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Pajo's Fish & Chips
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Food Stands Seafood, Food Stands [Edit]
12351 3 AveRichmond, BC V7E 2Z1
Neighbourhood: Steveston
(604) 272-1588
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
45 reviews for Pajo's Fish & Chips
Review Highlights
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"A trip to Steveston isn't complete without a meal at Pajo's." In 17 reviews -
"LOL But the halibut and chips IS pretty awesome." In 23 reviews -
"This is the concession stand at Gary Point Park." In 3 reviews
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45 reviews in English
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Review from Rick C.
Seriously delicious fish and chips. The halibut is particularly good. Pajo's is perfect for enjoying some crisp fries and fried filets. Definitely a summer tradition, the stroll to Steveston's seaside makes for a great day. The food hits the spot with the sea wind in your face.
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Review from Alberto M.
Vancouver, BC
Loved it. Best fish and chips in town!
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Review from Vincci L.
Sunshine, water, and fish & chips. A pretty perfect equation to summer, and now that summer is gone; I'll just have to make the most of the fish & chips.
Pajo's is located on a dock in the heart of Steveston Village. Serving up fish & chips (choice of salmon, cod or halibut), as well as burgers and hot dogs. Order up front, get a number, and then head to the pickup window for your food.
I usually get the halibut. It's always soft and cooked just right, and the batter is not too thick. The tartar sauce goes perfectly with it. I personally don't like the fries here because they are often not the crispy kind.
Seating is available on the dock level, or walk up and there are picnic tables with built in holes to hold your fish & chips, which are served wrapped in paper, in a cone.
Always so satisfying, fish & chips by the water is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon.Listed in: 30 Day Yelp Challenge.
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Review from Katie M.
Here are three fundamental facts about me: 1. I could live off of fish & chips 2. I resided in Richmond for 3 years at one point of my life 3. I love being near/in water. Was there really any chance I wouldn't give Pajo's a 5-star rating?
Back when I lived in Port Coquitlam as a kid, my parents would take me to Pajo's whenever we stopped by Richmond. I was brought up to love this place. I've tried everything on their menu, and I always go back to One of Each (halibut, salmon, and cod). Now, I'm a tiny girl and I normally don't eat a lot, but this is my one exception - I will stuff myself silly with fried fish and tartar sauce whenever I get the chance. Luckily, for my own sake, I moved away before I could become morbidly obese.
The restaurant itself is a wooden structure floating on the water, and it's really cute. There's plenty of seating space since there are benches and tables on the dock as well as along the pier. On nice, sunny days, you can expect a long line, but trust me - it's worth the wait. The food is served in a neat tissue paper cone, which is then placed in a custom-made tray. Sounds convoluted, but you'll know what I mean once you see it.
I've always enjoyed visiting Steveston Village and the Fisherman's wharf. Our family tradition was to get Pajo's, then head over to Timothy's Frozen Yogurt for some delicious berry yogurt. I love walking along the pier and looking around the fishing boats, especially if it's in season and they're selling fresh seafood. Everything about this place brings back good memories, but I would've love the food regardless. -
Review from Joseph H.
Richmond, BC
Pajo's is famous for fish and chips; however, I would not say that it is as good as it used to be. Its become more of a volume seller with quantity greater than quality at this point.
I think it may be better to visit Pajo's on a rainy, cloudy, cold day, with fewer tourists. Otherwise, when there are giant crowds and long lines of waiting customers, you're almost guaranteed a less than optimal experience with smaller sized fish and old frying oil that wasn't at the ideal temperature.
The tartar sauce used to be amazing, but now tastes like glue. The fries are soggy, old'ish, not as tasty as before. Its just kind of sad. At least the prices haven't gone up by much.
Pajo's fish and chips are decent, just not the blow-your-mind amazing that it used to be. Which is kind of sad. -
Review from David L.
