Chef John’s Fish & Chips
8047 Broadway, Lemon Grove, CA, 91945
Chef John’s Fish & Chips Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Lemon Grove for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lemon Grove for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
8047 Broadway
Lemon Grove, CA, 91945 - Phone (619) 465-7060
- Website https://www.chefjohnsfishnchips.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Paul W.
Wow, just Wow! Excellent fish and chips. It is a fried food place so don't expect much more than fried food. The batter is light and tasty and not overpowering. We had the fried veggie plate, super good with sweet potato's, zucchini, mushrooms. We also tried the scallops, oh my, sweet, tender, perfectly cooked and lightly battered.. The whole family loved the hush puppies, ended up with 2 orders. The folks who own it and work there were very friendly and the food was cooked well and quickly.
(5)linda l.
My husband is from England and he loves his fish & chips. Every time we visit his family, we have them but they bother my stomach. We tried Chef John's this week-end and what a pleasant surprise. They only prepare them in Canola Oil and they are not greasy. I was able to enjoy fish & chips the way I used to and they didn't upset me at all. The place is very clean and the family is very friendly. The only thing I would recommend is to call ahead for take out. They are very busy on a week-end so the wait was long.
(4)Jeff L.
I didn't know what to expect when I pulled in the the lot of the place. It looks like a former Wendy's and there weren't many cars in the lot. The nice woman at the counter informed me that they were out of oysters, which I had my my heart set on. So I opted for the main event, the fish & chips. Now, before I continue, I have to say that I've had good fish and chips when I lived on the East Coast but yet to find decent fish and chips in San Diego. Shakespeare's Pub didn't impress and Point Loma Seafoods was every more disappointing. I've come to understand that it is not so simple to fry a fish. So when I took my first bite into this fillet, I was brought to my happy place. A perfectly fried fillet of Cod. Not oily, not over battered, just seasoned lightly and generous in size. The kitchen or chef has skills!! I plan on making my way back and frequently.
(5)A L.
I've live in Lemon Grove for 7 years and I always drive by this place, not once did it occur to me to go in because it was not very appealing from the outside. BOY WAS I WRONG! After reading the review here on YELP my husband and decided to give it a try. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the Christian music playing (which we LOVE!) so that instantly put a smile on my face. The young lady on the counter was very helpful and friendly! We ordered the fish, shrimp and chips to go and the wait was a bit long (next time we'll call it in). However, the portions were a really decent size and the fish and sauce tasted amazing! Now I don't normally eat fish and chips but I wanted to try something different and we were not disappointed. This goes to show me not to judge based on what a place looks on the outside. We will be back for sure!
(4)Juje J.
The portions here at Chef John's Fish & Chips are huge. That's the first impression I got when I ordered a 2 piece Fish & Chips meal. I like to start off by saying that this was the BEST Fish & Chips meal I've ever had. There wasn't too much batter on the fish which was fine with me because the fish portion was about the length of the basket my meal was served on. The Tartar Sauce tasted extremely good that I also put some on my french fries (cause I'm weird like that sometimes...trust me, tartar sauce on french fries ROCK) This restaurant specializes in Fish & Chips, so if you are expecting anything fancy...forget about it. I will tell you that they do make the BEST Fish & Chips in San Diego...PERIOD. So why am I giving Chef John's 4 stars instead of 5? I was kinda disappointed that there wasn't any Fried Zuccini, and I love Zuccini with my Fried Fish. Would I come here again? Heck Yeah!!! The people are friendly, the place is well kept, and the service is fast. Hopefully, they will have Fried Zuccini the next time I'm here cause THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME. It's hard not to pass up a place this good for the simplicity they have on their menu. I love this place...so please - have some Zuccini the next time I am here :)
(4)Steve H.
The fish was prepared well and not greasy at all Big pieces of fish Bo's Fish Market in Hillcrest could learn how to fry from them.
(3)Gene G.
I went here for the first time today based on reviews here on Yelp. This place is a run down old Wendy's hamburger establishment. Good thing Wendy's gave up this location, the people who work here know how to fry foods to perfection, the food was not oily, it was perfectly fried, there was no fishy smell in the building and everything was clean. All of the dishes that we ordered (4) were cooked well, everything on them tasted great, their sauces were fresh and tasty. Would I eat here again? Hell Yes, I will be back again tomorrow.
(5)Jessica P.
Best EVERRRRRR. So good...this is the spot to go to in all of san diego if you want fish and chips done right. The batter is so light and tasty and not at all greasy. Im in LOVE with the tarter sauce! I put that shiz on errythang! The man and women that work there are what I believe to be the owners and also a couple. Chef John fry's up the fish and the very sweet lady takes the orders. One time we ordered to go and she definitely hooked us up purposely with extra everything. Gotta love that! 5 stars for flavor and service!
(5)Michael B.
Great food! The food is great, very fresh. The place is super clean and the people are very nice. I found the place by accident and now I can't wait to go back, it's worth the drive.
(5)Adia A.
I second the opinions below that this place offers a batter that is a cross between Tempura and traditional beer battered fish- the pieces are huge and the delicious! The only 2 negatives I can think of were 1) the owners/operators either do not speak English well or chose not to- and that is annoying. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS IN ENGLISH AT LEAST 2) Second, the wait has got to be terrible on busy day- call ahead The tarter sauce is on hit- get a squeeze bottle as soon as you can when you get there. Please note this establishment observes the Christian Sabbath and they are not open on Sundays.
(4)Lauren W.
I recently moved to San Diego and was on the look out for a fish place. I am from Los Angeles and we have oodles of "You buy We fry" fish shops. Sadly the only one of those I've seen is in the hood and I was warned not to go there after dark. It was Friday and during Lenten season so I needed a fish place stat! Yelp helped me find this gem. This place is pretty tasteriffic. Crispy fish that is not greasy at all. Shrimps that are large and in charge. French fries that are properly cooked thick cut regular store bought variety. This is indeed fish and Chips. you will need the malt vinegar and lots of tarter and coctail sauce because the seasoning is pretty lack luster but its the regular fish and chips variety. I've never run into fish in chips with stellar seasoning before so it isn't bad. The wait is HORRIFIC. I will NEVER 'ever 'ever 'ever come here again and not call in my order first. By the time my food came I was seriously ready to kill somebody... However the staff is super friendly and No one was complaining because you can't complain about service with a smile. They aren't chilling behind the scenes they are working hard cooking your food. and you gotta appreciate that. The prices as others have said are slightly steep. You will not go broke but you won't say that was a good deal either. Most importantly you won't walk away still hungry. I ordered the Fish and Shrimp combo and it was 1 piece of fish but it was like a mutant fish or something cuz that sucker was LONG. All and all a decent place for decent fish. Someone earlier complained about the place being a whole in the wall. I say get over it. there arent any bugs crawling around and the tables are clean... It ain't four star dining peeps... I am glad that the one person caught on to the Christian music playing EXCLUSIVELY on the radio. I gotta say that was kinda Strange. However I believe the music was the only thing that kept me from killing a bitch as I was starving waiting for my order... :)
(4)Kristen S.
The signage gets mention before the food. (See picture). Thats not to say that the fish and chips aren't fantastic, because they are. But something about signs proclaiming "chicken fish" and "calamari fish" with awkward pictures strikes me as extraordinarily funny. Is there a lab in the kitchen? Do they breed these things and then bread them? Har-dee-har-har. Anyway, the fish and chips are delicious and I have no complaints in the tartar sauce department. The only reason I took away a star is because the hot sauce is pretty vinegar-y. I GUESS fish and chips don't really NEED hot sauce, but I sure do appreciate it. Mr. Fish and Chips in Clairemont is the only place in San Diego with better fish and chips in my opinion. The food is comparable, but oh man....the hot sauce at Mr.Fish and Chips. I could drank that ish by the buckets. Mmmmhhhhmmmm.
(4)Theresa G.
The food is pretty good but overpriced. The fish & chips were average, I did not care for the tarter sauce. The zucchini and hush puppies were both good. Another negative was the wait was pretty long. I'd recommend calling in your to go order.
(3)James V.
Love me some Fish & Chips, and after a return from Ireland and the UK my expectations are high. John's fish and chips hit the spot and I will definitely be back. The restaurant is simple and was likely some other restaurant at one time, but who cares... the staff was nice, the food is aweome, inexpensive, and we will definitely be back. You can get extras like scallops, calamari, and some other yummy goodies, but the fish and chips are why I wanted to hit the place.
(5)Jon S.
For some reason fish & chips in San Diego seems pretty few and far between. So with not much to choose from, I'd say this is absolutely one of your best options. But the piece of fish is very much on the thin side, the guy running the place seems very sullen and depressed, and the sauces are a bit common. Still this is a really good value, and certainly good eats.
(4)Karen T.
Best fish and chips I have had since London!!! Not greasy, fresh fish, and awesome batter. There was a bit of a wait, but what can you expect on a Friday night during lent. Friendly service. We drove all the way from Mira Mesa and will do so again!
(5)Greg E.
I'm impressed with this place. Everything is cooked to order, which is my preference. However, wait times can be abysmal, so I recommend placing your order over the phone so you won't have to wait as long. Three piece fish and chips for like $10 is not a bad deal. The fish was huge and the fries were plentiful. You may want to season your fish with malt vinegar to give it a better taste; they have it at the tables or you can request the packets if your order is to go. This place is located in downtown Lemon Grove, an area where most San Diegans don't care to visit. This is one of East County's hidden gems; I would recommend making the drive here if you don't live very far; the fish is great. This place isn't far from my apartment so I will return to sample more items off of their menu.
(4)Jennifer P.
excellent!! We love fish and chips and this was really good!! So worth the trip! The batter was light so I actually could finish my meal with no problem!! We will return..
(4)Jon M.
Place is nice and clean, but the wait is just brutal. Definitely call ahead! Food is pretty good, but portions could be bigger for the price. You're probably going to want to go to this place occasionally, so get something huge so you won't feel like going back for awhile!
(4)Eric B.
Yelp app for android! Found this was a close place to my girlfriends apartment and it looked really good. I love fish and chips. Ever since I was a little kid, fried seafood has been my absolute favorite dish. Being asian, my mom would always refrain from buying this type of food because it is a lot more expensive than say a cheeseburger. This place is very affordable, a big basket of fries, a slab of fish, and 3 scallops cost a little over $8. A very nice asian family runs this place and the interior reminds me of a taco shop. It is very clean and there was a decent crowd of people there for dinner. This is definitely NOT fast food so be patient. Took a good 15 minutes for all four of us to get the food so it was good to relax. Very decent portions. I'm pretty sure everything was hand battered and was very juicy. I mean, there were pictures of the Chef cooking all around the world so he definitely didn't serve us Van De Kamps. Tartar sauce was bomb too. This was up there with fish n chips that cost twice as much with the quality, perfect batter, and portions. There was a sticker on the door entrance saying "people on yelp love us" and I can definitely see why.
(5)karla R.
Its fresh and good always good. The fish and chips are the best
(5)Lou L.
Big chunks of fish with just the right amount of batter. Fried until they're golden brown and delicious! Very friendly staff and nice atmosphere. I am definitely returning!
(5)Malachi M.
I'm a big fish n chip buff so when I find a spot that grabs my attention I will be a fan forever. Here's a clue on good fish... It's all fresh and prepared while your wait. Awesome, I suggest if you're in a rush call ahead. Here's the best part of al, it's a Christian South Korean Establishment! Delish.. I had the seafood sampler. It consisted of fresh fish, shrimp, calamari, scallops, french fries, onion rings and fried zucchini. It was awesome. Everything was fresh and tender. There was a good flow of people coming and going. Its nice to be able to sit and enjoy a bite to eat with the flow of Christian music filling the air. Finally found an awesome spots for seafood. Oh, and did I mention the chef is a top gun chef? If I didn't allow me to now! The chef literally is a Top Gun chef not a short order cook like most joints.
(4)Michael R.
This was a very good restaraunt. It is rather small but we went at a non rush time for lunch. We had fish and shrimp with hush puppies for a side. Overall the food was very good and fresh. The pricing was great being under 10 dollars a plate not including a drink.
(4)Troy D.
I had been here once before with a friend and enjoyed their chowder; it was okay. Tonight my wife and I craved fish 'n' chips and I thought we'd give this joint a try. It's nearby and the reviews I'd heard from friends and read online sounded just fine. It turned out to be better than that. Lovely Wife Linda had the shrimp & fish combo and I ordered two pieces of fish. Chips are included with almost any meal. The food was excellent! I think the difference is the kitchen uses a tempura batter rather than a thick batter for their fish and shellfish. It is light and flavorful. The sauces are just okay and the fries are just okay but the fish and shrimp were exceptional. And the service is great!
(5)Ralph A.
if you love fish and chips this is your place!! the food is so amazing and it defenitly put me into a awesome food coma. Best fish and chips i have ever had. Hospitlity was also amazing!
(5)Yoshika H.
The prices here are cheap for all the food you get. Plus, the fish and chips are DELICIOUS. It just doesn't get any better than this. Service was great, employees were friendly, and the food came out quickly (you could think of this place as a fast-food joint).
(5)Diana G.
The fish and chips are the bomb. I am a fan for fish that melts in your mouth. The tartare sauce is home made and delish.
(5)N L D.
I'm a fish and chips connoisseur, and have been mostly disappointed in what San Diego has to offer in this area, but I had a craving yesterday and hit Yelp to find the "best" fish and chips in town. I came upon Chef John's and was surprised to see that it's very near my house. I drove over at about 6pm on a Friday night, and the parking lot had a quite a few cars in it, which surprised me because the outside looked a little run-down to me. I walked in, and was amused by the decor...fish posters everywhere, little model ships...it was darling. I was greeted immediately by a young man at the counter. He was obviously, genuinely a kind person and I put my order in for 2 pieces of fish (it comes with chips) and a small coleslaw to go. While I was waiting, I watched the operation...it appeared that the father was working at the fryer, the mom was helping, and the son was working the counter. It took about 15 minutes and then the mom came out to hand me my bag with a sincere thank you and a huge smile. The son also said thank you and wished me a good evening. GREAT customer service!!! I got home and cracked open a Rolling Rock (no judging!!! ;)) and pulled out my fish...damn. DAMN! It was lightly breaded, crispy, and FRESH FRESH FRESH!!! The tartar sauce was a sweeter kind, which is my favorite...and the coleslaw was exactly as it should be...still crisp, but well coated with sauce, and a little sweet...again, just the way I like it. This is honestly some of the best fried fish I've ever had, and I will be BACK!!!! And as a side note...to the people that complain about this place having ONLY fried food...um...yeah...that's what fish and chips IS...duh.
(5)Erica A.
Amazing. The freshest golden crispy batter fried fish around. It is amazing.
(5)Patrick L.
So, my wife and I live in Bay Park. Based on Yelp recommendations we drove out to Lemon Grove (for the first time mind you) to sample Chef Johns (with baby and dog in tow ... it was a family affair). We've had fish n chips in London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dublin, New York, and at least a few other places known for good battered fried fish. So we had high expectations. After our experience at Mr. Fish & Chips (i.e., late night vomiting ... yuck) we were a bit leery of trying F&C here in SD. I ordered the three piece f&c and my wife had the one piece with clams. First off, the pieces are very large. I'm so used to American style thin strips that I forgot what half a cod looks like. Each slice at the generous Chef John's is about 1/4 a cod (so like a 1/2 fillet). Ordering three is a TALL ORDER. I couldn't finish. I barely touched my fries. Which wasn't much of a sacrifice ... the fish is much better than the chips. They're kind of standard fare. I prefer what we call steak fries here in the US ... they sop up the vinegar better :) My wife thought the clams were "pretty good." And that's all she has to say about that. I would normally give a place like this 3 stars but considering the absolute dearth of F&C options in San Diego, there's a bit of inflation going on here. The service was slow ... but after watching Chef John (who's actually Korean) working the fryer and the man is METICULOUS. He's like a machine and seems absolutely unwilling to let a piece go from his kitchen without the perfect amount of batter. It's really a sight to see. I don't mind slow service in this kind of case. So, to wrap it up, if I ever get a hankering for F&C ... I'll skip Point Loma Seafood (overpriced and small portions for F&C) and drive on by Mr. Fish & Chips to head straight for Chef John's.
