Authentic Irish pub The Druid is one of the best places to go on the north side of the river for live Irish music and a proper pint of Guinness. When you’re craving all of that and classic fish and chips? No other place in Cambridge or Somerville comes close to this Inman Square gem. Wrapped up in food-safe newspaper, the Druid Fish and Chips contains hand-cut fries and large pieces of cod that are lightly battered but well-seasoned. Open the package and nostalgic aromas commence. Homemade tartar sauce and a splash of malt vinegar seal the deal on placing this one in the pantheon of local comfort foods.

Fish and Chips at Cusser’s may play second fiddle to the buttery, herbaceous lobster rolls or even the Roast Beef Three-Way, but if you stray from the expected course you will not be disappointed. This version features super-fresh, local whitefish and a crunchy beer batter, paired with hand-cut French fries and flavorful house tartar sauce and ketchup. It’s available from stalls inside Time Out Market and Hub Hall, as well as at Cusser’s casual bar in Back Bay, where you can match it with experimental cocktails by bartender Todd Maul every Wednesday through Saturday night.

Locals know this unassuming spot in East Cambridge boasts some of the most affordable, high-quality seafood around Boston. Courthouse Seafood Market has been around since 1912, and the family-run enterprise expanded with an ultra-casual restaurant in 1987. The same fresh seafood is fried up to order, from a $9 plate of the market’s choice to upgrades with haddock fish or Sole ’n Chips that still land under $15. (The excellent tartar sauce is included, of course.) It’s a deal, but the friendly customer service served alongside is why this is a favorite for more than a century. Note that Courthouse takes an annual summer break; it will be closed from June 20 through July 4 this year.

Scotland is a land of comfort food, so it’s no wonder Boston’s only Scottish restaurant has excellent fish and chips. The Fish Supper, as it’s called at The Haven, is a proper portion of beer-battered haddock and thick-cut potato wedges with house tartar sauce. Instead of a side like coleslaw, the Scots serve it up with minted mushy peas—hey, don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it. We love to order up this classic with a pint of the smooth, rich Belhaven Scottish Ale. The Haven recently opened a larger and upgraded location with outdoor dining and parking in Jamaica Plain.

Pubs aren’t the only places in Jamaica Plain where you can find stellar fish and chips: It may surprise you that Korean restaurant and sushi spot JP Seafood Cafe makes some of the best in the city. A menu staple at a longtime neighborhood mainstay, this Fish and Chips gets well-deserved acclaim thanks to a batter that’s both airy and crunchy. The large portion is served with crispy French fries and a side of bright coleslaw, and is fit for sharing alongside a roll of salmon-filled Sunshine Maki brightened with lemon, cilantro, and cucumber.

Day Boat Fish & Chips at downtown Boston’s The Dubliner takes the dish back to basics—and gets close to perfection in the process. At the Irish pub and restaurant across from Boston City Hall, this criterion of comfort food begins with a big filet of fresh haddock, flaky inside a light and crispy crust seasoned with big flakes of salt. Chips are triple-cooked potato wedges, traditionally paired with lightly sweet curry sauce for dipping. Herby tartar sauce and just enough green mushy peas complete the plate. Chef Aidan Mc Gee grew up on a Donegal farm and spent two decades in London fine-dining, and his sensibility shines in this simply stellar version of fish and chips.