It’s no secret that Australians love their fish and chips, and now the nation’s best fish and chips restaurant for 2019 has been revealed.

Queensland came out on top, with Tobin Fish Tales, a family-owned business in Townsville, taking out the top spot nationally for best fish and chip shop, thanks to its top-quality fish and great service.

“Their food tasted great,” one of the judges said in a statement. “The service and store was welcoming and friendly. And they provided choices with information on all of them.”

In New South Wales, Pelican Rocks Seafood Restaurant and Café in Greenwell Point took out first place, while Frying Nemo Fish and Chippery came out on top in the Northern Territory.

Meanwhile, Stunned Mullet and Fish Out of Water was awarded with the number one spot in South Australia, while in Western Australia, Ocean and Paddock in Middleton Beach dominated. As for Victoria, The Golden Flake was named the best chippery in the state and in Tasmania, Mures Lower Deck took out the number one spot.

Peter Horvat, General Manager Communications of Trade and Marketing said “one of the driving forces behind running the Fish and Chip Awards is helping educate consumers about seafood, the industry who supply it and to help other fish and chippers improve what they do.

In total, over 2,000 fish and chips sops entered this year’s awards which are now in their third year.

It comes after the nation’s best bacon producers was revealed at Australian Pork’s annual Bacon Awards earlier this year. Western Australia came out on top, with Princi Smallgoods, a family-owned business in Perth, taking out the top spot nationally for best full rasher bacon, thanks to its high-quality pork. Meanwhile, Gray’s Modern Meat Mart from Toowoomba, Queensland, was awarded second place, followed by Canberra’s Griffith Butchery in third.

“The story of Princi bacon began over five decades ago and our recipe has travelled from Italy to Australia. What really sets our bacon apart though, I believe, is the quality of the pork that we begin with,” Director Pino Princi told Australian Pork. “Australian bacon is iconic and to be recognised for producing the best in the nation – we’re really proud of that.”

Southlands Quality Meats in the Australian Capital Territory took out first place in the short cut category nationally, followed by Toowoomba’s Westridge Meats in second place, and Loveday’s Quality Meats on the Gold Coast and EurostyleSmallgoods in Perth tying for third place.

Australian Pork Limited Marketing Communications Manager, Mitch Edwards, said the competition puts a spotlight on producers who are using 100 per cent Australian pork. “Bacon is an Aussie household staple but there’s a high chance the family favourite that shoppers are selecting isn’t made with Australian pork,” he said.

“Many people are surprised to learn that 80 per cent of bacon sold in Australia is made using imported pork. Aussie bacon meets our high safety standards and celebrates fresh, quality, local ingredients.” Edwards continued: “If you want to support Aussie pig farmers, by buying bacon made from 100 per cent Australian pork, look for either the pink Australian Pork logo or make sure the bar chart on the country of origin label has a percentage of over 90 per cent of Australian ingredients.”