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Where To Get Your Fish & Chip Fix In San Diego

A great British classic.

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Crispy and comforting — when done right, nothing beats a plate of fish and chips. Whether you like yours soaked with malt vinegar, dipped in tartar sauce or au natural, we cast the net far and wide to find some of the best places around San Diego serving up this great British classic.

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Harbor Fish and Chips

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This hidden gem offers up lovely views of Oceanside harbor to enjoy with your fish & chip supper. On Tuesdays their medium fish basket (two pieces of fish, chunky fries plus slaw) costs $11; while the Friday Special comprises one piece of fish, one shrimp, fries, coleslaw and cup of clam chowder for $14.

Ironside Fish & Oyster

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Expect two hearty pieces of lightly battered (and locally caught) fish, beautifully plated with a generous portion of chips, plus slaw and tartar sauce for $16 at this perennially hip Little Italy seafood haven. Take advantage of the great selection of craft beers and pair your plate with a nice Saison or perhaps seaworthy cocktail.

Point Loma Seafoods

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With fresh-caught fish brought in and selected daily by the owners, this spot has been a long time favorite among SD locals. Tuck into a nice chunk of Alaskan Cod lightly fried in Mrs. Kelly’s special breading with French fries, coleslaw and their famous tartar sauce for $12 – best enjoyed from the upper deck dining area, which affords views over the marina and San Diego skyline beyond.

Pacific Beach Fish Shop

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A choice of grilled or fried Alaskan Cod, which comes with house cut French fries, cocktail and tartar sauce, will only set you back $12.50 at this popular and cheery counter serve spot in PB. Enjoy with their superb selection of local micro-brews on the patio; while this popular spot is usually busy it’s always well worth the wait.

Shakespeare Pub & Grille

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No 'fish & chip' map would be complete without a nod to San Diego’s best-known British pub. If their signature dish doesn’t cut it, try the super sized “Great White Whale Challenge” instead. Simply devour a 2 lb. battered cod filet, 2 lbs. of “proper” chips and a side of peas in 45 minutes or less to win a complimentary 'I Did It' T-shirt. Fail, and you’ll be picking up the $29.95 tab.

Jayne's Gastropub

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An eclectic menu, which includes British classics like sheperd's pie. is served at this hip and cozy spot — one of San Diego's first gastropubs. Its accomplished rendition of fish and chips features sea bass swaddled in Newcastle beer batter and crisp chips, served with a side of sauteed snap peas. Pair it with a draft beer or a zingy white from Jayne's diverse wine list.

Mr. Fish & Chips

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Located in the Balboa Mesa shopping center, owner Sam Chou’s ‘chippy has been around since 1969 and does exactly what it says on the tin. His most popular menu item is the two-piece fish and chip option ($7.90) - customers rave that the light, tempura-like batter blankets his super fresh and flaky cod perfectly.

Water Grill, Gaslamp

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Without a doubt the priciest of the bunch, Wild Georges Bank Atlantic cod and chips will set you back $23 at this swanky downtown seafood showcase.

Pete's Seafood & Sandwich

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For fish & chips 'Boston style' head to Pete’s, where lightly breaded and fried Alaskan Cod, plus handcut fries, coleslaw and homemade tartar sauce rings in at a very reasonable $10.

God Save the Cuisine

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Brit expats David and Kevin Keylock serve up fresh sustainable fish coated in homemade beer batter with coleslaw, tartar sauce, plus perfectly pre-malt vinegar’d chips from this gourmet food truck. It’s worth noting this dish can come California-ized in the form of fish n’ chip tacos too – all of the above with traditional truck-cut chips coated in malt vinegar and salt served in a flour tortilla.

Poseidon On The Beach

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For fish and chips (almost) on the sand head to Poseidon, whose flash-fried panko crusted Alaskan cod is light as a feather and comes complete with tartar sauce, vodka cocktail sauce and fries for a very fine $14.

Fish 101

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Husband & wife chef duo John and Jessica Park serve up sustainably caught, local fish California-style at this lively spot in Leucadia. Their set fish n’ chip menu options (two-pieces, $10.95 / three-pieces $13.95), includes beautifully beer battered white fish served with fries and house made tartar sauce. Perfect pairing: New English Brewing IPA.

Harbor Fish Cafe

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Snag a seat on the outdoor patio for beach views and top-notch fish and chips from this longstanding Carlsbad staple. Served with owner Sally’s homemade tartar sauce, generously sized and perfectly battered fish filets ($8.79, one piece/$12.99, two pieces) come on a generous pile of French fries. Pairs perfectly with an ice cold Pacifico at sunset.

Chef John's Fish & Chips

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Don't let the East County location fool you, according to many Chef John and his wife serve up some of the best fish & chips in all of San Diego. People travel from far and wide for their lightly battered ‘London Style’ fish and chip plates, which cost $6.99 for one piece of fish, while three pieces will set you back $12.49, and family style (6 pieces) starts at $23.99 and up.

