Is the best vegan fish and chips in Glasgow or Edinburgh?
If you would have asked me six months ago, who does the better vegan fish and chips between Edinburgh and Glasgow, I would have said Glasgow – without a shadow of a doubt. In fact, I wouldn’t have limited that opinion to just their vegan fish and chip options, I’d had widened it to vegan foodie choices in general.
As an Edinburgh local, I’ve often make the journey through to Glasgow for their wider selection of vegan Asian restaurants, fast-food spots, bakeries, and plenty of other things that (as a vegan) you miss and can’t get hold of in Edinburgh.
A vegan chippy in Edinburgh
Now, while there isn’t vegan chippy in Glasgow as such, there is a fish and chips spot that has a full vegan menu. So I was super excited when, in December 2024, I was invited along to try Scotland’s first fully vegan chippy – The Happy Fish in Edinburgh.
I think it’s important to note that (as you’ll find in this review), while our visit to The Happy Fish on the night was fantastic, I can’t say the same for my experience with some of the team, post-visit. I was left feeling like I was on the receiving end of some rather poor personal experiences and behaviours – which transpired to be as a result of in-team relationships – leading to a petty flow of Instagram unfollowing and a feeling of general unkindness.
In all my years of writing reviews and visiting vegan hotspots, I’ve never come across this, and so I thought long and hard about whether to include it in this overview – ultimately, I have, because the post-visit experience and apparent dislike from certain team members mean I won’t be returning to The Happy Fish – a business who’s key sell is supposed to be kindness.
The Happy Fish is housed in The Dog House bar, which is in the student area of Edinburgh in the south of the city. It’s about a 25-minute walk from Princess Street, or you can catch a quick bus up there in five minutes from the city center. Busses go regularly, on a main route.
Vegan fish and chips in Edinburgh menu
The Happy Fish was relatively new when we went up, but the menu was pretty exciting. It was packed full of things that I had never tried as a vegan (because I’ve never been to a proper fish and chip shop to eat meat) … battered ‘fish’, battered ‘sausage’, etc. It’s also worth remembering that a lot of chip shops still use animal fats to deep fat fry their product – and so, quite regularly, even chips are off the menu for us. I found this particularly frustrating around the coastal areas of North Berwick and Gullane.
Elliot, born and raised in Scotland, has a real love for animals, and wanted to bring a bigger vegan fish and chip scene to Edinburgh. He’s bursting with enthusiasm for his new venture and the idea of bringing a new offering to not only Edinburgh, but to Scotland in general (and to tourists visiting the city of course!)
Menu staples include fake haddock (faddock), fake mackerel, (fackrel), chippy chips, and sausage options. At the time of our visit, he also offered a seasonal Christmas menu, featuring things like vegan pigs in blankets and vegan Camembert with cranberry sauce – which was just phenomenal. I find it really hard to get a good vegan cheese, let alone a runny, gooey Camembert – Elliot completely nails it.
Portions are more than generous. I went along with a friend who usually demolishes everything that we’re given. But we were defeated and had to ask for a little doggie bag to take home. This place is perfect for those wanting like a live music night, a drag show, or a quiz night and could go a sharing box to tuck into while they’re there. OR, if you’re anything like us, you’re ready to fill up after a heavy day.
The dining experience was flawless, but I’ve found that the true essence of any great place isn’t just the food, but the way it treats people in every sense, inside and outside of the business. Something to consider when deciding where to invest your foodie time.
Looking for more vegan options across Edinburgh? With Veganuary 2025 just around the corner, I’ll be featuring a new list of locations soon! Subscribe to me e-mail alerts to be the first to get the update!
