The Little Fish and Chip Shop in Waveney

We called in to The Little Fish and Chip shop for our supper after spending a lovely afternoon in Southwold, we have been here many times, once again we had delicious fish n chips and my favourite fish cake, excellent quick service. Thank you for remembering us from the summer!!

Really looked forward to having fish and chips here as normally a loyal Marks fish and chip eater. Always promised ourselves we’d try it once the tourists had gone and the queues were shorter. Unfortunately, despite all the hype, and advertised freshness of the cod, the fish was small, thin and dry. Piles of chips to compensate for lack of cod but seriously underwhelming lunch. Will be sticking with Marks,

We start every holiday we’ve ever taken with a takeaway fish and chips meal. Being Britain it inevitably means eating in the rain and this was no different. We sat perched on a bench under the pagoda to the side of the of The Little Fish and Chip Shop which did a reasonable job of keeping us dry. The haddock was so fresh and really didn’t need much in the way of seasoning or vinegar. The chips were beautifully cooked and the homemade tartar sauce a delight. We got served quickly despite its popularity and marvelled at the little buzzers used to notify you when your order was ready. The British weather tried its hardest to dampen the spirits but it honestly couldn’t ruin a faultless meal.

Called in on a blustery cold day and received a warm welcome, managed to sit inside and the most wonderful fish and chips. One portion between us which was fine. Given a pager to alert when ready , as cooked fresh

I came across this little gem by accident. When I was taking part in a tour of the Adnams Brewery in Southwold I suddenly detected the unmistakable aroma of frying with beef dripping, and so I couldn't resist seeking out the source, which of course turned out to be The Little Fish and Chip Shop. As its name implies, the shop is small. It is located on one side of a small alleyway leading off East Street, and there is bench located in the alley which can be used as a quasi waiting room for one's order to be prepared. The takeaway system is that you go inside and place your order, and you are issued with a small device which tells you when the order is ready to collect by flashing and vibrating. Then you nip back inside to collect your food. There is a small area to eat inside, but it is mainly standing. The fish and chips themselves are to die for! Served in card boxes, food comes complete with wooden knife & fork, garnish and a wedge of lemon. The food has that unique 'cooked in dripping' flavour that is completely lacking in fish & chips that are cooked in oil. Yummy! And the shop is very conveniently sited only 130 metres from the promenade, where there are loads of benches to eat with a sea view.

Found the chip shop just by the centre of Southwold with a queue outside. Having ordered, card only though, we waited outside. Quite pricey for Haddock £9, for a small/ medium sized fish. Liked the ‘front room’ for eating your chips as it was a cold day, so big tick for that.

What’s gone wrong ! real change and not for better! been going to this fish and chip shop for years and always loved it but on a recent visit to southwold have to agree with recent reviews quality gone down while the cost has gone up … very disappointing ..

Fish a lot smaller, prices have also increased - we have been local regular customers since opening - recently there doesn't seem to be any interest on behalf of the owners to take any criticism on board from locals however we are here all year round. I don't eat the batter so very noticeable that my fish was a lot smaller for an increased price with tons of chips to discuise the small fish portion and the closing down of already queing customers before time so that some people in the queue are not served at all rather than make sure everyone who has been accepted in the queue (and therefore is entitled to expect to be served) is both ridiculous and a sure way of alienating customers. However there is a definite unfriendly couldn't care less attitude on behalf of the management! It does not matter howvsuccessful you are in business this attitude is wrong! Sorry can't understand it, why you would alienate your customers! Whether regulars or holiday makers! Crazy!

After all the hype, we were really looking forward to a super fish supper - not so much !! Soo over rated, scampi was nice but the cod although big was was pretty bland and the chips were only average. Overpriced for a mediocre takeaway. Love Southwold but better F&C elsewhere

Having been here many times and always had excellent food, tonight was a big disappointment. I ordered two haddock and chip portions. The fish was nowhere near as good as previous visits, it was extremely thin, almost like they had got one haddock fillet and sliced it in two. The chips were ok but the portion sizes could have been much better. The biggest issue was that both meals were very greasy. I didn’t enjoy mine at all. Unforgivable when that is all they do, and especially unforgivable considering the two meals cost £25. At that price it should be faultless. It smacked of penny pinching and poor cooking. A point also knocked off for only accepting card payments, no cash accepted. Too many companies do this, companies which are set up to serve the customer but prefer it to be set up to make things easier for themselves. I wouldn’t rush back. My local chippy back home is so much better and almost half the price.

