My recent visit to Big Daddy's Fish Fry in Tofino, British Columbia, was an absolutely delightful culinary adventure that I simply must share. This family-operated establishment radiates an infectious, lively energy that immediately transports you to a quintessential beachfront eatery. Stepping inside, the first thing you notice is the captivating ambiance. The air hums with the joyful melodies of 1950s rock and roll, music that has an uncanny knack for putting a smile on everyone's face. Then, you're likely to be greeted by Big Daddy himself - a true master of his domain. His extensive knowledge of every menu item and the fresh, locally-sourced ingredients that go into them is genuinely impressive and adds a personal touch to your ordering experience. Their specialization spans an irresistible trio: succulent seafood, mouth-watering burgers, and perfectly crafted chicken sandwiches. My friend, Don, and I placed our orders and found a cozy spot, eagerly anticipating the buzz of our pager. When our food arrived, brought to us by a wonderfully cheerful and polite kitchen assistant, I was genuinely astonished. The sheer generosity of the portions and the impeccable presentation were truly a feast for the eyes. I indulged in a phenomenal chicken sandwich, generously topped with a crisp, homemade apple coleslaw and a creamy, tangy dressing. Accompanying this masterpiece were some of the freshest, most perfectly golden-brown French fries I've ever tasted. Don opted for a hearty serving clam chowder served with delicious house bread and a refreshing side salad. Each bite was a testament to the quality and passion Big Daddy's puts into their food. Our entire experience, from the warm welcome to the last delicious morsel, was nothing short of fantastic. I wholeheartedly recommend Big Daddy's Fish Fry to anyone seeking an outstanding meal, a vibrant atmosphere, and genuinely friendly service in Tofino. It's an unforgettable taste of coastal comfort. read more

Came hoping to try the shrimp cakes but looks like they've updated the menu since the most recent one was posted online, and they don't have those anymore. I got the lingcod burger instead. While the price tag looks expensive, it the burger came with three nuggets of fish, which was more than fit on the bun - I took one off and ate the burger with just 2 pieces, and fish was still spilling out. Besides the fish, there was also a heaping of slaw and arugula on the burger. It was delicious - the fish was tender and flaky and the slaw was really good. The bun didn't fall apart even with a ton of stuff on it. The fries were standard shoestring fries and they were kind of greasy. I got a side of habanero hot sauce to dip them in and that was pretty good. It had a decent kick but not extreme heat. Dips are kind of pricy at $1.5-2 for a small cup, but ketchup is free at the tables. How it works is you order and pay at the entrance, take a buzzer and seat yourself, and get your food at the counter when the buzzer goes off. The older lady taking orders was very cheerful. read more

Big Daddy's Fish Fry - Lingcod burger w/ side habanero hot sauce - Fish & Chips Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

Great outdoor spot for fish and chips! The portions are huge, so we added a second piece of fish and split the meal. The coleslaw was amazing...made to order with yummy dressing. Fresh fish, crispy fries and amazing homemade tartar! A must visit in this cute beach town!! read more

Very nice spot for a quick meal in town, ambiance is lively and outdoor sitting only, has a very casual feel which matches the food. Service was friendly and quite fast The fish was very fresh, delicious and flaky with a great fried crust. Only downside is the fish portion could be a bit bigger since its only 1 piece. The highlight of the meal were the fried prawns though, good portion size, perfectly cooked and so fresh. Next time I'm in tofino this is what I'm getting. read more

Big Daddy's Fish Fry - Fried prawns and fish and chips - Fish & Chips Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

Really good food but a bit pricey. Serves was good but the wait was a little long. The location Is nice and there is good people watching. Overall a good place to eat. read more

The fish and chips were amazing!!! Light and fluffy. The halibut was the best! Definitely returning before we leave Tofino!!

