Unassuming on the outside and inside--but you don't come here for the ambiance. You come for the food. I had the haddock and chips with tartar sauce, and it really hit the spot. The fish was crispy and flaky, the chips were hot, and the tartar sauce was excellent to pair. 2 fish and stacked fries! Service was quick and efficient, and the space is simple and no-frills, which fits the place well. Overall, solid fish and chips done right. I'd definitely come back when the craving hits. read more

McCowan Fish & Chips - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Ontario

The food comes out fast and hot. Love the fries! Price was 14.95 for halibut and chips. Would come back. read more

McCowan Fish & Chips - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Ontario

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McCowan Fish & Chips only serves Halibut on Good Friday. No dine in, only takeaway or delivery orders. They close at 8:30 PM on Good Friday. The customary steady lineup of patrons coming in for Fish dinners. read more

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This used to be our fave fish and chips place and have been patronizing them for more than 20 years but it seems the quality of their food has gone downhill and not sure why. I also didn't see the usual staff when we came here so not sure if there's a change of ownership which explains the lack of quality. Located in a strip mall and a few minutes walk from Scarborough General Hospital & Bendale Public Library, this quaint, hole-in-the-wall restaurant is where locals normally get their fix of crispy fried fish, hand cut fries and mushy peas. Cooked to order white fish, we normally settle for Haddock vs Halibut as the former is more flavourful, meaty and is a perfect compliment to the deep fried richness of the batter. However it seems that the fried haddock has more batter and tasted completely different from before. Whereas previously it was perfectly crunchy, tender flaked and airy, it's now the opposite. The chips didn't taste fresh and portion size was smaller. Dunking the fries in the gravy didn't help elevate the flavour of the fries either. Even the side coleslaw tasted different. I wouldn't say this is one of the best fish and chips in the city but we might just come back and give it another try just to give them the benefit of the doubt. read more

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Ordered their Cod and Chips, portions were huge... fries were overly fried... I think they were an old batch and refried?... The meal felt rather heavier and greasier compared to other places I've tried.. overall an ok meal but I wouldn't go here again. Prices were reasonable so that's a win. This meal was $10.95 before tax and service is super friendly too read more

McCowan Fish & Chips - fish and chips on a plate - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Ontario

It's fine. Standard. Not sure what the hype is all about. Fish a bit oily. Fries ok. Large portion. If you're a fish and chips connoisseur then make the trek to Chip n Malt in Newmarket. Best I've had period ! Check out my review. read more

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paid for halibut but I didnt get halibut. The flesh isn't thick like how halibut is. What a disappointment.

Best bang for your buck Best fish and Scarborough hands down . Been Going there for over 20 years read more

Clean and cozy family-run fish and chips restaurant in a small strip mall just a bit south of Lawrence Ave on McCowan Rd. This place is best for groups of twos as their tables are rather narrow and the place is not too big. There was plenty of business as soon as the restaurant was open at 11 am and it was a third full by noon. This place has a cute charm to it. They have lamented print of why you should eat fish as it is a rich source of Omega-3 and other vitamins. I enjoyed my order of halibut and chips. The fries were long, sizeable and slightly crispy outside and super soft inside. They were neither skinny, burnt nor oily, too. The halibut had a thin batter and I could still taste the freshness of the actual fish. Portions were rather generous. All orders come with a small side of either coleslaw or beets, which was surprising to me, since most of not all of the other (fish and chips) places that I have been to do not offer it alone as a side. My friend did not know that the sizes would be as big and he was feeling rather hungry, so he made the mistake of ordering chicken nuggets and chips with another order of poutine. By the time, all of our food came, I asked him "Are you sure you can eat all this? That is a lot of fries." to which he responds "Wow! I thought the poutine would just be snack size! Please definitely help me finish it." Well, I am not the biggest fan of gravy and I cannot handle cheese well, so I helped with ones that were not drenched in either or both. In the end, my friend had to ask for a takeout box and the owner lady was nice enough to give us a paper box and paper bag. The utensils here were also actual silver. Nice! No plastic here! No wonder this place won a few awards and mentions from newspapers and even Yelp! Totally would recommend for a simple date or catching up with a friend, one on one. You can probably have a group of four or more if you put the table together. We were both so full and neither of us spent that much even though I order their most expensive item and he order two items. Totally affordable and kid-friendly place, too. The owner lady was very polite. She immediately welcomed us with a bright smile and continuously pour us water and checked in on us without being asked. I usually do not go for fried food, but there are days when I have my cravings. Quality comfy food and service deserves a good review, but since I prefer meals with more people and usually at fancier places, I would give this place 4 stars max. read more

