Shrimp for under $15/pound?

I am looking for suggestions for places to buy inexpensive, frozen, uncooked shrimp. Trader Joe's had been my source for bags of 26-30 shrimp for around $8, but they have been "temporarily out of stock" for about three months now. I usually avoid buying seafood from the neighborhood Jewel (at Lincoln/Montrose). Do any of you have suggestions on where to find good quality uncooked shrimp in the area (I'm located in Lincoln Square/North Center) for under $15 a pound?

Daisy11 wrote:I am looking for suggestions for places to buy inexpensive, frozen, uncooked shrimp. Trader Joe's had been my source for bags of 26-30 shrimp for around $8, but they have been "temporarily out of stock" for about three months now. I usually avoid buying seafood from the neighborhood Jewel (at Lincoln/Montrose). Do any of you have suggestions on where to find good quality uncooked shrimp in the area (I'm located in Lincoln Square/North Center) for under $15 a pound?

I hear ya. I use the TJ's rock shrimp for po-boys. They've been outta that product for months as well.

It seems to be a typical pattern for TJs. They'll have the uncooked shrimp for a couple months and then are out of it for a couple months.

Daisy11 wrote:It seems to be a typical pattern for TJs. They'll have the uncooked shrimp for a couple months and then are out of it for a couple months.

...and so goes the magic and mystery of Trader Joes...at least they finally got the frozen tilapia back in...how exactly does your supplier run out of tilapia? It boggles the mind.

When I asked about some seafood product I wanted, the TJs person said they had been having trouble with quality, so they suspended their purchases until it could be worked out. I think it was the squid/scallops/shrimp frozen combo and the squid were the problem.

A bit off subject, but does any one know if TJ's have their "new" licorice supplier yet? The Aussy licorice that they carried was wonderful, but they no longer have it, due to "quality" problems.

This seems to happen a lot at TJ's and thier parent company, Aldi. They seem to get you hooked on a product, then they pull the rug out.

I think the stories that have gone around about the buyers for them, looking for a vendor in distress. Making them a lowball offer, that the vendor more or less has to accept, selling us the product, then it disappears.

I wonder how long they can continue to sell two buck Chuck?

I think a 2-lb. bag at Costco runs somewhere in the mid $20 range. I've been very happy with their bags of frozen shrimp--cooked and raw.

Best,
Michael

eatchicago wrote:I think a 2-lb. bag at Costco runs somewhere in the mid $20 range. I've been very happy with their bags of frozen shrimp--cooked and raw.

What size cooked shrimp have you been buying at Costco? I haven't bought any in a while (over a year) because I found the larger sizes spongy and lacking much shrimp flavor. The smaller ones tended to fair better, but I am typically buying shrimp for an impromptu shrimp cocktail (handful from the freezer, thaw and serve), and so the big ones are what I seek.

JimInLoganSquare wrote:

eatchicago wrote:I think a 2-lb. bag at Costco runs somewhere in the mid $20 range. I've been very happy with their bags of frozen shrimp--cooked and raw.

What size cooked shrimp have you been buying at Costco?

They're 21-25, which is a good size for cocktail, I think. A half-dozen make a nice portion. They come in a resealable freezer bag under the label "Harvest of the Sea". Like I said, I've been pretty happy with them.

Best,
Michael

I'll second the vote for Costco.

If you're near the suburbs, you can also try Don's Dock in Des Plaines. I've usually had excellent luck there.

Don's Dock
1220 E Northwest Hwy
Des Plaines

847-827-1817

why not buy fresh shrimp on argyle street for very little money ($5/lb?) and freeze them yourself. you get the heads that way, something you rarely find in frozen shrimp. the heads and shells make great broth. i cooked grits in some shrimp broth last night for dinner, added cheddar, and they were fantastic. justjoan

why not buy fresh shrimp on argyle street...

Thanks. That's just the type of tip I was looking for when starting this thread. Are there any particular stores you would recommend over the others on Argyle?

hi daisy, i can never remember the name of the big grocery store on the southside of argyle that has the shrimp. i hope someone else (erik?) will chime in here. but you'll be able to find it easily as the vietnamese/thai shopping district (between sheridan rd. and broadway) is only 4 short blocks long. if you aren't familiar with the neighborhood, i highly recommend spending an hour or so browsing. dont miss the bahn mi (sandwiches) at
ba le bakery (on the west side of broadway at argyle), and the thai grocery next door for fantastic take out (in the back ). check out erik m.'s website. i think you'll find lots of useful info there. www.silapaahan.com. justjoan

Chicago Food also has shrimp for $3.99/lb...

3333 North Kimball
Chicago, IL
(773) 478-5566

I got fresh shrimp, head-on for $3.99 a pound on Sunday at HarvestTime on Lawrence, a little west of western. Not really big suckers, but good for sauteeing and tossing with pasta.