A well recognized spot in the neighbourhood that delivered the cravings we had for fish and chips. I don't think it was absolutely mind blowing but I found it was a nice mid afternoon pick me up. During my time in Tofino, I found most items on all menus (at a number of restaurants) quite heavily seasoned with salt-- and this was no exception. Perhaps it's just the vibe there but I would've opted for no salt next time. COVID protocols: this place is all outdoors, I found it helpful that you couldn't sit and take a table until you had a number for your order. I enjoyed the: - Halibut 5/5 and chips 3/5 (RE: salt) - Go coconuts for coconut prawns 4/5 : I really enjoyed the plantain chips and the prawns felt very light with the coconut batter read more

Big Daddy's Fish Fry - Fish & Chips Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

Lovely roadside fish n chips spot. Order first then go to your assigned table (or wait for your take out). The shrimp in the coconut shrimp and chips were large and cooked perfectly. The lingcod fish and chips were tasty too. We found it amusing that the vinegars on the tables were in spray bottles, although it does help control the portion. read more

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Highly recommended & absolutely correct. Greeted cheerfully even though the day was cool. Good selection of fish & seafood. BUT the fish was perfect! Not too much crust, but what there was was tasty & not overdone. The fish was melt in your mouth! Couldn't possibly have been better. My husband had halibut & I had the ling cod and they were both done just to perfection, tender, moist and tasty. Then there's the fries! I am a French fry fanatic & these were great! And next the Cole slaw. It was Just super. Not a heavy creamy dressing, but just enough to soften the cabbage a bit. And I'll bet the tartar sauce was made there & didn't come in a bottle. Long & short, this is probably the most I've raved about an outside eatery ever but all true. read more

Just ate lunch there today. Had an order of cod "fish & chips" for $21. Only a single piece of fish about the size of a chocolate bar.. And a decent helping of fries, which were tasty & crispy. I would definitely NOT recommend this place for the fish & chips while in Tofino. You would think a place right on the ocean would have better fish & chips. That person that said the helpings were huge is definitely mistaken or just got lucky. Oh well won't eat there again...ever! read more

Really great halibut and chips. Also really pleased with the service. And for a surf town chip shop, the outdoor seating is the perfect vibe. read more

Great quick bite place in Tofino! Satisfies rainy day cravings.definitely recommend to anyone, its simple yet filling read more

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Great fish at a reasonable price. We had the fish and chips, two with poutine and the other with coleslaw. The coleslaw was made with an apple cider vinegar dressing which was just ok. I'd prefer mayonnaise. The poutine was also just OK. Our meals included a fried dill pickle which none of us ate. It was too thick and very watery. It would probably be better if they deep-fried it in a spear shape instead. The ambiance was what you would expect from a roadside self-serve eatery . Seating was limited but I suspect they have a lot of take out customers. We'll be back! read more

Big Daddy's Fish Fry - We had the fish and chips. Two with poutine and one with the coleslaw. - Fish & Chips Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

No matter how many times I visit Tofino, when I'm passing Mackenzie Beach, the first thing in my mind is "Big Daddy's BETTER be open!" Absolutely the best fish and chips on the island! Definitely give it a try. read more

Overbreaded and bland batter, but ok tasting fish. Tried halibut and rockfish. Ended up taking the batter off both (Panko and beer batter.) Our cheese sticks weren't hot. However, I didn't like the side of crotchety gray-haired man trying to rush our family and clear the table while my kids were eating. He then tried to guilt us, by saying people are waiting, when there were 4 open tables. I also saw him yell at an Asian family to wait on the sidewalk like 2nd class citizens, and it was very uncomfortable. Go elsewhere and enjoy your family time for $90+. read more

They are not open!! Came all the way from LA and they are closed until March!!! So bummed.

