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Recommended Reviews - Laughing Halibut
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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.
Wanted to try some of the famous British Fish and chips. This was highly rated. Expect a rather plain family owned eatery on a side street with simple food. The fish-chips and chicken mushroom pie was a taste of 100% British. Came twice in three days, says it all.
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!
Off hours on a rainy weekday was what I needed from the universe to stop into this place. Coming from a guy who does not typically order, or even like fish n chips, this place was damn good. Entering is a bit confusing because the front counter is the take-away counter. They actually have table service, but you have to go to the back. Even though I chose my own seat quickly, for some reason it took a while for anyone to take my order... but it came with an apology at least and I wasn't in a hurry. Vinegar, ketchup, mayo, tartar, S&P are on the table already. I echoed the voice and words of Anthony Bourdain in my head when I decided to order the curry sauce with my chips. I had no alcohol in me, but I just wanted to be "set right" and that the curry cauce certainly did. They have other dishes that seem of a 'higher' (nicer) caliber, which I didn't try, but it's a super casual sit-down and take-away sort of chippy.
4 years ago
8 years ago
Accessibility (Parking / Wait Time) 1/1 Star: walked here. No wait to get a seat. _____ Service (Waiter / Cleanness / Ambiance) 1/1 Star: service was normal, clean tables, simple ambiance. _____ Taste (0=Not Edible / 1=Edible / 2=Good (average) / 3=Must Try!) 1/3 Stars: fish and chips were edible, but there wasn't any flavor. Just tasted like fried food. There was more flavor in the fries than the fish. _____ Overall Experience 3/5 Stars _____ Last Words This was my first fish and chips in London. read more
8 years ago
This might look like an unassuming chip shop, but that's what you actually want. Authentic, filling, delicious. Is low key, but they take pride in their work and it shows. Not greasy, not healthy, just golden perfection. The cook even took time out to boast about his craft. They serve Irn Bru; that might be a pro or con for you, but it won't diminish how the haddock tastes. read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
Near perfect haddock and chips, had just the right crispness and the meat was sterling white and not dried out. They've got a robust selection of fish types too. It's a bit of a walk from Victoria where I stayed, but worth it. They don't take Amex but do accept other credit cards. read more
7 years ago
I wanted the best of the best in terms of fish and chips to try since it was my first time in London, so after some Yelp reviews, I decided to go to the Laughing Halibut. It was good. Initially it was a bit bland but the server taught me to add the vinegar and a sprinkling of salt. It made a huge difference. Service was great and the portion was so large that walked out full and with left overs. read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
After a LONG day of walking around London, we made our way here. The halibut was cooked perfectly! Would definitely return! read more
3 years ago
Ugly interior, not the kindest persons to cater to service and a somewhat dingy when coming to sallads and stuff. And it's pricey. £9-10 for fried fish and a lot of fries. Fish is good, but you kinda feel that you want more. Mayonnaise in a smal plastic container? What the heck? Nah thanks. I've eaten fish and chips waaaay better than this in New Zealand. For half the price. If it was cheap? Sure, I'd recommend you trying it yourself, but as it is now.. just don't. read more
Stumbled on this place while walking in the area and was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant itself is small and had a "hole-in-the-wall" kind of vibe. I ordered the haddock and chips to eat. The fries were crispy but a bit plain- not too much flavor to them. The haddock had a great coating, very crispy and tasty, and the inside was flaky and cooked perfectly. The portions were generous and the prices were fair. Service was friendly and quick. If you're looking for your fish and chips fix in London, give this place a try! read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
10 years ago
A quick stop for some Fish and Chips. Being in London, we had to be the ultimate tourists and get a plate of fish and chips. We quickly sat down and got the Halibut and chips. The halibut was well fried, crispy on the outside, moist on the inside. The portion size can definitely be split between two people if you don't want to leave overly full. The fries were also good, typical of what to expect from Chips. They accept credit card and you pay as you leave. I noticed the cod and chips when we left and that was a gigantic portion, even bigger than the halibut. Looked like everyone was quite enjoying their fish. read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
The fish and chips was our first meal in London and it was good. The fish is fried to order and the chips come out hot as well. The service was polite. Maybe wouldn't repeat a visit but worth stopping by if your looking for a quick bite. read more
8 years ago
7 years ago
Since we're visiting London we had to try the fish and chips so we stopped in for a quick lunch at the laughing halibut. We ordered the cod and chips regular which was more than enough food. It was served hot, very hot and although it was the regular size it was more than we could eat. The fish was very good and the chips were also. One thing I found interesting and not entirely positive is that the staff was very diligent about completing their side work of refilling the table condiments. In spite of this diligence no effort at all was made to clean the salt and pepper shakers, ketchup bottles etc. These bottles were dirty and sticky with visible signs of being soiled. I'm not sure why it's so important to make sure that these bottles are all filled to the top but with no importance of making sure that they are clean. read more
7 years ago