(4)Maribel F.
We headed to Chef John's for some fish & chips recently. First of all, I was shocked at the fact that everything on the menu is fried!!!! Well...ok, they do have clam chowder and cole slaw on the menu. They basically have all types of seafood (clams, calamari, fish, scallops, etc) battered & fried and sides (fries, hush puppies, onion rings, fried zucchini, etc). We went with the fish, calamari, scallops with hush puppies and fried zucchini. Setback #1: We are told there is a 30 minute wait for our food. We did see several people waiting and you could see an older Asian man (Chef John???) busy battering & frying fish. He appeared to be the only one in the kitchen. The wait turned out to be more like 45 minutes. Setback #2: The place appears to be an old fast food restaurant (Carl's Jr???). Drab lighting and filled with several people just waiting for their orders. I suggest take out. So we finally get our food. Here's the breakdown... *Fish- the fish itself wasn't seasoned and it was soooo GREASY! *Calamari-small strips, also unseasoned and heavily battered. *Scallops- these were surprisingly good & juicy. *Zucchini-Greasy, greasy, greasy! *Hush puppies- these were warm and nicely flavored. Setback #3: the food itself. Overall, really greasy and lacking flavor. I realized why they put bottles of malt vinegar, ketchup, tartar sauce, and cocktail sauce on the table. Setback #4: (and definitely the WORSE). I couldn't sleep afterwards since I had an upset stomach and it gave the BF gas!!! :-( Never again Chef John!
(1)Abbey M.
I heard about this place on Yelp, of course. Me and my boyfriend decided to go here on a Friday afternoon (it being Good Friday at the time) we wanted to try a new place that served fish and chips. When we got there, there was no line at all! I was pretty surprised about that, but heck I'm not complaining! I got the Fish and Chicken Strips and my boyfriend got the Fish and Oysters. We sat down in a booth near the window and in about 10-15 minutes or so our food was served to us. I enjoy how they give you all the proper sauces for your entrees ordered :) I looked at my order and said? "Hmm, only one piece of fish?!?!" it was a biig piece, don't get me wrong, but i would have preferred at least two..but that's just me :P.. The moment i took my first bite into the fish it was very fresh and the batter was delicious! It was not greasy or too thick it was just right and completely complimented the fish. Made me go, "mmmm!! damn that's good!" then after a few more bites of my fish and french fries i took a bite of my chicken strips.. let me tell you.. even though i felt horrible in the process of eating them because i completely forgot it was Good Friday and my whole reason for going here was to NOT eat meat.. I just ordered it cause i saw chicken strips and thought, "that sounds fantastic!" ..sigh, food makes me forget things.. but anyways, like i was saying the chicken strips are great as well.. same batter so its not covered too much in thick batter and you can really enjoy the flavor of the chicken and it was perfectly cooked and juicy! My boyfriend enjoyed his food as well.. I would review his Oysters but sadly he didn't share with me :( so that sucks right? hahaha.. but from the "mmm" sounds he made and from how they looked, it looked pretty tasty to me! haha.. hes a big eater like myself and a great fan of food.. we left this place knowing we would come back another time. We still left a bit hungry (but that could just be us!) but we left satisfied. (:
(4)Justin C.
What great fish and chips! Deliciously crispy and reasonably priced. I'm getting hard just thinking about going back.
(5)Brenda G.
Was skeptical about this place as its just a strip mall type shop but all that went away when we dived into our food. It was great. As others said about the breading, it was perfect. Light, not greasy and crispy. The fish and chips were plentiful and everyone was pleased with their orders. It did take a few minutes longer to get then a slapped together hamburger - but you're also getting a much better meal so chill and wait to enjoy.
(5)Tereasa N.
Great fish and chips. This is not fancy place to dine but it is clean and the owners are very friendly.
(4)Christina J.
Perfectly cooked and fried fish. This place was clean and they had very calming music playing in the background. This was such a good spot the fish was so good. My only comment would be to add some cole slaw to the menu or with the dish it would pair perfect with the other deep fried items on the menu
(5)Tina C.
I like this place, but they could use seasoning on their calamari. Staff is friendly.
(4)Lee D.
You gotta give it up to the hardworking family that owns and runs this place. There's the dad (Chef John) who coats each and every piece of seafood in batter, the mom who helps with the deep-frying and the son who takes care of the customers. Do they even get breaks? Don't think so. Hence the extra star. There was a bit of a wait to get our food (we were told 30 minutes - might've been shorter than that) since it was Friday, and it was lent, and everyone wanted fish. I had the fish and oysters - the oysters were fresh (although coated in flour and deep fried) and had a nice melt-in-your-mouth texture to them. The fish was alright, had to put a lot of malt vinegar on it and probably needed a little more salt, but it was a pretty sizeable piece with a light, crispy batter. Hush puppies stayed too long in the fryer - we ended up not eating much of it. The piped-in Christian music can get a bit mellow and sad at times. But, you know, if that's what keeps this family going, and feeding the masses with their pretty good fish 'n chips, then they're entitled to it.
(4)Jenn T.
Whoa. Deep fried foods that taste refreshing and NOT heavy? Got the fish and oysters combo. Nom. At first glance it doesn't look like much food but once you dig in, it becomes filling and results in perfect portion. Love the tartar sauce too! =)
(4)Phee Y.
Would have given this five stars but the seating in this place must have been designed for kindergarteners or Oompa-Loompas. i dont think it is possible for an adult to fit into the seats. Good parking. With that being said this is in my opinion the best fried battered fish in san diego county. It is a bit pricey, so dont expect fast food prices. But the battered fried fish is dang good. Paired with a frosty cold beer and you are set to go. Havent tried their other items. But the battered fried fish is done very well.
(4)Khanh L.
I went because of yelp reviews and was not disappointed. The food was fresh, and my favorite thing on the menu is the fried fish and clams. Basically you go in, make your order, pay and wait for your food. They bring it to your table along with all the condiments. The fried fish was excellent! Crispy and yummy, not greasy at all. The staff is very friendly and polite. Pretty much everything on the menu is less than $9 for very big portions. They also cater and do take outs.
(5)Miss S.
Love this place!! I was shocked to see a fish and chip place in Lemon Grove. We live up the hill from it so it's closer than driving to Point Loma for fish and chips. The food here is much better anyway. I like supporting local business owners and not chains. 1. Very friendly staff - so kind and gracious. 2. Great food - big portions, good quality, not greasy. We love the fish and calamari. 3. Clean. 4. Plenty of parking.
(5)Luke B.
The batter isn't really traditional fish and chips. Its a bit of a cross between tempura batter and fish and chips batter. In that its much lighter, and not as thick on the fish. You don't get that sort of double layer effect you can get with some batter, where the outside is brown and crisp, and the inside white and stodgy. Overall the batter is quite wonderful, not at all greasy, very crisp and light. It makes the meal very pleasant, and you can eat until you're stuffed without being overwhelmed with grease like a lot of other fried food. I had the fish and scallops. The fish and batter was excellent. And the scallops were great, much bigger than I expected at first. Nice large scallops, more than a mouthful each, and as big as you would normally get in a nice restaurant. I personally like my chips a bit thicker, but that's just my preference, they were as big as you'd usually find in a chip shop. I've had fish and chips in the 'best' shop in London. And I have to say this is just as good. As others have said before, the first impression is a bit dodgy as it really does look like a converted fast food joint that hasn't been renovated in 20 years. But please don't let that dissuade you from trying it.
(5)Brooks M.
The fish fillets are large; my wife bought the 9 piece dinner thinking that the fillets would be rather small like most restaurants serve and we would probably each eat four, well, we are large eaters. I did manage to eat 3 pieces but 2 would be satisfying, especially with all the fries that came with the meal. This is the best fish & chips I have had in San Diego in decades. In the Seventies we used to frequent H. Salt Esq., and a Fish & Chips shop on El Cajon Blvd on a regular basis, but never found a place that was worth a second visit since then. Chef John's is a bit expensive compared with most other take-out, but we'll definitely be going back - just not for the 9 piece meal. I found the Tartar sauce just OK, a little non-traditional and too smooth, but I can whip up a batch in a few minutes if needed, probably just stick with the Malt vinegar. Why only 4 stars? My standards are high and there are very few restaurants that I would give 5 stars, the restaurant has to have excellent food, service, and ambience and I haven't been to one in years that qualifies; take-out just doesn't fall into the 5 star category - I don't care how good it is.
(4)danny m.
Damn good pish and chips
(4)Jeremiah B.
I love this place. Really light batter. I love the music they play inside as well. Very nice people. I come here 3 times a month.
(5)Alicia C.
I love, love, love this place! The owners are the nicest people. They take pride in their restaurant. They keep it really clean both indoors and out. The food is delicious especially the fish, shrimp and chips. You should also try their mushrooms and zucchini--yum. In addition, the price is reasonable. Our family will return. You should give it a try, too.
(4)Jaeseung L.
I just stop by this store by chance to have a lunch. It was a fantastic experience. Food was good, owner was so kind and smiled all the time as well. I want to recommend to be there. :)
(5)John G.
My wife and I have been desirous of trying Chef John's following a fruitless search for an H Salt Fish and Chips in San Diego County. For both of us (though separated by at least 500 miles), H Salt was as much of a staple during the 1970s as tennis shoe roller skates and champagne coloured afro wigs. As many have stated, the exterior of Chef John's is a bit misleading, especially with a bit of laundry hanging on a line in back. From the outside, it looks like it should be shut down by the health department. Inside, however, things are bright and cheery, with a bit of a bible study room up near the counter; various pictures of Chef John (I'd imagine it was him) holding a fish or speaking with colleagues; posters of crab types; and a variety of Korean work permits. I ordered the seafood sampler and fish/shrimp/chips for the missus and the eager dogs in the back of the car. Lo and behold, old Chef John in the flesh was in the kitchen, dipping and breading fish on what could only seem like an on-demand basis. Living somewhat far from Lemon Grove, we had to pull over in a church parking lot, having been overwhelmed by the wafting wafts of scallops, shrimp and cod. To say that we enjoyed our repast would be to say that be to say that the sun enjoys shining, the waves enjoy crashing, and the moon enjoys whatever it does. The scallops were sweet and perfectly cooked, as was everything else. Chef John's is across from a mammoth Catholic church and seems the ideal place to stuff one's face during Lent and certainly worth the drive from anywhere in the county. So, don't be surprised if you see me in hot pants and roller skates hanging around the counter--there is a new H Salt in town!
(5)Sara B.
Yummmmmmmmyyyyyy!!
(4)Dragonflowerdiva H.
Such good fish and chips - fresh and made to order. You can taste the care that goes into everything. Their homemade tartar sauce is delicious!! Only wish they had fresh veggies to go with...
(5)Brad R.
This place is like if Sun and Jin hadn't died at the end of LOST and instead moved to San Diego and Jin used all his island fishing skills to fry up some really, really tasty fried fish. Seriously, try not to think of them as Sun and Jin. I dare you. My buddy and I drove the two and a half hours it took to get here from Los Angeles on a Saturday in the worst traffic I've ever encountered on the 5. It was pretty much worth it. What you need to know: the fish is tasty. It's crunchy where it's supposed to be crunchy. It didn't taste fishy at all. The 'chips' are just fries, I'm not a fry connoisseur or even much of a fan so I can't say if they were really good or not, in fact, I've pretty much forgotten what the fries tasted like. When we showed up the place was empty. Completely empty. I guess 6:30 PM on a Saturday is not a hopping night in Lemon Grove. It didn't take long to get our fish, and we got to watch Jin fry it up while Sun sprayed ants outside. There's pictures on the wall of Jin in younger days on a boat holding up fish like a proud papa, and to me, that really made this place that much more awesome.
(4)Dana W.
I have a husband who LOVES fish and chips. Me, I love fried clams. Recently I discovered that what we get for fried clams here in San Diego are actually fried clam strips -- and at Chef John's, that's definitely what we get. But honestly their fish and chips and fried clams are tasty. It's a funny little shop -- the owners play Christian music all the time, it's an old fast-food restaurant, the menu is pretty limited, and it's not the most convenient place to go. But again, the food is tasty. Partially I like coming here because they use vegetable oil and so, for fried food, it feels a little bit healthier than you might get elsewhere. Partially I like coming here because I haven't found fish and chips in San Diego that taste better. Weird for a city on the ocean, but true -- it's a sad fact that there just isn't a whole lotta good fried fish here. And at Chef John's, its not too expensive, either. That said, from your dining room view you can see them dumping the frozen fish and clams into the fryer. They make your meal to order, but it's not fresh. I give it a solid 3 -- very consistent, and clean and tasty.
(3)Ashley K.
Ok so I just got home from here and I'm pretty confused about how I feel. My rating is for the fish- everything else would get 2 or 3 stars. The restaurant is an old fast food joint with a shut down drive through and all. It's actually pretty gross inside. Right by where you order is a selection of about 30 religious books that I assume are to read while you eat. You walk up and order- it's a Korean man and woman running the joint. There is lumpia on the menu. Christian music playing... I was very befuddled. FIsh was yummy. For being a dumpy fast food joint, it was pricey. 6 pieces of fish and fries was $19. Takes awhile to get your order, but that's because they fry it after you order. Oh funny side note- "Chef John" is actually "Chef Jong". lol.
(4)Jay S.
Their simple shop offers fish and chips that are reasonably priced, filling, and tasty. For fish that has to be battered, fried, sprinkled with lemon juice and vinegar, then dipped in tartar sauce, this place does well. It offers food quality a notch or two above fast food, a notch or two over fast food prices, in an atmosphere a notch or two above regular fast food ambiance. It's got the clinical, clean style of a McDOnald's with personal touches like multiple dolphin pictures, small model ships and fish diagrams. Definitely not franchise so it's encouraging to see something with local flavor, even if the flavor has to be dumped onto the fish itself. Not their fault... that's usually how it goes with whitefish. Similarly, the fries (or "chips") were uninspiring. The people behind the counter were very friendly as well. Overall a good experience though, I'd definitely go back!
(3)Elizabeth V.
The fish and chips are amazing, the people here are so kind, and all of thier fish tastes so fresh. It's a small place and looks simple but its a hidden treasure. My boyfriend said it was the best fish and chips he's had since Ireland!
(5)James S.
I have driven by this place dozens of times. But, on this rainy day in december, I decided to stop and try Chef John's Fish and Chips. I guess I was craving some comfort food to counter the weather. Oh man did they deliver. At first, I was unsure about the place because the drive through was shut down and it didn't seem too inviting. However, once I walked in, I was greeted by Chef John and his wife. I have yet to meet the Burger King or Ronald McDonald, so this was a treat. I ordered the 3 piece fish and chips, which was about $10.50. I thought the price was high, but the portion matches the price. I received 3 very large perfectly fried fish fillets on top of a crispy bed of fries. Oh, and their tarter sauce is super yummy. After my first bite, I was in love with these fish. I will be back!!!
(5)Juan R.
Looks like a & pop joint from outside. The service was awesome. The fish/chips are Ok.
(3)Amy D.
We got the seafood platter (1 fish, 3 oysters, 2 scallops, 3 shrimp and fries) for about $12. It was enough for two people :). The fish piece was ginormous. My favorites were the shrimp and scallops! Everything was seasoned well but the fries were kinda boring. We went on a weeknight 30 minutes before close so it was pretty empty. Just waited about 10 minutes for our food.
(4)Louise A.
OMG. The best fish place I have ever been to. The workers are friendly, fast amazing. Four of us each had different items and we even shared some around the table. It was all the best!! You get more than you can eat and every bite is better than the last. The sauces are marvelous. It's kind of set back from the main street but don't let the size fool you. You cannot beat this place anywhere. It's a hidden gem in Lemon Grove.
