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After checking into the hotel that I was staying at I already knew that we needed to go and grab some fish abs chips from the Laughing Halibut. This store looks like it has been here forever but the guys inside are super nice and chill! Our server was funny and great with kids! We ordered so much food and multiple fish without the chips. You can do that if you know you aren't going to eat a lot of chips which are French fries. The deep-fried fish was tasty and delicious. The oil is so fresh and everything tasted really yummy! We also had a chicken pie which was nice as well.
Food: halibut fish and chips and cod fish and chips. The halibut fish is so soft, fresh and delicious. Truly the BEST fish and chips I've ever had. Hubby got the cod which was also very good, but if you had to pick, I'd go with the namesake halibut. Just add salt, some lemon and a little bit of malt vinegar and you are good to go. We were actually all set to go someplace else but the concierge at our hotel recommended Laughing Halibut nearby so we decided to go with it. He said they never freeze their fish and they've been around for 43 years. Thank goodness we did! Service: our waitress was very helpful as we were torn between halibut and cod. Ambiance: this a no frills type of place I love because the focus is on the food. There are a few tables in the back or you can get it to go.
Very much a hidden gem, about a 15 min walk from the Big Ben! I don't usually like cod or fish (not a big seafood eater), so I was specifically trying to find halibut fish and chips since halibut is a better fish (not sure if thats true or not lol). This was also my first time ever trying fish and chips. We had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. The place is very small, but that's about every restaurant in London. There's a lot of tables at the back of the restaurant. I thought my fish and fries tasted so fresh and not greasy at all. I had it with vinegar and this other sauce and it was sooo tasty. Didn't really taste too fish-y in general! The workers were also very nice and kind! I would go back here!
My tour guide suggested this fish and chips restaurant after I was done visiting Winston Churchill's war rooms, and it was totally worth going to for lunch. The piece of fish I had was spectacular, a good fry and very fresh. The fries are delicious and are thick cut and have plenty of flavor. It is all served with a smile and with a nice amount of tartar sauce, a must if you do this dish properly. It also helps to serve mushy peas or a curry sauce, but this is fine as a simple dish because it really held me up for several hours after eating it. The prices are fair too but I did not want a large portion as I wanted to ensure I would be able to eat dinner later. Get the Halibut as the name implies. It is the right fish here. Cod will work too, but at this restaurant, stick with the Halibut.
Great place to get fish and chips in London. We got the namesake, the halibut, and I think it was worth it -- although we didn't try their others. Perfectly cooked fish, light and crispy breading, and good chips. Got a beef meat pie as well and it was also pretty good - good pastry. Service was lovely and kind and it's on a cute street with street vendors as well. We went around 1130 and the place was starting to fill up when we left but still plenty of space.
We wanted to try fish and chips in London and found it on Yelp, it was close to our hotel and within walking distance. The Laughing Halibut located on a small street is a family-owned shop with very friendly service. They were extremely helpful with our menu selection. Our dishes were served promptly and tasty. The restaurant seems small but has enough tables to be comfortable. The atmosphere is friendly and joyful. We paid at the counter at the end of our meal. Recommended if you are in the area.
The Laughing Halibut should definitely get points for the originality of their name, similar to the odd names (to us Americans) of pubs in London. It certainly is catchy and it caught my eye in my search for lunch after visiting Westminster Abbey, a short walk down Victoria St and down an alley. I wasn't going to leave London until I had some good Fish & Chips! Seating is a little tight with narrow tables, but the menu is pretty extensive with different kinds of fish. There's cod, haddock, plaice, calamari and skate, but halibut leads the list, so that's what I go with. We also shared a Mixed Platter to try some of the others in smaller portions. One of our friends wasn't keen on fish, so she got the roast chicken, which was surprisingly good. Also in the menu are meat pies, which my son has been on the hunt for. The beef pie was a personal sized pot pie stuffed with beef & gravy. We should have gotten 2-3 to share, but the fish platters were pretty big. The fried calamari rings in the mixed platter were like 4 inches across! Just be aware that what they call scampi is not like what we call scampi. They're just breaded fried shrimp. Halibut is basically a large flounder species caught in colder northern waters. The meat is tougher and doesn't flake like its smaller warm-water cousin. You just have to be careful in cooking it or it becomes overcooked rubber. How they get it to laugh, I don't know, but it must involve some secret tickling technique. Their cooking technique is great though, with a time tested batter recipe that fries up golden brown and keeps the fillet nice and moist. They must double-fry the chips because they came out cooked through and perfectly crispy. I tried the chips with the malt vinegar on the table, but I prefer good ol' ketchup. I feel they should have a mascot to go with the name of the restaurant. My wife would have bought a plushie of a cartoonish laughing flatfish.