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Hidden gem in Scarborough with a friendly staff. High quality fish, not over cooked with tasty served fries! Has a cute hipster setting with authentic wallpaper and decor. The value you received is exceptional for the price you pay! Would definitely come again read more

McCowan Fish & Chips - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Ontario

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I've been really missing fish and chips and one of my friends recommended this place to me, which I'm so glad for! My partner and I got the halibut and chips, and the haddock and chips. The fish was fresh and paired perfectly with their crispy batter. The chips were fried to perfection, and my one regret was not getting a poutine to go for later. We couldn't finish the fish and chips due to their generous portions and warmed up really well in the oven for a second helping. This is a family-run joint which makes me even more happy to support them during this pandemic. They have a lot of space to social distance while waiting for your order. They are also now opened 7 days a week which has changed from their previously listed hours. I'll definitely be back for their poutine and to try the cod and chips. read more

How come I felt so comfortable eating at McCowan Fish & Chips? Maybe I now finally to used to sketchy Scarborough strip plaza? For a split second I almost thought I was in one of the Northern Chinese restaurants that I frequent and want to practice my Mandarin on my waiter! You cannot blame me as all through my lunch I was listening to the two waiters chatting in Mandarin. Cod Fish only ($5.50) is sizable. The batter is crispy and crunchy. The oil can be a little fresher but it is A-OK. As usual, I tried one of the scallops and shrimps from my dinner mate's Seafood Platter (he offered, really he did! I didn't force him!) Both are not bad... but when I start eating deep fried heavy battered food, they kind of all tasted the same. The service here is efficient and indifference... and of course remind me of the Chinese Joints I frequent! See, now I know why I feel so comfortable eating at McCowan Fish & Chips!! read more

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This is my fish and chips place for the past month. Obviously this place has not have any reno since the 80s but the fish is fantastic. Not greasy, flaky batter and tasty fish. Always order the family pak, 5 pcs of fish with 2 orders of fries and fries btw is also good. But for the past couple orders they've given me an extra fish. That bonus will always make me go back. The owners are very welcoming and friendly. read more