(5)Shy A.
I'm a bit of a fish & chips snob. Living in Seattle where we got some of the freshest and best cod, it has been pretty darn hard to find a respectable fish & chips joint but Chef John's definitely hit the spot! I'm never in this side of town, so if it wasn't for a friend that lives in the area and yelp-I would've never found this gem. Its obvious from all the raving reviews that there are quite a few people that enjoy Chef John's! And how could you not love it? Fresh fish, battered and fried to perfection-light but not too light that it falls apart in the vinegar and tartar sauce, not greasy and a HUGE portion. I'm glad my eyes didn't get the best of me because the one piece combo and chips were MORE than enough. We also ordered a side of hush puppies which were awesome! Just like mom used to make! He ordered the combo with scallops which were legit! The drive was well worth it to find such a fantastic fish & chips spot. Thumbs up Chef John!
(4)daniel h.
Best fish and chips I've had in the continental United States...so far. I think I found a new lunch spot.
(5)Jason G.
I remember driving past this place on the way back from Charley's Famous Hamburgers and it instantly piqued my interest. I remember one time a few years ago I went searching for some good english style fish and chips because long john silvers doesn't quite cut it for me and I ended up paying $13+ dollars at Shakespeare's Pub over by downtown and I recall not being nearly as satisfied as I was here at Chef John's. The decor while very bright and tacky for the most part lets you know that you're in a seafood restaurant but its easy to ignore that fact once you delve into their food. I had the Fish and Shrimp combo which came with chips and their prices are absolutely amazing for the food you get. The fried fish and shrimp were not overly greasy and the batter was extremely light and crisp while the chips were perfectly seasoned and could have been eaten without sauce which is always the bar i set for good for good fries. Of course, I couldn't help but eat them with sauce because they give you a whole squeeze bottle full of cocktail, tartar, and ketchup and I could eat cocktail sauce with pretty much anything! The tartar sauce was really good too and usually I could do without it because in my experience it was always just too chunky and not very appetizing but this tartar sauce was creamy and complimented the fish extremely well. The service was excellent and while its not exactly "fast food" I was very pleased that they brought out my food and were very patient when I spent a few minutes looking over the menu to decide what I wanted. Reasonable prices, quality of food, and fantastic service..I will definitely be back!
(4)Steve O.
This place rocks, a little pricey but well worth it.
(5)Christina B.
This is my go to spot when I want fish and chips, I will go out of my way just to come here. I remember that this place used to be called Tugboat. (I still call it that though.) The tartar sauce is the best thing ever, I seriously used the whole bottle that they have on the table. My favorite thing to get is the scallops and chips, they give a decent amount of food for the price. It is a bit on the expensive end though, but worth every penny.
(5)Cyi K.
Surprisingly there aren't that many great seafood places in the San Diego area. This is a great place for fish and chips though. It's simple, tasty, great prices, and friendly service. I'd come here over Anthony's Fish Grotto any day!
(5)Jameela P.
Love this place! I always get the combination plate. Not too greasy and definitely hits the spot when you are craving fried seafood. Prices are reasonable, but the wait can be long unless you call ahead. We always cal our order in and then arrive 15 minutes later.
(5)Jason C.
nothing too special..
(3)Cat G.
Omnomnomnom so good. Crispy, golden, hot. The fries were normal (pretty good with the sweet and smooth tartar sauce), but the fish was amazing. If I wasn't on the verge of ripping the seams of my clothing from so much fried goodness, I would come here everyday.
(5)Mireya V.
I was CRAVING something with cocktail sauce all day so I knew I had to get some fish and chips! Once we arrived, we noticed all the cars in the driveway! It was SO busy. Being Good Friday, every Catholic in town must've been there! We stood in line and took a quick look at the menu. The people in front of us got a HUGE ASS order! It was our turn and we ordered the fish and shrimp combo and the 3 fish combo. We sat down and waited... ...and waited... ...and waited! "Number 62?" "Number 63?" "Number 64?" "Number 69?" 69?! WTF?! We're number 66! What happened to 66?! My mouth was salivating watching people pass by me with a basket full of crunchy fish and chips! The bottle of cocktail sauce was looking good at this point -- to hell with the fish! I was about to down it by itself! "Number 66?" -- FINALLY!!! We put in our order at 5:36pm and it was ready at 6:25pm! A 49 minute wait! And I knew why: people were placing orders as if they were preparing for hibernation! I attacked my fish and chips like it was going out of style! They were amazing! A wonderfully thin layer of batter coated the entire fish and shrimp! I loved every moment of it! You may think that 1 piece of fish and 4 shrimp wouldn't be filling, but trust me, they are! I didn't even finish my meal and I can eat with the best of them! Definitely worth the wait!
(4)William B.
I first tried this place when were driving by and saw a fish & chips place, which were are fond of. Then it was a Tugboat but now it's a Chef John's Fish & Chips, but really has the same feel as it did under the other name. It has the appearance of a fast food place that was taken over by a family, as in they do their best to keep it up, even as it ages. The parking lot is beat up but still serviceable, which is good, considering the drive thru that once existed is no longer in use. This actual fish & chips is as good as we've found in San Diego County so far. Price wise, it compares with any we've had elsewhere in the county. Fish isn't overly salty or oily and the fries are decent. The hush puppies are a little bland but the fried mushrooms were decent. The folks running the place seem friendly enough and have seemed like they were glad to have our business each of the times we've come, which is something I can't overstate enough as being very important to repeat customers.
(4)Nicole M.
AMAZING! Call in your order unless you don't mind waiting 25-30 minutes. The hubby and I had the fish and chips and it was delicious. They have the best tarter sauce!
(5)Dee S.
I can't believe I live in Lemon Grove and have never been to Chef Johns. Probably because I'm not a frequent fish and chips eater, but I will be now. Like other reviewers mentioned, the food is light, non-greasy and moist. It's not highly seasoned but that's part of what makes it good - you can actually taste what's inside the batter. It's not cheap in price but great quality food shouldn't be. Call ahead if you want take-out - that's a no-brainer.
(5)M A.
Not easily visible from the street so don't miss it like I did. I took the advice of a yelper and called my order ahead of time. Thank you! Glad I did because they said it would take around 20 minutes. First, the owners and their family working this place are the absolute cutest and friendliest people. And by the way, they speak English so not sure what a yelper was complaining about. And if they didn't, who cares? Just point to what you want...geez. They greeted me with a huge smile. They had a little crowd which is always a good sign. Ordered a 2 piece fish and chips for 8.99 and hush puppies. When I got home I was completely shocked at the size of their pieces! They don't skimp. The batter was perfect! Very light and more of a tempura taste. Not greasy like some places. Of course it's not grease-free, it's fish and chips. The chips were perfect. The hush puppies were perfect. Crisp on the outside and moist on the inside and not overly spiced. Overall, it was delicious and I will be back.
(5)Pancho Julio Chico R.
Went here for lunch today after reading about this place here on Yelp. Drove down from Escondido. The fish was goodd, the servings were big, the service was friendly and the place was clean. I sure do miss the fish that Aunt Emma's used to have on Friday nights!
(3)Jeff L.
I ordered the fish and oyster combo for 7.59 which to me is very reasonable. It came with fries that were frozen one large piece of fish that tasted like cod or pollack and 4 oysters. The fish was prepared very well and not greasy at all. The oysters were really good and fresh. I got 4 of them, I think you are supposed to get 3 but since I am asian I get the extra one! The fries are the predictable frozen variety. Restaurants love them because they are so simple to cook and save time but they truly do suck! I want fresh double cooked fries!!!! Overall this a very good fish and chips place. I will be back.
(4)Brian B.
This place is on the top of the list for best fish! Tarter is also great! Only thing they need to improve on is better fries
(4)David L.
Without a doubt, the BEST Fish and Chips in San Diego, period! Nothing in this town remotely comes close, not even Point Loma Seafoods. Clean place, fresh food, cook it when you order it, very reasonable prices, and huge portions. Nothing more needs to be said.
(5)Rubio S.
I grew up loving Arthur Treachers, which doesn't exist out here in California. I was craving fried fish and found Chef John's on Yelp. SO glad we did!! The portion sizes were huge, my husband and I split a two piece fish meal, the fish was practically the size of my forearm times two. The service was great too! Fresh fried Fish, yummy!
(5)Alex T.
I was expecting a lot more when I went in after reading all of the great reviews. The menu is pretty simple with all of your basic fish and seafood covered, but I was expecting to see more chicken options than just strips. The religious touches are minute as the music is barely audible and the books are kept by the ordering counter. I got the fish and mussels combo. Both were good; the fish was battered fresh as I saw them doing it as my order was taken, fried to perfection but it just didn't deliver much flavor. The sauces were weak as well. It came with ketchup, cocktail and tartar sauce. The tartar and cocktail sauce lacked a bold flavor that I like and the malt vinegar on the table tasted like they just added some water and distilled vinegar to fill it up. Overall, it wasn't bad, nor was it amazing. Just "A-ok".
(3)Tough C.
Just went after reading all the reviews. For those of you that said it was all frozen stuff heated up on site, it is not frozen. Frozen fish does not taste that good. If there is a way to buy frozen fish that tastes like that I would appreciate anyone who could post a link. For those that said it is not a good date location: it might be if you are on a date with someone who likes good seafood and can see past some of the quirks about Chef John's. You'd probably want to date someone like that anyway. About the decor: Yes, it is a little silly and kind of makes you feel like you are in some sort of cartoon fish shack but I think it gives it a bit of character. The only improvement I would suggest making would be to provide a lemon wedge for each piece of fish sold. Especially in Lemon Grove!
(5)Michael R.
Ordered two entres: fish/shrimp and combo (oysters, scallops, fish, and shrimp). Verdict: fish and seafood tasted fresh and crispy and fries were crispy and good. Overall: Clean premises, made to order tasty food, and good service. We shall return!
(4)Jeanie B.
Best Fish and Chips in San Diego! Every time I come here the fish is amazing. Not greasy, very well priced and fresh!! I am not a big fish lover, but their fish here is always fresh. You do have to wait for your order, but come on! It's not fast food!!
(5)Joey Y.
Simple simple but fantastic fish and chips! Been looking for a place that's nothing fancy, nothing panko'd or off the chart. This place is it if all you want is basic fish & chips that are NOT greasy and very very tasty!! The place itself is simple but clean and definitely NOT fast food but pretty good food reasonably fast. This will now be our 'go to' for fish and chips.
(4)Jen M.
My family and I have been here 2 times. I forgot how big the fish stick are! I don't remember how many we bought, but our family of 5 ate and still have 5 fish sticks left.. Our wait wasn't too long this visit, previously it seemed like we were waiting forever. The food is pretty tasty.. so I'm curious.. why is the place always empty??
(4)Truda P.
After reading the reviews on Yelp and telling a couple friends about this place we decided to give it a shot. We were greeted as we entered. Nice. The place is deniftaly something from the 70s when it comes to decor but who cares. It is clean - that is what counts. I ordered the 2 piece with a side of hush puppies. My companions ordered the sampler which has a piece of fish, shrimp, scallops and oysters. The batter is a beautiful golden brown and light. Not that heavy beer batter stuff you get at other place. The pieces of fish were large not thick but definatly bigger than I have gotten at other places. The hush puppies were little dense balls of yumminess. The scallops were perfect! Yes, perfect. The shrimp and oyster were ok but not amazing but they definatly did not suck either. They have pepsi brands on tap and freshly brewed ice tea. Our order did not miraciouly appear as soon as it was placed but took the right amount of time for food cooked to order. They have fish, shrimp, claims, scallops, oysters and chicken strips. For sides you could get coleslaw, lumpia, hush puppies, onion rings, bread, and more. This is my new go to place when I want a good meal!
(5)Kevin S.
Great fish and chips!!
(5)Danielle F.
The calamari was on-point! Fresh fish and wonderful service.
(5)Rachael K.
Great Fish and Shrimp. The fried mushrooms we had on the side was wonderful :) We will definitely be back!!
(4)Devin R.
A really nice, light batter and good sized portions. Make sure you go in knowing that basically everything on the menu is deep fried.
(5)Jeff W.
I get the whole "root for the underdog" thing but 5 star reviews? Really? Let's be realistic here. Decor- There is nothing appealing about the decor and atmosphere. The building is apparently an old Arby's location. It is old and has a dull/dim fast food feel. 5 Star Service? - You order at a counter and wait for your number to be called. Granted they are nice but I don't think there is much service going on here, unless you ask for an extra pack of ketchup. Food- With the 5 star ratings, I was certain that they must make their food fresh from scratch. No such luck. It is frozen breaded seafood (fish, shrimp, calamari, fries) ALL from bags out of the freezer. Granted it tasted better than expected, but i can get frozen fish at the grocery store. I'm being generous with rating this a 3. It is more like a 2+. It is good if you are in the area and pop in for lunch. Definitely NOT a destination or date place.
(3)Karyn M.
having recently relocated to lemon grove/spring valley, I now have a new list of places to visit. Chef Johns is pretty damn good. If you don't call in your order, be prepared to wait. Your food is cooked AFTER you order it. Most item are deep fried, which normally deters me but after having the fish, shrimp, scallops, and even oysters, I better find a new gym or two. The portions are decent and prices are competitve.
(5)Sheila D.
This is the best fish and chips I have had in San Diego. The fish was fresh, flakey, batter just the right crispiness and of a very sufficient size...delicious. The fried zucchini was also yummy. We ordered to go and everything was packaged perfectly for the hour trek home. Nothing was at all greasy, even when I reheated it in the oven. Friendly service, very clean, convenient location(right off the 94) and a parking lot. I will be going back when I am in San Diego!
(5)Chardá F.
Wanted some fish & chips today for day 2 of our staycation... baby, hubby and I went to Chef John's for the first time, after passing it by many times. Don't be put off by the stack of bibles next to the cash register, wall of local business cards, funky yellow 70's decor, or the little santa statue with red nail polish on lol...the food was good regardless, just goes to show the place doesn't make the food the food makes the place. SERIOUSLY the best fish, shrimp & chips basket EVER!!! So unique, so delish, so fresh...beer battered meets tempura something like that which I'm fond of both so it was like a dream for me. If you don't like this place then you don't know what good food actually taste like and maybe you need some tastebud implants or some shit because it IS freakin amazing. The prawns/shrimp were soooo good and the fish was battered and cooked to perfection. That special little tartar sauce was like no tartar I've ever had but I loved every bit of it! The hubby and I were in a food coma (again) from the large portions...it's a lot of food even my husband (6'5" & 225lbs.) even HE said the 3 piece fish was a lot for him! So yeah, if you want a LOT of fish, shrimp, clams, whatever your seafood preference and some fries then make the trip it will definitely be worth every minute! BTW - The lady at the front was super nice and smiley but not fake, love it!
(5)Eric N.
After eating here...its only place for me for Fish/Chips...
(5)Aaron L.
I was used to spending upwards of 15 dollars at The Cheese Cake factory for fish n' chips. While they are delicious, my girlfriend told me about a spot in Lemon Grove of all places that she heard people swear by for their fish n' chips. Well I'll make this story short and sweet, these are hands down the best fish and chips I have ever had. I usually call my orders in because the place screams hole in the wall and I always question whether they understand me on the phone (English). The same people are always working and they have the best smiles and give you that feeling they truly appreciate your business. I always order the two piece meal but leave with more like a three piece meal (they are always generous). The only negative thing I can think of is that they are closed on Sundays. Only banks, post offices, and salons are supposed to be closed on Sundays. Highly recommended!
(4)Patrick E.
I found Chef John's through yelp and felt I had to check it out. It's a little place on Broadway in Lemon Grove, or "the mile of meals" as a friend of mine calls it. I haven't been to many other fish and chips spots just because in San Diego they're really few and far between. So I don't really have much to compare to. But, the fish here is really good. The batter is fluffy but crunchy and goes great with tartar sauce or some of the malt vinegar. I also had some fried clams, which were just alright. The staff are all really friendly and they even deliver your food to your table. A nice touch! There are all kinds of pictures and posters of fish on the walls. On the front counter they even have books about fish and a Big Mouth Billy Bass. The next time I'm feeling some fried seafood goodness, Chef John's will be high on the list.
