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A showcased plate of fish and chips with mural of a red London telephone booth in the background
Fish and chips get slathered in a fiery curry sauce at U Street NW’s new London Curry House.
London Curry House/official photo

Where to Find Delicious Fish and Chips Around D.C.

Eat fish (and fries) through Lent or all year long

by Tierney Plumb Updated
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Fish and chips get slathered in a fiery curry sauce at U Street NW’s new London Curry House.
| London Curry House/official photo
by Tierney Plumb Updated
1 comment / new

With Lent lasting for another month, much of D.C.'s Catholic population will be looking for pescetarian options for the next several Fridays. For non-observers, a basket or plate of fried fish and chips functions as a tasty and filling meal on any day of the year.

To do their part to alleviate the Chesapeake Bay’s ongoing blue catfish problem, more chefs now rely on the invasive species to build their fish and chips dish. With a sweet flavor profile from all the rockfish it’s eating, some say Maryland catfish tastes better than ever. Beer-battered cod or haddock remains the fried fish of choice for others, joined by inventive alternatives to simple spuds and tartar sauce.

Here are 15 restaurants offering fish specials directly targeting Lent observers this year, as well as places that do the British classic justice.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

For all the latest Washington D.C. dining intel, subscribe to Eater DC’s newsletter.

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Horace and Dickies

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Long-running local favorite Horace and Dickie’s is known for its cornmeal-coated whiting and French fries ($17.95). The original recently closed in Northeast after a three-decade run, but its Takoma location is still going strong.

6912 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20012
(202) 248-4265
(202) 248-4265

Also featured in:

Fish In The Neighborhood

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Though not a traditional fish and chips offering, the Park View institution has a large selection of fried fish (catfish, red snapper, perch, trout, tilapia) as well as French fries available. Order by weight and consider the spicy mango sauce.

3601 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 545-6974
(202) 545-6974

Also featured in:

London Curry House

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Bombay-born restaurateur Asad Sheikh’s boisterous new London Curry House pays homage to the city streets of U.K.’s capital where fiery curries and fish and chips are king. Sheikh says he taste-tested the local competition to get his recipe right. The final cut plates super crispy cod alongside thick potato wedges ($17). In lieu of ketchup or tartar sauce, its fried spuds arrive slathered with one of kitchen’s spiciest curries.

1301 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 290-2205
(202) 290-2205
A potato wedge picked up from a plate
Fish and chips with curry at London Curry House.
London Curry House/official photo

Boundary Stone

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Bloomingdale’s reliable neighborhood tavern brings back fish and chips under the watch of its newly named chef David Bacot, who most recently led the kitchen at Potomac’s Lock 72 Kitchen & Bar by Robert Wiedmaier before the pandemic hit. At Boundary Stone, Alaskan cod battered in Busch Light joins lemon, malt vinegar, fries and homemade tartar sauce ($17).

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 621-6635
(202) 621-6635

Also featured in:

Ivy City Smokehouse

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D.C.’s standard bearer for seafood naturally sends out a solid fish and chips out of its Ivy City tavern, joined by fries, slaw and tartar sauce ($16).

1356 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 529-3300
(202) 529-3300

Also featured in:

Hank's Oyster Bar (multiple locations)

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Restaurateur Jamie Leeds’s light, airy take on fish and chips is always a solid ordering choice at Hank’s. Three pieces of tempura-battered cod comes with Old Bay fries, coleslaw, and tartar sauce ($22). Order online for pickup at its Dupont, Wharf, and Old Town locations.

1624 Q St NW Suite 100, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 462-4265
(202) 462-4265
Fried fish and chips with slaw on a white plate
Fish and chips at Hank’s Oyster Bar.
Hank’s Oyster Bar/official photo

Also featured in:

AboveGround

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Chef Nicholas Martino learned the art of pub fare firsthand while working for London’s Michelin-starred icon Marco Pierre White. Martino’s nearly year-old British stall in Union Market replicates across-the-pond staples like “The Governor’s” fish and chips (haddock, triple-cooked chips, mushy peas, and tartar sauce). Order online for pickup or delivery ($19.99). Nearby vendor District Fishwife is also known for its fish and chips, prepared with homemade tartar sauce and Aussie ketchup.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Mercy Me

Copy Link

The “sorta South American” West End cafe, now led by Puerto Rican chef Samuel Diaz, just unleashed a creative fish and chips main built with the Chesapeake Bay’s blue catfish. The “chips” part of the new dinner dish is a fried medley of tostones and white and Japanese sweet potatoes, served with tamarind sweet chili.

