17 Fish & Chips Restaurants Highly Regarded In Washington State

Cold, drizzly days demand something hot, crispy, and a little nostalgic. Washington’s fish and chips scene delivers exactly that: golden batter that shatters, flaky fish, fries sturdy enough for malt vinegar, and tartar sauce you’ll keep dipping into.

From ferry-stop gems to waterfront stalwarts, these spots pull serious local love for doing it right. Bring an appetite and maybe a rain jacket, because the best bites often come with a view.

1. Rockfish Grill (Anacortes)

Rockfish Grill nails that small harbor comfort: big portions, crisp batter, and fries that welcome malt vinegar like old friends. You get that satisfyingly loud crunch, then tender fish that flakes apart with barely any effort.

On a rainy Anacortes afternoon, it just hits different.

Expect a lively crowd and that unhurried waterfront rhythm where nobody rushes salt or conversation. Grab a pale ale, squeeze lemon, and let the steam fog your glasses.

You will probably think about splitting an order, then regret it halfway through, because you will want every last fry.

2. Ivar’s (Multiple locations)

Ivar’s is the hometown ritual: order at the counter, step outside, and defend your fries from seagulls. The fish is reliably crunchy with a clean, not-greasy finish, and the fries hold up to vinegar without collapsing.

It tastes like waterfront nostalgia, no matter the weather.

There is comfort in the routine here. Tartar sauce is zippy, lemon is standard, and the batter stays crisp longer than you expect.

You could chase trends, but sometimes you just want familiar crunch, a view of the water, and a paper boat that warms cold hands.

3. Local Tide (Seattle)

Local Tide treats fish and chips like a headliner, not a side act. The batter is whisper-thin and audibly crisp, letting the fish stay front and center.

Fries are hot, tidy, and seasoned like someone really cares about the last bite as much as the first.

Expect brightness from lemon and a tartar sauce that leans fresh over heavy. It is the kind of plate that makes you slow down between bites, appreciating texture and temperature.

When cravings strike in Fremont, this is the answer: precise, modern, and seriously satisfying without being fussy.

4. Seabolt’s Smokehouse (Oak Harbor)

Seabolt’s Smokehouse brings island character with crisp, bronzed batter and choices that matter: cod, halibut, maybe salmon. The fry is attentive, never oil-logged, so the fish stays flaky and proud.

You taste the coast in each bite without heavy seasoning masking the seafood.

Grab a seat, listen to locals place regular orders, and get generous with the malt vinegar. Fries are sturdy, golden, and exactly what a rainy Whidbey day calls for.

If you like options and texture that snaps, this spot rewards your ferry effort with honest, deeply satisfying crunch.

5. Northern Fish Old Town (Tacoma)

Northern Fish Old Town feels like a market first, fry counter second, and that is a very good sign. Fish is pristine, batter crisp, and everything tastes like it was handled by people who know boats and tides.

The fries are thick enough to survive malt vinegar abuse.

There is no fuss, just results: hot, flaky fish that steams when you break it. Tartar leans tangy and balanced.

Sit near the window, watch Tacoma’s sky threaten drizzle, and realize you just found the plate people keep recommending for a reason.

6. Pacific Inn Pub (Seattle)

Pacific Inn Pub is that unassuming legend you hear about from a friend who swears by it. The fish comes in serious slabs with a rugged, craggy crunch that stays crisp start to finish.

Fries are straightforward and perfect, like they were designed solely for malt vinegar.

The room is tiny, the vibe is relaxed, and the plate is a minor miracle. Order without overthinking and let the steam and salt do their work.

When the weather turns, this is cozy central: fried, golden, and absolutely what you hoped for.

7. Tunnies Fish & Chips (La Conner)

Tunnies is a stroll-up, fried-to-order operation that rewards patience. You hear the sizzle as your fish goes in, then get handed a basket still snapping with heat.

The batter is light but sturdy, and the fries come out golden with that necessary exterior crunch.

Take your order to a bench and watch the water drift by. A drizzle only adds to the mood, honestly.

With small-town charm and big flavor, it is the kind of place that makes a day trip feel well-planned, even if you just followed your appetite.

8. Port Fairhaven Fish & Chips (Bellingham)

Port Fairhaven pairs crisp fish with a view that teases you into one more bite. The batter shatters, the interior stays juicy, and the fries take vinegar like champs.

It is everything you want from a waterfront walk, just wrapped in paper and still steaming.

Grab napkins and a second lemon wedge, then settle in along the rail. The coastal air keeps things smelling like salt and possibility.

On a cool Bellingham day, this plate becomes your hand warmer, mood lifter, and excuse to linger by the water longer.

