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    Chef John's Fish & Chips

    4.3 (888 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Chef John's Fish & Chips Photos

    Business Info

    CHEF JOHN'S FISH & CHIPS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Chef John's Fish & Chips

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    Reviews With Photos

    Calina N.

    Let me start off by saying I am a fan of this place. These are some solid fish and chips. It's NOT oily at all which is what I appreciate the most. It also doesn't break apart easily. Chef John definitely perfected his batter recipe down to a tea. I came on a Friday afternoon around 2pm for a late lunch. I heard about this place from social media and decided why not give it a try since I was in the area. When I pulled into the lot it was almost full and when I walked in almost every table was filled with people. The first thing that caught my eye was how pricey things were. Now I will say the portion of the protein is HUGE. The fish is long and hefty. I think I'm just not used to paying almost $30 for fries and fish. Maybe $20 is more reasonable but in today's economy this is definitely going to hurt a lot of people's wallet especially for the area. If the coleslaw was standard I would say it makes the price better but you're just getting the protein and fries and no drink so it seems like a rip off. I get it. Aside from the pricing. I thought it was weird how the lemon slices aren't standard but considered a "sauce". Again. Usually when I eat fish and chips lemons and coleslaw is standard so having to add it on is definitely a choice... Those are really the only cons I have about this place. Due to social media it has benefited the business but at a cost of having a longer wait for customers at almost all times of the day. Waiting 30 minutes, for a "fast food" type joint is kind of crazy. However, as a family owned business with husband and wife and daughter just working I can give them some grace. As they probably didn't expect to blow up as they did. So my verdict is, I can see why the locals hit up this spot. At the end of the day they are a business and things like wait, pricing of ingredients going up it's all something we can't really control, so if you can put all that to the side this place is a solid find.

    Fish. Chips. Coleslaw. Fried zucchini.
    Loren C.

    I would call this place, the epitome of a British chippy shop. It's a tiny little restaurant, a few tables, and one thing they do amazingly well, which is frying anything and everything. Put in your order, feel free to split a one person meal because that's more than enough food for two, and be prepared to wait. There are three people working, two cooking, and one running back-and-forth between the register and the kitchen to help clear things out. Their fish, shrimp, fries, and zucchini are all expertly fried, very fresh tasting, which means they clearly changed their oil consistently, and everything tastes really good. I would personally prefer a little more salt in my batter, but that's my personal preference. Still they do a magnificent job on the fish and all the seafood. If you're craving that British isles sort of meal, this is the place to do it.

    Fish and Chips
    Pedro G.

    Support family owned restaurants! Who doesn't love some authentic fish n chips right? Chef John's Fisn & Chips is a must try. Local to Lemon Grove, the restaurant offers a unique look both inside and outside. Unlique these corporate fast food chains nowadays that look boring and cookie cutteresque, Chef John's establishment is appealing to the eye. Food is made to order, so you know not to question the freshness of your plate! Yes it can be a wait, but definitely worth every minute of it. Portions are  generous , and although the price point may be a bit steep, you get what you pay for and that's quality eats here!

    Menu
    Norma D.

    Heard all the hype so I had to try! Food is cooked as you order so it's hot and fresh. I had the fish & shrimp with the onion rings. Everything was amazing. I loved both but if I had to choose I'd say the shrimp was the hit!! The fish was a really big piece so you will get full. Those onion rings were delicious and huge. When you order the cashier tells you it will be about 35 minutes. Pretty accurate, but worth the wait. The place was packed for lunch so come with your patience because your food comes out fresh & hot. I'll be back.

    John A.

    Although we had to wait 1/2 an hour for our food, it was totally worth it. Enjoying dinner with the wifey. Chill spot. Everything was really fresh & delicious.

    Business Hours and telephone number
    Victor F.

    Good quality fish and shrimp. Small family owned business in Lemon Grove. Only a few tables available for dine in. Somewhat of a small menu. Expect to drop a coin here. Service is slow as there are only three employees. Cook, prep and cashier. I ordered 4 fish, 4 shrimp, two fries and a coleslaw and total was $70 + a 45 minute wait.

    Dining Area
    Ali B.

    It's been a while since my last visit to Chef John's. Today it wasn't busy in the dining area but the pick up service was busy. The food is still very tasty. We ordered the Fish and Shrimp plate which included fries. The prices however have increased over the years like most places so we don't eat here as often as we would like. 2025/9

    Inside restaurant
    Matt H.

    Great fish and chips the portions and quality are fantastic,hush puppies were great too. They give you plenty of all the condiments and the service is wonderful.I highly recommend this little Gem for great fish and chips.

    Fish and chips (fries under lol)
    Jennifer O.

    Finally got to try this place after passing by it for so many years!Ordered the zucchini for $13.99 and their 2pc fish n chips for $25.99. Fish were huge and so good!! The place could use a little tlc tho. Trash were over filled to the floor. There was only 1 cashier which i think is the daughter and 2 elderly couple cooking and preparing. Waited 45min but it was worth the wait! Got there around 6p and since they close at 7p, you could only order to go.

