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Recommended Reviews - Laughing Halibut
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Very much a hidden gem, about a 15 min walk from the Big Ben! I don't usually like cod or fish (not a big seafood eater), so I was specifically trying to find halibut fish and chips since halibut is a better fish (not sure if thats true or not lol). This was also my first time ever trying fish and chips. We had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. The place is very small, but that's about every restaurant in London. There's a lot of tables at the back of the restaurant. I thought my fish and fries tasted so fresh and not greasy at all. I had it with vinegar and this other sauce and it was sooo tasty. Didn't really taste too fish-y in general! The workers were also very nice and kind! I would go back here!
My tour guide suggested this fish and chips restaurant after I was done visiting Winston Churchill's war rooms, and it was totally worth going to for lunch. The piece of fish I had was spectacular, a good fry and very fresh. The fries are delicious and are thick cut and have plenty of flavor. It is all served with a smile and with a nice amount of tartar sauce, a must if you do this dish properly. It also helps to serve mushy peas or a curry sauce, but this is fine as a simple dish because it really held me up for several hours after eating it. The prices are fair too but I did not want a large portion as I wanted to ensure I would be able to eat dinner later. Get the Halibut as the name implies. It is the right fish here. Cod will work too, but at this restaurant, stick with the Halibut.
Great place to get fish and chips in London. We got the namesake, the halibut, and I think it was worth it -- although we didn't try their others. Perfectly cooked fish, light and crispy breading, and good chips. Got a beef meat pie as well and it was also pretty good - good pastry. Service was lovely and kind and it's on a cute street with street vendors as well. We went around 1130 and the place was starting to fill up when we left but still plenty of space.
We wanted to try fish and chips in London and found it on Yelp, it was close to our hotel and within walking distance. The Laughing Halibut located on a small street is a family-owned shop with very friendly service. They were extremely helpful with our menu selection. Our dishes were served promptly and tasty. The restaurant seems small but has enough tables to be comfortable. The atmosphere is friendly and joyful. We paid at the counter at the end of our meal. Recommended if you are in the area.
The Laughing Halibut should definitely get points for the originality of their name, similar to the odd names (to us Americans) of pubs in London. It certainly is catchy and it caught my eye in my search for lunch after visiting Westminster Abbey, a short walk down Victoria St and down an alley. I wasn't going to leave London until I had some good Fish & Chips! Seating is a little tight with narrow tables, but the menu is pretty extensive with different kinds of fish. There's cod, haddock, plaice, calamari and skate, but halibut leads the list, so that's what I go with. We also shared a Mixed Platter to try some of the others in smaller portions. One of our friends wasn't keen on fish, so she got the roast chicken, which was surprisingly good. Also in the menu are meat pies, which my son has been on the hunt for. The beef pie was a personal sized pot pie stuffed with beef & gravy. We should have gotten 2-3 to share, but the fish platters were pretty big. The fried calamari rings in the mixed platter were like 4 inches across! Just be aware that what they call scampi is not like what we call scampi. They're just breaded fried shrimp. Halibut is basically a large flounder species caught in colder northern waters. The meat is tougher and doesn't flake like its smaller warm-water cousin. You just have to be careful in cooking it or it becomes overcooked rubber. How they get it to laugh, I don't know, but it must involve some secret tickling technique. Their cooking technique is great though, with a time tested batter recipe that fries up golden brown and keeps the fillet nice and moist. They must double-fry the chips because they came out cooked through and perfectly crispy. I tried the chips with the malt vinegar on the table, but I prefer good ol' ketchup. I feel they should have a mascot to go with the name of the restaurant. My wife would have bought a plushie of a cartoonish laughing flatfish.
Walked from Westminster Abbey to Laughing Hailbut. The place is small, but still a good amount of tables. Looks like a typical fish and chips joint. The menu has a lot of options. For fish and chips, you can pick from cod, halibut, haddock, rockfish, or skate. I opted for cod. The piece of fish is quite good size as is the amount of chips you get. Batter is crispy and not heavy. The chips are crispy and hot. Service was fast and friendly. Had a great experience! N*joy!
