Seven fantastic fish & chips spots, according to Torontoverse readers
We asked the Torontoverse community for recommendations. We got a boatload.
It’s a dish that rose to prominence in the U.K. in the 1800s, and worked its way around the world. A combination so simple, inviting, and popular, it is the menu at many restaurants.
But where — we ask — can you find the best fish and chips in Toronto?
Question from TORONTOVERSE reader @AxxlIsla:
— TORONTOVERSE (@torontoverse) February 7, 2023
What’s the best fish and chips place in #Toronto?
Help us out, and we’ll build a map of your recommendations!
To help with our search for the best in the city, we went to Torontoverse readers on Twitter. Find eight of their picks below, and check out the map to see which one’s closest to you.
Anglr
Address: 1054
Gerrard St E
Suggested by:
@gilliancgrace
At Anglr, a Leslieville pescatarian-focused restaurant, the fish and chips experience is all about customization.
Haddock is served coated with your choice of batter — options include house, cajun, lemon herb, and even gluten free — as well as your choice of sauce. Tartar is present, of course, but so are jalapeno, garlic aioli, and peach mango salsa.
Sea Witch
Address: 636 St
Clair Ave W
Suggested by:
@rebeccaga0,
@lloydalter
Coming up on a decade in business on St. Clair Ave. W., Sea Witch is dedicated almost entirely to the dish of the hour. But that doesn’t mean they lack variety.
The restaurant serves four kinds of fish (halibut, haddock, pickerel, and trout) in one- and two-piece variations. You can even get your choice served in a sandwich.
And the fish itself? Chris Nuttall-Smith said it best in a 2014 Globe and Mail review: “The crust is gloriously crunchy and just the right level of greasy, seasoned perfectly. Thankfully, the fish inside — the cod and pickerel in particular — is also exquisite.”
Harbord Fish & Chips
Address: 147
Harbord St
Suggested by:
@cthomasbattle
This fixture near the corner of Harbord and Brunswick recently got a bold new paint job, but the space (tiny) and the food (delicious) are still the same.
Harbord serves basa, hadduck, halibut, and cod, and throws in a shrimp and chips option for good measure. And they don’t mince words when it comes to the signature dish. The main page of their website clearly states, “Our goal ... is to make the best fish ’n’ chips you have ever had.”
The Caledonian
Address: 856
College St
Suggested by:
@kmbmarshall
The long-running Caledonian boasts over 600 single-malt whiskies ... and just one fish and chips option. But it’s enough on its own.
Described on the menu as a “traditional Scottish fish supper with North Sea haddock in our own beer batter,” it’s first on the list of mains for a reason — even ahead of the haggis.
Len Duckworth’s Fish & Chips
Address: 2638
Danforth Ave
Suggested by:
@AlynaJordan ,
@StephenWickens1 , @seanleck2
Established in 1929, Len Duckworth’s isn’t just one of Toronto’s best chippies. It’s one of the city’s most legendary restaurants — bar none.
Here, the staff serve haddock, sole, and blue cod, but the house specialty is “Premium Pacific” halibut and chips. They’ve been using the same recipe for the entirety of their near-century in business, and their numerous regulars wouldn’t have it any other way.
New Toronto Fish & Chips
Address: 146 5th
St, Etobicoke
Suggested by:
@AttaboyPaulo
Celebrating 50 years in business in 2023, New Toronto is a touchstone for multiple generations of west enders.
Open for takeout or sit-down in the old-school dining room, the restaurant serves up battered halibut, haddock, and cod (as well as shrimp and scallops), alongside fresh thick-cut fries and coleslaw.
Olde Yorke Fish & Chips
Address: 96
Laird Dr
Suggested by:
@GBH61
At Olde Yorke, the fish is “golden deep-fried and lightly battered in our famous family recipe.”
Grab cod, haddock, or halibut and chips, or go with the fisherman’s platter, a veritable fried seafood extravaganza: haddock, three shrimps, three scallops, chips, and coleslaw.
Fish And Chips icon by Icons8
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