For a quintessential Victoria, B.C. outing, stop by Willows Galley Fish & Chips in charming Estevan Village, then wander down to Willows Beach with a crispy takeaway in hand. It's a seaside ritual that is special in any season, but in summer, when the beach is bright, the breeze is warm, and lunch turns into a picnic by the water, it's especially hard to beat.

Willows Galley Fish & Chips is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m.

Tucked into Oak Bay, a municipality within Greater Victoria, Estevan Village is a pocket-sized neighbourhood with an outsized dose of charm. Its cluster of local boutiques, artisan shops, and cozy eateries gives the area welcoming warmth, where a quick stop for fish and chips can turn naturally into a leisurely village wander.

Did you know? Fish and chips made their way to Canada with British immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, finding a natural home in seafood-rich coastal cities. Today, the classic still carries a delicious sense of nostalgia, whether it arrives as Atlantic cod, B.C. halibut, or salmon, served crisp, golden, and ready for a seaside picnic.

You don't even have to step inside to place your order, wander up to the handy takeout window an choose your feast. Alongside the classic fish and chips, you'll find burgers, hot dogs, fries, ice cream, and other favourites, making it a perfect stop for lunch, dinner or a quick treat on the way to Willows Beach or a leisurely browse through Estevan Village.

Did you know? In some parts of Canada, especially Ontario and the Maritimes, fish and chip shops are called chip wagons or chip stands. Here on the West Coast, you're more likely to hear them referred to as fish and chip shops, though the result is the same: hot, crispy comfort food.

Rolling through Estevan Village by bike? Willows Galley makes it easy to pause for a refuel, with a bike rack out front for two-wheeled travelers and a water bowl waiting for four-legged companions. It's a small touch, but one that perfectly suits Oak Bay's relaxed, dog-welcoming neighbourhood charm.

What goes best with fish and chips? Fries are the classic companion, of course, but poutine, onion rings, coleslaw, and a bright wedge of lemon all make worthy sides.

What is your favourite fish and chips side?

On sunny days, the picnic tables outside Willows Galley are the ideal place to settle in with your order and soak up Estevan Village's easygoing charm. The tables come stocked with classic condiments, but the real star is the Galley's homemade tartar sauce, creamy, tangy, and finished with a subtle pinch of curry, it’s delicious not-so-secret ingredient.

Sauce tip: Ketchup and vinegar are always close at hand, but malt vinegar has a special place in the Canadian fish-and-chip tradition. A generous splash adds that unmistakable malty tang—the kind that makes golden fries disappear even faster.

The menu board is a seaside feast, with enticing plates such as the Treasure Chest alongside single offerings of fish, oysters, prawns, and scallops. There are burgers and hot dogs, plus sides like chicken strips, chowder, chili, coleslaw, fries and poutine. Ice cream cones and milkshakes provide the sweet finish.

Canadian twist: If you want to swap out the usual chips, poutine is the indulgent Canadian choice.

Step inside the Galley and you can hear the sizzle. A small, hardworking kitchen that must really warm up in summer with all that bubbling oil. Thankfully, the big takeout window lets in a little sea-breeze relief. An Estevan Village gem since 1980, Willows Galley has revived its original sourdough fish batter, along with favourites like the Neptune Fish Burger. If you arrive hungry, the Chief's Plate is a classic choice: two pieces of halibut or cod with medium fries, coleslaw, and two tarter sauces. It's generous enough to share if you're saving room for a beachside treat later.

Kitchen note: Fish and chips today are commonly fried in neutral vegetable oils such as canola oil, which can handle a high heat without overpowering the flavour of the fish. That lets the batter do what it does best: turn crisp, golden, and beautifully light.

On cooler days, the indoor lunch counter offers a snug little perch for enjoying your meal while watching Estevan Village life drift by outside. Community posters line the wall, adding to the neighbourhood charm and reminding you that this beloved fish and chip shop is very much part of local life.

Crispy-batter secret: Many recipes rely on ice-cold beer, cornstarch, or both to create that delicate crunch. The cold batter meeting hot oil helps create a light, crackly coating, the little bit of magic every great fish and chip meal needs.

Down the road a few blocks from Willows Galley is Willows Beach, a sandy beach with a story. The beach takes its name from the old Willows Fairground, built in 1891 and once known as Greater Victoria's main horse-racing venue in the early 20th century. The willow trees once located there inspired the name.

With one of the sandiest stretches of shoreline in Greater Victoria, Willows Beach is widely considered the city's most popular beach. Locals come for picnics, casual gatherings, beach games, and summer afternoons when volleyball nets appear on the sand. The water stays brisk year-round, due to coastal currents, but on a warm day that first refreshing dip is part of the West Coast experience.

Someone had transformed a handful of drift-tossed beach logs into a rustic little shelter; the kind of seaside find that makes you slow down for a closer look. These logs, escapees of log booms from the coastal logging industry, are carried ashore during the winter storms.

For lunch, I ordered one piece of halibut and a small order of fries. While cod may be the traditional favourite in many parts of Canada, especially along the Atlantic coast, B.C. halibut feels right at home here on the West Coast: crisp on the outside, tender within, and made even better with a swipe of curry tartar sauce.

No beach picnic is truly private at Willows Beach. My lunch companions were a hopeful family of common crows, keeping a polite but watchful eye on every bite in case a golden crumb tumbled onto the sand. The seagulls, it seems, had better plans that day--perhaps fishing out at sea.

From the shore at Willows Beach, it's easy to lose track of time watching a container ship glide down the Salish Sea, likely bound from the Port of Vancouver toward open water. Part of the magic is wondering where it has come from, where it is headed next, and what far-flung cargo is inside those colourful stacks.

Just a 15-minute drive east of downtown Victoria, Willows Beach is one of Oak Bay's most inviting seaside escapes. It's long sandy shoreline, gentle shallow water, and sweeping views toward Discovery Island and Mount Baker make it especially inviting from June to September, though it has charm in every season. You'll find picnic tables, benches, washrooms, a playground, and a seasonal concession and tearoom, while the calm, sheltered bay makes it a favourite spot for stand-up paddleboarding and relaxed beach days.