Think you have to go to Britain for phenomenal fish and chips?
It turns out there's plenty of places in the U.S. that know what makes them great.
Keep watching to find out if there's one near you.
Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips is now one of the most well-known chains of its kind in the U.S.,
even though it has only two locations. The status of its owner,
Gordon Ramsay, has brought it success and notoriety despite its small footprint.
The Vegas location of Gordon Ramsay Fish and Chips is the original. It opened in 2016,
whereas the Orlando one opened in 2021.
For most fish and chips, cod, haddock, or pollock are typically used. Ramsay's restaurant follows
this convention by using cod. The authenticity of his restaurant isn't a huge surprise,
as Ramsey is a born-and-bred Brit, saying on the restaurant's website,
"Fish & Chips is a really important dish to me, not only is it quintessentially British
but it was part of my upbringing. I've found a way to elevate that classic dish."
Diners seem to agree, as it's highly-rated on Yelp, Foursquare, and Tripadvisor.
But is it really that surprising, with a chef like Ramsay at the helm?
With the Columbia and Willamette rivers bordering Portland — and the Pacific coast not too far from
this Oregon metropolis — there are plenty of fresh ingredients for fish and chips around.
Horse Brass Pub, established in 1976, is a classic place
to get a plate. The British-inspired bar-restaurant is a local favorite,
recommended as the best fish and chips by scores of users from sites like Foursquare and Reddit.
Great, incredible, and amazing are some words reviewers have used to describe the fish and
chips on offer at Horse Brass Pub. Some even wrote that Portland pub's dish is, quote,
"The best ever fish and chips," and the "perfect antidote for
a wet day out" — which you're bound to experience in the rainy Pacific Northwest.
This authenticity continues into the drink menu,
which is brilliant: The only thing that can make the perfect plate of fish and chips better
is a pint. If you're not satisfied with the menu, the atmosphere of this pub
might still make the experience worth it. The slogan of Horse Brass Pub is,
"If it were any more authentic you'd need a passport."
"This country's eons old, kids. That's centuries to you and me. Charming, isn't it?"
Another top American restaurant serving fish and chips is Seattle's Pacific Inn Pub.
Unlike the Horse Brass Pub, their cuisine is more traditional American than British.
Their menu brags that their "Famous Fish and Chips" comes with tartar sauce and
coleslaw — which are less typical to Britain than toppings such as salt and vinegar.
But don't think they're offering a lesser product, as reviewers agree that this pub
makes the best fish and chips in Seattle. More of those who've dined at the Pacific
Inn Pub attest to its greatness. It has great ratings on Foursquare, with many rave reviews.
They call the fish and chips delicious, tasty, and the best in the city.
According to the restaurant, they've been serving famous fish and chips since 1981.
Thanks to their fans, it doesn't seem like they'll be stopping anytime soon.
You won't have much trouble finding fish and chips in New England, but in Massachusetts' historic
capital, the Boston Sail Loft is the place to go. The eatery is known as a haven for seafood lovers,
with lobster rolls and clam chowder as good as their fish and chips.
On Tripadvisor, over 1,000 reviews have added to the restaurant's reputation as one of the
city's best seafood places. It's the same story on Foursquare. Many reviewers say Boston Sail
Loft is not only the best fish and chips in the city, but the best they've ever tasted.
That's usually credited to the freshness and skillful preparation of the fish and chips.
Like Pacific Inn Pub, Boston Sail Loft is more of an old-fashioned American restaurant
than a British one. It's also more of a sit-down seafood restaurant than a pub,
located in a convenient spot for tourists to Boston's historic North End neighborhood. If
you want to avoid tourists, there are plenty of other Boston fish and chips spots to try,
but this one is special — and well worth the trip.
Also in New England, Dune Brothers Seafood offers some of the best fish and chips in
all of Providence, Rhode Island. This self-described "seafood shack" has
served some seriously good fish and chips since opening in 2018.
A big reason for that is their commitment to using local and sustainable products,
which is a total win not only for their customers,
but for the local fisherman who rely on the ocean for their livelihood.
From the get-go, fish and chips have been the star — even though
the eatery isn't using the traditional cod or haddock. Cape shark, pollock,
and a "Bait Box" — a rotating option that changes with each catch — are the protein options.
Once chosen, your fish will be deep-fried in beef tallow. This is an excellent frying hack, as the
animal fat stays fresh longer and can withstand higher heat than typically-used vegetable oils.
It's this step that die-hard fans swear makes all the difference.
Dune Brothers has been getting a lot of love on Yelp, Foursquare, and Tripadvisor in Providence.
Even further northeast, Susan's Fish and Chips is a seasoned seafood joint.
The restaurant in Portland, Maine, has spent decades making delicious
plates of the British delicacy that the locals seem to love.
Today, Susan's still makes the best fish and chips in the city, according to Yelp and Foursquare.
This place is proud of its casual vibe, calling itself an "old garage that's been
turned into a restaurant" on its website. Susan's also advertises its affordability,
saying that's what brings in the regulars. As one Zomato reviewer put it,
"Thumbs up. Towny, tasty fish and chips, and 10$ off bday special."
