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Real People. Real Reviews.®
Categories: Seafood, Fish & Chips [Edit]
1505 W 1st AveTue-Sun 11:30 am - 6:30 pm
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Forget the Fish and Chips -- they're tasty, but not the main attraction. Think plump scallop sandwiches; juicy oyster po boys; flavourful tuna tacones. Peruse the daily specials and you can't go wrong. You're right on the docks, the seafood is coming from a few yards away!
Insider's tip: Have a hankering for the fish shack? Call ahead and place your order. By the time you show up there, they'll be ready to call your name!
I can definitely see why there would be a line up for the fish and chips here at Go Fish. As long as you are mentally prepared for a line-up, there's really no excuse why one would not come here for the classic fish and chips (Just make sure you have someone you can chat with line up with you).
Special of the days are written on a blackboard right next to the order window. After my 15 minute wait, I ordered a 2 piece cod and chips to go. My dinner partner ordered a 1 piece cod and chips with a salmon. A tacone is pretty much a wrap with the fish of your choice and other veggies in it. They take down your name and yell out for you when your order is ready. Sometimes I wonder if anyone has tried just take someone's order without really paying.
Our order took around another 20 minutes to complete, but judging from the volume of people that were there, I would give them a break on their wait times. And besides, it is right next to the waterfront: Just take a stroll down and enjoy the weather (unless it is pouring) and time will fly faster than the X-43 (unmanned plane that tops at Mach 9.6).
Go Fish also have a bunch of designated parking right next to their establishment. So if they run out of room, you can also eat-in in your car. Great idea for a date -- parked facing the waterfront, and eating Go Fish's delicious fish and chips.
Back to the food -- Everything was fried perfectly with the fish inside still nice and moist. You can really taste the freshness of the fish -- mmmmm, just writing about it makes me want another piece. The batter is light and crisp, not doughy at all. The chips are pretty good too (can't beat the awesome fish though) -- without a doubt they are made from real potatoes (unlike some other fries I have eaten elsewhere).
Love the location, love the food, even better that they support local fishermen -- I am eying their scallop burger for next time.
Why would you have fish n' chips anywhere else?
The fish and fries are delicious. Crisp enough to withstand malt vinegar but soft enough to break with the plastic fork. Even the cod is good, if you want to save yourself a few bucks. Maybe it's tarragon that they put in the tartar sauce that gives it a distinct taste?
The coleslaw can be hit or miss depending on your taste. I happen to like the abundance of red cabbage and sesame. The oyster or salmon tacones are good, but my only problem is that, besides the meat, the rest of the cone seems to be filled with the same coleslaw that comes as a side. So... it gets to be a bit too much coleslaw. And again, you're getting that slaw anyway, so why pay for it in the tacone?
One of my favorite items here or anywhere: THE OYSTER PO'BOY. If you like oysters, or if you think you might not hate oysters, eat it. There are 3 or 4 oysters that are large, plump, totally fresh, ever so lightly cooked on the BBQ (not fried). I don't know what kind of bread they use for the bun, but it is perfect and so delicious. Tried the scallop version, but I still think the oyster one rocks more.
Great food in a perfect setting. Makes you happy to be alive. Only complaint: during peak times the wait can be ridiculously long, both to order and to pick up the order.
Scallop sandwich, OHHH my.
My amazing order had four plump scallops atop of a giant hamburger bun filled with lettuce and this amazing sort of sweet citrusy sauce. It was so delicious, every bite had a bit of scallop in it. I loved the hearty coleslaw that went along with it!
My boyfriend had the fish and chips (halibut) and I also tried it, so tasty and crisp, yet melted in my mouth, perfect breading to fish ratio. The fries were addicting as well, oh my lord!
I wouldn't say I was satisfied, because although I was full, I was craving for more... It was amazing! A great way to end my trip to Canada/Vancouver
Fried seafood, freshly caught right outside. What more could you ask for?
We had a pretty big group, so we got to taste a little of almost everything on the menu. I had the fish and chips, with salmon and halibut as my fish. The halibut was scrumptious and a perfect match with the fries and tartar sauce... the salmon was good too, but not really a "fish and chips" type of fish. There were definitely too many fries, but that's hardly a complaint.
One of my friends ordered the spicy prawns, after seeing a fisherman literally walk up from his boat and drop off his fresh catch of huge live prawns! They were so juicy and flavorful... definitely makes a difference when it's just THAT fresh
The best fish and chips in Vancouver.