Walked from Westminster Abbey to Laughing Hailbut. The place is small, but still a good amount of tables. Looks like a typical fish and chips joint. The menu has a lot of options. For fish and chips, you can pick from cod, halibut, haddock, rockfish, or skate. I opted for cod. The piece of fish is quite good size as is the amount of chips you get. Batter is crispy and not heavy. The chips are crispy and hot. Service was fast and friendly. Had a great experience! N*joy!
First meal on this Europe trip was a success! The one dish I really wanted to try in London was Fish & Chips and this place had pretty solid reviews. I went with the Cod, which was flakey and delicious. My dad ordered the English Breakfast, which came with a bunch of food for under 10 euro. It's a pretty casual spot. The silverware is in a little container on the table and you seat yourself. They do bring your food to you, but you have to go up to the counter to pay at the end. I enjoyed the vibes though because it felt more authentic and less fussy. It was pretty crowded even before noon, so that's when you know it's legit!
Order at counter or take a seat at the tables for wait staff to take your order. The place is narrow but has plenty of seating available. The fish and chips platter is good. This is our second time here it was still as good as we remember. I had the cod plate with just the cod and it was a perfect snack. Chicken wings were great too.
Such a great find within walking distance of my hotel. I visited here many years ago and I gave them 4 stars. Given the meal I got today, I'm all in with 5 stars. Today, I was looking for a quick takeaway option to eat in my room due to jet lag. This looked to be the only chip shop in the area and I felt like I should try to eat something classically British since I'm only here for a night. I would normally take the Underground to Leicester Square for Chinese takeaway but did not feel like fighting the rush hour crowds so The Laughing Halibut it was. It is a little nondescript from the outside and looking in the window, it appears to have what all classic fry shops should. Frymen behind the counter, fried items in the glass hot case, and boiling oil vats bubbling with fish. Upon walking in, I first noticed several tables in the back to eat in, and all were occupied which was a good sign. The next thing I noticed was the engaging counter guy who helped talk me through my order. He was not rushing me and he seemed to genuinely want me to have a good meal. I was also impressed that there was not a lot of fried product sitting in the warm holding cases getting stale. They fry to order and so you know you are getting a freshly made meal. There are several types of fish you can order along with other items such as chicken, burgers, pies, etc. It was actually harder to decide because I always thought that fish and chips was made out of some nondescript, cheap, trash fish. Not here. They had Cod, Halibut, Haddock and at least a couple other choices on the menu. I know jack squat about great fish and chips so the choices were wasted on me. I went with Cod at the recommendation of the counterman. It was a great choice in the end. I took mine to go so I had them overfry it a bit as I did not want it to get steamed soggy on the walk back to the hotel. The fryman did it and it was absolutely perfect on my 10 min walk back. They double bagged it and the fries after salting them and it was perfect for taking it away. The smell coming out of the bag was pretty enticing and it was funny because the 5-star hotel I'm staying at I'm sure wants its customers to dine in at its expensive restaurant with a Michelin star trained chef. My $10 paper bag of fried fish got a lot of attention as I walked through the lobby and the people that got on the elevator with me asked me where I got it from and made immediate plans to go to the Laughing Halibut for dinner. Sometimes inexpensive and comforting is what you need. Once in the room, I unwrapped the fish and it was still perfect. Blazing hot flakiness on the inside (still too hot to handle) and perfectly crunchy and seasoned on the outside. The side cup of vinegar they gave me was the outstanding foil for the oily richness of the fish. I have had some really crap fish and chips elsewhere in the UK and in Ireland. This one was anything but. It was actually perfect in price, size, preparation and taste. Nothing but good things to say about this place. The guys running it are 2nd or 3rd generation family members of the original owner and have kept the business running even through COVID. They seemed to be very nice, chatty, helpful and eager to please. This is a total gem in this neighborhood and I am now a fan. I liked it enough on this 2nd visit that I put it on my bucket list for a repeat visit on my next trip to London. You should too.
Pretty decent fish & Chips ! After taking a stroll around Buckingham palace & seeing the Royal guards in London this stop was a must ! (Because when your in London, you have to eat Fish & Chips!) Our waiter recommended the Rio drink which is a tropical fruit drink, which was a nice pair with the Fish & Chips. Our waiter had great customer service and had a great sense of humor. The fish (Cod) was cooked good & the batter was flaky. The Fries were decent as well, just needed extra seasoning which is provided at your table! Overall definitely a go to spot!
