Almost every neighbourhood in Christchurch has a fish-and-chips restaurant or takeaway. But let’s face it—no one wants it to be soggy, overly greasy, or undercooked. Fish and chips are fast food consisting of fish covered in a batter (a mixture of egg, flour, and milk) that is then fried, and chips – pieces of fried potato.

It can be served as a quick lunch or a light dinner, eaten alone or with friends or family. And since you won’t want to ruin the moment, we have collated the top 5 fish and chips spots in the city. Each of them has a whopping 4.5/5 rating.

Read on before you choose your next destination for a tasty and crunchy fish and chips meal.

Best Fish and Chips Shops in Christchurch you must Try

#1:- Urban Seafoods Halswell

Urban Seafoods’ tasty and crispy fish and chips have not gone unnoticed by Christchurch fish and chip lovers and Avenue magazine, rating it as the best in the city. Avenue magazine describes the spot as having “the right components in all the tasty places. Hot, fresh, long chips, fried to a stunning golden hue, dusted with just enough salt to keep your fingers nice and gritty for later licking.” The fresh, locally sourced ingredients and fish also assist them in making some of the best snacks in the city.

Thus, whether you want real fish fingers and full scoop chips, grilled king salmon and chips, or even a sweet, delicious, juicy fillet, they have an extensive array of combos you can choose from.

They open daily from 11 am to 8.30 pm and close at 9 pm on Friday and Saturday. They are located on 8/29 Ensign Street in Halswell. You can get there within 18 minutes via Lincoln and Halswell Road or State Highway 76 and State Highway 75. You can also dine in, takeaway, or get a crunchy meal through Uber Eats and Doordash.

Fish and Chips lovers’ thoughts about this spot

• There is an ample parking space outside the shop
• Friendly staff, though the meals are a bit pricey
• These are good-quality meals, crunchy with a thin batter coating and yummy chips with good seasonings, though some customers talked of reduced quality.

Check out their Facebook page.

#2:- Lewis Street Food Bar/ Fish and Chips Hoon Hay

With just two years shy of two decades in operation, Lewis Fish and Chips Hoon Hay remains consistently one of the city’s best fish and french fries spots. Whether as part of your lunch or dinner or delicious weekend snacks for hangout, their super yummy and crunchy batter and fresh cut, clean, and crispy chips stand out; they are not soggy or fatty. You can check out their extensive list of fish, fries, and other food items you will most likely find your favourite.

They are closed on Monday, open from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm for lunch Tuesday to Saturday, then 4 pm to 8 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday, while staying for an extra 30 minutes from Thursday to Saturday. There is a dining option or takeaway option.

They are located at the corner of the road intersection on 2A Lewis Street in Hoon Hay. To get there, just drive via Lincoln Road, a 20-minute drive, or take bus number 5 and alight at Lincoln Road stop. You will see the spot right across the other side of the bus stop.

Whenever you get there, specify which type of salt you want, as a few customers have complained of artificial chicken salt being used instead of plain salt on the fish and chips. The restaurant is more than a fish and chips spot; you can also buy hamburgers and fried chicken with assorted drinks at the same place.

Fish and Chips lovers’ thoughts about this spot

• The meals are of decent sizes and prices.
• They have friendly staff and exceptional clean space with an inviting ambience.
• There are plenty of free parking spaces on the street
• Their crumbed Blue Cod and Chips, fish crumbled, bluff Oysters, Fish Bites, and beautiful chips are consistently crispy, tasty, and delicious with great flavours.

Check out their Facebook page

#3:- Fush Wigram

Fush is a stellar fish and chip spot in Otautachi. Its co-owner, Anton Matthew, affirmed one of the topmost reasons always echoed by customers when he said they “look after people’s welfare and care about being good hosts” at Fush.

