The Fish Counter

Someone from this business manages this listing.

153 reviews

#24 of 290 Quick Bites in Vancouver$$ - $$$, Quick Bites, Seafood, Canadian

+1 604-876-3474+ Add website

Hours

Sun

11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Mon

11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Wed

12:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Thu

11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Fri

11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Sat

11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

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Ratings and reviews

4.5

153 reviews

#24 of 290 Quick Bites in Vancouver

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Details

Someone from this business manages this listing.

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CUISINES

Seafood, Canadian

Special Diets

Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

features

Location and contact

3825 Main St, Vancouver, British Columbia V5V 3P1 Canada

East Vancouver

+1 604-876-3474

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Is this a place where you buy ingredients to cook your own food?

Yes

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Details

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About

We are a fresh seafood market featuring the best, responsibly harvested seafood that British Columbia has to offer. We also offer a selection of the best fish and chips, tacos, soups, sandwiches and more all featuring locally caught, sustainable seafood. We also cater to a variety of food sensitivities and allergies including a dedicated gluten free fryer!

CUISINES

Seafood, Canadian

Special Diets

Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

FEATURES

Takeout, Wheelchair Accessible

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4.5

153 reviews

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Kermit2010

Vancouver280 contributions

Good Fish & Chips and location to buy your Ocean Wise fish to cook at home.

Sep 2024 • couples

Newly opened and much needed outlet for basic meals like fish & chips, chowders and fish tacos - all Ocean Wise and offered for eat in, or take out. We had been to the original Fish Counter in Vancouver but it is very small with little to no indoor seating, meaning your meal can be eaten on a bench outside, in the car, or taken home but fish & chips is best enjoyed as soon as it comes out of the fryer. The new Edgemont Village location in North Vancouver seems to have quickly caught the interest of locals with generous portions of cod, halibut and salmon ion crispy batter served with thinly cut coleslaw that is lightly dressed, lemon wedge, tartar sauce, selection of white and malt vinegars and salt and pepper. We ordered local draft beers with our fish & chips. Reservations don’t seem to be taken at this casual outlet so we decided to go for an early dinner arriving at 5:00 p.m. There were people dining and taking out but we got a table. As 6:00 approached the place got busier - don’t wait too late as they close at 8:00! Staff were pleasant and efficient and we will return. You can also buy chowder to take home and they are going to have fresh fish to purchase and take home to cook - as per the original Fish Counter on Main Street in Vancouver. The Fish Counter fills a gap in this area of fresh fish purchases and to fill that craving for a good lunch or dinner of fish & chips. Good quality food served at a fair price. We will be back

Written September 27, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sympatico88

Hong Kong3 contributions

Best in BC

Sep 2020 • friends

You cannot dispute the ‘5 Star’ quality of food and service. I rate their Bouillabaisse soup minimum 1 Star Michelin. Consistently outstanding! You will never be disappointed. Kudos to Rob and his team!

Written September 24, 2020

Bea C

Healdsburg166 contributions

Best Fish n chips in Vancouver

Dec 2021 • friends

Fantastic fish shop! Very casual! You can eat at the bar looking out the window. The food is insanely good. The fish is incredible - fresh and delicious. Went twice, I had the fish n chips and the oyster po boy. Both were fantastic! Highly suggest!

Written December 25, 2021

SamSalmon

Vancouver13347 contributions

A Place to Avoid

Mar 2023 • solo

Slowly this ship is sinking from the passive aggressive cashier to the lying sneering hacks doing the cooking this is a place to avoid unless you collect disasters. It's sad for a long time supporter of a small business to see the place heading downhill at a breakneck pace but the hard truth is there's no reason to patronise this shop until ownerships changes. The BC Bouillbaisse I had usually comes with a dollop of Rouille a Garlic laced Mayo that makes the soup unique and since mine was missing I asked for some to be added. Today the fry cook told me there was no such paste added to the soup in fact he swore it was never added to anything his assistant agreed and they both sneered at me. As I raised my voice because I object to being lied to the cook who actually makes the soup come out from the back and said that 'No there was no such Mayo', then under intense questioning from me admitted Yes there was and he would add some. He then took the bowl to the back of the store then quickly turned around and said with a sneer it was 'in the bowl all along but on the bottom'. Foolishly I took the soup back and checking carefully found so such Rouille just a bland tomato based fish soup. However having cycled across half the city to get to the shop I wolfed it down and when then cashier asked me how it was I honestly told him-bland, unremarkable and that I resented being lied to & sneered at -at this point he said he'd never serve me again which serves me fine. Apparently the old owners who I spoke with today are well aware of how the place is being run now but of course take no responsibility. So if you're looking for somewhere unique with good food this is no longer the case at Fish Counter the Good News is that Vancouver is replete with competently run operations offering outstanding food & service.

