My son and I were searching for that perfect fish and chips since Race Street closed. I can't believe I haven't reviewed this restaurant earlier ! It's a small mom and pop run shop tucked between a shoe store and grocery . The owners are wonderful and friendly . The portions are good and the batter is perfect and crispy ! Check out the specials . Everything from the hush puppies , to the fried calamari ,To the seafood it's all delicious ! The tartar sauce is perfect ! We drive across town just for fish and chips from TugBoat! read more

We were in the area and wanted to try somewhere new, so I spent some time on Yelp looking for popular spots we hadn't visited before. This place had good reviews and very reasonable prices, so we decided to give it a try. We arrived right when they opened and were the first customers to order at the counter. Before coming, we had seen a Saturday special advertised online and posted on the restaurant window: fish, clams, chips, and a soda for $12.95. Unfortunately, when we got to the counter, the special had been covered up with a piece of paper and replaced with the Friday special. My daughter had her heart set on the clams, so we ended up ordering the clam meal and soda separately. That was a bit disappointing. We ordered the clam meal, a sampler with chips (1 fish, 2 prawns, 2 oysters, and 2 scallops), and a large clam chowder for the family to share. The hostess who took our order was friendly and brought the food to our table. Most things are self-serve, including salt, pepper packets, and ketchup from a pump station. The fried items came out first, and we were told the clam chowder would follow. Unfortunately, the chowder didn't arrive until we were almost finished with our meal. As for the food, the fish was the standout. It was cooked perfectly--crispy on the outside, flaky on the inside, and not greasy at all. The clams were also quite good. The rest of the sampler was just okay. The scallops were a little soggy, and while the chips were crunchy, they were pretty bland. We tried adding salt, but since they weren't fresh out of the fryer, it didn't really help much. The biggest disappointment was the clam chowder. It tasted more like mushy potatoes than clam chowder and lacked the flavor and texture we were expecting. Overall, the family wasn't particularly wowed by the food, but the pricing was reasonable. If I come back, I'd probably just order the fish. That was easily the best item we tried and worth returning for. read more

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Incredible value Where else are you going to get a giant plate of seafood and chips for $12-$13? If you bite on the special of the day, you get a free drink as well. We tried their fish, prawns, and clams. The fish was my fav. Crispy, slightly airy batter around tender, flakey fish. The chips were nothing cray, but I liked em. We got a side of cole slaw, which paired well and cooled things off. I was surprised to find out the owners are Korean. Maybe that's why the prices are so good. We need more places like this in this economy! read more

Tugboat Fish and Chips - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

This is my second time here. The serving portions are generous for a 2 piece fish and chips. I had 3 PCs so that was quite a meal. As usual, I like the light batter of the fish and doesn't make the meal too heavy to have. read more

Tugboat Fish and Chips - Fish and chips - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

Everything here was amazing. Food came out quickly and it got real busy! I really liked the fried shrimp, better than any shrimp tempera I ever had. read more

Tugboat Fish and Chips - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

Best fish n chips ever!! So light, crispy, and tender! I haven't eaten fish in chips for a while since I had a bad experience somewhere else. I've seen tug boat for years and haven't been in so long. My dad loves fish n chips so when I was visiting we made it a trip to go try it again. The restaurant was crowded with people dining in and getting take out. Tug boat was delicious! Compared to the other restaurant...this was way better. The other place over cooked the fish and was mostly breading. Tug boat's fish was tender and flakey! We ordered enough to eat and take home. When reheating the fries in the air fryer they turned out great! Crispy and light! I'm craving tug boat was we speak.. Definitely recommend! read more

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SOLID FISH AND CHIPS SPOT!! Ordered the Fish and Prawns combo which came with 1 fish, 3 prawns ($12.45) and a small cup of their clam chowder ($6.75 for a small). The fish is SO tender and flaky, it was practically falling apart and the batter is light, airy and so crispy! The fish was longer than my whole face and it was a good thickness which was a plus. The tartar sauce here is SO GOOD. Creamy with a hint of dill, they really have their sauce down here. I thought the shrimp would be overcooked since other fish and chips spots I've been to do not have good shrimp for some reason but BOY, was I dead wrong! THE SHRIMP WAS SO GOOD, Y'ALL HAVE TO GET THE SHRIMP. It reminded me of shrimp tempura, with how airy the batter was and the shrimp was nice and bouncy inside! So addicting to eat, I wish I got more. The cocktail sauce was so good too--slightly savory with a horseradishy flavor that made the shrimp even tastier! The fries were on a thicker side and reminded me of Burger King fries. Nothing special but also not horrible. ASK FOR KETCHUP!! The clam chowder is not thick in the slightest and has more potatoes than clams. If you're not a big seafood flavor person you'll like this, as it reminded me of potato soup. It was decent but I wouldn't get it again at $6.75 for a small, I can get a can of Progresso for cheaper! My only minor complaint was a slight oily aftertaste with the fish and shrimp. It wasn't bad by any means, but it did taste like the oil could've been changed a bit more recently. I thought that 1 fish and 3 prawns wouldn't be enough food for me but I was so full afterwards! Great service too, just make sure to ask for some ketchup and hot sauce if you're ordering food for takeout. read more