So glad we stopped in! We were looking for a light meal and the sea food chowder fit the bill perfectly. Rounded out with an apple slaw which was the perfect complement to the chowder . . . highly recommend. . . oh ya, and lets not forget about the fry bread! read more

Saw a sign for lactose-free soft serve ice cream and had to try it! They have like 15 different flavors you can choose from, and the cashier recommended mango cheesecake. Overwhelmed by decision fatigue, I went with mango cheesecake and was not disappointed! My parents also tried the clam and seafood chowder, that came with a fried dough thing. They LOVED it! Couldn't take a picture because they scarfed it down immediately. Would recommend this cute fast casual food joint! read more

Big Daddy's Fish Fry - Lactose free mango cheesecake ice cream! - Fish & Chips Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

The humboldt squid is super tasty. I cannot recommend it enough! The French fries are perfection. There maybe a line but to go orders move very quickly. read more

CASH ONLY. Fun place to dine! A very casual joint with outdoor seating. The pieces of fish are longer than usual (when you order fish and chips). We ordered one piece Cod to share. It came with deep fried pickles! That was a pleasant delight. The tartar sauce was delicious and the shell of the fried fish was crispy, yet the flesh was tender and fresh! We also tried the chowder with salmon and clams mix. It came with a bun that is similar to a fried chinese donut. The salmon and clam mixed chowder was heavenly and hearty! Highly recommend!!! Of course, we also ended our meal with lactose-free soft serve! What a fantastic dinner in tofino. Highly recommend ordering take out during sunset and walk to the pier/dock to enjoy the spectacular view with delicious food! read more

The food was great and delicious. I love their coleslaw and fries. The service was good and fast. Definitely will go back here and recommended to try if you're visiting Tofino. read more

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A fairly decent place to enjoy some fish. We had the Ships Platter with large portions of salmon and halibut. The tartar sauce was good and a great compliment to the fish and fries. The outdoor seating was nice and we were the only ones eating lunch at the time so we had the place to ourselves. The lady behind the counter was friendly and patiently explained the menu to us. I love Tofino and would go back to Big D's again. I'm not a fan of cash only places, but "when in Rome" or perhaps one of the most beautiful places on the west coast of Canada. ;) read more

Saw a looooong line of people outside this place but decided to join the herd. So glad we did! (Don't be alarmed by the line...it moves fairly quickly.) My boyfriend had the halibut fish and regular slaw. He said the fish was the best he'd had in Canada (we're American, gasp!). The batter was perfectly crisp and not too thick. Big pieces of fish too! The slaw was so good I wanted to drink the juice. I got the Jamin Slamin fried fish, which was gluten free and big enough for a meal. I didn't feel like I was missing out of the 'fish and chips' experience at all. The Caribbean slaw was so good that I only reluctantly shared it with my boyfriend. On top of the amazing fish, the guys working behind the counter were awesome. One guy in particular (tall, lean, dark hair?) went way above and beyond in helping out. Not only for us, but also with other customers on a super busy day. My boyfriend and I were both blown away. He deserves 10 stars easily. read more

This place is a popular restaurant for outdoor sitting or for take out. We ordered the veggie burgers and one clam chowder. The soup was really good but all the food was very salty. The order also took a long time. But it's a nice place to go grab something to eat and people watch. They have a lot of outdoor seating some covered and some in the sun. They have a large variety of seafood items such as burgers, tacos fries etc. read more

Big Daddy's Fish Fry - Fish & Chips Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

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We tried the Ships platter, with one piece of halibut, one piece of salmon, two prawns, a side of cole slaw, fries and fried pickle spear. The fish was fresh, not dry, and not too greasy. The flavor was mild, I didn't taste any seasoning, but it was perfect for being able to actually taste the fish itself. They offer plenty of condiments if you need to smother your food. Outdoor seating only and cash only. I don't remember seeing an atm but there is one located across the street. Super friendly staff and good food. read more