9. Proper Fish (Bainbridge Island)

Proper Fish leans British, which means thick, crisp fillets, chunky chips, and optional mushy peas. The fry is textbook: glassy crunch outside, steamy flakes within.

Chips are wide-shouldered and seasoned to stand up to malt vinegar without getting soggy halfway through.

There is a tidy rhythm here: order, ferry stories in the background, then a basket that feels like a small ceremony. Tartar leans bright, peas add comfort, and the fish does the talking.

When you want classic technique with island charm, this is a straight shot to contentment.

10. Saltwater Fish House & Oyster Bar (Langley)

Saltwater’s fish and chips show polish without losing crunch. The batter is tidy and golden, the fish tender, and the fries arrive blistering hot.

There is a brightness to the tartar that keeps each bite lively, the kind that makes you reach for another fry automatically.

Langley’s coastal calm does the rest. Settle into the rhythm of clinking glasses and low conversation, glance toward the water, then dive back into the basket.

If you like your comfort food with a bit of elegance, this spot delivers mood and texture in equal measure.

11. Orcas Hotel Cafe (Orcas Island)

Orcas Hotel Cafe feels like a reward for making the ferry. The fish comes out crisp and golden, the fries sturdy, and the view seals the deal.

You get that steamy, lemony moment that makes a gray island afternoon feel celebratory instead of chilly.

Find a window seat, warm your hands on the basket, and watch ferries glide in slow choreography. The tartar tastes fresh, not cloying, and the batter keeps its crunch.

Simple, classic, deeply welcome after a windy crossing, this plate brings comfort with postcard scenery attached.

12. All Water Seafood & Oyster Bar (Seattle)

All Water’s take is clean, precise, and restaurant-polished without losing soul. Fish arrives in crisp, uniform planks that crackle softly, revealing juicy flakes.

Fries are evenly golden and seasoned, and the tartar carries herbs that brighten each bite.

This is where you linger over a cocktail while steam curls off your plate. Service is thoughtful, pacing is steady, and the batter never tastes heavy.

When you want fish and chips in a sit-down setting with a little ceremony, this checks every box and then some.

13. Chinook’s (Seattle)

Chinook’s is a living postcard of Salmon Bay: boats bobbing, gulls circling, and a plate of fish and chips that belongs in your memory bank. The batter is crisp without being bulky, the fish flaky, and the fries are enthusiastically dippable.

Grab a table by the window and let the marina do its slow theater. Everything here feels steady and practiced in the best way.

You come for dependable crunch, a splash of vinegar, and that quiet moment when the drizzle turns cozy and your plate stays hot.

14. Duke’s Seafood Tacoma (Tacoma)

Duke’s Seafood Tacoma serves a polished comfort plate that still satisfies pure cravings. Expect crisp, even battering, moist fish, and fries that hit that golden middle ground.

The tartar sauce leans zesty, adding a little lift that makes each bite pop.

It is a reliable pick for mixed crowds: seafood lovers, kids, and the friend who just wants something classic. Sit by the window if you can and watch Tacoma’s waterline while your basket steams.

Consistent, friendly, and filling, this is a go-to for a reason.

15. Fish House Cafe (Tacoma)

Fish House Cafe is small but mighty, the kind of place locals recommend with conviction. The fish is fried to a firm, craggy crunch that keeps every bite lively.

Fries arrive hot and plentiful, ideal for a generous douse of vinegar and a spirited dunk in tartar.

There is zero pretense, just focus and heat. You order, you wait, you get a basket that feels heavier than expected.

Perfect for gray days and quick lunches, it proves that great fish and chips do not need waterfront views, only care and timing.

16. Anthony’s at Spokane Falls (Spokane)

Anthony’s at Spokane Falls pairs a dramatic view with a classic, well-executed fry. The batter is crisp and light, preserving moist, delicate fish within.

Fries arrive hot and structured, standing up to vinegar and conversation without going limp.

Settle near the windows and listen to the rush of water while steam curls off your plate. It feels special without being fussy, like an everyday celebration of comfort food done right.

When Spokane cravings hit, this spot consistently lands near the top for good reason.

17. O’Doherty’s Irish Grille (Spokane)

O’Doherty’s brings Irish-pub warmth to a Spokane staple. The fish arrives with a hearty, confident crunch, while the interior stays flaky and tender.

Fries are classic pub style, ideal for pints, laughter, and a shameless extra pour of malt vinegar.

It is lively, friendly, and proudly unfancy in the best possible way. Tartar is zesty, lemon brightens everything, and the basket disappears faster than planned.

When you want comfort without overthinking, this pub delivers a plate that feels like a hug, pint optional but recommended.