Best fish and chips

Sydney’s got a big chip on its shoulder, and it’s fried to perfection.

1Kiwi Style Fish and Chips

There’s no ocean view on busy Botany Road; instead, this chippy relies on top-notch food to draw in a crowd. The owners tried different kinds of white fish for their battered fish before settling on Atlantic cape capensis: succulent, flaky flesh that holds up well in the deep fryer. Opt for kumara chips (as our Kiwi cousins like to call sweet potato chips) and you’ll get deliciously sweet batons on the side. The potato scallops are just as they should be: pillowy inside and crunchy on the outside.

2Love.Fish, Rozelle

The Love.Fish team are passionate about sustainable, locally sourced seafood. Order fish and chips here and you’ll get beer-battered NSW tiger flathead alongside twice-cooked chips. The fish is cooked to perfection and the batter-to- fillet ratio is spot on. Chips are on the soggy side, but the house-made tartare has a solid horseradish kick. Panko-crumbed calamari is tender not chewy. All packaging is either biodegradable or compostable.

3Fishmongers, Manly

There are many options for fish and chips in Manly but Fishmongers stands out from the crowd. Hoki is dunked in a light tempura batter. To the side are excellent handcut chips; deep-fried strips of sweet potato on top add some extra crunch. These guys try to do the right thing by our ocean friends by selling MSC-certified seafood. Get your order to go and head over the road to the beach, because everything tastes better looking out over the big blue.

4Olde Fashioned Fish and Chips

This unassuming joint in Naremburn is reminiscent of the chippies of yore with a menu including seafood baskets, Chiko Rolls and crab claws. New Zealand cod used for the fish and chips is plump and juicy and they chicken-salt their chips here. Go retro and add some deep-fried pineapple for a sweet sidekick. The prices here are old fashioned too.

5The Fish Shop

Part of the Merivale stable, this Potts Point diner is all about refined beachside chic. Beer-battered flathead is accompanied by crunchy house-made fries and bang-on tartare. The potato cake is fluffy, crisp and salty. You won’t find crumbed calamari here; instead, there’s cuttlefish with lemon, chilli and parsley, and there are raw and cured fish options too.

6Fish and Co

Sustainable seafood purveyors Fish and Co have moved from Annandale into Harold Park’s Tramsheds, where they’re as popular as ever. Strips of New Zealand hoki come coated in golden beer batter that’s a little on the thick side but still has a nice snap. You can jazz things up with sweet potato chips, mackerel fish cakes or panko-crumbed tiger prawns. Eat in if you’re feeling fancy, or grab takeaway and find a spot outside in the sun.

7Out of the Blue

There’s always a throng of people waiting to get their fix at this Clovelly corner spot. Battered Pacific cod comes with a bubbly crust that snaps under your fingers. Fish and chips are wrapped in paper, proper old-school like. We’ll skip the calamari next time and order a side of chips with chicken salt. If you’d rather eat from the land, the burgers here have reached near cult status for good reason. Finish things off with a deep-fried Mars Bar.

8Ocean Foods

A place that’s been around for over 30 years must be doing something right. The fish in the fish and chips changes daily depending on the suppliers and is battered using a family recipe: a light, crisp coating that doesn’t dominate the flavour of the fish. Of course, we’re still going to add a little chicken salt to the chips and calamari. The menu covers old-school classics like battered savs and seafood sticks (long may they live!) and is as cheap as, well, chips. Grab a box, sit out on the

balcony and watch the world go by.

9Bondi’s Best

Bondi’s Best is true to its moniker. The fish-to-beer batter ratio here is just right, and the hoki fillets are tender inside their golden crust. Punchy tartare is the perfect counterpoint to crumbed calamari. If you’re thinking about your beach body, there’s also a sushi menu. BB’s has the 2026 postcode covered, with the original North Bondi store as well as ritzier digs in Hall Street.

10Bottom of the Harbour

This long-standing fish and chipper is right across the road from Balmoral Beach and perpetually busy. They use only MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) approved fish here. New Zealand hake, battered to order, is the centrepiece of the fish and chips – both of which need the pep of some vinegar to liven things up. Calamari is lightly crumbed and buttery. Stroll across the road and watch the waves roll in while you eat.