7 years ago
This place has delicious fish and chips. I was visiting London for a few days and stopped by solo right before closing time. They were accommodating and even gave me their WiFi password. The fish and chips came out right away. Fish was cod and perfectly battered, crisp on outside and tender on the inside. read more
An unexpected great find. We were in search for a local fish and chips joint in the area of Westminster. We were lucky enough to stumble upon the Laughing Halibut. The name itself caught our attention. The distinct smell of fried chips filled the street. We knew we were in the right place. The establishment was simple and functional. The free WiFi was a very nice touch. We ordered the standard fish and chips and coca-cola. Our drinks arrived chilled without any ice in a large glass. The fish and chips followed shortly. The serving portions were spot on. The chips was perfectly fried and the fish was a nice balance of crispy and soft. The table had the standard tartar sauce, HP sauce, and packets of ketchup. The meal was reasonably priced at £19.10 for two fish and chips with cokes. I will definitely pay this place a visit again when I return to London. read more
9 years ago
7 years ago
Friendly staff and good food at a good location. Fast delivery. The fish was crispy enough and the pie was a little average. I needed a little more flavor to it. But overall was a good experience. I would recommend this place read more
The halibut is not laughing, he's dead, fried, & delicious. You know it's good when the Coffee place next door has a sign in front to not form a queue to block their entrance. As a novice, I formed the queue not realizing that you can just go directly inside if you are not doing take away. My bad. Our friendly server recommended the haddock and cod. The women working here are awesome. Efficient and willing to cover each other to meet needs of the dining area. Genuinely smiling and hospitable. Fish was hot and crispy and once I squeezed the lemon wedge across the fish, our family dove right in. Mushy peas and gravy seemed to be a traditional favorite here so I jumped on that band wagon and added it to our Friday Fish Fry. I loved dipping my chips in the gravy which was thick and savory. Great place for the best fish and chips in London, if you are like me checking off a foodie list. read more
12 years ago
Delicious! The chips were fried to perfection and the cod had a perfect layer of batter. Definitely one of the best stops I made in all of London, and handily beat the fish n chips I had in Dublin. We got there around 5 and by 5:30 every seat was taken! Good thing that they also do takeout. Prices are very reasonable and the serving size was huge! Will definitely be back if I'm ever on this side of the Atlantic. read more
7 years ago
Delicious food with reasonable price at walking distance from one of the biggest attractions in London. Oh and really really friendly staff. You should try for sure. read more
16 years ago
"Fish & chips" is an interesting cuisine option - it's almost universally invoked with a modicum of enthusiasm, and is very much regarded as an English cultural cornerstone - and though it's ostensibly a simple meal, there's definitely a huge variation in quality. One thing that's always puzzled me, in fact, is how people maintain their enthusiasm for fish & chips from their local chippy when it's obviously terrible. Having walked past The Laughing Halibut many-a lunchtime to see a queue stretching out the door and towards the corner of the street I was keen to give them a try and see what the fuss was about. With so many nice places to choose from in the immediate area, why on earth would you line up for 15 to 20 valuable minutes for a meal which flies in the face of popular health wisdom, with an eager look on your face!? Turns out - I discovered, making a special weekend trip in - it's because these guys really know their way around a piece of cod. Crispy golden battered fish sits amid a sizeable pile of chips which, once I'd gotten them back to the office, were suitably crunchy (without being crispy) and tasty as well! (My chip vocab is a little lacking) They weren't the sad anaemic looking excuses you sometimes discover next to your fish. Similarly, the fish was tasty, with just the right thickness & texture of batter, and - perhaps it was coincidence - not a single bone. The whole thing seemed quite well-priced for the amount of food you got - probably a serve of chips & 2 bits of cod could satisfy 2 people, and set you back somewhere in the region of 10 or 11 quid. There's other types of fish there, but I've not had the chance to get anywhere near the menu since that day, so you'll have to go find out yourself. There's a good reason why The Laughing Halibut's a local point of reference when giving directions - it's been there a good few years now, and judging by the following they've got it'll be there a few more yet. read more
8 years ago
This is a truly food for locals, you stepped in and you can see the place filled with locals and food are definitely non-tourists and best in the class. it is closed on sunday, that means a lot since only locals do these. Fish and chips are best served here. read more
7 years ago
Packed house and still great service - food is excellent! Eat in or take out yum!! Attentive and friendly staff who take a minute to speak to guests. read more
4 years ago
12 years ago
A great place to eat at under £10! A no nonsense fish and chips place with a variety of choices of fish including cod, skate, halibut (duh), haddock, and plaice. The batter is really thin and light which does not interfere with the distinct taste of each type of fish. It's a really simple plate of fish and chips that you should try if you are around the area. read more
