Nobby’s Fisho, Nobby Beach
While some fish and chip joints can be hit-and-miss, Nobby’s Fisho is consistently delicious. Tucked away down the end of Chairlift Avenue, the venue prides itself on delivering the freshest, healthiest fish and chips to the local community. Choose from a mouth-watering selection of fresh and cooked seafood (hot tip, opt to have your catch grilled with garlic herb butter, or for something a little different, grilled with chili paprika). Beyond fish and chips, there’s also a satisfying selection of burgers, hot chooks and bowls brimming with your choice of grilled snapper, Atlantic salmon or prawns – yum!

The Jolly Roger, Miami
Quality reigns supreme here, with fresh seafood arriving daily and everything you see on the menu – including the sauces – made in-house. While the daily catches rotate, there are staples like giant local king prawns, fresh oysters, housemade potato scallops, chunky chips, punchy Thai fish cakes and more. The fish tacos are damn delicious and plant-based pals can also get stuck into flavour-packed ‘tofish’. Oh, did we mention there are craft brews on-tap? Skip the queue and order ahead here.

The Fish Shak, Broadwater Parklands
The Broadwater Parklands really is a killer spot for a feed of fish and chips. You can choose from a Stone & Wood Pacific Ale beer batter, a tasty panko bread crumb or have it grilled with or without garlic butter … how can you say no to garlic butter? Enjoy it all overlooking the pristine Southport Broadwater.

Hunky Dory, Palm Beach
This well-known Melbourne chain of fish and chipperies has landed on the Gold Coast, bringing with it an ethos of fresh, local seafood and tasty and healthy made-to-order meals. Sticklers for traditional fish and chips can select from the fried packs, loaded with flake fillets and guilty pleasures like dim sims, potato scallops and fried calamari rings – or opt for something lighter with the signature grilled fish (eye off your preferred catch of salmon, barramundi, snapper and rotating local catches in the cabinet), served with either rice, salad or chippies. Grab a beer and wine while you’re at it.

The Fish Emporium, Isle of Capri
This waterfront dining destination in the heart of Isle of Capri takes its fish and chips pretty seriously. The retail seafood and takeaway kitchen operates daily from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm, next door to its sister restaurant Edgewater Dining & Lounge. Choose your catch, then have it battered or crumbed and cooked to crispy perfection – it’ll come with side of chips, lashing of house tartare and a squirt of lemon. Can’t decide? The seafood box is filled with barramundi, battered prawns, calamari and crumbed whiting. The fish burger is also a real treat.

Red Hot Cod, Burleigh Heads
Red Hot Cod slings a selection of Australian and New Zealand-caught fish, deliciously crispy chips, fresh sides, burgers, colourful poke bowls, as well as a few Asian-inspired dishes. Best enjoyed on a sunny day from Burleigh Hill.

Peter’s Fish Market, Main Beach
For authentic fish and chips by the waterfront, Peter is your man. This long-standing fish and chip slinger on Seaworld Drive is located right near the trawlers on the Broadwater, so this is as fresh as it gets. Grab a spot on the picnic tables and tuck in, fishy friends.

Charis Seafoods, Labrador
This is a bit of a seafood institution for those on the northern end. Pick up some fish and chips, crumbed calamari, a hamburger or a bag of freshly caught prawns and sit down for a feast in the adjacent Harley Park or on the Broadwater. A heads up – the seagulls will want to be your friend.

Millie Weirs Fish & Chippery, Paradise Point
Perched along The Esplanade at Paradise Point, Millie Weirs is know for dishing up ‘healthy’ fish and chips. Trawler-fresh local catches are either grilled, pan-fried, crumbed or battered in a secret recipe, served with golden potato (or sweet potato) chips or a vibrant salad. Plus, the majority of the menu can be served gluten and dairy-free!

Two Wise Fish, Mermaid Waters
Tucked in the Waterways Village complex in Mermaid Waters, Two Wise Fish is certainly not your stock-standard fish and chip joint. Two Wise Fish focuses on high-quality seafood, bringing in the best catches daily fresh from the trawlers to offer a refined take on fish and chips. It’s pretty apparent from the moment you step foot through the door that they take their seafood pretty seriously – so make sure this one is on your hit list.

The Stunned Mullet, Cabarita Beach
A southern institution, The Stunned Mullet not only slings next-level ocean-based delicacies with a healthy twist, but is also in the ideal position for a cracker of a picnic. Choose from the fresh fish of the day cooked how you like it, load up with your choice of fries (the sweet potato chips are a delight) and head to Cabarita headland with a picnic rug. Next, tuck into your delicious feast while you take in those sweeping views of the coastline.

Chevron Island Seafoods, Chevron Island
Owned by the same family since 1995, this popular pitstop specialises in grilled seafood and fresh salads. The menu also covers all of your favourites like potato scallops, battered savs and burgers, while those looking for a sweet treat will want to throw a few pineapple or banana fritters on their order.

Backbone Bar, Tugun
Late last year, Tugun’s much-loved bao and dumpling den Backbone Bar moved to a high-profile corner site overlooking Gold Coast Highway and added a stand-alone fish and chippery and gelato counter in time for summer spreads. The fish-and-chip menu drifts from snapper and whiting to panko-crumbed prawns and crisp potato scallops, with a couple of burgers thrown in to round out the offering. Backbone’s fish and chippery operates from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm and is available for eat-in or takeaway.

Fish Mongers, Burleigh Heads
This is one of the Gold Coast’s longest-standing fish and chip shops – and judging by the line-up of locals out the front most nights, its still a firm fave of many. Perched on Burleigh’s James Street, this seafood institution brings in its catches fresh every day, before the best bits are crumbed, grilled or battered to your liking and served with a generous helping of golden fat fries.

Honourable mentions: We could go on and on about epic fish and chip joints in and around the Gold Coast! If you’re still looking for more, catch a feed at Get Hooked in Tweed Heads, Captain Hook’s Seafood in Tugun or Reef Seafood at The Brickworks Centre. Oh, and Custard Canteen at Tallebudgera Creek has tasty Furphy-battered fish and chips on its menu (also available as a burger) served with hot chips and chunky tartare.

If you’re on the hunt for a sweet spot to roll out a rug, check out our pick of picnic spots.