Poppies Fish & Chips

I ate HADDOCK at Poppies Fish & Chips in London and had Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert. The fish was very juicy and fresh, but the batter had absorbed a bit too much oil. Therefore, I recommend waiting a few minutes before you start eating, otherwise you might burn your mouth. The fries were simple and tasty, and ketchup was available on every table. They also served a small jar of sauce; it was mayonnaise-like but not as oily as mayonnaise. It contained different herbs. I expected it to have a unique, fresh flavor, but I didn’t get that impression. In my mind, it was supposed to have a stronger garlic flavor and a fresher taste from the herbs inside. The presentation was nice, but I couldn’t reach the taste I had imagined. I ordered a large portion, but a regular size would have been enough because after a while, the oil absorbed by the fish and batter becomes a bit overwhelming. As for the dessert, it was a moist, cake-like sweet but with a thicker, stickier texture. I think this dessert can only be enjoyed properly with ice cream. The ice cream somewhat reduces the heaviness of the dessert. The sauce reminded me of a traditional flavor I’ve had before — like molasses with burnt butter on top. The sauce alone was tasty. The presentation, the venue, and the staff were all quite good.

When in London, eat like a Briton. One of my first stops was to try a fish and chips that London is famous for besides Patrick Stewart. And was not disappointed. The fish, was amazing , we got the different fish to sample and it was all delicious. Must put malt vinegar on the chips or go home. The service was extremely nice and helpful, quick and responsive. A fantastic food experience.

I visited this fish and chips restaurant last night. The place has a nostalgic atmosphere dating back to 1956, which adds a nice touch. Service was average, and the food was good. We arrived late, so the kitchen was almost closed — I only got to try the fish and chips, which were tasty. I’d give it 4 stars overall.

Small fish and chips chain in London area. Known for one of the better fish and chip restaurants, but a bit pricer than the competition…but well worth it. Multiple fish varieties to chose from including Cod and Haddock. I prefer the haddock, but due to its thin fillet, it almost always comes with the skin on. Picky eaters can put the skin down and just eat off the top, which gives you more than enough breading. Chips are excellent. I believe they are par fried as they have a wonderful, crunchy texture, and a bit thicker than a traditional french fry. Give this place a try and you won’t be sorry. I would recommend eating it, I thought there was plenty of seating available.

Loved the place. Brilliant atmosphere and lively music. Staff were kind enough to let me bring home the sauce jar! Food was amazing and fish was fresh, fries were crispy and had a slight salty taste.

One of the best fish and chips in town for sure! And the calamari rings… wow fresher than fresh! Loved it! Thanks for the great service Amithab! Everyone, come check them out!

Fun atmosphere with the crispiest fish ever! We came at 1030pm, so they were out of the cod, but the haddock did not disappoint! Friendly and quick service.

The food here is simply alright, nothing special. For the price, portion sizes are a bit small — we did end up quite full and did not finish everything, but I’m just saying that I’ve had much larger portions for less money in the city. It’s a classic London fish and chips shop and has been named a “must try” by several places, including winning awards (such as the National Fish and Chips Award). We went there because of the classic vibe and reputation, but there was honestly nothing special about it. For £20, you get your fish and chips, which come with a VERY small little jar of tartar sauce (additional jars are charged extra, although the waiter did slip us one extra for free, which was appreciated). I’d consider it more of a tourist draw than anything else. We did enjoy the meal, but I don’t have any particular reason to return.

My friend and I were visiting London and wanted the best authentic fish and chips we could get our hands on. We asked a local on the tube and this is where we ended up! The fish was great. Flaky, crispy, pretty much unseasoned, but I prefer adding the salt and vinegar myself. The chips were good too, and the portion sizes on them were huge. The interior was of a nice vintage style and very clean. Service was quick and friendly. The price is unjustfiable, however. The fish and chips were already expensive, but to add onto the tiny amount of tartar sauce provided would be an extra charge (and they don't even let you take the jar!). Otherwise a pleasant experience!

