Summer brings a lot of great things into our lives. Sunshine, good vibes, days at the beach, days at the pool, more daylight, the list goes on and on. But there's something else that makes every summer just that little bit more great—fish and chips.
The best things about fish and chips is that where you consume it can be so universal. The beach, a park bench, your house, your car, or even at the actual restaurant. The sky is absolutely the limit.
So, if you're keen for flake, with a potato cake, dim sim, and minimum chips this summer, here are the best fish and chips you'll find in and around Melbourne.
D’lish Fish
Port Melbourne
D’lish Fish serves up some of the best fish and chips in Melbourne. All the usuals are here. Flake, dim sims, potato cakes, along with a few unexpected delights like their amazing Nutella Balls or the Mars in batter.
They also have gluten-free options which is more than refreshing for a fish and chip shop.
Paper Fish
St Kilda
Paper Fish boasts one of the best views in Melbourne, being situated underneath Stokehouse with views of St Kilda beach and out into Port Phillip Bay.
Pick yourself up one of their great boxes which range from battered blue grenadier to fish tacos, grilled salmon, and more. They also have a range of salads to tuck into, calamari, fried whitebait, and frozen granitas to beat the heat.
Fish & Chippery By The Atlantic
Southbank
Fish & Chippery by The Atlantic is a must if you're craving fish and chips while in the CBD. When something is "By The Atlantic" you know it's going to be extremely good. Dig into their combos like the "Lega-sea" which boasts fried flake, salt and pepper calamari, tempura prawns, potato cake, dim sim, chips, and tartar sauce.
Tommy Ruff
Various Locations
Quick and dirty fish and chips by the beach is all well and good, but if you’re going to survive Chapel St’s cut-throat restaurant arena, you need to get a little fancy. Tommy Ruff dishes up all of the seafood fare you would expect with delights like Moreton Bay bugs for something a little different.
Richmond Oysters
Richmond
Richmond Oysters as you may guess, is all about oysters. You'll find oysters from all around Australia, and you can add whatever sauce or dressing you'd like to them. You can also pick up some dishes of Greek influence like saganaki, calamari, and octopus.
Oakleigh Fish & Chippery
Oakleigh
With 33 years on the board, Oakleigh Fish & Chippery certainly knows how to put together an A grade fish and chip pack. Grab your fish and chips in classic (mock) newspaper and you'll feel like you've gone back in time. Also worth picking up a jam doughnut while you're there.
Hooked
Hawthorn, Fitzroy & Windsor
Now with three stores, Hooked has been serving up delicious lunch boxes for ten years now, and they only set you back a cool $10. There's also of course freshly made salads and your usual fare of chips and potato cakes to throw in on the side.
Need A Fish & Chip Fix That's Out Of The City?
San Remo Fisherman’s Co-operative
San Remo
If you’re heading down to Phillip Island and after the best beach-treat, you can’t go past San Remo Fisherman’s Co-op. Watch the boats sail in and stare at the pelicans as eat your fish, all the while in the line of the great ocean view.
Geelong Boat House
Geelong
You'll find Geelong Boat House on the end of a barge at the western end of the Geelong waterfront. While you can, of course, grab takeaway, it's worth setting yourself up on the gangplank or upstairs on the bridge deck and enjoy the great bay views as you hoe into a box of Geelong's finest.
The Wharf Commons
Port Fairy
Only opening in 2016, The Wharf Commons has quickly established itself as a top location for fish and chips. Port Fairy has great access to fresh fish of all kinds, and you'll find plenty of it here. It's also worth considering throwing them $10 for a box of delicious buttermilk fried chicken, can't go wrong.
Wildfish
Port Albert
An award-winning restaurant on the edge of the docks in historic Port Albert. Expect fish fresh off the boats that are lined up right next to the restaurant, and with plenty of eat in and takeaway options, you'll definitely be keen to head back to Port Albert again and again.
Have some of these rural restaurants tickled your fancy? Well, you may as well head on a road trip. Find out guide for the best places to go right here.
Image credit: Paper Fish | Griffin Simm