An American has compared UK and US fish and chips to see whether there’s a difference between how the dish is served in different parts of the world, but not everyone is happy about the difference
When ordering fish and chips in the UK, you usually end up with a piece of cod or haddock to sink your teeth into. But Brits have shared their disgust after seeing what an American ended up with when ordering the iconic dish in the States.
In a TikTok video, user Kalani Ghost Hunter show the difference between fish and chips in the UK and US, saying: “This chain wants to move to the UK market… I’m not sure.” He said: “In the USA, we don’t really have a chippy but we have a place called Captain D’s. I have not eaten here in about 15 years but today we’re going to go to Captain D’s and try out their fish and chips and compare it to what I’ve had in the UK”
He is then seen ordering fish and chips with tartar sauce at a drive-thru alongside an serving of shrimp, chips and coleslaw.
When reviewing the fish and chips, he said: “Those are some skinny-looking pieces of fish. We’re in a landlocked state so this was previously frozen fish. The fries are obviously fries and not chips. Look how skinny they are.
“I’ve never seen these in the UK, let me know if you guys have these, these are hush puppies. It’s like a cornbread and then you fry it.”
Giving a price comparison, he says the meal would have cost £6.77 if bought in the UK, adding: “It’s really cheap but you’re not getting the full-sized fish that I’m used to.”
But biting into the fish, viewers could see his disgust as he dropped the fish back into the container and simply said: “That isn’t cod”.
He added: “I think this is catfish. I’m not a catfish guy. Catfish is a bottom feeder, it tastes like dirt. That actually might be locally sourced because we have a lot of catfish in Tennessee.
“I will say the batter is not bad. The frying part is decent but I’m not a fan of catfish so I’d give it a four out of 10.”
Commenting on his post, one user said: “Looks nasty. What’s a catfish? Can’t you just get proper cod and chips mushy peas are a must too.”
Another user added: “I’m in Orlando now and had fish and chips and definitely regretted my choice, now I know it was probably catfish.”
A third user said: “The cod and haddock in the UK will almost always be frozen first btw. Still quality though.”
One more user added: “I was in Myrtle beach and they had a shop that just sold chips (French fries) with salt and vinegar!”
A final user said: “Just so you know cod are scavengers also which is why they have big mouths and they eat anything off the bottom. They’re just tastier than catfish.”
Catfish is perfectly safe to eat and is popular in many southern US states. It often comes battered and fried, but can be served in a number of different ways.
Captain D’s has multiple fish options on its website, including its clearly labelled hand-breaded catfish. It also has a batter dipped fish served with hush puppies as well as a spicy version and southern-style white fish.
