Being British, people often assume that we’re either eating full English breakfasts every day, or dining on fish and chips – neither of which are true. As much as I love them both, I can’t imagine how big I would be if I were to combine these with beers. However, with Japan being a country which, at times, is obsessed with Britain, there are a fair number of places that offer up fish and chips. And we’re not talking about that chain of British themed pubs with stupidly cheap pints of G&T.
A good portion of fish and chips relies on the pairing of some delicious, flakey fish, and thick chips. In a jam, French fries would suffice, but as long as they’re crunchy, then that’s ok. Of course, the salt, vinegar, and tomato sauce are all mandatory, though some tartare sauce is excusable, as long as it’s on the side.
So for this instalment, the bars on this list have to fulfil the following conditions for Craft Beer & Fish and Chips:
- Fish and chips must be a full meal – not a couple of side pieces.
- Craft beer has to be on tap and not in bottles – we have no problem with the latter; however, there is no difference then in making your own food and buying your own bottles for consumption at home.
- Must have Japanese craft beer on tap – that’s a given.
- We’ve also added a short list at the end with places that we’ve been to but not written up about fully.
Country Pub Desture
A country pub isn’t a place where you would usually find fish and chips; however, with Country Pub Desture, you’ve got the best of the both worlds here. In the middle of nowhere with lots of nature around, alongside some delicious food and tasty craft beer on tap.
The portions here are large – that picture on the right was the only size of food that they do and it was more than enough for two people to share. No doubt, if you’re hungry you could eat the whole portion, but that would be greedy wouldn’t it. Of course, you need those classic accruoutemnets of tomato ketchup and vinegar. If you’re feeling fancy, then you’ve got some homemade tartare sauce on the side.
With some locally made craft beer, you could easily stay for a long time here, and with a planned campsite and lodging coming up, there’s no need to worry about getting back home for dinner. Just have another portion of fish and chips while you’re here.
Craft Beer Tap Fam333
My first visit to Craft Beer Tap Fam333 was back in 2020 – during the days of Covid – which seems like an eternity ago now. However, every time I’ve been back, I’ve wanted to have fish and chips here. Now the chips are not “proper” chip shop chips, instead they are potato wedges. But they’re thick and they are crunchy so we’ll let them off here.
Craft Beer Tap Fam333 has 6 taps of beer on, with five of those dedicated to craft beer from both domestic breweries, and also overseas ones, so you’ve got plenty of choice here for drinks as well. But we are here for the fish and chips. As can be seen, they come with the mandatory tartare sauce, but also importantly with unlimited vinegar and tomato sauce is available on request.
Review : Craft Beer Tap Fam333
Craft Beer Server Land
When is fish and chips not fish and chips? When you’re at Craft Beer Server Land for sure. This place was recommended to us back in 2016 for the wide range of beer on tap. Little did we know that when we ordered the fish and chips, we’d be getting something that would be a complete curveball.
The menu at Craft Beer Server Land was all in Japanese on our first visit here and I didn’t read it properly. The “problem”? Well this wasnt’ cod, nor was it haddock. Nor was it a fish. In fact it was anago, or saltwater eel. Now I come from London and eels for me tended to come in jelly and be served up cold. It’s not a pleasant dish so colour me surprised when I found myself enjoying this version. The mandatory tartare sauce was provided, with lots of vinegar and tomato sauce too.
Review : Craft Beer Server Land
Ale You Ready!?
This list isn’t restricted to just places in Kanto – and we’re probably at the best place for fish and chips in the Kansai area with Ale You Ready!? in Kobe making the list. Like other places on this list, we came here for the beers, but ended up staying for the food.
Ale You Ready!? has an up and down rating with regards to the craft beer on tap. There are three taps, but one of those is a macro beer and the others vary widely. There is a beer fridge with cans and bottles available though only for drinking in.
Yet it was the fish and chips here that stole my heart. The owner prepares them to order, with the battering of the fish only happening once the meal has been ordered. The chips are French fries, so perhaps that’s the only “downside” to the dish. The tartare sauce was interesting, with some mustard thrown in to spice things up. With lashings of vinegar available, and tomato sauce too, it’s hard to only order one – especially when you’re with a group of people.
Review : Ale You Ready!?
Buso Brewery
Buso Brewery in Machida is one of the most convenient places to get to – it’s literally at the exit of the east gate to Odakyu Machida station and is easily identifiable from the outside. While we came here for the beers, and were almost distracted by the hot dogs on the menu, as soon as we saw fish and chips, it had to be done.
The chips, like other places on here, were French fries, but these were cooked to perfection – soft and fluffy on the inside, and crunchy on the outside. The fish though was even better – soft and flakey with huge chunks of fluffy white fish inside – and it was cod! Moreover, the staff very kindly explained about what fish and chips are and how they are cooked. As I patiently listened, the urge to douse this in vinegar couldn’t be ignored.
They very kindly gave me the bottle of Heinz vinegar – second only to Sarson’s – and the staff watched in amusement as the bottle was almost emptied. With some tartare sauce on the side – more chunkier than I remember – and some tomato sauce available as well, I was happy. With five taps of craft beer, and a range of styles, I settled down and enjoyed the meal – even the coleslaw that came with it too.
Review : Buso Brewery
In the middle of winter in Hokkaido, you’ve probably got better choices for food – such as nabe or lamb BBQ. Yet, if you find yourself in the vicinity of Craft Pub Brian Brew, and you’re wanting something a bit junkier, then head on over for some very interesting fish and chips.
The fish was very big for the price – it was about three-quarters of the plate. And while it was soft and flakey, the chips were the most interesting thing on the plate. That’s not to say the fish was bad, but at Craft Pub Brian Brew, they use locally grown potatoes of different varieties, and they’re chopped in half, rather than batons or thick cut. These potatoes were your regular yellow colour, but also orange, and purple.
The sauces were your default tartate sauce, with some kind of honey mustard sauce alongside of it, with more vinegar available if needed. With six taps of craft beer, you’ve got plenty of choices to wash the food down. The only downside is that there could be some more chips on the plate really.
Review : Craft Pub Brian Brew
Tiels Tea & Taps
This was one stop on a small bar crawl around Mishima a while back now – but that fish has been residing so much in my memory that I consistently find myself recommending people to come to Tiels Tea & Taps specifically for it. Of course, it also helps that there is plenty of decent beer on tap to boot as well.
It was a tough call on the day that I went – the smell eminating from the kitchen of curry was equally as enticing, yet fish and chips won out on the day. Although there was some buyer’s remorse, as soon as saw the fish and chips arrive, it all dissipated away. That huge chunk of cod, on a bed of French fries, tasted even better than it looked. There could have been some more chips to be honest, but the welcome addition of tartare sauce, tomato sauce, and vinegar meant I was going to be a happy person after eating.
Fish and Chips : Digest
This is a list of places that we’ve been to, or have eaten at, and not written up about at the time of writing.
- Futnik (Ebisu) – This place does have its own craft beer – three taps at the time of writing – alongside a massive amount of fish and chips.
- Grandpa Fish and Chips (Kameido) – With it having an aim of creating a bright and welcoming store, alongside fish and chips with craft beer, it’s one that we’ve heard only good things about.
- The Full Monty (Yokohama) – Another place we’ve been to, but keep forgetting to write about because while they do have some fantastic fish and chips, we keep ending up drinking the cider and forgetting the whole evening when we go.
