The Best Fish & Chips in Sausalito – Ranked! (2023)

There are some dishes that define a place. In Sausalito, broadly speaking, it’s seafood – naturally for a community nestled between the waters of the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. In particular, people love to search for fish & chips in Sausalito, though I’m not sure why! Maybe because it’s cheap and delicious, maybe because it’s easy to eat and walk around during a short visit, maybe because everyone loves it (kids included!).

As someone who’s lived in London, I like to think I’ve got a bit of expertise when it comes to knowing whether fish and chips are good or not. One of the most important aspects of any fish and chips is the first ingredient: fish. Luckily, being on the water, Sausalito has access to great fish, and you can find some great fish & chips in Sausalito as a result!

If you’re ready to discover the best fish and chips in Sausalito, read on. You’ll learn how I ranked these restaurants, and what makes the fish and chips special at each restaurant.

Sausalito is the traditional lands of the Graton Rancheria, Miwok, and Me-Wuk (Coast Miwok) peoples. With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation to the past and present stewards of these lands. To learn more, I invite you to explore Native Land.

This post was originally published in August 2022, and was updated in January 2023.

Best Fish & Chips in Sausalito

Rather than rank these fish and chip restaurants in Sausalito based on my own opinion, I’ve designed my own formula that takes into account three factors:

• public ratings (including my own, as I leave reviews on sites like Yelp, Google, and Facebook too)
• the restaurant’s popularity (total reviews)
• proximity to the Sausalito Ferry

These last two factors are “bonus” factors – they give you a sense of which restaurants are universally beloved and easy to reach if you’re visiting Sausalito.

In the end, each restaurant receives a score out of 5 – but a restaurant can score higher than five based on the bonuses for being close to the ferry and how popular it is. I break ties using the total number of reviews. In general, the higher the score, the better! Here is my ranked list of which restaurant offers the best fish and chips in Sausalito:

Rank (2023)	Restaurant	Score	Change (from 2022)
1	Barrel House Tavern	4.71	–
2	Fish.	4.52	↑2
3 (Tie)	Copita	4.43	↑1
3 (Tie)	Saylor’s Restaurant & Bar	4.43	↓1
5	Fish & Chips Sausalito	4.32	↑4
6	The Trident	4.12	↓1
7	Salsalito Taco Shop	3.92	↓1

Ready to learn about each of these restaurants and choose your own favorite burger spot in Sausalito?

1. Barrel House Tavern

Barrel House Tavern is known for its gourmet burgers and fantastic views of the bay. However, the waterfront restaurant has an ample (and delicious) gastronomic offer, among which you’ll find the classic British comfort food: fish and chips.

Locals claim Barrel House Tavern prepares some of the most delicious fish and chips in Sausalito. What’s their secret? It’s all in the combination of flavors and textures. The fish is tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. The floury potatoes are carefully sourced and slowly fried to achieve that beautiful golden out and fluffy interior. It doesn’t end there. The restaurant has an extensive drink menu with seasonal cocktails and craft beers from local breweries. If you ask me, order a pint and recreate the traditional British menu.

2. Fish.

As the name suggests, Fish. excels at concocting, well, pretty much any dish with fish on it. It prepares one of the (if not the) best fish and chips in Sausalito. 

They use Alaskan True Cod battered in golden beer to prepare the dish, although you can choose cornmeal-crusted oysters as well. The fish is cooked to perfection and the seasoning allows the rich flavor of the fish to come through. The side dish includes the restaurant’s house-made tartar sauce and wedge fries. 

Last but not least, you can’t beat Fish.’s atmosphere. There’s nothing like eating the most delicious seafood in California at a marina with the cool breeze surrounding you and the seals and sea lions playing in the water.

3. (Tie) Copita

Copita is a hidden treasure if you’re not from the area, and if you are, you know it’s a must-try. This Mexican restaurant has a great reputation for libations – and based on the number of drinks that move from the bar to the tables, you can see why. 

But we are here to talk about their fish and chips. More often than not, fish and chips aren’t listed on Copita’s menu. Don’t let its absence deter you from ordering it, though. You can make it an off-menu request and the chef will be happy to prepare it for you. Copita sticks to the basics and prepares traditional fish and chips in Sausalito. Expect a golden battered fish that’s delicately crispy on the outside and moist in the middle sided with french fries. 

Make sure you don’t leave without sampling their spicy margarita; it is a treat to the senses.

3. (Tie) Saylor’s Restaurant & Bar

Saylor’s Restaurant & Bar has been in Sausalito’s restaurant scene for over 20 years. It has become a go-to restaurant when locals are craving succulent Mexican dishes. But as with many other restaurants, their menu is full of surprises. Under the appetizers section, you’ll find a dish called Pescado Frito con Papas (Spanish for fish and chips). 

Saylor’s makes traditional Sausalito fish and chips, although the chef can make the dish spicier for the die-hard chili fans out there. It’s a Mexican restaurant, after all!  Their recipe includes a beer-battered snapper served with Coleslaw, chipotle tartar sauce, and, of course, french fries.

5. Fish & Chips Sausalito

I’ll be honest, I haven’t eaten at Fish & Chips Sausalito, in part because it just seems a bit too fast food-ish to me. It’s located in the same location as “Ice Cream and Yogurt,” so it’s a good casual spot if you want something quick, easy, and family-friendly – but I can’t promise it’s actually good for fish and chips in Sausalito compared with the other restaurants on this list!

6. The Trident

An institution in the Sausalito restaurant scene, it doesn’t come as a surprise that The Trident serves some of the best Sausalito fish and chips. 

The Trident used to be the epicenter of hippy/celebrity chic in the 1960s, with celebrities the likes of Janis Joplin as habitués. Today, it is one of Sausalito’s best dining alternatives, combining delicious seafood and steaks with a magnificent view of the bay. You’ll find their fish and chips under the Seafood section on the menu – it will take you a while to get there as you’ll be seduced to order everything you read.

The fish and chips come with local deep sea ling cod, STS Pilsner batter, Trident fries, lemon, balsamic tartar sauce, and Fresno chile slaw. 

7. Salsalito Taco Shop

If you’re not a purist when it comes to food recipes, Salsalito Taco Shop serves one of the most original Sausalito fish and chips. 

One of the top Mexican restaurants in town, Salsalito Taco Shop serves Baja-style inspired dishes. That hasn’t stopped them from borrowing seafood recipes and giving them their own twist. As with the fish and chips. Salsalito has taken the traditional British dish and prepared its own version (equally delicious, by the way), which includes a beer-battered snapper served with Coleslaw, chipotle tartar sauce, and corn chips instead of french fries. 

Have any questions about these restaurants for fish & chips in Sausalito – or did I miss another restaurant that should be on this list? Let me know in the comments below!