I Traveled Georgia’s Golden Isles Coastline To Try 15 Fish-And-Chips Shacks (And 6 Had Views Worth The Trip Alone)
Last summer, I convinced myself that driving up and down Georgia’s Golden Isles coastline in search of the perfect fish and chips basket was not gluttony but rather a valid form of coastal exploration.
Fifteen shacks, docks, and piers later, I had grease-stained receipts, a collection of tartar sauce packets that could fill a tackle box, and enough opinions about fried fish to make my friends avoid seafood conversations with me entirely.
Six of those stops came with waterfront views so stunning that I would have forgiven them for serving cardboard instead of cod.
The rest delivered crispy, flaky, salty perfection without relying on scenery to distract me from mediocre frying.
What started as a casual road trip turned into a full-blown mission to find out which Golden Isles spots truly understand that fish and chips is not just pub food but a legitimate coastal art form that deserves respect, hot oil, and a generous pile of fries.
1. Beach House Restaurant + Tap Room, Jekyll Island
My Golden Isles fish and chips hunt really kicked off the afternoon I rolled into Beach House Restaurant + Tap Room on Jekyll Island.
The restaurant sits at 715 Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA 31527, right across from the dunes, so I can literally smell the ocean while I read the menu.
I keep ordering their fish and chips because the batter stays light and crisp, the fish stays flaky, and the fries show up hot and salty enough to make me abandon any plan for a small lunch.
Portions hit that comfortable zone where I can still justify sneaking in hushpuppies or a simple salad without regretting every future coastal photo of myself.
This was one of the six spots on my coastline crawl where the sea view alone easily justified the detour before I even tasted a bite.
2. Wee Pub Beach, Jekyll Island
Some days along the Golden Isles, I just want fried fish with plenty of personality, and Wee Pub Beach understands that assignment perfectly.
You will find it at 20 Main Street, Unit 100, Jekyll Island, GA 31527, tucked into Beach Village, where I can wander in straight from souvenir browsing to serious snacking.
Their fish and chips come pub style, with a hearty portion of fried fish, a pile of fries, and exactly the kind of crunch that makes conversation pause for a second.
I like sliding into a booth here after a beach walk, catching bits of game commentary from the TVs while I quietly work through every last fry.
It feels less like a resort stop and more like the neighborhood place where the staff starts recognizing me before I have the courage to admit how often I show up.
3. The Wharf, Jekyll Island
I knew The Wharf would matter to this trip the second I saw it sitting out over the water, as it belonged there.
The restaurant lives at 371 Riverview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA 31527, perched on the historic Jekyll Pier with marshes, river, and oyster beds spread out in every direction.
Their fish and chips plate leans into pure comfort, with fried fish, fries, and hushpuppies that I treat as tiny crunchy intermissions between bites.
I time my visits around sunset when live music drifts across the deck, the sky glows, and my fish basket becomes the least dramatic thing in front of me.
This was one of the six stops where the view honestly could have carried the whole visit, even if the fryer had taken the day off.
4. Fiddlers, St Simons Island
The first time I walked into Fiddlers, it felt like everyone else already knew this was the unofficial clubhouse for hungry St Simons locals.
Fiddlers sits at 410 Arnold Road, St Simons Island, GA 31522, an easy stroll from the beach and just far enough off the main drag to feel pleasantly unhurried.
I gravitate toward whichever fried fish special is running, usually a plate of flaky local catch with fries and slaw that looks simple on paper and tastes like the kitchen quietly fussed over every detail.
Inside, the wood, the cozy corners, and that big fireplace make it very tempting to pretend my road trip never has to continue.
It is the kind of place where I start with fish and chips as a quick stop and somehow end up lingering long enough to consider dessert as essential research.
5. Coastal Kitchen, St Simons Island
Whenever I want fried fish with an actual marina as my background, I point the car straight toward Coastal Kitchen.
