I’VE been watching Ivy’s grow inside Queen’s Market for a few months now.
Their Cockney‑style pie and mash shop has quietly become one of the market’s real success stories - the kind of place you recommend to friends with a slightly smug “trust me, you’ll love it”.
Traditional East End grub on the North Wales coast shouldn’t make sense, but it absolutely does, and Rhyl has embraced it.
So when the Ivy’s team opened a second outlet across the food hall - this time serving traditional fish and chips, something the market surprisingly didn’t have until now - I was straight over.
I’d made a flying visit to Rhyl Comic Con and found myself wandering into Queen’s Market still technically in the late morning.
No problem for Ivy’s.
The team were happy to get the fryers bubbling, perhaps relieved to switch from chipping several kilos of fresh potatoes to actually cooking them.
Their new fish and chip shop promises crispy battered cod, beef dripping chips, traditional favourites and freshly cooked flavour, and on every one of those fronts, they deliver.
The cod came out with a proper golden crunch - the kind you can hear before you taste - wrapped around large, soft flakes of fish.
The chips were exactly what beef dripping chips should be: tasty, fluffy in the middle, and just indulgent enough to feel like a treat.
It was a decent sized portion but there are smaller and larger options available to suit most appetites.
Special mention goes to the curry sauce. It had a tangy lift that cut through the richness of the meal beautifully. I’d go back for that alone.
I’m not bold enough to declare Ivy’s the best fish and chips in town.
Rhyl has plenty of excellent fryers, and people are fiercely loyal to their favourites - the same way they are with tattooists, shortcuts and football teams.
But here’s what I can say: these are very good fish and chips, cooked fresh, with quality ingredients.
Some have said Ivy’s is on the pricier side, but let’s be honest - fish and chips haven’t been a cheap option anywhere for years.
Cod and chips was £12 with the mushy peas and curry sauce an additional £2.50 each.
There are cheaper choices in Rhyl, absolutely, but in terms of quality and quantity, I didn’t feel short‑changed for a second.
A few weeks earlier I’d already tried Ivy’s original offering - their traditional pie and mash.
I’d never had proper Cockney liquor before: that herby, soupy green sauce that gives the mash that welcome bit of lubrication.
I could easily become a convert, if not for my unwavering loyalty to gravy, which remains - in my opinion and in fact - the undefeated champion of pie accompaniments.
The mash was smooth and piping hot, the pies well‑cooked and comforting.
But the star of the show was the pepper and chilli vinegar brought to the table.
It transformed the whole experience, adding authenticity and a punchy flavour profile that made everything pop.
Ivy's have brought something genuinely different to Rhyl, and people have responded.
With their new fish and chips outlet, they’ve proven they can do more than one thing well.
If you’re in Queen’s Market and fancy something classic done properly, Ivy’s is well worth a stop.
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