If you're ever in the Steveston area in Richmond, Pajo's Fish & Chips is a must visit. It's a fish & chips restaurant on a floating dock. I ordered a large cod fish and chips which consisted of two and a half pieces of fish and decent size portion of fries. The cod meat tasted fresh and tender, not fishy at all. My fish was almost perfectly deep fried. One piece of the fish didn't have much batter, and it tasted slightly soggy. The tartar sauce was only average. It looked like plain mayo and it sure tasted plain mayo with some added vinegar and lemon.
The fries were nicely fried and they didn't add much salt to it which is good. Oh yeah, this place is very popular. They limit the amount of people on the floating dock, so you might have to line up on the shore. -
Review from Larry L.
So what could I order that wasn't Fish n Chips?
Hmmmmm
They have hot dogs.... I had a craving for hot dogs..... I had to try one. and ordered it with a side of coleslaw.
The hotdogs came with a cooked split down the middle weiner and cooked onions and relish. It was very good actually and I would order again. Definately order again!
4 stars for the Hot dog.
The coleslaw, sadly, 1 star. Mushy raisins didn't appeal to me at all.
My friend tried their crab cakes, and it didn't look as appetizing as the time I had them before, just weeks before.
They went down a notch in ratings.
However, this review is for the Hotdogs.
I give them 4 stars!!!Listed in: Steveston Village
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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8/19/2011
What? Pajos got crabs?!!!
You betcha!! They got crab cakes!!
2 fer $6.99
And I had a compadre who liked… Read more »
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8/19/2011
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Review from Daisy L.
fish and chips was alright. Service was friendly and fast. Good place to be on a sunny day.
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Review from Fritz S.
Now this is how i wanna eat my Fish!! all wrapped up in a news paper cone!! and on a pier!
Easily the best fish and chips i've ever had hands down!! Light crispy flavorful fish, awsome tarter sauce, and what looks to be hand cut fries! pure sexiness! But don't have to take my word for it.... man, i sound like Lavar Burton on "Reading Rainbow" anyone remember that show? or am i too old??!! :/ -
Review from Alice A.
A solid four stars for this floating joint in picturesque Steveston Village.
The large cod and chips was more than enough for two. Initially the chips looked sort of dry and unappetizing, but they actually taste way better than they looked.
Overall satisfying as a treat. -
Review from J C.
Edmonton, AB
Great location. Limited seating so be prepared for a wait on a nice sunny day. There is no indoor seating at Pajo's.
Now the food is a bit greasy... but hey it's fish and chips.
Had the salmon loved it with their light batter.
Their crab cakes are a bit different with the type of filling but tasty. -
Review from Jacqueline T.
Hmmm... I think over hyped, and maybe I expected too much. Can't blame anyone but myself? hmm Maybe not!
I think Pajo's could've done a better job if they actually allowed their super greasy fries to drip a bit before serving it. But it probably will take more time to serve, since their lines become massive at noon.
Don't get me wrong. Their fish and chips are delicious :) Their Cod soft and melts in your mouth. The batter is fresh, and cooked timely! But.. its A-OK! I've tried a lot of fish and chips place, and it just doesn't jump out at me. Prices are reasonable as well, as the fish cuts they give you are generous :)
Locations for Pajo's are all nicely selected by the water or park. So its always a nice treat when you are craving something fried while you're outdoors. Also great photo opportunities!
Steveston location is on a dock, and the mini bleachers and tables are a cute fish and chips touch, with little holes on the tables. -
Review from Wendy C.
Richmond, BC
I heard this was the best fish & chips in Richmond so I tried it. DELISH! I find the fish & chips a bit greasier than I prefer (or maybe it's the kind of oil they use), but the fish of course is very fresh and yummy; they have awesome fresh cut fries; yummo hot dogs, etc. We will be back! Love that it's got the picnic tables and a little grass area to sit on.. great family outing!
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Review from Judy W.
Best fish and chips I've ever tasted so far. Got the halibut and chips. It's around $11 for small with 2 pieces of fish. It has the right texture and crunchiness.
