Frank Hansen's Fish Pier -- Gone

I know in my neck of the woods we have the legenday Hagen's for fish, but for fried cat fish I always preferred Frank Hansen's Fish Pier on Harlem just south of 90. But, alas, the place is no more. It is now a polish video store and even the rustic sign is gone.

I used to pick up lunch there about once a week, and I was usually the only customer -- a very bad sign in a fish house! Yet, the fish was always fresh and fried to a perfect crispness. My job for the last year has trapped me in the Loop, and I'm afraid the loss of my meager business was to much for them.

If only I had touted Frank Hansen's greatness perhaps I wouldn't have lost him. <sigh>

-Ramon

yes ramon, i feel your pain! i spent alot of highschool days outside that joint with the snow gently falling and my hand reaching into a steaming bag of fried perch, along with an old style i nabbed from my old man, street food at its best, but do not fear hagens up on montrose will set you straight again!!

I've been going to Hagen's for a very long time, ever since I was a kid when my grandma used to take me there. I started going again about five years ago, and walking into that place, I was amazed that it smelled exactly the same (maybe I shouldn't have been amazed, but I was).

My sense is that Hagen's does a pretty good business (it's always been a relatively high-traffic area, and they have a good product), so I'd guess they'll be around for awhile, but you never know. I prefer their smoked salmon and trout (smoked catfish doesn't work for me; too oily, or something).

Hammond

PS. It was regrettable when, sometime in the past few years, they repainted the old Viking ship on the east side of the building and put up an inoffensive, though less cool silhouette of some guys in a boat. Guess it's not possible for everything to stay the same.