(3)Bubba N.
master of this genre of cuisine. i will visit at least twice per month & cannot wait to explore the menu. had 8 jumbo shrimp & fries, fried mushrooms & clam chowder. fried items cooked perfectly. seafood meats are of above-average quality. it's a charming restaurant & dining in is a nice experience & they bring big bottles of tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, ranch & catsup to yer table. tried half of bud's fish filet & it was perfect except for being what i consider a small portion. tried only 1 fried clam & it was excellent & i need to get my own next time. clam chowder unique , delicious & definately worth a repeat. fries good. the brands of malt vinegar, tartar & cocktail sauce are carefully chosen, compliment the food & are delicious. for dining companions who dislike seafood, there's lumpia, corndogs, sides & chicken. nice prices. i didn't feel shot-out after eating so much fried food. i've been trying to cut back on fried foods, but FTS
(5)rebecca s.
This place was great! We didn't even know it existed until driving down the street. I liked that the place was packed - good sign. We went in, ordered and sat down. It didn't take that long to get the food. When it arrived, my jaw dropped. I ordered the "One Fish" plate and the piece of fish actually was bigger then the plate. It was crispy, not oily and not mushy! The fish tasted fresh and just the perfect texture. My boyfriend had the combo fish and chicken strips. Stick with the fish, the chicken strips were not very good. The french fries were excellent and the brewed iced tea is fresh.
(5)Jack B.
Of the few fish and chips places in San Diego, this is easily my go to place when I'm in the mood. Freshly made, light batter, well seasoned, the fish is great. It's so good that I haven't had a chance to order anything else the six or seven times I've been there. You can tell they have pride in their product. The friendly service is much appreciated too..
(4)Jan F.
I just visited again not too long ago. We need a place like this in North Park, University Heights, or Normal Heights area!!!
(5)Debbie V.
I loved it when it was Tugboats, and I think another name, but now it is Chef Johns. I got a combo plate: huge cod piece, 3 amazingly sweet shrimp, 2 beyond belief I want more oysters and delicious melt in your mouth scallops. All batter dipped and fresh and lovely. I want some NOW!! Oh, and I love the tartar sauce too! I only wish they would open one in Rancho Penasquitos!
(5)J. Michael L.
The location may be a little run down, but the food is great and the owners are very friendly. If you are looking for great fish and chips this is the place to come too.
(4)Grilka W.
It could have been 4 stars if they had a drive up window instead of a drive up aisle that goes no where and if they extended their hours.
(3)Celine L.
I heard about this place from a co-worker and decided to try it out. This is the BEST fish and chips in san diego. Chef John was trained in London and you certainly can tell. They serve fresh wonderful fish in large portions. If you love fish and chips, you have to come here at least once. They get kinda busy at lunch, but it's definitely worth it.
(5)Sharon R.
Just tried this little fish joint for the first time tonight because of yelp reviews/ My husband loves fish and chips and we are really excited to find this little jem so close to home. The friendly staff and great food will have us coming back very soon! We had huge portions and it was light and crispy . Very clean little place... dont let the parking lot fool you.
(5)Tony T.
Based on customer satisfaction, the owners recommended that I try the fish and shrimp! Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed. GOOD STUFF!!! WILL COME AGAIN!
(5)Ed B.
Great London style fish and chips. Try the mushrooms, clams and scallops...definitely a great place (and VERY reasonable). Friendly and fast service too.
(4)Marie T.
Okay, don't get me wrong this place is no 5 start restaurant. But their food is BOMB!! This is your classic hole in the wall fish and chips joint... Don't go in there expecting some fancy shmancy white tablecloth dining. They aren't going to serve you, they aren't going to wait on you hand and foot. That crap is not what's going down in there. Fish and chips is what's going down in there - down into my belly. Deep fryers is what they got going on in here. Deep fryers that make deep fried fish creations that i consume faster than a crack-whore on speed o_O ! The only time i eat fish and chips is if I'm craving it, which is rare all in itself. But when i do, i come here. I love that they serve lumpia too. This place is close to my house and when my Filipino-ness is showing and i need a lumpia fix, i come here. These guys know how to fry up some food! Fish and chips with some fried veggies... And then they shower you with 4 or 5 different sauces... mmmm nom nom nom. I only wish that they stay open later than 8pm so i can get my late night fat girl cravings out of the way. o_O
(5)Bob P.
I remember back in the day when this place first sprang up in an old Arby's location I thought to myself..I gotta try that place. Approximately 4 years later, I make good. I walk in and am greeted by a friendly dude who asks what I'll be havin'. I'm looking around and see pics of him on the wall wearing a big ass chef hat. I immediately think to myself " A, ha,...this must be Chef John!. I was born AT night, not LAST night, you can't get anything past me! The pictures are a sure give away that this dude knows his way around the kitchen. I order the 2 piece fish and chips (6.99) and a drink. They don't have table service but they bring my food out to me, nice. As if the dude can read my mind like Matt Parkman on Heroes, he brings me napkins too as soon as I thought about them. The fish was amazing. Nice big pieces of cod, hiding behind a flaky golden brown batter that is not overwhelming and never got soggy. The only thing I would recommend is serving cocktail sauce as well as tartar, as that is the way I like it. I'm sure I dont need to tell Chef John, he probably read my mind with his super powers and will have it on deck next time I roll in there. Thanks in advance Chef!
(4)C R.
I was driving around and figured I'd give this weird little place a shot. The outside looks like a mom and pops family restaurant. The inside looks like a Wendy's that hasn't been updated in 10 years. The decor looks like the ocean threw up in it and there is a flat screen on the wall at the same time. (???) However, the service was WONDERFUL! (That is huge for me.) The food was great! I mean, it's all fried, so it's hard to mess THAT up... but it was really good. It is all made fresh when you order it. Their tartar sauce is da bomb! When you feel like being naughty with your calorie intake, go to this place for sure!
(5)ROBIN L.
Chef John's serves up the nearest thing to the real stuff . As a Brit in San Diego I was happy to find this place . Yes the decor shouts fast foo but there is nothing fast about it . The service is slow but the food makes it well worth the wait . Portions of fish are great , not the tiny pieces you get at most places . Battered mushrooms are very good too . I wish he would get like a real chippie and do some battered sausages . I tried to explain the concept but somehow they just didn't understand . The owners are nice , friendly and you can see they enjoy serving great food .Certainly the best in San Diego .
(5)Robert M.
I used to know this place as Tugboat Fish & Chips. However, it is still one of the best F&C in town as they do make it fresh. My family and I go here only occasionally since we moved a significant distance away. However, when we go to the church across the street we sometimes get the urge to have some F&C...like last night after Ash Wednesday service. We went in saw the light crowd and ordered. The lady taking our order was very nice and was never without a smile. I ordered the three piece meal, my son the fish and oysters mix, my wife the catfish, and my little boy the three-piece kids meal. As always, the food was great! I almost (I said almost!) did not finish my meal because of the size of the pieces! They must have been about 6 inches by 3 inches! My son enjoyed his oysters a lot and my wife was besides herself enjoying the catfish and its light cornbread coating. And we were pleasantly surprised that my little boy's meal was three fresh pieces of fish instead of fish sticks. The french fries weren't bad, if just a tad greasy. I did enjoy the freshly made coleslaw! The tartar sauce, hot sauce, and malted vinegar were excellent finishing touches. The two issues I have with the restaurant are (1) very difficult parking and (2) the service can be very slow (it took 40 minutes to get our order so if you are without patience, you have been warned!). HOWEVER, as the prices are pretty good, the quality of the food is OUTSTANDING, and the Korean couple managing the business is very friendly, it is well worth the wait. P.S. I used to live in the UK and I noticed that over there, they did use lard to fry the fish and chips (ever wondered why they tasted so good in the UK?). For the benefit of my aorta, I'm glad they don't follow that here...at least I don't think so!
(5)Ashley E.
I am so super grateful to the rental guy at Avis that recommended this place to us. This is by far the best fish and chips I've ever had...and I've had fish and chips in England several times. A cute little Asian couple owns this restaurant. Very friendly. Food is a bit slow coming out because it's all cooked fresh to order but it is definitely worth the wait. The fish is just cooked and fried to perfection! I need this place to be in Albuquerque!
(5)Raymond F.
Food is good but they lost two two stars for the disrespectful "extra". The meal was 11.49 for a 3 piece and fries, the extra fish was 4.49 for one.extra piece. I'm just a sailor but that math is messed up. Other than that the food is good all around which is why I specifically sought this place out again. I just won't get extras next time.
(2)Brian F.
First time here. I remember when this place was Arbys! They have a decent selection of fish and shrimp. I ordered the fish and calamari. Took a while to get, probably why there isnt a drive through. I got it to go. Pleasantly surprised, the fish batter was great and the i got a big piece of fish and some little pieces of fried calamari, it came with fries, tarter sauce and cocktail sauce. Everything was really good, fried just right! It was more than enough for two meals! But definitely better fresh, reheated is gets a little soggy. Definitly going back to try more of their menue!
(4)Randy B.
Chef J's is still consistently putting out great fried fish, shrimp clams zucchini's & now (I don't know how I've never ordered it) I discover they make some awfully good onion rings. These remind me of a light battered Maui style onion ring. The onion itself is flavorful (they have to be using a sweet style onion) and, of course, the batter is perfectly crisp & light. Still come here regularly and actually have not had anything disappointing.
(4)Ali B.
While searching for dinner options we found this location on Yelp and wanted to give it a try. They had received good reviews and were convenience to get to. The location was smaller than what I imagined it would be but it was clean and had plenty of dining space overall. I ordered the Fish and Calamari (1 piece of fish, 10 Calamari Strips and fries) with a side of Shrimp; of course my husband ordered the same. My daughter and her husband both ordered the Seafood Sampler (1 fish, 3 Jumbo Shrimp, Clam Strips and 2 Scallops) with a side of hush puppies. We were all in agreement that the meals were delicious. Everything was light and crunchy with just the right amount of seasoning. To elevate the flavors even more tartar sauce, vinegar, ketchup, and a spicy sauce were available. The menu has Lunch and Dinner Selections, Seafood Combinations, Family Orders, Sides and Drinks (Soda's and Tea's). Because they prepare you meal when you place an order it can take a while (based on the size of your party and your order) to be prepared. So take a seat, sit back and relax it will be worth it.
(5)Angela T.
Underrated and a must try! This mom and pop shop on Broadway is so low key, I hope my review will influence more people to come here because they're missing out! The food is fresh but be warned of the long wait time because chef John cooks it when you order it. One meal is more than enough for 2 people, and finishing the chips aka French Fries was harder than my stomach thought because the generous amount we had. Fish & Chicken Strips: i like how they fry their fish because it's really crispy but just enough batter to also taste the fish texture. I think they use tilapia, not too sure. Chicken strips were decent, but I enjoyed the fish and other seafood items more. You have to eat it with tartar sauce, it balances the fish very well. Overall, this little shop is great for fish and chips and Chef John and his wife are really nice and friendly. I hope they'll gain more recognition because the service and food are spectacular.
(4)Amanda E.
Their fish and chips are amazing! Small place, and it takes awhile for food to come out when it's busy, but it's not unbearable. Everything is made to order. We will definitely be coming back! :)
(5)Brandon J.
Hands down this place had the best fish and zucchini I've probably ever had. We are just visiting down here and happened to get lucky to come across this restaurant.
(5)Jon C.
This is my go to place for Fish and Chips in San Diego. Always fresh and the batter is fried perfectly every time I've been here.
(5)Michael B.
So there I was, still in search of a great fish & chip. Like when I was a child, the kind grandma would take you to. At first I thought I found it. The portion in the photo looked right. The theme was familiar. But then they brought out the fish. While it is as long as the old days, it was thinner by 2/3rd's. It tasted ok, but needed some salt. The fries were just eh. The price is too high for what you get. The people were friendly & service was made to order it seemed.
(3)James K.
There are some foods that whenever I find a new restaurant, I just have to try it and Fish & Chips is just one of those! I have been seeing a number of my Yelp friends making the journey to Chef John's and I just happened to be in the neighborhood at lunch time, so... It's a small, unassuming restaurant with plenty of parking. I walked in and there wasn't much of a crowd but it was late lunch. There are several booths for seating and the restaurant itself is quite clean. The menu is on display above the counter and right at the counter. And they are definitely serious about the Fish & Chips as that's just about all they do here. They aren't trying to sell hot dogs, or breakfast burritos. It's a very traditional menu with Fish, Chicken, Shrimp, Clams, Scallops and Oysters. And they have just about every combination you can think of to order if you want to sample a few. I went there specifically in mind to have Fish & Chips but couldn't get my mind off the picture they have of the shrimp, so I ordered the Fish & Shrimp combo which comes with one large piece of fish and four jumbo shrimp (yes, I know, oxymoron), And it's all served over a bed of chips. I ordered my usual iced tea and I do believe it's fresh brewed. I took a seat at one of the booths and not too long after ordering, one of the servers brought it to my table. It was interesting because along with the meal, they bring over a dispenser of ketchup, cocktail sauce and tartar sauce. When I got to my table there was only salt, pepper and vinegar. I was wondering about the other condiments and was pleased when they brought it out with the food. So much easier than trying to deal with little cups or putting it in paper serving cups. The food came in a basket with a piece of paper titled London Times, very nostalgic of the traditional serving of Fish & Chips in London when they would serve it all up in the days newspaper. Nice touch! This was a very generous portion of fish, shrimp and chips. And it all looked so fresh and delicious. After biting into the fish, I was having a hard time putting anything on it because it was so fresh. But I did use a little tartar and sometimes the vinegar. The shrimp were also amazing and a little bit of cocktail sauce on top was perfect! The chips (fries) were crisp and not greasy or soggy. Adding vinegar to them was just perfect! I also ordered a small side of cole slaw which I have to say was just average. Not bad, but just kinda plain. Overall great food and great experience. No doubt one of the best places in San Diego for Fish & Chips and well worth the trip if you don't get down to this area. Come down because you won't be disappointed either by the food or the prices. To the owners, you are using styrofoam and I surely hope you will get rid of it. You can't recycle styrofoam here in San Diego and there are so many recyclable options and people right in San Diego that manufacture them. Soon it's likely to end up on the ballot and San Diegans are going to ban the use of styrofoam so why not change now. The cost is comparable to the styrofoam and at worst, it might cost you an extra 7 cents which you can pass along in the price of the food.
(4)Tinique E.
Long John Silver...on crack! Spent $30 bucks, Had to wait 30 minutes For dismal seafood? Never again!
(1)Thuong T.
Cheap prices, large portions, freshly made. I found this place on Yelp and decided to give it a try. I wasn't sure what to expect upon arrival. This restaurant is owned by a Korean family and has surprisingly been around since 2012. They had a poster board of their history next to the register with some pictures of the owners which was kinda cool. They have a pretty good variety on their menu with many different combinations of food so you can easily get what you want. Most of their combos range from $10-$15 which is not bad at all !! My sister and I purchased a 3 piece fish and chips combo because I wasn't sure how big the fried fish was going to be, and now I know that they are huge!!! 3 piece fish was more than enough, I could only eat one and a half of it. It also came with french fries, they were average, a little bit extra crispy but overall, everything was pretty flavorless. Definitely needs to be dipped in a lot of tarter sauce and ketchup!! But I can say that the fish batter was extremely hot and crispy!! Very fresh. But I feel like I need to bring some of my own seasoning next time to throw on top or bring it home and season it myself. They offer other things such as clam chowder, fried oysters, fried shrimp, fried clams, fried mushrooms, fried zucchinis, hush puppies, basically everything you would expect from a fried seafood southern style cooking which is awesome! Only other complaint is that they could definitely use a store remodeling and upgrade of the chairs and tables. The chairs and tables were so oldschool. The kinds that feel like hard cold plastic covered cement with rotating chairs. The kind you find at like an oldschool mcdonalds or taco bell or mexican restaurant. All the tables and chairs were super sticky and disgusting. And not to mention, they are ugly bright neon yellow colors that hurt your eyes. I am definitely taking my food to go next time!!! P.S. They have individual combos (All under $15) and family combos (All under $50) as well!
