New Zealand’s best fish and chip shops have been identified through a series of national competitions, revealing the best fryers in six regions.
The country’s Best Chip Shop competition reveals a national champion with the best fish and chip shops named for each region.
It’s an easy and well-tested way to sort out New Zealand’s best fish and chips with judging including criteria such as achieving fat content below 9% for chips that are independently lab tested.
Now run by The Chip Group, the competition started in 2006 and revealed national and regional winners in 2013 with plans for a refreshed competition in 2017.
From the results, it’s easy to identify those fish and chip shops that are consistently prominent in the regional and national awards.
New Zealand’s best fish and chip shops:
Top choice
Corner Hibiscus Coast Highway/East Coast Rd, Silverdale, North Shore, Auckland
Oceanz Seafood Silverdale won the national title in 2009 and under new management, took the regional titles in 2011 and 2013, and scooped the top national honours in 2013. The shop is easy to find on the main highway from the Silverdale turn-off of State Highway 1, about 45 minutes north of central Auckland. It’s part of a chain of Oceanz-branded fish and chip shops in Auckland, all sourcing their fish through the city’s fresh fish market.
Corner Fenton St and Malfory Rd, Rotorua
Owner Michael Huang is an enthusiast for trying to cook the best fish and chips but with the healthiest cooking methods. In 2013, he received a special achievement award for his efforts to raise industry standards. Oppies use rice bran oil in their fryers to keep their chips crispy and golden brown as well as low in fat. Oppies won the national title in 2011 after being a finalist in 2010, and the regional champion in 2008 and 2009. They won a Rotorua Hospitality Award in 2014 and are won Best Retail Business at the 2013 Rotorua Business Awards.
Other finalists in the latest competition:
Greenwoods Fresh Catch
1 Pah Road, Greenwoods Corner, Epsom, Auckland
Owners Thomas and Lilian Sug opened in Greenwoods Corner after previously running an award-winning takeaway in Papakura, South Auckland. They source their fresh fish from Seamart and serve their chips in cardboard boxes to keep them fluffy on the inside but crisp on the outside.
85c Victoria Street, Cambridge, Waikato
Having opened only in 2013, this English-style fish and chip shop uses qualified chefs and offers gluten-free options. They pack their takeaways in cardboard boxes and, yes, they serve mushy peas.
Fish King Takeaways
26 East Street, Fielding, Manawatu
Noted for cooking with clean oil and using cardboard boxes for serving up fish and chips. The reputation of this takeaway joint draws many customers from Palmerston North who think it’s worth the 36km round trip for award-winning fare. A finalist in the regional awards in 2010.
Victory Square Fish & Chips
176 St Vincent Street, Toi Toi, Nelson
Bought by Nelson couple Ekkehardt and Malia Klinge in 2012, Victory Square jointly won the regional title under its previous owners in 2011 and was a regional finalist in 2010.
The Naked Chip
45 Shearman St, Waimate, South Canterbury
Owners Rene Bullock and Beverley Knowles opened The Naked Chip in 2012. They stock up to seven varieties of fresh fish and Bluff oysters and whitebait when in season. And they even serve pizzas from their Italian stone oven for those who are not so keen on fish and chips.
Our guide to the best fish and chip shops in New Zealand
Northland & Far North Ι Auckland’s North Shore Ι Auckland Ι Waikato Ι Coromandel Ι Tauranga Ι Rotorua Ι Taupo Ι Hawkes Bay Ι Manawatu Ι Taranaki Ι Wellington Ι Nelson Ι Blenheim Ι Christchurch Ι South Canterbury Ι Otago Ι Southland Ι Best oysters in New Zealand Ι 10 best seafood treats in New Zealand
