The Golden Chip is an institution in East Belfast - everyone has heard of it, and almost everyone has tried it. I know I certainly have, more times than I really should have. The battered cod is pretty good, but its the chicken strips that keep me keeping on going back. Somebody stop me.
The legendary chicken strips are long chunks of chicken breast deep fried in lovely lardy batter. But not too lardy, lovely and golden and quite crispy. They come with chips and one portion would feed two people with moderate appetites. So not the husband and I then. Throw in a tub of gravy and you're good to go. That little lot will cost you less than £5.
The other must try are the battered mushrooms. These little beauties are hard core as the spongy mushrooms really soak up the oil but a couple of them totally caked in salt are strangely good.
The Golden Chip does kids meals in a box for £3 which come rather unusually with a Kinder Egg. Odd choice but of course the kids love it. So maybe more clever than odd.
What you will also notice about the Golden Chip is that it is spotlessly clean and that the servers are polite and friendly which are two things you don't always get for your buck in a chippy. Lunchtimes and weekend tea times can be busy with a wait of around 10 minutes so bring the paper with you and chill your boots. Although they can be 10 verrrry long minutes when you're starving and surrounded by chips.
Judging by the number of plaques on the walls, they have won a shed load of awards. Quite right too. read more