Best Fish & Chips in North London
- Matias
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Fish & chips is probably the first dish that comes to mind when you think about British food. Simple, comforting, no drama. It’s the kind of meal that has shaped the nation for decades, from famous fish and chip shops across the UK to pub menus you can rely on any day of the week.
But it’s more than just a dish. It’s a ritual, especially on Fridays. I remember this clearly from one of my first jobs in London, more than a decade ago. Fridays meant fish & chips for lunch. No meetings booked over it, no sad desk lunches eaten in front of a screen. You would head to the canteen, grab a plate piled high with battered fish and chips, and sometimes even sneak in a beer if the workplace culture allowed it. That tradition still exists today. Walk into almost any office canteen or pub on a Friday and you will spot fish & chips on the menu, comforting, familiar, already tasting like the weekend.
But here’s the thing. Getting a properly nice fish & chips is no easy quest.
There’s nothing worse than cutting into soggy batter, oily fish, and a sad pile of mushy chips. A plate of absolute rubbish because when it’s bad, it’s really bad.
But when it’s good, it’s delightful. When the batter is crisp, the fish flakes perfectly, and the chips actually hold their own, that’s when it takes you to a happy place. And once you find one of those plates, it only feels right to share the love.
That’s exactly why this list came together. For some reason, I’ve only had one fish & chips this year, which now feels slightly unacceptable. Clearly I need to fix that this weekend.
So here are my favourite pubs for the best fish and chips in North London.
The Prince - Stoke Newington
This is where I had my only fish & chips this year. The Prince is a proper neighbourhood pub that quietly nails the classics, including a very solid fish & chips. Crisp batter, generous portions, and fish that flakes exactly how it should. No fuss, just done well.
The Lion & Unicorn - Kentish Town
This is probably the first place I think of when I’m craving fish & chips. I used to live next door, so this was my go to. It always delivers on flavour and texture, and that friendly pub atmosphere makes it an all time favourite. Some places just feel like home and this is one of them.
The Earl of Essex - Angel
A pub that combines the best of both worlds, a fantastic beer selection and proper pub food. Their fish & chips is simply great and to top things off, there’s always a lively atmosphere. That's just plenty of reasons to return, whether for this dish or for one of their Sunday roasts.
The Old Diary - Crouch Hill
I haven’t been in years - after the pandemic refurbishment and change in management - but this pub still holds a place in my memory for one of the most generous portions I’ve had. Comforting, substantial, and exactly what you want when you’re craving something familiar and satisfying.
The Constitution - Camden
This gastropub has a special place in my heart. Between 2010 and 2012 it was one of my local boozers, and back then you definitely didn’t come here for the food. It was all about the pints, the atmosphere, and the familiarity of a proper local. After a full refurbishment and a complete rethink of their offering, it became a fantastic spot for modern British cooking. I had the joy of trying their fish & chips and it was nothing short of amazing. And enjoying it by the canal on a warm day somehow makes it taste even better.
Fish & chips might always belong to Fridays, but these pubs prove it works any day of the week. And yes, if you order it on a Sunday instead of a roast, you might get a funny look from a few Brits, but honestly, who cares. If it’s good fish & chips, it’s always the right choice 🍺🐟🍟
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