Ordered: Regular Fried Haddock with Chips (~£20) Tartar Sauce (£1) Aya's take: Poppies is another one of those popular fish & chips spots in London. We were looking for a bite to eat around 10:30pm (they close at 11pm) but they weren't allowing dine-in anymore. A bit disappointing but we went next door to the takeaway side to place a quick order. The Fried Haddock with Chips was below average. 1) it wasn't fresh, 2) it lacked flavor, and 3) they charge £1 each for any condiment you want. They gave us the tiniest amount of tartar sauce which was crazy considering the size of the fish. We also asked for ketchup and were told it was also £1. I have never experienced having to pay extra for condiments like this when it should come with the meal. Who in London eats fish & chips without tartar sauce!? That should never be a separate charge. This meal will fill you up but not satisfy you. Maybe dining in during the day would be totally different but based on my experience, I wouldn't recommend it and wish I saved the calories for something better instead.

Mediocre fish and chips. Visited the Notting Hill location and the decor and smell of the place seemed really enticing. They have a to-go window, so we decided to give it a try. I ordered the medium cod and chips, and was surprised that tartar sauce was an extra cost. The system is slightly strange that they give you a ticket and ask that you wait outside by the window. When your order's ready they call your ticket from the window and ask that you come inside to pickup the food. It would make more sense to hand the food out from the window? I did like that when picking up the food the staff asked if I wanted vinegar and salt on top, considering the batter itself was pretty bland. The exterior of the dish wasn't very crispy which I was looking forward to. We ate it a few minutes after taking it to-go so I don't think it had time to become soggy. The fish itself was juicy and flakey. The chips were good, not the best. Enjoyed the tartar sauce and without it would've found the fish to be bland. Overall, an Instagram worthy spot but the taste is lacking. Hope to find better fish and chips the next time I'm in London

One of the first food dishes people think of when referring to the United Kingdom is fish and chips. It's definitely the first food item I think of so I knew that I had to try it in London when I visited. Before the trip, I researched a bit to decide where to try this dish since I figured I would only eat it once during my trip. After reading some articles online and reviews from people, I decided on Poppies. It was the perfect restaurant that had consistently good reviews and was conveniently situated near places in our itinerary. The restaurant has an old diner vibe and there are many tables that accommodate small to medium groups. Decor on the walls are photos of famous people. Service was quick and friendly. Mink only wanted to try a couple bites so I ordered a Large Haddock and a Pint of Camden Pale Ale. Our server was quick to bring out my beer and the kitchen had my order on the table several minutes after. They even brought out a smaller plate for Mink. The fish was perfectly fried as the meat was moist and flakey. It was more on the bland side but the tartar sauce, lots of vinegar and lemon wedges helped. The chips were ok, not the best I had during the trip but it was decent. Thankfully there was a lot of ketchup and ground pepper. I'm satisfied with my pick of trying this dish at Poppies. Overall, it was a good meal and I'm happy that I got to eat this dish in its originating country.

As a tourist just looking for fish and chips I was more than satisfied coming to this mid-century "diner" that had a nice little buzz going on, which was enough to draw me in from the street. It was nice to see they offered a multitude of fried fish options and a full bar to boot! Knowing how expensive London is I was only marginally surprised that the bill for two for lunch, which included two "small" beers each was over £85.00.

Yea ... probably the worse fish and chips I have ever had . Im unsure why this place was so crowded . The food definitely gave neighborhood latenight / im starved and theres no other place open - energy . It was just that. Nothing helped with taste , not the tarter , not the ketchup, DEFINITELY not the malt vinegar .... Annoyed by my choice to experience "fish and chips" and to have had it taste so Mediocre was a Major disappointment. Even more so because we were headed to our train to Paris and had no time To eat elsewhere ...

Perfect place to try authentic fish and chips in heart of London. The fish is fresh and the staff was extremely helpful.