Soggy chips that are NOT suitable for vegetarians. After eating a few chips we thought the chips tasted slightly odd, after checking on the website I found out the chips are deep fried in beef fat. There was no information about this in the shop and it wasn’t made aware by the cashier before my order.

Excellent in every respect - quaint venue, lovely staff, fish and chips are delicious some of the very best I have had. Crispy fish batter and the chips are cooked twice so they are never soggy. Highly recommended

Catching up on some reviews from the summer.Visited here in September whilst on holiday in Suffolk.I would almost be easy to miss this gem as you reach the takeaway along a little side alley. Whilst we were there they had a most compliant covid takeaway system with only 1 customer allowed in at a time. You then all waited in a covid compliant way for your order to be called out.It was very very busy so there was a need for a short wait.Most definitely worth the wait as the portion was generous. Clearly freshly cooked so piping hot & absolutely delicious.To eat them we just took a short walk to the seafront to find a bench.Impossible to fault.

Have regularly visited and had a great experience. I assume ownership had now changed. I went there today with my son and was disgusted at the poor customer service, rude, brash service from the guy taking the orders. Would have left if my son wasn't so hungry. They weren't busy, so no excuse for this behaviour. I certainly won't be going again.Very disappointing. The portions were also half the size of the previous owner. Definitely a place to avoid. A shame really.

If Carlsberg did fish and chips, then probably...... Great service. The best fish and chips I have ever had. Fish very fresh, served with chunk of crisp lemon. Chips tasted delicious. Very generous portion size. If you are in Southwold, a visit strongly recommended.

Well organized takeaway during Covid-19 restrictions. Long cue but not too long a wait. Fish was a bit dry, chips were good. I was expecting big things but it was just ordinary.

Best fish and chips we've had for ages. Recommended. Followed Covid rules v well, bit of a queue because of this but worth the wait.

We queued for fish and crab & chips and it was well worth the wait. We ate on a bench overlooking the sea and followed up with ice cream - perfect.

Really made me cry! I'm deaf and with mask on I cannot lip read. There was no need to make me feel so small. Hurtful prople!

With the current Covid restrictions only 1 customer is allowed in the shop at a time, and then you have to wait outside for the order to be freshly prepared. Expect a fairly lengthy wait as it is a popular place but the end product is worth the wait - great quality fish and chips freshly cooked!

Bought 2 cod and chips last night. Chips excellent and plentiful. Cod tasty but wafer thin fillet. Freshly cooked and if more generous sized fish would have been 5 stars.

Excellent fish and chip shop with a great menu, good service and not bad value. Good choice of fish and the chips were freshly cooked and very good

This is one of my favourite chip shops and I have visited many over the years. There is a wide selection of seafood of all types. There is a well organised one way system to get in and out safely. Having ordered and paid you then wait in the courtyard for your name to be called. The fish was superb!

Stopped off before getting back to the campsite, very good standard and the food was unreal. Went for the sausage chips and gravy. Would highly recommend stopping here.

Given the wrong order. When went back to politely explain what had happened. The till man was really nice, but the chefs told us that next time we should listen out for the correct name! Did resolve the order, but rude customer service.

We stopped to buy our dinner at The Little Fish and Chip Shop, as the one we had intended to visit had closed at 2pm. The staff were very nice, cheerful and helpful. The fishcakes were lovely and the chips were chunky...and not greasy! Our friends had fish, which was also chunky and, again not greasy. We recommend this shop and when we come back to Southwold I would definitely get fish and chips from here!

OK, so at least they're open and well organised for Covid. Quick service, and back to the car with two cod & chips at £17. Fish very small, under half the size we're used to at French's in Wells. Skin on. Greasy, very greasy. Chips crisp but not much flavour. Overall 6 out of 10 and we wouldn't return unless they were the only f&c shop in 20 miles.

