Where to buy lobster

Does anybody know a place to buy good fresh lobster in the city?
I just don't know anyplace to buy good seafood.
Thanks

Chinatown Market has the freshest lobster I've seen anywhere in Chicago for a really good price (usually between 9 and 12 dollars per lb.). I have bought many (too many) lobsters there and have not had a bad experience yet.

Chinatown Market
(312) 881-0068
2121 S Archer Ave
Chicago, IL 60616

curry71 wrote:I just don't know anyplace to buy good seafood.

This thread should help.

Best,
Michael

curry71 wrote:Does anybody know a place to buy good fresh lobster in the city?

Curry,

Dirk's is an excellent overall fish store w/fresh lobster.

I bought these bad boys at Dirk's as well as Homaro Homard our 5.5-lb Valentines Day dining companion.




Enjoy,
Gary

Dirk's Fish
2070 N. Clybourn
Chicago, IL
773-404-3475

HI,

I did a lobster pricing phone survey because I wanted a quantity of lobsters for Father's Day.

Burhops: $16.95/lb
Treasure Island: $16.29/lb for 2# and $15.19/lb for less than 2 lb.
Sunset Foods: $15.98/lb
Lobster Supreme: $14.99 for 2# and $12.99/lb for less than 2 lb
Seaworld on Argyle: $9.65/lb
International Club/5 Continents on Pulaski just south of I-55: $9.99/lb for 2# and $8.99/lb for less than 2 lb

I bought the less than 2 lb at International Club, then steamed them for 14 minutes. Everyone seemed happy though they hardly uttered a word working through their lobsters.

Regards,

Not at Whole foods. Seems like the lobsters had it pretty good condos and no codfish to worry about.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/ ... 0259.shtml

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

I did a lobster pricing phone survey because I wanted a quantity of lobsters for Father's Day.

Burhops: $16.95/lb
Treasure Island: $16.29/lb for 2# and $15.19/lb for less than 2 lb.
Sunset Foods: $15.98/lb
Lobster Supreme: $14.99 for 2# and $12.99/lb for less than 2 lb
Seaworld on Argyle: $9.65/lb
International Club/5 Continents on Pulaski just south of I-55: $9.99/lb for 2# and $8.99/lb for less than 2 lb

I bought the less than 2 lb at International Club, then steamed them for 14 minutes. Everyone seemed happy though they hardly uttered a word working through their lobsters.

Regards,

2007 prices

Burhops: $20/lb 1.5 or less and $26./lb 1.75 pound or more
Treasure Island (Wilmette): $23.99/lb for 2# and $23.19/lb for less than 1.5 lb.
Sunset Foods (Highland Park): $19.98/lb for 1.5 or less
Lobster Supreme (Villa Park): $14.99/lb
Seaworld on Argyle: $10.95/lb for 1.5 to 2 lb
Five Continents (was International Club) on Pulaski just south of I-55: out of stock, might have stock and price on Saturday.
Dirks: $20/lb for 1.5 or under, $22/lb for more than 1.5 pound
Fish Guy: 1.7 lbs each. $17.00 lb, 2lb + Lobsters, $18.00 lb
H-Mart: $12.99

What a range of prices.

These addresses were not 1-2-3 to find, while all the others are easily available.

Five Continents
4000 W 40th St,
Chicago, IL
(773) 927-0100

Sea World Food Mart
1130 W Argyle St
(at Broadway St)
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 334-5335

Cathy2, how'd you know I've been obsessing over lobster lately?

Jay K wrote:Cathy2, how'd you know I've been obsessing over lobster lately?

Let me tell you I worked my way down that list, At $20 and up per pound, I was beginning to rethink my Father's Day plans. Now that I have better prices, lobster is definitely back on track.

Glad my information works for your obsession.

Regards,

Not local, but I have had good luck with Lobsters-Online.com. They offer extra-large lobsters that are hard to find elsewhere. Also, if you live in the outer suburbs and want to avoid a a drive into town, there is the convenience factor. Their Father's Day special is a five pounder for $57.95. Quite a deal. The only problem is the shipping. It adds about $30. But if you are ordering more than one, the cost of shipping per lobster goes down (though the actual charge does go up slightly). There has never been any problem with the condition of the lobsters when they arrive. I once ordered an 8 pounder and hilarity ensued when we could not crack the humongous claws. Finally, we resorted to using a drill and a hammer. The meat was sweet and tender, in spite of it all.

If you want to order for Father's Day, you need to get your order in by 2:30 the previous day. If you order on Friday, you pay and additional $15 for Saturday delivery.

Wow, Cathy2, I'm surprised at not only the range in 2007 prices but also at how much higher they are than the 2006 prices. It looked like some of those places are selling lobster $4 to $6 per pound more than last year. There were one or two, though (darn, now I can't scroll back to it; should have quoted) charging about the same price as last year.

Katie wrote:Wow, Cathy2, I'm surprised at not only the range in 2007 prices but also at how much higher they are than the 2006 prices. It looked like some of those places are selling lobster $4 to $6 per pound more than last year. There were one or two, though (darn, now I can't scroll back to it; should have quoted) charging about the same price as last year.

I believe it may have been reported in another thread around here, but there has been a lobster shortage in the northeast this year. This article in the Boston Globe about a particular restaurant on the Cape touches on it a bit.

Boston Globe wrote:This year, he worries about the scarcity of lobster and its increasing price.

