Tartar sauce is usually the preferred side for an order of fish and chips, but at this new Yonge and Lawrence spot, you can get crispy fish and chips and bubble tea – all under the same roof.
Aida Li and her partner opened Halibut and Tea House back in early September after years of experience in the food industry. With their kids grown and out of the house, they wanted to fulfill a lifelong dream of opening something just for themselves.
“The idea came from a desire to open a storefront we could easily run, and so fish and chips came to mind. We knew we wanted to also offer bubble tea because it’s become so popular in recent years,” says Aida of the decision to offer the unique combo at their restaurant.
In addition to super crispy halibut and fries, the duo develops their own recipes in-house with a menu that offers more lunch and dinner items like fried chicken and poutine. You can also forego the savoury dishes for Hong Kong style egg waffles with ice cream or Thai ice cream rolls, which is exactly as it sounds – rolled up ice cream with a variety of available toppings like lychee jelly mango boba.
The bubble tea menu is extensive, with tons of options for classic milk teas, tea lattes, slush and smoothies. There’s something for everyone like the coffee Frappuccino on the slush and smoothie menu, or something more tried-and-true like the brown sugar milk tea. Modifications to sweetness can be made to suit taste preferences.
The family-friendly spot is quaint, with 20 spots for indoor dining, though many people opt for take-out, made simple through online ordering on their website. New recipes and discounted menu offerings are also in the works, with plans to soon offer fish tacos, wraps and discounted combo meals for students.
You can stop by the 3238 Yonge Street spot every day from 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.