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Omg this place it so delicious it's my favorite place for fish and chips and I've tried many different spots in San Jose. But this place is bussin! And the prices are fair the place is small but many get orders to go. I really recommend this place read more

Tugboat Fish and Chips - Fish and chips yummy! - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

Food comes out piping hot straight from the fryer. They give you big portions and the fish is crispy and tastes fresh. Tartare sauce is tangy and pairs well with everything. Even the fried scallop was cooked perfectly and was not rubbery. Service is also very friendly. read more

Tugboat Fish and Chips - Sampler - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

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I kept hearing about this place and decided to stop by here on 3/22/26 right when they opened. I was the first one in line and ordered the 4pc fish & chips and the 8 piece lumpia. After I placed my order, within the next 5 minutes the place was packed! (I recommend going early) It took a little while for me to get my food but it's worth the wait because everything is made fresh to order. You get one cup of the sweet chili sauce with your lumpia and 4 cups of tartar sauce for the fish. They are very generous with their portions and the fish was huge! I ate 2 fish, 4 pieces of lumpia, some fries and I was already full. There are tables inside as well for people who want to eat there, but the place is a little small. Overall the food was great and I'll definitely be coming back to try other things on the menu! read more

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Finally had the chance to try this place despite living in the area for years! It's a hidden gem that's Asian family owned. Lots of parking and lots of eating outside and inside. I placed a to go over the phone and my order was ready in 10 minutes. I ordered the Tugboat for $30 which is 6 fried fish (pollack) and French fries. I was very happy with the serving size and the smell was amazing while I was driving home with the food in the back. They gave lots of sauce for the fish too! Everything was so good! The fish had a such a light crispy batter but felt so filling as well. The fries were soft but needed more salt as they were under seasoned... Overall, delicious food and a good experience! read more

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Affordable and delicious! This place has been around for years and is still yummy! Makes me miss Scotland!

I tried Tugboat for the first time because a few of my family members said that it was good. To me the fish was lousy and the tater sauce was just a white milky liquid. I will stay with H and S Salt there fish and everything puts this place to shame. read more

Little fish & chips shop that punches way above its weight class. We ordered clam chowder, 1-pc fish n chips and scallops, fish n chips. Everything was cooked to order and came out of the kitchen piping hot. The batter was light and the fish and scallops were tender and succulent. The chowder was loaded with clams and the serving size was very large, my 1pc order was 1.25 pieces. Super nice people working behind the counter and fryer too. Definitely visiting again! read more

Tugboat Fish and Chips - Fish, scallops and chips on the left, 1 piece fish and chips on the right - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

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Fish = GREAT. Chips = MEH. The fried fish pieces are large, flavorful and tender, with a light, very crispy batter. As good as any fish & chips I've ever had. However, the fish & chips are served in a little cardboard "boat" or "basket", with the fries going in first and then the fish laid across the top of the fries. The fish pieces are so long that they hang over both ends of the "boat." Worse yet, the steaming fish almost immediately softens the fries, destroying any crispness that they may have had. Spending a few cents more per order on a simple paper plate would improve the quality of the fries immeasurably. The tartar sauce was disappointing -- thin and runny, diluted mayonnaise, with little else -- a few specks of relish, and a bit of tart vinegar or lemon. They're cutting corners here, too, and the food suffers for it. Ambience is bare-bones - a few tables; order at the counter, and they bring the food to you. Service -- that's about it. No condiments on the tables -- salt, pepper and catsup are on a table at one end of the dining area. I love this fish, and want to go back, but I'll get it to go or else bring my own plate to keep the steaming fish from turning the fries into limp noodles. read more

You should literally eat here once a week if youre in the area. The prices are low for what you get and the fish pieces are the size of a childs arm. Get the 2pc and you got one to go and theres plenty of fries. Everything was made to order which is important and its battered thin so its not greasy read more

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HANDS DOWN BEST FISH AND CHIPS I EVER HAD! the fish was fried fresh and the pieces are huge. staff is very friendly and the place is clean. i highly recommend you get the fish and chips it's the best thing here! you won't be disappointed! the fish is fresh and tastes great. we also got some fried oysters on the side that were yummy as well! read more