(4)Jonathan E.
Sorry, but the fish and chips here are pretty dismal. I'm fine with it being a bit of a dive. But only if the food rocks. It doesn't. I'm sorry to be contrary to the flow of Yelp reviews, but I'm also tainted by living overseas in the land of fish & chips, so my review is perhaps reflective of a unique global experience. Let's start with the chips. Oft overlooked, they make up half the meal. Here, they are a small portion and it's clear they are pre-cut, smaller in size, from a frozen box or bag. There's no fresh potato taste you might get with hand cut chips, and so they only serve as mechanisms for scooping sauces. Likewise the standard fish piece is just that... it looks stamped in a factory, and tastes the same as well. Batter was OK, but almost too solid. Meanwhile the fish lacked everything you want from fried fish... some moisture, flakiness, steam/oil, plum flesh. This place serves what can be only described as an oversized, recently frozen fish stick with a side of pre-made restaurant supply fries. I can fully appreciate how difficult it must be to source fresh fish and maintain a good supply of ingredients in any city. That said, this isn't a place to really experience such a basic meal. In fact if I had eaten this meal in a bowling alley, I wouldn't have thought twice.
(2)Aaron H.
Love me some fried seafood and places like this. So hyped on making the trek out here for some good fried seafood after reading the reviews. Step in to a dated place making me feel like it's an old converted Arby's. Seeing a Korean family slinging fried seafood behind the counter got me excited. Brought my hard in the paint game plan going for the mac diesel seafood sampler. Then I got a really bad vibe when they told me only take out when there was a solid half hour before they close. No big deal. I'll speed home and jump in face first. Disappointed opening it up. Average sized paper basket with half seafood and half fries. No lemon and a thimble of tartar and cocktail sauce with a couple packets of ketchup. Should of opened it while I was there and swapped some tartar for more cocktail. The best was the scallops. Two huge juicy sweet scallops. They actually squirt when you bite in to them. I know it sounds gross, but very flavorful and much better than antcipated. Skrimps were the runner up. More sweet seafood with the good texture and crunch. Then my all time favorite fried seafood, clams. Clams are a hit and miss with most places and this was a big miss. Tiny, with some just being batter. No flavor and sad quality of clams. Then it's the huge piece of fish. At first it tasted too gamey and made me question about eating more. I caved and it got a little better, but far from expectations on a place that specializes in this. Fries were average. All in all, the seafood sampler feels like a little of a jip compared to the 3 main plate. The combos and specials are the way to go here. I'd say this place is over rated and needs to dial in the customer service more.
(3)Kerri M.
Deliciously fresh fish is battered and fried while you wait! Yes, there can be quite a wait time but it is definitely worth the wait. The fish is so, so very fresh and the batter is very light; the batter is similar to a tempura batter. This restaurant looks like a dumpy yellow house from the outside; don't let its looks fool you. Almost across the street from St John of the Cross church, this fish fry is delectable. At first, I did not care for the "French fries," until I realized they are not French fries; they are strips of potato dipped into the batter and fried with the batter on them. This great restaurant also fries other foods in their light tempura batter: Asparagus, clams, oysters, crab, mushrooms, and other vegetables. If you have time to wait, you'll be glad you gave it a try!
(5)Justin J.
Called in an order for the Seafood Platter. Included : One piece of cod, 3 butterfly shrimp, 3 scallops, clam strips, and chips -$13.59 All were fried to a perfect golden hue, and it's been a long while since I was utterly delighted by such a simple food as I was with their scallops. The cocktail sauce and tarter sauce were both good, but for a dipper like myself I would have liked a bit larger container of each. For the price and portion of the sampler, I think that should easily be accommodated. A good quick takeout supper from an area I rarely frequent. Thanks to the previous Yelpers for the knowledge.
(4)Maria F.
This hidden spot in Lemon Grove serves up awesome fish n chips. The food is made to order and is worth the wait. The menu is simple and no frills. Try the hush puppies- they serve with honey and they're delicious!
(5)Rianne D.
Sometimes, simple is best. This is a no frills fish and chips joint for the uncomplicated. Everything, but the coleslaw, clam chowder and soda, is fried. Grilled and gluten free have no meaning here. Looking for healthy? This place is not for you. It's not your traditional English-style fish and chips shop. Nonetheless, the food is good. I typically get an order of fish and chips, along with my fav - the hush puppies. Crispy, crunchy and cooked to order, I have no complaints here. Unlike similar restaurants, you get unlimited tartar sauce. I'm not nickled and dimed, when I ask for more tartar sauce. They give you an entire bottle, along with malt vinegar, ketchup and cocktail sauce, for your use. The place may look a little run down and a bit outdated, but the interior is clean and roomy. The owners themselves are kind and friendly. For a local mom & pop shop, the prices for the food are reasonably fair. Most days, the clientele are primarily older folk. The demographic changes when it's Lent, especially on Fridays. During this time, I avoid it at all cost, since I have an aversion for crowds. Can't wait for Lent to be over, when I can drown my fish and hush puppies in tartar sauce. That sauce is like crack, I tell ya! Crack!
(4)Lloyd B.
Drove here from Kensington because of the previous yelp reviews! Nice little place, bright, colorful and clean. Can't really be compared with other fast food fish places. Where else can you get perfectly deep fried zucchini, mushrooms, asparagus, hush puppies, onion rings, lumpia, chicken legs & wings, cheese sticks and french fries with the most delicious perfectly fried fish, shrimp, scallops, oysters, clams, calamari, catfish and corn dogs? Quantity - overboard, quality - above board, flavor - tons of, value - highest, staff - friendliest! This is a very unusual combination for any restaurant! I can guarantee a bang for your buck, a smile on your face and a happy belly after a visit with chef John :)
(5)Kristian T.
When my friend said let's try some fish and chips and I said sure I wasn't expecting much but when we arrived around noon and the parking lot was full I know I was I for something good. Once you open the door you are hit with the smell of fried fish and welcomed by the cashier or chef. The seating area is small but not crammed. The menu is simple and very well organized. I went with the 3 seafood selection of Fish, Jumbo Shrimp and Calamari. After about 20 minutes our food was ready, which I hear is the average wait time since everything is prepared and cooked to order for the extra freshness. My first bite was one of the Jumbo Shrimp and I must say that the batter is perfect with it being light, crunchy and seasoned just right. The fish was perfectly cooked and flaky with each bite. The calamari was the same but it seemed like it needed separate seasoning to help it out. The chips had great flavor with the only drawback being that they were semi cold as if they were sitting out before being served. Overall this place is amazing and can't wait to take my pops who loves to eat fish and chips.
(4)Conrad R.
This was originally an Arby's waaaay back in the day. Now it's a chip shop in one your favorite foodie destinations, Lemon Grove. One wouldn't think to find a decent basket of England inspired snacks in this often overlooked southeast corner of SD county, but locals can get good eats coming from this fryer. Scattered observations: Bright and cozy interior. Nautical theme. AC is keeping the room cool on a hot day. The drive thru is not available because food is prepared to order and it doesn't work to have a stack of cars waiting in the lane. Just call ahead to save on wait time before going in. Cards accepted. No need to swing by an ATM. Save that trip for a different Cash Only place. There's a soda pop fountain, and other than the label to not use water cups to steal a pop, there's no extra charge for refills. My visit was a late afternoon weekday lunch and the place was quiet as I walked in. I had a fish & shrimp combo (which includes chips). The chips weren't really as great as I expected, but the big battered fish filet plus an extra half piece of fish and the well prepared shrimp more or less compensated for my meh fries. I just have a preference for the crispier version. If that's supposed to be London style chips, then that explains it. It's a bummer that Chef John's Fish & Chips's location discourages some folks from making the drive, but if you get a craving and happen to be near this stretch of highway 94/125, then show some love for this little mom and pop shop. I'll be back sometime to get a seafood combo and sample more snacks. Cheers!
(3)Spa F.
I don't see what the hype is for this place. Waited a tremendously long time for calamari and french fries. Calamari was rubbery and no taste to it. Fries were bland, cold, and blah. Service is slow because it is made to order. Made to order is a custom touch; I do like that, but hire an additional worker at peak hours! I would not return, however I noticed most others eating the fried fish so maybe that taste a heck of a lot better than the calamari.
(2)C.A. R.
May be the best fish and chips in the greater SD area. Had the fish & shrimp combo and it's perfection. They use tempura batter and it is light & crispy, especially on the shrimp. I don't recommend the clamp strips as they're probably factory breaded. They were just ok. I'll take another serving of shrimp please. The tartar sauce tastes homemade. I like the low key and quiet of the place too, notwithstanding the former Pioneer or other chain restaurant bright yellow seating.
(5)Javier A.
The best fish and chips Ive had in San Diego so far. You won't regret stoping by, they do have drive through. Glad I found this place.
(5)Israel H.
One more review is not going to make or break this place any more, but here goes nothing. Are you craving some fish and chips? Come and be amazed. I always get the fish and shrimp and it never disappoints. What else can I say, great eat if your near or willing to visit good old Lemon Grove.
(5)Jenny V.
Who would have thought to find some pretty tasty fish and chips in Lemon Grove. Once your order is taken they make your order fresh. Your food isn't sitting under a heat lamp for hours before it hits your plate. the wait was about 10-15 minutes. Your number is called and along with your food they give you bottles of tartar , ketchup, and or cocktail sauce. You can also get ranch if you ask for it. The fried goods come on a newspaper printed paper that I presume is made for fried foods, cute touch in the presentation of the food, considering it is a fast food place and all. Nothing looked over fried or over done. The batter is very light both in color and texture. The crunch factor is also really good. The fish is not dry or chewy, and it was very well cooked. A piece of fish was also pretty big. Great option over the chain fast food.
(4)Jenna P.
Amazing. Better than any other fish and chips that I've had outside of the UK. This place is a must do!
(5)Sajid M.
I have only heard about this place and thankfully there was no hype attached to the friendly recommendations. With that said, the food is GREAT. I would not have expected such well made fish n chips from this place based on its location and decor. Conversely, the location and decor adds to my appreciation of the food this place offers, because the quality is unexpected. I love that its quiet and unassuming. We may not see tourists here which is fine for me because the best things should be reserved for locals only, am I right? Pros: Chef John is the best at FISH n CHIPS! not fishy at all. will probably not need the malt vinegar to mask the fishy taste that doesn't exist. I had the fish and shrimp combo. I also shared a cup of the Clam Chowder. Fish/Shrimp combo was well portioned. you get a huge piece of fish. definitely well battered. The chips are nothing to rave about. The chowder was good by virtue of the chunks, it was a little soupy though. I would order it again despite its soupiness. Last Pro. condiments are plentiful. next visit i will probably get the fish and scallops. if only there was a way to sub the chips. or get seasoned fries. Cons: I wish I lived closer. I was not sure if there was a drive thru. Don't order with your eyes though, the cost will add up.
(4)CR G.
I ordered the seafood combo with fish, shrimp and scallops, and by far my favorite fish and chips in San Diego. I have eaten fish and chips all across the country and grew up in the northwest, so I've eaten a LOT of it Batter is light and crispy, fries were fresh and crispy, and good tartar sauce. Will definitely eat here again!
(4)S K.
Not a fan of Christian music. I guess I'm not eating there after all.
(1)Nicky P.
Saw the reviews and recently moved to the area and stopped by to try it. The service was great. Very nice young man at the counter. Waited 15 mins for 3 combo meals and two sides. Place was very busy while we waited. Looked at tho everything was made to order. Nothing under heat lamps. Food was great, even after I drove home. Definitely stop by and try it if your nearby.
(5)Dawnya M.
if you are on a low or no salt diet this is your place because: if you didn't order it cooked with salt...it's all unsalted soy oil...light tasting...crisps food well....no oily after taste or feeling the fish is...excuse the spelling...polick/poulik...good renewable source of food the fish is cleaned and filet every morning...the shrimp cleaned and butter flyed...oysters cleaned...the sides prepped a fresh bottled of water with a spout sits on the counter t o get your own refile of fresh water...nice dad's recipes: the clam chowder made from scratch ranch sauce i don't like tarter sauce....here i walk out with extra to take home tempura batter made with high quality ingredients from scratch the cocktail sauce ..................................................Â.... prices reasonable...menu simple inspection grade: a family owned and run.....mainly by mom and dad.....everyone helps friendly.....small place 6 tables total and 15 chairs... included pics to get an idea and location...the menu and hours it open very clean place i have photos but i am not sure why i cant get them to post to review...once i get them to i will post them....
(5)April K.
I mean, WOW! I wish I could give this place 7 stars. MIND. BLOWN. This is a secret foodie miracle find! The chef is this middle-aged Korean dude who started out as the Sous Chef at the Westin Hotel in Korea, and apparently moved to little ol' Lemon Grove, San Diego to open up this top-secret all-time best ninja foodie find of all time fish and chips shop in the middle of the hood!! It's located in an old fast food building (Wendy's?) that Chef John & company renovated into an immaculately-clean, warm, homey, simple, CHARMING little fish n chips place complete with cheery, bright walls, Christian book library, and white icicle-style Christmas lights around the awning. Sigh....... :) The fried cod is perfection - with a light, crispy tempura-style batter and an out-of-this-world good house-made tartar sauce that is served to your table by the cashier (who looks and acts like he's part of the family). And the onion rings are the best I think I've had ever. Anywhere. In the whole of my life! The batter, again, being light-as-a-feather tempura-style and PERFECTLY seasoned. The cole slaw was surprisingly delicious. Simple and light - without trying to be fancy or add any extra nouveau-cool elements, and with a light mayo sauce. The perfect accompaniment to fried fish, really. I had the combo oyster plate - the oysters were REALLY fresh, but the batter was a bit bready. And my bf had the clam strip combo plate - I'm not into those weird little almost-all-breading clam strips, but he said they were a very good representation of the food ;P. The fries are fine. Merely adequate in the shadow of the incredible seafood. My only regret is that I didn't order the shrimp. Oh well! There's always next time :)
(5)Rachael C.
I don't go out of my way to visit the east county hood known as 'Lemon Grove', but I thought why not after seeing so many good reviews of place...and for the most part I was not let down At first I thought the prices were a bit steep but the fish is quite a substantial piece ( I ended up with the two piece) . Perfectly coated and nice and crunchy. I also ordered the hush puppies. They were good but small for the price I didn't like the fries, but it may be out of preference. I like then a little under in the cooking department and they were cooked pretty crisp The fish was divine, except for one of my pieces where I caught a hint of fishiness here and there Will I come back? Maybe one of these days. I don't really get in the mood for fish and chips often, but I will keep this place on my radar for sure
(4)Lanette M.
This is my go to spot for Fridays during Lent and anytime that I get a taste for fish and chips. The chef... Is a real chef and it comes through in the perfectly cooked prawns, fish, chips and hushpuppies. I call my orders in because even during the rare times that there are only a few other customers, it will still take some time to get your food. During Lent, on Fridays, it will be at least an hour. Note, it is easy to miss... look for an old located directly across from St. John of the Cross Catholic Church.
(5)Kennedy F.
April 1 2015 HORRIBLE HORRIBLE!!!!! Worst place to eat in San Diego for fish and chips. Went there with my family and all of us had the shits and vomited off of rancid old fish if I could give it 0 stars I would but that's not an option I'm throwing up as I write this for your own sake don't go.
(1)Sarah P.
