The Fish and Chips Shop Raval (CLOSED)

This venue is closed When brothers Mani and Magid Alam opened their first Fish and Chips Shop in San Antoni, the idea was to export a thoroughly British concept to Barcelona. Battered and friend hake with chips, made with top raw materials and an impeccable technique, and simple tapas to accompany the surreal experience of eating fish and chips in the heart of the Eixample neighbourhood. Next thing they knew punters were queueing more than an hour to try what's traditionally pub grub in parts northern, and here you could get it made with quality ingredients and reasonable prices.

And more thanks to intuition than to finding a niche to fill in the market, the Alam brothers had to move fast to find a second space to supply the growing demand even they hadn't foreseen when they opened. Next up it was the space in C/Balmes, which then led to a third spot in the Raval, and a fourth near the Universitat area, at Aribau 18, with a cocktail bar.

This third locale, near the Museu Marítim, has some features that differentiate it from the others, though the philosophy is the same – fuse classic fish and chips with an Asian touch, specifically Pakistani, where the Alam family have their roots. The Raval location also has sentimental value for them because it's the neighbourhood where they grew up, and it's the only one that has a grill, so there are dishes you'll find here that you won't in the others, like a fantastic tuna tataki with a yogurt sauce and aubergine crisps.

All the dishes have a singular modern flair, and all the 'shops' feature high tables with stools, an integrated kitchen and a youthful ambience. Sure signs of their identity, however, are the fried delights, with the classic fish and chips as the star dish thanks to a super tender fish and triple-fried chips. In the Raval, there are other fried masterpieces as well, like the tempura prawns, which are battered in rice flour and served with a sauce made of ají, chipotle, garlic and ginger. Another very popular dish is the cubed octopus in Japanese 'panko' bread crumbs with Japanese mayonnaise and smoked oil from Rooftop Smokehouse. Other excellent local businesses they collaborate with are Hidden Café, where their coffee is from; Spice Cafe, which provides their cakes; and Niji, where they get their mochis.