Surprisingly good for a very beige plate! Wished everything came more salted but I didn't mind seasoning on my own--like a pick your own adventure. I can't remember if we had the haddock or cod but the fish was lovely and flakey, chips were also surprisingly good though visually a far cry from the shoe string this Yankee is accustomed to. Cute retro ambiance. Not sure why there were a bunch of photos of iconic Americans such as Elvis but it works!

Came in here on our visit to London, based on a local's recommendation. We had to try the Traditional Fish and Chips before we left. It did not disappoint. We tried the Haddock, the fish was fresh, mild in flavor. Not impressed with the chips. They weren't crispy enough. Rotisserie chicken was ok. Ambiance was great, a different vibe. The homemade tartar sauce was yummy!

There are TONS of places to eat fish and chips! This place was recommend by this YouTuber that's lives in London. Also, on Facebook there are two different London groups I belong too and they all recommend this place. This place did not disappoint. The staff were really helpful explaining the different type to f fish to choice from. My mom had a beer & I just had tap water. I hate her fish since it was huge. It was Delicious! It was so light and flaky. The tarter was good. I am so glad we stop here.

A hopping place to get some great fried food and a beer. The spot is full of character and vibes. Dine in or take out. Food came out fast and extremely hot. If you eat here, expect to pay a decent amount for your food. Prices lean to the higher side. An example, halibut and chips, 25.00 plus the service fee. So 28.00 for a fish and chips. Having more tarter sauce would have made my day. I did not ask so I do not know if someone can more tarter sauce without a charge. Worth a stop and I suggest splitting with your other human(s). Large amount of food.

I was told by a local of the area that coming from America, Poppie's would be the place I can get the best flavored fish & chips. It did not disappoint. It could've used a tad more seasoning but I enjoyed how fresh and flaky the fish was. The tartar sauce was on point! Easy, super casual and decently priced!

Had heard the Poppies was a good place for fish and chips. Tonight we felt like something simple. When we arrived we were greeted and seated right away. I got the regular size Cod and chips and my partner had the calamari and chips. Both were great. The team at Poppies checked on us regularly. Being American I am use to a cocktail style sauce with my calamari but all meals there come with a jar of Tarter spice and vinegar on the table. I liked their style of vinegar. It was good.

Yum! I guess it's well known and it didn't disappoint. Food was fresh and crispy! The service is A+. The ambiance was great gave a bit of old school flair.

There is a very pushy waitress who recommends placie fish and then goes on to recommend a different fish every second as if she forgot she recommended the first one. "It's so good so good". Came in as a group and wanted to share a few plates just to try it and move on. Female waitress complained because she said she doesn't allow people to share plates at "booking time". What? So confused. She allowed it eventually but I didn't see any rules on the menu about sharing plates. Not trying to fill up here because there are a lot of other places I want to try. Not that hard to be nice. It was very disgusting. Very fishy and dry. The crips were hard/undercooked potato. The mushy peas are gross. The beans are gross. She recommended all of this and it was sooo nasty. Call it poopies cause it taste like .... Absolutely disgusting. She said everything was fresh and homemade. Lies. Please avoid this place. Golden Union is much better where you can truly tell the tarter is made from scratch and the fish is fresh. This restaurant is also doing too much besides fish and chips so that should be your hint it's not good. Horrible customer service even after we complained.

I really like this spot - it's my second time visiting this restaurant and it did not disappoint. I had the Fish & Chips (Cod) and it was fantastic: perfectly fried and seasoned so that the fish flavor came through; the chips were also very good and were a nice contrast to the flavorful fish. This spot offers a pretty large menu, but I think most people tend to go for the fish and chips and that's what they're known for. We also shared an order of the Sticky Toffee Pudding and it was a nice way to end the meal. We were here on a Saturday night around 7pm, which is prime time, but we only waited for about 15 minutes. The service was attentive.

