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Fish sauce is a salty, savoury liquid made from fermented fish, most often anchovies, used across Southeast Asian cooking the way soy sauce is used in China. It smells sharp straight from the bottle but mellows once cooked into a dish, adding a deep savoury base note rather than a fishy flavour.
Where to buy fish sauce in the UK
Most large UK supermarkets sell at least one fish sauce in the world food aisle, usually Blue Dragon or Squid Brand, while Thai and Vietnamese grocers stock a much wider range at better prices.
Where to buy fish sauce in UK supermarkets
Most large UK supermarkets stock at least one brand of fish sauce in their world foods or international aisle. Here is what you are likely to find where:
- Tesco — usually stocks Blue Dragon fish sauce (300 ml and 700 ml) and sometimes Squid Brand. Look in the Thai or world foods section.
- Sainsbury’s — stocks Blue Dragon and sometimes their own Taste the Difference Thai range. The world foods aisle or the fresh Thai ingredient section.
- Waitrose — stocks Blue Dragon and often Squid Brand or a premium Thai fish sauce like Megachef.
- Morrisons — Blue Dragon is the most common find here.
- ASDA — check the world foods aisle; Blue Dragon is usually available.
- Marks & Spencer — some larger stores carry fish sauce in their Thai cooking range.
Where to buy fish sauce in Asian grocery stores
Asian grocery stores give you the best range of brands and the best value. You will find the Thai staples like Tiparos, Megachef and Maekrua as well as Vietnamese fish sauce brands like Phu Quoc and Three Crabs. Larger cities like London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh all have well-stocked Asian supermarkets.
In London, Wing Yip in Croydon and Cricklewood and the grocers around Chinatown are reliable. Wing Yip also has large stores in Birmingham and Manchester.
Buying it online
Buying online gives you the widest range, especially for specialist Vietnamese or Filipino brands. Amazon UK has a good range: fish sauce on Amazon UK covers brands like Tiparos, Megachef, Squid Brand and Three Crabs. Large multipacks are also good value online.
Asian grocery delivery services like See Woo, Wing Yip online and Sous Chef also stock fish sauce with UK-wide delivery.
Brands worth buying
Tiparos (Thailand) — Best everyday fish sauce
Tiparos is clean and reliable, with a consistent anchovy flavour. It is widely available from Asian grocery stores and online at a very reasonable price.
Megachef (Thailand) — Best premium fish sauce
Megachef is a higher-end bottle made with a higher percentage of fish extract and fermented for longer. The flavour is deeper and more complex with less of the sharp, pungent edge you get from cheaper brands. Available from Asian grocers and online.
Squid Brand (Thailand) — Best widely available brand
Squid Brand is one of the most recognisable bottles in the world. It is widely available in UK supermarkets and Asian grocery stores. Good everyday quality, consistent and reasonably priced. You can find Squid Brand fish sauce on Amazon UK.
Three Crabs (Vietnam) — Best for Vietnamese cooking
If you are making Vietnamese dishes like pho, nuoc cham or bun cha, a Vietnamese-style fish sauce is worth using. Three Crabs (Viet Huong) has a lighter, slightly sweeter flavour than the Thai bottles. Available from Vietnamese grocery stores and online.
Blue Dragon (UK) — Best for supermarket convenience
Blue Dragon is the easiest to find in mainstream UK supermarkets. The quality is lower than the specialist Thai brands but perfectly usable for everyday cooking. A good option if you just need it quickly.
What to look for on the label
- Anchovy extract percentage — look for 55% or higher for a richer, cleaner flavour
- Nitrogen content — higher nitrogen means more amino acids from the fermentation, which means deeper flavour. Premium fish sauces often note this on the label (e.g. “N 30°”).
- Ingredients — the best fish sauces contain only anchovies, salt and sometimes sugar. Avoid ones with a long list of additives.
Which aisle is fish sauce in?
The world food aisle, in the Thai or Southeast Asian section, usually shelved near curry pastes and coconut milk. Some branches group everything together as general Asian sauces instead of splitting it by country. Aisle numbers move between branches, so go by the section rather than the number.
In Tesco it sits in the world food aisle in the Thai and Vietnamese section, where you will normally find Squid brand alongside the own-label bottle.
If you cannot see it, ask for it by name, or say nam pla. Both names are understood in supermarkets and Asian grocers.
