#63. Fish and Chips at The Chippy

We continue to countdown our 100 favorite dishes at local
restaurants. We'll be sharing these with you every weekday until our
annual Best Of Issue comes out. Enjoy!

#64. Fish and Chips at The Chippy
If you think it's easy to find good, inexpensive fish and chips outside of seafood restaurants and pubs, go try it.  Most often you'll end up at a take-out joint which uses the frozen, preformed stuff.  It will rarely, if ever, come from whole fillets that's dipped by hand.  In Orange County, The Chippy ends the drought.

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The glory of its fish starts with the crust. It's rippled, has ridges petrified into a gnarled crunch measuring only a few hairs thick and is just slightly heartier than tempura. Break into the golden crispy cocoon and a plume of steam billows out, revealing its virgin flesh — a white, moist, milky meat, unmolested by machines that melts into supple flakes when you bite into it.

Always provided is tartar sauce, lemon, and malt vinegar. Here, once and for all: great fast-food fish & chips where you don't have to tip a waitress or a bartender.

The
Chippy Fish & Chips, 2222 Michelson Dr.
#216, Irvine, CA 92612, (949)833-2322

The list so far:

#100.
Jerk Carnitas Torta at The Crosby
#99.
Nem Nuong Cuon at Brodard
#98.
Pork Chop Anything at Nice Time Deli
#97.
Flying Saucer at Alberto's
#96.
Frozen Custard at Marc Burger's in Macy's Signature Kitchen
#95.
Collard Greens at Johnny Reb's
#94.
Strawberry Shortcake from Job's Daughters
#93.
Cuban Sandwich at DeSimone's Deli
#92.
Lamb with Preserved Cabbage at Mas Islamic Chinese
#91.
Baked Rice at Luc Dinh Ky
#90.
Beans on Toast at The Olde Ship
#89.
Midnight Al Pastor Burrito or Taco at Taqueria Tapatia
#88.
Budino di Cioccolato, Pizzeria Ortica
#87.
Beef Teriyaki Bowl, Teriyami
#86.
Salmon Onigiri at Cream Pan
#85.
Beef Fat Fries at SideDoor
#84.
Silken Tofu & Thousand Year Old Egg at Asian Tapas
#83.
Cambodian Beef Jerky at Sophy's
#82.
Com Tam at Com Tam Tran Quy Cap
#81.
Chipotle-Piloncillo Goat Cheese at SOL Cocina
#80.
Nem Nuong Cuon at Au Lac Restaurant
#79.
Blackened Mushroom & Tofu Burger at Taco Loco
#78.
Fried Veggie Fish Fillet at Dong Phuong Tofu
#77.
Tofu Vegetable Salad at BCD Tofu House
#76.
Che Ba Mau at Thach Che Hien Khanh
#75.
Barracuda Sushi at Ohshima
#74.
Whole Lamb with Kabsa at Olive Tree
#73. 5 a.m. Chitterlings at
Tri-Village
#72.
Spinach Empanadas at El Gaucho #2
#71.
Croissants at Molinos Bakery
#70.
Beso de Monja at El Rincón del Sabor
#69.
Fatteh at Kareem's
#68.
Korean Beef Rib Sandwich at Kaffa
#67.
Rice Flour Pupusas at Pupusería San Sivar
#66.
The Hash Browns at Pop's Cafe
#65.

Seven Courses of Beef at Thien An
#64. Baby Back Ribs at Blake's Place