When you enter the restaurant you feel like you hopped into a Time Machine and went back to the 60s. Wall paper, furniture, and photos give you that retro feel. Very little frills, we got the haddock and cod fish and chips. They unfortunately ran out of halibut. The fish and chips were fried perfectly, not greasy and well crisped. Both the fish and chips lacked flavor so I had to add some salt pepper and malt vinegar. Overall solid fish and chips. They come in two sizes regular and large, we both got the regular and could barely finish our plates. If I had to choose one over the other, I'd get the cod and forego the haddock. The cod was flakier and thicker so it's less likely to be overcooked.

My first (and only) fish and chip experience during my London trip. I made reservations on open table but we didn't need them. For a party of 3 on a Tuesday night around 8pm we walked in and got sat almost immediately. Food was good but bland. The chips has absolutely no flavor and were undercooked (in my opinion). The fish was good. Served very hot and the fish was cooked very well. It was a very busy place and in true London fashion all of the tables are super close together. We had multiple servers attend to our table. It was the end of the night so could tell they were trying to clean up, restocking condiments and such. Overall I liked Poppies. I came here based on a "places you have to try in London" list. Good experience, just not someplace I absolutely have to come back to.

very slow service but good funk blues and RnB music. The food average. They don't give a lot of fish compared to USA. However it's a nice concept . I think they forgot about me I waited 30 minutes for fish.

If you are looking for real english fish and chips - besides going down to the docks, this is your place. Fast good service, food was VERY good, and they have a number of locations - we went to the one near picadilly. Only downside - ordered the Calamari as an appetizer - it came with 4 small rings - not a pile, not a group - just single rings....

I felt like I needed to have fish and chips since I was in England. This wasn't my first choice of restaurant, but it was the closest. I went in with one other friend on a Wednesday afternoon and got seated right away. I think every guest was a tourist. We had cod fish and chips. Yes, the taste was pretty bland, but I expected that lol. There is really not much to write about the taste. You just need to salt and pepper your fish and chips yourself. Cod is flaky, chips were fresh and crisp, and the tar tar sauce came in a cute little jar that maybe you can bring home as a souvenir? I would say if you can go to a different fish and chips restaurant, maybe try those. But if you are in the area and have to have fish and chips, this could satisfy that.

Fish was nice and crispy (haddock), light in flavor. Chips were not super fresh, but still serviceable. Takeout available, which is cheaper than dining in, but you don't get all the cool condiments.

Came here because this chain is a classic? I found it terribly overpriced with rude customer service. The portion of seafood was very scant. Chips were plentiful but not that good. Also very skimpy with the tartar sauce. Optional tip is included.

I liked the fries. Perfectly cooked. The fish was crispy on outside but soggy on inside. The fish smelled a bit too. Service was prompt. I think it was an off day. The fish and chips was seasoned better here.

This chip shop is located near Chinatown. It's pretty tight inside, so all the tables are squeezed together. Service was quick and the atmosphere is pleasant. As for the food, I wanted to like it but it just fell pretty flat for me. I ordered the regular sized haddock fish and chips. The dish is pretty large and you can probably share it with someone else. The breading was soggy, unfortunately, and lacked the crisp that you'd want in a proper fry. Also, the fish lacked flavor. Malt vinegar didn't help it much, neither did the tartar sauce, which they give sparingly. The chips were actually solid. Crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, the way a proper chip should be I've heard the other spot might be better, but I think I'll pass. Too many other options in this big city.

Decent enough fried fish. Unacceptable fries. Absurd price point. The service was fine, as was the location but I was expecting a lot more from london fish and chips.

Came here on our long day layover in London. The servers here were very nice however the food was very bland, the fries had no flavor and the fish has was pretty subpar.

Small, friendly place. It looked little run down tho. Only had fish & chip and it was okay fried fish. It was my first fish & chip in London. I wish chips were little more crisper too

I change my mind. Fish and chips are good actually. I highly recommend this joint to anyone who's had an estranged relationship with fish and chips. The batter was light yet crispy. The fish was juicy, but somehow did not make the batter soggy. The fish skin included with the fish was a nice surprise. The chips also had a light crispy shell with pillowy soft flesh.

