Restaurant in Waterloo, United Kingdom
No-fuss fish and chips, OAD-ranked.
Masters Super Fish on Waterloo Road is one of London's most critically recognised fish and chip shops, earning Opinionated About Dining Casual in Europe listings three years running (2023–2025). Walk-ins only, no advance booking required, and closed Sundays. The clearest recommendation in its category for the SE1 postcode, particularly for Friday lunch or a pre-South Bank dinner.
Masters Super Fish is easy to book and genuinely worth booking. There is no reservation gauntlet, no months-long waitlist, and no theatre involved — just show up during service hours and expect solid fish and chips at a southeast London chippy that has earned back-to-back recognition from Opinionated About Dining in 2023, 2024, and 2025. For food-focused visitors to the Waterloo area, this is the most credentialed casual eat on the street.
Waterloo Road does not read like a dining destination on paper. It is a commuter artery flanked by budget hotels, the back end of St Thomas' Hospital, and the usual chain clutter that accumulates near major train termini. Masters Super Fish at 191 Waterloo Road is the exception that makes the street worth a deliberate detour. It has been feeding the area long enough to become part of the local fabric, and its OAD Casual in Europe ranking — rising from Recommended in 2023 to #486 in 2024 and #528 in 2025 , reflects consistent quality rather than a one-year spike. The slight ranking movement between years is worth noting: in a competitive field of European casual restaurants, simply holding a position in the top 530 across two consecutive years is a meaningful signal.
The draw here is the format: a classic British chippy done with enough care to attract scrutiny from serious food critics. The scent of hot oil and fresh batter is exactly what you expect walking in, and that sensory contract , the whole point of a fish and chip shop , is fulfilled without apology. This is not a reinterpretation or a gastropub riff on the genre. It is the thing itself, done well. For a food enthusiast who values category authenticity over novelty, that matters.
The kitchen operates under the name "Various" in public records, which means the cooking here is not built around a named-chef identity. That is not a drawback in this format , chippy quality lives in sourcing consistency, frying temperature, and batter ratio, not chef personality. The 4.5 Google rating across 1,789 reviews supports the idea that the kitchen delivers reliably over time, not just on good nights.
Location-wise, Masters Super Fish occupies a practical position near Waterloo station and the South Bank cultural corridor. If you are visiting the National Theatre, the Tate Modern, or the BFI, a pre- or post-show stop here is one of the more honest options within walking distance. It is also a strong choice for anyone passing through Waterloo by train who wants a proper meal rather than station food.
Masters Super Fish is closed Monday and Sunday. Tuesday through Thursday, service runs 4:30 to 10 pm. Friday is the only day with a lunch sitting: 12 to 3 pm, then 4:30 to 10 pm. Saturday runs 4:30 to 10 pm only. Walk-in is the expected format for a venue at this price tier and style , no advance booking required under normal circumstances. The Friday lunch session is the only window that adds optionality to the schedule; if you are in the area midday on a Friday, it is worth using.
| Detail | Masters Super Fish | Golden Hind (Marylebone) | Golden Union Fish Bar (Soho) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Waterloo, SE1 | Marylebone, W1 | Soho, W1F |
| Booking difficulty | Walk-in | Walk-in | Walk-in |
| OAD recognition | Yes (2023–2025) | Check Pearl listing | Check Pearl listing |
| Lunch service | Friday only | Varies , check listing | Varies , check listing |
| Sunday service | Closed | Check listing | Check listing |
| Price tier | Casual / low | Casual / low | Casual / low |
For more London fish and chip options, see our profiles of Golden Hind in London and Golden Union Fish Bar in London.
Within Waterloo itself, the dining options cluster around convenience rather than category depth. La Cuisine du Côté Vert and La Scarpetta serve different needs , the former for classic cuisine, the latter for Italian , and both sit at a higher price point than a chippy. If your goal is a sit-down dinner with a fuller drinks list and a more formal table experience, either of those is the better call. Masters Super Fish is the right choice when the format itself is what you want: fast, filling, category-correct fish and chips with critical credibility behind it.
For something more eclectic, Parf'Inde Epices offers a different flavour profile entirely. None of the Waterloo alternatives match Masters Super Fish on OAD recognition specifically within the casual fish and chips format, which makes it the clearest recommendation in its category for this postcode.
If you are building a broader London dining itinerary, the city's fine dining anchors , Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and others , operate in an entirely different register. Masters Super Fish belongs in your London trip as the honest, low-effort, high-return meal rather than the centrepiece booking. Plan it that way and it will not disappoint.
For a UK fine dining trip that goes well beyond the casual format, consider L'Enclume in Cartmel, Moor Hall in Aughton, Waterside Inn in Bray, Gidleigh Park in Chagford, Hand and Flowers in Marlow, hide and fox in Saltwood, and Midsummer House in Cambridge.