Opens form 1130 am to 630pm tuesday through Friday, noon to 630 on the weekends, and gone fishing on mondays.
It's probably the fresh air, the fresh sea water, the beautiful weather, but these damn fish and chips are pretty damn good. It's actually a little pricey for this hole in the wall restaurant but it's worth it.
I stuck with the cod. They also have a halibut and salmon option. I just don't think these types of fish would fry well. Meaning, I just think they would dry out.
The cod came with tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, lemons, malt vinegar.........basically all the fixings for fish and chips. I would try to avoid the line by coming either very early or very late, but definitely a must when in Granville Island/False Creek.
Woah. I'm still full.. but I gotta write this review before I forget.
Not far behind the enjoyment of the food, is the enjoyment in the fact that I enjoyed the food so much. Does that make sense? Delight in being delighted. I mean, I was throwing words like 'gorgeous' (salmon tacos) and 'spectacular' (cod&chips) back at those folks into that little kitchen. And get ready, but easily the best chips I've ever had. I'm not kidding. No amount of malt vinegar could put a dent in their crunchy-ness, and .. good god what is in that delicious tartar sauce? is it.. cinnamon?
But seriously, there are so many levels on which I appreciate restaurants (and businesses in general) that go way beyond the food. When I walk up and see friendly smiling faces, wearing paper bowls on their heads for fun, talking about how 'special' one another are.. I want to stay. You know? Cuz I like having fun too.
But let me back up.. I was accompanied once again by the lovely and talented Baroness (it was her that nailed the cinnamon), and she'd been here before, but we had to do a bit of touring around to actually find the place because it's tucked away down on the docks just outside Granville Island and she couldn't remember exactly where it was. That is certainly bad news when it comes to the three 'L's law of..uh..location.. So. What do they do? The staff wear shirts with "Where the hell is Go Fish?" printed on the back. Immediately I envisioned myself telling a friend about that (or perhaps talking about it in a review), and then them saying "Why, where is it?", and then me describing how to get there. It's word of mouth squared. And being the self-proclaimed marketing genius that I am, I *really* appreciated that creativity and cleverness.
So 5 well earned stars from me, and I apologize for this being also a bit of a business review, but to me it's all part of the experience. I can't wait to go back there. Even the malt vinegar tasted special.
My friend has been telling me about this place for the past three summers and Granville Island is literally a 10 minute walk from my apartment! I don't know why it's taken me this long to go!
It is by far the yummiest fish 'n' chips I've had here in Vancouver. We ordered the cod and it was so good! I love that the batter isn't caked on like most fish 'n' chips places. The size of the fish is actually what you see, not a small morsel hidden in a brick of batter. It was light and melted in my mouth. I also recommend the salmon tacones.
I really wanted to give them a 4 star but am a little turned off by their service. There was two Korean tourists in line in front of us that were treated quite rudely. There was obviously a language barrier for the poor girl. So instead of saying her order, she pointed at the menu.
The girl behind the cash just kept barking at her, "I can't read that, just tell me what you want." This went on for a couple of minutes before the order was finally put in.
I know they do get busy but we were the third order in line and there was maybe 3 more behind us. It wasn't that bad. Plus being situated right by Granville Island, you should expect lots of tourists who don't speak the language. Give the girl a break and just look at what she's pointing at on the menu.
Overall, food was excellent. Service skills needs improvement.
Yes, the lines are ridiculous, yes, you shouldn't go there on a hot sunny day, particularly on the weekend, and yes, it has to be the best fish and chips in the city. When I want the best fish and chips we usually head out to Steveston for Dave's place or one of the others on the water, but it's great to know I can stick in town and get really the same quality if not better (really close in any case.)
Great home made slaw as well. And prices were quite friendly - fed four plus a dog and two lemonades for like $43. That's pretty good for lunch in my books.
What embodies the flavour and feel of summertime moreso than the experience of eating Fish n' Chips by the pier?
