Fish and chips is deep-fried fish in batter and deep-fried potatoes, a popular take-away food originally from the United Kingdom, but also popular in the United States and elsewhere.
The fried potatoes are called "chips" in British usage; while American English calls them "french fries", the combination is nonetheless called "fish and chips" even in the US.
In the UK, the chips are often served with malt vinegar or onion juice. (In many cases 'non-brewed condiment' is used as a substitute for genuine malt vinegar.) They are typically salted but this can usually be varied according to requirements. Often peas are added. Fish and chips are traditionally packaged with an inner white paper wrapping and and outer insulating layer of newspaper, but today polystyrene packing is often encountered. In the US, malt vinegar (or, in less well-informed establishments, red wine or cider vinegar) is often served with the combination as well, but it is used on the fish rather than the chips (Americans typically dress fries with ketchup). Tartar sauce is also a common accompaniment. Mayonnaise is popular in the UK and Europe. A common Canadian preference is for white vinegar on the chips and squeezed lemon on the fish.
The most common fish used for fish and chips is cod, but many kinds of fish are used, especially other White fish such as pollock or haddock. Chip shops also sometimes sell other deep-fried foods, anything from chicken to candy bars.
US fast food Restaurant chains that sell fish and chips include Long John Silver's, H. Salt Fish and Chips, Arthur Treacher's, and, in the Pacific Northwest, Ivar's. In the 1990's, the perception within the United States that fish and chips were unhealthy led to a decline in consumption and the bankruptcy of Long John Silver's and Arthur Treacher's. These brands have been accquired by other restaurants and the current strategy of both of these chains appears to be combining fish and chips with other brands to create the concept of fun food.
In the UK, fish and chips are usually sold by independent restaurants and take-aways called "chippies" (a word that has a completely different meaning in American English), but there is one well-known chain based in the north of England called Harry Ramsden's (http:/www.harryramsdens.co.uk).
The pronouciation of "fish and chips" is a traditional method of distinguishing Australians and New Zealanders.
See also the Wikipedia Cookbook.