4 stars for being in a nice location and the taste. Minus 1 for the price and no refills on fountain drinks. :( -
Review from Joanne W.
WHY DO WE NOT HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN TORONTO? I usually am not a fan of Fish and Chips, but we just so happened to pass by this place while we were in Richmond. My brother's friend kept raving about the place and telling us that was it was the best place for fish & chips.
Cod fish and chips?
Salmon nuggets?
Yes please. -
Review from james m.
Vancouver, BC
Pajo's Fish n Chip's need I say more? Yeah I do. I had the cod 1 1/2 pieces. Presentation very cool and the tables with the holes to hold your fish also cool. The fish had the right crispness, the fries just okay. They get 4 stars for location and batter. Also fighting with the birds is always fun.
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Review from Alexa Z.
What is better than eating fish and chips from a cone on the water on a beautiful day in Steveston?!
If it is your first time to Pajo's, I recommend ordering the sampler for $13... you get 2 pieces of cod, 1 piece of halibut, and 1 piece of salmon - one of everything. The batter is light and crisp and the fish moist and flavorful.
Also, a must try is the "famous" Crab Cakes. Real crab with pesto, cilantro, and a whole bunch of other goodies packed in there without overpowering the plentiful crab. 2 large crab cakes for only $6.
Don't take it too far though - Pajo's is best when it's the freshest. So pick if your order, sit straight down, and dig in!Listed in: Oh, Canada!
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Review from Rich B.
I've tried a few of the fish and chip bars along the boardwalk in Steveston and Pajo's has to be the best. The fish is fresh and well cooked. The halibut I had was some of the best fish and chip-style halibut I've ever eaten. The batter is just about perfect - not too thin, not too thick, not too crispy, not too soft and it doesn't have that taste of slightly burnt oil that I find is sadly common in many fish and chip spots.
We also had cod, which was good too. They had run out of salmon, which was disappointing considering it was the only one of the three fish they offer that was actually being sold fresh on the dock nearby.
As for the accompaniments, the chips are good - fresh cut from potatoes with their skins on - although they could be cut a little thicker. The tartare sauce was great - and complimentary as condiments should be. The only disappointment for me was the mushy peas, which were not quite mushy enough and lacked a certain something in the flavour department. -
Review from Kat S.
A trip to Steveston isn't complete without a meal at Pajo's. The lines and waits were insane this weekend with all the frenzy over sockeye and a farmer's market that was happening at the same time. We tried the park location first, but the wait for the food was way too long, so we ended up the dock a bit later.
After loading up on potatoes at breakfast I wasn't in for the chips, so I got the small Fish Only with halibut. Yum. The fish is really nice and tender. Though I do find their fish rather greasy.
I had hoped to order some crab cakes, but I asked what was in them and was disappointed to find out they use fake crab (aka pollock, which is a fish) and other fish mixed in. So I didn't order the crab cakes. Sad. -1 star for the fake crab.
The location is sweet, and I love the chairs overlooking the activity at the docks, with slots for your cone of deep fried awesomeness. -
Review from Gina I.
There was a power outage in the middle of making dinner so what else was there to do but drive to Steveston? GO TO PAJO'S and eat some fish & chips.
I've never been, but the bf has. I'm scared of fried foods, so I don't eat fish & chips much. One piece was enough for me. Not overly greasy either, which was nice. The fries though, oh I love those fries. So good with the vinegar and ketchup together.
I'll be back, maybe with some out of town friends so they can experience it.. -
Review from Maha E.
Ahh, Pajo's- Richmond's Heavyweight Champion for the finest fish and chips. There isn't a better place to find fresher deep-fried inhabitants of the sea than off of the Steveston dock, if you ask me.
While they're well known for their reputation of being one of the best fish and chips establishments on the West Coast, their menu is impressively balanced- offering a variety of burgers and other favourite land-dwelling fast-food alternatives.
The staff is friendly, organized, and never too stingy when you ask for couple of extra packs of tar-tar sauce.