Very near perfect fish and chips, served in a nice restaurant (or to take away while you wander around Westminster) is sometimes just what you need. They're happy to fry from fresh if you ask, and the chips are some of the best "chunky" - proper - ones around. Friday is a very busy day, especially at lunch. On other days it's hard to not be tempted by the other food stalls lining Strutton Ground to cater to the huge office populous, but the trip is worth it. To top it all off, there's a list of famous (and otherwise) people who've eaten here. You should join them. read more
8 years ago
8 years ago
Wow! This restaurant looks like a hole in the wall and I was skeptical when I walked in but boy was I wrong! The service was swift and the fish n chips were breaded by hand to order. The fish and chips were super hot when it arrived to our table. I had the cod with a curry dipping sauce. The sauce was spicy and delicious! I used it for my fish AND chips. A little splash of malt vinegar here and there completed a wonderful dish. Prices were reasonable for the portion sizes. Excellent choice! read more
This is what a chippy should be- no frills, quick and efficient, and solid quality fish and chips. Bonus is the free wifi with password on the wall. This place was very clean so don't let outside appearances sway you. We came here after a walking tour that ended relatively close by. There was a full lunch crowd, mostly local it seemed. My only complaint would be pricing- a little steep compared to a (IMO) chippy I also visited that had similar quality product. And by no frills I mean tarter and mayonnaise in packets- yeah not fancy. But I will say the haddock I received was a tremendous portion and was crispy on the outside while being flakey on the inside. The chips were piping hot, but, flavorless, which I found at other London joints-definitely not like the Netherlands and Belgium. My husband had a breakfast dish- an over medium egg, pork sausage, and chips. The pork sausage was good- flavorful, cooked well. The hot lemon tea was warming on the gloomy London day. Pay at the register after you're finished. I'd definitely return here again if I wanted a good meal in London. read more
8 years ago
8 years ago
Great fish n chips spot! Kind of a hole in the wall, which I really liked. Service is quick and great. The food is super crispy (I got the cod n chips) and is some of the best fish n chips I've had out here. I'll be back next time I'm town for sure! :) read more
7 years ago
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8 years ago
Better-than-average fish & chips joint, with lots of fish choices, and other items too (chicken, sausages, pies). However, at the end of the day, fish & chips is still...fish & chips. The halibut is 50% more expensive than the other fishes, yet I prefer the cod which is more moist. They cook your fish on order, so the wait was incredibly long. read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
5 years ago
8 years ago
What a quaint and wonderful little restaurant! When we arrived they had a problem and were having to fix it. Weren't really specific, but couldn't open for about an hour. When we came back we were seated in a corner next to a large racous group. However, it was worth it. We had the cod and chips and it was delightful and we all loved it. Large portions and wonderful fresh chips. It was pretty greasy, but it still had a good robust flavor. A guy pushed past us with a big blue bin of recently cut chips, so you know it is fresh. We loved the staff who were very attentive. The only flaw I found was the malt vinegar needed to be fresher/stronger. It was very weak, which I didn't expect at a true fish and chips place like this. I hope they will fix this in the future, because that can really enhance the fish. read more
10 years ago
10 years ago
7 years ago
7 years ago
For my first visit to England, Laughing Halibut definitely showed me how delicious fish and chips could be. There are so many different types of fish to choose from, and for the price, anything on the menu is an amazing deal. Especially looking at some of the other restaurants in London, the price point of the Laughing Halibut was so refreshing - anyone can get a deliciously filling meal for less than 10 pounds! Regular is definitely enough of a portion to fill a normal person's stomach, but if you feel like you have a monstrous appetite, go for the Large, and see if you can handle it. My whole family ordered the Regular size, and we wound up taking a lot of food back home. The fish just tasted so, so fresh. I've had some mediocre fish and chips back home in America, and it just does not compare at all. I adored my haddock - I definitely recommend the haddock if you're going for a traditional fish and chips meal. My dad had the cod, and it was a little drier and not as tasty in my opinion. I was worried that the chips would be too dry (because I looked at the Yelp photos beforehand), but I was very pleasantly surprised. The chips were crispy and not too oily and were a delightful accompaniment to my fish. I will say though that though the fish tastes fresh, it is coated with batter and deep fried to perfection. Obviously, if you're not into fried foods, this place would not be the place for you (but neither will any fish and chips place be ideal for you). Just at the Laughing Halibut in particular, you can definitely taste the oil and the crunch of the fried batter before you get to the fish. It was wonderful for me for the first few bites but got admittedly a little overwhelming as I was working my way through the dish. Service is super friendly as well. They joke around and made me and my family feel at home and welcome since they probably could spot that we were not from the area. Lots of other reviews mentioned that it would be crowded, but we came on a weekday evening an hour before closing time, and it was not crowded at all - plenty of room! I guess we just got lucky. Oh, and there's also free wi-fi, which is fantastic. I absolutely loved my trip to Laughing Halibut. I definitely recommend a visit here for anyone who wants a taste of what real fish and chips are all about. read more
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