Best fish snd chips! Had 3 times in a week! Says it all! Lovely when the weather is nice to sit on a bench by the sea! Nothing comes close!!

Best fish and chips to date. The best thing about Southwold. Including Adnams. Worth queuing for without a shadow of a doubt.

Not very well signed for ordering and as only one person allowed in to order it would be useful to have an outdoor menu, plus information on what the process is for orderingHowever once ordered you wait for your name to be called - a bit like Starbucks . Being down an alleyway doesn't lend itself easily to social distancing.Once we got our order - cod and haddock with chips and peas we sat on the seafront to eat them. They were well cooked and tasty, but I'm not sure the Southwold price tag matches the product. £18 is quite high for something which wasn't a great deal better than our local chippy

Really enjoyed our fish and chips from this great little find. A bit of a queue, but soooo worth the wait!! We tried plaice and COD and both were fresh and the batter perfect. Frying in beef drippings must make all the difference. As Arnie says I’ll be back.

The service was slow , putting numbers in the window what a wast of man hours. Fish was over cooked and not very fresh disappointed after reading other reviews on trip advisor. Social Distancing was not very well managed

I don't know why I've never been to this chippy before, as I visit Southwold regularly, but I'll definitely be going every time I visit the town from now on. It's almost worth going there just for that reason.Great portion sizes, and fabulously tasty. This chippy has leapt into my "top 5" in the whole country, no exaggeration.

We drove out from Darsham whilst on holiday, decided Southwold during the day would be a nightmare as the whole world seemed to have decided to holiday in Suffolk. So we went one evening. Fifteen minute wait for food once ordered. Sat on a bench overlooking the sea whilst we ate our fish and chips. Great food, not the cheapest but to be expected down south, especially in a place like Southwold. But worth it.

Excellent restaurant quality fish and chips, beautifully presented. Only request would be for the option for chips not cooked in beef dripping for vegetarians.

No pre ordering now - turn up and order, wait approx 15 mins and food will be piping hot and ready to take out.Last night bought battered cod x 2, scampi x 1, battered sausage x 1 - all with chips and we all thoroughly enjoyed our supper. Others picking up their orders aren’t always aware of social distancing (WHY NOT?!!) so be mindful and make sure you keep your mask handy.

Always a Southwold favourite, well worth the wait for fresh fish and chips, service always friendly!

We had delicious takeaway fish, chips and mushy peas from there yesterday. Ate them on the beach. What more could you want?!

Excellent fish and chips , beautiful fish, golden chips, the smell alone is worth the money. Delicious, lost a point because one of our parties portion was tiny not near as big as the rest of us, but we all ‘chipped’ in (sorry) and made it up, don’t know what happened there, but still brilliant

I’m not sure what has happened to The Little Fish & Chip Shop but I genuinely wouldn’t bother anymore. The staff are rude and incompetent, apparently not understanding the concept of hospitality and choosing to adopt the outlook that they would rather blame the customer for inconveniencing them than recognise their own shortcomings. The fish tastes old, the chips aren’t great, the tartare sauce portions have halved and the mushy peas aren’t even worth talking about. Why do people think it’s acceptable to open a tin of grey ‘mushy’ slop and serve it in the place of proper mushy peas?It seems that they have forgotten that it is the local trade that will keep them going through winter, not the holiday makers who are woo’d by a branded box and the short distance to the sea.It’s sad when a business thinks their location will counteract the fact that behind their expensive branding they’re just another s**t chip shop.

Queues were huge but they had a good system going. No GP options but they could offer dressed crab or lobster with chips so we were covered. Cod and chips were nice. Closes at 8.30pm so don't leave it late to go.

Best fish & chips in town. Good COVID arrangements in place. We ate our takeaway food on the green near the Red Lion pub (handy for takeaway drinks).

Really tasty Fish and Chips cooked in beef dripping fat for extra taste. Fish was cooked perfectly and chips had the right balance of crunch and fluffiness. Everything was set up really well given the current circumstance which made you feel comfortable!

