15 Best Spots For Fish And Chips In London

Fish and chips have woven their way into the fabric of what it means to be British. The crispy, deep-fried treat is eaten just about everywhere, and at almost any time across the U.K., punctuating trips to the seaside, cozy pub lunches, and as a final stop at the local chippy after a beer-soaked night out. Fish and chips could be considered the U.K.'s answer to America's favorite duo: peanut butter and jelly. Both are dishes where the ingredients work better together rather than apart.

Brits have refugees to thank for the creation of this national dish. Sephardic Jewish refugees from Spain and Portugal first brought fried fish or "pescado frito" to the U.K. in the 16th century, during their escape from the Spanish Inquisition. It's debated, but the idea of frying potatoes as chips, too, probably arrived with French protestant refugees in the 17th century. 

Joseph Malin, a Jewish Ashkenazi refugee, opened the nation's first fish and chip shop in 1860, having fled the pogroms of Eastern Europe and settled in London's East End — a destination for many Jewish refugees. Despite Brits at first complaining that the dish was too smelly, most likely due to underlying xenophobia, fish and chips took hold, and have yet to loosen their grip. Fish and chips are so loved by Brits, that it was one of the very few foods not subject to rationing during WWII. 

Here are 15 great places to eat fish and chips in London, the U.K.'s capital city.

Situated in South London's Southwark borough, Master's Superfish is one example of an old-school chippy that's earned its reputation through simple word-of-mouth. With fish sourced daily from Billingsgate, the city's best-known fish market, customers can delight in fresh cod and haddock, alongside tuna, rock salmon, whole sea bass, or scampi.

Scampi, a classic menu item at many British fish and chip shops, is a very different item in the U.K. than in most other countries. Here, scampi signifies langoustine, deep fried usually in breadcrumbs, though sometimes in batter. You'll find scampi just about anywhere you'll find fried fish, including pubs that serve food.

Another fried food to add to the list of items to try at Master's and elsewhere, is whitebait, a small, oily fish that's eaten whole. The perfect snack to accompany a beer, here the whitebait is lightly battered, then fried until crispy and served with lemon. Master's Superfish also offers deliveries, but there's nothing quite like a visit in person. 

Like many London residents, the city's restaurants often come and go within a few years or seasons. Therefore, a good chippy that sticks around for decades can be considered a thing of beauty and worth seeking out. Established in 1968 and still kicking, Fish Central in King's Square, Clerkenwell, is one such place.

Fish Central is a local favorite, visited by TV presenter and seafood-loving chef, Rick Stein. The menu features a range of fish and seafood, from oysters and lobster to haddock, plaice, skate, and salmon. Cooking methods include the classic deep-fried method, as well as grilling, or matzo-crust options. All can be served with chunky, thick-cut chips. There are fancy starter options, too, including mussels, sardines, and pan-fried scallops.

Unlike the more usual canteen-style fish and chip places, Fish Central's interior offers white tablecloths and occasional live music, giving it the appeal of a classic seafood restaurant. Fish Central is where to head for a sit-down fish and chips meal accompanied by a glass of wine or two, rather than takeout.

Visit Greenwich – made famous for the prime meridian, which divides the eastern hemisphere from the west – and you'll stumble upon a local favorite: the Golden Chippy. It's ranked an astonishingly high 23 on Tripadvisor in the category of "restaurants in London," a city bursting with world-class options. It certainly receives overwhelmingly positive reviews from just about anyone who steps through its doors. 

The Golden Chippy is known for being an exceedingly friendly, family-favorite choice by both locals and tourists. All the classics are served, including cod, haddock, scampi, and chips. Fish can also be grilled for a £2 supplement. It has a range of burgers, savory pies, sausages, and fried chicken options, too. Sides and sundries are a classic mix of pickled onions, pickled eggs (a British and European tradition), onion rings, spring rolls, and curry sauce, which is a must-try British sauce that some believe is the perfect accompaniment to chips. However, that is a debate that divides the country. The most common topping for fish and chips is salt and malt vinegar.

The Fryer's Delight is a classic old-school chippy, first established in 1968. Located in Holborn, with Formica countertops and a checkered floor, The Fryer's Delight remains a firm favorite among many, written about by food writers across London. Both in interior aesthetics and demeanor, this place feels like a mid-century time capsule — friendly, personable, and filled with character.

Though initially set up by the Ferdenzi family, the business has since changed hands, taken over by João Magalhães — who first worked behind the counter before buying it — and his brother-in-law Osvaldo Bartolo in 1998. The Fryer's Delight continues to defend its institution status by being one of a small handful of fish and chip places in the city still frying the food in beef drippings. This packs an absurd amount of flavor and luxurious taste into each bite. 

The restaurant even appeared in the 2002 video game, "The Getaway," in which players can roam around central London. It is an establishment to visit not just for the food but also for the atmosphere — both comforting in their refusal to succumb to change.

Though slightly south of London proper, Superfish is so accessible by rail that it seems remiss not to include this super business. The widely-known chippy began life in the 1970s, opened by Alan Rhodes, a fish and chip fan from Yorkshire. The restaurant proudly shows off high-quality favorable reviews from The Times and food critic Egon Ronay, who ventured to this out-of-town chain.

The company is now run by Alan's children, having inherited his passion for the well-made British classic. Superfish has chippies in seven areas across Surrey. You'll find them in Cheam Village, East Molesey, Tolworth, Ashtead, Ewell, Morden, and West Byfleet. 

Ingredients are traceably sourced, with cod from the Barent Sea and potatoes from farmer Tom Fisher in Essex. The restaurant can track when and where its fish were caught and the vessel that fished them. The menu is straightforward, featuring many fish and chip classics, including "Yorkshire's own mushy peas," inspired by the founder's birthplace.

"All fish comes with chips" reads like music to any customer's ears when ordering from Nautilus Fish Restaurant in West Hampstead. A small restaurant, mostly serving takeaways and deliveries, Nautilus is popular mainly through word of mouth, with no website and barely any social media presence. It's one of those places you'd only hear about if it was delicious, and thankfully it is.

Customers can choose from matzo or matzo and egg-coated fish that's then fried until it crisps up to golden, crunchy perfection. Nautilus doesn't offer the classic batter coating that most fish and chip shops serve, but they also offer grilled fish. Other than a few standard sides like chips and salad, there are some Greek Cypriot-inspired touches, including salads, hummus, and taramasalata, for those craving a different sort of chips and dip. For those in search of the classics, don't fret: Pickled onions, gherkins, and mushy peas are there, too.

When it comes to fish and chip shops, despite nearly 20 years in business, Sutton and Sons is still a relative newcomer compared to many on this list. Family-run Sutton and Sons now has restaurants in three popular neighborhoods: Stoke Newington, Islington, and Hackney. If you're dining in, there's an option to try craft beers made locally in Hackney, for a uniquely London-based taste and experience.

British fish and seafood include Cromer crab and Maldon oysters. Chips are hand-cut, and all pickled goodies, from cucumber to quail eggs, are made in-house. Sutton and Sons also owns and operates its very own fishmongers, making it even easier to trace the sourcing of ingredients from sea to supper. Want to experience the classic British combo without leaving the house? Both the restaurant menu and fresh fish from the fishmongers are available via online delivery, giving customers the option to make their own fish dinner if desired.