First press and premium grades
Some brands label a first press or premium grade, drawn off earliest in fermentation and priced accordingly. Standard grade is perfectly good for everyday cooking. The difference shows up far more in a raw dipping sauce than in anything simmered, so save the expensive bottle for nuoc cham rather than a curry.
What is fish sauce?
How to use it
- Stirred into dressings and dipping sauces, balanced with lime and sugar.
- Added to soups and broths for a savoury base, such as in larb.
- Used in marinades in place of some or all of the salt.
Different styles of fish sauce
Thai, Vietnamese and Filipino fish sauces are all closely related but not identical, varying in saltiness, colour and exactly which fish and fermentation time is used, and cooks from each tradition often have a strong preference for their regional style. First-press fish sauce, drawn off earliest in fermentation, is considered the highest grade and is noticeably more expensive than later, weaker presses.
Is fish sauce the same in every dish?
No, its role changes depending on the dish, sometimes it is barely detectable, working purely as a salt replacement, and other times, such as in a dipping sauce, its distinct flavour is meant to come through clearly alongside lime and chilli.
The best fish sauce to buy in the UK
The best fish sauce for most home cooks is a high-nitrogen, anchovy-only sauce such as Red Boat or Three Crabs, rather than a diluted, sugar-heavy blend. A higher nitrogen percentage on the label means more fish protein and a longer, more traditional fermentation. Cheaper blends taste flatter and mostly just salty, with little of the deep savoury note that makes fish sauce worth using.
Fish sauce varies more between brands than most people expect, since the anchovy ratio and fermentation time differ a lot. This guide covers what to check on the label and which brands are easy to find in the UK.
What makes one fish sauce better than another
Traditional fish sauce is made from just anchovies and salt, fermented in barrels for months or even years. That slow fermentation builds a deep, savoury depth alongside the saltiness. Cheaper, mass-produced versions often cut the fermentation short and dilute it with water, sugar, and flavourings to make up the difference. The result tastes sharper and more one-note, without the same roundness.
Which fish sauce brands are sold in the UK
Squid Brand and Three Crabs are both widely available in UK Asian supermarkets and online, and both use a traditional anchovy fermentation. Red Boat is a premium option worth seeking out if you want the clearest single-ingredient flavour. Blue Dragon and Thai Taste, found in mainstream UK supermarkets, are milder and more diluted, a reasonable everyday option if depth of flavour matters less to you than convenience.
Vietnamese vs Thai style: which to buy
Vietnamese fish sauce, nuoc mam, tends to be funkier and more pungent. Thai fish sauce, nam pla, is often a touch lighter and slightly sweeter. Either works in most recipes. Reach for a Vietnamese style for pho and dipping sauces, and a Thai style for curries and stir fries where a lighter background note suits the dish better.
How to store fish sauce
Fish sauce does not need refrigerating thanks to its high salt content, though some people prefer to for a longer shelf life. Kept in a cool cupboard away from direct sunlight, an opened bottle lasts a long time, and a little sediment or crystallisation over months is normal rather than a sign it has spoiled.
An unopened bottle keeps for years. Once opened, the fridge is optional, though it slows the darkening and keeps the flavour fresher for longer.
Frequently asked questions
Does fish sauce taste fishy in the finished dish?
Not strongly, once cooked or balanced with other flavours it reads as savoury depth rather than fish.
Is there a vegetarian alternative to fish sauce?
Yes, a soy sauce and seaweed-based substitute gets partway there, sold as vegan fish sauce in some shops. See our fish sauce buying guide for brand options.
Does fish sauce need to be refrigerated?
No. It keeps well in a cool cupboard thanks to its high salt content, though the smell can mellow a little over time. Refrigeration is not required, but it does no harm either.
Can I substitute fish sauce with something else?
Soy sauce mixed with a little rice vinegar gets close for saltiness and a touch of tang, though it will not fully match the depth. See our full fish sauce substitute guide for ratios.
What is the difference between fish sauce and oyster sauce?
Fish sauce is thin and salty, made from fermented anchovies. Oyster sauce is thick and sweet-savoury, made from oyster extract. They are used differently and are not interchangeable.
Run out mid recipe? See our fish sauce substitute guide. Ready to put it to use, try our Thai green curry recipe.
Can I buy fish sauce in a regular UK supermarket?
Yes. Most large UK supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Morrisons and ASDA stock at least one brand of fish sauce in their world foods or international aisle. Blue Dragon is the most commonly found brand.
Shop this
- Fish sauce. The savoury base for Southeast Asian dressings and soups.