What’s gone wrong? I am a local and have used this fish and chip shop lots of times. Since coming out of lockdown there has been a change, not sure what but standards are not as good. The fish is not fresh, portions of chips have been down sized, you used to be able to order by phone and pick up, no longer available! Tartar sauce portions have been halved and the staff don’t seem the same. What a shame such lovely fish and chips have gone downhill and I now need to look elsewhere

The best fish and chips in Southwold, without a doubt!!! Yum yum yum - I will definitely be coming backing

Worth the long queues for quintessential seaside fish & chips experience. Well cooked, generous portions and presented in a box to take away and eat by the sea (plenty of benches nearby, even on a summer evening). Queue moves quicker than expected so have patience

This is the best Fish and Chip shop anywhere, ever. Let alone in Southwold. You are missing out if you don't get food from here. Utterly sublime. Curry sauce and tartre are immense too

We visited here during a stop over in Southwold. There was already a queue by midday, but the service was quick and the fish & chips were one of the best we had eaten in a long time - reasonably priced too @ £16 for 2 good sized portions.

Friends recommended a trip to Southwold to get the best fish and chips and they were not wrong. Although it was a busy day in Southwold, the system set up at the Little Fish and Chip shop was very efficient and the order process was fast and the queue moved fast. The friendly proprietor was greeting customers and telling them what to do which I thought was a great gesture. Beer fat cooked chips, fish with flavour and a light fresh batter. Perfect.

Best fish and chips we have had We were recommended to try this chip shop my husband had cod and chips with curry sauce and I had plaice and chips they had a fabulous one Way system to serve you so we felt completely safe . The cod and the plaice were cooked to perfection and tasted absolutely gorgeous the chips were lovely and not at all greasy and the curry sauce was beautiful and made with sultanas. Will I be using the little fish and chip shop again hell yes would I recommend it yes yes it is the best

We saw others eating fish and chips and so asked where they had bought them from. We were directed to “The Little Fish and Chip Shop” and were told “you’ll have to queue but it’s worth it!”After that recommendation, obviously we had to try it out! There was a queue but we were service quickly nonetheless and the outdoor queuing area was pleasant to stand in. The social distancing system was well thought out and didn’t diminish the pleasant and efficient service. Oh and the fish and chips? Yes excellent and well worth the wait!

Basically this is the best you can get, fish cooked to order, tempura like light batter, home made hot chips, just right. Only downside is the queues but that's a sign the product is fab and the fish is cooked to order for you.

Worth the wait. Queued quite a while during a busy weekend in the COVID-19 pandemic but worth the wait. Tasty cod and chips as well as sausages, battered and plain. Enjoyed our takeaway with peaceful views of the seaside, perfect!

Excellent fish and chips. Good service but, little for a vegitarian other than mushy peas. Even the chips were not suitable for veggies.

Had fish and chips from this fish and chips shop. Plenty of chips with your fish. Batter a little greasy. But lovely and fresh white fish inside. Very filling.

Growing up on the coast the hunt for great fish and chips is always a part time hobby.The search is over, i found them this week at the Little fish and chip shop, Southwold!! They have adapted brilliantly to Covid distancing requirements, and serve great fish cooked without being soaked in grease, and fluffy chips all topped with their own home made tartare sauce (extra cost). Take away boxed for the short walk to the sea front to enjoy the fine food!! If your in Suffolk, take a trip to Southwold and indulge in this delicious delight!!

Great tasting fish and chips . Standard menu . Gluten free options available . Fast and friendly service.

There’s a very good reason why there’s always a long queue outside this place - their fish and chips are perfect in every way.

Drowned in salt uneatable both chips and fish had thick layer of salt poured over them could not eat

Great food , great location , 2 metre rule observed & plenty of sanitiser & staff keeping areas clean ! Highly recommend lunch here !

Really tasty take away skate and chips . Well organised and didn’t have to wait too long. Would definitely use again. So lucky to have on our doorstep

Very efficient service, friendly staff and plenty of it. Chips could have been cooked for a bit longer

Ready at ordered time that was the end of the positives, half of the chips soggy half the dry bits off the potatoes, all of them cold. So much oil on the cold fish that you needed a hot drink to clear your mouthSo much potential so little delivered, roll on Aldeburgh being open prefer the 20 miles drive to this offering - horrible and disappointing.

Delicious and 'proper' Fish and Chips, either eat in (quite a rustic setting) or take away. You can also purchase alcohol to have with your dinner too!