LOVE LOVE LOVE their fish and chips! My husband and I went to England not too long ago and were craving yummy England style fish and chips. John's did NOT let us down! The only down side is the wait can be long at times so call ahead of time and place your order. Orders take around 20-30 minutes if walk in and order. Other than that the fish filets are huge, and very tasty with a crispy batter, never soggy unless you wait too long to eat it. The fries are England style fries as well! ***if you're going during lent on Friday's you better call ahead of time because waits can be up to an hour long!***
(5)Ryan E.
Yummy fish and chips. Got the family meal with 6 pieces of fish and chips and it was the perfect amount for the 3 of us! Really great and friendly customer service as well. Only downside was they were out of oysters which we wanted as a side.
(4)Anthony J.
Best Fish & Chips in San Diego Period. This is the new standard to what all others can try to compare. The Chips are ok but the fish makes up for it. The zucchini chips are great!
(5)Adrian M.
Read the reviews of this place and had to try it. At first glance this place is questionable. Kinda looks run down, but honesty im glad I didn't judge the book by its cover. I ordered the fish and chips family platter. Priced reasonably at $21.99 for 6 massive pieces of fish and a good heaping of chips. Its very noticable that they take the time to prepare the fish. They watch over each piece to make sure its perfect. Fish was amazing. Tasted fresh and was cooked perfectly. Light and flaky. Pieces were large, looked like a whole half of a filet each. I am glad I ate here. Really enjoyed the food.
(5)Errol C.
If you like fish and chips ...this is the best in san diego.... The London style batter is on point not oily...and fish cook to perfection
(5)Michelle S.
Took my husband back to check it out yesterday, since he LOVES seafood-fish! We ordered a couple other things!...He wanted the 3 combo meal and coleslaw on the side. I ordered Calamari and a 1 pc fish dinner!...I was really skeptical about bringing him here. If you ask him how something taste...he won't say ah yeah this really good...he'll just say...it's alright. -Rolls eyes- If you're going to introduce a new seafood restaurant brace yourself for winces and non blinking stares!. at first he was like...aww man.. "a hole in the wall?"...I was like "yeah, but you know they serve the best food sometimes!" We park, he hesitates!... he opens the door and he gets "that look"...You know.. the one where the bottom lip drops, and the nod follows?...That one! I said "See?.. It's clean in here!"...He goes "yeah, but you said you've tasted the food?".. We order, we get the food,...we leave!...The turn around was a bit slower because they had more people. I also noticed the cook outside when I went to use my cell phone...Poor guy had to take a breather, I felt sorry for him!...But that's how it is, when you're the Chef of your OWN restaurant!... Well it's safe to say..it was a hit with my hubby!...He still just said it was "alright" but at least he didn't make the face of our 4 year old(her birthday!) wicked stepmother!.... I'm glad I went back and I'm sure it is now our "go to" place for seafood! My hubby said his ball cap was Cleveland Indians...not AtL Braves!....I don't like football anyway... I like shopping!
(3)Leila M.
First time trying this place & it was delicious. The ambiance was very quiet and peaceful . The owners was very nice as well. We had 2 fish with fries ( the fish came with two big pieces) and we also got the 8 jumbo shrimp, which was not oily at all. I highly recommend this place , if you are ever in Lemon Grove make sure you STOP by.
(5)Richard R.
First time and I tried the fish and chips and it was very good and the portion of fish was the largest I have seen. They also have many other types of sea food as well as veggies. This is going to be a keeper!
(5)Lizette N.
This place has great fish, chips, chicken, shrimp! I just love this place! And they aren't expensive at all! Food is cooked to order so everything is really fresh. And it's not oily so you don't feel sluggish after you eat.
(5)Gary S.
Best fish and chips around! Don't let the exterior fool you. It is very clean inside. Nom nom. Lumpia not great.
(5)Gil G.
Simply the best food experience in CA. We had the 7 dish tasting menu and every dish was as good as the next. The presentation alone is worth the money but the taste is so fresh; the perfect blend of seeming simplicity and sophistication.
(4)Gabriela V.
This place is a Catholic persons haven during lent season. So the wait to get your food is a little longer during that time especially on Fridays. With that said this is my favorite spot for fish and chips. It's local, in lemon grove and small mom and pop shop that serves a variety of different types of seafood. My go to order here of course and the battered fish with French fries. And hush puppies, always hush puppies. 2 piece of fish with chips is $8.99 A basket of 5 hush puppies are $2.99 The pieces of cod they use are nice size. Nothing here ever tastes super greasy and that's really nice. These people here are family ran business with 2 younger people running the front and what looks like a couple who work the kitchen. The young lady who is the cashier is very smiley and friendly when she assists you. Be patient, be prepared for a small wait , these people work hard and as fast as they can to get a high volume of orders out. My favorite thing about eating here is they give you your own variety or sauces in condiment bottles for your food. No tiny plastic containers for your grub that runs out on one application. There's homemade tarter sauce , ketchup, RANCH, did I say ranch, ranch, hot sauce, cocktail sauce, mustard and malt liquor.. The fish and chips are good, not out of this world and the "best" but it gets the job done and I like them.
(4)Mimi I.
I don't particularly care for seafood, with the exception of sushi. However, I was in the mood for something different and tried this place out. YUM! YUM! YUM! The decor is not the best. However, I'd much rather eat in a shabby place with great food than a fancy place with crappy food. I've eaten here twice now and both times my food was great.
(5)Kim C.
Best fish n chips in town! I swear 99% of the time when I order fried seafood from a restaurant, it's frozen. Not here, this place used FRESH seafood. The scallops were so juicy and cooked to perfection. The fish was about the length of my head. The batter was light and crispy. The main thing I love is that I can eat a bucket of fried foods here and still not get that greasy overloaded tired feeling. The quality of the food here is top notch + it comes with multiple dipping sauces. Please go visit Chef John's Fish & Chips and support this lovely lil' mom & pop shop!
(5)Enrique B.
Excellent. Fish nice and crispy. Always hot and ready . Nice atmosphere great tartar sauce you can't go wrong especially if you want your fish cooked right
(5)Christine G.
Took a while to get our food but it was sooooooo worth it. The batter was mixed fresh, the scallops were huge and juicy, and they even have us vinegar packets to go when we asked. Definitely our new fish spot!
(5)Cesar F.
After years of looking for a replacement for the Captain Kidds Fish and Chips I was recommended to visit Chef Johns, used to be called Tugboat. Here I found out that the style of fish I had been looking for was called London style. The recommendations were not wrong. The fish was perfectly battered and fried and the portions were big. The price is not the cheapest but for around $10 you are getting an awesome meal. They also sell a sampler platter, this worked our well when I took my son. He was adventurous and wanted to try everything. Some were hits and some were not. But it was still a fun time seeing a 12 yr old try different foods. The place is small but big on taste. If you like fish and chips you won't be disappointed.
(5)joe j.
The foods are great... But it is a treat as the cost can add up quick. Seafood ain't cheap, I understand that part... I've been coming here over 3years... Maybe longer... I wish they could update the inside a little. It'll bring the place up to par with its pricing.
(4)Trent D.
Love it! Great tasting fish and huge portions. A friend and I were out searching for good local fish & chips and crimany did we find it. The place is a cozy little thing without much flair, but that's not what's important here. Definitely check it out.
(5)Jessica T.
Love, love, LOVE this place. Friendly staff, HUGE portions, mind-blowing food and fair prices. Chef John's is quickly becoming a new favorite for me since I moved to the area. They give Captain D's and Long John Silver's a run for their money. Both times I've eaten food from Chef John's I've gotten the food to go, and neither time has disappointed. I was quite surprised at how well the food traveled, particularly the fries. French fries usually get soggy pretty quickly, but they were still hot and fresh like they'd just come out of the fryer. I get the two-piece fish meal with a small coleslaw. The two pieces of fish were huge (in fact, both times there was a bonus half piece of fish on top, SCORE!), crispy, and the breading was the perfect thickness. The fries were quite good, too. And the coleslaw--simple, light, and delicious. Next time I want to try the jumbo shrimp. If you live in the Lemon Grove-Spring Valley-La Mesa area, DO give Chef John's a try. You won't be disappointed! ****** TIP: Do yourself a favor and CALL IN your order before you plan to pick it up. They can get pretty busy, and the first time we went we were told it would be a 45 minute wait, so we went home and my husband came back for the food. ******
(5)Jennifer A.
LOVE THIS PLACE. At first, I was thrown off by the location and the run-down exterior, but once my friends and I came in, we were greeted by the friendly family who owns the place. The place was very clean and didn't have a strong fish odor. I ordered the 2 pieces of fish and chips and the portion were very generous. The fish was fresh and the batter gave it a light crisp rather than overriding the taste of the fish. The chips were good and everything went well with their tartar sauce. Btw, kudos to them for having a small Christian library and having opera play in the background. I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be coming back soon :)
(5)Dennis B.
We ordered 24 pieces of fish and chips, then ordered 3 more orders. It was that good. I totally recommend this it's not the fastest place but it IS super fresh.
(4)Kevin S.
First time here was great. The food was top notch and service was also. Only reason it didn't get 5 stars, because the line was way too long. Call ahead of time that's for sure! Overall A++
(4)Jack M.
I was in the mood for some fried fish and hush puppies, and I heard this place was pretty good, so I decided to give it a try. I had them make me the two piece fish and chips but instead of fries, I ask if they could substitute some hush puppies instead, and the lady at the counter said it was fine. Sweet! Although I ordered the 2 piece, I ended up getting 2 large pieces and one small one. I was not surely to complain. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/chef… ) The exterior of the fish was very good. They definitely have the right temp on that canola oil because the fish was not greasy. In was very crunchy on the outside and white and flakey on the inside. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/chef… ) The fish went well with the table Malt Vinegar and the ketchup ( yelp.com/biz_photos/chef… ). The hush puppies came with a deep dark exterior color with and nice crunch. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/chef… ) The interior was not your traditional sweet flavor, but savory and herb filled instead. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/chef… ) I looked for kernels of corn but I could not find any. They were moist, but a little dense, rather then light and fluffy. The were good, but I have had much better. The lady who worked the front was very friendly. The place has a good amount of seating inside. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/chef… ) From as far as I can tell, the majority of the food they prepare here is fried, except for a few items like cole slaw and the clam chowder. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/chef… ) Great non greasy crunchy flavorful fried fish!
(4)K R.
How is it that we have not been here before? Lemon Grove's best kept secret?! Hubby and I had wanted fish and chips and I had been referred here last year by GMA GMA Agnes, so finally here we are. The staff, or owners are friendly and greet everyone as they enter *love it. The menu is easy to read and all the right choices. Your order is made fresh from breading to table! Delicious and EXCELLENCE yum! I will be here twice a month now that I know the business is spotless and deserves the "A" health code rating. We had the fish and calimari each and shared a lg coleslaw. Ten STARS BABY! thank you and I even commented to the lad at the counter "thank you everything was excellent!" Prosperous New Year!
(5)Tiana W.
Best fish & chips place in San Diego!!! The workers are really nice & the tarter sauce it out of this world! If you haven't tried this place yet your def missing out:)
(5)J W.
Hands down, the BEST fish and chips joint in ALL of San Diego. They have different platters to choose from and all of the choices are delicious. Tried different places in San diego but I'm always comparing to Chef John. It's just not the same.
(5)Leticia B.
This is a little hidden gem in Lemon Grove. Today we went there and, I was impressed. Most of the sea food is fried in batter, but not greasy nor doughy, very light. I ordered the shrimp and chips and coleslaw and it was yummy. The middle aged couple are polite and friendly. The only thing is the ambiance. They were playing some new age music, a little eerie for me. There were two other diners there and I had to speak really low so not everybody would hear me, a bit unsettling. Other than that, its a great joint, yummy food, clean and reasonable prices. I will go back.
(4)Joselyn S.
This is my favorite fish and chips place hands down!! I wish I can eat here more often, but then I would have to workout at the gym that much harder and longer just to burn off those calories. All their battered items are cooked to perfection! The batter is light yet crispy, the chef really knows how to fry his food for it to not come out greasy or greasy tasting. I used to get the sampler (which is perfect for two people). This includes 1 piece fish, 3 shrimps, 2 scallops and 2 oysters and of course fries for $11.99. That's a great deal!! What's even better is that if you don't care for the oysters, you can sub that out for more shrimp at no extra charge! The oysters actually are breaded and not battered. Now, I have tasted over cooked scallops at finer restaurants and this place really know how to cook their scallops. It has never come out dry, in fact you need to be careful because the juice from the scallops can squirt out if you're not careful. Now, When I do decide to treat myself to this place, I just get the one piece fish and 3 shrimp combo for $7.99. They do have daily specials which is anywhere from $.50 to $1.00 off the normal cost of the item. I haven't tried anything else on the menu except for what's mentioned above. So, I can't tell you about their chowder, fried vegetables, etc. The place is clean and the couple that runs the place are very nice and accommodating. Don't expect too much as far as decor and they also play Christian music. Oh, do expect a little bit of a wait after you order your food. They cook to order. If you're in a bit of a rush, you can always call in your order to help minimize your wait time.
(5)Cherlyn B.
You know it's legit when the cook hits the freshly fried fish with his tongs to check for crunchiness. I was excited to see my CRUNCHY approved platter approach my table. After one bite of my prawn it almost cut the roof of my mouth, it was so darn crunchy! The fish was also extremely crunchy & flaky on the inside. Both were perfect with the homemade tartar sauce. When dining in, expect to wait awhile because every order is made fresh. No big deal though, because the worker brings the food to your table. The parking situation is also great with plenty of spaces in their lot. Forget Long John Silvers, & go here for some legit fish & chips.
(4)Natalia G.
Very good fish & chips!! The batter is delish & so is the fish. There is a selection of fried scallops, calamari, oysters, prawns, fish or scallops. Tried the regular oder of fish - 3 piece- & it was too much for me! The owner is frying fresh seafood as it is ordered so it is not pre-made. The tartar sauce is made by the chef/owner & it is the bomb! Small little place.. great find!
(5)Tricia C.
Love these little hole in the wall places! Food is not made until ordered, batter on the shrimp and fish is light. My husband had fish and chips, while I had fish and prawns. We also had hushpuppies which were small, but delicious. Good prices, not expensive. And the adorable Korean couple who own the restaurant work very hard and are really friendly. We will definitely go back!
(5)Ryan A.
Because you know how to fry food doesn't mean you have to have horrible customer service. My wife called to place an order like 30 minutes before they close. And she told them I was on my way and the chick told her no on placing order and hung up. Wow! Oh well at leas I know not to ever eat there again. I'll rather eat at long johns silver. At least they have good customer service. Food is good but customer service comes a long way.
(1)Alan G.
Best fish and chips outside of London and Dubai. Been searching everywhere for a decent place here in the US. This one comes closest. Only thing missing is mushy peas! Get that on the menu you will get 5 stars! :-)
(4)Teresa G.
I liked that the fish is hand dipped and made to order; so keep in mind it isn't fast food. You order at the counter then they bring your food to your table when it's done. I had the fish & clam combo which was good; I have had better. Everything looks clean and they do have an 'A' rating on the door from the heath department. The staff is friendly and thanks people as they leave.
(4)Christy H.
AMAZING scallops. The fish was lightly battered and had a great flavor. The fried shrimp and clams were meh. Not bad, but nothing to write home about either. The reason for 4 stars is it's a itsy bitsy bit pricey IMO. About $4.50 per piece of fish. Granted the fish are hugemungus and good so you're not going to overpay for something gross. And the location is scary monster, but hey fellas, you should definitely stop here when you come out of the strip bar down the street. They have free books on religion here too. You can repent and chow down all at the same time. Christian music on the speakers. However, I don't think I'd venture there after dusk. Those scallops though...if I could carry them around in a bag on my hip and pop one every time I needed heavenly goodness, I would. Get them!
(4)Jennifer R.
Chef Johns is by far thee Best fish and chips in all Of San Diego !!! we Never leave disappointed the batter on the fish unbelievable and the tater sauce wow ! the fish is super fresh a lot fresher than most high end resturants by the sea it's super flaky and delicious prices very reasonable I highly recommend it !
