Blink, and you might miss it. BatterFish quietly opened in Encino this past May, replacing a chicken wing eatery amidst towering buildings on Ventura Blvd. 

BatterFish is all about fish 'n' chips. If you’re a fried fish fan, this is the real deal—with a modern twist: custom-built fish-and-chips.

Owner Jason Killalee moved from Dublin, Ireland 20 years ago. Although he came to pursue acting, he found another love in the restaurant business and managed such upscale dining rooms as Providence, Bastide and Valentino’s. Despite his exposure to the best cuisine in Los Angeles, he still craved authentic fish-and-chips.

“I couldn’t find anything close to the good stuff I ate back home,” says Jason. “I’ve always had this idea to make different kinds of batters, and it just kept needling me for years until I found this location.”

And BatterFish was born.

Jason offers four different types of fish to start—cod, catfish, tilapia and salmon—and says he sources sustainable and wild-caught fish when possible. Further customize the fish with a choice of sauce: traditional, curry, chili, garlic-ginger and lemon-basil. If you are eating at BatterFish for the first time, I recommend cod and sticking to the traditional flavor.

Accompanying the fish are chips or fries—with choice of sweet potato or regular potato. The chips are thicker-cut Brit-style, while fries are the thinner, American version. All fries and chips are freshly cut with the skin on. There is also a cooking choice—choose Brit-style with beef fat or American with vegetable oil. Vinegar is available for dousing as well.

The key to Jason’s successful fish n'chips is the way he handles the oil so fish and potatoes are not carrying extra grease. He stands the fish vertically and shakes out the oil from the potatoes.

If you want a smaller amount of fish, consider an order of two fish tacos on corn tortillas with fried cod and topped with cabbage, salsa and lime crema. Want more? There’s a battered brat as well as battered Angus, turkey and veggie burgers (no bun) served with chips or coleslaw. Try mushy peas to carry your “across the pond” experience further. If you’re looking for a healthy choice, there are a few salads, including one made with arugula, apples, Gorgonzola and walnuts. All sauces and dressings are made in-house.

To cap the meal with further traditional flair, indulge in a fried candy bar (Milky Way or Snickers) accompanied with whipped cream. Jason shares that he is currently experimenting with merging new batter flavors together and will produce an evolving menu.

BatterFish only has seating room for 8 to 10 people, but take-out is also available.  Order at the counter and watch Jason or his cook prepare your meal fresh for you. 16200 Ventura Blvd, Encino, 818-907-7305, batterfish.com

Photos: Karen Young

Owner Jason Killalee

Fish Tacos

Arugula salad with apples, walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese.

Located east of Libbit of the south side of Ventura.