Accompaniments

In the United Kingdom, free salt and vinegar is traditionally sprinkled over fish and chips at the time of serving. [20] Suppliers may use malt vinegar or onion vinegar (the vinegar used for storing pickled onions). A cheaper product called “non-brewed condiment” (actually a solution of acetic acid in water with caramel added for colour) substitutes for genuine malt vinegar in many fish-and-chip shops. Scots tend to prefer white vinegar to malt vinegar. Other standard accompaniments include mushy peas, “chip shop curry”, gravy and/or “scraps” (small pieces of left-over batter, usually provided free-of-charge). In the area around Kingston upon Hull, chip spice has become widely used.

In Scotland, preference for accompaniments divide the East and West sharply, with Scots in the East (for example in Edinburgh, Fife and Stirling) preferring a brown sauce known as “chip-shop sauce” or “chip sauce” (in response to the question “Salt and sauce?”) whereas those from the West (for example in Glasgow) will have salt and vinegar. East-coasters requesting “salt and sauce” in the West would probably end up with tomato ketchup — to their dismay. The vinegar in the sauce and used for the chips commonly comes from jars of pickled onion; pickled onions or pickled eggs serving as common accompaniments. “Chips and cheese” or “cheesy chips”—chips topped with grated cheese—have also become a popular combination in most parts of the United Kingdom (compare the Canadian dish poutine).

In Ireland salt and vinegar makes for a popular choice, and north of the border many people pour either brown sauce or tomato sauce over the food, and “chippies” (or “chippers”) frequently offer these options.

Canadian fish and chip shops offer a variation of condiments including tartar sauce, white, cider or malt vinegar and fresh lemon for squeezing onto the fish. Many fish-and-fry meals in southern Ontario (Toronto region) come served alongside fresh-cut coleslaw as a side dish (usually included at no extra charge). Canadians also favor poutine, a Canadian variation of fries served with cheese curds and gravy.

American diners that offer fish and chips typically provide a side of tartar sauce or vinegar (intended for the fish), with ketchup and mustard usually available on request free-of-charge (sometimes in bottles already on the table).

In Australia the use of seasoning salt on chips has become quite widespread; so much so that even fast-food chains like KFC no longer carry regular salt and use seasoning salt by default. Vendors usually include a small slice of lemon free of charge: the purchaser can squeeze the slice in order to release the juice as dressing. Australian fish and chip shops also widely offer tartare sauce or tomato sauce.

Other popular dressings include:

Salt and vinegar
Barbecue sauce
Brown sauce
Burger sauce
Curry sauce
Gravy
Cheese (often with gravy/Poutine in Canada)
Chili sauce
Garlic sauce
Mayonnaise
Tomato ketchup/Tomato sauce
Summer Savory turkey stuffing and gravy (Eastern Canada)
Lemon slice (United Kingdom, Canada, Australia)
Thousand Island Dressing
Tartar sauce/Tartare sauce
Salad Cream
Scraps
Other accompaniments include:

baked beans
bread and butter
bun/breadcake/barmcake/cob/muffin/teacake
coleslaw
mushy peas
pickled onions, pickled eggs and/or gherkins.
steak and kidney pudding
chicken nuggets
calamari rings (Australia)
scallops (in UK and Australia)
dim Sims (Australia)
souvlaki (Australia)
clam chowder (usually New England-, Rhode Island-, or Manhattan-style depending on the region)
clam fritters
Savaloy (Southern UK)
patties (sage and onion) — usually in the East Riding of Yorkshire