1143 New Hampshire Ave NW Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20037
(202) 828-7762
(202) 828-7762
Fish and chips surrounded by palm leaves
Fried fish and “chips” with papas, tamarind sweet chili sauce, pickled fresno peppers.
Mariah Miranda for Mercy Me

Also featured in:

Duke's Grocery

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D.C.’s beloved British brand runs a “Fish Friday” special through Lent. The weekly plate of beer-battered haddock, homemade fries, and lemon is available at its Foggy Bottom location only.

2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
(202) 733-3967
(202) 733-3967

Also featured in:

The Queen Vic

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The Queen Vic couldn't call itself a proper British pub without offering baskets of fish and chips. They're on the menu all year long — with malt vinegar, of course — for $20.

1206 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 396-2001
(202) 396-2001
A basket of fish and chips with sauces
Fish and chips at The Queen Vic.
The Queen Vic/official photo

Also featured in:

Fog Point at Assembly

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A bright, nautical-themed raw bar tucked off the Rosslyn Metro station opens this week with East Coast oysters and a fish and chips main made with Maryland blue catfish ($18.95). For the “chips” component, potatoes are cut, soaked in vinegar, and blanched before hitting plates the next day. Fog Point also makes its own bread and butter pickles and tartar sauce to round out the dish. The 50-seat bar and restaurant is the full-service addition to Rosslyn’s Assembly food hall.

1700 N Moore St, Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 419-3156
(703) 419-3156

Also featured in:

Hawk & Griffin

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U.K. native and Pure Pasty owner Michael Burgess teamed up with architect Tom Kyllo to bring Vienna a bustling new British pub with live music and trivia nights. Its thoughtful fish and chips ($17) features fresh cod dipped in beer batter. Its tartar sauce counterpart is also made on-site.

435 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA 22180
(703) 261-6707
(703) 261-6707
Fish and chips with peas on a table
Hawk & Griffin’s fish and chips features fresh cod and homemade beer batter.
Hawk & Griffin/Facebook

Also featured in:

Valor Brewpub

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Barracks Row’s veteran-owned brewpub serves breaded-and-fried cod alongside fries, slaw, and tartar sauce ($16).

723 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 547-8459
(202) 547-8459
Fish and chips on a white plate
Valor Brewpub’s year-round fish and chips.
Valor Brewpub/official photo

Also featured in:

Mattie and Eddie’s Irish Bar and Restaurant

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Cathal Armstrong amassed a devoted following for his reliable fish and chips at Eamonn’s - A Dublin Chipper in Old Town, which closed in 2019. The fan favorite resurfaces at his newest Irish bar in Arlington. Dubbed “Eammon’s fish and chips” ($23), haddock wrapped in golden batter joins seven “secret” sauces for a dipper tasting of sorts. The saucer selection includes a ketchup-mayo mashup; cayenne and serrano; and curry.

1301 S Joyce St D-1, Arlington, VA 22202
(571) 312-2665
(571) 312-2665

Also featured in:

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Horace and Dickies

6912 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20012

Long-running local favorite Horace and Dickie’s is known for its cornmeal-coated whiting and French fries ($17.95). The original recently closed in Northeast after a three-decade run, but its Takoma location is still going strong.

6912 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20012
(202) 248-4265
(202) 248-4265

Fish In The Neighborhood

3601 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Though not a traditional fish and chips offering, the Park View institution has a large selection of fried fish (catfish, red snapper, perch, trout, tilapia) as well as French fries available. Order by weight and consider the spicy mango sauce.

3601 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 545-6974
(202) 545-6974

London Curry House

1301 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Bombay-born restaurateur Asad Sheikh’s boisterous new London Curry House pays homage to the city streets of U.K.’s capital where fiery curries and fish and chips are king. Sheikh says he taste-tested the local competition to get his recipe right. The final cut plates super crispy cod alongside thick potato wedges ($17). In lieu of ketchup or tartar sauce, its fried spuds arrive slathered with one of kitchen’s spiciest curries.

1301 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 290-2205
(202) 290-2205
A potato wedge picked up from a plate
Fish and chips with curry at London Curry House.
London Curry House/official photo

Boundary Stone

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Bloomingdale’s reliable neighborhood tavern brings back fish and chips under the watch of its newly named chef David Bacot, who most recently led the kitchen at Potomac’s Lock 72 Kitchen & Bar by Robert Wiedmaier before the pandemic hit. At Boundary Stone, Alaskan cod battered in Busch Light joins lemon, malt vinegar, fries and homemade tartar sauce ($17).

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 621-6635
(202) 621-6635

Ivy City Smokehouse

1356 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002

D.C.’s standard bearer for seafood naturally sends out a solid fish and chips out of its Ivy City tavern, joined by fries, slaw and tartar sauce ($16).

