Where to eat this British staple in Shanghai
Long a staple of dimly lit pubs and chip shops, this British favorite is enjoying a rennaissance around Shanghai. We’ve cast a wide net throughout the city to find the best. Here are the best places to eat fish and chips in Shanghai.
Hooked
Hooked is throwing down some delicious fish and chips as the latest purveyor of the British classic. This place has it all—breaded, crumbed or grilled, serving cod, haddock, halibut and salmon. The traditional beer battered Icelandic Cod (RMB108) is their shining star. The fish is moist and flaky, encased in a crispy batter. Served with large crispy hand cut chips, side salad with vinaigrette, rich house made tartar sauce and mushy peas; it’s everything you could want and more.
Address: 158 Julu Lu (near Ruijin Yi Lu) 巨鹿路158号 (近瑞金一路)
Tel: 6333-2198
Union Trading Co
Not only is Union Trading Co. known for its inventive cocktails at the hands of bartender Yao Lu, it also throws down some of the best bar food in the city. Chef Austin Hu of Madison fame is behind the menu and serves some of the best bar food we’ve seen thus far. Among the bites, the fish and chips (RMB98), golden brown sticks fried in onion ring batter are served with thin crispy fries and a boat of creamy tartar sauce. It’s heavenly. Malt vinegar on standby.
Address: 64 Fenyang Lu (near Fuxing Zhong Lu) 汾阳路64号 (近复兴中路)
The Isles
The Isles doesn’t mess around when it comes to fish and chips. They’re even certified with the National Federation of Fish Friers est. 1913 in the UK. (Yes, it’s a real thing.) A large plank of cod loin (RMB69) is coated in a light airy batter and fried to perfection. It’s served with puréed peas, ketchup and tartar sauce. With two locations and another on the way, you are never too far from a hot fillet o’ fish. Though, they might increase the pricing. Bummer, the affordability is attractive.
Address: 1/F, H1 Food Street, 1 Huaihai Zhong Lu (near Xizang Nan Lu) 淮海中路1号H1美食不夜城底商 (近西藏南路)
Tel: 6385-6679
The Sailors
Sailors is the first place you’d think of when it comes to fish and chip, and rightly so, since they’ve been around the longest. Sailors put fish and chips on the map when it opened up on Yongkang Lu, but gone are the days of the drinking street. They now operate in Jing’an, serving up large, crispy, albeit slightly greasy coated filets of cod, flounder or seabass (RMB 55-70). All plates come with a mound of flavorful chips, mushy peas and either original or curry tartar sauce. If you are indecisive (or a glutton) you can ask for the Big Platter (RMB128), which comes with all the cuts of fish plus shrimp, sausage and calamari.
Address:163 Yanping Lu (near Wuding Lu) 延平路163号 (近武定路)
Tel: 6245-6230
Blackbird
You may have heard about Blackbird, a cafe/bar popular with the locals and for its bright brunch space. What you might not know is that they have a delicious twist on the traditional fish and chips (RMB98). Their lightly breaded fish nuggets come out piping hot and aren’t the least bit greasy, paired with a side of thick cut fries topped with salt and herbs. The twist is the spinach mayonnaise and the GuiZhou Zunyi spicy chili powder (a chili commonly found in street snacks). The powder tones down the saltiness from the fish adds a kick.
Address: 3/F, 1 Wulumuqi Nan Lu (near Dongping Lu) 乌鲁木齐南路1号3楼 (近东平路)
Tel: 186-1627-2292
The Camel
The newly renovated Camel appeals to the Happy Hour crowd with plenty of room to mingle around a huge central bar. In addition to bar bites, they also serve a full menu to help sop up all those beers you’ll be downing. Their Fish and Chips (RMB115), an Icelandic cod with a cornstarch batter, aims to please. It has a chewier texture than others we have tried, though. The two planks of battered fish are served with chips, mushy peas (surprisingly better than Hooked, which is of the same group) tartar sauce and ketchup. Don’t worry, they also have malt vinegar. (Note: the above is an older photo of the dish.)
Address: 1 Yueyang Lu (near Fenyang Lu) 岳阳路1号 (近汾阳路)
Tel: 6437-9446
The fish and chips in Isles is a farce. The flavour is not too bad but the portion size is terrible. About a sixth of the size of any other fish and chips I’ve ever had in my life.