"I paid $5.95 a pound for lobster last May. Now it's close to $14 a pound," he says. So that one-pound lobster you purchased for $14.95 in 2006 could very well be $25 in 2007. Nickerson, who sells close to 300 lobsters a day in high season, expects the price to drop as the weather and the water warm up, and Massachusetts lobstermen can start working closer to the shore. He believes the lobster shortage is due to Canada increasing its overseas business.

Hi,

When I asked about prices at several stores, they said it was related to transportation. Interesting comment about a shortage, which is more likely true.

Isn't it interesting how the Asian markets prices are lower than other non-Asian distributors.

We are now dickering with the thought of King Crab legs instead since they are $5.99 or $6.99 per pound at H-Mart.

Regards,

Hi,

Last night I stopped by Five Continents to find a security guard at the gated fence. He confirmed what I suspected earlier in the day: Five Continents at Pulaski and 40th (just off the I-55 exit) has closed.

Five Continents/International Club
4000 W 40th St,
Chicago, IL
(773) 927-0100

He advised we can visit their other location on Lake Street in Addison. I wasn't aware of this second location, though I do have the address:

Five Continents/International Club
1421 West Lake Street
Addison, IL 60101.
Tel: (630) 629-1700

Has anybody been to the Addison location?

Regards,

We visited International Club in Sept to find them clearance-ing their merchandise; We picked up some bargain PrimaTaste boxed marinades. When I asked the cashier what was happening, she said the owners were planning to remodel the place. I wonder if that's still true, although at the time I was highly suspect that they were truly remodeling. I bet they're probably closed for good as well.

C2,

The location in Addison, to my knowledge, is Food Harbor. Not a bad shop at all. I've purchased good produce, live fish, and fresh roasted duck on a few occasions when I worked in the area. Plus, It is about the size of a warehouse club.

Flip

I love the Fish Guy on Elston for lobster and fish. The selection isn't huge, but he always has top quality stuff. Plus, if you're a frequent shopper - you can join their "afishianado" club for about $20 and you get 10-15% off all of your purchases for a year.

I have a hard time paying someone for the privaledge of spending money.
Fish Guy prices are higher than others.
I picked up 7 lobster recently at H-Mart in Niles @12.99/#. Staff couldn't been nicer, weighed my cooler before, filled with lobsters I picked out, weighed again and then with ice.
I have also purchased at China Mart and Sea World, no problems. They are just farther for me to travel to from Wisconsin. H-Mart saves about 45 min one way for me if traffic is moving. H-Mart is getting a lot of business-now that it is open.-Dick

Hi,

Last night I saw lobsters for $8.99/pound at H-Mart. FYI - Their seafood department closes at 9 PM. All I could do was look.

Regards,

They are now $9.99 at H-Mart. I bought one on Monday and made lobster clubs.

Cathy2 wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:HI,


2007 prices
Seaworld on Argyle: $10.95/lb for 1.5 to 2 lb
Sea World Food Mart
1130 W Argyle St
(at Broadway St)
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 334-5335

I just called Seaworld, and Lobsters are now 9.95/lb, and clams (steamers, to me, from Boston) are 4.50/lb. I'm doing this research because of the third annual "Lobstah pahty" I'm having in a few weeks. However, this is the first time I'm responsible for buying the critters and I'm wondering if anyone has had the lobsters from Seaworld. I'm introducing some midwesterners to lobster and clam chowder, so they have to be perfect. I won't have time to get out to HMart the day before or day of, and as much as I love Dirk's, just can't buy 20$ lobsters for everyone. Please tell me Seaworld is a great choice.....

Thanks, will report back when it's all done.

Hi,

I have bought lobsters from Seaworld. I go wherever the price is best without any problems as long as they are alive. The last time I bought lobsters, the best price at that moment was at Richwell Market on Dempster. Often these good prices are for the chicken sized lobsters weighing less than 1. 5 pounds.

Regards,

Hey,
So i got 3 lobsters from wilmette(burhops), 60damn bucs a pound ispent 80 bucs...They were very delicious but anyone know a cheaper place? i live in evanston so somewhere near would be better?

Don't really have a clue but I do see ads for Supreme Lobster. I think they are located in Villa Park though which is not near.

Try The Fish Guy Market on Elston near Albany Park. I get a lot of my seafood there (weekly and he seems to have fantastic prices. He does wholesale as well as retail, and I always see a sign in his window for $19/ lb lobster.



Here's a clip from his site at www.fishguy.com

We have Hardshell Live Maine Lobsters from our own tanks that average 1.7 lbs each. $19.00 lb

Cold water lobster tails $42.00 LB

Langoustine (Lobsterette) $25.00 lb




Let us know what you find either way!

Burhops is 16 a pound so anything less than that?

Argyle Street, Chinatown, & H-Mart. Call ahead at H-Mart in Niles as they have had delivery problems.-Dick

firefirev2 wrote:Burhops is 16 a pound so anything less than that?

If you will look upthread, you will see there have been occasional price surveys of various lobster vendors in the area. Burhop's is one the pricier locations to purchase. Treasure Island around the New Year had a sale with prices less than $10 per pound. Asian markets often have less expensive lobsters.

If you do let your fingers do the walking, I hope you will report your results here.

Regards,

Hi,

Yesterday, a friend visiting H-Mart called to advise they had a one-day sale on lobster for $5.99 per pound. Dinner was late last night as I drove over to buy lobsters. There were plenty there at 7 PM last night, it is possible this sale will be extended.

I couldn't find my grate I use to keep the lobsters from touching the one inch of water. I finally put in two box graters to act as a barrier. It worked. They survived the abuse. The dishwasher cleaned it up.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:They survived the abuse.

I can only assume you're referring to the box graters.