I ordered the 2-piece Fish n' Chips (half and half halibut and cod). The batter was thin and crunchy, and the fish was very fresh (a bit greasier than I'd prefer, but was otherwise wonderful). My meal came with fries, tartar sauce, Asian-style sesame coleslaw (I actually prefer the more traditional creamy coleslaw), and I opted to add some chipotle mayo (yum!). Shannon ordered the Oyster Po Boy sandwich (BBQ oysters, tomato, lettuce, red onion, caramelized sweet onion, and chipotle mayo). She loved the oysters and described them as juicy, fresh, and creamy-textured. Paul ordered the Char Grilled Pacific Salmon sandwich (dressed with greens, Japanese-style pickled cucumber, and shrimp mayo). He said the salmon was cooked perfectly and seemed to really enjoy his meal. Paul and Shannon also ordered a side of fries with shrimp mayo to share.
Go Fish offers a "picture perfect" summertime venue -- a cute little shack next to the warf, overlooking False Creek and only a short walk from nearby Granville Island.
I do have one complaint regarding the service. The woman at the till (presumably the owner or manager given that she was frequently barking instructions to the other staff) was not fully focused on her customers. There was a lineup of at least 6 people waiting to place their order, and despite this, she abandoned the till (and her customers) to socialize with a friend who'd come to the back door for a visit. Worse still, none of the other staff stepped up to take her place at the till. We simply had to wait. Anyone in food service should know better than to turn their back on a paying customer. Ultimately this is what dropped my rating down a notch to 4-stars.
Overall the food was tasty and made even more enjoyable by both good company and the beautiful scenery. A very pleasant experience.
Listed in: Fish n' Chips
Fresh, delicious, yummy flavors, great location, friendly service, great selections.. is there anything wrong with this place? Nope.. well if i want to be picky there wasn't enough seating for the masses that come here.
I am a severly picky fish eater and this place satisfies me and makes me want to go back.
I have tried the halibut tacones, and a seared tuna wrap with avocado and roasted red peppers. Both delicious.
Call ahead if you don't want to be waiting forever.
Listed in: Summer Fun, Granville Island one stop shop
I used to go to Steveston to get my fish and chips before this place came along. I will go way out of my way, which says a lot as a transit rider, to get the best food in the GVRD. So it goes that I was praising [enter your god's name here] when I discovered the best fish and chips stand now exists in my own city. How appropriate that the stall lies just beyond the dock from the boat.
Steve, the guy who operates the boat and also runs Organic Oceans, pops in the harbor with fresh catches that will soon be put into your mouth. His wife, and the staff, makes sure to cook the seafood to perfection. If there is a bad menu item at Go Fish I have yet to try it. The fish is so tender under that wonderfully crispy batter, and the hand cut fries are cooked perfectly. The salmon tacones with chipotle crema are muy bueno in mi estómago. The side of asian coleslaw is vastly superior to the gloppy mayo ones found everywhere else. BUT, if you want your socks knocked right off your feet please invest your money into the scallop burger. The accompanying sweet heat of the thai chili and the pea shoots and the grilled bun... I haven't had a better seafood burger in my life! Like Kristin H. says though, "pick up lots of napkins" as it quite messy.
You do have to wait around 15-45 minutes most of the time, which is the main reason I don't go often. Sad but true. But every time I get my order at Go Fish I'll forget about the sunburn I developed on my neck while waiting in line. It's worth it.
I come here pretty regularly, or, that is, I came here pretty regularly.
The last few times, the food has just been "okay".
I've always defended the service, or lack thereof, because they're busy; but, it was so utterly horrendous today, I'd be hard pressed to ever go back. I've worked in the service industry, and I know what its like when its busy, but its no excuse for being downright rude to someone when you get their order wrong and they politely call back to see if you can offer some kind of resolution.
Sorry guys, not only have you lost a pretty regular customer, but I'm not going to recommend you to anyone any longer either. Take that with a grain of salt though, because I'm sure the lineups will still stretch down the seawall.
I work pretty close to here, so I dine here quite often. I'm a huge fan of everything except their… Read more »
"Everyone looks so miserable before they get their fish!"
I overheard a woman say this as she walked by all the people waiting for their order. Her observation couldn't have been more on point. People were either happily scarfing down their food or looking sad while anxiously waiting for their order. I don't blame them, it's quite a wait, but well worth it.
Huge, fresh pieces of cod, salmon or halibut battered and fried and served with a heaping pile of fries, tartar sauce and an Asian inspired slaw. Add a beautiful view of downtown Vancouver, even on a cloudy day, and you have a perfect meal.