First meal on this Europe trip was a success! The one dish I really wanted to try in London was Fish & Chips and this place had pretty solid reviews. I went with the Cod, which was flakey and delicious. My dad ordered the English Breakfast, which came with a bunch of food for under 10 euro. It's a pretty casual spot. The silverware is in a little container on the table and you seat yourself. They do bring your food to you, but you have to go up to the counter to pay at the end. I enjoyed the vibes though because it felt more authentic and less fussy. It was pretty crowded even before noon, so that's when you know it's legit!
Order at counter or take a seat at the tables for wait staff to take your order. The place is narrow but has plenty of seating available. The fish and chips platter is good. This is our second time here it was still as good as we remember. I had the cod plate with just the cod and it was a perfect snack. Chicken wings were great too.
Such a great find within walking distance of my hotel. I visited here many years ago and I gave them 4 stars. Given the meal I got today, I'm all in with 5 stars. Today, I was looking for a quick takeaway option to eat in my room due to jet lag. This looked to be the only chip shop in the area and I felt like I should try to eat something classically British since I'm only here for a night. I would normally take the Underground to Leicester Square for Chinese takeaway but did not feel like fighting the rush hour crowds so The Laughing Halibut it was. It is a little nondescript from the outside and looking in the window, it appears to have what all classic fry shops should. Frymen behind the counter, fried items in the glass hot case, and boiling oil vats bubbling with fish. Upon walking in, I first noticed several tables in the back to eat in, and all were occupied which was a good sign. The next thing I noticed was the engaging counter guy who helped talk me through my order. He was not rushing me and he seemed to genuinely want me to have a good meal. I was also impressed that there was not a lot of fried product sitting in the warm holding cases getting stale. They fry to order and so you know you are getting a freshly made meal. There are several types of fish you can order along with other items such as chicken, burgers, pies, etc. It was actually harder to decide because I always thought that fish and chips was made out of some nondescript, cheap, trash fish. Not here. They had Cod, Halibut, Haddock and at least a couple other choices on the menu. I know jack squat about great fish and chips so the choices were wasted on me. I went with Cod at the recommendation of the counterman. It was a great choice in the end. I took mine to go so I had them overfry it a bit as I did not want it to get steamed soggy on the walk back to the hotel. The fryman did it and it was absolutely perfect on my 10 min walk back. They double bagged it and the fries after salting them and it was perfect for taking it away. The smell coming out of the bag was pretty enticing and it was funny because the 5-star hotel I'm staying at I'm sure wants its customers to dine in at its expensive restaurant with a Michelin star trained chef. My $10 paper bag of fried fish got a lot of attention as I walked through the lobby and the people that got on the elevator with me asked me where I got it from and made immediate plans to go to the Laughing Halibut for dinner. Sometimes inexpensive and comforting is what you need. Once in the room, I unwrapped the fish and it was still perfect. Blazing hot flakiness on the inside (still too hot to handle) and perfectly crunchy and seasoned on the outside. The side cup of vinegar they gave me was the outstanding foil for the oily richness of the fish. I have had some really crap fish and chips elsewhere in the UK and in Ireland. This one was anything but. It was actually perfect in price, size, preparation and taste. Nothing but good things to say about this place. The guys running it are 2nd or 3rd generation family members of the original owner and have kept the business running even through COVID. They seemed to be very nice, chatty, helpful and eager to please. This is a total gem in this neighborhood and I am now a fan. I liked it enough on this 2nd visit that I put it on my bucket list for a repeat visit on my next trip to London. You should too.
Pretty decent fish & Chips ! After taking a stroll around Buckingham palace & seeing the Royal guards in London this stop was a must ! (Because when your in London, you have to eat Fish & Chips!) Our waiter recommended the Rio drink which is a tropical fruit drink, which was a nice pair with the Fish & Chips. Our waiter had great customer service and had a great sense of humor. The fish (Cod) was cooked good & the batter was flaky. The Fries were decent as well, just needed extra seasoning which is provided at your table! Overall definitely a go to spot!
