Best Fish and Chips in Sunderland

Sunderland is a seaside city, and fish and chips is as much a part of a day at Roker or Seaburn as a walk along the promenade. Away from the coast, almost every estate has its own chip shop, and some of the best-regarded in the city are tucked away in small neighbourhood parades rather than on the seafront. This guide covers a mix of both: two places close to the beach for a day out, and three local chippies that have built a following through reviews, awards and word of mouth. All five held a food hygiene rating of 5 at their most recent inspection.

Downey's at STACK Seaburn

Downey's Fish & Chips is a family-run fish and chip business with its roots in Seaham, and its counter is one of the street food units inside STACK Seaburn, the container village on Whitburn Road a few steps from the beach. The menu sticks to the seaside staples: cod or haddock, scampi and the usual sides, cooked to order.

You can eat at STACK's shared benches or carry your food down to the promenade. Because it sits among other street food traders and bars, it works well for groups where not everyone wants fish and chips. Counter hours follow the trader's own times within STACK's opening hours.

Best for: A seafront supper with friends who might fancy something else.

Queen's Cafe, Seaburn

Queen's Cafe on Dykelands Road is a fish and chip cafe and takeaway a few minutes' walk from the Seaburn promenade. It has a long record of local recognition: the Sunderland Echo has previously named it the city's chip shop of the year, and a March 2026 round-up noted that it has won awards for its fish lots and had an average of 4.7 from more than 200 Google reviews.

You can sit in or take away, and dogs are allowed inside, which makes it a practical stop after a beach walk with the dog. Earlier coverage has mentioned gluten-free options; ask when you order if you need them. It can be busy on sunny weekends and in the school holidays.

Best for: Families and dog walkers coming off Seaburn beach.

Fountains Fish and Chips, Carley Hill

Fountains Fish and Chips is a neighbourhood chip shop on Exmouth Square at Carley Hill, north of the river. It does not have a seafront location or a website, and it has built its reputation mainly by word of mouth. In March 2026 the Sunderland Echo described it as regularly the top-rated chippy in the city, with an average of 4.9 from more than 400 Google reviews at the time.

It is a takeaway serving a largely local trade, so expect a queue at teatime on Fridays.

Best for: Anyone who wants the chippy locals rate most highly.

The Hut, New Silksworth

The Hut on Warwick Terrace in New Silksworth has been serving fish and chips to the south-west side of the city for many years. The Echo's 2026 round-up called it a long-standing favourite, with an average of 4.7 from more than 140 Google reviews, and it was inspected in December 2025 and given the top hygiene rating.

One detail sets it apart: gluten-free fish and chips can be cooked on request, so people who usually have to miss out on a chippy tea can join in. Ask when you order.

Best for: Silksworth and Doxford families, and anyone who needs gluten-free fish.

Jimmy Fish Grill, Gerrard Road

Jimmy Fish Grill is a takeaway on Gerrard Road on the west side of Sunderland. In 2026 it was named on the English Fish & Chip Awards list as a finalist for Best Fish and Chip Shop in the North East, a category that draws entries from across the region, and it holds a hygiene rating of 5 from an inspection in September 2025.

It is a takeaway rather than a sit-down shop, and it does not publish a menu or opening hours online, so check before setting off.

Best for: West Sunderland residents after a recognised local takeaway.

Eating by the sea

If the weather is kind, there are few better ways to eat fish and chips than on a bench looking out over the North Sea. Roker and Seaburn both have long promenades, plenty of seating, and the Roker and Seaburn seafront guide covers parking, walks and the piers. Keep an eye on the gulls, which are bold along the seafront and will take food from your hands.

If you would rather eat out with a pint, the seafront pubs and bars are covered in our guide to the best pubs in Sunderland, and the best restaurants in Sunderland include a few places that serve fish on their main menus.

Tips for a chippy tea

Friday is usually the busiest night, so ordering early or phoning ahead where a shop takes phone orders can save a long wait. Opening hours at local chip shops often change in winter and on bank holidays, and several shops close one or two days a week, so it is always worth checking before you travel. If you have an allergy, tell the staff when you order: most shops can tell you what is in their batter and which oil they use. For more places to eat and drink across the city, see the eat and drink hub.

Know a Sunderland chippy we have missed? Get in touch.