During my one week in Vancouver, I went here twice. Halibut and chips were outstanding. To be explicit, the halibut was very fresh, the batter was perfect (crispy, light, not too oily). The chips were good. I can see why some reviews found them soggy. Depends a bit how long they sat before you got your order. On my first visit, they were perfectly timed. On my second visit, when they sat under my halibut for a some minutes until the scallop sandwich came out, the chips got a bit "steamed". Still, thumbs up for the chips too.
Now, onto the scallop sandwich! Fabulous! Nicely cooked Qualicum Bay scallops (large) on an excellent bun (from a Granville Island bakery...don't know which), with caramelized onions and a sweet chili sauce. This is a winner.
I also tried a salmon tacone and an oyster tacone (you are thinking to yourself...how much food did this guy eat?!). I loved them but if I'm to be critical, I'd say they could have used more salmon or more oyster in them. The taco "filling" is very good but the filling slightly overpowers the salmon or oyster. Great for a change of pace from fish and chips, I think.
A good way to order (food per dollar) would be sharing a 2 piece halibut and chips and a two tacones plate with someone. Then, you'd each get one piece of fish, one tacone (of your choice) and more than enough chips for two to share. My final comment is: don't fear the line and the wait. This is the West Coast, baby! Kick back, relax, enjoy being outside (on a nice day), while eagerly anticipating your order!
How can I give an outdoor "hole in the wall" 5 stars? Taste is king/queen and this place has it. Had the salmon and chips (french fries) that are out of this world good! You can skip the creamy dip though. I don't think it adds to the flavor, a tad too mayo-like to me and unnecessary. Wish the wait wasn't so long but it's totally worth the wait.
Go Fish is located on the dock beside the fishing boats right near Granville Market. We had been told by many that this was one of the best places for fish in town and we were not disappointed. Apparently, Go Fish cooks whatever comes off the boat that day. Not wanting greasy fish & chips, I went for oyster tacones and the Lady had salmon tacones. Both were absolutely killer and fresh as hell! If I lived in Van, this would be a regular spot for me. The Lady came back for the fish & chips when I was at my conference and could only rave about how good they were.
My rainy day fish cafe.
I really love eating here, but so does everyone else. The fish is really fresh so the lines are usually really long. No problem, go on a rainy day :)
I tell them ahead of time that I have allergies to gluten and casein, but I always go for grilled salmon, a salad with olive oil and lemon, and a club soda. It's safe no spices, natural flavors, or caramel color to worry about. Wheat is a filler in a lot products, so I need to be extra precautious. One side note, I was told that they warm up flour tortillas on the grill. I haven't had a problem with this, but I also take a gluten and casein enzyme as a precautionary measure.
Somedays, I wish I could eat chips there but I was told by the staff that they fry the chips in the same oil as the battered fish. Gluten cross contamination, no thanks I'll pass. Which is probably why I seldomly get the cod, because then I'll want have the chips.
LOVE their fish tacones - salmon, halibut or even oysters (depending on their daily specials) are grilled to order, topped with a lime/cilantro chipotle mayo and Asian slaw all wrapped inside a soft tortilla. Perfection! Just a mere $5 each or two for $9.
Best to go early or later, avoiding the mad lunch time line-ups, or on a drizzly Vancouver day.
Likes: price, nice views, seconds from the Seawall, great fresh seafood
Dislikes: small parking lot, line-ups, outdoor seating only
Bike ride to granville island and stop at this hidden gem. The fish and chips are delicious and the fries...SOO GOOD. They also have salmon and scallop burgers too. I love this sort of food - high energy, good food, good prices, no frills, no gimmicks. Long lines yes - go at 11:30 to beat the lunch rush.
We woke up to a bright and sunshiny day in Vancouver.
I think it's the perfect day to go to Go Fish, sit outside, and eat fried stuff.
YEAH! BRILLIANT IDEA!
The only glitch: it LOOKS deceptively warm out, but in fact, it is truly butt ass cold outside.
Nevertheless, we bundled up and made the trek over to Go Fish.
There was no line at 1 PM on a Tuesday.
I debated between getting one or two tacos, and in the end, settled for one salmon tacone and side of fries. The guy had a piece of cod and the clam chowder.
Let me just say now, the fries are some of the best fries I've had. Maybe they were having a particularly excellent day, but those fries were perfectly crispy and salty and delicious.
The salmon tacone was good; the salmon was fresh and well cooked. I thought the tortilla was surprisingly decent, considering that it's a tortilla conceived in Vancouver.
