You might find a couple of surprise packets here off the beaten track.

FLASHBACK: TOP 10 FISH N CHIPS FOR 2017

10. Great British Fryer

22-32 Siganto Dr, Helensvale

It’s well-known that the Brits love their fish and chips just as much as Aussies do, and that’s why Brian and Tracy Corrigan opened this particular shop.

This is one place where you won’t be judged for dousing your chips in vinegar.

“The chips will always be the same homemade chips,” Tracy says.

“We hand cut them from fresh potato every day so they’re crunchy on the outside and nice and fluffy on the inside. We find a lot of people remember the old traditional chips.”

Great British Fryer will also be adding more variety to their fish menu in the coming weeks.

9. Chevron Island Seafoods

48-50 Thomas Dr, Surfers Paradise

Warren Ebbels and Frank Vayonitis have been running their fish and chip shop for 23 years now, to which Warren says there’s no secret necessarily.

“We’re a good bunch of lads just trying our best to give good service and good quality food,” he says.

“People can get everything everywhere but they like coming to us for a chat, they feel relaxed here. We specialise in a lot of fresh grilled seafood here — the baby octopus one of our specialties.”

8. Lola’s Fish and Chips

1/101 Old Burleigh Rd, Broadbeach

Located only a couple of hundred metres away from the beach, Lola’s get a lot of hungry beachgoers through their door.

Manager Kim Inouye says they’ve got a great reputation with locals.

“After a lovely day on the beach people come in of an afternoon, they’ll be lining up out the door. And we cater for the Broadbeach Surf Life Saving Club for their monthly meetings and things like that. Our most popular would be the fresh fish, barramundi and crumbed calamari.”

7. Sorrento Seafoods

Sorrento Shopping Village, Bundall Road, Bundall

Sorrento Shopping Village is a treasure trove for locals, and supplying the seafood is Sorrento Seafood.

They’ve got fresh, uncooked seafood for customers to take home or a wide menu, with specialties including fish of the day, sea scallops, fish cakes, whitebait fritters, seafood sticks, calamari, fish bites and their house made fish burger.

Located walking distance from the canals of the Nerang River, you can sit in the park and enjoy some classic fish and chips.

6. Scales Seafood

47 Kennedy Dr, Tweed Heads

This Tweed Heads fish and chip shop offers a waterfront fine dining restaurants would kill for.

The absolute waterfront also means the freshest seafood possible, with some fisherman making their deliveries themselves.

Manager Bindy Turner says it’s all because fresh is best.

“We get a lot of local stuff — stay fresh, stay local,” he says.

“We have a lot of the local fisherman who bring their fish to us and we deal with the trawler down here at the Tweed. Whiting, jewfish, snapper, kingfish, tailor, mullet — you’ll see our boys on the beach when mullet season is on — they’re all local fish you’ll find on our menu.”

5. Red Hot Cod

1716 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Owner Simon Scott, a qualified chef, and his wife Buffie have been around the Burleigh food scene for years.

Simon is a professional seafood cooking teacher so it goes without saying he’s fussy about quality and technique.

Red Hot Cod specialises in locally sourced fish, everything from cod to Tassie salmon — grilled, crumbed or battered with a gluten-free version to boot.

The health conscious can even choose brown rice and salad instead of the generous scoop of chips.

4. Mudgeeraba Seafoods

Shop 2/51 Railway Street, Mudgeeraba

This much-loved establishment is back on the list after winning last year.

Mudgeeraba Seafoods prides itself on its consistent quality fish, chips and burgers.

Their calamari curls are also a top seller and all salads are made daily in house.

Owners Pete and Peisie Hawkes are meticulous about cleanliness and friendliness.

There are tables and chairs for anyone who’d like to eat in and customers can now also order online for convenience.

3. Crisp Fish & Chips

1a/93 Gemvale Road, Mudgeeraba

With three establishments in the top five, you’d be forgiven for thinking Mudgeeraba is the fish and chip capital of the Gold Coast.

Crisp’s owner Tim Poeszus says local competition is a good thing.

“We’re not a tourist area so we really look after our locals the best we can,” he says.

Tim recommends his fresh fish in Japanese panko breadcrumbs with his secret herbs and spices served with beer batter chips and a homemade potato cake.

2. Benowa Gardens Seafood

Benowa Gardens Shopping Centre, Cnr Ashmore and Benowa Roads, Benowa

This is another establishment where all filleting is done on site.

Owner Shane Parkes followed his family into the seafood game and he and wife Mel have been selling quality cooked and fresh seafood from their shop for 12 years.

The emphasis is on sourcing Queensland fish where possible and everything is cooked in a high quality, natural oil.

Mel is reluctant to name it in case other establishments copy their secret ingredient.

1. Fresh Coral Seafood

Mudgeeraba Market Shopping Centre, 30/3 Swan Lane, Mudgeeraba

Owner Platon Kaplanidis has been in the seafood game for 24 years and is pedantic about sourcing fresh and local fish.

He buys only whole fish and he and his workers do their own filleting.

“It’s not rocket science,” he says.

“Starting with the best gives you the best product at the end.” There are usually around 10 varieties of fish on the menu which customers can buy cooked or fresh.

Platon and wife Jacqui have been running their shop for 10 years and have built up a following of loyal customers, some who travel many kilometres for their fish and chip fix. “The support we get from the community is just wonderful,” he says.