If you’re craving fish and chips the way it used to be – simple, honest and done properly – Alex’s Fish and Chips in Altona is a local institution well worth the drive.
Established in 1982, this family-run takeaway has barely changed over the decades, and that’s exactly why locals keep coming back. Run by husband-and-wife duo Alex and Lia, the shop delivers old-school fish and chips just like the 80s: wrapped in paper, generously portioned and made by hand from start to finish.
Alex still fillets the fish fresh from the markets himself, while the chips and potato cakes are hand-cut daily. The result is light, crispy batter, golden chips with proper crunch, and potato cakes that taste the way so many of us remember – not frozen, not fancy, just done right.
What truly sets this place apart, though, is the heart behind the counter. Alex and Lia are genuinely some of the loveliest people you’ll meet, and you feel that the moment you walk in. They’ve been showing up for their community nonstop since opening in 1982, and that care runs through everything they do. Even recently, after Lia underwent back surgery, they simply kept going – because this shop, and the people who support it, mean everything to them.
Alex’s passion for quality is next level. He does things the old way – by hand, with care and pride – and he won’t compromise. In fact, he even closed the shop for three days last year because the potatoes at the market weren’t up to his standards. No shortcuts. Ever.
Watching Alex chat with the kids, seeing Lia’s warmth behind the counter, and tasting fish and chips wrapped in paper the way we remember honestly brought back so many childhood memories. It’s the kind of place that makes you slow down and remember what weekend or summer-night fish and chip runs with the family used to feel like.
We grabbed our order takeaway and enjoyed it nearby at Logan Reserve in Altona. Don’t expect trends or modern upgrades – Alex’s is proudly unchanged, offering a nostalgic slice of Melbourne’s fish and chip culture that proves great food, done with heart, never goes out of style.
One of the most beautiful things about sharing Alex’s Fish and Chips was seeing just how deeply this place is woven into people’s lives. The comments were filled with memories spanning generations:
Many locals described it as “a western suburbs institution” and “Altona’s well-known little gem.”
Others shared childhood rituals — “Friday nights riding our bikes to grab tea,” or “Thursday night was house-cleaning night and we always had fish and chips from Alex’s.”
Some spoke about growing up just around the corner, others about working nearby in the early 80s, and many about still being recognised years later — “I hadn’t seen Alex and Lia in 10 years and they remembered me straight away.”
There were stories of fishing at Altona Pier as kids and selling the catch to Alex for “free chips in return,” and heartfelt comments like “protect this place at all costs” and “this is Australian culture.”
Time and time again, people came back to the same feeling:
“It’s like walking into a shop 40 years ago and being treated like family, not a customer.”
Alex’s Fish and Chips isn’t just about great food (though it absolutely delivers). It’s about memories, community and the kind of hospitality that’s becoming harder to find.
If you’re chasing proper, nostalgic fish and chips the way it used to be – and want to support a family-run business that truly means something to its community – this is one place well worth visiting.
📍 11 Ford Road, Altona VIC 3018
⏰ Tue – Sun: 11am – 8pm Closed Mondays
More info floor them on Facebook
Melbourne with Kidz (MWK) 
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