The clam chowder was definitely a good choice for a chilly day and tasted like.... heavy cream.... in a really good way.
I'm definitely glad I braved the elements and tried Go Fish. I'd definitely do it again.
Just maybe this is the best food joint in all of Vancouver. Sure, I'm a fan of Japadog's shtick, and I've been fortunate to savour a 5-star meal at Lumiere; and maybe if it were possible to somehow bundle together all the great izakayas and sushi bars and collectively vote for them, things could be different. But...
In terms of simple, tasty food, it doesn't get much better than this. Fresh fish - salmon, tuna, haddock, halibut, whatever - cooked without too much fuss. The tacones, the burgers, the fish'n'chips - it's all great, and pretty cheap too!
If I were to channel my inner celebrity chef, I'd be inclined to wax lyrical about how it's a testament to the fresh, clean flavours that comprise all that's good about the west coast food scene. What I will say, though, is that this'd be the first place I took a new visitor to Vancouver (but with a little less fanfare than I'm giving here).
You guys are lucky to have a place like this. I hope it continues to serve the city well for many years to come.
What can I say about this place. I love it. I bring all my out of town visitors here. If I could I would eat there 24-7. The only bad thing about this place is the line-up...but who can blame people?
The seafood is fresh and delicious. This may sound sacreligious to some people but you can't get better salmon and chips anywhere! I know why would you deep fry salmon...but once you taste them you will be in heaven. Every time I go somewhere else and order salmon fish and chips it just never compares. I'm just making myself hungry now...
Wow. I loved this place!
I would say that the food was good...i mean...fish and chips was what i had and that is hard to get wrong.
I think what was really awesome was the fact that the water was right below you.
Looking out at the tall buildings as well as all the boats just made the food taste better.
Would come here again.
So many attempts to get to this place, but we made it! Oh we made it.
The first day we trekked all the way down there only to find out their not open Mondays. Seriously? Walking all the way over there, I learned my lesson and will not forget their hours again. The second time we checked the hours. We tried to miss the lunch rush getting there at 2pm and it was still a big line, but I think we only waited 20 or 30 minutes. Given the fact that we walked and were starving we ordered lots to share including the seared tuna burger, salmon tacos, and salmon fish and chips.
It was easier to go sit on the seawall then find a place with their limited seating and we started devouring. I didn't think the fish tacos were anything worth writing home about and I'll definitely pass on them next time. The burger was really good, although the tuna was trying to cook itself in the 35 degree weather. The fish and chips? Oh. My. God. They were the best I have ever had. And I have tried a lot of fish and chips in my life. I'm not really sure how to describe it but GO! It's worth the wait for these. I also definitely recommend the seared tuna burger but if you only have enough for one, let me break it down for you: SALMON FISH AND CHIPS.
Don't think, just eat them.
Ah what a concept - gourmet fish n chips in a fish stand right beside fishermen that sell fresh catch! I love the dim sum containers the fish n chips come in. My fav is the salmon fish n chips probably because I had never had it anywhere else. The coleslaw on the side is also delicious.
It's been consistently my favourite fish n chips place for the past 4 years. i've been told there's better but I've yet to find that :) Only complaint (as with most yummy joints in vancouver) is the lineup on sunny days.
If you're visiting Granville Island, before heading to their collection of so-so fast food joints, take a 5 min walk to Go Fish for delicious fish n chips for less than $10.
Listed in: The best places to take…, Visiting Vancouver for a…
This is the best casual, traditional fish 'n' chips in Vancouver, hands down. Something about the batter just puts it a notch above the rest. Even on a cold day like today I can be convinced to go a sit outside in a drizzle for the oh-so-crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside Halibut and chips. The chips are right up on par with the fish - crispy and delicious. Not too oily, although with fish 'n' chips you gotta have some good ole grease.
Yum yum I'll be back, even though they don't serve beer. Ahhh if only they served beer - or took down the Granville Island Brewing branded chalk board where they write the specials... I'm so tempted by the thought of a pale ale on tap every time I see it!
Listed in: My Favourite Island that Isn't
Ok, I've obviously missed something here!
I guess every restaurant (and I use that term very loosely with Go Fish) must have its 'off day' because I didn't pick up any of what others are putting down about this dump! I have no idea why the health inspectors haven't shut it down yet. If someone changes a dripping, smelly grabage bag in front of my table while I'm eating, then drags the dripping bag across the patio in front of other tables, they need some serious help. I'm not being difficult either, it was DISGUSTING! But wait, I'm jumping ahead.
