Greenhaven Fish and Chips: Menu, Reviews & Location Christchurch

Anyone who has wandered down Burwood Road in Christchurch has likely noticed Greenhaven Fish and Chip Shop — a small takeaway that promises hot, crispy fish and chips on a Friday night. This article traces how this single local shop reflects bigger shifts hitting fish-and-chip culture across New Zealand, from rising costs to online reviews.

Address: 255 Burwood Road, Christchurch ·
Phone: (03) 3833698 ·
Rating: 2.5/5 (3 reviews) ·
Type: Takeaway

Five data points from directory listings, one pattern: Greenhaven is consistently identified as a fish-and-chip takeaway in the Burwood suburb of Christchurch, but its public footprint is thin. The table below pulls together the core facts.

Where’s the best place to get fish and chips?

The answer depends on where you live and what you value — freshness, price, portion size, or convenience. For locals in Burwood, Christchurch, the answer might be Greenhaven Fish & Chip Shop. It’s a small takeaway with no seating, serving classic battered fish and hot chips.

Greenhaven Fish & Chip Shop in Christchurch

• Located at 255 Burwood Road, at the corner of Mairehau Road (Open Locally)
• Nearest bus stop: Burwood Rd Near Mairehau Road, one minute walk
• Contact: (03) 3833698 (Yellow NZ)

The shop has been featured in a YouTube review titled “Fish and Chip Review” (YouTube), confirming its presence on the busy Burwood strip. But it doesn’t have an official website, and its online directory listings are inconsistent.

What customers say about Greenhaven

Customer feedback is mixed — and sparse. On Yellow NZ, one reviewer said “the food was delicious when ordering a combined meal” (Yellow NZ). On Zmenu, another review reported that three items — including a Monster Burger at $12.50 — totalled $34.50, and described the fish as “tiny”, chips as “dry and overcooked” (Zmenu). On Finda NZ, a third reviewer simply said “It was very nice” (Finda NZ).

The implication: for a local takeaway in 2026, a digital footprint of only three visible reviews is a vulnerability. New customers searching for fish and chips in Burwood might overlook Greenhaven in favour of a shop with dozens of ratings — even if those ratings aren’t perfect.

What is the most famous chipper in Ireland?

While New Zealand has its own fish-and-chip traditions, Ireland boasts some of the world’s most famous chippers. The title of “most famous” usually goes to Leo Burdock, a Dublin institution that has been frying fish since 1913.

Leo Burdock – the oldest chipper

• Founded in 1913 by Leo Burdock in Dublin’s Christchurch area (Wikipedia)
• Still family-run, with several locations across Dublin
• Known for attracting celebrities and even US presidents

Leo Burdock’s longevity and celebrity clientele make it a cultural landmark. But it represents a very different model from Greenhaven — a tourist-friendly sit-down experience versus a low-key New Zealand takeaway.

Other famous Irish chippers

Other notable chipper chains include Beshoff Bros (established 1922) and the award-winning Fish & Chip Shop of the Year winner in Ireland, often taking top honours at the Irish Takeaway Awards. The tradition of the “chipper” is deeply woven into Irish food culture, much like fish-and-chip shops are in New Zealand.

The pattern: Ireland’s most famous chippers have been around for over a century, building brand recognition that local shops like Greenhaven can’t yet match. For Greenhaven, building trust locally is the first step.

Why is chippy fish so expensive?

If you’ve bought fish and chips recently, you’ve probably noticed the price creeping up. A three-item order at Greenhaven reportedly cost $34.50 in one review (Zmenu). Here’s why.

Rising cost of white fish

• Cod and haddock – the traditional choices – have become more expensive due to overfishing and reduced quotas
• Fuel costs for fishing boats have risen sharply (The Guardian)
• Global demand for white fish has increased, putting pressure on supply

Inflation and supply chain

• Cooking oil prices have surged, especially after the Ukraine war disrupted sunflower oil supplies (BBC News)
• Labour shortages in hospitality have forced shops to raise wages, which is passed on to customers
• In New Zealand, the cost of living crisis means takeaway meals are becoming a more expensive treat

The trade-off: customers are paying more for fish and chips, but the underlying cost pressures — energy, fish stock, inflation — aren’t going away. For a small shop like Greenhaven, absorbing these costs is difficult without raising menu prices or shrinking portions.

The implication: cost pressure puts neighbourhood takeaways like Greenhaven in a tightening vise.

What are the top 5 fish for fish and chips?

The type of fish used can make or break the meal. Traditional fish-and-chip shops in the UK and New Zealand typically offer one or two of these top five species.

Cod

• Traditional favourite in the UK and New Zealand (Wikipedia)
• Mild flavour, flaky texture
• But increasingly expensive and less sustainable

Haddock

• Popular in Scotland and northern England (Wikipedia)
• Slightly sweeter and firmer than cod
• Commonly used in fish and chip shops across the UK

Pollock

• Sustainable alternative to cod (Seafood Watch)
• Often used in processed fish products
• Increasingly found in New Zealand fish-and-chip shops as a budget option

Plaice

• Flat fish with a delicate, slightly sweet flavour
• Popular in southern England
• Less common in New Zealand, but sometimes offered

Hake

• White, firm fish with a mild taste (Wikipedia)
• Common in South Africa and parts of Europe
• Gaining popularity as a sustainable whitefish option

Which fish does Greenhaven use? The available sources don’t specify. But based on typical New Zealand takeaway menus, it is likely using imported frozen hoki or locally caught warehou — both common and affordable options.

Who won the chip shop of the year?

The annual National Fish and Chip Awards (UK) and the NZ Fish & Chip Awards recognise excellence in the industry. In 2022, the UK award for “Chip Shop of the Year” went to The Cod’s Scallops in York (BBC News).

York fish and chip shop

• The Cod’s Scallops, located in York, won the 2022 award (BBC News)
• Judges praised its quality, sustainability, and customer service
• The award is one of the most prestigious in the UK fish-and-chip industry

Britain’s best award

Awards like these highlight the difference between a nationally recognised shop and a local takeaway. Greenhaven, with its modest online presence, has not won any known awards — but that doesn’t diminish its value to the Burwood community.

The catch: winning an award can transform a shop’s business, but the vast majority of fish-and-chip shops operate without accolades. For Greenhaven, the focus is on surviving in a competitive Christchurch market where customer loyalty is hard to earn and easy to lose.

Greenhaven Fish and Chip Shop – key specs

A closer look at the business details available across directories reveals some gaps — notably no opening hours or year established.

The table shows that while location and contact are clear, key operational details like hours and history remain unknown.

Clarity check: what we know vs what we don’t

What customers are saying

“The food was delicious when ordering a combined meal.”

– Reviewer on Yellow NZ (Yellow NZ)

“Three items (including a Monster Burger) cost $34.50. The fish was tiny, chips dry and overcooked.”

– Reviewer on Zmenu (Zmenu)

These two reviews illustrate the split among customers. Without a larger sample, it’s hard to know which experience is more typical. For a new customer, the safest bet might be to order a single scoop of chips and a piece of fish to test the waters before committing to a large order.

For those exploring Christchurch’s fish-and-chips scene, Lewis Street Fish and Chips offers another local option worth comparing to Greenhaven’s offerings.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• West End Schnapper Bar Whangārei Menu – Another New Zealand takeaway profile
• Dragon Horse Takeaways Onehunga – Auckland takeaway comparison