The Best Fish & Chips in Toronto
Ah it's that time of year again when the only thing sprouting up outta muddy, half-frozen ground is crosses...and whether or not you partake in such Lenten entertainment, the fact remains Good Friday is Christmas Eve for your local chip shop.
Toronto has a fine selection of piscine purveyors; enough for any woody marionette boy to long for a real mouth to tuck into some fantastic fish and chips with no strings attached.
The reader's choice and judging by the herring bone of contention raised by some chip-shop stalwarts, a matter of some controversy, Chippy's has been a popular fryer fodder standy-by for the better part of the decade.
Personal opinions about the list order aside, I've eaten at most of these places and can vouch for the quality of almost every bite. So tonight, before you step into a queue clogged worse than your post-meal arteries, have a look down at the list below for what blogTO readers think of this fishy subject and enjoy:
Headline photo courtesy BlogTO contributor Paul Kawai, Deep Blue photo courtesy blogTO Flickr Pool Contributor Jen Chan, Wood Green photo courtesy BlogTO Flickr Pool contributor Arieh Singer
Chippy's Fish & Chips
With two locations serving a decent approximation of fish and hip, saying you'd pass on it if offered is a bit of a nose stretch even for the most finicky of pescatarians or anglogastrophiles. More...
Harbord Fish & Chips
Run by a lovely old asian couple who do one thing and do it well. No gimmics. No pretention. And newspaper packaging for take-out orders. What more do you need, right? More...
Reliable Fish & Chips
The name says it all at this low-key leslieville chip shop. Dine on decent fish and chips in a space made over in cape breton cottage chic. More...
Penrose Fish & Chips
So what if it's deep-fried and bad for you? It's hard to care when you're diving into a big plate o' fish and chips at Penrose's (Mt. Pleasant, south of Eglinton), one of the oldest fish & chip shops in Toronto. More...
Kingsway Fish & Chips
Prepare to forgive the decorator at Kingsway Fish and Chips and follow the hungry throng of west-end diners filing through the door to enjoy a tasty plate of fish and chips that won't disappoint. More...
British Style Fish & Chips
British Style Fish & Chips at the corner of Coxwell and Dundas (the entrance is actually on Dundas) serves good ol' fashioned fish and chips. Options for the fryer include haddock, halibut, cod, clams, shrimp and scallops. More...
Deep Blue Fish & Chips
This fish shack housed off the Danforth in the former home of a Carribean boite maintains the island vibe with tasty specials like jerk-battered cod with sweet potato fries along side more traditional fish fry menu items. More...
Wood Green Fish & Chips
The Chippy that time forgot and a location scout's wet dream, Wood Green serves up excellent fish and textbook chips at prices that also haven't seem to've changed since the early 60s. More...
Somethin's Fishy Fish & Chips
Right at the corner of Denison and Augusta facing the park... a rather unfortunate choice of name, but some of the tastiest and freshest fried fish to be had in this city served steaming on a pile of belgian frites. More...
Sun Crisp Fish & Chips
Sun Crisp Fish and Chips makes it worth the drive to Weston. The popular neighbourhood fish and chips haunt makes well battered fish and fries. More...
Comments (44)
CITY TV just did a feature on St. Andrew's Fish & Chips in Scarborough. Has anyone ever been there to try it? It certainly was worth the 4-5 minute report on CITY.
i still think steamed fish with ginger, green onion and soy sauce is the best.. esp when the fish head is pointing at you while you are devouring its body
Maybe the sweetest, most ungentrified place to get fish & chips in Toronto is New Toronto Fish & Chips, on Fifth north of Lakeshore; you go there and it hits the spot like it's 1955 again, the Goodyear plant's still operating down the street, etc.
Mmmm...fish and chips is great..throw me down some tartar sauch and im good..Im convinced that is the sauce for big mac..
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You left out Golden Crisp Fish & Chips at 1354 Weston Road, south-east of Jane Street. It is rated an overall 9.5.
Can't understand why people love Penrose's so much. The opening hours suck and the portions aren't very generous. Old Yorke on Laird is far superior.
You missed Hamish's Fish & Chips just north of St. Clair on Pharmacy Ave in Scarborough.
Great Place, great fish, great chips, huge portions.
