Toronto Fish & Chips
Posted
Over the past year I’ve been on a small adventure to find some excellent Fish & Chips in Toronto, Canada. While I haven’t found the perfect chip shop I have gone to a handful of the most popular places and would like to share what I learned.
I’ve been to quite a few restaurants, but I’m only going to discuss the ones that stand out. I don’t think you will be disappointed by any location on this list.
Locations
Olde Yorke Fish & Chips
oldeyorkefishandchips.com - Last visited 2025
This is probably the location that I have seen recommended the most. And for good reason! This place serves probably the best battered fish I have ever had. We tried the Cod and Haddock, both were great. The cod was more flavourful, but the haddock was closer to a classic white flaky fish. I definitely want to go back and try the halibut.
The chips however were a bit mediocre. Not bad by and stretch, but when it says “chips” above your door I expect better. The outside was a touch tougher than I would like, and the inside wasn’t fluffy like it should be.
We also tried onion rings and a deep-fried Mars bar which were both fantastic. (I don’t know if they allow subbing in onion rings for the chips but if they do, I would recommend that.)
McNies Fish & Chips
mcnies.com - Last visited 2024
This is an old classic of mine as I practiced karate next door for many years. It seems to mostly fly under the radar online, but I think it deserves to be better known. The highlight here is definitely the chips. They are just perfect with crispy outside and fluffy inside.
The fish however isn’t as good as it could be. The batter in particular is a bit breadier than I would like as opposed to being super light and crispy.
Other things I have tried are the onion rings, which are possibly my favourite ever (I’m super picky about rings) and the scallops which I wouldn’t recommend (but I don’t think battered scallops are my cup of tea).
Sea Witch Fish & Chips
seawitchfc.com - Last visited 2024
This is also an online favourite. One of the easiest to get to as it is just a streetcar or short walk from the 1 subway line. They also have an awesome mural on the side of the building, so it is hard to miss.
While I enjoyed my meal here it did not stand out in any way. Solid fish and chips that I would definitely go to often if I lived nearby, but if you are going out of your way I would probably try one of the other options first.
Overall
I think I prefer Olde York overall. The fish is just too good and I can get great chips elsewhere. McNie’s still has a place in my heart and I would probably go from-time to time if it wasn’t so far away from where I live. While Sea Witch is solid all around I don’t think I would only go back if I was in the area, if I am going out of my way I would probably find something new first.
Others?
Did I miss your favourite? Let me know and I’ll update the list after some thorough research!