Unearth The Voyage
New Jersey has a serious seafood game, and fish and chips is one dish the Garden State does remarkably well. From the Jersey Shore to historic waterfront spots, crispy battered fish paired with golden fries shows up on menus all over the state.
Whether you are chasing that classic British pub vibe or a no-frills coastal seafood shack, NJ delivers. Here are 12 spots worth knowing about.
The British Chip Shop, Haddonfield, New Jersey
Haddonfield might not scream “London calling,” but The British Chip Shop makes a pretty convincing argument. This place is the real deal for anyone who has ever wanted authentic British fish and chips without booking a transatlantic flight.
The pub-like atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the kind of spot where you actually want to stay and eat slowly.
The menu is built around traditional British fare, with classic fish and chips as the star. Crispy batter, flaky white fish, thick-cut chips.
No unnecessary frills, just solid execution. I stopped in on a chilly afternoon once and the plate genuinely hit different on a cold day.
Current listings confirm regular weekly hours, so planning a visit is easy. Haddonfield itself is a charming town worth exploring before or after your meal.
For a proper British chippy experience in South Jersey, this one belongs at the top of your shortlist.
The Thistle Fish and Chips, Lyndhurst, New Jersey
When a restaurant names itself after one dish, you know they are not playing around. The Thistle Fish and Chips in Lyndhurst is exactly what the sign says: a dedicated, focused spot that does one thing and does it well.
No identity crisis here.
Located at 442 Valley Brook Ave, The Thistle keeps things refreshingly simple. The menu centers on British-style fish and chips, which means you are not scrolling through seventeen pages trying to decide what to order.
Just pick your fish and enjoy the ride. Current listings confirm it is open and operating.
For anyone in Bergen County who has been hunting for a proper chippy without driving to the shore, this is your answer. The focused menu is actually a feature, not a limitation.
Sometimes the best meal comes from a kitchen that knows exactly what it is good at and sticks to it confidently.
Keyport Fishery, Keyport, New Jersey
Keyport Fishery has been doing the coastal seafood thing long before it was trendy, and the locals know it. This is a proper seafood market and takeout spot at 150 W Front St, and the menu keeps things honest with fried fish platters served with fries, coleslaw, tartar sauce, and lemon.
There is something genuinely satisfying about a place that skips the gimmicks and just delivers a solid fish fry. No elaborate sauces, no trendy toppings.
Just good, fresh fish fried right and served with the classics. It is the kind of meal that makes you wonder why you ever bothered with anything fancier.
Keyport itself sits right on Raritan Bay, which gives the whole experience a proper coastal feel. Current listings confirm it is still open and operating.
If a no-frills, market-fresh fish and chips experience is what you are after, Keyport Fishery is the kind of place that earns repeat visits without trying too hard.
The Chippery, Union, New Jersey
The Chippery does not ease you into the menu gently. It hits you with “Famous Fish and Chips” right on the official site, and honestly, that kind of confidence is earned.
Union is not exactly known as a seafood destination, but this spot is quietly changing that reputation one crispy fillet at a time.
Beyond the signature fish and chips, the menu also features fried lobster tail and jumbo shrimp, which means you can build a seriously impressive seafood spread if you are feeling ambitious. Online ordering is available, making it a practical choice for a quick weeknight seafood fix.
The casual vibe makes it easy to pop in without a reservation or a plan. Current posted hours mean you can check before you go and avoid the disappointment of showing up to a locked door.
For a no-fuss, crunchy, satisfying seafood meal in Union County, The Chippery delivers exactly what it promises.
Crab & Seafood Shack, Wildwood, New Jersey
Beer-battered cod at a seafood shack steps from the Wildwood boardwalk? That is not a meal, that is a Jersey Shore rite of passage.
Crab and Seafood Shack at 4520 Park Blvd lists Fish and Chips with beer-battered cod fillets on its official menu, and the casual setup fits the Wildwood energy perfectly.
Wildwood is already a classic shore destination, so pairing a visit with a proper fried fish plate just makes the whole trip feel complete. The beer batter adds a slightly deeper, richer flavor compared to a standard batter, and cod holds up beautifully in the fryer without falling apart.
Current local listings confirm the restaurant is open with dinner hours, so it is a solid evening option after a day on the beach. For a laid-back seafood shack vibe with solid fried platters in one of Jersey’s most iconic shore towns, this one is worth marking on your map.
Mud City Crab House, Manahawkin, New Jersey
A restaurant called Mud City Crab House sounds like a place that takes seafood seriously, and it does not disappoint. Located at 1185 E Bay Ave in Manahawkin, this well-known shore-area spot sits conveniently close to Long Beach Island, making it a natural stop before or after crossing the causeway.
Fish and chips here features fresh Atlantic cod with fries and coleslaw, which is a clean, classic combination. The cod is the right call for a fish and chips menu because it has just enough texture to hold up inside the batter while staying tender inside.
Recent listings confirm the restaurant is still open and popular.
Mud City has built a loyal following over the years, and the fish and chips option is a solid choice even at a spot better known for crabs. If you are heading to LBI and want a proper seafood sit-down meal on the way, this is a reliable and satisfying detour worth making.
