#1
Hay Smoked Trout (c.1730)
Dinner by Heston BlumenthalKnightsbridge·$$$$
£26.00
Trout smoked in hay with lemon salad, gentleman's relish, and sorrel.
Tip: If you want a starter that won't fill you up before mains, this is lighter than the Meat Fruit. The hay smoking is genuinely different from regular smoked fish.
#2
Slip Sole with Cafe de Paris Butter
CadetStoke Newington·$$
£18.00
Whole small sole pan-fried and finished with herb-loaded compound butter.
Tip: This is a Thursday-Sunday kitchen menu item, not available on the Tuesday-Wednesday bar menu. Plan your visit accordingly if this is what you want.
#3
Sage and Anchovy Fritti
Cafe CeciliaHackney·$$$
£5.00
Fried sage leaves wrapped around anchovies in a light batter.
Tip: At £5 these are the cheapest way to start. Order them with the oysters while you read the rest of the menu — they come out quickly.
#4
Roast Cornish Monkfish
Moor Hall at Claridge'sMayfair·$$$$
£48.00
Roasted monkfish with hen of the woods mushrooms, cauliflower, grains, and mussel sauce.
Tip: The monkfish is the strongest fish option when available. The mussel sauce is the best part — it's deeply savory and ties the whole plate together.
#5
Brown Butter Monkfish
BistrothequeBethnal Green·$$$
£24.00
Monkfish with cavolo nero and brown shrimp in brown butter sauce.
Tip: If you want the freshest seafood, visit on Thursday for 'Fruits de Mare Street' when the chef prepares a special bar menu with the best fish available that day.
#6
Hot Herring Beigel
Beigel BakeSpitalfields·$
£4.50
Chopped herring filling on a beigel.
Tip: Chopped herring is one of the original traditional Jewish fillings at Beigel Bake. Less common than salt beef but worth trying for authentic deli experience.
#7
Braai Yellowtail Tacos
KuduMarylebone·$$$
£24.00
Charred yellowtail on flour tortillas with slaw and avocado mayo.
Tip: This is one of the lighter, brighter options on a meat-heavy menu — perfect as a palate cleanser between richer braai dishes.
#899% recommend
Cod Fish Fritters
Fish, Wings & TingsBrixton·$$
£8.50
Well-seasoned saltfish fritters served with ginger and lime aioli.
Tip: Order these immediately — they often arrive quickly and are the perfect way to start while you wait for the bigger plates.
#996% recommend
Smoked Cod's Roe on Homemade Sourdough
BratShoreditch·$$$
£3.50
Piped smoked cod's roe on thick, charred sourdough toast.
Tip: Start with this and the crab toast — you'll get an incredible starter course for under £10. These snacks define what Brat does at an affordable price point.
#1096% recommend
Trout Kinilaw
Sarap LondonMayfair·$$$
£12.50
Filipino-style raw fish salad with coconut vinegar and seasonal rhubarb.
Tip: The coconut vinegar is much milder than standard lime, which lets the flavor of the trout really come through.
#1195% recommend
Turbot with Blackmount Cheese and Argan Oil
Brooklands by Claude BosiBelgravia·$$$$
Wild turbot with a surprising savory cheese pairing and aromatic oil.
Tip: Don't be put off by the cheese and fish pairing — it's one of the most clever things on the menu.
#1295% recommend
Anhui Province Red Braised Fermented Wild Seabass
A. WongPimlico·$$$
£200.00
Slow-braised wild seabass with fermented flavours from Anhui province.
Tip: Ask the server about the specific fermented condiments used. The kitchen is happy to explain the Anhui regional technique.
#1394% recommend
Potato Rosti with Cod's Roe
Arch DeliLeytonstone·$$
£9.50
Crispy shredded potato topped with savory smoked cod's roe emulsion.
Tip: One order is enough for two people to share. The contrast between the crunchy potato and the creamy roe is addictive.
#1494% recommend
Slipsole in Butter
Noble RotBloomsbury·$$
£24.00
Dover sole cooked simply in melted butter.
Tip: This is the dish to order — it's their signature for good reason. The butter melts around the fish, and the meat falls away from the bone easily. Don't embellish with sauces.
#1592% recommend
Saltfish Fritters
Rhythm Kitchen StratfordStratford·$$
£8.50
Golden crispy fritters packed with savory saltfish and herbs.
Tip: These are best had immediately while they're still hot and crunchy. Great for sharing with the table.
#1692% recommend
Rock Fish in Curry Sauce
MambowClapton·$$
£18.00
Whole rock fish in a vibrant curry gravy.
Tip: Order this if it's on the specials board — reviewers called it one of the best dishes they've had recently.
#1792% recommend
La Vong Grilled Monkfish (Cá Nục Nướng)
Cay TreSoho·$
£18.50
Monkfish marinated in galangal and turmeric, charred over fire, cooked and served at your table.
Tip: Call ahead and mention you want the La Vong monkfish even without a reservation — it's cooked tableside and needs special prep. Worth planning your meal around.
#1892% recommend
Moqueca
Da TerraBethnal Green·$$$$
£230.00
Traditional Brazilian fish stew reimagined with aged brill, butter beans, and toasted cassava in coconut sauce.