Their locations are amazing- one being right off of the Steveston dock, and the other conveniently located on the beach of Gary Point Park; be forewarned that you're in for a bit of a line-up at either location, but rest assured, whatever you order off of their menu is well worth the wait.
Recommended dish: the Halibut fish and chips, slightly pricier, a tad greasy, but utterly scrumptious.
Score: It's all net! ;) -
Review from Raymond O.
Vancouver, BC
For the fish and chips lover, it's hard not to fall for this place. Cooking is pretty much consistent and service is fast especially for the number of people they serve every hour.
They have cod (CAD5.19), salmon (CAD5.79) and halibut (CAD6.19) variety of fish and chips. Can't decide which? Get all three for CAD12.59.
Not really feeling the fish and chips love? Menu extends down to fish nuggest, burgers, hotdogs, side dishes - onion rings, zucchini sticks, crab cakes, etc.
PAJOS GO FISH
MENU: Extensive Basic
COOKING: Consistent All over the place
LOCATION: On it's own Dock Off the beaten path on a lot
SEATING: Enough Very limited choices
WAITING TIME: Decent 30 - 60 mins
ATTRACTS: Locals Tourists
SERVING DISH: Typical Cute bamboo dimsum container
PARKING: Lots nearby Walk from Granville Island
Although Pajo's growth seems like a franchise, it actually is family-owned. Originally conceived in 1985 by two partners Patricia and Joan = PaJo. You can see and feel the attention the current founder Pat Branch has put into the place and why it's was able to successfully build a few more in BC.
It's definitely worth the trip to Richmond.Listed in: When in Richmond
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Review from Tiffani L.
Richmond, BC
A famous fish and chip!! All visitors have to come here !!
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Review from Renee C.
How can you go wrong when you have to walk down a ramp towards the water to get your food. Look, it may not take a lot to please me, but I like a slightly different experience in obtaining my food.
And the fish and chips are truly good. I quite enjoy everything I've ever eaten here (especially the halibut and chips). But I especially like the experience of taking the trek down to Steveston, walking along, and heading to Pajos. Great place to take the out-of-towners. Especially the prairie-ans: water is a new experience for them (and I can talk, I was one of them). ;) -
Review from Gabby S.
Vancouver, BC
This is the concession stand at Gary Point Park.
Cash and Debit only.
We parked our car 2 blocks away and began our Sunday family walk. Last time, we ate at a restaurant by the pier and it was good but pricey. $70 for 3 people with no alcohol. Granted, it was a lot of food and I'll do a review as soon as I figure which restaurant it is.
By the time we got back, it was close to lunch time and there were about 3-4 groups of people eating. They have park tables as well as plastic stools. There are also logs that you can sit on.
It looked like a mother/daughter team. My father and I each had a mushroom and cheese burger respectively. My mom went for the 1.5 fish. Instead of chips, we got 2 large coleslaw.
The burgers were good and the fish looked nice too. We had left over coleslaw so that shows how big the portions were. The ginger beer was sharp and I've had really good Bermudian ginger beer. This was stewart's. Yum!
The food cost about $30 but hard to compare sit down service and self serve.
Downside, it was freaking windy and I had to eat with my wool cap AND hood. -
Review from Molly D.
Vancouver, BC
While enjoying a day out in Steveston, we headed down to the dock to get some fish and chips at Pajos. It was pretty busy, but didn't take more than 10-15 minutes to get our order and there's lots for the little terror to see to keep him occupied, since it's right on the wharf.
We had halibut and chips, zucchini sticks and the seafood chowder. Everything was delicious, although the zucchini wasn't quite as crisp as I like it. Lots of bits in the chowder, the fish was moist and not too greasy and the fries were a big hit with one of us... and the seagulls!
Fun place to go and visitors always love it. -
Review from Janel Y.
Haven't found a better fish and chips place in Richmond. The batter here is light and the fish is flaky. A bit oily, but what fish and chips place isn't? I've been coming here since I was a kid and it's a definite family oriented place where locals have come here over and over.