Shore Fresh Seafood Market & Restaurant, Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey
Point Pleasant Beach is one of those Jersey Shore towns that stays interesting year-round, and Shore Fresh Seafood Market and Restaurant fits right into that identity. Unlike seasonal spots that shut down in October and reopen in May, this place operates as a year-round seafood market and restaurant, which is a genuinely useful detail.
Fish and chips appears among the menu options in current listings, and the market side of the operation means the fish going into your plate is about as fresh as it gets. That matters more than most people realize.
Fresh fish fries up cleaner, tastes lighter, and holds together better than fish that has been sitting around too long.
The casual Point Pleasant Beach setting adds to the appeal without requiring a full shore-day commitment. Whether you are a local stopping in mid-week or a visitor exploring the area, Shore Fresh delivers a dependable, quality seafood meal in a relaxed and approachable environment worth returning to.
The Shrimp Box & Outside The Box Patio Bar, Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey
Waterfront dining with a plate of fish and chips is a combination that rarely goes wrong. The Shrimp Box in Point Pleasant Beach offers exactly that setup, with current menu listings including Fish N Chips and daily hours that make it accessible without much planning.
The Outside The Box Patio Bar adds an extra layer of appeal, especially on a warm evening when sitting outside near the harbor just makes everything taste better. The place has a lively shore-town energy that is hard to replicate inland.
It is the kind of spot where a two-hour lunch somehow turns into an entire afternoon.
I have heard from more than a few Point Pleasant regulars that The Shrimp Box is a go-to for a reason. The fish and chips holds its own against the more famous menu items, and the harbor view gives the whole meal a sense of occasion.
For a scenic, casual seafood experience on the Jersey Shore, this one earns its reputation.
Klein’s Fish Market, Belmar, New Jersey
Klein’s Fish Market in Belmar sits near Shark River, and that location alone gives the meal a backdrop most landlocked restaurants could never compete with. Current posted restaurant hours confirm it is still operating, and traditional fish and chips appears on the menu alongside other classic seafood options.
What sets Klein’s apart from a quick counter spot is the sit-down restaurant experience. Sometimes you want to slow down, grab a table with a view, and actually enjoy your meal rather than eating out of a paper basket on a bench.
Klein’s gives you that option without being overly formal or expensive about it.
The fish and chips here is the traditional kind: straightforward, well-executed, and satisfying without trying to reinvent anything. Belmar has a solid local seafood scene, and Klein’s has been part of it long enough to earn genuine credibility.
For a proper coastal sit-down fish and chips experience in Monmouth County, this is a strong and reliable choice.
Bahrs Landing, Highlands, New Jersey
Bahrs Landing has been feeding hungry seafood lovers since 1917, which means this place was serving fish and chips before most of our grandparents were born. Located near Sandy Hook in Highlands, it is one of the most storied seafood restaurants on the entire Jersey Shore, and the waterfront setting has not lost any of its charm over the decades.
A current online ordering source lists Fish and Chips on the menu, and the restaurant’s official site offers both ordering and reservation options. That combination of history and modern convenience is not something every old-school seafood spot manages to pull off gracefully, but Bahrs does it well.
The waterfront view during a meal here is genuinely hard to beat. Highlands sits at a point where the bay and the ocean feel close together, and eating fish and chips with that backdrop is a distinctly New Jersey experience.
For a meal with real history behind it, Bahrs Landing is an absolute must-visit on this list.
Fins Bar & Grille, Cape May, New Jersey
Hand-battered Arctic cod is not a phrase you see on every fish and chips menu, and Fins Bar and Grille in Cape May deserves credit for going that specific. The dish comes with fries, cocktail sauce, and tartar sauce, giving you options for how you want to approach the plate.
Current sources confirm active menu information, so the dish is still very much available.
Cape May is one of the most charming towns on the entire Jersey Shore, and Fins fits into that lively shore-town setting with ease. The bar and grille format means the atmosphere leans fun and social rather than quiet and formal, which works well for a casual seafood meal with friends or family.
Arctic cod is a smart choice for battered fish because it is firm, mild, and holds up well under a crispy coating. If you are spending time in Cape May and want a proper fish and chips with a side of good energy, Fins Bar and Grille is a genuinely enjoyable stop.
Cape May Fish Market, Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May Fish Market earns its spot on this list not just because it is in one of New Jersey’s most beloved shore towns, but because it is a genuinely good option after walking the Washington Street outdoor mall. The active official site and current listings confirm it is open, and recent review sources specifically call out fish and chips as a menu item worth ordering.
Washington Street in Cape May is a great stretch for browsing shops and galleries, and working up an appetite there is embarrassingly easy. Having a solid fish and chips spot nearby is the kind of logistical win that makes a day trip feel perfectly planned even when it was not.
The market setting keeps things relaxed and unpretentious, which is exactly the right energy for a crispy seafood plate. Cape May already has Fins Bar and Grille on this list, but having two solid fish and chips options in the same town just means Cape May is a destination worth planning a full day around.