(5)Kimberly B.
My boyfriend and I decided to travel to Lemon Grove for fish and chips. When we walked into this restaurant, we were greeted by a simple, no-frills establishment. I was excited to try the fish here because I've heard excellent things. We ordered the 3pc fish & chips to share. For the sake of simplicity, I will make a list: 1. Simple menu, easy to navigate. 2. Prices are fair and portions are decent. 3. Did not like that our food took 30 minutes to come out. We were hungry bears. 4. The fish is AMAZING. The batter is so crisp and it's fried to perfection. 5. Chips are nothing special. It's the fish that shines. 6. Christian rock plays all day in the restaurant. 7. The people who run this place are very nice. 8. The tartar sauce is homemade and reallly good. 9. TRY THE FISH. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. This would have gotten 5 stars if we did not have to wait so long for the our food and if the fries were better. Oh well, nothing is perfect!
(4)Delphine R.
Fish fry is not too big here on the West Coast , and I miss it . So when I am in the mood for light battered and crispy , then I come to thus place I think this place was a Carls a Junior or something like that , and the inside do remind me to one. Their food is so good, the fish is not greasy, batter is light and crispy. They have a lot of different sides, from coleslaw to hush puppies . They do different combos : clams, shrimps, oysters .... Good and cheap I like that !
(5)Rocky R.
Hands down the best fish and chips in San Diego. You wouldn't know it from the humble appearance of the place but it is a must try. My wife doesn't like fried food so I have to sneak by there on occasion when she is not with me. When I do, it is always a treat. This is the kind of place that compelled me to tell my friends at work about and insist that they try it.
(5)dawn s.
I love this place! Never disappointed. The fish is delicious battered perfectly and huge portions. The clams are so good not minced, whole yummy clams. The scallops are perfect.
(5)Paulie B.
This place is my go to for fish and chips during Lent, though it being in Lemon Grove is somewhat out of my way. Be prepared for the sticker shock though... kinda pricey, but they make up for that with huge fillets. I had the three piece, and I always think to myself "why did I do that when the two piece is more than enough". The fillets are not overly saturated with fry oil, in fact they are firm and juicy. The fries on the other hand... not so much. Pro is large portions, Con is the long wait if they're busy.
(4)Z J.
Excellent service and the best fish and chips I've tried here in San Diego. I've tried the fish, shrimp, scallops and oysters and they were all good. There is a little wait after you order but it is worth the wait because they cook everything fresh and it does not sit under a heat lamp all day.
(5)S R.
Came here with coworkers. I'm not a huge seafood fan, so I opted for the chicken. It was okay. I'm a fan of tarter sauce, but there was something odd about the tarter sauce here. Hush puppies were good. A little pricey -- for the 3 piece chicken (w/ fries) and 5 tiny hush puppies, no drink, I spent nearly $11!
(3)Paulo E.
BEST FISH IN CHIPS IN TOWN!! LOVE THE ENGLISH CUT FRIES!! THOSE ARE CHIPS!! Home made tarter sauce is perfect compliment. Also love the scallops and cole slaw. Best part; my kids say they have the best chicken tenders :) . Also feels nice knowing its a local family business.
(5)teena l.
The fish is absolutely delucious. Long strips. Tartar sauce is to die for. AND they sell lumpiya!!!!
(4)Stephen K.
Came here based on yelp recommendations and it was everything promised and more! Best fish and chips I've had, and I've had more than my share! Got the seafood sampler plate and everything was delicious. Big fan of their sauces as well, and portion sizes definitely generous enough to fill you up. Wife enjoyed the hush puppies. As others have said, it's a bit of a dive, and wait time was a little on the longer side, but it's worth the trip. I'll definitely be back, as well as recommending to my fish and chip loving friends!
(5)Emily R.
Husband recommended this place, waiting for fish and chips. Recommendation so far Call In your order! Everything is made to order, so expect a wait. Friday night too, and people keep coming in, so I don't think the food is going to be bad, I hope . To be continued. So, just finished eating. Food was great, expect a wait! Side note, byob while your waiting. If that's your thing. I already had a buzz, and a glass of wine would've been great while we waited. Place is medium sized. So, they wouldn't notice if you brought your own beverage. Ok, enough.l with that suggestion. Just go, try it, you'll like it! IF you like fish
(4)Missy F.
The fish was excellent. Not too heavy on the batter. Very light and crispy. Dab'd a little tarter sauce (tata- sauce- for us east coast peeps) and vinegar and I was set. The "chips" eh.. they're just regular ol french fries, but when you dip them in the tata sauce.. Oooo..Mmmm. I had the 2 piece fish and chips. One piece would've been enough but... Mom had the fish and shrimp. Portions are great for the price. Minus one star for..well.. let me see.. location... took a lil long for the order... and minus one star for the mature (senior) lady behind me who proceeded to read a whole chapter of one of the Christian books that Chef John's has available to her Husband.. out LOUD.. very Loud.. Will I return- yes of course :-)
(4)Ben M.
Thanks to Toyota not being able to wash my car, they provided a coupon to have it washed at Lemon Grove Car Wash. While it was getting cleaned, I walked across the street to Chef John's. Good thing I did because it was fantastic. I ordered the Fish & Chicken to go which also comes with chips (fries). I ate all but the chips in the car ride home, but wish I had waited because I tried the tartar sauce with some of the left over chips and man was it tasty. But, even without the sauce, Chef John fried up that fish wonderfully. The perfect crispiness. I'll stop here again when I am close by. Just be prepared to wait a little longer than expected because they cook it fresh.
(5)Robert W.
Went by myself to to check it out and was not disappointed. The fish and scallops I had were super fresh and cooked to perfection and their homemade sauces are great . Have taken friends since then and we all agree-Chef John is a seafood star!
(5)Lira C.
No way!!! I came in and placed my order, when I was done and finish paying they told me the waiting time was 40 min!!!!!! I recomend calling in first.. For reals 40 min?????
(2)Kelly C.
I've been here a few times & I just have to say I love love LOVE the fish & chips here! The fish is cooked just the way I like it & taste fresh & clean. The fries are okay but it's the fish that I keep coming back for. The location is a little sketchy but the food makes you forget that. The fried calamari is pretty good too!
(4)Will E.
My first time ordering here I thought the prices seemed a little steep: About 12 bucks for two pieces of fish, chips, and a fountain soda. Doesn't come with cole slaw ($1.25 as a side). Then the food arrived. Wow, there was certainly a lot of it. Each beer battered piece of fish was the size of a plank, perfectly crispy, and not fishy at all. Lots of chips too, cooked crispy. It arrived so hot I had to kick back and refill my drink while waiting for it to cool to eating temperature. Loved their tartar sauce, and there was malt vinegar on the table (as there should be). Suddenly 12 bucks seemed like a bargain considering that I could barely finish it. Cole slaw and hush puppies would have been overkill. Probably one piece and chips could have done me fine. So, if you are looking for a light snack, maybe not here. But if you up for putting down a full-sized beer battered seafood meal, then Chef John's is your place.
(4)Jeanine C.
This place may look like a run down sketchy hole in the wall, but as with taco shops, they usually have the best food, and this place is living up to that theory! I drove across this place unknowingly, but was in mood for some good ol' fish and chips. Now being a foodie and having recently moved from university heights to la mesa, I have been thus far disappointed with the food selection. Chef John's fish and chips is the newest hidden gem I've found, so now my review: Pros -The fish looks as though it is fresh off the boat, absolutely never frozen, and hand battered. You can actually see the chef prepping the fish and it looks so good. -The seafood sampler or combo is the way to go if you like a variety, and aside from the fish, the SCALLOPS are perfectly cooked, juicy and delicious! -They don't short you on sauces, don't hesitate to ask for more of their delicious tartar or horseradish cocktail sauce that DOESN'T taste like ketchup :). -For someone with an appetite like me, who's eyes are usually bigger than their stomachs, the portions are large, and the fish pieces huge. I could actually just pass on the chips. -Friendly staff and cook! All staff are of Asian decent and very accommodating, they even have a small library so you can read while you wait for your food Cons -My boyfriend did not seem to feel the same about the portions. He got the fish and scallops and was given 1 piece of fish and two scallops. While he agreed on the quality, he felt for 11.99 he should have gotten another piece of fish, which probably most men that can eat would feel the same. -Long wait- like i said before, the fish looks fresh off the boat--well after waiting an hour for our meal, I was wondering if they actually had a boat out back and catching the fish. jokes aside tho, the staff did not mention how long the wait which is annoying when you are thinking of getting a quick bite to eat, and its not the most beautiful place to be sitting for an hour, but I learned my lesson- CALL AHEAD Overall, this place is great and I debated giving 4 or 5 stars, but in the end, the pros outweigh the cons when you get quality food at a decent price, and the fact that you can call ahead means I'll never make that mistake of waiting again. So call ahead, pick up your food and enjoy!!
(5)Veronica U.
Best fish and chips ever! Ordered the calimari, scallops and shrimp, also got a clam by chance and they were all very yummy! No mush! The freshest fish! Not fishy tasting, but deliciously ocean tasting! I recommend the SCALLOPS!!!! MOUTH WATERING! 12.99 can't go wrong oh yeah and it came with really good fries!! Rated 4 stars only because they don't serve beer. If they had coronas on ice! Man!
(4)Joe S.
People tend to exaggerate on Yelp and other review sites...but trust me when I say that Chef John's was hands down the best fish and chips I have ever had! The staff was attentive and professional. I split the fish and shrimp plate and a side of hush puppies with my gf. The shrimp and fish were both cooked perfectly and the batter had the most delicious crunch. The hush puppies were phenomenal, I don't think I've had better. Next time I am in SD I will be sure to hit this place up at least twice! I suggest you do the same.
(5)Sam E.
This place is "Knock your socks off" good. I was annoyed at first, because it took long to get the food, but that went away after i started to eat. Perfection! This place knows how to fry! Frying isn't easy, i try it all the time. Crisp perfection. Only place i can go now for fish, shrimp, and even fries.
(5)Leon I.
I have had my share of fish and chips. This is the best I ever had. Hot, fresh, made to order, incredible. Come here, eat here
(5)Jennifer W.
Oh my, yes. Thank you friend for taking me here. Actually, it was a first time for both of us, so thank you, yelp. Very nice couple who run the restaurant. Food is delicious! We shared the sampler which had the one piece fish, two scallops, three pieces of shrimp, and clams. My boyfriend isn't usually one for scallops, but the chef cooked his scallop to perfection. It was juicy, soft, and overall super flavorful. I honestly mistook the juice as oil, but the thing is, his items aren't greasy at all. I have to say our favorite part of the sampler was the clams, but that's not to say that we didn't enjoy everything else. The fish, it was very flavorful, even without any of the sauces which is definitely a plus. The batter actually reminded us of tempura, which isn't bad at all. And I'm not sure if the tartar sauce was run-of-the-mill, but it was very delicious with everything. Man, my mouth is just watering thinking about the delicious fish and chips this place produces. Give this place a try, it's a very good price for the portions and quality that you receive.
(5)Martin B.
Come here ready to eat. Portions are big and food is to die for. The fish is oh so fresh. The shrimp and scallops are nice and tender not remotely chewy. Fries are golden brown and really crispy. The batter has a light weight taste and does not take away from the fish. The owner/cook is really nice and welcoming.
(4)Alan R.
Really special. Every order is prepared from scratch, fresh batter, fresh fish, the most amazing French fries. Spectacular! This is the best fish and chips in San Diego, and the food shines. Everything is perfectly fried, served piping hot, with delicate delicious fish and house made tartar sauce and premium vinegar served to accompany. The detail paid to this simple food is really a compliment to the customer. The community support this place has received is justly earned. Fantastic! I disagree with people comparing the restaurant to a taco shop or dive joint. The structure was obviously built for a fast food joint in the early '70's, but the restaurant, restrooms, kitchen, are immaculate. The Chef and his team clearly take pride in every aspect of this operation. Absolutely worth a trip out of your way to visit. Was advised that on Friday's this place is absolutely packed. Thanks for a great meal, I can't wait to get back!
(5)Hoa T.
Really good fish and chips. Did not expect such awesomeness from this place. Love the classical music ;)
(5)Gerald M.
Well, either the people that gives this place 5 star's can't cook or they don't know the difference between fresh fish, coming from Boston Mass fresh is a must.i ordered 2 pieces and got a whole lot of frie's, so I also ordered something else that I can't remember, that I got shorted on, fake tarter sauce, fake cocktail sauce both that you squeeze out of a container, people you are eating frozen fish!!, NOT fresh, all at 14 dollars.i got taken, the service must have gone down hill, the frie's are not English only run of the mill, you can get them at VON's supermarket , plus they close way too early.
(2)Sim L.
This place is an awesome mom & pop shop for fish and chips. The service there is great. It's kind of a fast food joint but I wouldn't recommend it if you are on a tight schedule because they take their time to make sure your food comes out perfect. I had their fish and clam special which was the right amount of food and I have quite an appetite. The biggest surprise is chef john's is Korean owned!! That totally caught me off guard but honestly this is probably why the place tastes so great. The batter is amazing and not overly greasy nor excessive relative to the amount of meat you get. It's definitely a hidden treasure in la Mesa that I'll be coming back for more.
(5)Xavier L.
If you're looking for bang for your buck when it comes to fish and chips, look no further. Prices are amazing for the portions and quality. Menu is varied and there's a different special each time I walk in. And a different take on the traditional method of prepping fish and shrimp leave for a delicious meal. Only thing keeping this from five stars is the wait. If you come in during down time, it is not so bad. However, if you come in during peak hours, be prepared to wait a while for your food. Cooked to order, but with a skeleton crew of staff makes for a long wait. But in the end, the wait is worth it.
(4)Daisy L.
If you're looking for some mind blowing fish n' chips this is the best place in San Diego County. Fish is battered and fried fresh for each meal. We've been going to this place for the last 5 years. Only negative thing I'd say is they've gotten skimpy on the fries.... Aside from that the food is amazing!!!
(5)Paul B.
Best fish and chips in town, hands down. The batter is light and fried just right. The tartar sauce is creamy and rich. Fish, shrimp and scallops are juicy and tender on the inside, and perfectly tanned and crispy on the outside. The clam strips were meaty and tender, a far cry from burnt and rendered like at most other places that just dont care. Never mind the simple minds and their reviews that can't appreciate the planning, thought and care that goes into the food here. It's hard to find fried fish better than this. Chef John is serious about his food here. So slide on over, and check out this place today.
(5)Miguel L.
It's obvious chef John takes pride in his product. Everything here is cooked perfectly, looks great and tastes great. Not to mention how clean the place is. Staff here is very friendly and make you feel welcomed. Yes your food will take a while to be prepared but if you look at the man preparing it you will know why. Talk about a perfectionist. Each piece is carefully handled and paid individual attention to. Obviously he takes pride in his work.
(5)REGIS B.
Based on the reviews here, we tried Chef John's for the first time on 6/21/14, and we were wowed! This place is very clean and fresh-smelling. No fishy odors here. The mother and father man the fryers while daughter keeps the front of the house in order. As others have said better than I, the food is exceptional. We tried the Sampler and the Clam Special, and brought an entire meal home in a bag. The portions are very substantial, but meaningless unless the food is good, and this food was better than good. Very fresh seafood fried to perfection in a light batter. We have added Chef John's to our list of "best restaurants".
(5)Glenn R.
Legit fish and chips. Long wait but worth it. Portions were surprisingly huge. I would come back here for sure but will call in my order way in advance.
(5)B.Marie G.
Super Yummy fish n chips. great homemade tartar sauce and awesome hush puppies.The Cocktail sauce, also homemade is yummy with the shrimp. We try not to go very often because its all fried.. but they have the best fish n chips. If you find better let me know, and they have great prices.
(5)Shannon D.
The BEST fish and chips you will ever have.. takes a little longer to get your food after ordering but so worth the wait.