Date visited : Tues 04/10/2018 Service : 3/5 Friendly enough service. We visited during around early dinner 18:00 EST. Only 1 other couple was in the dining area. Food : 3/5 My wife opted for the the Halibut and Chips and Haddock and Chips for myself. A bit more pricey than our go to spot at Painted Post Fish and Chips. We received our orders in about 10-15 minutes, as for the dishes themselves, the fries were done extra crispy just the way we like without us requesting to be cooked as such. As for the "fish" both the haddock and the halibut were tender and fresh not mushy or soggy. Each of us received 1 decently sized piece of fish for our orders. Batter wise I'd have to say it was light and crispy, less greasy than we have tried at other fish n chip spots. I'd rate the oiliness at 3/5** (view rating list below). For the price paid, would have been nice to have a bit more fries included with the order (we love our fries when they aren't frozen!) Condiments : Ketchup in a squeeze bottle, not sure on the brand or quality. They have something that resembles tartar sauce, but it had a pink/orange tinge to it, which was also in squeeze bottle. However, something in the tartar sauce was making my tongue tingle to almost a numbing sensation, I had consumed more of their tartar sauce than my wife, so she didn't notice a similar sensation on her tongue. Since I have no idea what was/is the cause of that odd tingly/numbing sensation, I would caution other foodies with sensitive tongues to go easy on the custom tartar sauce that is provided to customers. Take out packs of tartar sauce are available (not as flavorful, but likely without that tingly/numbing aspect), along with malt vinegar packets are available. Beverages : We are kinda picky on our Water, not fond of tap water at all due to varying mineral content and sodium content, we usually bring our own from Home, since we buy 15L Ice River water and fill up reusable bottles. Alternatively we opt to share a can of soda or Iced Tea. Not many places offer filtered water as an option. Also, not all bottled water is good quality. At this venue they charge $1.00 + HST for a small glass of ice water with a 2 slices of lemon. Other : Parking is rather limited in the little strip. However, there is additional parking in the adjacent plaza within walking distance. Debit/cash accepted. Hard to enter the parking lot if you are heading Southbound on McCowan, other drivers will likely not give way for you to turn in. I had other drivers blasting their horns at me as I was waiting for a gap in the traffic flow. Repeat visit ? Possibly yes, a fellow friend on Yelp, had reviewed made in house fresh onion rings. So may return to try the fresh onion rings. Oiliness rating** : 1/5 very light and no oily after effect on tongue 2/5 still relatively light, Malt Vinegar/Lemon wedges not yet needed except by choice 3/5 medium level of oiliness; light effect on the tongue ; Malt Vinegar/Lemon wedges may be used to cut grease 4/5 starting to lean towards being heavy; greasiness now needing Malt Vinegar/Lemon Wedges to cut grease 5/5 very heavy and noticeable on the tongue, difficult to consume batter without Malt Vinegar/Lemon wedges read more

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I am an expat Canadian now living in the US. I've had Fish & Chips all over the place, but this place is my definite go to "spot." Whenever I come back to Toronto, my first stop to eat, is here. Halibut and fries (with a side of gravy).... Wow. Can't wait to get back to Toronto and eat here again. read more

The best in Toronto period. I visited so many places in Toronto in my lifting for 5 year. But nothing even comes close. read more

First time I went there really great food , I don't know what happened but went back because the food was so good and it really sucked second time around , they changed the scallops from real ones to really small fake ones , their fish is no real halibut , and really greasy , I would not recommend this place , turned from good to really crappy read more

Crispy halibut and chips, not greasy, big portions. Definitely a place worthy for a visit. read more

McCowan Fish & Chips - Halibut and Chips. - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Ontario

Ordered their Cod fish & chips, $9. Poutine, $5. The fish was mushy and had more batter (long) than fish; the long batter gives the illusion of one is getting more bang for their $$. Chips were fat and soggy. Poutine was not with cheese curds. Gravy was ok. Cash-only. They don't give receipts. Not worth its price; fish tasted "cured" with a preservative. Go somewhere else for a proper fish- fish&chip craving. Old Yorke F&C gives bigger/REAL fish/long batter and chips at $10.49 (extra $1.50 for more fish); accepts credit cards. Will not return. read more

My absolute favourite place for fish and chips in Toronto. I didn't eat fish and chips for a few years as I wasn't really a fan. Until one day I decided to give it a try again. Mccowan Fish and Chips was my first stop as it was the closest one at the time. I simply fell in love and craved it ever since. My family and I actually tried a new fish and chips joint every week around Scarborough until we ran out of options. We collectively agreed that this is our favourite location! The fish is a great size. If their pieces are small for the day, they will give you two pieces to compensate for the size difference. They let the fish drip for a bit so it's not usually as greasy as other places. I really enjoy their crunchy batter around the meaty fish! Their chips are thick and delicious as well. The staff has always been super friendly and always smiling. They treat their long time customers like family. It's easy enough to call ahead and have your order ready in ~15min (depending on time of day). I will always recommend this place and will continue coming here! read more

Excellent Fish and Chip shop in Scarborough district of Toronto. Travelled from 22C in San Francisco to -6C in Toronto and this cosy place with hearty food warmed me right up at lunch time. Still keeping me warm at 11pm and -11C tonight! Current owners said the restaurant was started 48 years ago by a Scottish family. Looks like they have kept the menu, including haggis and blackpudding. The battered haddock was excellent, batter just like I would like at home in Ireland. Had to go for some poutine as well, which was real tasty. You can tell they make their chips from scratch. Topped off with a good pot of tea. Thumbs up! read more