Written March 27, 2023

A H

Hi Conrad, Our staff don't appreciate you yelling and swearing at them, calling them words that trip advisor won't let me publish". Even in this review you called them lying sneering hacks, You could have asked for management but decide to start yelling and arguing with our cooks. After our cashier asked how everything was and you started yelling and swearing at them too. I came back from the back and everyone was visually shocked - our cook mentioned you seemed to be a bit racist as well towards him. Funny enough I actually met with the previous owner the following week and he had no idea who you were. I understand you might have had a bad day before visiting our store but that's no way to treat restaurant staff or anybody for that matter and to attack ownership? Under any chain no matter who the owner is, staff who are human will always be upset and deny service to someone as disrespectful as you were that day. I would have handled the situation differently as the owner but I'm not in the store 24/7. If you have an experience at any other establishment were the topping of a dish isn't visible, please don't go yelling and swearing at everyone, simply ask for management. Thank you for your long time support over the years, I understand you were having a bad day.

Written April 30, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Robyn B

1 contribution

🌊 Sea Food Lover

Mar 2022 • family

Love their 🦪 oysters, have yet to be disappointed by any of their 🐠 , but those little chippets they call fries… are down right awful!!! There are so many, one couldn’t possibly eat them all in one sitting. They grow cold in about two minutes due to their size; and once cold they become potato shards, too dangerous for little ones to eat, making them less than family friendly. This wouldn’t be the case if they were larger, even “shoe string” size. So why, why do they make them so minuscule? Considering they give you a pound of these things, it’s not a financial decision, leading me to believe they are purchasing “ugly” potatoes, so are unable to offer a decent length fry. Why else serve up these potato bits. I see that I am not alone in my opinion, having read many of these reviews, and am at a loss as to why, if the proprietors of this establishment read their reviews, they have not changed their fries, or at the very least, offered an alternative or second fry option to their menu. As has become my practice, and because I do like their food, I will continue to purchase my fish and/or oysters ala carte, and then go and order my fries from one of their neighbours, be it the Portland Craft House, Helen’s Grill, even McDonald’s.

Written April 6, 2022

Angela W

Vancouver28 contributions

Not the same since New ownership

Oct 2023 • solo

I ordered 2pc cod+chips and 1 pc of oyster. The fish not seasoned so flavourless and I was given 3 thin long strips of cod(fish trimmings?). The batter was very very thick to make the strips fatter and so oily and greasy, also dark brown in colour? Oyster tasted fresh with thinner batter. So disappointed since change of ownership. Will not waste my time driving all the way from Delta again.

Written October 7, 2023

TheNurse00

Sydney184 contributions

Wild Salmon fish n chips

May 2024 • couples

Great dining experience in this eco friendly restaurant. The battered wild salmon was amazing, a whole new experience of fish and chips. I love their philosophy of ethically sourced seafood. I would definitely go back

Written June 20, 2024

DeavBBQ

Hagerstown1303 contributions

Fresh

May 2024 • family

Can not say enough about this place. Simple and fresh. The best seafood simply prepared to perfection. Laid back environment, yet a work of art. Halibut makes the ultimate fish and chips. The salmon burrito is incredible.

Written May 11, 2024

Edward H

Sandton19 contributions

Exceptional service and great fish and chips.

Feb 2024 • solo

Have been going to the Fish Counter since it opened for over a decade. Friendly service and the best fish and chips in town. New owner, a local family has continued the tradition.

Written February 4, 2024

nikkiacu

Fort Collins100 contributions

Great fish and chips

Jun 2023 • family

The cod and halibut fish and chips were excellent! Be aware that seating is limited, but the food was served hot and fast, and the service was very friendly!

Written June 22, 2023

Parisa P

Vancouver363 contributions

Tasty Oyster sandwich

May 2023 • family

I had an Oyster Po Boy sandwich. It was a good portion and delicious. The coleslaw salad that came with it was super tasty!

Written May 19, 2023

B Saunders

3 contributions

Terrible

Apr 2023 • solo

Extremely expensive fish and the quality and selection is poor. Almost any other shop or market have the same exact products for half the price.

Written April 29, 2023

A H

You didn't even buy a piece of fish! Your hatred towards our store is unbelievable. Please disregard this persons review who also but a 1 star on good. Unbelievable!