Off hours on a rainy weekday was what I needed from the universe to stop into this place. Coming from a guy who does not typically order, or even like fish n chips, this place was damn good. Entering is a bit confusing because the front counter is the take-away counter. They actually have table service, but you have to go to the back. Even though I chose my own seat quickly, for some reason it took a while for anyone to take my order... but it came with an apology at least and I wasn't in a hurry. Vinegar, ketchup, mayo, tartar, S&P are on the table already. I echoed the voice and words of Anthony Bourdain in my head when I decided to order the curry sauce with my chips. I had no alcohol in me, but I just wanted to be "set right" and that the curry cauce certainly did. They have other dishes that seem of a 'higher' (nicer) caliber, which I didn't try, but it's a super casual sit-down and take-away sort of chippy.
This was very close to our hotel. We were on the hunt for our first fish and chips in London and this was the lucky spot and within walking distance. Our food came piping hot out the grease. The fish was very crispy and I love how thick the chips are. My only gripe, which I would come to learn on from the rest of our meals throughout London, was a massive lack of seasoning, in particular, salt! It would have been utterly perfect if it were seasoned and salted right out the fryer. But alas, we still enjoyed the freshness of the fish and the overall cook of the components.
2 months ago
11 months ago
After checking into the hotel that I was staying at I already knew that we needed to go and grab some fish abs chips from the Laughing Halibut. This store looks like it has been here forever but the guys inside are super nice and chill! Our server was funny and great with kids! We ordered so much food and multiple fish without the chips. You can do that if you know you aren't going to eat a lot of chips which are French fries. The deep-fried fish was tasty and delicious. The oil is so fresh and everything tasted really yummy! We also had a chicken pie which was nice as well. read more
11 months ago
Food: halibut fish and chips and cod fish and chips. The halibut fish is so soft, fresh and delicious. Truly the BEST fish and chips I've ever had. Hubby got the cod which was also very good, but if you had to pick, I'd go with the namesake halibut. Just add salt, some lemon and a little bit of malt vinegar and you are good to go. We were actually all set to go someplace else but the concierge at our hotel recommended Laughing Halibut nearby so we decided to go with it. He said they never freeze their fish and they've been around for 43 years. Thank goodness we did! Service: our waitress was very helpful as we were torn between halibut and cod. Ambiance: this a no frills type of place I love because the focus is on the food. There are a few tables in the back or you can get it to go. read more
4 months ago
Very much a hidden gem, about a 15 min walk from the Big Ben! I don't usually like cod or fish (not a big seafood eater), so I was specifically trying to find halibut fish and chips since halibut is a better fish (not sure if thats true or not lol). This was also my first time ever trying fish and chips. We had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. The place is very small, but that's about every restaurant in London. There's a lot of tables at the back of the restaurant. I thought my fish and fries tasted so fresh and not greasy at all. I had it with vinegar and this other sauce and it was sooo tasty. Didn't really taste too fish-y in general! The workers were also very nice and kind! I would go back here! read more
2 years ago
My tour guide suggested this fish and chips restaurant after I was done visiting Winston Churchill's war rooms, and it was totally worth going to for lunch. The piece of fish I had was spectacular, a good fry and very fresh. The fries are delicious and are thick cut and have plenty of flavor. It is all served with a smile and with a nice amount of tartar sauce, a must if you do this dish properly. It also helps to serve mushy peas or a curry sauce, but this is fine as a simple dish because it really held me up for several hours after eating it. The prices are fair too but I did not want a large portion as I wanted to ensure I would be able to eat dinner later. Get the Halibut as the name implies. It is the right fish here. Cod will work too, but at this restaurant, stick with the Halibut. read more
Great place to get fish and chips in London. We got the namesake, the halibut, and I think it was worth it -- although we didn't try their others. Perfectly cooked fish, light and crispy breading, and good chips. Got a beef meat pie as well and it was also pretty good - good pastry. Service was lovely and kind and it's on a cute street with street vendors as well. We went around 1130 and the place was starting to fill up when we left but still plenty of space. read more
