Victoria

14 of the best coastal fish and chip shops in Victoria

Fish and chips close pu on picnic table

Tianna Nadalin

Posted December 01, 2022

Heading to the beach this summer? Dust off the old beach towel or picnic rug and discover Victoria’s best coastal fish and chip joints. 

If one thing is synonymous with summer, it’s fish and chips by the beach. And when it comes to seaside fish and chipperies, Victoria’s coastal towns are home to some of the finest. 

Because after a day of beach swimming and sand-castle building, is there anything better than heading to the local fish and chip shop, thongs scratching your sandy feet and a damp beach towel slung over your shoulder, for a newspaper-wrapped parcel of piping hot potato cakes, grilled flake, a sausage in batter or two and a minimum chips?

From the crispiest battered flake to the freshest grilled barramundi and the most tender calamari rings, there is no shortage of salty-aired seafood mongers at which to hook some seriously tasty fish and chip favourites. 

So, If you consider yourself a bit of a seafood a-fish-ionado, here’s our guide to 14 of Victoria’s best coastal fish and chip shops. 

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Best fish and chips on the Surf Coast

Fish by Moonlite 

Shop 4, Anglesea Shopping village, 87/89 Great Ocean Rd, Anglesea

If you’re heading down the Great Ocean Road, a pit stop at Anglesea fish and chippery Fish by Moonlite is a must. The philosophy behind this popular fishing hole was inspired by founder Matt’s time cooking on the Greek island of Skiathos, where the evening’s menu was based on whatever the local fisherman brought into the port that day. So too is the menu at Fish by Moonlite a reflection of whatever is in season. As well as cooking up some of the area’s best fish, Moonlite is also known for its crispy potato cakes and crunchy double-cooked chips.

Fisho’s 

36 The Esplanade, Torquay

No trip to Torquay is complete without a visit to Fisho’s. Whether you want to pull up a picnic table for a fish and chips feast overlooking Cosy Corner or grab a parcel to go and head across the road for a picnic on the beach, Fisho’s has you covered. Cooking only with sustainably caught fish, If they’ve got it, don’t miss the lightly battered gummy shark or the grilled squid, and be sure to order a generous helping of hand-cut chips – some of the best on the Surf Coast.

Apollo Bay Fisherman’s Co-op 

2 Breakwater Rd, Apollo Bay

Fish and chips lovers, take note. It doesn’t get much better than this sunny Apollo Bay seafood spot. Perched above Apollo Bay harbour, the Fisherman’s Co-op is one of the last places in Australia still serving fish that’s fresh off the boat. With fish offloaded at the harbour every morning, it doesn’t get much fresher – or more local – than this. Grab a seafood platter that changes depending on the day’s catch or try their signature Southern Rock Lobster; it’s a real stunner. 

 

Fish and chips close up on picnic table

Crispy batter and golden fries are what fish and chip dreams are made of. Photo: Visit Victoria.

Best fish and chips on the Bellarine Peninsula

Opsy’s 

670-678 Bellarine Hwy, Leopold VIC 

For classic fish and chips, cooked to perfection, look no further than Opsy’s, on the Bellarine Highway in Leopold. The family-run fish and chip shop has been dishing up some of the best seafood and souvlaki in the Greater Geelong region since 1975, reeling in plenty of fans for their crispy golden chips and non-greasy battered fish. And if you need your seafood fix in a hurry, it’s also the first drive-thru fish and chippery in Australia. 

Mavros Fish and Chips

70 The Terrace, Ocean Grove

There’s nothing like grabbing a parcel of fish and chips for dinner after a day on the beach. And when in Ocean Grove, Mavros is the place to go to satiate that salty craving. This popular local haunt is slinging some of the best traditional fish and chip shop hamburgers (you know the kind we mean) on this side of the bay. Grab a combo deal then head back to the beach for a sandy sunset snack.   

At The Heads

1A Jetty Road, Barwon Heads

If you’re searching for fish and chips that are just a little bit fancy, you’ll find them in the laid-back Bellarine hamlet of Barwon Heads. Perfectly positioned at the end of a pier, at the mouth of the Barwon River as it flows into Port Phillip Bay, At The Heads restaurant boasts one of the coast’s most idyllic, not to mention delicious, seafood offerings. From their perfectly crispy beer-battered flathead and platters of Australian seafood to market fresh rock oysters with native finger lime, this is the place to go if you want to level up your next seaside fish and chips experience.

Trident Fish Bar 

4 Gellibrand St, Queenscliff

When it comes to fish and chips, Queenscliff locals know what’s up. Trident Fish Bar was voted Victoria’s best in the 2021 Great Australian Fish and Chip Awards, as well as the Australian Good Food Guide’s Reader’s Choice Winner for 2022. The charming fish and chippery, which is located opposite the magnificent Princess Park and Foreshore, is known for its crispy battered fish that always comes piping hot and perfectly seasoned. Their gluten-free options, including some very tasty chicken wings, are also a drawcard.  