(5)P. M.
It's good. It's not a fancy place. Everything is fried correctly! Not too greasy or overly cooked, like other places. The sauces are very good. They don't serve beer here. I wish they did because it would go great with the fish.
(4)Vanessa G.
Mmmmm I love chef johns fish and chips!! I love coming here for my weekly cheat meal! Totally worth the extra cardio session! The fish are always crispy and delicious, as well as the French fries! They don't fry your food until you order so you usually wait 10-15 min for your order, but you can call ahead and they'll have it ready for you to pick up or dine in--which is what I always do, Especially during lunch and dinner times, they get pretty busy! I've tried their fish and chips and hush puppies, all delicious! Much better than any other places in San Diego!! And cheaper! Also,The employees are always very kind with a smile on their face! Definitely suggest trying this place out!
(5)Salina B.
If you have a hankering for fish and chips this is your place. It looks like a whole in the wall as your driving by but it's very fresh and tastes great! The atmosphere is bright and clean and the service is friendly. Love the music choice! Whenever we want fish this will be our go to place! Glad we tried something new today!
(5)Matt G.
Lemon Grove is a small little town east of San Diego. With a close community and many local businesses, the little town reminds me of Santa Rosa, CA. With many mom and pop businesses, I landed at one of the businesses for lunch. I may be wrong, but I think this fish and chip place was at one point a fast-food business. The dining area and the way we place our order show similarities. The diner is operated by a charming Korean family. From the menu posted on the wall, I ordered the two-piece fish and chip combo. Not a bad price for $7.95, I get two "long" and boneless halibut pieces battered very well with their secret special blend of spices. My meal: yelp.com/biz_photos/_fZd… You should see how long my foot-long piece of fish is: yelp.com/biz_photos/_fZd… But unfortunately, my fish had more batter than fish meat. The fried fish didn't taste bad though, but too much batter. I've heard so many good things about the restaurant's tartar sauce, and I should've used the sauce too. So instead, I end up using the Malt Vinegar and lemon wedges with my fish. "Hey, I'm in Lemon Grove, I have to use lemon." With the heavy batter of the fried fish, it's only a three-star meal. But their extremely friendly service and the attentive look at Joe Cool by their daughter will honor them a four-star.
(4)Jason G.
First visit here. A busy Friday at 12:30 for lunch. Been waiting 25 minutes and still no food. It would be nice if the cashier had warned me of the delay. It seems the kitchen has one cook. Once the food was ready I enjoyed it very much. However, the wait and service has me looking elsewhere for lunch next time.
(3)Tony B.
Had a craving for fried clam strips (few choices here in SD) Yelped it and came across Chef John's Called in an order 30 mins prior to closing (I felt bad!) but had my order taken by the nicest person!! Very sweet & great customer service!!! Picked up the order & was helped by the same young lady who took my order, and once again she was very nice & welcoming!! Order consisted of Clam strips, chicken strips, fish & chips, and hush puppies. Everything was great! Fried to perfection. Not greasy tasting at all. They definetly know what they are doing here. If you want great customer service & great fried seafood then Chef John's is the place for you!!
(5)Renee R.
I've eaten here twice, and both times have been excellent! Their fish platter is huge,and the batter is a light tempura-like batter...thinly coated and crispy, just so good! The wait time is pretty long ( we waited in our car for 20 minutes, and our food was brought out to our car), but it was scalding hot! No heat lamp food here!!! :) It really is worth the wait, and you can call in ahead of time (we were in the neighborhood, and I am probably the ONLY one on the PLANET that DOESN'T have a CELL PHONE!! :) ) The scallops were pretty tasteless, but the fish (huge pieces!) and shrimp are really good! We WILL return!! :)
(5)Myleen A.
I have been blessed with an establishment known as Chef John's and have been completely evangelized from eating half-a$$ed battered fish and fries to crisp, golden fish and chips. I shall never go back again! I don't know what it was but Earl and I had a sudden craving for fish and chips one evening. It was late and I had just gotten out of work so I was cranky and I lost my way a couple of times. I was going to give in to the fast food version but I decided to put my foot down and went on a journey to seek out San Deezy's best fish and chips. It ain't called living if it ain't worth struggling for, right? When you walk in, you don't think anything of the place because it looked like any other fast food restaurant you'd find within the area. It was clean and humble, with no over-exaggeration about their food. I already established an expectation as to what I think it was going to taste like but I was proven wrong and that was definitely okay with me. I wanted to try a little bit of everything so I ordered us the seafood platter to share and trust me, it was more than enough.The platter came with a beautiful piece of crisp, golden fried fish, clams, about 3 shrimp pieces, and 4 scallops on top of a bed of fries. NEVER EVER have I tasted fried seafood this delicious! It was truly worth the $14 and some change. Even as a "to-go" order, everything remained fresh. I've always had an issue with over battered, soggy fried fish but Chef John showed me the light to great food. And I can tell you they make it fresh because I saw them batter it up themselves and throw it in the fryer. Service is wonderful as well! The woman that took my order was so kind and courteous, an attitude that matched their Christian blessed establishment. They truly are humble and and they treat everyone with the highest respect. Real talk, you have to visit this joint. You will not be disappointed and coming from a girl that knows her fried fish, I can tell you this is the way to go.
(5)TT P.
FINALLY! A place that has good fish & chips in SD. I hate most, if not all of the places that I have been to that serve fish & chips on the west and east coast of the US (They are bland, oily and soggy). Alright, so I've never tried the ones in London but these fish and chips are what I've envisioned them to taste like over there. Light on the oil, crunchy and tasty by itself.
(5)Melanie M.
This place was reasonable when it first opened but it's gotten VERY over priced for the location. The fish, shrimp & fried mushrooms are good but the fries suck & you'll pay $2.50 for a large soda, ROBBERY! They play christian music & have christian books for borrow, kind of weird for a business, certainly not my cup of tea! Had dinner there the other night for 2 adults & one kid, it was $32. Too much!
(1)Cynthia S.
If you want some good fish try Tug Boat you will not be disappointed...LOVE LOVE the food hot fresh and they give you plenty of it..I will be going back..
(5)Jonelle O.
Really nice fish for a good price. I'm a big fan of their tarter sauce as well. My husband and I both ordered their fish and clam strip special; one piece of fish and a bunch of fried clam strips. It's a lot of food, people. I left completely stuffed. Although it probably didn't help that I was drowning all my food in tarter sauce. I know gross, right? Judge not my sauce addiction. Hey, what's up with all the Jesus books at the front? Do people really wait that long for their orders? How many lives are changed by reading the religion books at the fish fry?
(4)Camille H.
You cannot get any better, his Chef really know what he is doing. The fish, the chips NOT GREASY. Amazing. Fish is Fresh, not Frozen. He dips the fish just before he begins frying. and the Chips/Fries, OMG Perfect. You Go Chef John.
(5)Chris G.
I have now been here a total of at least 8 times. Why you so tasty? I believe the first time I went the food was simply not as good. Every other experience since has been wonderful.
(5)Chris A.
Based on Yelp reviews we went to try the fish and chips, best in town? i dont know yet. Very good? yes it is. Cons - slow slow service, only one cook. The fish is cut really thin so when cooked it gets very well done (Crispy). Which is cool for the breading but the fish is toast by the time you take a bite. Next time i will try the shrimp.
(4)Tim S.
I wanted to go to El Pollo Grill for some lunch, but they were closed for an employee Christmas party from 2-4pm (random I know). So I remember reading about this place and wanting to try it out. Its right down the street from my original destination so I drove down and pulled in. Placed my order for a 2 piece fish and chips and a medium Coke. Total damage was a little over $10 bucks. They fry your fish once you order so it took about 10 minutes or so. They bring your food to the table which is nice. I dug in and here is how it stacked up. Fish- 2 GIANT pieces of fish. Not greasy at all, and it was fried perfectly. Sadly, I think I am in the "Don't like fish and chips as much as the next guy camp". Well at least not this kind of fish. Some halibut....yes. This... It wasn't bad, it wasn't great. They give you ketchup, tartar sauce and malt vinegar on the table. 2 pieces is definitely enough to fill you up. Fries- Standard frozen fries. Tasty enough with a little salt. Christian music in the background was interesting. Would I go back? Not likely but that's just because I'm not the biggest fan of this type of fish and chips. The product was good and I could see how someone would absolutely love this place. It is a local mom and pop shop so if possible, please support it. The lady and man who worked there were very nice.
(3)Andrea L.
I'm extremely picky with seafood. So, finding this place was a blessing! Best, freshest seafood in east county!! The fish & chips were amazingly exceptional! Can't wait to try the hush puppies & zucchini...chicken lumpia was bomb too
(5)Kristen S.
This place is the bomb. Customer service is 5 stars. Food is 5 stars. I prefer the fish & shrimp plate but also love their slaw, hush puppies, & clam chowder. I haven't had anything bad from here. Be sure to call in your order if your impatient.
(5)Steven H.
Crispy fried perfection. The fish is light, white, fresh and full of flavor. I'd put this as best seafood in San Diego region.
(5)Melanie L.
I'm thinking that maybe this place deserves a second chance. Newer reviews make it sound yummy. Maybe they improved. I'll let you know how it turns out. I'd love to have a place nearby for fish and chips, and hush puppies.
(2)Justin N.
So good. I'm from New England and I know good cod and fried mushrooms. These were superb. Perfectly crispy and the fish portions were massive. It was more expensive than most fish n chips places but worth it. There were people there from 20-30 minutes away just to have dinner. If you're looking for fish n chips, and fried mushrooms, this is the place.
(5)Mike B.
I am from the south, so I am not a huge fan of beer battered fish. I prefer southern style. However, this place is tasty as hell.
(4)Taku N.
It's the best fish and chips for me. I love their wide price range. You can eat cheap if you want, and you can try many kinds if you want as well. It may not be a traditional fish and chips, but you know, we're in the U.S., not U.K.
(5)Axel G.
I love that my favorite fish and chips restaurant is in Lemon Grove. Such good food, made hot and fresh to order, with the best portions ever. Yum! This place is worth a ride. :)
(5)Daravy M.
I normally don't leave reviews but this place is clean in appearance, very friendly, polite, and taste amazing!
(5)Emalyn D. H.
I was never a big fan of fish and chips until my hubby introduced me to Chef Johns Fish and Chips! Delicious, crunchy food, a little pricey but totally worth it!!! The owners seem nice but if you do decide to sit and eat, it is sorta quiet and they do play the same christian music over and over... but other than that . Best fish and chips in town!
(5)Jimey Y.
Seriously some of the best fried fish I have tasted from any fast food or restaurant for that matter IN MY LIFEEEEE!!!!! They serve up huge long yet perfectly thin pieces of crisp battered fish strips. The UK would be proud of this spots fish n chips. Also in part because they serve up tartar sauce and malt vinegar just like they do across the pond. Really like this place and I hope to see other customers making sure it stays in business with me.
(4)Dar C.
I just went to Chef John's fish and chips for the first time in a very long time and I was wooooed away! Its clean, the fish pieces are very big. The lady that works the counter is all smiles, very polite. All they play as music is christian music. Very faint in the background, but it is still played. There are even books on the counter in reference to God. Which I greatly appreciate... I even told her I greatly appreciated it. I find it funny how if they were playing Nicki Minaj or Rick Ross on the Radio No one would say that is Interesting or Odd... However Christian Music is Odd. I think its a delight to listen to something that isnt talkin bout, BIG MONEY, BIG RIMS, SELLIN DRUGS, DOIN DRUGS. So grateful for this place. So on top of that, the fish was not greasy and had just enough flavor. The fish was fresh and cooked when I ordered it. Lets say that Your not into God and dont care for the music... Well at least u can take your family somewhere where they are not hearing profane language. I think this place is really great for fish and chips and for the family. SAFE, CLEAN and FRESH FOOD! (THE TARTER SAUCE IS THE BOOOOOMB!!!! :) My Fiance said Im so happy here.... LOL... The enviorment is nice... Long wait, but who cares if its fresh food. If ur in a rush.. Call it in, if not.. Just think of it as a restaurant and wait till its finished!
(5)NYSD G.
after a hike in palomar moutain we were starving and i had Coops brisket bbq in the brain but found out they were closed on mondays. somehow we ended up at Chef Johns because i bookmarked it for places to eat during the weeks of lent. its a little out of the way but its the best fish and chips in SD because of the fresh seafood and batter. yes it can get pricey for the location but you will taste where the $ is going in the first bite. its way better tasting fried seafood than point loma or mitch seafood. they individually batter each of the seafood and place it slowly in the deep fryer. their "english" style fish and chips has more in common with tempura in preparation and cooking than english fish and chips. you will see what i mean when you see him prep and cook the seafood. the fish was amazing, perfectly fried on the outside even to the last bite and the right thickness on the inside and more important didn't feel or taste like freezer burn fish deep fried. the scallops which the wife had was also amazing. first thing you notice is the size, these are not mini scallops but more like bay scallops which can't be easy to deep fry. it was fresh and ivory in color which is key to scallops and it never shrunk during cooking (another key). the fries were good but nothing spectacular. the hush puppy which is not an english staple was amazing but needed to be bit bigger. overall i would say the best english fish and chips in all of socal in the most off the wall location. the best fish and chips we've ever had was in London and Wellington NZ and Chef John is right there with them . tip: runaway from the tartar and run into the malt vinegar, its the only way to go.
(5)Christine S.
Absolutely love the fish here. Each combo was enough to satisfy and fill up everyone in the family. My only suggestion is to call ahead. (I do) The food is always hot and fresh! :)
(4)Dan J.
This was my first visit,. I live about a mile from here, so I thought I'd try it. I had a wide awry of food so I could get an idea of the overall quality. The fish was a very high 90% Corn fritters 80% Cole slaw 88% Chicken 80% Chips were 75% If you like the fries at in and out you will like them here also. The dinner was clean and the service very good. All of the fried food is made when you order it, so it takes about 15 minutes till it is ready. You can call in ahead of time. I was the first one here today, but when I left they had 7 other customers. Always a good sign at 11 am. I will go back for the Seafood platter next time. Stay tuned, Jabba ( I ate all the Cole slaw with none saved for dinner. Cole slaw 93%.
(4)Christopher J.
==Chef John's== The golden light crispyness on the outside and the mouth watering fish right from the deep fryer is impressive. These fish and chips were so good that I broke my bottom retainer wire! ahah. It's true! Huge fish sticks! I ordered 3 with fri
(5)Beks ..
We decided to give Chef John a shot since we we're craving a good fish n chips and 4 1/2 stars with 140+ reviews must say something!? What a place to people watch! Total unappealing atmosphere, some kind of ex Arbys or something. Christian music doesn't exactly get me ready to mow down either..the food however, perfect! We ordered the 6 piece fish n chips at about $20, a little overpriced but totally worth it. Fresh, not frozen fillets, not strips. I mean these bad boys were tender, flavorful, not greasy, full, perfectly breaded, fried to order fillets. At first I got annoyed waiting 10 minutes, but if you want fresh, you wait..easily the best fish n chips I've ever had! Alot of food too! They just need to fix the ambiance and tunes(hence the 3 stars)
(3)Shawn W.
I wanted to get in the right mind-set for the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics in London, so I took my family here for fish & chips! It was SO good! The fish was fresh, crispy, and yummy. The fries were standard but nicely done. The hush puppies were good, and the fried clams were also good. I'll be back with any friends who ever say they like fish & chips. Also, I need to try the shrimp, fried zucchini, and maybe the lumpia. I'm thankful for all the prior reviews that mentioned the wait. It helped put us in the right frame of mind, so we were totally okay with the wait. And I don't think it was very bad at all. And even if it had been, the end product (freshly prepared food) was worth every second! Oh...and this was important to my wife: it's immaculately clean!
(5)Michelle W.
Best fish and chips. Like ever. Perfectly crispy even when you get it to go (which I think says it all!) We take all of our out of town guests here.
(5)