# What fish is "fish and chips" where you are? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2006, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100 "2006-02-12T10:38:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/21 "2006-02-12T17:32:22Z")
Cod or halibut is on the menus, but I suspect some nefarious fry guys are subbing basa for the cod. Bad fish man! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/22 "2006-02-12T17:57:37Z")
**Annie** : You’re in White rock, right? A friend of mine told me there’s a fish’n’chips place there that’s run by a German woman. He said that when he ordered, she went to the kitchen and got a fresh piece of fish and battered it instead of getting a pre-battered one. Do you know this place? If so, what’s it called and how do I get there. If you’ve been there, how is it? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/23 "2006-02-12T20:07:10Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Up here in WA you generally have a choice between cod or halibut, and often salmon. Yep. I’ve occasionally seen pollock, too (ech). When I make it myself, I use halibut, or catfish if I’m also making sweet potato fries. Yum. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/24 "2006-02-12T20:55:09Z")
Here in Boston, it is usually Cod. Where I am from in Louisiana, it is catfish (which in undeniably superior IMNSHO). ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/25 "2006-02-12T21:05:02Z")
Here in Minesota there ain’t no fish ‘n’ chips. Walleye and french fries, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/26 "2006-02-12T21:09:55Z")
In Ontario, it was usually whitefish, cod or halibut. Down here it’s “what the hell is fish and chips?” So at our house, it’s baked Gorton’s fish thingies from the grocer’s freezer, and fresh-cut fries, with malt vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/27 "2006-02-12T22:23:10Z")
In my hometown, in New Brunswick, Canada, it’s haddock or bust. You try serving someone anything else, and heads will roll. One restuarant went under for trying to serve skate as “fish and chips”. BLECH! Here in Seattle, it’s tough to find haddock, instead it’s halibut or cod. Yuck. It’s okay. But _yuck_. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/28 "2006-02-12T23:08:30Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > **Annie** : You’re in White rock, right? A friend of mine told me there’s a fish’n’chips place there that’s run by a German woman. He said that when he ordered, she went to the kitchen and got a fresh piece of fish and battered it instead of getting a pre-battered one. Do you know this place? If so, what’s it called and how do I get there. If you’ve been there, how is it? White Rock is fish and chip land, at least on the east side of the beach. It’s probably [Moby Dick’s](http://www.mobydickrestaurant.com/about.html) on Marine Drive. My fave around here-the chips are very very good. They always give you an extra piecce of fish so a 1 piece is a 2 piece, 2 piece comes with 3, etc. There’s another British one uptown on Russell St by Johnson rd that has the whole mushy peas menu, but I haven’t been there. Moby’s is the good one. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/29 "2006-02-12T23:11:19Z")
> [@Annie](#): > > White Rock is fish and chip land, at least on the east side of the beach. It’s probably [Moby Dick’s](http://www.mobydickrestaurant.com/about.html) on Marine Drive. My fave around here-the chips are very very good. They always give you an extra piecce of fish so a 1 piece is a 2 piece, 2 piece comes with 3, etc. There’s another British one uptown on Russell St by Johnson rd that has the whole mushy peas menu, but I haven’t been there. Moby’s is the good one. Maybe we should ahve a mini-DopeFest one of these days. I know there are some Dopers in Vancouver, and at least one in Surrey. Too bad chips and batter are off the diet at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/30 "2006-02-12T23:19:46Z")
Haddock here, but some places serve cod as well. ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/31 "2006-02-13T00:37:00Z")
> [@Annie](#): > > White Rock is fish and chip land, at least on the east side of the beach. It’s probably [Moby Dick’s](http://www.mobydickrestaurant.com/about.html) on Marine Drive. My fave around here-the chips are very very good. They always give you an extra piecce of fish so a 1 piece is a 2 piece, 2 piece comes with 3, etc. There’s another British one uptown on Russell St by Johnson rd that has the whole mushy peas menu, but I haven’t been there. Moby’s is the good one. I’m having a flash back to the 70’s! Thanks, **Annie.** I remember being there for fish and chips back in the late 70’s on a visit to BC relatives. I haven’t thought of that place for 25 odd years. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/32 "2006-02-13T02:00:23Z")
Cod at most proper dive local chip shops, but any fish you can name at the fancy-schmancy joints in the Bay Area. Some of which are damned good. Anybody else from Berkeley miss the Yorkshire shop at Shattuck & University? That was it. You bastards in Sydney have a phenomenal shop on the esplanade at Manly. Dozens of species, all that-day fresh and prepared to order. Heaven. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/33 "2006-02-13T02:34:47Z")
It’s not possible to order ‘fish and chips’ at any takeaway in my aread; the board on the wall specifies the prices by type and size; if you want cod, you ask for ‘cod and chips’, if you want haddock, you ask for ‘haddock and chips’, etc. if you ask for ‘fish and chips’, you’ll be asked what kind of fish you want. Cod is most popular, followed closely by haddock; plaice is typically cooked to order and you will always incur the wrath or disdain of _someone_ by ordering it - either the customers waiting in line will be irked that you shouted ‘pop two plaice in for me would yer luv’ when it isn’t your turn, or the serving staff will tell you, on reaching the front of the queue that you should have shouted out your requirement for plaice when you first walked in. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/34 "2006-02-13T11:42:17Z")
I don’t know that I’ve generally seen the type of fish specified. I always thought of cod as the “standard,” but all I expect is some type of mild white fish. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/35 "2006-02-13T12:51:14Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Cod is most popular, followed closely by haddock; plaice is typically cooked to order and you will always incur the wrath or disdain of _someone_ by ordering it Tssk. Go to a decent chippy, where _everything_ is cooked to order. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/36 "2006-02-13T12:57:32Z")
Quite a variety. I often order whiting instead of the default flake, but I wouldn’t expect what some of you folks get. As for the suggestion that some of you don’t have fish and chip shops… I prefer not to believe you. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/37 "2006-02-13T14:16:31Z")
In South Africa it defaults to hake, unless you specify something else, like snoek. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/38 "2006-02-13T14:54:48Z")
The only thing that I have to add to this thread is my irritation that twice now in the last month I’ve found that the restaurant I’ve ordered fish and chips from has no malt vinegar, and I don’t find out until after the food arrives. They expect me to consume my food with only tarter sauce and ketchup, the barbarians. This is especially irksome as I use an order of fish and chips to primarily as a vehicle to consume upwards of a quarter of a bottle of malt vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/39 "2006-02-13T15:22:32Z")
When you can find proper fish & chips here (Arthur Treacher’s doesn’t count) it’s usually battered and fried Lake Erie Walleye w/ a side of steak fries and cole slaw. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100/40 "2006-02-13T15:26:53Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Tssk. Go to a decent chippy, where _everything_ is cooked to order. There isn’t any such place, not around here, anyway. Most places are sufficiently busy that there will be a production line in operation for commonplace items such as large cod in batter; what’s the difference between having it just cooked to order and just available freshly-cooked because the system made it happen that way? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fish-is-fish-and-chips-where-you-are/344100.md?page=3)