    Picture of Restaurant
    Sal F.

    Documenting the food and sharing the food experience at a old school family-owned seafood spot named "Chef John Fish & Chips " in Lemon Grove. After all these years, we finally made time to checkout it out. Validating that the food is made-to-order, on that same note I want to share and confirm that the food is fried, crispy, and fresh. (On a sidenote) if you do not like well cooked french fries , simply ask or request at the time of your order for a (light fry) on the french fries. We ordered Chicken and fish combination plate, and Fish and Calamari combination plate. Our order took about 10-15 minutes. Raising awareness: it's nice at Chef John Fish & Chips that they have ice cold water to drink and provide ice cold water to drink as a alternative to buying cans of soda. Expect to spend say $60.- $70. dollars for two people, and/or say $100.00- $120.00 dollars for three people. So, if your in the mood for fried, crispy, and fresh food check out Chef John Fish & Chips for yourelf.

    Fish & Shrimp
    Doug A.

    This place is busy (probably due to video from a Social media food influencer). I went on a Saturday only to be told that wait would be 45 minutes. I left. Went back today (Monday) and it was still busy. Ordered 1 fish/ 4 shrimp, onion rings, & fried mushrooms. While the portions were large. Was it worth the $50+. No. The fish & shrimp had no flavor. The onion rings were huge and tasted good. The mushrooms were very large and alright. The wait was approximately 1 hour. Probably won't return.

    Fish and chips
    Justin L.

    It's hard to believe I didn't know about this place sooner! I've had fish and chips everywhere and this place takes the cake. I imagine the dining area will need to be expanded soon. Portions are large and perfect. Clean oil, perfect batter! Amazing

    Two pieces of the fish and chips.  The shrimp came out later piping hot.
    Stephen R.

    Chef John's is still as good when he was the only one there is the restaurant over 20 years ago. Nothing has changed other than having help and needing a larger parking lot. I had enough fish and shrimp for the next day. I ordered the fish and shrimp combo with an extra fish. The service was on point making sure that you had a drink of something and sauces. The atmosphere was the a little busy; no one was complaining.

    Fried shrimp and oysters

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    14 days ago

    Just ate there today. Excellent! Good portions, fish is crispy and well flavored. A go back to place for sure.

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    Page 1 of 23

    Ask the Community - Chef John's Fish & Chips

    Is the fish farm raised or wild caught and is it cod?

    Haddock

    Is the fish frozen and battered by a distributor?

    No! They do everything by hand at the restaurant. Some of the best fried fish & shrimp that I have ever had.

    Malt vinegar to go with fish & chips?

    You have options. Some people like it with that, some like it with tartar, lemons, and some people like it with ranch or ketchup. They have it all.

    Is their indoor dining back?

    Yes, there is indoor dining. We just ate there on May 10, 2022.

    Do they have indoor dining?

    Presently (3/5/22) there is no indoor dining. Just take out

    Do they have indoor dining reopened yet?

    I don't think so, yet.

    View All 7 Questions

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    California Fish Grill

    California Fish Grill

    4.0(485 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$

    Came in and had a really solid experience overall. The place was clean, the service was great, and…read morethe food definitely delivered. The lobster nachos were so good--flavorful, fresh, and honestly the highlight of the meal. The protein bowl didn't disappoint either, packed with good portions and tasted just as good as it looked. Great spot if you're craving seafood with a casual, no-fuss vibe. Would definitely come back!

    Check# 5234392 I came to your location tonight to pick up…read morefood. I made it clear that I had a dairy allergy to Justin who took my order. I ordered a bowl and a side of brussel sprouts and specified "no cheese" He was very friendly and professional. When he took my order, he added the note to the receipt "no cheese". Once my food was ready, I double checked the order to make sure there was no cheese. As soon as I opened the Brussel sprouts, I immediately noticed there was parmesan cheese on them. I went back to Justin and showed him there was cheese. He was very apologetic and said he would have them remade immediately. While I waited for the Brussel sprouts to be remade, i noticed 2 employees in the back mocking me and Miranda said to Abraham multiple times "no cheese, no cheese, make sure there's no cheese." They both were laughing hysterically and kept glancing over at me. At this point in time, I was getting agitated that they would make a mockery of such a serious allergy. My dairy allergy is serious and I could be hospitalized if I consume dairy. After waiting another 10 mins, Justin brought over the Brussel sprouts and before handing them to me, he double checked them again. When he opened them he noticed there was still traces of parmesan cheese. Again, Justin was very apologetic and explained that the parmesan cheese must have fallen into the tomatoes. He continued to apologize and offered another side item on the menu. Just was the only professional one and provided exceptional service. As for Miranda and Abraham, they should learn to take people's allergies seriously and not make a mockery of it. Very unprofessional. I hope management escalates this customer experience to ensure other customers don't have to deal with such rude and unprofessional employees like Miranda and Abraham. Please give Justin a raise because he is the only reason why I would ever give my business to this location again.

    Photos
    California Fish Grill
    California Fish Grill
    California Fish Grill

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    Chef John's Fish & Chips - fishnchips - Updated May 2026

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