We didn't realise this shop has changed owners so had expectations based on previous visits. The hot dog was not tasty but the hoki fish was, just a bit small. The batter to fish ratio was good. The service was friendly.
Kim Justin Fichtel
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March 20, 2026
We had the best experience ever!
The personnel was super friendly, the fish of the day menu was super delicious and we LOVED the shrimp twister!
We will definitely be back tomorrow and try the blue cod!
We returned the next day for the blue cod and it was AMAZING!
And you should definitely get the shrimp twister as well!!! ❤️
JS K
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February 01, 2026
I visited in August 2005. I still remember and miss the taste. If I still remember this place in Acaroa every time I eat fish and chips, you will see how memorable it is. It's been a long time since I remembered it, so I looked up Google Maps and now I can't find any trace of the past. I look forward to going back one day and reliving the taste of the past.
Serena Han
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December 31, 2025
I ordered five pieces of fish, one serving of regular fries, and one serving of kumara fries. This meal cost over $50, which made the experience even more disappointing.
The fish portions were extremely small — I believe this is why they served around ten very small fish pieces instead. Unfortunately, the fish tasted far from fresh and had a strong fishy smell inside, which made it unpleasant to eat.
The fries portion did not feel like a full serving at all — more like half. Normally, we can never finish the fries here and always have leftovers, but this time the portion was noticeably smaller and very underwhelming.
On top of that, the service was very poor. The staff member was impatient and literally dropped the food onto our table. At the time, we were out trying to relax and enjoy ourselves, so we chose not to raise the issue with the manager to avoid conflict. Looking back, I regret that decision, as I did not enjoy this lunch at all.
The ownership seems to have changed, and this place is no longer what it used to be. Sadly, we won’t be coming back.
Hao
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June 04, 2025
⭐⭐⭐☆☆
A mixed experience at the “world’s famous” fish and chips spot in Akaroa
We visited Akaroa Fish and Chips on King’s Birthday – and we weren’t the only ones! The place was absolutely packed, with a long line of people clearly drawn in by the waterfront location and the big sign proudly claiming “World’s Famous Fish and Chips.” It definitely has that classic Kiwi seaside charm, and the view from the outdoor seating area adds to the experience.
Despite the crowd, we were quite impressed with how efficiently the small team was operating. There were only three staff members running the entire place – from taking orders to cooking and serving – and they were clearly under pressure, but they kept things moving with surprising effectiveness. Kudos to them for holding it together during what must have been one of the busiest days of the year.
That said, there were a few things that left us feeling a bit mixed about the experience. First, the price: it’s not a cheap place to eat. While we understand that it’s a tourist town and prices tend to reflect that, for what we paid, we expected a bit more consistency in quality.
The food itself was okay – crispy chips and decent fish, but nothing particularly standout. One thing that really caught our attention (and concern) was the cooking method: there were no visible timers on the fryers. The staff appeared to rely entirely on watching and manually pulling the baskets out of the oil based on feel or glance. While this might work on quieter days or for seasoned cooks, it’s very difficult to maintain consistency or high quality that way, especially during peak hours with orders flying in. It made us wonder how well-cooked or overcooked some portions might be depending on how hectic the moment was.
On the positive side, the toilet facilities were clean and well maintained – a small but important detail that’s often overlooked in busy spots like this.
In the end, while the atmosphere and effort from the team were great, the food didn’t quite live up to the “world famous” label – at least not on this visit. If you’re after the location and casual seaside vibes, this spot might still be worth a try. But for us, next time we’re in Akaroa, we’ll probably explore some other local eateries instead.
We didn't realise this shop has changed owners so had expectations based on previous visits. The hot dog was not tasty but the hoki fish was, just a bit small. The batter to fish ratio was good. The service was friendly.
We had the best experience ever! The personnel was super friendly, the fish of the day menu was super delicious and we LOVED the shrimp twister! We will definitely be back tomorrow and try the blue cod! We returned the next day for the blue cod and it was AMAZING! And you should definitely get the shrimp twister as well!!! ❤️
I visited in August 2005. I still remember and miss the taste. If I still remember this place in Acaroa every time I eat fish and chips, you will see how memorable it is. It's been a long time since I remembered it, so I looked up Google Maps and now I can't find any trace of the past. I look forward to going back one day and reliving the taste of the past.
I ordered five pieces of fish, one serving of regular fries, and one serving of kumara fries. This meal cost over $50, which made the experience even more disappointing. The fish portions were extremely small — I believe this is why they served around ten very small fish pieces instead. Unfortunately, the fish tasted far from fresh and had a strong fishy smell inside, which made it unpleasant to eat. The fries portion did not feel like a full serving at all — more like half. Normally, we can never finish the fries here and always have leftovers, but this time the portion was noticeably smaller and very underwhelming. On top of that, the service was very poor. The staff member was impatient and literally dropped the food onto our table. At the time, we were out trying to relax and enjoy ourselves, so we chose not to raise the issue with the manager to avoid conflict. Looking back, I regret that decision, as I did not enjoy this lunch at all. The ownership seems to have changed, and this place is no longer what it used to be. Sadly, we won’t be coming back.
⭐⭐⭐☆☆ A mixed experience at the “world’s famous” fish and chips spot in Akaroa We visited Akaroa Fish and Chips on King’s Birthday – and we weren’t the only ones! The place was absolutely packed, with a long line of people clearly drawn in by the waterfront location and the big sign proudly claiming “World’s Famous Fish and Chips.” It definitely has that classic Kiwi seaside charm, and the view from the outdoor seating area adds to the experience. Despite the crowd, we were quite impressed with how efficiently the small team was operating. There were only three staff members running the entire place – from taking orders to cooking and serving – and they were clearly under pressure, but they kept things moving with surprising effectiveness. Kudos to them for holding it together during what must have been one of the busiest days of the year. That said, there were a few things that left us feeling a bit mixed about the experience. First, the price: it’s not a cheap place to eat. While we understand that it’s a tourist town and prices tend to reflect that, for what we paid, we expected a bit more consistency in quality. The food itself was okay – crispy chips and decent fish, but nothing particularly standout. One thing that really caught our attention (and concern) was the cooking method: there were no visible timers on the fryers. The staff appeared to rely entirely on watching and manually pulling the baskets out of the oil based on feel or glance. While this might work on quieter days or for seasoned cooks, it’s very difficult to maintain consistency or high quality that way, especially during peak hours with orders flying in. It made us wonder how well-cooked or overcooked some portions might be depending on how hectic the moment was. On the positive side, the toilet facilities were clean and well maintained – a small but important detail that’s often overlooked in busy spots like this. In the end, while the atmosphere and effort from the team were great, the food didn’t quite live up to the “world famous” label – at least not on this visit. If you’re after the location and casual seaside vibes, this spot might still be worth a try. But for us, next time we’re in Akaroa, we’ll probably explore some other local eateries instead.