I've only been to Chippy's on Queen once, but the fish was really soft and soggy. Chips were good though. Not impressed enough to go back.
If anyone's interested, I discovered through a search that Chubby's, a Rexdale fish & chips landmark for 41 years, is for sale--hope the tradition continues...
Fish and chip shops really develop customer loyalty and it's so much fun to witness the calls here (and McNie's in Etobicoke is awesome)!
I really didn't like Harbord fish and chips at all. The batter was wayyy too thick and there was hardly any fish inside. Furthermore the batter was incredibly dark brown and seemed way over cooked to me. I tried to cut into it and all I got was the batter breaking into tiny pieces and dust. Where was the fish? somewhere in there I guess, but I had to get through a layer of greasy sawdust first.
Maybe they just messed up my order though as many of you here seem to like it, and the picture above doesn't look as dark and overcooked as mine was.
Though I really don't think I'll go there again for the fact that they had crappy tartar sauce. If you're going to be a "mom and pop" homemade fish and chips place, get some real tartar sauce instead of stuff in little packets that tastes like garbage and is a pain to get out and onto the fish.
I always thought the place looked cool, and maybe I just have weird taste in fish and chips, but I was really incredibly disappointed with my meal.
I don't understand the hype about Chippy's. I haven't been to all the shops on this list but I can name at least 5 places that aren't on it that are far superior to Chippy's.
The fish was soggy, the fries tasted old, and their mushy peas were tasteless. But hey, it looks hip so...
As much as I like British Style Fish & Chips on Coxwell, I've stopped going there out of sheer frustration. "Do you have any home tartar sauce?" "No." "How about cole slaw?" "Sorry, sold out." "Well, any gravy?" "Umm, haven't made it yet, sorry."
This is why I prefer to take my business to Parkside Fish and Chips (Gerrard, on west side of Greenwood Avenue). The elderly couple who run the place are fantastic! Great prices, fresh fish, homemade cole slaw, and fast service. Don't let the greasy spoon look of the place turn you off -- it is worth every penny!
chippy's on queen?!
i've been there 3 times. and EVERY 3 times, they were 'out' of halibut. Dude. you only sell 4 types of FISH. How are you 'out' of the only product you sell?!
Oh, and 2 out of the 3 times, they were 'out' of there 'famous home made' 'slaw.
NOT impressed, and won't be going back. EVER.
3 strikes. You're out.
Rubbish selections. So we can now allign blogto.com with all the other Toronto media outlets whose gaze never seems to wander far from downtown and North Toronto. Is Chippy's really that good, or is it just easier for you to find?! I am tired of having to add my neighbourhood's selection of superior offerings every time you post one of these seeded discussions. Tell me something I don't know.
We could find this kind of unimaginative "list" journalism anywhere. Kindly be a little less smug when discussing other Toronto media outlets.
Uncle Booby - this list was derived from nominations and votes by our readers. Which places missed the list that you'd like to add?
I can't stand Chippy's. I find they are just too pricey for what you get. This is also the first place I've been to where you have to pay extra for tartar sauce (which I think is beyond ridiculous for a fish and chips shop!)
And forget about asking for a glass of water instead of paying a huge markup for a can of pop.
My favourite fish and chips place? Henry's Fish and Chips, Main and Vodden, in Brampton, far from hipster hangouts of the Annex or Queen West. I haven't found a place in Toronto (at least central Toronto) that matches it. One, they have great service in a no-nonsense place. Second, they food is consistant. Finally, they don't gouge.
I went to duckworths this weekend and despite their lack of decor, a fancy menu, or even homemade tatar sauce, their fish was damn good. We had our fish and chips about 5 minutes after sitting down which threw us both for a loop and the prepackaged tatar sauce didn't phase me as their fish was good enough to eat without smothering it in the mysterious white sauce.