Other than fish and chips, they have burgers and hot dogs as well, but they're mostly known for their fish and chips. They offer three types of fish: cod, salmon and halibut. I've tried the cod and halibut and they both were cooked and fried just right!
On the weekends, summer and sunny days, this place can get really packed. Sometimes I'm amazed that Pajo's and the weight of everyone eating there doesn't cause the boards to give way and sink everyone!
Note: if you'd like a free meal, visit their website and click on the link to the right. You'll get a coupon to use on your birthday for a free meal that includes: a small fish and chip meal with drink or a burger and fries. Don't forget to bring the coupon of a photo I.D.!Listed in: O Canada!
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Review from Katie F.
I don't know if I had a bad batch or what... as some of you know, I'm a Dave's fan (on Moncton Street), esp. with the light batter and halibut.
Yesterday was a gorgeous day so out to Steveston's wharf we went and I figured it time to break my loyalty to Dave's when I saw the line-up at Pajo's on the wharf.
The location is cute and I like the mixture of sun and shade seating. The packaging in the cone is cute and there are holes in the tables to hold your cone of food.
Needless to say, I was disappointed overall. The girl taking our order could barely crack a smile and there was a 40 min wait for the SMALLEST piece of cod I have ever seen! As mentioned in another review, cash and debit only.
I had the 1 1/2 piece of fish (cod) with french fries and in those fish pieces, they were both at best half-pieces of fish inside and the rest was batter! WTF?
On the plus side, the batter is quite tasty and better than Dave's (unless you remember to ask for light batter there). Fries are tasty but they are the less crispy kind. Hubby loved the cheeseburger and fries - this is a nice option if you're going with a seafood hater since there's quite an extensive non-fish menu too.
But since it's a fish and chips place... almost $8 pretax for mostly batter and fries? The place is obviously popular, but this is more like batter and chips to me :( -
Review from Tania Y.
Vancouver, BC
Pajo's on the wharf.
The fish was good. Tasted like what fish and chips should taste like! And their menu looked pretty extensive... which was great! However, I only had room for cod and a bit more!
The fries were just okay. Kind of soggy and mushy.
I also ended up ordering mushy peas because it sounded cute. However, it didn't taste so cute.
Next time, I'll just stick with the fish. And I'll probably have to bring a sweater too. I was freeeezing! -
Review from Alisha E.
Vancouver, BC
I was so excited to go to Steveston and have fish and chips for the first time! A few of us head to Pajos's since it's "famous" for their fish and chips. My bf and I both wanted the combo which mixes a pice of cod, halibut and salmon however they were out of salmon and they refused to mix cod and halibut, so we just ordered one of each. I was really looking forward to a small chowder on the side which they were also out of. It wasn't a very busy day there but our order took about 20 mins and after seeing a tasty looking gravy go by I ordered one as a picked up our order and it took 10 mins to make!
The fish was good however I was a bit unsatisfied with the dipping potential of my pile of french fry ends piled in the bottom of my cone.
Next time I go to Steveston I will be trying out another joint! -
Review from Q B.
Vancouver, BC
5 stars because of the location.
One of the Pajo's is located in Steveston Village at the end of the pier down a ramp on the water.
Are the fish and chips good? Undoubtedly. Do I think they have the best fish and chips? No. Do I think it's an amazing short trip out to Steveston on a sunny day and sit on the water having some fish and chips? Yes. And that's why they get a 5.
Worth the trip out.
PS - they close at 8pm I think. -
Review from Ken C.
I didn't get any chips, but the fish was really good. I visited some relatives in Richmond, BC and they took us to this little fishing village to sightsee a bit. It was very nice in the area. Not too crowded and very pleasant weather. Of course it was a weekday though so I'd imagine weekends get much busier.
I ordered a Cod fish only and it was just delicious. We didn't get to stick around so I ordered to go. Even though the order wasn't that big, it was wrapped in A LOT of paper and put in a giant bag which I thought was kinda funny. If I had the time, I would have liked to sit there on the pier and enjoy. When I got to my relative's house, I was surprised the fish was still crispy and hot. The batter was very light and just how I like it. Many fish and chip places use way too much batter than I'd like (I want to eat fish, not bread!)