We wanted to try fish and chips in London and found it on Yelp, it was close to our hotel and within walking distance. The Laughing Halibut located on a small street is a family-owned shop with very friendly service. They were extremely helpful with our menu selection. Our dishes were served promptly and tasty. The restaurant seems small but has enough tables to be comfortable. The atmosphere is friendly and joyful. We paid at the counter at the end of our meal. Recommended if you are in the area. read more
1 month ago
The Laughing Halibut should definitely get points for the originality of their name, similar to the odd names (to us Americans) of pubs in London. It certainly is catchy and it caught my eye in my search for lunch after visiting Westminster Abbey, a short walk down Victoria St and down an alley. I wasn't going to leave London until I had some good Fish & Chips! Seating is a little tight with narrow tables, but the menu is pretty extensive with different kinds of fish. There's cod, haddock, plaice, calamari and skate, but halibut leads the list, so that's what I go with. We also shared a Mixed Platter to try some of the others in smaller portions. One of our friends wasn't keen on fish, so she got the roast chicken, which was surprisingly good. Also in the menu are meat pies, which my son has been on the hunt for. The beef pie was a personal sized pot pie stuffed with beef & gravy. We should have gotten 2-3 to share, but the fish platters were pretty big. The fried calamari rings in the mixed platter were like 4 inches across! Just be aware that what they call scampi is not like what we call scampi. They're just breaded fried shrimp. Halibut is basically a large flounder species caught in colder northern waters. The meat is tougher and doesn't flake like its smaller warm-water cousin. You just have to be careful in cooking it or it becomes overcooked rubber. How they get it to laugh, I don't know, but it must involve some secret tickling technique. Their cooking technique is great though, with a time tested batter recipe that fries up golden brown and keeps the fillet nice and moist. They must double-fry the chips because they came out cooked through and perfectly crispy. I tried the chips with the malt vinegar on the table, but I prefer good ol' ketchup. I feel they should have a mascot to go with the name of the restaurant. My wife would have bought a plushie of a cartoonish laughing flatfish. read more
2 years ago
Wanted to try some of the famous British Fish and chips. This was highly rated. Expect a rather plain family owned eatery on a side street with simple food. The fish-chips and chicken mushroom pie was a taste of 100% British. Came twice in three days, says it all. read more
2 years ago
Walked from Westminster Abbey to Laughing Hailbut. The place is small, but still a good amount of tables. Looks like a typical fish and chips joint. The menu has a lot of options. For fish and chips, you can pick from cod, halibut, haddock, rockfish, or skate. I opted for cod. The piece of fish is quite good size as is the amount of chips you get. Batter is crispy and not heavy. The chips are crispy and hot. Service was fast and friendly. Had a great experience! N*joy! read more
First meal on this Europe trip was a success! The one dish I really wanted to try in London was Fish & Chips and this place had pretty solid reviews. I went with the Cod, which was flakey and delicious. My dad ordered the English Breakfast, which came with a bunch of food for under 10 euro. It's a pretty casual spot. The silverware is in a little container on the table and you seat yourself. They do bring your food to you, but you have to go up to the counter to pay at the end. I enjoyed the vibes though because it felt more authentic and less fussy. It was pretty crowded even before noon, so that's when you know it's legit! read more
Order at counter or take a seat at the tables for wait staff to take your order. The place is narrow but has plenty of seating available. The fish and chips platter is good. This is our second time here it was still as good as we remember. I had the cod plate with just the cod and it was a perfect snack. Chicken wings were great too. read more