This is really tucked away in the middle of Don Mills so I doubt many people have ever been there... but on Underhill Drive (Lawrence and the DVP area) is a place called High Street - bar none the best fish and chips in the city
I travel frequently to Toronto Fish and Chip is my food that makes me smile and feel good, BUT only if the batter is crisp and crunchy, in fact for me a good Fish & Chip place is when I hear the table next to me the crisp "CRUNCH" now of all the places you have listed I eaten in most of them there is only one place with the big Crunch and that one is not listed, it is the " Kings Table " on Queen Street with best fish, a great Austrian Schnitzel on Sunday as a special, and believe it or NOT with the cleanest Bathrooms I have seen anywhere
allens on the danforth (graced the list for both best hamburger and best wings) have incredible fish and chips. love the beer batter
I've only been to the Chippy's on Queen and I've only had the chips (I don't eat fish), but holy crap they're awful. I've tried it twice and will never go back--can't say I've ever had a worse french fry (okay, maybe Tina Coffee at Sorauren and Dundas has a worse fry). Terrible terrible stuff.
Chubby's in Rexdale (on Islington at Rexdale blvd) is the best halibut I've ever had by far. I've been there twice since it was sold and it's exactly the same.
I was there with my five year old daughter on Feb.20.2009
I was disapppointed. 24.00 for one adult & one child.
Very thin piece of Halibut & to much batter.
1. First of all, I have searched far and wide for the best F&C in the GTA.
2. 80% of all places have no passion, are geedy and serve the cheapest product they can get away with.
3. Younger people who grew up with Mac... have no frame of reference for good food and will be thankful when they are served crap.
4. When doing reviews can we ask "what is the weight of the fish"? When did you last change the oil? Are the fries fresh cut or frozen? What is the crisp factor of the batter ie 1 to 10.
5. How is the taste?
Lets put some quantifiers in our reviews!!
Those are my fanatical views on F&C's
Old Yorke on Laird is great but sometimes too oily and always busy. Hamish's at St. Clair and Pharmacy is good when they change the oil, otherwise it kinda tastes stale (but the portions are huge!). I live around the corner from Hamish's and we still prefer Duckworths at Danforth and Main. From a past life, Black Cat fish and chips on Avenue south of York Mills is by far the best. Penrose is overrated, but still good and nostalgic.
Lots of great fish and chippies in Toronto, and I havent discovered others yet. Forget the snobby Chippys.
Harbord, Penrose, St Andrews, High Seas, Kinsway, Reliable, Viking, Blue Seas, Duckworths
All very reliable, but dont forget Harbord open on Sundays, now that is a rarity.
what about The Olde Yorke Fish & Chips?
probably some of the best fish and chips I've had. Its located on
96 Laird Dr. East York, ON , M4G3V3.
You may have to make reservations though. They are always packed!
Anyone ever try VIKING FISH & CHIPS on the Queensway??? That place is amazing!!! On Queensway in between Royal York and and Islington. Is located across the street from Burger King on the north side.... Check it out people!
In My opinion like Wally said. Those factors are important in My Place Fish and Chips. Won't be disappointed. I've been going there all my life, and I know the owners personally. We have customers that come to us even after we have relocated. By the way they are on 2577 Victoria Park. Number is 416 495 0195. Give them a call, there's always a nice lady answering the calls. Go in for a try, I promise you wont be disappointed.
High Street (owned by Frank McNie) at 55 Underhill Drive (Lawrence and the DVP area)is by far the best fish and chip place in the GTA. The quality is incredible, the prices are absolutely reasonable and the service is amazing. Give it a try. You will not be disappointed!
The Queen Street Chippy's is good but pricey. Plus you can eat your lunch across the street in Trinity-Bellwoods. I prefer to frequent Harbour F&C and New Toronto F&C myself. The portion at Pemrose are too small. I use to eat at Old Yorke every Saturday when I lived uptown.
I agree, Viking fish and chips on the Queensway is great, I think I'll go there tonight, then to Galway next door for a Guiness. The fish and chips at Galway Arms on the Queensway are good too, and the mushy peas are yummy, but it sometimes depends on who the chef working is.
The sad news is my favourite, #8 on your list, Woodgreen Fish & Chips is no more.
I set out on a mission to find a replacement and have tried most of the ones on your list. I would never darken the door of either Chippy's on Queen or Harbord Fish & Chips again. The mess I was served at Harbord was actually the worst fish and chips I've ever had in my (long) life.
The criteria I used was simple, quality of fish, chips and batter, size of portion and cost.
My choices are:
1. Kaz's on Davenport 2. Old Yorke on Laird 3. Viking on the Queensway.
Since 1972 John's Fish and chips in etobicoke has never disappointed. From tradition deep fried to a healthier grilled fish, keeps me going back over and over
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