Tip: If you've had moqueca at Brazilian restaurants before, this version is deliberately lighter and more refined. The coconut is dialed back so the fish is the focus.
#1991% recommend
Whole Turbot
BratShoreditch·$$$
£150.00
Whole fish grilled over open fire, served family-style to feed four.
Tip: This is a celebration dish — come with friends who are excited about seafood. The whole turbot is meant for a group and the experience is theatrical (it's prepared tableside). Book in advance and give notice.
#2090% recommend
Whitebait
Brockley's RockBrockley·$
£7.50
Tiny whole fish, lightly battered and fried until golden and crunchy.
Tip: These are incredibly addictive. Great for sharing with a group alongside a side of the house tartare sauce.
#2190% recommend
Mohinga
LahpetShoreditch·$$
£17.00
Traditional Burmese catfish and lemongrass chowder with rice noodles.
Tip: Don't be put off by the catfish — it's not 'fishy' at all, just incredibly savory and rich. It's the true soul of Burmese food.
#2290% recommend
Dover Sole with Hand-made Spaghettini
Sketch (The Lecture Room & Library)Mayfair·$$$$
£125.00
Classic Dover sole served with delicate pasta and a refined citrus sauce.
Tip: Ask for the sauce on the side if you prefer to taste the natural sweetness of the sole first.
#2390% recommend
Smoked Cod's Head
FallowSt James's·$$$
£26.00
Whole cod's head from the charcoal grill with house-made sriracha butter.
Tip: Do not be put off by the presentation. The meat from the cheeks and collar is the most tender part of the fish. Ask the staff to show you how to eat it if you have not had a whole fish head before.
#2490% recommend
Cod's Roe
Rochelle CanteenShoreditch·$$$
£12.50
Fresh cod roe served with toasted sourdough and salad.
Tip: Order this if it's on the menu — it doesn't appear every day. The kitchen sources roe based on season and availability.
#2590% recommend
Wild Turbot with Chamomile Tea Smoke
The LedburyNotting Hill·$$$$
£28.00
Charcoal-cooked turbot smoked with chamomile, served with mushrooms and truffle.
Tip: The chamomile smoke is applied at table, which adds theater. Watch as your server brings the smoke to your dish.
#2690% recommend
Monkfish Tempura
SaborMayfair·$$
£14.00
Crispy-battered monkfish with delicate tempura coating.
Tip: This is brilliant if you want something crispy and lighter than roasted fish. The monkfish doesn't dry out despite the frying. Order with a cold white wine.
#2788% recommend
Crispy John Dory
Rochelle CanteenShoreditch·$$$
£14.00
Fresh John Dory fried until crispy, served with homemade ketchup.
Tip: Don't skip the ketchup — it's made fresh and tastes nothing like bottled versions. Use it generously.
#2888% recommend
Whole Red Mullet Grilled on the Bone
MountainSoho·$$$
£22.00
Whole mullet grilled over wood with rich olive oil and butter sauce.
Tip: The whole fish is better than fillet — the bones add flavor and the skin gets crispy. Ask your server to help you navigate it if needed.
#2988% recommend
Monkfish Cheeks Green Curry
SingburiShoreditch·$$
£14.50
Delicate monkfish cheeks in a herbaceous, heat-balanced green curry.
Tip: Reviewers call this the standout of the evening — the monkfish cheeks are springy yet yielding, and the sauce has depth without oiliness.
#3088% recommend
Grilled Fish
KilnSoho·$$
£16.00
Fresh whole or fish fillets grilled over open fire.
Tip: Ask what fish is available that day — the menu rotates. Whole grilled fish (if offered) is often the best option. The fire char is essential to the flavor profile.
#3186% recommend
Arak-Cured Monkfish
AkubNotting Hill·$$$
£13.50
Monkfish cured in arak with fresh herbs and lemon.
Tip: The arak gives this a unique flavor you won't find elsewhere in London. Go in open-minded.
#3285% recommend
Whole Black Bream with Butter Rotis
KuduMarylebone·$$$
£45.00
Whole grilled fish with Indian-style flatbread and mixed salad.
Tip: This is designed for 2-3 people — the whole fish presentation is impressive and meant to be shared family-style with the rotis.
#3385% recommend
Steamed Fish with Ginger and Chilli
Poon'sStrand·$$$
£28.00
Whole steamed white fish with ginger, soy, and a flicker of chilli.
Tip: This is a standout alongside the Magic Soup. The fish is steamed whole — use your chopsticks gently to lift the delicate flesh off the bones.
#3485% recommend
Village Famous Masala Fish
Spice VillageTooting·$
£7.99
Whole fish coated in a spiced gram flour batter and fried until crispy.
Tip: Ask for it fresh out of the fryer. When it sits, the batter loses its crunch. Squeeze lemon over it and eat with the green chutney.
#3575% recommend
Fish Tacos
Tacos PadreBorough Market·$$
£10.00
Fried fish with fennel, pickled onion and a fresh sauce.
Tip: The fish tacos are delicately crisp with vegetable slaw and smoked cod roe emulsion — a lighter contrast to the rich slow-cooked meats.