Best Fish and Chips Near Me: Ireland’s Top Rated Spots

Danolla’s Diner and Takeaway in Castlebar took home Best Fish and Chips in Ireland at the Irish Takeaway Awards 2026. For travelers routing through County Mayo, the density of quality is unmatched — two spots with 1,000-plus review stacks, plus the national champion.

National Winner 2026: Danolla’s Diner · Tripadvisor Top Spot: The Tavern (Westport, 4.6 ★) · Award Standard: Mystery diner judged

The table below compiles the top-rated fish-and-chips spots across Ireland’s key towns based on verified Tripadvisor rankings and award data.

“Kielys and Eco are both solid chippers in Cork.”

— Reddit Cork user

“Leo Burdock is listed among the ten best fish-and-chips shops in the UK and Ireland.”

— The Guardian

Where can I get the best fish and chips?

It depends on which yardstick you trust. Tripadvisor’s regional rankings give you traveler-verified ratings and review counts updated through April 2026. The Irish Takeaway Awards offer a different credibility signal — independent judges dining anonymously under real trading conditions. These two systems don’t always agree, and that’s revealing.

Top spots in Westport

County Mayo punches above its weight for fish and chips. Westport alone accumulates 5,156 Tripadvisor traveler reviews across its fish-and-chips category, the highest concentration of any Irish town in the available data. The Tavern Bar & Restaurant holds the #1 position with a 4.6-star rating drawn from 1,293 reviews. Cronin’s Sheebeen follows at #2 with 4.5 stars and 507 reviews. Tripadvisor’s Westport Fish & Chips listings were current as of April 2026.

• The Tavern Bar & Restaurant — 4.6★, 1,293 reviews, #1 in Westport
• Cronin’s Sheebeen — 4.5★, 507 reviews, #2 in Westport
• J.J O’ — ranked #3 per Tripadvisor

County Mayo’s dominance goes beyond Westport’s Tripadvisor performance. Castlebar, just 30 km away, hosts the national champion.

Galway favorites

The research notes flag McDonagh’s as a Yelp top pick in Galway, though the available sources contain no Yelp review data for Irish fish-and-chips spots. Tripadvisor data for Galway was not present in the available dataset. Treat any Galway recommendation with appropriate caution until direct sourcing confirms current ratings.

Cork recommendations

Reddit Cork users have suggested Kielys and Eco as solid chippers in the city. This community recommendation carries lower verification weight than Tripadvisor’s reviewer counts or independent award judging. Both are worth trying if you’re already in Cork, but don’t rely on them as your sole benchmark.

What is the famous chippy in Dublin?

Leo Burdock is the name that surfaces first in most Dublin fish-and-chips conversations. The chipper has operated in Dublin for decades, and its longevity alone sets it apart in a city where takeaways open and close regularly. It has appeared in UK and Ireland round-ups, though Tripadvisor data for Dublin fish-and-chips spots did not surface in the available research dataset.

Leo Burdock details

Leo Burdock’s position rests on name recognition and longevity rather than current review counts. The content plan identifies it as appearing in top 10 UK-Ireland listings, but the available sources don’t provide specific ratings or review numbers that would let you compare it directly against the Mayo or Wicklow spots. Its Facebook presence ranks it among top Dublin places, but Facebook data lacks the independent verification that Tripadvisor or independent award programs provide.

Beshoff on O’Connell St

Beshoff appears in Dublin conversations as a consistently reviewed spot on O’Connell Street. Facebook users have posted reviews noting excellent cod. Like Leo Burdock, Beshoff lacks the quantitative benchmark that Tripadvisor data provides for other Irish towns.

Which fish is the best for fish and chips?

Cod remains the baseline for traditional fish and chips. Its mild flavor, flaky texture, and thin coating compatibility make it the reference point against which other fish are judged. Haddock runs a close second, with some preferring its slightly sweeter profile. Both have established supply chains in the UK and Ireland, making them reliable choices.

Recommended types

Industry guidance from Frymax identifies cod and haddock as the gold standard for frying. Sustainable sourcing matters too — Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fish is increasingly common at quality chippers. The content plan notes Frymax advice ranking these as top tasting fish for the dish, though direct URL sourcing was not available in the dataset.

Frymax advice

The content plan references Frymax guidance on fish type selection, but this source was not among the verified citations provided. Cod and haddock remain the consensus pick across multiple industry sources for traditional fish and chips, with pollock and coley sometimes appearing as budget-friendly alternatives.

Which fish to stay away from?

Health authorities flag certain fish for specific concerns. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publishes guidance on mercury levels in fish, recommending that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children limit intake of king mackerel, shark, swordfish, and tilefish. These are not standard fish-and-chips fish anyway — they’re more likely to appear in upscale seafood restaurants.

FDA guidelines

The FDA eating fish advice targets high-mercury species that aren’t typically used in fish-and-chips preparation. Standard chippy fish — cod, haddock, plaice — fall within safe consumption guidelines for most people when eaten in normal portions. The content plan references FDA guidelines on fish to avoid, but the specific URL was not among the verified citations.

Health advice

For healthy adults without specific dietary restrictions, cod and haddock from reputable chippers carry minimal health concerns. Allergies, not mercury, represent the more common risk — fish and shellfish allergies are among the most common food allergies. If you have a known fish allergy, fish and chips is not the right meal.

Who won the chip shop of the year?

Danolla’s Diner and Takeaway in Castlebar, County Mayo won Best Fish and Chips in Ireland at the Irish Takeaway Awards 2026. The Irish Takeaway Awards are independently judged via anonymous mystery diner assessments, with criteria focusing on food quality, consistency, technical execution, and overall standards under real trading conditions. This is a credibility-led process that excludes public voting — the judges buy meals like any customer.

York winner

The National Fish & Chip Awards 2026 named The Scrap Box in York, Yorkshire as #1 Fish and Chip Takeaway — but this is a UK award, not Irish. The Con-Telegraph report on Danolla’s win notes that the UK awards are separate from the Irish Takeaway Awards. Ireland’s national champion ran against Irish competition, not British chippers. If you want the Irish winner, Danolla’s is it. If you want the British winner, The Scrap Box is it.

Other awards

No national Irish awards beyond the Irish Takeaway Awards 2026 surfaced in the available research. The NFFF (National Federation of Fish Friers) runs the UK awards that produced The Scrap Box win. County Mayo also dominated regional Tripadvisor performance, giving Mayo a double claim to attention: both the national award winner and the highest-density cluster of traveler-rated top spots.

Related reading: Craft Beer Near Me in Ireland

Ireland’s acclaimed fish and chips spots like Danolla’s in Castlebar complement the island’s diverse dining scene detailed in this guide to Irelands best food spanning pubs to Michelin kitchens.

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