The restaurant has been open since 2016 at 104 The Runway, Wigram, just 12 minutes from the city centre via SH 1. It opens daily except from 12 pm to 8.30 pm except for Christmas day. Dine-in, takeaway, and outdoor seating are all available. You can also order via Uber Eats and Doordash.

The restaurant is family-owned, perfect for families, couples, and friends, and it’s also wheelchair accessible. Whether you want fresh crumble or battered cod and chunky chips with Coleslaw, skinny chips, and kumara chips, they are all available in the long array of meals. Vegetarians like cauliflower and gluten-free options; burgers, Vanilla Milkshake, and sides are available.

Interestingly, their menu changes periodically, giving you some surprising and delicious food. You cannot book a reservation, so you have to get there. If you have a birthday party, wedding ceremony, or business hangout, Fush Waka is available for hire; they only need a space to park their food truck at your event.

You can also try out their other outlets located around Christchurch airport and Prebbleton, which is part of the four new outlets they disclosed in 2022 that they will open.

 Fish and Chips lovers’ thoughts about this spot

• The shop is clean and bright, with cool decor and prints, and lovely booth seats, and has plenty of parking space
• The staff are professional and friendly, have a relaxing vibe, and even welcome customers in Te Reo Māori, which is sweet
• The services are fast, and the meals are of good, delicious quality and with great flavours, but they are pricey
• The spot is kid-friendly; in fact, they give colouring pads to kids

Check out their website.

#4:- Gourmet Seafoods QEII

Multi-award-winning fish and chips Gourmet Seafoods QEII has been up and running since 1995. Kiwis and visitors in New Brighton are more than lucky to have such excellent fish and fries on 251 Travis Road.

Helen and Peter Joe are the brains behind these chips and seafood, and their prowess has not gone unnoticed as they scooped the “best chips in the upper South Island (Canterbury, the West Coast, Nelson, and Marlborough) at The Chip Group Industry Awards.”

To have the tasty, crispy, and crunchy variety of snacks like the potato fritter, spring roll, hot dog, and kumara chips, you can check the menu for more insight into what meal could make your day from the spot.

It is just an 18-minute drive via the new Brighton Road every day, from 11.30 am to 3.30 pm on Monday, then Wednesday to Saturday, and it starts 30 minutes later on Sunday. They are also open in the evening from 4.30 pm to 8 pm to 9 pm. You can order your fish and fries via Uber Eats and DoorDash for home delivery.

Fish and Chips lovers’ thoughts about this spot

• Many customers believe the fish and chips are yummy (a few customers have complained about the quality recently)
• Great reception and excellent service
• There are plenty of parking space
• The shop looked clean and tidy

#5:- A1 Seafoods Opawa

A1 Seafoods is undoubtedly one of the city’s best fish and fries spots and has received many positive reviews. They are located at 17 Opawa Road in Waltham. Permanently closed on Monday and opens Tuesday through to Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm and on Sunday, 4 pm to 8.30 pm. You can drive through Moorhouse Avenue, Durham Street, Wordsworth Street, or Tuam Street.  Uber Eats makes home delivery in case you cannot get to their restaurant.

Whether you want to have a nice time together as a family or business associate, this space is good for you. It has a myriad of seating options, including the outdoor seating area. Many customers have fallen in love with their Hoki crumbed fish and garlic butter fries, a small fraction of their amazing dishes, whether you want something fried or grilled. They also sell burgers, soft drinks, and wine, making it an unavoidable spot for lunch snacks or casual dinner meals.

Fish and Chips lovers’ thoughts about this spot

• Almost everyone believes that their fish and fries are delicious, crispy, big, and worth every penny
• Good and fast service
• The space is very clean, and there is parking space

Final Note

In conclusion, Christchurch is a great place in New Zealand that offers the best fish and chips in the country. Whether you’re looking for authentic Kiwi fish and chips or want to try something new, these 5 spots surely satisfy your taste buds. So if you are coming to Christchurch or living in Christchurch, try any of the above shops for the yummy fish n chips.