I'm sure there are better neighborhood chip shops but for us, we wanted to get something consistent when we were in Soho and Poppie's was a solid choice for us. I'm surprised they have so many choices of fish to choose from but the haddock and cod are by far the best. Fish was fresh, fried well (but not greasy) and the chips were pretty darn good. I'm assuming I paid tourist prices (about 15 GBP per plate) but it was a good meal. Our server was fun and friendly and made some nice recommendations. Not an expert on the chippy but for us it was pretty good.

I don't really know what really good fish and chips are but I would guess this is one of the places. My husband and I got the large fish and chips (cod) and an app of the calamari. The fish was extremely flaky with the skin still on the bottom that added more delicious fish flavor to every bite. The batter was airy and crispy and, with the tar tar and lemon, it was delicious. The calamari app was also delicious but, I would probably pass on it for next time. While the pieces of squid were big, there were so few pieces, I didn't think it was worth it. Overall, I'm giving this place 4 stars because the fish itself was delicious. The downside is that the chips were WAY under seasoned and both the calamari and fish and chips were definitely on the pricer side. Also, services was meh. It was quick, you got your food, but this place is far from hospitable.

To be clear, my wife and son had the cod and fish cakes, respectively. I ordered the cod, however, I was told that I would prefer the haddock. I was skeptical and said i still wanted the cod, but the waiter insisted I would like the haddock better. Food comes, haddock has a mushy consistency - pretty nasty. The waiter asks how I'm enjoying the meal and I tell her I'm not. She shrugs and tells me 99% of diners prefer the haddock. Im pretty sure it's not too difficult to not argue with the customers, especially when they're unhappy with your unsolicited advice.

Found this place online in the soho area. Very old school place. We ordered fish and chip which was good. But the batter kept falling off the fish. The fries could have been cooked a little longer. The fish cake was actually surprisingly the best thing. It was fully of fish instead of cake which was delicious. An ok place to come. for a quick bite.

first time having mushy peas and got to say they're good! according to our food tour guide, poppie's make their fish and chips the traditional way, meaning they have more oil compared to using a beer batter. we made the mistake of ordering two separate plates instead of sharing one because a few bites in and i was deep fried food OUT!

Solid fish and chips! Vintage feeling, very informal. Not as cheap as you would expect for the location.

TLDR: Good for drunk food, that's it. Tasteless food - Maybe the only reason this place is still in business is because it's nestled in the middle of a bar area. I can see this being a valuable spot if you are super drunk and just need to line your stomach, but for dinner it was a total bust. Both my fish & chips and my partners chicken & chips were totally miserable (flavorless). Cramped quarters - We were seated in the back hallway which is barely enough room to scoot your seat in while the servers and other customers walk right behind you constantly. It was also so loud we couldn't have a decent conversation and the other tables are too close to your elbows for my taste. Service without a smile - Service was lacking compared to what I'm used to in the US but here it was particularly bad. Servers seemed to be scowling the whole time and be ready to flag them down if you need anything since they won't notice you unless you grab one of them.

For my second Fish and Chips meal in London, I knew it had to be Poppie's. I swung by one morning just as it opened, and waited ~10 minutes for my hot and fresh cod and chips to come out. Overall, I thought theirs was a bit softer than other spots, but just as delicious, especially when doused with vinegar on a cold winter day. Everyone was quite welcoming and nice, and I felt like a true customer during my visit. I'll likely be back for another visit during my next trip to London!

I've tried the fish and chips at several spots and this is by far my favorite. The fish was fresh and crisp. The service was pretty meh, but I'd definitely go back. Try the curry sauce ;)

Believe the hype. This place was on our list of UK must do's. It did not disappoint. I got the regular size haddock fish and chips and it was spectacular! Moist, sweet, flaky fish with a crispy crunchy coating, and it wasn't greasy. Wish we had one here in the states.

Pretty decent for London. About 20 quid for a haddock and chips and a drink, though 30 mins out of London it's 10 quid. Portion of chips could have been slightly larger I suppose but overall was good for central London close to a tourist area.