Written April 30, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

tony l

Vancouver5091 contributions

** Incredible Fresh ! Interesting Concept **

Oct 2022 • none

Fish Counter is very unique concept , located on Main Street at 22 Ave , one side's store is Fish market and another side is a small over counter Fish Chips place , limited seating almost like hole in the wall , not airy but clean , the new owner so far did a excellent job , dropped in for a later lunch , avoid the lunch and dinner rush , some time so packed hard to move around , majority people order to go , I am very fussy about deep fried items special Fish and Chips , they get soggy and greasy ,does not taste the same as dine in , menu not a large selection , but okay for Fish & Chip Chop very affordable , I order the 2pcs Pacific Cod plus 1 pc of Salmon , WOW WOW ! very crispy batter not thick , and not oily , very fresh and delicious ,potions okay , and the Fish market side have a lot of variety fish and seafood , good selection of pickled cabbage , kimchi , the salty cabbage amazing tasty , I have to say , by far the best Fish & Chips I had in the midland , almost like my Mum's Fish Chip shop like in U. K . they close on Tue And Wed !

Written October 26, 2022

PookyCake

Victoria14605 contributions

Way Overrated

Nov 2021 • none

I first became aware of The Fish Counter a couple weeks ago: I was lying in my hotel room and watching a marathon of Guy Fieri’s popular Food Network series, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” My ears perked up when I heard “Vancouver, British Columbia;” and this was followed by “The Fish Counter.” Watching the segment, Fieri plugged the Oceanwise Program, put over the fish & chips, and spoke highly of the BC Bouillabaisse, saying “It’s so simple, yet so delicious and refined.” Having patronized some of Guy Fieri’s suggested restaurants in the past and been a fan, I thought this one would surely be a home run; after all, how can you go wrong with fish & chips in Vancouver? Now, a bit of context. The Fish Counter, which opened in late 2013, is owned & operated by the duo of Rob Clark and Mike McDermid. Those familiar with the seafood sustainability movement, which started in the early 2000s, will no doubt recognize the two names because McDermid and Clark are often considered the founders of Oceanwise. For this reason, Vancouver Foodster has called both men “leaders in sustainability.” As such, when you visit The Fish Counter, you can rest assured that the seafood you’re taking home, or eating at the restaurant, is fresh AND sustainably harvested. In brief, patrons can feel good about what they’re eating. Interestingly, The Fish Counter received a lot of heavy-hitter press well before Guy Fieri came into the picture (2019). Not long after the establishment opened, it got covered by the likes of Noshwell, Vancouver Foodster, Globe & Mail, Georgia Straight, and the Vancouver Sun. I suspect this was largely due to Clark and McDermid’s ties to Oceanwise. Needless to say, all put in a glowing word, with some declaring the fish & chips to be “the best” in the area (always a tough statement to back up!), and still others, like the Vancouver Sun, going wild over the bouillabaisse: “Don’t miss the bouillabaisse, with its undercurrents of fennel, tomato, garlic and saffron.” With all this praise, you know it’s gotta be good! In any event, I arrived at The Fish Counter in the early afternoon for lunch. The interior certainly fits the theme for Fieri’s show: They’ve gone for the industrial vibe; you know, with the white walls, exposed pipe, wooden beams, and a lot of clutter everywhere. In this day and age, the industrial look is hardly original, but that’s not why we’re here – we’ve come for the fish & chips! As for the “dining area,” it’s very small. Most of The Fish Counter is occupied by the store where you can buy fish jerky, frozen fish, fresh fish, soup broth, salsa, and other delightful seafood accoutrements. The dine-in section of The Fish Counter is limited to a small table tucked up against a wall (with 2 chairs) and 4 stools along the window. As such, takeout is obviously the major business here – perfect during COVID! Having lived in both Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii (places explicitly mentioned on The Fish Counter’s website), and being a seafood buff, you just know I had to get the fish & chips + BC Bouillabaisse. For the fish & chips, I tried both the cod & salmon. I’ll agree with the bloggers and critics on one point: The batter is light and crisp and there’s a good ratio of fish to batter; however, it was quite oily AND there were a number of errant bones in my cod – no one likes bones in their fish & chips. As for the much lauded bouillabaisse, I was totally disappointed with this item. Far from being “delicious and refined,” it was seriously lacking in flavour and – shockingly – thin with respect to the seafood. Seriously, all I found were a couple small pieces of cod, 2 mussels, a few clams and LOTS of tomatoes. Boring. FOOD: 2.5/5 SERVICE: 4/5 VALUE: 3/5 RECOMMENDATION: While I applaud the use of fresh, sustainable seafood, I’d hardly agree that this place is “best in the city” when it comes to fish & chips. I’ve definitely had better in Vancouver and elsewhere. Very mild recommendation to check them out if you’re in the area; however, I wouldn’t go out of my way. PS: If you found this review helpful in any way please consider hitting the "helpful" button!