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    The Fat Fish

    3.8 (231 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order The Fat Fish Takeout or Delivery

    The Fat Fish Photos

    THE FAT FISH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Fat Fish

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    Jenna T.

    Mainly a to-go place. Orders are made to order so you know it's fresh and hot! You can either order with cashier or at kiosk. Menu is low-key overwhelming with pretty much the same stuff in different form, like a fish sando, fish and chips, etc. They do have a spicy rub you can request. It's one of those creep on you spices as you eat more of it, so beware! I like that you're able to pick your type of fish. I picked red snapper and the BF ordered catfish. The red snapper came with 3 pieces as they were smaller portions than the catfish which came with 2 pieces. We sat inside for a quick bite.. not the cleanliness, but it was quick. The fish was fried well and it was satisfying. They have special deals that are affordable too!

    2 fried catfish Combo #1 2 Fish and 2 Oysters
    Judy C.

    Found this place while looking for "fish fry" since a friend and I were talking about the dish. I'm happy I found this place and would be back. The food was solid, the service was friendly, and the pricing was reasonable. Most people seem to be doing takeout but there are a few seats in the cozy space and the staff keeps the dining area clean. The menu looks extensive but it's basically various combinations of their fried fish, chicken, shrimp or oysters with the various sides in various quantities. Since this was an afternoon snack/linner for me, I opted for just 2 pieces of fried catfish and 2 oysters. I also got half spicy and half regular so I can check out the various seasonings. The person taking my order told me it would be 10-15 minutes since they make every order as it comes in. My food came out in the middle of that time frame so if you want your food sooner, you should order ahead. I had time to kill and I wanted to eat my food right when it came out so I didn't mind ordering there. Everything was cooked perfectly, crispy and not too greasy. I personally preferred the spicy over the regular seasoning since the regular seasoning didn't have enough flavor for me. The catfish had a bit of a muddy flavor so if you don't like it like that, I would recommend trying the other fish. Cormeal crust is a bit on the thicker side. They took a break right after I got my order so I was in my car noshing on my eats while watching other people walk up and be disappointed that they were closed. If this is a regular thing, they should update their hours to reflect appropriately.

    2 catfish with fries hot sauce ketchup and tartar sauce
    Daljit S.

    Awesome, great service! I saw to ask for spicy seasoning on the menu after placing my order, asked for it after placing my order, ​and it was still doable.

    Seating area
    Michael S.

    Unexpected fish and chips are their own special delight. This was certainly not the neighborhood in which I expected this fare. The cornmeal makes for a dry (not oily) crust. The Alaskan Pollock was tasty. The catfish will be next. The staff are friendly, efficient, and know their stuff. Their cook time estimates were spot-on. Despite a couple handfuls of chairs inside the usually quiet place, orders are packed to go because that's what the clientele wants. We ate in and enjoyed seeing the flow of people. Worth it.

    a collection of fishing related items
    Carol C.

    Date: 5/10/2022 Time: 3:00 PM 60° Sunny My husband was craving some fried catfish. Our go to place is closed today. Thus, a yelp search results in The Fat Fish in Berkeley. A shout out to my fellow yelper, Shayla B. After reading her review, which convinced me to check this restaurant out. The Fat Fish is a small business with the kitchen area in the back. All orders are to go. There are no tables and chairs for a sit down meal. It's a hole-in-the-wall place that has a seafood menu mounted above the order window. However, don't knock it down. One never knows what is being offer to the customers or how good the combos and sandwiches are. It's my first time here and I did not know what to expect. We lucked out and found parking near Fat Fish. Needless to say, our eyes got bigger than our stomach. We both ordered two combo #3 (5 catfish, 7 oysters; 5 catfish, 7 prawns). One combo would have been enough for the two of us. I guess we were being greedy. Our combos were on point. I never thought I would like catfish and prawns in a cornmeal batter. Catfish was fresh and moist. The prawns fried to perfection. My husband enjoyed the catfish, but said the oysters were just okay. The female employees were friendly and very pleasant. They had better customer service than what I experienced at another small seafood restaurant in West Oakland several years ago. I told the employee if the combo is good, my husband and I will be back to try other items on their menu board. Again thanks to Shayla B and Victor W for their reviews. I would have never known about The Fat Fish.

    Red snapper n fry's

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    2 years ago

    I had the catfish and prawns plus some hush puppies. Delicious! Everything was well seasoned and tasted fresh. I will definitely be back!

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    3 years ago

    Yummy fish! It's thin pieces of cAtfish, but the prices are right. I also like the fries but none of their sauces.

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    2 years ago

    Fish was amazing, will go back for the hush puppies. Wasnt the biggest fan of the macaroni salad but will continue to go back nonetheless.

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    3 years ago

    Tasty fish! And friendly service. The cornmeal coating is delicious and not oily. I'll be back.