Deep friend goodness! We got the large seafood platter with halibut, 4 shrimps, 4 scallops and chips; and the calamari A good fish a chips to me is the right batter to seafood meat ratio and this place had that! The batter was flaky and delicious and the seafood meat portions were great. They could make the coleslaw servings larger but you can always ask for more. I love how they give you the squeeze bottles for all the condiments including their tartar sauce so you can refill your heart's desire and not have to fight with a packet of some sort! read more

McCowan Fish & Chips - Large seafood platter - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Ontario

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Simply amazing fish and chips. Probably the best in the area. Very fast and friendly service. Price is good too. read more

McCowan Fish & Chips - Place where you order - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Ontario

What a cute lil fish & chips place! The inside decor makes it feel very cozy and old-fashioned. The owners are a cute Asian couple, very nice. I got the cod & chips and it was a huge portion for such a good price. The cod was really light and crispy and very yummy with tartar sauce. The chips were of equal quality. Food definitely tasted fresh! This place seems to be an undiscovered Scarborough secret. read more

I haven't had Fish and Chips this good in years. I just ordered tonight from Uber Eats for the first time and it was ready for pickup in minutes. The batter is so light and tasty; not greasy and hard like most restaurants. The fries are nice and chunky and the tartar sauce is delicious! Will order again for sure. Well done! read more

When we first discovered this small hole in the wall after hearing good things. We were pleased with the fish quality, portion size and preparation. But the last few orders this year were highly disappointing. We had hoped it was a one off or a bad day. But 2-3 times in a row is a pattern. It's seems as if there is no care put into preparation anymore. Fish portions are deceiving as they are not whole pieces of fish anymore, just small thin cubes covered in Mountains of tasteless, super greasy batter that coats the inside of your mouth. Yet Somehow you still get cold bites of fish throughout the piece. The fries and onion rings have the same fate. Super greasy and literally oil filled when you bite into them. Lastly the kicker. They now only give the option of purchasing tartar sauce for an extra. When packets of tarter sauce were always provided with takeout, even a few weeks ago on our last walk in order. This is not a good luck for the business. We couldn't even finish the meal. Wasted money, and we will not be Ordering from or recommending this restaurant again. Now is not the time to start jipping customers spending their money when they can easily go elsewhere with consistent quality. read more

This place is an institution, and hasn't changed, ever. They have more regulars than the local dive bars. Their fish and chips are quite simply very good. I have gotten other things like their Calamari and onion rings, which were awesome too. But I have probably eaten over 500 lbs of fish from this place, and I am not a fan of seafood. But then deep fried halibut isn't really fishy. At least not this place. Now, they don't do things like deep fried candy bars, but that's okay. There are other fish and chip places that are nearby that do. The price is average to low compared to other places that give the same fair. But this place has a great puffy batter that isn't flavourless but doesn't overpower the fish. Another thing that stands out is their gravy. It might be preprocessed, but still good quality. read more

So, I came back after a long while because I was craving some fish and chips. The thing is, I didn't remember the fish and chips to be so...Greasy/oily. It was delicious, but it made me feel full right away because the amount of oil. It is crispy, but I don't know.. they missed the mark this time or maybe it was this greasy/oily the first time and I just didn't notice ? However, with that being said,the service is really nice and friendly here. Not a long wait for food and they are pretty attentive. The portions are still very generous! I'd give it a try if you've never been here, just be warned that it's a little on the greasier side. I had the haddock and chips...Last time I had halibut so maybe that could've been a factor ? Not sure. read more

McCowan Fish & Chips - Haddock and chips Calamari and chips Side of onion rings - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Ontario

Best fish & chips in Toronto. Friendly staff, great food, unbelievable experience, I'm a customer for life. Kudos

