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Original poster

Are Fish and Chips worth it?

188 replies

girlfriend44 · 23/01/2025 13:32

Normally cook my own, but last night went to the Chippy.
Had 2 large Cod and Chips and a pot of mushy peas.
Cost 23.80.
Found it very underwhelming.
So glad I normally do my own.

I know costs have gone up, but do you think it's worth the cost?
Do you enjoy it?

OP posts:
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5
worcesterpear · 23/01/2025 16:17

I had some last week at the seaside that were definitely worth it: £6.95 for a "small" portion that was actually really big and the nicest fish and chips I'd had in ages. A lot of the time I agree, though, it is expensive and disappointing (too stodgy and tasteless).

AnonymousBleep · 23/01/2025 16:17

Blueskieslookingatme · 23/01/2025 13:52

Meals from our local chippies are hit & miss, the quality of the fish depending on whether it's fresh out of the fryer or has been languishing under glass for a while.
And far too many chips are shovelled on to make up for the decreasing fish portion sizes.
It's not the chippy owners' fault. Costs of everything have shot up - seemingly since Covid.
The surplus chips crisp up nicely in the air fryer the next day.

Air-frying the leftover chips - genius! I always end up binning them (loads of them) so this actually makes me slightly more likely to buy fish 'n' chips!

JudgeJ · 23/01/2025 16:15

And the chips are never crispy.

Recently when I've brought fish and chips home I have put some into the air fryer to crisp them up whilst I get plates etc.. Even those not eaten can be kept in the fridge then air fried later, our chippy does huge portions of chips, I have to tell them to stop!

Comefromaway · 23/01/2025 16:11

Its definitely worth it for me but we don't pay nearly that much.

Portions at our local one are huge. Cod chips & mushy peas are £9.40 each but we tend to share a large portion which is £12.50 between the two of us.

Or sometimes I have a kids meal which is £5

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 23/01/2025 16:04

We live a few miles from the coast. Our village chippy is dreadful but we drive to a coastal town occasionally that has an amazing chippy. Eating them on the beach is a real treat.

WitchesCauldron · 23/01/2025 16:03

girlfriend44 · 23/01/2025 13:32

Normally cook my own, but last night went to the Chippy.
Had 2 large Cod and Chips and a pot of mushy peas.
Cost 23.80.
Found it very underwhelming.
So glad I normally do my own.

I know costs have gone up, but do you think it's worth the cost?
Do you enjoy it?

My favourite meal so I will always have proper shop fish and chips. Used to be a weekly treat but cost means it's more a monthly one

muddyford · 23/01/2025 16:03

Aintnobodygottime · 23/01/2025 15:57

It's definitely much less widely used but there are chippies in York that still use beef dripping, so you ended up in the wrong one there.

Show quote history

I've had fish and chips in various locations in Yorkshire and they have always been cooked in dripping.

Motomum23 · 23/01/2025 16:00

I live in Cornwall and am yet to find a chippy that really hits the spot of crispy delicious batter and white flaking fish. So no, not worth it
Same with take away currys - just not worth the cost!

ERthree · 23/01/2025 15:59

A fish supper at my local Harbourside chippy is less than a tenner, 2 pieces of meaty fish and great proper chips, all wrapped in newspaper. Worth every penny.

caramac04 · 23/01/2025 15:59

I share fish and chips with dh and heat a tin of mushy peas as they really are a rip off. Costs £9.50 so we’re happy with that. Lovely fish.

faithbuffy · 23/01/2025 15:57

Price near me

Are Fish and Chips worth it?
Aintnobodygottime · 23/01/2025 15:57

Aliflowers · 23/01/2025 15:37

In the Old Days, when I were a lass, chippies used beef dripping in the fryers. This reaches a higher temperature than vegetable oils, making for crisp batter and chips - lovely! I find the vegetable oil can't make them crispy, it seems to leave them flabby/soggy and frankly not as nice to eat

@WhereYouLeftIt thats so true. Proper Irish chippers (the Italian ones) use beef dripping hence why everything is so bloody delicious. We were visiting DHs cousin in York and got some fish and chips one evening. They were very nice but missing that distinctive taste that can only be gotten from tallow. She said it’s not as popular to use it anymore on the UK

Edited

It's definitely much less widely used but there are chippies in York that still use beef dripping, so you ended up in the wrong one there.

Snippit · 23/01/2025 15:57

I’ve had a brilliant fish and chips in my local Morrisons at a very affordable price.

MadisonAvenue · 23/01/2025 15:56

It’s a rare treat now, and quite often hit and miss as to whether fish and chips will be worth the money.

We shared a large portion of chips, a not particularly large cod and a small tub of curry sauce a couple of weeks ago and paid £14.80. We’re in Staffordshire.

faithbuffy · 23/01/2025 15:55

I always get a battered sausage, chips, scraps and Irish curry sauce. Less than a fiver and really nice

Annettecurtaintwitcher · 23/01/2025 15:54

I like it occasionally. Also find the portions huge so one large cod and chips is enough to share.

ChessorBuckaroo · 23/01/2025 15:53

And 23 quid is a rip off.

Just checked the prices on the menu of the great chippy in our town:

Large chip 2.30
Fish (cod) in batter 4.20

6.50 for a delicious meal.

Also 5.50 for a full breakfast (Ulster fry, which is by far the best fry up in the UK). Potato bread (fried) is the base of the meal. Also soda bread fried. God I'm hungry thinking about this.

Ponoka7 · 23/01/2025 15:53

That would be £17 here. The fish is lovely and massive. A cod strip is £2.50 and enough, with chips, peas and then bread from home. Tbh Weatherspoons gives the best value on F&C, £13.60 with alcohol drink, or £11.84 with a refillable hot drink. On a Friday or Monday it can be the manager's special and only £8.

mirrorglitterball · 23/01/2025 15:52

Depends on the chippy ime, some are gorgeous but some are gross.

Doggymummar · 23/01/2025 15:52

It was over £30 last time we had it cod and chips twice with a pot of curry sauce and one of peas. They don't deliver or they would be on the takeaway rotation as it's bloody delicious

Klozza · 23/01/2025 15:51

I think it depends where you are and the place you go to. Our local one is lovely, and two large cod and chips and sides comes to about £14. I’m in fhe Midlands though

Moonshine5 · 23/01/2025 15:50

The Watch House - St Mawes
The Chippy - Maidenhead High Street

Both gluten free and both great.

Mollysay · 23/01/2025 15:49

Depends on the chippy imo! Cod with half portion of chips, breaded mushrooms and curry sauce is under a tenner at our local and absolutely delicious! If I was just having cod and chips without the sides I'd probably do it at home.

ChessorBuckaroo · 23/01/2025 15:46

Daft question (sorry OP) as it depends on the chippy.

Now that has been answered we have a great chippy in our town (and one that's ok, but too greasy). The great one the food is delicious. Salivating right now thinking about it.

Topsyturvy78 · 23/01/2025 15:43

If you find a good one then yes definitely worth it. A family member of mine goes for the cheapest option. I would rather pay a bit more and enjoy it. One local one to me does a huge fish and generous portions of chips and they make their own tartar sauce which is amazing. I get a large fish small chips mushy peas and gravy or curry sauce between 2 and it's plenty. I I get anymore it's too much and my DD wants to eat it all even though she's full to the point that she's sick,

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