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Harbor Fish and Chips

This hidden gem offers up lovely views of Oceanside harbor to enjoy with your fish & chip supper. On Tuesdays their medium fish basket (two pieces of fish, chunky fries plus slaw) costs $11; while the Friday Special comprises one piece of fish, one shrimp, fries, coleslaw and cup of clam chowder for $14.

Ironside Fish & Oyster

Expect two hearty pieces of lightly battered (and locally caught) fish, beautifully plated with a generous portion of chips, plus slaw and tartar sauce for $16 at this perennially hip Little Italy seafood haven. Take advantage of the great selection of craft beers and pair your plate with a nice Saison or perhaps seaworthy cocktail.

Point Loma Seafoods

With fresh-caught fish brought in and selected daily by the owners, this spot has been a long time favorite among SD locals. Tuck into a nice chunk of Alaskan Cod lightly fried in Mrs. Kelly’s special breading with French fries, coleslaw and their famous tartar sauce for $12 – best enjoyed from the upper deck dining area, which affords views over the marina and San Diego skyline beyond.

Pacific Beach Fish Shop

A choice of grilled or fried Alaskan Cod, which comes with house cut French fries, cocktail and tartar sauce, will only set you back $12.50 at this popular and cheery counter serve spot in PB. Enjoy with their superb selection of local micro-brews on the patio; while this popular spot is usually busy it’s always well worth the wait.

Shakespeare Pub & Grille

No 'fish & chip' map would be complete without a nod to San Diego’s best-known British pub. If their signature dish doesn’t cut it, try the super sized “Great White Whale Challenge” instead. Simply devour a 2 lb. battered cod filet, 2 lbs. of “proper” chips and a side of peas in 45 minutes or less to win a complimentary 'I Did It' T-shirt. Fail, and you’ll be picking up the $29.95 tab.

Jayne's Gastropub

An eclectic menu, which includes British classics like sheperd's pie. is served at this hip and cozy spot — one of San Diego's first gastropubs. Its accomplished rendition of fish and chips features sea bass swaddled in Newcastle beer batter and crisp chips, served with a side of sauteed snap peas. Pair it with a draft beer or a zingy white from Jayne's diverse wine list.

Mr. Fish & Chips

Located in the Balboa Mesa shopping center, owner Sam Chou’s ‘chippy has been around since 1969 and does exactly what it says on the tin. His most popular menu item is the two-piece fish and chip option ($7.90) - customers rave that the light, tempura-like batter blankets his super fresh and flaky cod perfectly.

Water Grill, Gaslamp

Without a doubt the priciest of the bunch, Wild Georges Bank Atlantic cod and chips will set you back $23 at this swanky downtown seafood showcase.

Pete's Seafood & Sandwich

For fish & chips 'Boston style' head to Pete’s, where lightly breaded and fried Alaskan Cod, plus handcut fries, coleslaw and homemade tartar sauce rings in at a very reasonable $10.

God Save the Cuisine

Brit expats David and Kevin Keylock serve up fresh sustainable fish coated in homemade beer batter with coleslaw, tartar sauce, plus perfectly pre-malt vinegar’d chips from this gourmet food truck. It’s worth noting this dish can come California-ized in the form of fish n’ chip tacos too – all of the above with traditional truck-cut chips coated in malt vinegar and salt served in a flour tortilla.

Poseidon On The Beach

For fish and chips (almost) on the sand head to Poseidon, whose flash-fried panko crusted Alaskan cod is light as a feather and comes complete with tartar sauce, vodka cocktail sauce and fries for a very fine $14.

Fish 101

Husband & wife chef duo John and Jessica Park serve up sustainably caught, local fish California-style at this lively spot in Leucadia. Their set fish n’ chip menu options (two-pieces, $10.95 / three-pieces $13.95), includes beautifully beer battered white fish served with fries and house made tartar sauce. Perfect pairing: New English Brewing IPA.

Harbor Fish Cafe

Snag a seat on the outdoor patio for beach views and top-notch fish and chips from this longstanding Carlsbad staple. Served with owner Sally’s homemade tartar sauce, generously sized and perfectly battered fish filets ($8.79, one piece/$12.99, two pieces) come on a generous pile of French fries. Pairs perfectly with an ice cold Pacifico at sunset.

Chef John's Fish & Chips

Don't let the East County location fool you, according to many Chef John and his wife serve up some of the best fish & chips in all of San Diego. People travel from far and wide for their lightly battered ‘London Style’ fish and chip plates, which cost $6.99 for one piece of fish, while three pieces will set you back $12.49, and family style (6 pieces) starts at $23.99 and up.

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