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    Page 2 of 6

    Ask the Community - The Fat Fish

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    Best southern food in my life. My aunt and I came here on a whim to get some food because we drove…read more2 hours from home for a dr's visit, they were nearby and looked the best, so we ordered from here. Never had hushpuppies but they were fantastic. Who knew deep fried cornbread was what was missing from my life. Paired with their housemade butter. So much southern food disappointed me but angelines finally filled that hole in my stomach for the intense craving for good soul food. Their jambalaya is killer. Super heavy but its everything that ticks the boxes. I feel catfish was a tiny bit underwhelming but the sauce saved it. My only issue was I wasn't able to finish all the hushpuppies they gave us, and thats a good problem lol. They also had a half open kitchen so you could see what everyone was doing. The dining room was a lil dark and cozy, I like dark dining rooms to be honest so it was the icing on the cake for me. Wish I dined in instead of did takeout, I live in stockton so we were here because we were visiting berkeley. Would come back to try everything else if berkeley wasn't a huge drive out for us :( but overall great food and service.

    One of the best Southern food experience ever! Went to celebrate my bestie's birthday and while we…read moreforgot to reserve (since they are always full) so couldn't get the best seats, the vibe was so lovely and the server was really nice (and patient in recommending dishes). Buttermilk fried chicken was so tender, every single kind of gravy/sauce was so flavorful and paired well with the main dishes. Gumbo is the perfect definition of comfort but the banana pudding was an absolute star. We were so full but couldn't resist since the taste was just remarkably sweet yet balanced to end the night with. Will definitely come back for another special occasion!

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    The Starry Plough - Irish Mac and Cheese w/ bacon

    The Starry Plough

    4.2(421 reviews)
    0.3 miSouth Berkeley
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    I've always been eyeing this place whenever I pass by and finally got the chance to come in for my…read morefriend's show! A super cool Irish pub that offers lots of draft beers on tap as well as food to pair it with. Unfortunately we weren't able to try their food however the food we saw pass by us from other people looked amazing and smelled equally as great so we will definitely come back for some grubs. Keep in mind, the kitchen does close early (around 10pm-11pm) and does NOT stay open until 2AM, only the bar does. In terms of service, the bartenders were super sweet and quick on their feet. Good job ladies! The inside of the pub was pretty much filled to the brim with people and I can only assume it's because of UC Berkeley's finals week. This spot as well as the surrounding area caters to a lot of students so expect a pretty poppin bar during the weekends!

    Ok, Starry Plough..I see you!…read more Recently one of my besties sent me a text and mentioned they were heading to the Starry Plough for an open mic night. Obvs, I attended! I hadn't been there in what seems like forever, and was pleasantly surprised to see such a cool presence of community show up. From stand up, to live music and spoken word, it was awesome to see such talented locals. There is also on the last Sunday of every month, Kid's Music. We recently attended this event and it was so fun. We ordered Cottage Pie, Homemade Chicken Strips with Fries/dipping sauces, and of course a Guinness. They had multi-color balloons to blow up, and two artists came and sang with instruments/passed out music shakers for the kiddos/and story time too. It was such a fun and interactive experience for the whole family to enjoy. Looks like they have programming everyday of the week too! From Irish dance, trivia, Grateful Dead Jam Sesh, and more..can't wait to come back again soon for their fresh taps, community vibes, and those yummy fries. Would love to try the House Mac & Cheese too.

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    After all this time I've lived in Berkeley, I somehow never ate at the Berkeley Boathouse…read more(restaurant in the DoubleTree Hotel) until yesterday. First off, the renovation is beautiful. It has an amazing waterfront/courtside view of the Bay, dock access to a ferry (I think it's Hornblower?), and a lot of natural light and open space. They also have a new chef and friendly staff. My homegirl and I started with the Green Curry Mussels, and they were definitely flexing like Mr Olympia. The curry broth was the star -- 10/10. We dipped everything in it: bread, fries...hell, it would have made tree bark taste good. I had the fish and chips, and the cod was perfectly battered like an amateur boxer in his first pro fight. Crispy, golden, and lightweight. My homegirl's cioppino was a little too tomato-heavy, so the waitress had the chef remix it. He did by adding more garlic, and it went from mid-sauce to perfect. I hope they keep that change! The staff said the new chef is considering updates to the long-stagnant menu -- and clearly, he's listening. They do need to bring the price of everything on the mini down about $5 :-), or else have happy hour specials. The restaurant got quiet after a cruise group hopped on a boat. It was relatively empty, and it totally has to be because of the marketing. If you're thinking of a nice alternative to Skates By The Bay (also very delicious!), It's a nice detour. This spot deserves more love. We'll be back.

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    The Berkeley Boathouse - No other place can take you from the port of Oakland to the San Rafael bridge in one head turn.  Absolutely beautiful

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    No other place can take you from the port of Oakland to the San Rafael bridge in one head turn. Absolutely beautiful

    The Fat Fish - fishnchips - Updated May 2026

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