Tugboat Fish and Chips - Rowboat - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

Nice and crispy had to try them twice! Service was great: simple interactions and no fluff. Ambiance is small mom and pop vibes. I brought a stroller which they are too small for (people are still so accommodating) but I'm going to carry my son next time. Tartar sauce is really good. The clam chowder isn't the greatest but everything else is good. You can't really mess fried food too badly but that batter is really good. read more

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The fries are good. Otherwise this place kind of "meh" I had chicken strips + chips. The chicken didn't seem like it was very high quality. Maybe the fish & chips are better.... read more

The cook was friendly, but the cashier didn't make eye contact with me and ignored me instead of a smile and say "may I take your order please," especially since I was the first customer and there was nobody else there. The restaurant didn't look like anyone has ever cleaned there and the funky smell just overwhelmed me so much that I had to leave, even though I had already paid for the food (over $35). I've been a customer here for many years in the past and I don't see any improvement in the cleanliness of this restaurant or the unpleasant experience I've felt, which is unfortunate since the food is good, but I don't think I Will come hear anymore. read more

As long as you nail the crispy light batter and juicy/not fishy smelling seafood fry, you deserve a 5 star review in my books! It's not easy to find perfect fish and chips, and it's even more difficult to find a place as affordable as Tugboat Fish and Chips! For $41 dollars, we were able to get 8 fried shrimps, 4 lightly battered pollock fillets, a ginormous basket of beautifully cut and fried fries, and a bountiful side of calamari! Seriously, that's a steal!! I placed my order for 12:00pm-12:30pm since that was the only timeframe available for pick up (they open at 11:30am), but I was able to ask the lady upfront to make my order asap! It's also crazy that within 5 minutes of opening, they had a flock of folks scrambling in for their fried foods! Everything was perfectly fried and not fishy, as mentioned previously!! The fish was juicy, the shrimps were crisp and crunchy, and the calamari had a nice chew, along with the huge pile of fries! I seriously think their large fries combo is 1000% worth every dollar. You could definitely feed 4 people with that fry amount, lol. In any case, this place is a no frills and all good eats kind of establishment. If you're looking for an affordable place to get mouthwatering fish and chips, please check out Tugboat! Will be back again the next time I want a fish and chips fix! The only thing that would've been nice is if they salted their items, but it might be to avoid over salting their food and allowing patrons to salt the foods themselves! read more

Tugboat Fish and Chips - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

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The fish and shrimp are very good I also liked the calamari fried mushrooms and zucchini It almost reminds me of H salt esquire that used to be over at the Almaden fashion plaza The service is very good and they fill your order fresh no heat lamps or premade food They do have indoor outdoor dining the place is not that big so if they are busy it's better to get your food to go So if your in the mood for fish and chips this is a good place to fill your need read more

I order food from this place today.My order was totally wrong and stale. When I tried to call them to tell them that they didn't give me the right order.The lady started yelling didn't want to hear what I had to say. Just rude. I'm never ordering from this place again.Poor customer service and poor food. I wish I could get my money back. Waste of time read more

Always delicious. Zucchini is my favorite fish Always tastes fresh and great service!

Fish and fries were still warm and crispy after a 10 minute car ride. The fish pieces are very long. Wish the fries were salted but I guess we can do that ourselves. read more

Food is amazing Tastes great. Service is very quick Wait is not long. Clean area as well.

I wasn't a big fan. For what I paid for it coulda been better. More batter than anything. The clam chowder was alright too. The fries seemed kinda stale as well. Maybe Barbara's Fishtrap in Halfmoon Bay set too high of a standard for me. read more

For what it is, it's okay. Parking is amazing in this plaza. The batter was crispy but no flavor to it, just excess oil. The fish isn't fresh and lacks a bit of flavor. Fries could be a bit crispier, but the star of the show had to be the fried oysters and popcorn shrimp. Every bite was fantastic and not too overly oily. read more

Tugboat Fish and Chips - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

Fish and chips have to be one of my favorite foods. if it's on the menu, then I'm definitely going to get it. I've tried fish and chips variations all over the country, but it's always nice to have a local spot. The menu has a lot of options and it was so hard just to choose one thing. The staff were super friendly and patient as I was deciding what to get. There are tables inside and outside of the store, we opted to sit outside. I love the size of the fish and chips, always a great place when the quantity of food is very filling. I really enjoyed the French fries and the fried zucchini. There was so much food that I had leftovers for the next day and it was still great. read more

