Where are the best fish and chips on the Sunshine Coast?

If you’ve gotta nail your fish and chips first time, then this is your place. Its food reputation is well deserved and backed by talented chefs who can tell you exactly what local produce comes from where.

We can vouch for anything on their reasonably-priced menu but don’t go past their succulent calamari or tempura prawns. In the meantime, we’ll keep trying to work out how they get their chip batter so light, crispy and more-ish for just $3 a handful!

This Hampton’s style eatery (with a sit-down restaurant option) is handy to Mooloolah River and the beach. No need to go anywhere though, there’s outdoor seating and even beanbags and games for the kids.

Where: The Wharf, 123 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba. Open 7 days.

2. Reelax Café and Takeaway – Dicky Beach

Could this be the best fish batter on the Coast? It’s definitely up there and the fish is fresh-as too.

If you’re not that into the seafood side of the menu, they also have off-the-chart gourmet burgers: Steak and Blue Cheese; Crispy Pork Belly; Mushroom and Swiss Cheese or Rib Eye with Philly Cheese. Say what?

Where: 3/10 Beerburrum Street, Dicky Beach. Open 7 days. Gluten free available.

3. Noosa Boathouse – Noosaville

Literally floating on the Noosa River, you couldn’t get closer to the water if you tried! This three-level restaurant has a takeaway fish and chips menu with single or family packs and also a kid’s size serving of dory & chips for $10.

The fish here is battered with Byron Bay’s Stone & Wood beer, which is a marriage made in heaven… as are the sunsets over Noosa River if you time your visit right.

Where: 194 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville. Open 7 days.

4. 98 Fish – Forest Glen

This place is unassumingly tucked away just off the Bruce Highway, but well worth checking out. It’s small, but punches above its weight for fish options and calamari portions, unlike your usual one-size-fits-all.

This is also the place for fresh seafood, including Coffin Bay oysters delivered every Thursday and a daily Mooloolaba king prawn catch.

Where: 347 Mons Road, Forest Glen. Open 7 days. Gluten free available.

5. Fisheries on the Spit – Mooloolaba

Open since 1982, this place is an institution with Sunny Coasters. Originally known as the Co-op, it’s where the local fishing vessels come in and you won’t find a greater menu selection of daily-caught fish anywhere else, done crumbed, battered or grilled.

As well as some first-class takeaway, you’ll be eyeing off the freshest of seafood to take home with you for later too. There’s a kid’s playground and park across the road, plus family-friendly swimming spot the Spit a two-minute walk away.

Where: 21 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba. Open 7 days.

Psst! If you’re planning on trying to hit a few of these recommendations on a weekend you’ll need somewhere to rest your head and belly. This Sunshine Coast accommodation guide has got you covered.

6. Sandbar Café – Bulcock Beach

With the best views in town, Sandbar’s Café’s takeaway fish and chips delivers the goods for both food and atmosphere.

As well as the usual suspects, their menu features some delicious salmon and kaffir lime potato cakes, and Thai fish cakes. Plus they have a dedicated gluten-free fryer for fish and chips with gluten-free flour, or you can have it grilled in butter.

Where: 26 The Esplanade, Bulcock Beach. Open 7 days. Gluten-free available.

7. Fish and Chippery – Mooloolaba

One of the cool kids on the Mooloolaba block, head here to try their out-of-the-everyday sweet potato chips and sweet potato scallops (aka potato cakes if you’re not from these parts).

And if you’re as big a fan of the potato scallops as we are, be there on Tuesdays when they’re only $1 each! Their burgers are also well worth checking out, as is the view over Mooloolaba Beach.

Where: Shop 5, Landmark Resort, Mooloolaba. Open 7 days. 

8. Noosaville Fish Market – Noosaville

Far from the madding crowd, the Noosaville Fish Market (built in the 1940s) started as an outlet for local trawlers before Noosa was even a thing.

It boasts a more-than-reasonably-priced menu, with fish and chips combo $8.50 (including homemade tartare sauce and lemon!), and kid’s packs for $6.70. You can’t beat that when you’ve got a family to feed, and there’s plenty of nearby parks nearby to spread a picnic blanket along the Noosa River.

Where: Currently 90 Hilton Terrace (moving to 11 Hilton Terrace in March), Noosaville.  Open 7 days.

9. Suncoast Seafoods – Cotton Tree

Location is important when it comes to setting up the perfect fish and chips event, which is what makes Suncoast Seafood best in show.

Wrapped in the cutest seafood-print paper you’ll find anywhere, you can carry your hot little bundle straight to the river mouth, open surf beach or picnic-perfect Cotton Tree Park.

Where: Shop 7, 17-19 King Street, Maroochydore. Open 7 days.

10. The Drunken Sailor – Marcoola

Featuring locally sourced seafood and a Little Pirates menu for kids, this place is as handy as it gets, me hearties.

Their specialities include a NZ kumara scallop and skinny potato chups (that’s Kiwi too), but also check out their organic buns: The Good Fish burger, or Old Salt’s Calamari and Chicken. The downside? You can only catch dinner Thursday to Sunday.

Where: 970 David Low Way, Marcoola. Open from 4pm, Thursday to Sunday.

If you’re drooling for the best fish and chips but headed to the Gold Coast, we’ve got you covered with this post.