The best fish and chips in Singapore

What is it? Fast-casual sister restaurant of the popular Lad & Dad, located at Tanglin Post Office in Orchard.

Why we love it: Come to Lad & Co expecting freshly prepared chunks of golden beer-battered haddock (from $19.90) served with heaps of thick-cut chips – the traditional English way. The batter’s so crisp that you can hear your knife scrape satisfyingly over it. Cut through the golden-brown crust to reach the tender, fleshy middle, and pair it with homemade mushy peas, gherkin salsa or the crowd-favourite curry sauce. 

Time Out tip: Lad & Co is also tucked away in an unsuspecting location just off the Orchard Road belt, so it's a great spot to get some respite from the thronging crowds in town.

Address: 56 Tanglin Rd, Singapore Post, Tanglin Branch, B1-02, Singapore 247964
Opening hours: Tue-Sun noon-2.30pm; 5pm-9.30pm

What is it? As the first Irish pub to open in Singapore way back in 1995, Molly Malone’s is perhaps the gateway to everything Irish in Singapore. 

Why we love it: The charming pub has the honour of being designed and built in Ireland, then shipped to Singapore and reassembled at Circular Road. Order Molly's Famous Fish & Chips ($18) – the simple white fillet is battered and deep-fried to a delectable golden brown. Add on mushy peas with bacon for $3 or upgrade to haddock for $4. The dish comes served with chips, fresh lemon and tartare sauce.

Time Out tip: The proper way to enjoy this on Monday trivia nights with a pint of Guinness in hand – one of the best pours you can find on the island.

Address: 56 Circular Rd, Singapore 049411
Opening hours: Sun-Thu 11am-1am; Fri-Sat noon-3am

What is it? Modern British diner by the Singapore River serving quintessential English comfort food.

Why we love it: The fish and chips ($36) at Carnaby boast an incredibly crisp and airy crust achieved by infusing Brewdog Punk IPA and pumping carbon dioxide into the mix. These golden spanners are delivered each morning from a local farm in Pulau Ubin for maximum freshness. Characteristic of locally-bred fish, the flesh has a leaner and firmer texture, and the meal is completed with the proper fixings of mushy peas, lemon and tartare sauce. 

Time Out tip: Carnaby whips up a traditional Sunday Roast (from $49) on weekends with Angus beef rump, tallow-roasted potatoes, vegetables, and of course, Yorkshire pudding.

Address: 60 Robertson Quay, The Quayside, #01-01, Singapore 238252
Opening hours: Tue 5pm-10pm; Wed-Fri noon-2.30pm, 5pm-10pm; Sat 11am-3pm, 5pm-10.30pm; Sun 11am-3pm, 5pm-10pm

What is it: Humble fish and chips joint located under an HDB block, and the precursor to Lad & Co at Orchard.

Why we love it: To enjoy a near-faultless plate of the iconic British pub dish, it's a no-brainer: head down to Lad & Co at Tanjong Pagar. There aren't any fancy-schmancy airs over at this eatery, only some of the best Atlantic haddock (from $22.42), excellently beer-battered and served with a side of thick-cut chips. When slicing in, make sure to get a good smear of that gherkin tartare on the crust, a hefty spoonful of the mushy peas and a splash of malt vinegar for the perfect mouthful.

Time Out tip: Lad & Dad also boasts a solid list of craft beers – we recommend a crisp pint of Pilsner Urquell to wash down the grease.

Address: 7 Tanjong Pagar Plz, #01-108, Singapore 081007
Opening hours: Tue-Sun noon-3pm; 5pm-10pm

What is it: This long-standing joint at Balmoral Plaza has been given a new lease of life after a rental hike scare in July 2025 – but not for long. It's set to bid farewell some time in January 2026, so try it while you still can.

Why we love it: Having been around since 2010, Smiths is a true classic. The standard dory and chips start at $28.50, but you can also choose from more premium fish fillets such as the halibut ($31), cod or haddock (from $28.50). All of the fish are flown in directly from the UK, and the restaurant exclusively uses MSC-certified cod. On top of that, Smiths serves only thick-cut chips as it absorbs less oil during the frying process.

Time Out tip: Another crowd-favourite is the whole-tail Whitby scampi ($29), featuring golden-breaded scampi served alongside crunchy pink coleslaw.

Address: 271 Bukit Timah Rd, #01-02 Balmoral Plaza, Singapore 259708
Opening hours: Daily noon-9pm

What is it? An oldie but a goodie, Greenwood Fish Market has been a mainstay for fresh seafood in Singapore since 2003.

Why we love it: You get to choose between two locations – a quiet neighbourhood in Bukit Timah or a gorgeous waterfront locale in Sentosa. The house fish and chips ($24.95) makes the most of top-grade catfish fillets, or whatever the catch of the day is. Otherwise, you can order a fish fillet of your choice, with options like red snapper, barramundi, or even the more premium black cod. Simply request it to be battered and fried. 

Time Out tip: Of course, you can’t walk away without trying the oysters. Slurp down Australian Coffin Bay oysters ($5.95 per piece) for clean, crisp and sweet flavours, or French Fine de Claire ($4.95 per piece) for a more delicate profile.

Locations: Greenwood Avenue and Quayside Isle, Sentosa
Opening hours: Daily noon-10.30pm

What is it? Cosy, casual bistro at Henderson and Sembawang, known for its social-media-viral XL fish and chips.

Why we love it: The main draw here is undoubtedly the signature XL halibut and chips ($89.90), which feeds three people comfortably, or two very famished diners. On the side are sidewinder fries – a step up from the typical bland thick-cut chips – tartar, and five dipping sauces. But if you're not up for the challenge, you can also go for the more modest dory and chips ($18.90) or top up slightly under $10 for the more premium halibut fillet ($27.90 for a single portion). 

Time Out tip: Other hits on the menu include good ol' chicken chops ($17.90), laksa pasta with prawns ($19.90) and the mentaiko pasta with smoked salmon ($19.90).

Locations: Henderson Industrial Building and Victory 8, Sembawang
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am-3pm, 5pm-10pm

What is it? Old-school Irish pub in the heart of Kent Ridge for die-hard sports fans, serving up no-nonsense pub grub.

Why we love it: Yes, food plays second fiddle to the solid line-up of sports and music at Scruffy Murphy's, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hit the spot. Regulars swear by the fish and chips ($23), uniquely served as a whole, deboned red snapper – tail and everything – with sides of chips, mushy peas and tartar. Other classics are done well too, like the hand-carved slow-roasted prime beef ($23) with greens and Yorkshire pudding.

Time Out tip: Scruffy Murphy's is said to pour one of the best Guinness pints on the island, second to or rivalling Molly Malone's at Boat Quay.

Address: 32 South Buona Vista Rd, Singapore 118161
Opening hours: Mon-Tue 4pm-10.30pm; Wed 11am-midnight; Thu 11.30am-midnight; Fri-Sun 11am-midnight