Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The fish and chips at South Beach Fish Market is among the coast's very best.

To drive along the Oregon coast and not stop for fish and chips is downright criminal.

From seafood shacks to upscale restaurants, the fresh fish over french fries is to die for in Oregon. That’s true whether you’re splurging on halibut or eating humble cod, most caught locally or at very least regionally.

You can find good fish and chips in just about every major town along the coast, from Astoria to Brookings, and during our many travels up and down the Pacific coastline, we’ve developed a liking for a few spots in particular.

It's important to note this isn't a list of every good fish and chips spot on the coast, it's simply a list of some of our favorites. Naturally, some good restaurants have been left off. If we neglected one of your favorite haunts, please mention it in the comments and we'll make sure to get there and try it out.



In the meantime, this should serve as a good primer to some of the very best fish and chips Oregon has to offer.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

10. BANDON BAIT SHOP

Skip the line at Bandon Fish Market (where the boxed fish and chips come out soggy) and head down the dock to the Bandon Bait Shop, a legitimate bait and tackle shop that also serves up lunch. The Styrofoam containers and plain fries are a drag, but the fish is fresh, lightly fried and delicious.



Open daily for breakfast and lunch; located at 110 First St. S.E., Bandon; 541-347-3905.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

9. BUOY BEER COMPANY

While not explicitly known for their fish and chips, Buoy Beer Company does just about everything well, and the restaurant is one of the most beautiful on the coast. Built on the docks of Astoria, Buoy has a spectacular view of the Columbia River as it nears its mouth at the Pacific Ocean. Their rockfish and chips come with the option of sweet potato fries.



Open daily for lunch and dinner; located at 1 Eighth Street, Astoria; 503-325-4540; buoybeer.com.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

8. THE HORN

Old-timers will swear by Gracie's Sea Hag, but the new spot in Depoe Bay is The Horn, a 3-year-old pub that's also the home of Depoe Bay Brewing. Head up to the second floor for a great ocean view and good meal. While not as good as the clam chowder, the cod fish and chips here are solid, served with crispy fries.



Open daily for lunch and dinner; located at 110 S.E. North Coast Highway, Depoe Bay; 541-764-6886; thehorn.pub.

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Stephanie Yao Long/The Oregonian

7. LOCAL OCEAN SEAFOODS

It's almost a little perverse to order fish and chips at the nicest seafood restaurant on the Oregon coast, but it is a great option for lunch at Local Ocean, when the Newport restaurant feels a bit more casual. Their fish and chips are grilled, not fried, and are available as the catch of the day or pricier halibut.



Open daily for lunch and dinner; located at 213 S.E. Bay Blvd., Newport; 541-574-7959; localocean.net.

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6. ECOLA SEAFOODS

A Cannon Beach staple, Ecola Seafoods is well known for serving up a fresh catch. Their fish and chips come as cod, tuna, halibut or salmon, presented in a tidy paper basket. On our last visit, both fish and fries were pretty overcooked, but Ecola's reputation is good enough to carry it up the list.



Open daily for lunch and dinner; located at 208 N. Spruce St., Cannon Beach; 503-436-9130; ecolaseafoods.com.

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Michael Russell/The Oregonian

5. BOWPICKER

Perhaps Oregon's most famous fish and chips spot, Bowpicker is immediately recognizable by its unique setting inside a converted gillnet boat in an Astoria parking lot. Crowds tend to line up for their fried albacore tuna and fries, so you'd do well to show up on a weekday. The fish and chips are good, but it's the boat that makes Bowpicker so memorable.



Open Wednesday through Sunday for lunch; located at 1634 Duane St., Astoria; 503-791-2942; bowpicker.com.

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4. OLD OREGON SMOKEHOUSE (ROCKAWAY BEACH)

One of two Old Oregon Smokehouse restaurants on the coast, the Rockaway Beach location serves delectable fish and thick-cut fries in the heart of town. The restaurant is tiny but aided by a patio with picnic tables and umbrellas. Of course, you might be so inclined to take your food across the street and tempt all the seagulls at the beach.



Open daily for lunch and dinner; located at 120 U.S. 101, Rockaway Beach; 503-355-2817.

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3. OLD OREGON SMOKEHOUSE (TILLAMOOK)

The second Old Oregon Smokehouse location is just across the street from the Tillamook Creamery, where you can hop over to grab ice cream for dessert. The fish and chips are just as good as in Rockaway Beach, but the location and large deck outside give it an edge over its smaller sister spot.



Open daily for lunch and dinner; located at 3800 U.S. 101, Tillamook; 503-842-2383.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

2. SOUTH BEACH FISH MARKET

The fish is fresh, delicious and perfectly fried. The French fries are better than any other spot on this list. And with ample seating both indoors and out, South Beach Fish Market is certainly tough to beat. Located just south of Newport, the fish market is attached to a 24-hour convenience store, its vibe falling somewhere between quirky seafood shack and roadside dive. But the fish and chips are the real deal (as is the rest of the seafood), and it's always worth a stop for lunch.



Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner; located at 3640 South Coast Highway, South Beach; 541-867-6800; southbeachfishmarket.com.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

1. LUNA SEA FISH HOUSE

Our favorite fish and chips on the Oregon coast? It has to be Luna Sea Fish House in Yachats where everything is served up fresh. In case you're wondering how fresh the seafood is, a white board by the front door tells you where and when everything was caught. You can also ask fisherman-owner Robert Anthony, who's known to wander in and out of the restaurant. The fish and chips are available as albacore, ling cod, halibut or salmon, brought to your table with a towering squeeze bottle of tartar sauce.



It’s clearly working for people. Over the last few years, Luna Sea has been expanding, adding an outdoor seating area and downstairs dining room. The restaurant has also added a weekly lineup of live music, making it a mainstay of both seafood and entertainment on the central coast.

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner; located at 153 U.S. 101, Yachats; 541-547-4794; lunaseafishhouse.com.

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB