Best Fish and Chips in Santa Clarita: Why Maginn's Irish Pub Won the Vote
If you have ever searched for the best fish and chips in Santa Clarita, you have probably noticed something. The results are scattered across chain seafood spots, fast casual counters, and a handful of sit down restaurants that happen to have fish and chips somewhere on their menu. But there is a difference between a restaurant that serves fish and chips and a place where fish and chips is part of the identity. At Maginn's Irish Pub in Old Town Newhall, fish and chips is not a menu afterthought. It is one of the dishes the pub is most known for, and it is the dish that earned Maginn's the title of best fish and chips in Santa Clarita as voted by elite Magazine readers. That recognition did not come from a paid promotion or an advertising campaign. It came from the people who actually eat here.
What Makes Maginn's Fish and Chips Different from Everything Else in SCV
Santa Clarita has plenty of options if you are looking for fried fish. There are dedicated seafood counters, fast food chains, and a handful of restaurants that include fish and chips as a side note on a larger menu. What separates Maginn's is that the dish is rooted in the same Irish culinary tradition that shapes the entire menu. The fish and chips at Maginn's is beer battered cod, prepared the way it has been done in pubs across Ireland and the United Kingdom for generations. The batter is crisp without being heavy. The cod is fresh, flaky, and properly seasoned. It comes with thick cut chips, not frozen French fries from a bag, and it is served the way it would be in a traditional pub rather than as part of a fast casual assembly line. That distinction matters because fish and chips is one of those dishes where the details make the difference. The oil temperature, the batter consistency, the quality of the fish, and the thickness of the chips all affect whether the final plate feels like something genuinely well made or something that was simply pulled from a fryer and plated. On Yelp alone, the fish and chips at Maginn's has collected over 120 reviews and 30 photos from customers, which makes it the single most reviewed and photographed dish on the entire menu. That kind of organic attention does not happen unless the dish is consistently delivering.
Voted Best Fish and Chips by Elite Magazine Readers
The recognition that put Maginn's fish and chips on the map for a lot of people in the Santa Clarita Valley came from elite Magazine, where readers voted the pub's fish and chips as the best in the area. That distinction is significant because it was not selected by a panel of critics or a sponsored ranking. It came from the community itself, from people who have actually eaten at the restaurants in this valley and made their choice based on personal experience. On top of the elite Magazine recognition, the Sacramento Bee also ranked Maginn's Irish Pub among the top three Irish pubs in all of California. That kind of statewide recognition does not come easily, especially for a neighborhood pub in a community that is often overlooked in broader conversations about dining in Southern California. Santa Clarita Magazine has also featured Maginn's multiple times, consistently highlighting the fish and chips as one of the standout dishes in the valley and describing the pub as a place where Irish tradition meets local charm.
Beyond Fish and Chips: The Full Menu at Maginn's Irish Pub
While the fish and chips is the dish that draws the most attention, the rest of the menu at Maginn's holds its own. The kitchen serves traditional Irish pub food done with care, including cottage pie, beef and Guinness stew, bangers and champ, the Maginn's pub burger, a smash burger, a beet and goat cheese salad, and a fish sandwich for people who want the same quality cod in a different format. Everything on the menu reflects the same philosophy that drives the fish and chips: classic dishes, made properly, without cutting corners. The pub also has an impressive bar program that goes well beyond the standard beer and shot setup. Maginn's carries an extensive selection of Irish whiskeys, a full lineup of Irish beers on draft, handcrafted cocktails, and a range of options that make the bar itself worth a visit even if you are not ordering food. The whiskey collection alone covers the major Irish distilleries, from Jameson and Bushmills to more specialized pours like Redbreast and Green Spot, which appeals to both casual drinkers and people who are genuinely exploring Irish whiskey as a category.
Happy Hour in Old Town Newhall: One of the Best Deals in the Valley
For anyone searching for happy hour in Santa Clarita or happy hour in Newhall, Maginn's runs one of the most complete happy hour menus in the Santa Clarita Valley. Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6 PM and again on Sundays from 7 to 9 PM. The happy hour menu includes deviled eggs, mini cottage pie, mini mac and cheese, pub sliders, chips and curry, mini beef and Guinness stew, house wings available in buffalo, Asian, or lemon pepper, well drinks, wine, and draft beer in both 16 oz and 20 oz pours. The value is hard to beat anywhere in the valley, and the fact that the food on the happy hour menu is pulled from the same kitchen producing the award winning fish and chips means you are not getting a stripped down version of the experience. You are getting the same quality at a lower price point during specific hours, which is exactly what a proper pub happy hour should be.
An Authentic Irish Pub Designed in Dublin and Shipped to Newhall
One of the most important things that separates Maginn's from other bars and restaurants in the area is the space itself. The interior of Maginn's Irish Pub was designed and built by the Irish Pub Company in Dublin, Ireland, one of the most respected pub design firms in the world. The entire interior was then shipped from Dublin to Newhall and assembled on site. That is not a marketing story. It is the literal origin of the pub. The design pays tribute to the roots of the Maginn and Connelly families. Guests are first welcomed by a hand crafted Victorian style bar reminiscent of the elegant pubs found in Belfast. As the space unfolds, it transitions into a traditional shop style pub inspired by the cozy establishments that line the streets of small towns in County Galway. The result is a space that does not feel like a themed restaurant or a chain that borrowed some Irish design cues. It feels like an actual pub, because it was designed and built by the same people who design and build actual pubs across Ireland. That level of authenticity is extremely rare anywhere in California, and it is one of the reasons the Sacramento Bee included Maginn's among the top three Irish pubs in the state.
Live Music, Sports Nights, and a Real Community Atmosphere
Beyond the food and the drinks, a big part of what makes Maginn's the kind of pub people return to regularly is the entertainment and community programming. The pub hosts live music on a regular basis, including acoustic sessions, Irish inspired sets, and performances from local bands. For sports fans, Maginn's is one of the best spots in Santa Clarita to watch games, including Dodgers viewing events, Premier League matches, and other major sporting events on multiple screens throughout the pub. The atmosphere on game nights is exactly what you would expect from a neighborhood pub: communal, loud in the right way, and full of people who are actually paying attention to the game rather than just sitting near a screen. Maginn's also accommodates private events and group reservations. They offer a central 10 top table for larger parties with a $500 minimum spend, and they work with groups of six or more for celebrations, corporate gatherings, and special occasions. For anyone searching for a party venue in Santa Clarita or a private event space in Newhall, it is one of the more unique options available because the setting itself does a lot of the work in making an event feel special.
Dog Friendly Dining on the Patio
For anyone looking for a dog friendly bar in Santa Clarita or a pet friendly patio in Newhall, Maginn's welcomes dogs on the patio. That might seem like a small detail, but it is one of the fastest growing search categories in local dining, and it is a genuine draw for people who want to go out for a meal or a drink without leaving their dog at home. The patio at Maginn's gives you the same access to the full menu and drink list while your dog sits comfortably next to you, which is the kind of relaxed, welcoming setup that fits perfectly with the overall pub atmosphere.
Why Old Town Newhall Is the Right Setting for This Kind of Pub
Maginn's is located at 24480 Main Street in Old Town Newhall, which is one of the most walkable and character rich areas in the entire Santa Clarita Valley. Old Town Newhall has been going through a significant revitalization over the past several years, and the stretch of Main Street where Maginn's sits has become one of the most popular dining and nightlife corridors in the valley. The location matters because Maginn's benefits from being in an area that already has foot traffic, complementary businesses, and a growing reputation as a destination for people looking for things to do in Santa Clarita that go beyond the typical chain options. Whether you are coming specifically for the fish and chips, stopping in for happy hour, meeting friends for a game, or just exploring Old Town Newhall on a Friday night, Maginn's fits naturally into the fabric of the neighborhood.
The Best Fish and Chips in Santa Clarita, and a Lot More
The fish and chips is what earns the headlines, and it deserves every bit of the recognition it has received from elite Magazine readers, the Sacramento Bee, and the hundreds of reviewers on Yelp who have taken the time to photograph and praise it. But what keeps people coming back to Maginn's Irish Pub is everything that surrounds it: the authenticity of the space, the depth of the whiskey collection, the quality of the full menu, the live music and sports programming, the happy hour that actually delivers value, and the overall atmosphere of a pub that was quite literally built to feel like the real thing. If you have been searching for the best fish and chips in Santa Clarita, for an authentic Irish pub in California, or simply for a neighborhood spot in the Santa Clarita Valley that feels genuinely worth returning to, Maginn's Irish Pub in Old Town Newhall is the answer. Stop in for the fish and chips. Stay for everything else.
Maginn's Irish Pub
24480 Main Street #140, Old Town Newhall, Santa Clarita, CA 91321
661-476-5168
Happy Hour: Monday through Thursday 3 PM to 6 PM | Sunday 7 PM to 9 PM