smokehouse. It reminds of going to Calumet Fisheries a few years back where they smoke fish. It should smell like smoke. You definitely smell the smoke at Russ Kendall's. Russ Kendall's is a no frills place. You go it, you get your smoked fish, and you will like it! No you'll love it! We picked up a chunk of salmon and barely made to he parking lot before we opened it up and began eating. It was just as great as I remembered. Their salmon is sugar cured so it has a sweet taste to balance the richness and smoky flavor. Really its a perfect food. I have had smoked salmon from several different places in several different states. Russ Kendall's is by far the best smoked salmon I have ever had!

I am forever dreaming of the brown sugared cured salmon from this place. Seriously, it's like chasing the dragon. So ridiculously delicious, it got me hooked on smoked salmon. The spread was good too. Very authentic place.

First stop on our North Shore road trip. Needing a little guidance, since this was our first time purchasing freshly smoked fish. When asked which choice he would reccomend, the guy behind the counter replied, "they're all good." That really didn't help me. So, I asked what's local and your favorite. He steered us towards the trout, which he described as an oiler local fish. You can't break up the pieces, but there are whole and half pieces available. Prices range from $11 to $12 a lb. We purchased the white fish as well, to make the $10 credit card minimum. Also available, jerky and dips. Brought the smoked fish home and tried the trout so far. Very delicious and fresh! A great first stop!

Delicious! Get the smoked salmon spread. Cheaper than Lou's up the street. Not the friendliest service though but that's ok

The best smoked fish around !!! They will ship it to your door !!! They also have wild rice and jerky and sticks they also smoke

One of my favorite spots to frequent when I'm visiting the north shore. You have to take scenic show drive but they're doing construction so it's best to take the main highway coming from two harbors and then cut over to the scenic drive after about 20 minutes. Due to COVID they're only allowing four people in At a time and you have to wear masks. We bought crackers, smoked trout and the salmon spread to take on our home as a snack. Or was so good everything is good!! If you're a fan of smoked fish they have salmon and trout along with two different kinds of spreads. There's more than that if course, but I always go for those items. If you're in the Two harbors area, I highly suggest you stop and pick up a delicious snack.

We love this little smokehouse and meat shop. It is by far the best, don't be fooled by imitators. Of course we love the smoked wihtefish and salmon the best, but anything you get here is for sure going to be both good and worth the trip. Though it's a small store, don't overlook the coolers to the side of the counter. They have a great selection of cheese and other local products as well. I actually don't know if they take credit cards here but I would guess they do. It's one of those places where I feel like it actually matters to their bottom line if they have to pay credit card fees, so I always try to pay cash. It's a must-stop. Just do it.

Great food and very friendly staff! They're only allowing 6 people in at once right now due to COVID so sometimes there's a line out the door, but it's worth the short wait. I loved the smoked Atlantic salmon and the salmon spread, and we got some great cheese as well.

Best smoked fish in Minnesota hands down! My husband and I took and a day trip up to the north shore to celebrate our anniversary and before anything we made sure to stop at Russ Kendall's for some smoked fish. Prior to coming here several people told me I had to stop here, I'm so glad we did! When we walked in there were a few people already in line and a group behind us. We got a whole lake trout and 1/2 of white fish. AMAZING!! After having fish from here everything else will probably be just meh!

The best smoked dish I've ever had, and I've tried a lot. The fish was smoky, tender, moist, and not overly salted. Must stop here if you find yourself on the northshore scenic drive.

Smoked fish is surprisingly hard to find in and around Duluth but if you're able to venture about 20 minutes north then this is the place to go. Think old fashioned butcher shop except rather than choosing between turkey or salami deli meat you're choosing between Chubb, salmon, and lake trout. Oh, and there are plenty of choices for those who are into cheese including the famous (infamous) Upper Midwest specialty, cheese curds. The fish is priced by the pound and the price varies a little depending upon the market but figure $10-12 per pound. That's a lot less than you'd pay in the Twin Cities and WAY less than what you'd pay in Chicago but saving a few bucks isn't the only reason to make the trip. The scenery and experience are both great as the shop is located maybe 1/10th of a mile from the shore of Lake Superior and you'll drive within feet of the shoreline about half the way if you stay off of the more traveled Hwy 61 and take the scenic route instead.