I had heard good things about Go Fish from a friend so I decided to take my Florida friends there just the other day during their visit. I had also heard about the line up and I was expecting a wait. The prospect of a wait to get some great food was totally fine with all of us. To our surprise, we were fifth in line and within 10 minutes I had ordered two Cod Tacones, Bruce ordered the Cod Fish and Chips and Jane ordered one Salmon Tacone and one Cod Tacone. As we ordered I couldn't help but here the words "I'm sorry!" repeated to customers at least a half dozen times. Foreshadow of things to come! We found our seats and waited....and waited....and waited.....and waited. Could this have been what they were all talking about? The wait was not the line up to order but the actual food to be cooked. So we waited, and waited and waited. Everyone around us had had their names called and had picked up their food. All the people who were ahead of us and now many people who had come after were all eating away. In total we waited over 45 minutes. Finally my name was called and I went to pick up the food. I gave Bruce his F&C. As the two platters were handed to me with the Tacones I asked the employee which platter was the Salmon/Cod and which was the Cod/Cod. Her exact words were, "I have no idea!" She turned to the cook behind her and asked him and he said, "Just open them and figure it out!"
STOP THE TRAIN....ARE YOU FOR REAL?
Is this how people LOVE to get treated at Go Fish? I took the platters and sat down and almost fell off my chair laughing in amazement at what I'd just heard. Bruce and Jane looked mortified and laughed along with me.
As it turns out, there was no salmon at all, all four tacones were Cod.
Now if I tell you that the food was OK and not amazing, you're just going to say, "well he had a bad service experience and that's why he's reviewing the food so poorly," right? Wrong, I have given plenty of credit to food where service was lacking but I am afraid I cannot do the same here. The fries were soft, oily and downright pathetic. A potato would be embarassed to be served that way. It is not rocket science and anyone who knows anything about cooking knows that if the oil is not hot enough, the fries will be soggy. Yuck!! The Tacones were not bad at all, but they were a far cry from amazing or even great and especially for that price. Value is obviously not one of Go Fish's stronger points. I can name at least five places in Steveston that make far better seafood. My final note...I will go there again! Yes, pick yourselves up of the floor, you read correctly. I will go there again. I have been in this industry enough to know that there exsist those days when all the cosmic forces in the universe line up to make a restaurant's day just hell. Been there, experienced that...from both sides of the pass. So I will go again and hopefully I will have the experience that many of you have had.
Buon Appetito a tutti!!
The fish definitely tastes fresh, but Ive had better. Not too far either, just over at Victoria is red fish blue fish, and its too good. However this place is pretty decent, good portion sizes thats for sure. Ill definitely keep coming back, its the best fish and chips Ive had in Vancouver so far. If you havent been, I would recommend it for the location and the experience. Enjoy :)
This was one of Vancouver's best kept secrets for the longest time. Nestled near Granville Island along the seawall at Fisherman's Wharf, Go Fish is a simple little shack with outdoor seating overlooking False Creek and with amazing views of Downtown Vancouver, Granville Island, and Burrard Inlet (looking past the Burrard Street Bridge). It's really a quaint place. Nothing fancy. Just good food, great location, and an amazing view of the city.
Go Fish serves fresh seafood, caught by local fisherman and served up in a variety of ways. Their staple, though, is their Fish & Chips (with your choice of cod, salmon, or halibut). Beyond that, they have other great specialties. The Tacones are incredible softshell tacos wrapped in a cone shape. Their regular ones are a grilled salmon with chipotle mayonnaise and a grilled tuna with nori and wasabi mayonnaise. They also often have a scallop burger, specialty tacones, salads, etc. Their daily fish soups are AMAZING, especially in the winter. And during the always-too-short spot prawn season, you can find delicious spot prawn specialties. For a seafood lover, this place is too good to be true.
When I lived in Vancouver, Go Fish was very much a part of my weekly routine. I usually went once or twice per week, sometimes more. Saturdays were filled with a long early morning bike ride with the cycling club, followed by a big post-ride meal at Go Fish. One salmon tacone, one tuna tacone, an order of delicious chips, and maybe some soup. No better way to spend a Saturday early afternoon than relaxing outdoors with great food. Plus, when done, you can walk along the seawall or explore Granville Island.
