








Golden's Tropical World on Chicago's South Side isn't just a fish store — it's a generational institution. Customer after customer tells the same story: they walked through these doors as kids with their parents, and now they're bringing their own children and grandchildren. Some have been shopping here for 25, even 35 years.
That kind of loyalty doesn't happen by accident. Run by Mr. Golden, his wife, and their family, this is a shop where the matriarch greets you with warmth and the whole staff treats you like a neighbor.
Multiple reviewers describe it as feeling like home, and that familial atmosphere extends to the way they do business — one customer praised the staff for actually talking them out of overspending, refusing to sell products they didn't truly need. The store stocks a solid variety of freshwater fish, from bettas to feeder fish, along with koi and pond supplies. Several reviewers specifically note the health of the fish here, with one longtime customer flatly declaring them healthier than anything else available in Chicago.
They also carry aquarium equipment, fish food, and supplies for other pets including reptiles and turtles. And yes, there's Polly — the free-roaming cockatoo who talks, feeds herself, and steals the show for first-time visitors. The staff's fish knowledge runs deep.
Whether you need help stabilizing a tank, choosing compatible species, or understanding care for crustaceans, the team at Golden's offers genuine, practical advice. One customer even drove all the way from Indiana because the guidance they'd received over the years was worth the trip. Another recalled the store from their fish-breeding days in the 1990s.
Golden's isn't the flashiest aquarium shop in Chicago, and the space is compact. But what it delivers — honest expertise, healthy livestock, fair prices, and a community that spans decades — is something no big-box retailer can replicate. This is a neighborhood pet shop in the truest sense, still going strong and still earning the love of the people it serves.
James Henderson
Good customer service, had the products I needed at a very low cost and good variety of inventory. That BIRD tho...😝
Jeff B
18 reviews
Thank you for helping me keep my tank stable.
Rp3_773
50 reviews
My favorite store for fish supplies! The people are friendly and love to talk about fish.
Lola Brown
234 reviews
Staff nows FISH!
Millie Gracia
47 reviews
People are nice but prices are way too high.
Devonta Jasper
15 reviews
Absolutely adore this place
Lalita H
125 reviews
Nice people and very helpful!
tenille wright
48 reviews
Feels like home. A great neighborhood pet shop.
Lion Lucci
6 reviews
Says close at 7, got there at 6:45 gates closed employees sitting at the window on their phone saying they’re closed. Takes less then a minute to update store hours.smh
Jewell Carroll
6 reviews
ive been going to this pet store for many years and its always good energy healthy fish and great prices the owner his wife and there sons helped me alot over the years keeping my fish and crustations healthy i stay in indiana now but still take the drive because it's worth it...but the new guy need a girl or some weed because he seems to never be i a good mood he never did anything bad but his mood be off..but i still highly recommend this store great prices great people great service. they get a 5 star from ya boy...
Note: Store information and services may change. Always call (773) 239-8809 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Golden's Tropical World.
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8611 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60620
February 7, 2026
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