Alex’s

ALEX’S
6008 N. Route 130
Pennsauken, 856-663-0870

Hours: Wed, 3-8:30 pm; Thurs, 4-8:30 pm; Fri and Sat, noon-9 pm; Sun, 3-8:30 pm

Price: $$

Style: Come-as-you-are, wood-paneled seafood joint with a half dozen tables and glass counters full of fresh fish fillets and shellfish to eat-in or take out. Raw whole fish to go can be ordered in advance.

Don’t Miss: Alex’s was opened in 2001 by Alex Smith, a Holocaust survivor who got into the food business 60 years ago by butchering live chickens to order from the back of a truck. Alex’s—now run by Smith’s son, Larry, and two longtime employees, brothers Seo Rosado and Alex Rodriguez—is still known for fresh food and customer care. Popular items include fried clam strips ($4.49), fried oysters ($5.99 per quarter-pound) and oysters on the half shell ($6.99 for six). Steamed clams ($4.99 for 12 and $14.99 for 50), mussels ($4.49 for 12 and $12.99 for 50), crawfish ($7.49 per pound) and shrimp ($4.99-$19.99) are always tasty. Fried chicken, fish and crab-cake platters come with fries ($5.99-$16.99). Or order fish, shrimp or scallops broiled with potatoes any style and veggies sautéed in garlic butter ($10.99-$24.99). Chicken tenders ($4.99), wings ($6.99) and barbecued baby back ribs ($15.99 a pound) are finger-lickin’ good.

Heads Up: Sunday is “deal day,” when the managers play party music, hand out more-than-usually generous samples, and accept all reasonable offers on raw seafood before they close shop until Wednesday.

The Scoop: General manager Seo Rosado packs the freezer with boxes of seafood for wholesale customers, but for the restaurant he hand picks fresh product at local markets.