Two quick notes:
- Go Fish continues to become more and more popular and listed in more and more tourist books. The result? The line can become very long on really nice summer days and around lunch time. It's still worth it, but you might want to get their early, or wait until the middle of the afternoon to visit.
- In the winter, Go Fish remains open, but it can be cold, so bundle up! The good news? There's a space heater, the food's just as good, and there's never a big line.
If you love seafood and spending time outdoors, a trip to Go Fish is highly recommended.
Listed in: Best Vancouver Restaurants
Oh how I was dissapointed. :( I have been to Go Fish a couple of times before and had a delicious salmon burger (I believe it was a special) and it was delicious. Yesterday (April 16th) I walked the seawall from Cambie to Granville Island on my day off, thrilled to not have to wait in line.
I ordered the classic halibut and chips. The service was aweful from the moment they took my order to yelling out others orders and making rude comments as they did so. " I dont want to call your f**cking name any more Henry." If the customer doesn't hear you screaming, believe me they will come looking for their food soon. No need to scream 5-10 times while the rest of us are eating. When I got my food, I was excited. I was super hungry AND I had a seat on the little patio facing the water.
The fries were way too greasy, the tartar sauce was lacking flavour, the coleslaw was not nearly as good as it has been in the past, and the halibut was soooo dry and tasted more like chicken. Ick! An hour later as I walked back to Cambie Street I felt incredibly nauseous. No, I did not get sick but I felt my face turn green as I made my way home to lay down. My thoughts are it was the grease. Yes, fish and chips are meant to be a greasy, fried food but this was overkill.
I wish I had of chosen Tony's on Granville Island instead. I will be trying the fish tacos at Go Fish on another warm and sunny day, and will let you know how that goes.
You really need to know about this place to be able to find it, it's not an obvious tourist stop. I heard about it through Yelp and took down the address and let GPS do the rest. I drove back and forth a few times and couldn't find it until I spotted a little sign pointing down towards the dock area.
Anyways, I order the fish cakes and a piece of cod (fish and chips minus the chips since fish cakes came with chips). I ate the cod first and it was delicious! The batter was crispy and yummy. The size was perfect and I was nearly full after that one piece. I ended up saving the fish cake for breakfast the next morning. I put it in the oven for a few minutes and the batter was still as yummy as the day before :)
I was taking one of my coworkers who was visiting from down south to Granville Island - it's a must see for me In Vancouver.... we did the tour on a nice cool day and I suggested to go to Go Fish to grab lunch...
Crossing my fingers that there wouldn't be a long line up, I was pleasantly surprised... that there were only 2 - 3 people in line ordering, although there were about 10 groups of people waiting.
The special of the day was pacific cod tacones so I opted for one. She, however, got the salmon one and from my previous experience, it was very very yum.
We managed to get two chairs after a couple had left and waited for our names to be called.
When we finally got our food, the sauce coming from the tacone seemed liked a good sign... however, I was not happy for several reasons.
1. The cod was honestly TASTELESS and no flavours at all.
2. The filling seemed like half of what I had received before
3. We received two cod tacones instead of 1 cod and 1 salmon.
As the "tour guide" I felt bad that she had to eat it, although she said it was good.
Nonetheless, it shows inconsistency, even on a not so busy day, which makes me disappointed.
Listed in: Vancouver Magazine's 101 Best…
Tip for a Salmon Tacone - go on a rainy day! I've been wanting to try a Salmon Tacone forEVER!...… Read more »
Phenomenal fresh seafood with traditional and new combination to please everybody. The fish and chips are amazing, with crisp, lightly battered fish and a huge helping of skin-on chips. I also had the tuna tacos with wasabi mayo and nori, which were absolutely fantastic, almost like a sushi/ mex fusion.
There were only two downsides: the wait (expect to wait.. and wait.. and wait.. at 1:30pm I wanted almost 45 minutes to order and get food), and one of the staff was pretty angry/ sour, yelling at people to "get out of the way or you'll be covered in garbage" as she took out the trash from the busy deck. The rest of the staff was very nice and courtious, but this one member must have woken up on the wrong side of the wharf..