Such a great find within walking distance of my hotel. I visited here many years ago and I gave them 4 stars. Given the meal I got today, I'm all in with 5 stars. Today, I was looking for a quick takeaway option to eat in my room due to jet lag. This looked to be the only chip shop in the area and I felt like I should try to eat something classically British since I'm only here for a night. I would normally take the Underground to Leicester Square for Chinese takeaway but did not feel like fighting the rush hour crowds so The Laughing Halibut it was. It is a little nondescript from the outside and looking in the window, it appears to have what all classic fry shops should. Frymen behind the counter, fried items in the glass hot case, and boiling oil vats bubbling with fish. Upon walking in, I first noticed several tables in the back to eat in, and all were occupied which was a good sign. The next thing I noticed was the engaging counter guy who helped talk me through my order. He was not rushing me and he seemed to genuinely want me to have a good meal. I was also impressed that there was not a lot of fried product sitting in the warm holding cases getting stale. They fry to order and so you know you are getting a freshly made meal. There are several types of fish you can order along with other items such as chicken, burgers, pies, etc. It was actually harder to decide because I always thought that fish and chips was made out of some nondescript, cheap, trash fish. Not here. They had Cod, Halibut, Haddock and at least a couple other choices on the menu. I know jack squat about great fish and chips so the choices were wasted on me. I went with Cod at the recommendation of the counterman. It was a great choice in the end. I took mine to go so I had them overfry it a bit as I did not want it to get steamed soggy on the walk back to the hotel. The fryman did it and it was absolutely perfect on my 10 min walk back. They double bagged it and the fries after salting them and it was perfect for taking it away. The smell coming out of the bag was pretty enticing and it was funny because the 5-star hotel I'm staying at I'm sure wants its customers to dine in at its expensive restaurant with a Michelin star trained chef. My $10 paper bag of fried fish got a lot of attention as I walked through the lobby and the people that got on the elevator with me asked me where I got it from and made immediate plans to go to the Laughing Halibut for dinner. Sometimes inexpensive and comforting is what you need. Once in the room, I unwrapped the fish and it was still perfect. Blazing hot flakiness on the inside (still too hot to handle) and perfectly crunchy and seasoned on the outside. The side cup of vinegar they gave me was the outstanding foil for the oily richness of the fish. I have had some really crap fish and chips elsewhere in the UK and in Ireland. This one was anything but. It was actually perfect in price, size, preparation and taste. Nothing but good things to say about this place. The guys running it are 2nd or 3rd generation family members of the original owner and have kept the business running even through COVID. They seemed to be very nice, chatty, helpful and eager to please. This is a total gem in this neighborhood and I am now a fan. I liked it enough on this 2nd visit that I put it on my bucket list for a repeat visit on my next trip to London. You should too. read more
Pretty decent fish & Chips ! After taking a stroll around Buckingham palace & seeing the Royal guards in London this stop was a must ! (Because when your in London, you have to eat Fish & Chips!) Our waiter recommended the Rio drink which is a tropical fruit drink, which was a nice pair with the Fish & Chips. Our waiter had great customer service and had a great sense of humor. The fish (Cod) was cooked good & the batter was flaky. The Fries were decent as well, just needed extra seasoning which is provided at your table! Overall definitely a go to spot! read more
5 months ago
Off hours on a rainy weekday was what I needed from the universe to stop into this place. Coming from a guy who does not typically order, or even like fish n chips, this place was damn good. Entering is a bit confusing because the front counter is the take-away counter. They actually have table service, but you have to go to the back. Even though I chose my own seat quickly, for some reason it took a while for anyone to take my order... but it came with an apology at least and I wasn't in a hurry. Vinegar, ketchup, mayo, tartar, S&P are on the table already. I echoed the voice and words of Anthony Bourdain in my head when I decided to order the curry sauce with my chips. I had no alcohol in me, but I just wanted to be "set right" and that the curry cauce certainly did. They have other dishes that seem of a 'higher' (nicer) caliber, which I didn't try, but it's a super casual sit-down and take-away sort of chippy. read more
2 years ago
10 months ago
This was very close to our hotel. We were on the hunt for our first fish and chips in London and this was the lucky spot and within walking distance. Our food came piping hot out the grease. The fish was very crispy and I love how thick the chips are. My only gripe, which I would come to learn on from the rest of our meals throughout London, was a massive lack of seasoning, in particular, salt! It would have been utterly perfect if it were seasoned and salted right out the fryer. But alas, we still enjoyed the freshness of the fish and the overall cook of the components. read more