This place had a very "mom and pop" or "family-run" aura about itself when I walked in. As a tourist/visitor, I've been told that if you want a real good fish n chips, you gotta go to a fish n chop shop - not a bar. I was greeted by who I assumed was the owner and was seated right away. I like most types of fish but played it safe and went with the cod and chips - holy gosh darn moley! The cod was just spectacularly fried and not too oily. I took my time with this one as I had to enjoy it till the very last bite!! So pass on some traveler's knowledge - when looking for fish n chips, got to a fish m chip shop, and in particular this one!!!!! read more
4 years ago
First time having fish n chips besides the occasionally Captain D's when I was younger. Excellent food cooked quickly and very inexpensive. I'll stop here next time I'm in London. May 2022. read more
I couldn't leave London without getting myself an order of fish and chips. Based on the reviews, the Laughing Halibut seems like the right place. Right when you walk in there is a to-go counter and once you walk further, there are dine-in options. They have a variety of different fishes you can choose from and I chose the fish and chips, haddock version. The fish was delicious, flakey, and the crust was not as dried and thick as most fish and chips spots that I've tried. I also could not stop eating the fries. I was able to finish my whole meal and wanted another (however, I had to stop myself). My only complaint would be with the surge of tourists visiting this joint, I could tell that the waiters was not too keen on serving us. I wish there was more hospitality in their service or at least made me feel a little more welcomed. Would I come here again? Probably not. I would like to try different places as well as enjoy better service like the other places I've been in London. read more
Nice find of a small English fish and chips joint that is family run. One bonus they had free Wi-Fi but you have to ask for the password. I had the Halibut and Chips, their special. It was light and fluffy. The batter was not heavy. The chips were crispy and piping hot. I went through about 4 packs of tartar sauce and added a good amount of ketchup for the fries. By the way the fries are not salted, which I liked. If you in the area of Westminister Abby I would stop by again and recommend this restaurant for take out or dine in. They also do not serve alcohol read more
9 years ago
I'm so glad I waited this long to enjoy fish and chips properly . This place crushed it . Simply said , diamond in the rough!! Love love this place read more
11 years ago
AMAZING. I had the rock, chips and mashed peas. The mashed peas weren't too liquid and resembled mashed potatoes! It was savory, light and just freaking awesome. The guy recommended the rock as it had more of a fish taste. You honestly can't go wrong with any fish there. Thr chips were alright and they had a wide selection of sauces. Best fish and chips i've had since i've been here read more
Very friendly staff. My boyfriend and I both got the haddock, chips, mushy peas with cream soda as the drink. The portions were huge for the price and the quality was there too! This was the first time we tried mushy peas and they were very tasty! Even my boyfriend who doesn't eat a lot of vegetables enjoyed them. It seemed like some tourists and locals alike were dining which to me is a good sign. read more
12 years ago
I'm not into fish & chips, but I was determined to eat some while in England. This place's fish was so crisp and lightly breaded and hot and fresh and amazing... It was really really good, just as the reviews said. I'm glad I went here. And they have a huge menu, including grilled fish, which I'd love to try next time. read more
13 years ago
I used to go to school very near the Laughing Halibut. Every week on Wednesday my father would pick me up and I'd jump out of the car to get a quick takeaway of chips. I've been going for many years and I honestly think it's the best fish and chips shop I've ever been to. They also refurbished the restaurant a couple of years ago so the whole shop is much more appealing than before. It is a must! read more
4 years ago
14 years ago
This is a top notch "old school" fish & chip shop (surprisingly hard to find in London) much loved by the folk who have the good fortune to live or work in the area. It's very popular for a take away at lunch time with queues out the door most of the time but don't let that put you off - these guys are quick and efficient so you will rarely wait more than 10 minutes for your fishy feast. If you don't fancy eating fish & chips in the street, the nearby park or at a desk in the office there is a sit down option in the "restaurant" at the back of the shop which has plenty of seating (walk in past the queue outside and you will be found somewhere to perch). The fish is fresh and has plenty of flavour. The crisp golden batter keeps it nice and moist and when teamed up with a small portion of perfectly cooked chips this is a British classic which will leave you stuffed and well satisfied for under £7 (if you are not famished a portion between two might suffice). I'm a haddock man myself but if you want something a little more adventurous there is skate and calamari on the menu as well as an array of chicken, burgers, sausages and pies. If you are hungry in the Westminster area and fancy a taste of quality traditional British "street" food then you could do a lot worse than join the queue at The Laughing Halibut. read more
7 years ago
London Was Our Last Stop On Our Europe Trip. My Cousin And I Wanted To Try Fish And Chips! So We Read The Reviews On This Restaurant And Gave It A Shot! The Atmosphere And Staff Were Very Friendly. I, Unfortunately, Do Not Like Fish, So I Had The Chicken. My Cousin, On The Other Hand, Got The Fish. Everything Was Delicious! But You Have To Try It With The Tartare! 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
7 years ago
Great quaint fish shop with multiple fresh fish options and traditional fish and chips. We had the fried cod fish, beef and onions pie, and grilled halibut...all incredibly tasty! The staff were super nice and helpful. We will plan to always stop here when on holiday. read more
9 years ago
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