Best Fish & Chips

Fish and chips — battered cod or haddock with thick-cut fried potatoes — is one of Britain's most iconic dishes, and London has both excellent versions and deeply mediocre tourist traps serving the same name at a significant premium.

What Makes a Good One

Fresh fish battered to order (not kept warm), fat chips rather than thin fries, and batter that's light and crisp rather than thick and doughy. Malt vinegar and proper tartar sauce are the traditional accompaniments. The best chip shops tend to be slightly off the obvious tourist routes.

Where to Look

Traditional high street chippies in residential neighbourhoods — particularly in North and East London — are consistently better and cheaper than tourist-facing restaurants in the West End or around major attractions billing themselves as serving "traditional British fish and chips." Borough Market has several reliable fish stalls serving good versions at lunch. The Golders Green area in North London is worth knowing about for quality chip shops.

Eat In vs. Takeaway

A traditional chip shop takeaway — wrapped in paper, eaten on a bench — is arguably the more authentic experience. Sit-down restaurant versions of fish and chips often cost twice as much for food from the same fryer, though the better restaurant versions do use higher-quality fish.

Tips

• Avoid anywhere billing itself heavily as "traditional British" near a tourist attraction — pricing is higher and quality rarely matches.
• Ask locals for a recommendation — a neighbourhood chip shop with regulars is usually a good sign.
• Malt vinegar on chips is the traditional condiment — try it before defaulting to ketchup.
• Borough Market at lunch is a reliable option for quality without needing to find a specific shop.