Kim’s Seafood Market and Restaurant: The Shad Are Running!

Some diners are known for their breakfasts. Others, customers patronize for their meatloaf. At Kim’s Seafood Market and Restaurant, you go for the broiled or fried fish platters. 

A menu isn’t necessary at this restaurant. Everything you want to know is on the huge blackboard above the cash register: seafood available for fried platters on the left, vegetables in the middle (each platter comes with two vegetables) and fish available for broiled platters on the right.

The listings on the blackboard change with what’s in season and what looked good from Philadelphia seafood brokers, so it’s always worth a look. Kim’s sells seafood as well as prepares it, so if you want to decide what looks good either to cook at home or to decide what to order, you can make your selection from the display case to the right of the front door.

I always visit Kim’s in March because when the shad are running, they often have not only the shad itself, but shad roe (ripened egg masses from the female fish—a delicacy—really!) which can be difficult to find. 

Shad was an important fish in Colonial Philadelphia, but it has a well-deserved reputation for bones. I ordered the “Boneless Shad Broiled Platter” ($12.95) and it indeed came without any bones, which, if you’ve cooked shad at home, know is a significant accomplishment. If you’ve always wanted to try shad to see what your ancestors lived on in early Spring, Kim’s is the place to do so! 

I chose boiled red potatoes and applesauce for my two vegetable sides, which were plain, but satisfying, paired with the rich fish. On broiled platters, the seafood comes wrapped in aluminum foil on a bright Chinese-patterned plate with each vegetable in a small, cheerful Chinese-style bowl. 

My husband chose the “Striped Bass Broiled Platter” ($12.95) with coleslaw flecked with carrots and a garden salad of iceberg lettuce, carrots and sweet peppers topped with French dressing for his vegetables. Striped bass is lighter than shad, and that was the taste he wanted. It, too, was boneless and cooked just right under the broiler.

Eat-in platters include a cookie for dessert. My husband had the oatmeal raisin while I had the peanut butter. Drinks are the usual range of sodas.

Other menu items include the daily lunch special (fried whiting, two vegetables, a drink and chowder for $4.95) which is good until 2 p.m. and several meat-based Chinese dishes for those who don’t like fish. However, based on the platters we saw going by, most people who come to Kim’s come for the wide variety of seafood offered on the blackboard. 

Service is friendly and efficient. If you have a question about a fish on the menu board, they will do their best to describe it to you or ask the chef for more information. It’s a busy restaurant, but the chef and waitstaff keep the food coming at a quick pace. If you like seafood and being able to choose the best of what’s in season, you’ll enjoy your meal at Kim’s Seafood Market and Restaurant.

If You Go:  

Location:  509 Village at Eland, Phoenixville (in the shopping center with The Epicurean) 

Cost:  $7.95 to $21.95; Lunch special at $4.95 until 2 p.m.

Phone:  610-935-2366

Hours:   Sun. -Mon.:  11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tues.-Sat.:  11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Parking:  Free lot

Payments accepted:  Cash, credit card with purchase of $15 or more

Menu: Find it here, but remember it changes frequently with what's in season.