Somehow straddling the balance between deep-fried indulgence and feel-good fare, fish and chips is a year-round favourite in Sydney/Eora—whether you take 'em battered, grilled or crumbed.
Eat them with your hands off a newspaper on the beach, or go gourmet with silverware and tablecloths in the restaurant—these are Urban List's picks for the best fish and chips in Sydney.
FICH
98-106 Audley Street, Petersham
Image credit: Fish | Instagram
Jose Silva and Manny Paraiso wanted to draw on the nostalgia of after-school snacks (like potato scallops and hot chips), and give it a little more polish without forgoing the casual essence of delicious fish and chips. And, since opening in 2018, FICH has earned itself a rep for dishing out some of the crunchiest and tastiest fish and chips in Sydney.
We love that FICH has a sustainable mindset, and you can get all the classics plus new-school creations like scallop tostadas, popcorn fish bites, and the fish shish with mixed spice marinade, flat bread, radish, dill pickles, chips and garlic sauce.
Fish Butchery
965 Bourke Street, Waterloo
Image credit: Fish Butchery | Paddington
Fish Butchery is the fish and chips takeaway shop in the family of world-renowned seafood Saint Peter by Josh Niland. Since he closed Charcoal Fish and the Paddington location of Fish Butchery in 2024, this Waterloo location is the one place you can get your hands on his take on fish and chips executed to perfection, with the unexpected treatments and twists Sydney has come to expect from the groundbreaking chef.
As well as the deep-fried deliciousness, you can pick up top-quality bits to cook at home like fish burger patties, cuts of hard-to-find sustainably caught fish, massive raw and cooked prawns, and so much more.
Out Of The Blue
2/272 Clovelly Road, Coogee
Sydney's home of the deep-fried Mars Bar, this icon is fresh, family-run, and a little bit French. When Jean-Marc and Sophie Gubian arrived in Sydney in 1986 they fell in love with the Aussie way of life and our love for a classic fish and chips.
Continued by their son Julien and his partner Matiou, the legend of Out of the Blue (or OTB—if you know, you know) lives on. Locals know this fish and chips shop does one of the best fish burgers in Sydney—basically the best post-beach feed possible.
Just Hooked
208 The Grand Parade, Monterey
Image credit: Just Hooked | Instagram
Just Hooked is not your average fish shop. At this staple of Sydney's south, the sun shines brightly on the signature Greek-style golden kataifi prawns which get drizzled in honey.
We also need to shout out the potato scallops—a salty halo that goes down a treat after a beach swim. You can also crunch into the Barra Schnitz box with herb-crumbed barramundi with chips or brown rice and salad and, look, throw in a side of fish tacos too.
Fat Fish
109 Johnston Street, Annandale
Image credit: Fat Fish | Instagram
What happens when three generations of a family make fish and chips for over thirty years? Fat Fish happens, that’s what. This seafood shop slash fish and chippery with a cabinet piled high with vibrant salads is a local favourite, and their mammoth potato scallops are a must-try—we reckon they're some of the best potato scallops in Sydney.
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FISH SHOP
87 Glenayr Avenue, Bondi Beach
Image credit: FISH SHOP | Instagram
FISH SHOP is a modern riff on the fish and chip shop, with the same sea breeze vibe but slightly more polished offerings and a Mediterranean influence on the menu.
Led by head chef Joel Bennetts—who you'll know from Peppe's, Bistrode and Three Blue Ducks—the fish at this shop is sustainable and the menu is seasonal, so you can expect Sicilian-style crudo and fancy prawn toast sitting alongside an epic fish burger, fish pasta, and your staple fish and chips.
Benny's
27 Tonkin Street, Cronulla
Image credit: Benny's | Supplied
Set on the gorgeous Gunnamatta Bay, Benny’s brings a taste of Euro summer to Sydney's south, pairing coastal dining with prime waterfront views. While their restaurant is a gorgeous spot for breezy dining, we'd grab their takeaway fish and chips on a stellar day, and head down to the waterfront.
Their fish and chips come beer-battered, with mushy peas and tartare sauce—everything you need—for $25.
Manly Fish Market
1/25 South Steyne, Manly
Plan a perfect day out with a visit to beautiful Manly Beach followed by the old-school fish and chips on offer at Nothern Beaches favourite Manly Fish Market.
It's not fancy, but it's proper fat chips, battered, crumbed or grilled fish, fresh salads, and cooked prawns ready to devour with an ocean view—while swatting away the seagulls, of course.
Promenade
Bondi Pavilion, 4a Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach
Image credit: Promenade | Leigh Griffiths
Packing a few dining options under the same roof, Bondi stunner Promenade has just started slinging seaside fish and chips from its takeaway kiosk in time for summer—meaning you can now step directly off the sand in Bondi to perfectly salted chips.
The restaurant-quality fish and chips go for an easy $24, and the kiosk stays open until 3pm every day.
Oceanheart Seafood
367 Bay Street, Brighton-Le-Sands
Oceanheart Seafood is a family-run haunt that has been thriving in Brighton Le Sands since the late '80s. Famous for their secret house recipe calamari, you can order anything from a couple of fish cakes to a whole lobster, or go to town on great value fillet combos which all come with chips, sauce and a drink.
Sea Cow
250 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst
This little Eastern Suburb institution (which recently relocated from Paddington to Darlo) has made a name for itself by making fish and chips, just the way they were intended. As well as all your classic options this spot also does seafood dishes like chowder, a fish curry with rice, and prawn linguine.
They’ve got bottles of vinegar on the tables and it’s BYO—what more could you want?
Fish At The Bay
14 Dover Road, Rose Bay
Fish At The Bay is Rose Bay's local and family-owned seafood joint serving up everything from high-quality, market-sourced seafood to delicious fish and chips and plenty of kid-friendly eats.
For big gatherings, order up the prawn, oyster and sashimi platter, an ornate spread of all good things from the ocean (and don't forget a few large orders of chips).
Costi’s
Various locations
Image credit: Costi's | Instagram
With four locations scattered across the CBD and a Coogee fish and chip shop, Costi’s is a reliable favourite known for its affordable prices (a box of battered fish and chips from Costi’s will only set you back $8.90) and healthier grilled options, including octopus skewers, Tassie salmon and Thai-style prawns.
Fishmongers
57-59 Beach Road, Bondi Beach
Everybody knows that if you’re looking for a quality take on ye ol’ fish and chips after a Bondi dip, Fishmongers has the staple Aussie combo down pat. Order up battered or grilled hoki with hand-cut chips and tartare sauce, or go all out and dig into an epic Mongers Box filled with all the battered goods.
South Beach Seafood
1/20 Gerrale Street, Cronulla
At South Beach Seafood, the fish and chip snack pack reigns supreme. Taking up prime real estate in official Chiko roll country, the ocean snacks you can nab here are undisputed champions, so keep your eyes out for the crumbed oysters at $2, Tasmanian scallops for $2.90, and the marinated octopus for $10.90.
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Main image credit: FICH | Petersham
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