Can't believe I wasted $32 at this place. It was some of the most disgusting "food" I've ever had. Starting at the overpriced $11.50 food service boxed calamari fries? They were overcooked and rubbery and maybe 8 of them, with roasted garlic. Weird combination only thing ok was the tzaki sauce. Next up the fish taco! It had Canned pineapple and way to much salsa, one tiny strip you couldn't even taste of some kind of fish. How hard is it to screw up a fish taco? Take some pride and buy some pineapple and slice it yourself make homemade salsa. The fish and chips were ok but nothing great either. Coleslaw was bland and tasteless, I could make a better one in 2 minutes. Not sure how they can store vinegars in plastic spray bottles. It's not foodsafe and against health codes! I'll NEVER go back, not sure how this place is even in business. I wish I could give it NO stars! read more

Big Daddy's Fish Fry - Fish & Chips Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

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Ordered take out and was ready 15 minutes later. The two piece fish n chips could serve two easily. Perfectly breaded and tender fish. Tartar was homemade and excellent. Fries were top notch. Definitely worth a visit! read more

I ordered the chowder to-go and made it the fish bowl version, which meant I had all their toppings (i.e. bacon, clams, fish, etc.) and didn't have to limit myself to just one or two. Best idea ever and the large side of sailors' bread was amazing. I can't speak about the fish and chips on the menu but judging by the lineups on the weekend while I was in Tofino, it must've been good too. read more

Haven't had a better fish sandwich in a decade - and I order them all over the world. Seafood chowder hard to beat with out of this world flavour and succulent bread on the side! Can't do better. read more

We always stop here when we drive out to Tofino. Love there fish tacos, tried there prawn taco and salmon taco they were both delicious. There fish and chips were really yummy too. It's outdoor seating, staff are very friendly and it's good to note they only accept cash. read more

Big Daddy's Fish Fry - Fish tacos! - Fish & Chips Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

Great fish and chips for reasonable price in Tofino. The sitting is only outside but that´s totally ok. Staff is very friendly and portions are big enough. There is always a queue so be patient. But that waiting is worth it. And the advantage is that you can always meet a new people in a very easy way because there are a lot of people but not so much space to sit by yourself and you usually have to join someone else or someone else will join you. The only disadvantage is that they don´t accept cards. That´s the one star down. read more

Vegetarian tacos at Big Daddy's were great! Fish was decent but not spectacular. Big Daddy's get extra credit because almost nothing in Tofino is open on Monday. Good portions and pleasant staff. read more

Food was OK.... I mean.. how can you mess up Fish and Chips? What really annoyed me is that they take cash only. We also ordered Calamari, which was pretty awesome. read more

Better than your average fish & chip shack, this little hole-in-the-wall with a garden on Tofino's main drag adds a couple of extra touches to what is a staple ingredient for any family seaside holiday. The popcorn shrimp tastes of real shrimp, the batter is just the right blend of inner goo and ourter crispness with the addition of a touch of dill to really enhance the flavour. They also have an awesome tartare sauce that tastes like it could be home made. Think triple-O sauce meets remoulade. Yum. Unfortunately they had a wasp problem around their handful of outdoor tables, but there was a great little park with picnic tables about a block east with a fantastic view over the harbour towards Meares Island. read more

Good food. Nice choice of fish kinds. And had a fish burger. Even offer non sea worthy meals. Fish is not overly battered like a lot of places. Here you get more fish than batter which is how it should be. Well done. Best fish and chips I've had in Tofino. read more

Great location but subpar food. If the weren't on the main thoroughfare to attract tourists they would probably suffer. Stopped by for fish n chips and was disappointed with the food. Greasy and soggy fish. Yuck! On the plus side the service was good and friendly. read more

Halibut burger was amazing! Across the road was a long line for another place but there was nothing wrong with the food here- it was amazing. read more

Super average fish for what other options you can get in Tofino. Works in a pinch but it's not really worth going back.

Ordered the cod and fries. It was really good. Service was fair for a quick fish and chip stand. It's a busy little place and they take cash only. I would recommend! read more

Big Daddy's Fish Fry - Fish & Chips Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

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Best fish and chips I've ever had. Not too greasy and a perfect crunch to the batter. I don't know why fish and chips are so damn expensive no matter where you go but this place is worth the price! read more