Do not miss out on this place!!! Smoked White Fish,Salmon n trout are all so good. Love their spreads too!! Make sure to bring a small cooler to stock up, you can thank me later!! :)

I love the North Shore. I stopped by this place because they had five star reviews on multiple websites, which shocked me. When you drive by, this place looks like a small hole in the wall, so we decided to stop in while on vacation (from the Twin Cities). The fish selection looked good, and they had both smoked fish and frozen fish available. However, the customer service experience was terrible and the woman at the counter was very rude. She was annoyed we used a credit card (Dude, it's 2018.) for our purchase as we didn't meet the $10 minimum (which is illegal, btw). So we ended up buying more product just to get us to over $10 to allow us to use the credit card. I haven't tried the fish yet, but based on the customer service experience, I definitely don't need to go back. What happened to Minnesota nice?

Trout and Sockeye Salmon were great. A friend got smoked turkey leg and loved it. Easy to park. Large dining room. it closes in winter.

Best Smoked White Fish I've Ever Eaten in my 59 Years on this Planet. Period, Paragraph.

THE most important stop on any trip up north. This place is on the scenic route off 61 outside of Duluth - maybe halfway through. I've been going here a few times a year for years and years - and have been known to drive the 3ish hours from Mpls JUST for some smoked salmon. It's that good. The sugar cured smoked king salmon is hands down the best (and priciest) offering, but everything is good. They have other items as well - jams and jerky and cheese. And there's a bar next door, though I've never been there when it's open. Someday!

It's the best little smoke shack on the north shore! We love it. The kids don't like fish but will always eat their smoked salmon it's delicious

The fish is smoked in-house. I bought a 1 1/2 lb. portion of Alaskan Silver Salmon, skin on and bone-in. It has a texture that is creamy and the smoke flavor is moderate, not too little or too much. I made a large batch of smoked salmon spread that went well with GF multigrain tortilla chips. The flavor improved by the next day. I was impressed with both the selection of smoked fish and their prices. Lou's Smokehouse in Two Harbors on the main drag had prices that were more than $10/lb higher. The only slight drawback was that the fish was on the drier side but not overly so. An oilier fish might have a bit more moisture, but otherwise it was delicious!

Get the smoked salmon, you must! This is the sort of stuff you imagine when you think great all-American food. I'm a seafood snob though and I've had some of the best fish and seafood from all around the world. I'd say this is a solid 3.5 to 4 among the greats. Slightly dry but not bad at all. Great smoke flavor. Well-balanced sweetness and saltiness. It's about as good as it gets for all-American food!

We LOVE this place. Russ Kendale's is a MUST stop when we travel the North Shore of Lake Superior. Pick up some smoked fish (any type, everything's awesome) and crackers, drive to the closest rest area, kick back and enjoy the sound of the lake and the taste of the fish. Be cautious, DON'T feed the seagulls! They'll follow you home and peck your eyes out.

Let me begin by saying I am from the Chicago Area and there is a little smokehouse near the 95th street bridge on the south side called Calumet Fisheries off Lake Michigan. It was even featured on Anthony Bourdain's show and I'm very biased about smokehouses due to this little place I visited growing up. ON that note Russ Kendall's smokehouse rivals Calumet fisheries BIG time!!! It's a small little place on the scenic route of the North Shore of Lake Superior between two harbors and Duluth. We saw it and passed right by it then my companion and I caught a whiff of the smoke. We literally made a U turn and went back. Boy were we glad we did. The young girl at the counter was very knowledgeable. My compadre got the whole smoked herring. I bought a half lb. of the sugar cured smoked silver salmon for us to share on the road trip to Duluth. It was so so good we both rolled our eyes back into our heads with great pleasure!! Russ, keep doing what you do because I'll be back for more!!! The rest of the filet made an excellent salmon spread the next day with chives and cream cheese. . Awesome!! I wish they had the smelt !!!!

Always a MUST stop when visiting the north shore. I've gone for over 30 years and it always so yummy. Now my kids expect it when we go up there. I always have to bring some fish and salmon spread home too. The place smells amazing and they are so friendly.

Had the sugar cured King salmon yesterday for 17.95 a lb. and i was in food heaven. I didn't care that they only had two selections available I knew from my last visit it would be great. If you want the real deal in smoke fish come here and don't waste your time looking for other places. The cheese I bought turned out to be tasty as well!