Fish Nation

Golden and glorious, and served either in a basket or in a cone, Fish Nation’s fish and chips (RMB40) aim to please. The chips are chunky and greasy, and the fish is soft and tender. For those who prefer their fish and chips crispy, beware: The fare here is closer to the soft and soggy end of the deep-fried spectrum. Expect to either go at your fillet Sméagol-style (hands and teeth) or to expend a lot of effort ripping into it politely with the provided serving stick.

Address: No. 42,SanlitunRoad, Chaoyang District

Tel: 010-64150119

Opening hours: 14:00 - 2:00

The fish and chips here are large, with several pieces of flakey, tender cod cased in a crispy Kilkenny ale batter. The tartar sauce is chunky and delicious, and instead of chips, you get big, butter-soaked baked potato wedges with sour cream and a side of greens. This is excellent pub fare that belies Paddy’s dark, cavernous ambiance.

Address: No. 28, Dongzhimen Wai Street, Chaoyang District

Tel: 010-64156389

You don’t have to be British to consider fish and chips as comfort food, and when it comes to this particular culinary category, Jing-A Taproom has things down to a science. Their classic take (¥70) includes two generous portions of cod subsumed by a crispy shell of Koji Red Ale batter, and more mildly zesty fried potato wedges than any one person should attempt to consume in a single sitting. Add a mere ¥5 for a generous serving of mushy peas. The house-made tartar sauce is pleasingly mild, but condiment fiends that we are, we nearly emptied the bottle of pepper-infused vinegar to lend everything a pleasing piquantness and pucker.

Address: Inside 1949, Gongti North Road, Chaoyang District

Tel: 010-65018883

Served with homemade tartar sauce and mushy peas, this meal (RMB60 small, RMB84 large) is a satisfying classic. The plentiful helping of flakey fish is beer battered, giving each piece an airy texture from the carbonation. The batter offers just the right amount of crunch with an enjoyably tangy aftertaste. For “chips,” the no-thicker-than-average fries are nothing special. However the house-made tartar sauce, with its light mustard flavor, added a satisfying kick to every bite.

Address: No. 31, Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng District

Tel: 010-64027961

Opening hours: 11:30 - 23:30