Cooked to order, super fresh fish, well-cooked, best beef dripping chips . . . probably the best I've ever had. Nice place to sit in, you can get a glass of wine if you're feeling fancy, but also excellent value. Would definitely recommend. Dog-friendly as well I think (there was a very cute shiba inu waiting patiently with its owners for takeaway . . . )

Amazing little fish and chip shop. Really friendly service. Freshly cooked to order they take your name, you wait for it to be ready. Excellent dripping cooked chips and white fluffy fish in crisp batter.

Our favourite place to come grab lunch sitting by the sea!! We’ve eaten many times over the years and giving exception to one time (must have been a bad day) the food is fab! The sausages are proper sausages not those white fatty normal chippy sausages. They taste amazing. We’ve also tried the fish, scampi and proper fish cakes all very tasty! Yes slightly more expensive but you are in Southwolds!! One of the best chippys around .

Having seen other reviews we gave it a go on a cold and wet night. The food was good. It’s a takeaway but there is limited bar style seating with a small heater in a corner so you’d need to keep a coat on, on a cold night.

Need I say more! Very tasty fish and chip shop. There was a lunch time queue and about a 10 minute wait but that is only testament to the great quality. Served in a bag so they don’t go soggy. Awesome!

It was extremely busy and we had to wait, but it was worth the wait. We both had cod and chips, the fish was a chunky piece with a lovely light crisp batter, that wasn't greasy. The chips were lovely fat chips. Great tasty meal.

The fish and chips were just okay. We were recommended by a friend but were a little underwhelmed. We bought mushy peas and curry sauce and both were very disappointing so had to go and buy some gravy instead. Probably wouldn’t bother again

Lunch time treat, fish cooked while you wait open all day, a busy little place but worth the wait for the food, you can eat in too benches around the front of shop where you can look out onto passers by.

Very good fish and chip shop. The decor inside is really good. I had a battered sausage and chips and it was really nice. I had mine to take away and it was served in a paper bag instead of a plastic tray which is great from an environmental perspective.

We’ve visited here several times for a takeaway when we’ve been staying in Southwold. Friendly staff, the food is always cooked fresh and you can sit and have a drink whilst you are waiting. We would definitely recommend here for great fish and chips:)

Fist visit today. Definitely one to return to often. Freshly cooked and totally yummy with great inside seating bars. A genuine hidden gem in the back streets. Find it and enjoy!!

The overall quality presentation made me think it me think this was part of a large chain. Pleased to hear that its locally owned and unique. Freshly cooked superb food. Talk to the fryer and hear the passion for the product and knowledge in making things right. After 25 years of eating in town, this is the best!

We went for our evening meal and as it was winter there were not many holiday makers about , so we managed to eat in the eating area of the shop We had cod and chips, the cod was cooked to perfection and we had no complaints there, however, the chips were not up to scratch and they need improvement to bring them up to the same standard as the cod.

We ended our day trip to Southwold with a stop here. The shops name is spot on, quite small with seating for maybe 15. But that’s the only thing small about it as the decor is a wonderful mix of a modern and rustic fishing theme and the cooking with beef tallow provides that wonderful flavor that is often missed these days.

As a regular customer being local? The fish & chips this weekend was inedible !! Dry, cold and overcooked which is not what is expected for the price charged. Should have taken them back but too far to return, really gone down hill or was it just an off day??

I had Rock Eel and chips, my partner had Cod and chips, both were delicious and the portions were generous. Fast friendly service and we sat on the stools provided in the window and watched the people go by. Bins and paper towels provided to clean up afterwards...

Lovely fresh fish cooked to order. Very busy, always a sign that it’s good. Best thing about it there is a little bar so you can have a glass of Prosecco or beer while you wait.