Whole Foods has bags of uncooked frozen shrimp for around $15-$20, I think.

edit: I checked tonight at they are $8.99 for 1lb bags

Since you raised the subject, The Rosengarten Report dedicated an entire issue to where to procure fresh frozen shrimp from great sources on the southern coast. None of these are farmed shrimp. Instead they represent fresh catch brought in by boats in the southeast all the way to Texas. In the $15 per pound price range, I found the following:

Farm -2-Market Louisiana White Shrimp
5 pounds for $79- large pinking gray in color with an unadulterated shrimp flavor. "really great pure shrimp taste...much like great lump crab meat"
www.f2m.com
800-477-2967

TexShrimp Wild Caught Brown Shrimp
2 lb box $23.95
25-30 per pound
"sweet, salty and lobster-y"
www.texshrimp.com
956-241-1733

Bon Secour Fisheries Royal Red Shrimp, Head On"
$5.95 per pound
"the sweetest of all shrimp tried"
Bon Secour Fisheries
800-633-6854

Wild caught Georgia Whites

21-25 per pound
$12.50 per pound

Fished by third generation shrimpers who run their own boats out of coastal Georgia. These shrimp have "deep down sweetness that lingers, with an array of complexing flavors...Eggy? Sherry Like?"

Walter's Caviar and Seafood
912-437-6560
www.georgiaseafood.com

sabersix wrote:A bit off subject, but does any one know if TJ's have their "new" licorice supplier yet? The Aussy licorice that they carried was wonderful, but they no longer have it, due to "quality" problems.

I just saw a new selection of licorice on the end aisle near the refrigerated juice at the Trader Joe's on Clybourn. It was memorable because the licorice came in the shape of black scottie dogs!

a quick google yielded:
"Trader Joe's just started carrying Gimball's black licorice scottie dogs in their stores. These natural licorice candies are made in San Francisco. "

So yes they have new licorice, No it is not aussie.
They also had strawberry (not in scottie dog shape though)

While you are in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by Goose Island for the "Ed", a special release smoked imperial dark beer that is smoky, sweet, and 9%.

I am sure after one or two of these you'll love the new licorice whether its better than the old aussie or not!

now back to shrimp...

I'm not sure how this is affecting the national shrimp supply, but I know the Louisiana shrimp business is still feeling the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I was visiting family in Baton Rouge a few weeks ago and there were no side of the road shrimp purveyors (someone selling shrimp out of coolers in the back of a Uhaul or truck -- usually for $5/lb or less) as there usually are at certain places, and my mother told me that there really haven't been many since the hurricanes on account of the supply dropping significantly due to folks losing boats, being displaced, etc.

Griffen's Wife.

Thanks for that information, and I have tried the "dog" licorice, and it is, in my opinion (but since I have not made a study of licorice for years, my opinion does not count), the possibly new licorice is not in the same league as the Aussy product.

I say possibly new licorice, since I asked the store manager in Arlington Heights if this was the replacement, and she said no, that they would have the new stuff in a few more weeks.

By the way, the dogs have a very firm skin on them, and are rather chewy. I also thought I could taste a bit more corn starch than necessary. The original Aussy, was as is most good licorice, something you had to suck from between your teeth. The new Scotties required mechanical assistance.

But everyone that eats licorice is an expert, since they know what they like, and I am sure there are folks out there that will love the this product, but I did not find it to be something I would purchase again. And there is still the old standby, Panda.

In addition to HarvesTime (2632 West Lawrence), two other good spots for shrimp near Lincoln Square and the northern part of North Center are Cermak Produce (4234 North Kedzie) and Andy's Fruit Ranch (4725 North Kedzie). Today HarvesTime had, in addition to the head-on shrimp noted by Aaron Deacon, slightly larger shrimp with heads off at 5.49.

saw live shrimp at Chinatown Market for $15.99/lb.

Daisy11 wrote:why not buy fresh shrimp on argyle street...

Thanks. That's just the type of tip I was looking for when starting this thread. Are there any particular stores you would recommend over the others on Argyle? And just freeze in water in ziploc bags.They'll keep a long time.

grant wrote:Are there any particular stores you would recommend over the others on Argyle?

Try the following:

Thai Grocery
5014 N Broadway
773.561.5345

Hoa Nam
1101 West Argyle
773.275.9157

Viet Hoa Plaza
1051 W. Argyle
773.334.1028

E.M.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I still have to make a trip to Argyle St. to check out the stores mentioned above. I did see the larger shrimp w/out heads at HarvesTime, but noticed what looked like frozen bags in the case with them. I didn't have time to ask, but I was worried they were previously frozen and had thawed in the case which led me to take a pass.

In the meantime, I made my shrimp purchase at Whole Foods (1# bag of 26-30 shrimp for $8.99). Additionally, I stopped into Trader Joe's yesterday to pick up some other items and checked out their shrimp selection. TJ's on Lincoln currently has 1# bags of uncooked 26-30 shrimp for $6.99 (that's the only type of uncooked shrimp they carried).

I watch for the occasional sale at Dominick's in Greektown in the seafood department. Once a month or so they will drop the price on either 4-6 count or 6-8 count shrimp (frozen, raw, headoff) to $9.99-$12.99/lb. I'll buy a 2 lb. bag whenever it happens. The 4-6 count ones are like small lobster tails in size, only I think they are much better flavored and not as "chewy" as some small lobster tails can be (usually warm water ones in that size). One or two make a meal for one person when served with other accompaniments. They are also quite impressive to serve to guests due to their insane size! They are a little big to serve as shrimp cocktail, IMHO, but they are great broiled or even grilled, or in recipes, cut up and used like lobster.