A particularly positive Foursquare review should inspire newbies to try the place
(or the dish) for the first time, writing:
"WOW! I HATE Fish! But this place is AMAZING! Just get Fish and Chips! about
4 or 5 amazing pieces of deep-fried breaded fish and french fries. highly recommend."
In New York City, there are plenty of places to get international fare, including the British
kind. One English place that continues to build its fanbase is A Salt and Battery.
The eatery dedicates itself to authenticity by traditional equipment and techniques,
and they also have a very authentic menu. Cod, haddock, whiting, and sole are their fish options,
and the sides are straight out of the United Kingdom, complete with mushy peas and baked beans.
Other add-ons will make you feel like you're in Notting Hill rather than the West Village:
curry sauce, HP Sauce, and malt vinegar are provided with purchase.
And this is a great thing, because as Americans who have experienced real British food know,
it's nowhere near the bland, dull cuisine it has a nasty reputation for being.
That should explain why the shop's fish and chips have great reviews on Yelp and Foursquare.
You might be surprised to find out there are some seriously delicious fish and chips in Chicago,
but don't be! The Windy City is located on massive Lake Michigan, which is full of fish — and that
means there are plenty of pubs like The Duke of Perth serving this traditionally British meal.
Unlike most pubs in the U.S., which are English and Irish,
this pub is Scottish. That doesn't make a huge difference for their fish and chips,
as the Scottish version comes with the same basic components that you'd expect.
The Duke of Perth serves their fish with classic sides like peas, chips, and malt vinegar.
Since opening in 1989, Duke of Perth has continued to collect positive reviews.
Their fish and chips in particular stands out, with an almost shocking number of accolades on
Foursquare and Yelp. Sure, some people may go for the popular all-you-can-eat fish and chips,
but the Duke of Perth is not just affordable. One Tripadvisor reviewer called the fish and chips,
"Hands down the best I've ever had."
"It's not my fault, why can't you give me any decent food? You're Scottish, fry something."
Denver has a large community of British expats, so it's no surprise that there's a handful of
chip shops located in Denver. GB, which stands for "get battered" rather than Great Britain,
Fish and Chips is a familiar favorite, with four locations in the region.
This restaurant's fish and chips are a hit on Yelp, where they inspired this review:
"As someone who's had some quality fish and chips in London,
this really took me back. Would definitely go here again."
They're also praised on Foursquare and on Zomato,
a certain five-star reviewer went so far as to say,
"I've eaten deep-fried fish all over the country and no one holds a candle to GB's, period."
GB's is a chippie with British food to spare.
Homesick Brits will be able to get their hands on bangers and mash, meat pies,
pasties, and more. For fish fillet options, GB offers cod and tilapia. Be warned, it's more of
a fast food-style restaurant, so you may not get the homey, nostalgic atmosphere of a pub.
But you'll probably get the taste, especially when it comes to those oh-so-delicious chips.
"Will four bags be enough?" "More than enough!"
"I say we need five to be safe,
do you not think, da?" "Stick down five."
*Sighs*
San Francisco is another U.S. city known for its fishing industry.
Tourists still frequent the Fisherman's Wharf area, which is riddled with seafood
restaurants — but the place that makes the best fish and chips is The Codmother.
This restaurant's version is a top-rated fish and chip option on Foursquare, Yelp,
and Tripadvisor. On those sites, diners attest that The Codmother's fish is the best in the city.
The shop was initially opened by a Brit named Suzanne Aldridge in 2011.
Thinking that the fish and chips options in her adopted city were lacking, she decided to open
her own place. Although it's no longer operated by her, the current owner is also English and
thanks to the owner's U.K. roots, you can expect them to keep The Codmother's food authentic.
Texas is another part of the States that's home to many British immigrants,
especially in big cities like Dallas. One of the places they get a taste of home
is Fish & Fizz. Technically located just outside of Dallas in Richardson,
this shop is dedicated to British flavors. It's highly rated on Yelp and on Foursquare.
Upon opening, Fish & Fizz was celebrated as the "first true fish and chips joint in
Dallas" by CultureMap. It was founded by chef Nick Barclay, a native of the U.K. who spent the prior
15 years running a seaside inn there. It was his experience that gave Fish & Fizz its credibility,
and ever since the place opened its doors in 2018, it's been a hit.
Texas Monthly described their rendition of the meal like so:
"The house fish and chips come on a picture-perfect, newspaper-lined tin tray;
the cod is flaky and crispy, the chips are golden,
and sauces include a house-made tartar and Sarsons malt vinegar."
Surrounded by water on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Honolulu gives the local tourists plenty
of fish-eating opportunities. At Nico's Pier 38, British tourists and other chippie aficionados can
get their fix. The restaurant's fan base shines on Google, and the same is true over on Yelp,
where it has four out of five stars. Nico's Pier 38 even has over 20,000 Instagram followers.
According to one Tripadvisor diner who tried Nico's rendition of the British meal,
"The fish was nicely battered but not overly heavy and the fish melted in the
mouth. The French fries were a perfect complement and were perfectly done."
To top it all off, Nico's Pier is located near the beach in Hawaii,
meaning you can enjoy your fish and chips while bathed in tropical sunshine.
Name a better way to spend your holiday… outside of the actual United Kingdom, that is.
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