1356 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 529-3300
(202) 529-3300

Hank's Oyster Bar (multiple locations)

1624 Q St NW Suite 100, Washington, DC 20009

Restaurateur Jamie Leeds’s light, airy take on fish and chips is always a solid ordering choice at Hank’s. Three pieces of tempura-battered cod comes with Old Bay fries, coleslaw, and tartar sauce ($22). Order online for pickup at its Dupont, Wharf, and Old Town locations.

1624 Q St NW Suite 100, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 462-4265
(202) 462-4265
Fried fish and chips with slaw on a white plate
Fish and chips at Hank’s Oyster Bar.
Hank’s Oyster Bar/official photo

AboveGround

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Chef Nicholas Martino learned the art of pub fare firsthand while working for London’s Michelin-starred icon Marco Pierre White. Martino’s nearly year-old British stall in Union Market replicates across-the-pond staples like “The Governor’s” fish and chips (haddock, triple-cooked chips, mushy peas, and tartar sauce). Order online for pickup or delivery ($19.99). Nearby vendor District Fishwife is also known for its fish and chips, prepared with homemade tartar sauce and Aussie ketchup.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Mercy Me

1143 New Hampshire Ave NW Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20037

The “sorta South American” West End cafe, now led by Puerto Rican chef Samuel Diaz, just unleashed a creative fish and chips main built with the Chesapeake Bay’s blue catfish. The “chips” part of the new dinner dish is a fried medley of tostones and white and Japanese sweet potatoes, served with tamarind sweet chili.

1143 New Hampshire Ave NW Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20037
(202) 828-7762
(202) 828-7762
Fish and chips surrounded by palm leaves
Fried fish and “chips” with papas, tamarind sweet chili sauce, pickled fresno peppers.
Mariah Miranda for Mercy Me

Duke's Grocery

2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006

D.C.’s beloved British brand runs a “Fish Friday” special through Lent. The weekly plate of beer-battered haddock, homemade fries, and lemon is available at its Foggy Bottom location only.

2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
(202) 733-3967
(202) 733-3967

The Queen Vic

1206 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

The Queen Vic couldn't call itself a proper British pub without offering baskets of fish and chips. They're on the menu all year long — with malt vinegar, of course — for $20.

1206 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 396-2001
(202) 396-2001
A basket of fish and chips with sauces
Fish and chips at The Queen Vic.
The Queen Vic/official photo

Fog Point at Assembly

1700 N Moore St, Arlington, VA 22209

A bright, nautical-themed raw bar tucked off the Rosslyn Metro station opens this week with East Coast oysters and a fish and chips main made with Maryland blue catfish ($18.95). For the “chips” component, potatoes are cut, soaked in vinegar, and blanched before hitting plates the next day. Fog Point also makes its own bread and butter pickles and tartar sauce to round out the dish. The 50-seat bar and restaurant is the full-service addition to Rosslyn’s Assembly food hall.

1700 N Moore St, Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 419-3156
(703) 419-3156

Hawk & Griffin

435 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA 22180

U.K. native and Pure Pasty owner Michael Burgess teamed up with architect Tom Kyllo to bring Vienna a bustling new British pub with live music and trivia nights. Its thoughtful fish and chips ($17) features fresh cod dipped in beer batter. Its tartar sauce counterpart is also made on-site.

435 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA 22180
(703) 261-6707
(703) 261-6707
Fish and chips with peas on a table
Hawk & Griffin’s fish and chips features fresh cod and homemade beer batter.
Hawk & Griffin/Facebook

Valor Brewpub

723 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Barracks Row’s veteran-owned brewpub serves breaded-and-fried cod alongside fries, slaw, and tartar sauce ($16).

723 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 547-8459
(202) 547-8459
Fish and chips on a white plate
Valor Brewpub’s year-round fish and chips.
Valor Brewpub/official photo

Mattie and Eddie’s Irish Bar and Restaurant

1301 S Joyce St D-1, Arlington, VA 22202

Cathal Armstrong amassed a devoted following for his reliable fish and chips at Eamonn’s - A Dublin Chipper in Old Town, which closed in 2019. The fan favorite resurfaces at his newest Irish bar in Arlington. Dubbed “Eammon’s fish and chips” ($23), haddock wrapped in golden batter joins seven “secret” sauces for a dipper tasting of sorts. The saucer selection includes a ketchup-mayo mashup; cayenne and serrano; and curry.

1301 S Joyce St D-1, Arlington, VA 22202
(571) 312-2665
(571) 312-2665

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