I'm definitely stopping by Pajo's again the next time I'm visiting Vancouver! -
Review from Ivan L.
Really great fish and chips. We tried the cod and halibut fried fish. It was excellent. A small (1.5 pieces of fish) was plenty for my lunch. Roughly $8. A nice comfort food kind of place.
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Review from Renee S.
Vancouver, BC
Pajo's Fish and Chips is everything that good fish & chips should be: Lightly greasy, wonderfully flaky, totally delicious! Pajo's is served in a cone so it's sort of a challenge to eat, but that just makes it fun.
When we were there, we were visited by several seagulls who were clearly well-used to being thrown left-over fries. They got a bit brazen, and were hopping up onto our picnic table to take fries from our fingers. Wow! And, well, you can't beat the view of the ocean and the beach and kids playing as you chow down on some great food.
Also, they have a deal where you get a free meal on your birthday: just print out a coupon from their website before you go! -
Review from Kelley R.
Vancouver, BC
I'm from Florida, so I have a pretty high standard for my seafood - especially the deep fried variety. Pajo's did not disappoint. We grabbed our seaside fare from the stand in Gerry Point.
Within my group, we ordered the halibut fish and chips, the salmon fish and chips, crab cakes (which were more like seafood cakes), halibut burger, and the house made coleslaw. All were delightful and there were smiles all around the the circle of us pic-nicing on the grass. The batter on the fried fish was nice and light and had a great flavor on its own. The salmon fish and chips wasn't quite as crispy, but the unique flavor made up for it. The chips were not quite as crispy as i would have liked, but it was a bit understandable as we tried this place on Canada Day and the line-ups were huge! The portions were generous and the tarter sauce was perfect!
If the Steveston Pier isn't enough reason to make the trip through Richmond, the delicious fish and chips definitely are! -
Review from Shoppa H.
Vancouver, BC
Love the fish there as it's fresh and delicious. Careful...seagulls will snag your fish right out of your hands. Love sitting there on the pier, staring at people or into the waters and enjoying the food with friends. Great way to spend a lazy sunny Sunday.
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Review from Reena M.
I love the fact that they give you a free meal on your birthday! What a great way to celebrate my 25th--a large fish and chips and a diet pepsi. LOL But the halibut and chips IS pretty awesome...
Listed in: Anti-Valentine's Day List, Daaaaaammmmmmnnn Cheeeeeep!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/31/2009
Good fish and chips, very crispy, and they serve fries from fresh potatoes. I had the halibut and… Read more »
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7/31/2009
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Review from Josie K.
Surrey, BC
What gets better than this - fish and chips down on the wharf on a hot summer day. Lineups can be long but it is worth the wait. Served in a cone brings back childhood memories and trips to London, England and chip alley in Amsterdam. Comfort food for my soul !
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Review from J H.
The area is so great! The fish and chips are served in paper cones, right along the the pier with seats down by the water or on the upper desk. There was such a huge line of people so I thought the food would be better. In fact it was batter...for 2pcs of fish..there was a ton of batter. When I finally got to the fish, which you get to choose from cod, salmon and halibut...i got the cod...it was pretty good...the fries was ok...a little soggy perhaps. And of course as expected extremely oily. They could have been more generous with the tartar sauce tho. I've certainly had better and I hope the next time I go it would be. Also it took quite some time to get our food...a good 10-15 minutes for fried food...maybe they did that purposely cuz by the time you got your food, the ppl who already seated are done with there food and ready to leave.
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Review from Sylvia C.
Richmond, BC
I'm giving Pajo's a three star rating, despite the fact that I am a regular customer, mostly due to the inconsistency in quality of their french fries. On a busy day, the fries are soggy because they are rushed to take out of the fryer. This applies to both locations in Steveston.
