Fresco Fisheries is a fish and chip shop in Upper Riccarton, at 8/380 Riccarton Road, that cooks fish to order from fresh catch each day. It is a casual place to eat in or take away, and it suits families as well as a solo lunch.
The blue cod is the crowd favourite, freshly battered and often named by regulars as the best in Christchurch. The Fish of the Day changes with the catch, so the choice is different on each visit. Other fish on the menu include tarakihi, hoki, groper and sole fillet, which regulars recommend for its delicate flavour. The deep fried scallops have a buttery taste and a crunchy coating, and visitors also mention mussels and oysters in the same crisp batter.
The chips are a big part of the order. They are chunky and crisp, and visitors say they are cooked from whole potatoes rather than mash. A hot dog, a sausage in golden batter, is on the menu too, in the old school style.
People who come here say the fish is very fresh and a good size, and the service is quick. The shop cooks each order when it is placed, so it is worth allowing a little time for your food.
Our pick in Upper Riccarton for blue cod and chunky chips eaten in the car park.
Fresco Fisheries is the kind of fish and chip shop people drive across town for. Tucked into 8/380 Riccarton Road in Upper Riccarton, Christchurch, this long-standing local has quietly built one of the city's most devoted followings on the back of a simple promise: fresh fish, delivered daily and fried to order in a crisp, golden batter. Reviewers regularly call it the best fish and chips in Christchurch, and some mean it literally — one customer who saw the shop featured in a YouTube food documentary made the trip, has been hooked ever since, and now counts it as their favourite in the city.
The headline act is the blue cod. Time and again it gets singled out as outstanding — perfectly cooked, fresh as it gets and, in more than one reviewer's words, the best they've ever had. Tarakihi, hoki and sole fillet round out the regular line-up, all cooked fresh to order, and the fish of the day special showcases seasonal catches so there is often something new to discover. If you're craving something beyond the fillets, the deep-fried scallops are a quiet favourite, praised for their buttery flavour and satisfying crunch.
The rest of the menu covers all the classics of a proper Kiwi fish and chip shop. Chips come chunky and crispy and are famously generous — one reviewer joked about receiving too many chips, though nobody seemed upset about it. Hot dogs feature a flavoursome sausage in a delicious golden batter, and the savoury range — savoury meat, steak & onion, and pork & bacon — offers hearty, old-school options for anyone in the mood for something different. A small detail regulars genuinely love is the selection of different salt options, letting you season your meal exactly to your taste.
Part of what keeps people coming back has nothing to do with the fryer. The owner has become something of a local character — reviewers describe his old-school charm, wisdom and great sense of humour, with one suggesting the conversation alone is worth the visit. The shop itself has been around a long time, and some reviewers note the decor is showing its age, but most agree that is part of the unpretentious appeal. This is a place that puts its energy where it counts: fresh fish, crisp batter, generous servings and fair value, with most meals falling between $10 and $20.
Fresco Fisheries is popular for dinner and works equally well as a fuss-free takeaway run or a casual dine-in meal, with table service available. Families are well catered for — the relaxed vibe and generous portions make it easy to feed a group without breaking the bank. Practicalities are thoughtfully covered too: there is generous free parking including wheelchair-accessible car park spaces, wheelchair-accessible seating inside, and a customer toilet. Credit and debit cards are accepted, and delivery is on offer if you would rather enjoy your fish and chips at home.
One thing worth planning around: this shop gets busy, particularly on Friday evenings, and waits can stretch longer than hungry customers would like. Regulars recommend ringing ahead on +64 3 348 1299 to order in advance. Off-peak visits — think Thursday afternoons or weekend daytime — tend to mean shorter waits and more of that personal, unhurried service. Whether you eat in, take away or get it delivered, expect fresh fish cooked to order, chips by the bucketful, and possibly a bit of wisdom along with your wait.