The onion rings are the best I've ever had and unfortunately, that's all the good I can say about it. The Halibut, while a decent length and width, was very thin and greasy, though it was crispy. The fries were greasy and mushy. I suspect their fryer is malfunctioning or they have the temperature set too low. All this came to $28.52 (includes a $3 and change tip for the SkipTheDishes driver) All in all, I should have ordered from McDonald's. read more

This is a small little restaurant on McCowan. Staff is friendly and the prices are reasonable. We ordered the family size platter and a haddock on the size. The portions for decent size. The fries were delicious especially with their gravy. The fish was good but I would not say it is the best. The batter was not as great as expected. I had to ask for lemons on the side and they were brought to be extremely late. The other down fall was that we were done eating but had to wait 45 minutes for the bill! read more

McCowan Fish & Chips - Haddock and haliburt - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Ontario

Best fish & chips in Scarborough. Staff is friendly and accommodating. Never frugal on the extra condiments

It was my first time here and definitely not the last. Ordered the Halibut & Chips which tasted amazing. It was not drenched in oil like some other places that I have been to. I would recommend it to anyone looking for quality Fish & Chips in the East end. read more

McCowan Fish & Chips - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Ontario

I've been going to this place since I was in elementary school. Hands down the best fish and chips place ever. Great prices. The portions are well but since the food is so good, youd want more of it. The atmosphere is classic, the service is friendly. Definitely a gem in the ghetto of Scarborough. I live far away but every time I'm in the area I still find myself going back to this place. Try the gravy. It's so good w the chips. read more

This place is highly recommended by me: if you like fish and chips, you cannot go wrong here. I haven't had the cod, I went straight for the halibut. That, along with a good serving of fries came to a total of 12.00, which is on par with good fish and chips prices. I do wish the used a larger plate so that it was a tad easier to eat, but that did not detract from my meal. The decor looks like it's out of the 80's. Wood panelled walls, old lettering for the menus; it felt like a real mom and pop place. The staff are incredibly nice, as well. I will definitely return here when I'm in the area. read more

Delicious and reasonably priced thick fillet of halibut paired with crisp home cut chips. Batter was thin, crisp, but just a little too greasy. BF had their black pudding platter with home made onion rings and commented that it was as good as the better known St. Andrew's Fish and Chips but at half the price and with better service. I like St Andrew's too, but the prices here are very reasonable. Service was quick and very friendly, and if you are looking for fresh and fast (and cheap) fish and chips, McCowan is a great spot. Brisk take-out business, but very attentive table service too. read more

McCowan Fish & Chips - Black Pudding plate with battered onion rings, McCowan Fish and Chips - Seafood Near Me - Scarborough, Ontario

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Good fish great portions good price nice friendly service

I want to try this place since it got a good reviews. Is a small cozy spot for fish and chips In a small strip plaza. The batter was nice and crisp but a bit oily to my liking. The fish was a good size portion. Price is very affordable. Would I recommend the place? Yes, if I have no other fish and chips around place to get them. read more

Food - 4* Service - 4.5* Ambiance - 3.5* Foods great. This place has been around for years! Great people. Small family business. Halibut and other options are great! The chips are awesome. Place is large enough. It's not a trendy joint, it's a throwback to the old school - so why change it. Nice quiet place. If you want to try F&C for the 1st time or are in the area - Go! read more

We read the reviews on Yelp and decided that since we were in the neighbourhood, we would give this a try. We are from downtown Toronto and there are very few good (actually none) dedicated fish and chips stores. This place was located in what appeared to be a derelict strip plaza and we were hesitant to enter, but we were pleasantly surprised. There was a huge line up given that it was St. Patty's Day and also a Friday. We instantly knew that we were onto something! We entered the small dining room with one table taken with 4 elderly women. We knew this place had to be good with the line up and the women at the table. We both ordered halibut and chips from what appeared to be a very pleasant female Asian owner. It is definitely a family owned business as you can see the children and the husband all in the open kitchen. Very quickly our steaming fresh fried F&C's appeared! AYCE tartar sauce mimicked in the mustard bottle. Delicious home made (we think) cut fries and just melt-in-your-mouth batter for the halibut. A definite must! Don't let the exterior fool you! read more