The restaurant sits inside Morningstar Marina at 102 Marina Drive, St Simons Island, GA 31522, so my table lines up with boats, docks, and open water instead of a parking lot.
Their fish and chips use battered cod with house fries and tartar, and the balance of crunch, salt, and soft fish never leaves me wondering whether I ordered the right thing.
I like watching marina life shuffle past between bites, from staff rinsing boats to families wandering the docks with that satisfied, slightly sleepy coastal expression.
This was absolutely one of the six places on my route where the view by itself felt like a full course before the fish ever landed.
6. The Half Shell, St Simons Island
Pier Village has plenty of distractions, but The Half Shell is where I end up when my appetite gets serious.
You will find it at 504 Beach View Drive, St Simons Island, GA 31522, just steps from the village action and a short stroll from the pier where the breeze sneaks in every time the door opens.
I usually build my own version of fish and chips here by pairing the fresh catch of the day, grilled or blackened, with fries and a no-nonsense squeeze of lemon.
The mood is casually polished, with families, date nights, and solo seafood chasers like me all sharing space while servers glide around topping off plates and checking in.
It feels like the kind of place I could dress up for or wander into in flip flops, and either way, the fish still becomes the most memorable part of my evening.
7. Mullet Bay Seafood Restaurant, St Simons Island
My inner kid starts cheering every time I spot the bright facade of Mullet Bay near the heart of Pier Village.
The restaurant anchors 512 Ocean Boulevard, St Simons Island, GA 31522, with a roomy patio that catches the coastal breeze and an easygoing stream of people wandering to and from the nearby pier.
Fish and chips show up here as crisp fried fillets and a heap of fries, the sort of plate that looks modest until I realize I am somehow racing myself to finish every last bite.
I like grabbing a table outside so I can people-watch between forkfuls and pretend I am judging everyone’s snack choices purely for professional research reasons.
This was one of the six stops where the setting itself, with village energy and salty air swirling around the tables, felt just as important as the perfectly fried fish.
8. Catch 228 Oyster Bar & Grill, St Simons Island
Redfern Village has its own little nighttime rhythm, and Catch 228 is where I go when I want that rhythm paired with fried seafood.
The restaurant sits at 228 Redfern Village, Suite 100, St Simons Island, GA 31522, tucked into a cozy courtyard that fills with locals trading stories over plates of coastal favorites.
I lean into whatever fried fish they are running with fries on the side, sometimes as a basket, sometimes as a simple plate that still somehow turns into a feast.
The menu leans heavy on local sea fare, so my fish and chips detour usually comes with the temptation to just try a few oysters or another special.
It is one of those places where I look up from my plate, notice how busy the patio has become, and realize I have accidentally stayed long enough to qualify as part of the atmosphere.
9. Porch, St Simons Island
My most reckless fried decisions on this coastline usually happen when I spot the teal building and string lights at Porch.
Porch lives at 549 Ocean Boulevard, St Simons Island, GA 31522, close to the beach and perfectly set up for people who think a porch, a breeze, and a basket of something crispy count as a complete evening plan.
Their catfish plate gives me the spirit of fish and chips, with generous fried pieces, tartar sauce, and sides that make the tray look happily overcrowded.
I love that the menu keeps things focused on chicken, catfish, shrimp, and a few essentials, so I spend more time eating and less time overthinking.
By the time I am finishing the last fries, the porch itself feels like a living room that just happens to be full of strangers who made the same very good decision.
10. Live Oak Tavern, St Simons Island
Rainy Golden Isles days send me hunting for comfort, and Live Oak Tavern is where I shelter with a plate of fish and chips.
The tavern sits at 2463 Demere Road, St Simons Island, GA 31522, an unpretentious corner spot where locals drift in after work and beachgoers show up with windblown hair and big appetites.
Their fish and chips arrive pub style, with fried fillets, seasoned fries, and just enough tartar sauce that I never feel compelled to ration it.
