Here is a fun Baltimore fact: lake trout is not actually trout, and it usually does not come from a lake. The name sticks to a fried whiting sandwich, often served on plain white bread with hot sauce, and it has been a Charm City carryout staple for generations.
Ask anyone who grew up here and they will probably have a favorite spot, plus a strong opinion about yours. Some folks want the bone in, some want it on a sub, and some want a box with fries on the side.
The six carryouts below cover the city and the county, from Greenmount Avenue to Randallstown. Each one brings something a little different to the counter, whether that is early breakfast hours, a seafood market setting, or a menu built almost entirely around fried fish.
Save this list for your next craving, and maybe send it to the friend who still thinks lake trout means a fishing trip.
1. Light Carry Out, Baltimore, MD
Some carryouts try to be everything. Light Carry Out keeps it focused on fried chicken and lake trout, and that tight menu is a big part of its appeal.
The spot sits at 1308 Greenmount Ave, and it is a true carryout in every sense. There is no dine-in and no delivery, so plan to grab your bag at the counter and head out.
The 3-piece lake trout with the bone in is the order to know here. Fish subs and chicken boxes round out the lineup, and the seasoning on everything gets plenty of attention.
Early risers have an advantage. The doors open at 8 AM Monday through Saturday, and breakfast and coffee are on offer, which is not common for a lake trout counter.
Hours run until 6 PM on weekdays and 5:30 PM on Saturdays, with Sundays closed. Expect a line on Tuesday and Friday afternoons, while Monday mornings tend to be calmer.
Free street parking helps with a quick in-and-out stop.
2. Lake Trout 2, Baltimore, MD
Late-night fish cravings are real, and Lake Trout 2 on Loch Raven Boulevard is ready for them. The kitchen stays open until 10 PM Monday through Saturday and until 9 PM on Sundays.
Golden, well-seasoned fried fish is the main event. Steak fish and lake trout both get top billing, and the portions are generous for the price, which usually lands between $10 and $20 per person.
Wings share the spotlight with the seafood. Add an order of western fries and you have a full carryout spread.
I like this stop for families because it checks a lot of practical boxes. There is a kids’ menu, seating if you want to eat there, delivery if you do not, and a free parking lot with plenty of spaces.
The staff are friendly and the vibe is quiet and casual. Fridays and Saturdays from morning into afternoon get busy, so a weeknight visit can be the smoother option.
3. Lake Trout 3, Windsor Mill, MD
Out on Dogwood Road in Windsor Mill, a tidy little carryout has built a following for its lake trout sub. Lake Trout 3 is known for being clean, quick, and seriously focused on fresh fried fish.
The lake trout is well seasoned, but the menu goes wider than the name suggests. Fried catfish, steak fish, chicken tenders, and a jumbo half and half all show up on regular orders.
Menu items also include a Fish and Shrimp Combo and a two-piece whiting with one side. For something sweet after all that fried goodness, there is carrot cake.
Skipping meat? The onion rings are listed as vegan, which makes this a little easier for mixed groups.
The shop opens at 10 AM Monday through Saturday and closes at 8:30 PM most nights, with an extra hour on Fridays until 9:30 PM. Sundays are closed.
Parking is free in the lot or on the street, and there is usually room to spare.
4. Sal & Son’s Seafood Inc, Baltimore, MD
Not every great lake trout comes from a stand-alone carryout. At Sal and Son’s Seafood, it comes from a seafood market counter in Fells Point.
The business operates out of Broadway Market at 1640 Aliceanna St. That setting puts you right in one of Baltimore’s most walkable waterfront neighborhoods, so a sandwich here pairs nicely with a stroll.
Crab cakes and catfish sandwiches are the headliners. The lake trout sandwich holds its own too, and the jumbo crab cake with French fries makes a strong case for ordering two things.
This is the stop I would pick for a mixed crew. One person can grab lake trout while another goes for a crab cake, and nobody has to compromise.
Hours are generous at 9 AM to 8 PM Monday through Saturday and 10 AM to 6 PM on Sunday. Unlike most spots on this list, there is a restroom.
Saturday afternoons get the biggest crowds.
5. Choi’s Seafood, Baltimore, MD
Simple menus can be a good sign. Choi’s Seafood on Reisterstown Road sticks almost entirely to fried fish, and it cooks every order fresh.
Lake trout and steak fish are the core of the menu. Oyster trout is another option, and it gives regulars a reason to switch things up now and then.
Prices stay reasonable for takeout fried fish, generally in the $10 to $20 range. There is no table service and no delivery, so this is a classic order, wait, and go setup.
Parking takes a little patience. A free lot and street parking are both available, but spaces can be tricky to find.
Choi’s is open 10 AM to 7 PM Monday through Saturday and closed Sundays. Friday afternoon into evening is the rush, while weekday mornings and afternoons earlier in the week are the quietest times to swing by.
6. Chick’N Trout, Randallstown, MD
Lake trout for breakfast? At Chick’N Trout in Randallstown, the doors open at 7 AM on weekdays, so that is a real option.
The restaurant on Liberty Road leans Southern-style, serving breakfast and soul food alongside its signature fried chicken and lake trout. The trout comes the traditional Baltimore way with slices of bread, and the seasoning lands just right.
Flexibility is the big selling point. You can choose dine-in, takeout, curbside pickup, or delivery, and the kitchen stays open until 10 PM most nights and 11 PM on Fridays.
Sunday hours run from 8 AM to 8 PM, which helps if your favorite city spot is closed that day.
A full vegetarian menu means everyone in the car can find something. There are restrooms, including a gender-neutral one, plus a free lot with plenty of parking.
Friday is the busiest day, so a weeknight dinner is a good bet. From Greenmount Avenue to Liberty Road, these six counters prove Baltimore’s favorite fish sandwich is alive and well, one paper bag at a time.
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