Soloved my bag of chips, tasty,hot in a paper bag....so clean fast service and friendly staff..a must if visiting Southwold

The cod is second to none! beautifully cooked in a crispy batter. Chips were a little soggy after walking to the beach front to eat, but nothing undesirable! Highly recommend the homemade curry sauce too.

overpriced , overcooked , cramped , understaffed, made to wait outside in the cold for order , which was incorrect , staff grumpy and abrupt , but at least the seagulls got a meal

This was recommended to us do we gave it a try on our first evening in Southwold. A cosy chippy with some very friendly people working there, we went for fish and chips and they were as good as any that I’ve ever had. Good sized portions cooked beautifully - an added bonus is the fact that you can get a glass of wine or Adnams beer if you decide to eat in. We’re here for a few days so will certainly go again

We had a 15 minute wait and the lady said we would have to wait outside which we did for a bit the came inside anyway cause it was to cold, staff were friendly, we thought we have had better chips near the Seaside and the batter on the Cod was a bit greasy and not light plus the batter was not like what we have had in other resorts but it was edible, might try the other chippy next time.

After buying fish and chips at " another" local place for 25 years , I was not sure and delayed trying . I was wrong! Nice presentation, nice food well cooked and best of all a great friendly atmosphere. I will be back!

We were in Southwold for the weekend. On Saturday evening, we craved fish and chips, hoped to get it close to our accommodation. The Little Fish and Chip Shop was very close (5 mins walk), they were opened till 8:00 pm. Our hubbies walked in the cold and brought back these yummy fish and chips. The chips were crunchy and the fish melted in our mouths. Best takeaway in ages. If there was a queue in the winter, it must be super long in the summer.

Absolutely amazing and worth the wait. The queue out the door should tell you that locals and visitors have figured out this is the best fish & chip place for miles. Avoid the touristy one on the pier as this is the real deal in Southwold!

This was our first visit to The Little Fish and Chip Shop, we sat in and ate. The battered sausages were very tasty and were butcher sausages, the cod was fresh and cooked perfectly. We shared 2 portions of chips amongst three of use and still had chips left over. It was good value for money and will definitely be going back.

TA contributors rated this place number one in Sounthwold for fish and chips and they weren’t wrong! Everything is cooked to order and so whilst there is a short wait (during which you can have a drink) it is absolutely worth it. There is a small eat in area but we took away. Having ordered two plaice, I was unsure how many chips to order as there is one portion size only. The person serving said she shared a portion with her husband so I ordered just one portion for the two us, with mushy peas, a gherkin and a pot of their homemade tartare sauce. Wow, what a plateful when we dished up! And so delicious. The fish was clearly very fresh and the chips beautifully cooked and the tartare is a must addition - again very fresh. We so wished we lived nearer but it is a holiday treat we will look forward to next time!

hot, fresh & very very tasty! worth the wait and was very very enjoyed! lovely homemade tart tar sauce! and the homemade fish cake so good!!

Love my fish and chips and this is a place worth visiting - all freshly cooked to order for a very fulfilling experience.

Fab fish and chips, lovely people working, very quaint setting. No problems with our food but a couple in front of us in the queue were told quickly that there was a problem with their food. An alternative was swiftly offered at no extra cost. Clean, cosy and very, very tasty!

Fantastic fantastic fantastic Polite staff. Food to die for Looking forward to our family's next visit. Part of our holiday memory

Popped here for a spot of lunch during a family visit to Southwold. Was not disappointed -all food was totally delicious. Very friendly staff also. One of the best fish and chips we’ve had.

Been visiting Southwold multiple times over the years and normally get at least one meal here each time. Always excellent quality however portions are not the biggest and cheaper options exist but I keep going back and they clearly have a winning service.

Wanted chips not fried in beef dripping since I am veggie. Unfortunately didn’t have this as an option which is surprising!

Myself and my fiance needed to soak up the alcohol from the Adnams tour we had just done, and wow, we were not disappointed! The cod and chips were absolutely incredible. Such a cute tiny shop with a bar and stools if you're lucky enough to get a seat. The lady who packed up our food for us was really lovely and advised we had spent much more on sachets of ketchup than if we ordered a pot (we weren't given the option at the time of ordering with a young man) so even refunded us the difference and gave us a pot. Now that's great customer service! I think these fish and chips are only second to the fish and chips at Southwold Harbour, and we've eaten at Rick Steins restaurant in Cornwall and these were better. Would recommend and will be back.

There is nothing little about this fish and chip shop, they serve quite simply the best fish and chips in the whole wide world and beyond 💋😍👌