We're awash in great fish-and-chips spots

Sun, sand and surf — the ingredients for an ideal summer day. So what better meal to enjoy on the water than fish and chips?

If you're strolling along the shore and get a craving for a quick bite — fish and chips or some creative variation — the Seattle area offers a number of local fish bars serving fresh, flaky fish, without the formality of a sit-down seafood restaurant. Some of these spots may be attached to restaurants, but our fish-bar list highlights places that expedite ordering — with to-go windows and/or outdoor seating where customers can soak up the sun while they wait.

Anthony's Fish Bar

2201 Alaskan Way, Seattle

206-448-6688

Hours: 11 a.m.-sunset daily

www.anthonys.com

Anthony's on Pier 66 might be better known as a romantic retreat, but the restaurant's casual side is embodied in Anthony's Fish Bar, located in the same building as the restaurant and Anthony's Bell Street Diner, its lunchier kid brother. With its to-go service counter, Anthony's fish bar offers an easy-in, easy-out option. But there's plenty of outdoor deck seating if you decide to stay. Popular items include the fish tacos and tempura fish and chips.

Ivar's Pier 54 Fish Bar

1001 Alaskan Way, Seattle

206-467-8063

Hours: 10 a.m.-midnight daily

www.ivars.net

Buy a basket of Ivar's classic fish and chips at this walk-up fish bar on the pier and you may find yourself surrounded by some new friends — namely, the resident seagulls. No matter — the fish bar, which is attached to Ivar's Restaurant, is a casual place. Want to deviate from the traditional fish and chips? Go for the white chowder.

Sunfish

2800 Alki Ave. S.W., Seattle

206-938-4112

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays; closed in December and January.

Sunfish's Greek take on fish and chips has been a big hit on Alki Beach. The little restaurant with the big fish above emphasizes freshness and hospitality as well as cod, halibut, calamari, prawns and oysters. And as it should be at any good seafood restaurant, a great view is never very far away: premier viewing for Alki sunsets can be achieved by basically crossing the street.

Little Chinooks

1900 W. Nickerson, Seattle

206-283-4665

Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily

www.anthonys.com/restaurants/info/chinooks.html

Order baskets of fish or clams and chips, or try the fish tacos at this takeout spot off the main restaurant's large, cool dining room. Then, either grab a seat in the open-air shade (Little Chinooks is basically a walk-up with some covered seating) or take your fish to a sunny seat on the Salmon Bay plaza, just spitting distance away. Top things off with a "Chinooky Cookie," a chocolaty treat that doesn't exactly seem maritime but is quite good.

Lockspot Cafe

2005 N.W. 54th St., Ballard

206-789-4865

Hours: Outside, 11 a.m.-sunset Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-sunset Saturdays and Sundays; inside, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.

Sand is the only thing missing from this beach setting, located just in front of the entrance to the Ballard Locks and the Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Garden. Lockspot's walk-up counter is to the side of the cafe, where a funky painted sign with seahorses, dolphins and a mermaid set the tone.

Spud Fish and Chips

9702 N.E. Juanita Drive, Kirkland

425-823-0607

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily

http://spudfishandchips.com

This tiny fish-and-chips eatery, now celebrating its 40th year in Kirkland's Juanita neighborhood, doesn't have an outdoor-ordering window. But its location — literally across the street from Juanita Beach Park, which includes a generous swath of waterfront — makes it the optimal place to grab some fish and chips to munch while walking along the beach or feeding seagulls from a bench. Spud also has restaurants at Green Lake and Alki Beach.

Salty's on Redondo Beach

28201 Redondo Beach Drive S., Des Moines

253-946-0636

Hours: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day only.

www.saltys.com

Salty's, which allows its customers to order by phone, only opens its outdoor fish bar during the summer season. Once the food's in hand, patrons can sit at one of the restaurant's picnic tables and take in the views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains before heading to the new Highline Community College Aquarium next door. A second Salty's, sans fish bar, is on Alki Beach.

Blythe Lawrence: blawrence@seattletimes.com