The rest of the menu leans into burgers, wings, and other hearty plates, so I usually watch something indulgent walk past and briefly reconsider my life choices before doubling down on my fish.
It is the sort of place I keep in my back pocket for days when the weather ignores my plans, but my craving for crispy seafood refuses to compromise.
11. Marshside Grill, Brunswick
Every time my route crosses Brunswick at low tide, Marshside Grill practically waves me in from the edge of the marsh.
The restaurant sits at 1200 Glynn Avenue, Brunswick, GA 31520, right beside the water, with a deck that feels suspended above a carpet of marsh grass and glittering tidal creeks.
Here, my fish and chips usually take the form of a classic fried fish basket, a pile of golden strips with fries that soak up just enough seasoning to stay interesting from first bite to last.
I love how the whole place hums with locals, travelers, and staff who clearly know they are working in one of the most distraction-filled dining rooms in town.
This was one of the six stops where I honestly could have sat on the deck with just a drink of water and still felt like the view alone had earned a permanent bookmark in my memory.
12. Hungry Crab, Brunswick
When I want my fish and chips to come from a place that treats fried seafood like a full-time calling, I head to Hungry Crab.
You will find it at 114 Golden Isles Plaza, Brunswick, GA 31520, in a busy shopping area that somehow still leaves room for big platters and even bigger appetites.
Their fish and chips plate appears right alongside baskets of fried shrimp, fried catfish, and other crispy temptations, which means my resolve usually holds for about six seconds.
The broader menu leans into seafood boils, combos, and mix-and-match options, so I can keep returning to the fried fish while friends build towering platters of their own.
It is a great stop when I want a casual room, fast service, and the feeling that nobody here is judging how many fries I am putting away.
13. Mr. Shuck’s Seafood, Brunswick
Locals kept repeating the name Mr. Shuck’s to me until curiosity finally overpowered my schedule, and I pulled into the parking lot.
The restaurant sits at 107 Altama Connector, Brunswick, GA 31525, combining a seafood market vibe with a relaxed dining room where big platters rule the day.
I usually order a fried seafood plate built around whatever fish they are featuring, then add fries and maybe a few shrimp because restraint clearly did not join me on this trip.
Crab, shrimp, and other coastal favorites show up in heavy rotation, and the whole experience feels delightfully centered on flavor rather than decoration.
It is the kind of place where I wipe my hands, glance at the menu again, and immediately start planning what I will order on my next pass through town.
14. JB’s Shrimp Shack, Brunswick
Highway drives can blur together quickly, but the day I pulled off at Exit 29 for JB’s Shrimp Shack refuses to fade.
JB’s sits at 2729 US Highway 17 South, Brunswick, GA 31523, looking modest from the outside and turning into a full-on fried seafood celebration the second I step through the door.
I go straight for a fish basket with fries, sometimes teaming it up with fried shrimp, because the menu gives me far too many ways to pretend carbs do not count on road trips.
The room stays friendly and laid back, and there is always at least one table of regulars who clearly treat this place as an extension of their kitchen.
By the time I roll back onto the highway, I am usually debating whether stopping for research is a valid excuse for pulling off here on every future drive.
15. Skipper’s Fish Camp, Darien
My Golden Isles fish and chips journey would have felt unfinished without a stop at Skipper’s Fish Camp on the Darien waterfront.
Skipper’s sits at 85 Screven Street, Darien, GA 31305, right on the Darien River, with shrimp boats, marsh grasses, and a boardwalk wrapping around the building like the town built the view just for this dining room.
My plate usually centers on fried fish with fries and hushpuppies, the kind of meal that makes the line between lunch and dinner feel pleasantly irrelevant.
I love sitting outside when the weather cooperates, watching boats ease along the river while the scent of the fryer drifts out from the kitchen.
This was one of the six spots on my Golden Isles run where the view by itself could have tempted me to pull over even if I had already eaten.