Calumet Fisheries
Seafood restaurant · Lake Calumet Industrial District ·
James Beard-winning shack for smoked & fried seafood
James Beard-winning shack for smoked & fried seafood
"Do a few sets of tables and chairs outside a seafood shack count as outdoor dining? We vote yes. And those tables and chairs are the best place to enjoy the smoked fish at Calumet Fisheries on the 95th Street Bridge. Also valid: eating while leaning against your car, or sitting in the trunk with the back door open (don’t eat it with the windows closed unless you want your whole car to smell like fish). Get the smoked salmon and fried shrimp." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor
"This no-frills South Side roadside shack has been treating diners to some of the city’s finest seafood for almost seven decades. The menu runs the gamut from fried shrimp to smoked salmon and trout. Guests often eat in their cars or on the curb because of the limited seating, but that’s no deterrent for the restaurant’s loyal fans. The James Beard Foundation recognized Calumet Fisheries in 2010 and declared it a timeless American Classic. The restaurant recently reopened after a fire in 2023." - Naomi Waxman
"This Chicago landmark dates back to 1948 and reopened in June after shuttering for months due to a fire. Visit the southern city limits for seafood that’s smoked on site in a roadside shack. It’s cash only and there’s limited seating, so prepare to eat outside or in the car. But it’s a small price to pay to try the James Beard-recognized selection of shrimp, sable, salmon, herring, trout, and whitefish." - Sam Nelson
"Calumet is a fish smokehouse that's been around since 1948. It’s literally a shack on the 95th Street Bridge over the Calumet River, wedged between Lake Michigan and the Chicago Skyway. They’re smoking shrimp, whitefish, salmon, trout, catfish, and a lot more in their little wood smoker out back, and you need to be a part of it. Just know there’s no place to sit, so come in the summer when you can hang outside, or plan on eating in your car." - nick allen, john ringor, adrian kane
"You shouldn’t wait to eat the delicious seafood here, even if this cash-only shack in South Deering doesn’t have seats. Which means either turning your car hood into a dinner table or eating in your driver’s seat when only snow plows should be outside. The flavorful smoked fish is the main event, and includes salmon, trout, and sturgeon. Order some fried shrimp, too—there’s nothing more picturesque than dunking those crispy morsels into mild sauce while gazing at the 95th Street Bridge." - john ringor, veda kilaru, nick allen