Amazing fish and chips! Solid and very cute restaurant. We were a big party of 8 and got right in for lunch and had good service too. Fish was perfectly cooked and a nice big piece for the large order. Totally hit the spot and the restaurant was great.

Decent, but expensive. Hole in the wall restaurant, where the cod and chips is a fairly small portion (even for the large), with a minuscule amount of chips, and the dine-in version is a whopping £4 more expensive at £20 than the takeaway. Gravy was thick, but rather tasteless, and the fish could've used at least twice the amount of batter I understand this is London, and prices match the location, but looking what you can get just a 15 minute underground ride away for the same price, Poppie's isn't worth it.

Was told this was THE fish and chips place to try but it was kind of underwhelming for me. The chips were a bit too chunky and pasty consistency and the fish was a bit too greasy. Service was fast and friendly at least, but not a must try for me personally unfortunately.

It was good, but our waiter was rather pushy. We wanted the cod. But, he kept insisting (over and over again) that we get the halibut. We eventually gave up and ordered one of each. It was just a bit uncomfortable. The ambiance was nice, but overall everything just seemed rather pricey.

Iconic fish & chips for last 50 years. Cod or Halibut can't go wrong. Chips ( we call fries in the states) are marvelous. Good size portions. You may want to buy more tartare sauce. Staff was friendly and attentive. It was a good stop for our first day in London after a 20 year hiatus.

The fish and chips are amazing! I ordered the haddock which was surprisingly a big piece of fish they fried - the fish was so flaky and fell apart easily that I didn't even need a knife. The only thing is I wish there was more tartar sauce to spread on that fish. Mmm. I had this for lunch and felt it was very filling. We ordered the cartmel sticky toffee pudding which we weren't sure our stomachs could handle after all the fish and chips so asked for the bill. We noticed that we were charged for it anyway so we asked the waiter for it. Haven't never tried this pudding before I was surprised at how sweet it was! The ice cream tasted like French vanilla flavour which is another sweet addition to the pudding covered in the hot sticky toffee sauce. Not a fan of this dessert. I definitely recommend trying the fish and chips here though! A must try in London.

I tried this place, since it was referred by 2 you tubers Bill & Lisa I was disappointed, fish could been fried longer- it was just warm it was probably under a heat lamp.

Fish and chips 8.75/10- this was so good. 10 oz of cod it is huge! The fish literally easily breaks with the light graze of the fork. The fish is so buttery and light as well as being tender. The fries are okay they're not as crispy as I'd hope and were more soft/potatoey This is voted the #1 fish and chips place in London. After being here for weeks I had to try the classic London dish and I am more than happy that I tried it at poppies

A strain to give 3 stars. We've been exhorted to go here for years, both by earnest YouTubers and by actual IRL human friends who have sworn by the "awesomeness" and "quality" of Poppies. We tried to eat at the Camden location once years ago, but got such a terrible seat (nearly in the actual doorway) - and such a scary view of the prices - that we left before ordering. So we finally tried the Soho location today, and honestly, we should have bolted. The place screams "clip joint!" as you walk in. Prices on the menu outside are higher than advertised online. Seating is cramped. Decor is "cute," for some value of cute that includes lots of posters of John Travolta and tattooed Marilyn Monroe, etc. As for the food... husband got cod and chips. The fish was fresh. The batter was odd: somehow not truly crispy, and it slid weirdly off the fish. My battered sausage wasn't fried enough. The batter was pale, but it was also too crisp, and cut into my gums! I am not sure how to explain this. The sausage was enormous, and of decent quality, but truly nothing to write home about. Which brings us to the chips. Which were dreadful. The insides were done, but there were only two on my plate that were even vaguely crispy! English chips aren't supposed to be super crisp like American fries, but these seemed to have simply laid down and died. The tiny pot of tartar sauce with a branded lid was adorable! The servers were both sweet and perfunctory, which works for a chippie near Leicester Square. But this place isn't a patch on the Golden Union, on Poland Street. You should eat there. :-)