The Best Fish And Chips In Dublin: 9 Pubs, Cafes + Restaurants To Try

The topic of ‘Where does the best fish and chips in Dublin?!’ fires up a fine bit of debate online.

There’s an almost endless number of places to enjoy fish and chips in Dublin, ranging from fancy restaurants to casual cafes, with many people having a favourite spot they return to over and over.

However, if you’re on the hunt for a new place to visit, or if you’re visiting Dublin for the first time and looking to satisfy a craving, you’ve landed in the right spot.

In the guide below, you’ll find the best fish and chips Dublin City and the wider county has to offer. So, dive on in!

Where we think does the best fish and chips in Dublin

The first section of the guide is packed with the places that we think do the best fish and chips in Dublin. These are places that one or more of the Irish Road Trip Team have visited, and loved.

Below, you’ll find everywhere from Burdock’s and Hook’t to a chipper that our editor has been visiting since he was a little kid.

1. Burdock’s

Burdock’s is synonymous with fish and chips in Dublin—I can still remember the very first bite I took of a crispy battered fish when I’d only been in Dublin a couple of days – 40 years ago!

It was that good. Burdock’s has been in business since 1913 and there are several shops around the City, including the one in Howth.

It wouldn’t be Burdocks if the fish weren’t fresh and tasty, and so it is here. The fish portions are large, and the chips are plentiful; they’ll even throw in a few chips if you’re only getting fish!

2. Del Rio’s Café

If you’re hankering after a good old-style chipper, Del Rio’s Café in Marlborough Street is the very spot!

Just as in the old days, the servings are generous, so make sure you’re hungry when you get there. You’ll even get sliced bread and butter and a Knickerbocker Glory if you have room.

The café has been run by the same family for decades and is extremely popular with the locals, always a good thing.

Note from the editor: My dad has always raved about the Del Rio. He used to visit with my Nan, when he was a kid, and he’s been visiting ever since.

3. Fish Shack

The Fish Shack chain has a well-deserved reputation for fantastic fish and chips, and their seafood chowder is not too shabby either!

Actually, all their fish dishes get rave reviews—–mussels, fish tacos, smoked fish in cheese sauce, I could go on. And on.

It’s a neighbourhood restaurant with swift service and friendly staff, and customers keep coming back and spreading the word. If you want your food to go, the waterfront park is right across the road, where you can sit and enjoy the view while you eat.

Related read: Check out our guide to the best brunch in Dublin (or our guide to the best bottomless brunch in Dublin)

4. Kish Fish

Taking a boat trip out to Ireland’s Eye from Howth? Call into Kish Fish for some extremely fresh fish and generous portions of chips when you get back.

Try the ‘cup’ of chowder and make sure you’re hungry – ‘cup’ is a bit misleading! The fish is as fresh and tasty as you’ll ever come across, and it’s all exceptionally good value.

The family-run business serves wholesale and retail customers from their smokehouse, production kitchen, and online shop.

The smokehouse produces smoked mackerel, trout and salmon, and there’s a fresh fish shop next door to the restaurant as an added bonus.

5. Hook’t Fish & Chips (Blackrock Market)

Top off a trip to the gorgeous Blackrock Market with a visit to Hook’t Fish & Chips. This is a venue that prides itself on the freshness of its menu.

Homemade chips with skins on, light crispy batter, fresh scampi with a hint of spice and of course, the freshest of fresh fish have kept customers coming back. It’s the mix of perfect ingredients and lovely staff that makes everything consistently good.

The menu is not huge, but that isn’t a bad thing when you can’t go wrong with your choice. There’s nothing as bad as menu envy! 

Where to get the best fish and chips in Dublin if you fancy a pub or restaurant setting

Now that we have where we think does the best fish and chips in Dublin out of the way, it’s time to see what else the capital has to offer.

Below, you’ll find pubs and restaurants in Dublin that knock up a mighty fish a chips, with The Old Mill Restaurant topping the list.

1. The Old Mill Restaurant

It’s widely accepted that The Old Mill Restaurant dishes up some of the finest Irish food in Dublin, so if you’re looking for a Stew or Coddle, this is the place to come to.

However, traditional dishes aside, it’s also a great spot for fish and chips! The early bird is a bit of a treasure trove for fish lovers, with a gorgeous creamy seafood chowder on offer.

For mains, you can opt for the traditional fish and chips, which is pretty reasonable (€10.95 for a traditional fish and chips combo).

2. SOLE Seafood & Grill

SOLE Seafood & Grill is a contemporary restaurant offering seafood and meat dishes in a sophisticated city atmosphere. It’s a restaurant for special occasions and moments to remember, and the service reflects this.

Both food and drink menus are extensive, and the hundreds of customers who have taken the trouble to leave reviews have raved about the quality of the food and the staff.

Located in South William Street, you’re right in the heart of the City and all it has to offer. If you’re in the mood for a delicious meal in beautiful surroundings, head to SOLE.

Related read: Check out our guide to the best seafood in Dublin (from fine dining to old-school cafes cooking up a storm)

3. Hartley’s

If you’re both fish lovers and you’re in search of Dublin date ideas, look no further than Hartley’s in Dún Laoghaire.

If you’re after fish and chips, the Hartley’s beer-battered hake (with pea puree, caper aioli and skin-on chips) packs a punch.

However, there’s also lots more fishy goodness on offer, here, with crab claw bruschetta for starters and surf’n’tur along with Hartley’s seafood angel hair pasta for mains.

Related read: Check out our guide to the best lunch in Dublin (from Michelin Star eats to Dublin’s best burger)

4. Fish Shop

Fish Shop started its life in a converted shed in Blackrock Market, back in 2013. It then moved to its current home in Smithfield, where it’s been making tastebuds happy since 2015.

The award winning menu at Fish Shop changes daily, with only the best locally caught, beer-battered fish on offer.

This is an intimate setting and there’s a nice wine list, too, for those of you looking for a night out with the other half.

The best chipper in Dublin: Where have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant places to grab fish and chips in Dublin from the guide above.

If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out!

FAQs about the best places for fish and chips in Dublin

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What chipper in Dublin does the best chips?’ to ‘What restaurants knock up a great fish and chips?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Where does the best fish and chips in Dublin?

Hook’t Fish & Chips, Kish Fish, Fish Shack, Del Rio’s Café and Burdock’s are all great places to visit for great fish and chips.

What restaurants do brilliant fish and chips in Dublin?

Restaurant wise, Hartley’s, SOLE and The Old Mill Restaurant do some of the best fish and chips in Dublin.