1 year ago
Food was good but pretty overpriced. Staff was very polite and helpful. I would have better review if prices were reasonable read more
9 months ago
These are pretty decent fish and chips. The fish were especially done right. The coating was crisp and the fish was just right. The fries are good too, you just have to make sure you season them well. I ordered a large and was impressed by the size of the fish. The waiter recommended the Ginger beer and this was a decent combination. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
We enjoyed the halibut fish and chips. Prices were a little high but it had good reviews and the fish was very tasty and cooked perfectly. This place does brisk business and has lots of customers. Service was friendly, I spoke to the owner for a bit and he told me business had been slow during the lockdown but things were improving quickly. It was a bit of a walk from the touristy sights like Westminster but the reviews were accurate and I glad I took my family to experience a great fish and chips place while in London. read more
I have to say, I was rhe guy that went to a fish place amd ordered a burger. Their fish and chips looked great, but I was still adjusting to time change and was not up to eating any fried in grease. I opted for the burger. The texture and taste of the beef was somewhat off to me. It tasted more like a sausage patty than it did a beef patty. That said, this is a popular place for traditional "fish and chips". I will have to try them on a future visit. read more
I asked a local what to get and without reservation she responded the cod. It was pretty amazing and about as good as fried fish can get. No grease, perfect seasoning, right amount of crisp, good taste. The fries were a little lackluster, skip them and get more fish. There's actually a ton of options for everyone. Would definitely go again! read more
7 years ago
Fresh seafood that's fried up, that one can taste! I wished that they made their tartar fresh, and then this would have been very fresh fulfilling! Ordered the mixed platter to taste the seafood variety! Shrimp (scampi) poppers are juicy and fish cods nicely done. Calamari sizable and onion rings well done! Batter wasn't too thick or thin with the right crunch. Classic diner kind of spot or takeaway order up front available. Convenient spot in Westminster Abbey for some good ole fish and chips. read more
2 years ago
Amazingly delicious Baby if I tell you, we shared the large platter and ordered more of the fried cod.. The portions are perfect and the service was wonderful.. My visit to London was a must so if you're traveling anytime you London, England, stop by The Laughing Halibut and get some deep fried fish.. You won't be disappointed.. read more
If you are not local, and want to try some great local fare this is your place. Eat where the locals eat. This place was within easy walking distance of our hotel and we wanted to do some fish/chips. Given the majority of the reviews it was obvious this low key restaurant was going to deliver on food and service. When we arrived there were at least six people in line getting take away, line out the door. I had the scampi (shrimp) and chips and the hubs got the Haddock and chips. The service was on point, quick and very friendly. The food came fast, but not too fast and was fresh (never thought I would describe fried food as fresh but whatever) and super tasty. I had to try that HP sauce and I guess it was not bad... hard to describe. At any rate, we loved our meal at this local gem and the price including tip was fantastic (especially in contrast to other restaurants we tried on this trip). read more
2 years ago
I had to try fish and chips while in London. It wasn't my favorite thing to eat but I appreciate it for what it is. read more
I came in here after seeing the good reviews. I wanted to try fish & chips just for the hell of it since I'm visiting from the United States. Food was average, came out hot. It also tasted very healthy! It didn't take long to come other either, maximum 10 minutes of waiting. Everyone's food came out at the same time. Service was nice, nothing extraordinary, but thankfully normal. Now the reason why I decided to go with 4/5 is because the cups were dirty, each & every single one. They looked dusty and I didn't want to pour anything in there. I think they just needed to be rinsed out. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Don't underestimate this little shop's mighty food. Best fish n chips we had on our visit. We ended up going here twice because we felt it was better than the pub's down the street. So good & service was great. Thanks! read more
2 years ago
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Laughing Halibut - fishnchips - Updated July 2026
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