Search locations or food
OR
Sign up

What to eat in England? Top 8 English Saltwater Fish Dishes

Last update: Fri Feb 14 2025
VIEW MORE
01

Saltwater Fish Dish

ENGLAND and  3 more regions
4.1
Cod fish and chips
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Fish and chips is a traditional dish consisting of freshly fried fish fillets and sliced fried potatoes. The fish is dipped in a batter of eggs, flour, and milk, and it’s then fried in oil, lard, or beef drippings. The most common types of fish used are cod, haddock, skate, and pollock, but cod is the most popular choice, with 60% of all fish and chips meals using it as the preferred fish.


Cod has a texture that is very supple, tender, and mild, and it makes for a great contrast to the crispy-fried batter shell. In addition, its tender meat nicely absorbs the condiments and seasonings such as malt vinegar and salt. You can find fish and chips made with cod throughout the country, but it’s especially popular in southern seaside towns such as Hastings and Brighton.

02
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Fisherman’s Pie is a traditional and Irish dish similar to shepherd’s pie, but made with seafood instead of meat. It typically includes a mixture of white fish like cod or haddock, sometimes with salmon or shrimp, cooked in a creamy sauce, such as bechamel, or cheddar cheese sauce.


The fish is often mixed with vegetables such as peas, corn, or leeks. The filling is then topped with mashed potatoes and baked until golden and bubbly. It's a hearty, comforting meal often served in coastal regions.

03

Saltwater Fish Dish

ENGLAND and  3 more regions
3.9
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Most Brits would agree that there is nothing more British than fish and chips. This comforting, widely loved national dish consists of a freshly fried, hot, white fish fillet and large, sliced and fried potatoes. Cod, haddock, and flounder are the most common types of fish that is fried for the dish, and the customers can choose which type of fish they want, with cod being the most popular choice.


The fillets get dipped in a batter made from eggs, milk, and flour, and are then fried in oil, lard, or beef drippings along with the potatoes. The origins of this dish go back to the 17th century, when potatoes were fried as a substitute for fish in the winter months, while fried fish was introduced into the country by Jewish refugees. 

MOST ICONIC Fish and chips

View more
1
2
3
4
5
04

Saltwater Fish Dish

ENGLAND and  3 more regions
3.9
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Fish and chips is a traditional dish consisting of freshly fried fish fillets and sliced fried potatoes. The fish is dipped in a batter of eggs, flour, and milk, and it’s then fried in oil, lard, or beef drippings. The most common types of fish used are cod, haddock, skate, and pollock, but cod is the most popular choice, with 60% of all fish and chips meals using it as the preferred fish.


Plaice, on the other hand, has a more pronounced flavor than cod, while its texture is relatively light. The fish takes other flavors exceptionally well, and it’s also great for battering, which is the reason why it’s often offered on fish and chips menus. 
05

Saltwater Fish Dish

ENGLAND and  3 more regions
3.9
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Fish and chips is a traditional dish consisting of freshly fried fish fillets and sliced fried potatoes. The fish is dipped in a batter of eggs, flour, and milk, and it’s then fried in oil, lard, or beef drippings. The most common types of fish used are cod, haddock, skate, and pollock, but cod is the most popular choice, with 60% of all fish and chips meals using it as the preferred fish.


Skate, on the other hand, is usually found in fish and chips shops along the west coast of Scotland. The fish has a mild, slightly nutty flavor that perfectly pairs with tartar sauce or a squeeze of lemon juice. However, the downside of using skate for fish and chips is that the tender meat first has to be removed from a myriad of bones that can be found in each wing of the fish.

06

Saltwater Fish Dish

ENGLAND and  3 more regions
3.5
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Fish and chips is a traditional dish consisting of freshly fried fish fillets and sliced fried potatoes. The fish is dipped in a batter of eggs, flour, and milk, and it’s then fried in oil, lard, or beef drippings. The most common types of fish used are cod, haddock, skate, and pollock, but cod is the most popular choice, with 60% of all fish and chips meals using it as the preferred fish.


Pollock, on the other hand, is often used as an inexpensive, eco-friendly alternative to cod. The flesh is also soft and succulent, just as cod, but the texture is a bit more flaky, while the flavors are slightly sweet. Due to the fact that pollock is a robust fish, it’s easily battered and fried before it’s enjoyed with a heap of chips on the side.

MOST ICONIC Pollock fish and chips

1
07

Sandwich

AXMINSTER, England
n/a
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Mackerel bap is an English fish sandwich originating from River Cottage Canteen restaurant in Axminster, where it's been created by chef Tim Maddams. The sandwich is made with mackerel fillets that are dredged in flour, dipped in beaten eggs, deep-fried in hot oil until golden and crispy, and then placed in a bread roll (bap) with tartare sauce or some mayonnaise with lemon juice.


However, mackerel is no longer considered sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, so the customers should be advised that the fish is no longer sustainable, and they can make the informed choice to eat mackerel baps or not, or try alternative dishes such as cod baps or kipper baps. 
08

Savory Pie

CORNWALL, England
n/a
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Stargazy pie is a savory Cornish pie filled with hard-boiled eggs, potatoes, bacon, mustard-flavored custard, and whole sardines that are poking their heads through the top crust, appearing to gaze at the stars, hence the name. The unusual, whimsical dish was originally prepared to celebrate the heroic fishermen's catches during the cold, stormy winters.


The whole catch was baked into a pie and many believe that it saved the Mosehole village of Cornwall from starvation. The festival is celebrated annually, and it is known as Tom Bawcock's Eve. Although the arrangement of the fish seems highly eccentric, there's actually a good reason for their placement - the need to preserve as much of the essential oils as possible. 

MOST ICONIC Stargazy pie

1

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 8 English Saltwater Fish Dishes” list until February 14, 2025, 1,327 ratings were recorded, of which 1,176 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

Show Map
English Saltwater Fish Dishes