This has become my favourite fish & chip vendor in Vancouver. I paid the infamous shack a visit on bike ride to Granville Island last week, just within a month returning from London. Its fish & chips were by far better than the ones I had from Borough Market in London. The best part for me is that the fishe is done the northern English style - sans skin :)
I ordered a piece of cod and chips. Although cod is usually the cheaper fish on the menu and is less flavourful than halibut, I thoroughly enjoyed mine. You can tell that it's fresh after the first bite. It was fried o order and I'm glad that I ordered one piece instead of two because it's big. Every string of their fries was crispy and I could taste the potatoes.
Usually I would ask myself why the heck did I order fish & chips half way through the meal. However, I enjoyed every bite of mine from Go Fish and I made sure that I licked my fingers wet to pick up every bit of the food stuff left on the tray :)
I was there two times. Since reviews are so positive I was sure that's the best fish and chips in Van. Was not so... Fish was OK, and chips were too small, greasy. I liked salad though. Second time I went there for lunch and again, I didn't like chips and fish was OK. I said to myself that Tony's fish and chips that is close by is better, and I don't have to eat outside and can wash my hands there.
Overall impression is positive.
I love fish & chips and was nothing less than super satisfied with my beer-battered salmon. Cole slaw had an unusual take and was really tasty too.
Fantastic location as well. It's a tiny, out-of-the-way, stand right beside the fish market under the Granville bridge. Every piece they drop into their batter comes from these local fishermen who are just a docks walk away.
Listed in: Give me more 604!, Gimme More 604 - Food!
Definitely a place to go when visiting Granville Island. Beware of the fast build-up of loooooong lines. One minute it's okay, the next it's an hour's wait. If you're a local, definitely go off-season or early in the day than at prime lunch time.
It's fish and chips. How can you go wrong. Really. Although I love the whole experience - location-wise and food offering, the few times I've been there the cooking has been inconsistent. The halibut fish was over-cooked one time and the fries under-cooked. Then another time the fries was soggy.
If the cooking is right, the food is really yummy. With a perfect day and a good table, you can sit back and enjoy the meal. (Well, that is until you notice a person watching you eat and eyeing on your table. Grrr.) There is certainly only a few tables available so sitting is optional or follow the crowd and find any spot around the shack.
Malt Vinegar and Catsup is plentiful. So is water so you can really just concentrate on their menu items than over-priced drinks.
This is one place that you have to visit at least once being in Vancouver.
However if you've been here already, I would recommend another place over at Richmond - Pajo's. Cooking is a little bit consistent, but the restaurant is situated on it's on dock so ha a bigger space for diners to sit, but with an equally long line as well.
Despite my recomendation, I honestly wouldn't give it four or five stars. It's sure worth the trip if only for the overall experience. For how can you not want to go to a shack by the dock that serves fried battered seafood on Granville Island.
In the mood for some great fish & chips at a casual joint?? Go Fish is the pace to go!
I was walking the seawall with my sister and friend and we saw this casual little fish & chip concession stand packed with people, down by the docks so we decided to check it out & have lunch there. Sure glad we did, it was delicious!
We ordered the Granville island beer battered fish & chips (of course!). The fish was fresh (not dry at all), the batter wasn't overly thick or greasy like some places (so you could actually taste the halibut!). All served in a bamboo basket and accompanied by chips and a side of coleslaw. The coleslaw had a slightly zingy Asian flavour to it which was a nice touch but could be overwhelming in larger quantities (wouldn't want more of it then what they served). THEN for my favourite menu item... we also split the tacones. The tuna tacone was FANTASTIC! If you want a VERY light snack get one, but if you are even remotely hungry get two! My sister had the salmon tacone and said it was even better than the tuna (will try that next time!)
And you can feel good about what you're eating (even the deep fried, high calorie fish!) because apparently the seafood is caught locally. Even the beer used for batter is local - Granville Island Brewery.
So next time you're in the area, I recommend checking it out and your fish & chip cravings will be served!
Oh. My. God. The freakin' tuna tacone. The freakin' life-changing tuna tacone.
It was like an international party in my mouth... a perfect combination of Mexican fare with fresh seafood from the Pacific, with a touch of Asian cuisine represented by wasabi, teriyaki sauce, and dried seaweed.
Go Fish = Seafood Heaven. Hyperbolic? You decide.
Once in awhile, I come across a place that makes me kick myself for not finding it sooner. Go Fish… Read more »
Neighborhood: Downtown
Neighborhood: Downtown
Neighborhood: Fairview Slopes
Neighborhood: Downtown
Neighborhood: Downtown
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