You do not need to book in advance. Masters Super Fish operates as a walk-in venue, which is standard for a British chippy at this price tier. The only timing consideration is the Friday lunch window (12–3 pm), which is the sole midday session available during the week. Show up during service hours and you should be seated without difficulty. If you are visiting on a Friday evening with a group, arriving closer to opening at 4:30 pm is sensible rather than arriving late when the room is fuller.
No dress code applies. This is a casual fish and chip restaurant in SE1 , come as you are. The OAD recognition reflects cooking quality, not venue formality. If you are heading here before or after the National Theatre or a South Bank event, whatever you are wearing to that will be entirely appropriate.
No specific dietary information is available in our data for Masters Super Fish. Fish and chip shops typically fry in shared oil, which makes cross-contamination a real concern for serious allergies. If you have a severe allergy or specific dietary requirement, call ahead or check directly with the venue before visiting , the address is 191 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8UX. Do not assume accommodation is available without confirming.
Friday lunch (12–3 pm) is the only midday option and worth prioritising if you are in the area on a Friday , the room will be quieter than a Friday evening and the food quality at a good chippy does not change significantly by time of day. Dinner across Tuesday to Saturday (4:30–10 pm) gives you the most scheduling flexibility. Saturday evening is likely the busiest session. Tuesday or Wednesday dinner is the low-friction option if you want the experience without any crowd pressure.
It depends on what you mean by special. If the occasion is a birthday dinner requiring a wine list, a formal table, and a multi-course format, Masters Super Fish is not the right venue , look at La Scarpetta or La Cuisine du Côté Vert in Waterloo instead. If the occasion is a deliberate, food-focused visit to one of London's most critically recognised casual fish and chip restaurants , OAD-listed for three consecutive years , then yes, it qualifies as a purposeful dining experience worth marking.
In Waterloo, La Scarpetta is the better call for Italian and a fuller dinner with drinks. La Cuisine du Côté Vert suits classic French-leaning cuisine at a higher price point. Parf'Inde Epices is worth checking if you want a different flavour direction. For fish and chips specifically across London, Golden Hind in Marylebone and Golden Union Fish Bar in Soho are the most comparable alternatives in the category, though neither has the same OAD track record as Masters Super Fish.
No seat count data is available for Masters Super Fish, so we cannot confirm maximum group size from our records. For groups larger than six, it is worth contacting the venue directly at 191 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8UX before visiting to check availability. As a neighbourhood chippy rather than a restaurant with a private dining room, very large groups may find the format limiting. For groups wanting a sit-down dinner with booking infrastructure, La Scarpetta in Waterloo is likely the more manageable option.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Super Fish | Fish & Chips | Easy | |
| La Cuisine du Côté Vert | Classic Cuisine | €€ | Unknown |
| La Scarpetta | Italian | €€ | Unknown |
| Parf’Inde epices | Unknown |
A quick look at how Masters Super Fish measures up.
The menu is built around fish and chips, so the format is inherently limited in dietary range. If you have a shellfish allergy or require gluten-free batter, call ahead — the cuisine type here is traditional British chippy, not a broad menu kitchen. Vegetarians and vegans will find few options by default.
Walk-in is the standard approach here — there is no months-long waitlist and no reservation gauntlet. Friday lunch (12–3 pm) is the only midday sitting and likely the busiest window, so arriving early on Fridays is worth doing. Tuesday through Thursday evenings from 4:30 pm are your most relaxed options.
Come as you are — this is a Waterloo Road chippy ranked by Opinionated About Dining, not a white-tablecloth room. Casual clothes are entirely appropriate; there is no dress expectation beyond being comfortable.
Within Waterloo, La Cuisine du Côté Vert and La Scarpetta serve different cuisines entirely, so direct comparisons are limited. If you specifically want fish and chips, Masters Super Fish is the category reference point in the area — its three consecutive OAD Casual Europe rankings from 2023 through 2025 put it above what most nearby competitors can claim.
Friday lunch (12–3 pm) is the only midday option, making it the most convenient stop if you are passing through before the weekend. Dinner runs Tuesday through Saturday from 4:30 to 10 pm, giving you more scheduling flexibility across the week. Both formats are the same menu and kitchen, so the decision is practical rather than experiential.
If your occasion calls for a relaxed, no-fuss meal rather than ceremony, yes — the OAD Casual Europe ranking (currently #528 in 2025, up from a Recommended listing in 2023) gives it genuine credibility for a chippy dinner that actually delivers. For a milestone birthday or anniversary that needs atmosphere and a wine list, this is the wrong format; consider a different category.
There is no documented private dining or group booking policy in the available data. For larger parties, arriving at opening time — 4:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday — is the practical move to secure seating before the room fills. Groups wanting a set-menu or event format should look elsewhere.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