 

Close up of fish and chips with fresh lemon and a glass of beer

Fish and chips with a crisp white wine are a match made in summer heaven. Photo: Visit Victoria.

Best fish and chips on the Mornington Peninsula

Salt Fish & Chips

347 Point Nepean Rd, Dromana

For a taste of nostalgia, Dromana’s Salt Fish & Chips has it in spades. Located across the road from the main beach, this choice Mornington Peninsula fish and chipper is frying up all the classics, as well as a few modern faves. Their chips are an expertly executed feat of fluffy potato housed in a crispy golden shell, while the battered gummy is some of the flakiest on the peninsula. If you’re a potato cake devotee, they’ve got them in both traditional and sweet potato varieties and, for the calamari ring connoisseurs, you’ll find no tough, stringy bites here. 

Hector’s Seafoods

2185 Point Nepean Rd, Rye

A little further along Point Nepean Road you’ll find Hector’s Seafood, a traditional fish and chip shop with all the trimmings and no frills. It’s got an authentic coastal fish shop feel, a laid-back ambience, generous portions and honest prices. A family favourite for ‘ninch locals and holidaymakers alike, Hector’s is all about good quality fresh fish, top-notch burgers and generous minimum chips. But the real showstopper is their dessert fritters in either banana or pineapple – an absolute must when visiting Rye.

Yabbies

14 Blake St, Mornington

When in Mornington, a fish and chip feed from Yabbies is a must. The coeliac-friendly fish and chip mongers have mastered the art of light and crispy batter, cooking up fish and chips worthy of any gastro-pub menu. Among the house specialties are the calamari and blue grenadier, with nearly the whole menu available gluten-free. Look for the place with the line out the front. 

 

Family sitting on the foreshare eating fish and chips

Fish and chips with a view at the San Remo Fisherman's Co-op. Photo: Visit Victoria.

Best fish and chips in Gippsland

San Remo Fishermans Co-op

170 Marine Parade, San Remo

Fish and chips on the foreshore screams summer, and there’s no better place to get your fill of freshly caught seafood than the San Remo Fishermans Co-op. Serving up fish caught on the co-op’s own boats, including Bass Strait gummy shark (flake) and southern rock lobster, as well as hand-battered scallops, crumbed calamari, chunky chips, salads and proper burgers, this waterfront fish and chip monger is the ultimate crowd pleaser. Get there around noon if you want to catch the daily pelican feeding show. This free activity is undertaken by well-trained staff and is regulated by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, with Wild Pelicans of San Remo Pier numbering as many as 35. 

Wild Catch 

345 Esplanade, Lakes Entrance  

Buying fish and chips from this Lakes Entrance hot spot comes with a warning: you might get hooked. Being one of the only local businesses to have its own trawler means Wilf Catch customers can be confident that they’re getting the highest-quality, fresh-caught fish possible. Known for their tender calamari, melt-in-your-mouth gummy and crispy battered ling, there’s a lot to love about the food at Wild Catch. That the décor is on theme, too, (the main counter is shaped like a boat) really rounds out the whole experience. 

Port Welshpool General Store

93 Lewis St, Port Welshpool 

The quiet coastal community of Port Welshpool might not be the first place you’d look for some of the finest fish in chips in South Gippsland, but that’s exactly what you’ll find at the Port Welshpool General Store. Make sure you arrive with an appetite because you’ll want to try everything on their small but thoughtful menu. From perfectly cooked calamari, crispy fish burgers and basic (but beautifully done) fish and chips, to hotdogs and burgers. Throw in a side of chips, wedges or onion rings for good measure. This picture-perfect spot also offers exceptional value for money, with their generously portioned fisherman’s platter for two setting you back just $25. 

Ocean View Takeaway & Kiosk

21 Marine Parade, Marlo

Behind its white weatherboard façade, this humble beachfront kiosk is stacking some of the state’s tastiest old-school fish and chip shop burgers and freshest fish and chips, minus the grease. The ingredients are high quality, the service friendly and the chips still come wrapped in paper, as they should. Grab a bite to go and wander down the path to the beach for a superb seaside feast.

 

Person enjoying fish and chips with a glass of white wine

Can you beat seafood in the sunshine? Photo: Visit Victoria.

Honourable mentions

Surf Coast 

  • Bell St Fish & Chips, Torquay 
  • East Beach Fish and Chips, Port Fairy 
  • Parker’s Fish & Chips, Warrnambool
  • Aireys Inlet Fish & Chips, Aireys Inlet

Bellarine

  • Lonnie Fish & Chips, Point Lonsdale
  • Barwon Heads Fish & Chips, Barwon Heads
  • Little Mussel Café, Portarlington 

Mornington Peninsula

  • Dromana Fish Supply, Dromana
  • David Prosser Seafoods, Rye 
  • Captain Jacks, Somerville 
  • Zorba’s Fish, Chips & Kebabs, Hastings

South Gippsland

  • The Wooli General, Phillip Island
  • Ionian Fish and Chips, Wonthaggi 
  • Walkerville Kiosk, Walkerville  
  • Nat’s Rustic Beach Feed, Cowes

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