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This place is AWESOME!!! Their food is Absolutely delicious!!!The cooking oil they use is always fresh and the fish and prawns have that beautiful light brown look with a perfect crunch with every bite!!! Catalina is the Best!!! Such a good person! The Gentlemen there are also excellent with their customers!!! There is plenty of parking so? What ya waiting for? This place is the BEST to eat at!!! BTW? The clam chowder is off the Chain!!! See you all again soon!!! Jim H. read more

Definitely not what I remembered. Ordered fish and scallops and fried mushrooms (nearly $40) My food was bland and the oil used was old. Will not be coming here again. read more

The food and the service is great! It's my favorite restaurant to get fish and chips. The portions are large and there's enough to have leftovers for the next day. read more

Service was horrible, very rude lady. Food was good i usually come here every couple of months and never any problems. Prices are up which is understandable but the service needs to match it. I was asking prices and she didn't want to tell me, she just kept walking away. The fish was hot and presentation was good. Just her attitude and responses were rude. read more

One word to describe this place...crispy!?! We came to the shopping center and the first sign we see is Fish & chips. So straightforward and it peaked our interest! We were greeted with a the smell of fried food. I love the decorations and the cute animals statues. The cashier was very nice and she had also cleaned a table outside when she saw us walk that way. There was so much food, we hadn't realized it was going to be that much! I think the fish was cooked really well, it was fresh and fried to a beautiful crispy goodness. I do think the chicken strips and fries were a bit over fried so it had a rubbery consistency. The fried zucchini was amazing, just thin and crispy. I loved all of the tartar sauce, it was perfect on everything. Will definitely be back when we're in the mood for fried fish! read more

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I typically will never even think about doing a review, but I couldn't let this go. Me and my husband usually go two times out of the month because we love their fish and chips and today I took my mother and my nephew to try it out. I sat there waiting for my order and when I look over, I see the owner taking the money out from the tip jar as she put all of it inside the cash register. That really made me feel very uncomfortable. I look over to my mother and she noticed the same thing. When my order was up, I asked Her nicely what she does with the Tips, is it distributed evenly to everyone? Her answer to me was yes I then called her out and told her I saw what you did with the money. to my surprise, I wasn't the only one that caught what she did as there was another customer that also saw what happened. You would think that should be honest, but she wasn't. When I tip, I tip so that they can have something at the end of the night after a long hard shift. She was very upset, but if she was telling the truth, she wouldn't be so mad. She just doesn't like the fact that I called her out on her wrongdoing. Do better tugboat... and to the owner please be honest with your workers. Without them, your establishment wouldn't be where it is today. Not sure if we'll be back. The workers there work very hard they deserve a piece of that tip! read more

Good fish and chips large pieces of fish you can get one piece meal which plenty for one person but if you are really hungry or feel like sharing the 2, 3, 4 piece meals are good too The chips which are actually fries are good to plumb but not to oily always ask for extra packets of malt vinegar and tartar sauce Good price point too single fish meal runs about $10.00 read more

BEST fish and chips, EVER!!! Consistent, FRESH, and ALWAYS still crispy perfect even when I take it to go! The tartar sauce is to die for, you can taste the freshness, the Lumpia has the authenticity of my Tita's, and the employees are always smiling and ready to work. The prices are reasonable, and as if that wasn't enough reason to visit them, you can also request a punch card, where you receive a "Special of the Day" for free when you have filled it up. Just another bonus, win-win! Keep doing what you're doing Tugboat, there is nothing else out there that even kinda compares to you, NOTHING! read more

I've heard the line gets long here but fortunately for me it was not busy! I ordered the shrimp and fish and chips. I was pleasantly surprised beside it was not oily like other places and the batter on the fish and shrimp was not too thick, the flavor had still come through. I especially like dipping them in the malt vinegar! This is def a no frills spot. No bells, no whistle. Too small to have a large party so it's more for either take out or a couple. I wish they did have ac but maybe it wasn't working that day ??? I will go back to try other items. Oh, the best part? It was super affordable!! read more

Tugboat Fish and Chips - Shrimp & fish & chips - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

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I cannot believe this is my first time here. Everything was amazing!! It is a small mom and pop shop, with a couple of tables inside and two small tables outside. We ordered the sampler and chips (1 piece of fish, 2 pieces of prawns, 2 pieces of oyster and 2 pieces of scallops), the fish and chips, and an order of calamari. The batter for the fish is super crispy and the pieces of fish are huge!! My only complaint was probably the fries, I wish it was a bit more crispy. Service was great, the food came out quick and piping hot. I will definitely come back, maybe even next week! read more

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Amazing food as always- the lady behind the counter taking orders seemed inconvenienced by my order, by the phone ringing and just really make it a hostile environment. Again the food is amazing and have been coming here for 30 years. After this experience I'll have to check out other fish and chips. read more