Bear Flag Fish Company

Delicious food! And reasonable prices with large portions. It’s not a traditional restaurant atmosphere — more of a fish market vibe with both indoor and outdoor seating. Counter service, with food brought to your table. I got the large fish plate and my wife got the small. We also shared a calamari plate. We both were stuffed. Personally, I did not feel like the portion size for the calamari was large enough for the price, but the main courses we ordered more than made up for it. I highly recommend this spot for delicious seafood with a great selection at reasonable prices. If I were local, I’d definitely be back.

I had the bear flag taco which was ok (plain), the yellowtail taco which was good, caterpillar roll which was good and Smokey bear cocktail which was good. I didn’t taste anything excellent, but staff are friendly. Prices are what you expect for seafood. Very popular place so crowded but surprisingly the wait in line is not too long and there’s usually a few tables open, even on Sat afternoon. There’s an outdoor patio area with umbrellas.

Really good and fresh poke. The chips are very necessary. A lot of hype around this place, and it’s good! Probably stay with the fresh stuff. I got their cioppino too which was not good at all - watery and bland.

Good, not great. The side of veggies was very bland and obviously not sautéed, which is what I asked for. I got the bluefin tuna, which was good, but again not great. However the poke and chips were fantastic. Also fun having Asahi on tap

10/10 would recommend, but you knew that already. We got guac with the poke and that was a great combo. Also upgraded to the premium fish in the burrito and I’d highly recommend that if you can.

Wow... disappointing. We went here for my husbands birthday and this could be the worst sushi we've eaten and we even ate sushi in grand junction Colorado so we've had bad sushi. Obviously this is a fish restaurant but I just figured the sushi would be edible?! The roll was the only thing we got that was good (la bamba roll). Everything else (salmon plate, ono burrito, salmon nigiri and the bluefin tuna) was plain, nothing above standard and the sushi was almost inedible. Would highly NOT recommend. Oh also it took an hour to get our food.

The food is amazing! It is also a fish market so you can get fresh seafood. They have great food and drinks. I highly recommend getting the calamari.

Best poke I ever had. Absolutely delicious and fresh. Love the ambiance too.

First date with my wife was here :') we like to come back for anniversaries and special occasions. The things we really like: salmon burrito, salmon salad, fried calamari, poke burrito, some type of salmon roll (it was really fresh, maybe had lemon on it?). Recently we said next time we would split a burrito instead of getting 2, and then we'd get a roll or 2 and a side, like the fried calamari. I think we liked the salmon burrito more than the poke one. This place is always so busy and crowded but it's fun. I feel like I always see someone famous or semi-famous here too.

Came around 7pm and they were out of salmon for poke, very sad. + Make own bowl ($14): quarter pound ahi tuna, w cucumber, pickled carrot, ginger, cucumber, sprouts and spicy mayo side. Pretty bare bone poke bowl, was okay (7/10)

The poke and tacos here are great! I really liked their panko crusted fish taco, and the salmon and ahi poke was also good, just very spicy! Service is relatively quick despite at times a long line. Nice seating area outside and free parking.

Super solid and fresh food options. Very crowded place with long lines on the weekend. Reasonable prices (for the area) and pretty hefty portions. You order at the front and there are many options behind the "deli counter" kind of like a fish market vibe. If I lived closer to Newport, I'd totally get fish here to cook at home. Food is then delivered to your table. There's indoor seating and then an outdoor patio with umbrellas. We got the tuna poke bowl and the fish burrito. The tuna is sold by the pound. Definitely not the most authentic poke I've had but it was super fresh and the furikake brought it all together. The cucumber spirals were also such a nice, crunchy textural contrast to the vinegary rice. The wasabi salsa was super unique and added some much needed spice to the dish. The burrito could've had a better char on the outside but, hey, it's on the inside what really counts, am I right. The proportion of rice, beans, veggies and fish was perfect. Made for such a solid bite. Would've preferred a like to a lemon but not too much to complain about.

There's a line for a reason. Always skeptical when something has such a hype and ultimately it is hard to find seating, but the fish is worth it. There's an interesting dichotomy between regular and "premium" fish that I don't totally understand in terms of ordering but there are plenty of regular options I don't think you need to necessarily go for premium. Tuna poke: we got this to go. Chips were delicious. The poke itself was pretty good. A little pricey and probably wouldn't get again. The grouper fish sandwich was delicious. Huge portion of fish, well seasoned, bread crispy. Fish tacos: Seabass was far superior than the bluefine tuna ("premium") and was a great taco. The line does take a few minutes, as does getting your food. But it's worth the wait. Parking seems intimidating but ends up being not so bad once you realize there's a lot.

Not much to say other than fresh and flavorful fish! The poke is pretty close to Hawaiian poke. Great location. Guac and sauces are excellent as well.

Haven't been to Bear Flag in 10 years and the food still holds up. Came here on a weekend afternoon so the line was out the door but it moved pretty quickly. They had a lot of outdoor seating so we weren't too concerned about not getting a spot. We ordered the following: Bear Flag Tacos | Panko-crusted white fish | $11.50 for 2 - Their tacos are a pretty solid order. You can upgrade to other types of fish for a charge but the white fish is simple but good. It's not too fishy tasting too so a potential option for people who are not very into seafood. Small Seafood Plate | 1/3 pound of choice of fish & 2 sides | $14.95 - Got the Atlantic Salmon with a side of mixed veggies and brown rice. The salmon was cooked perfectly and they gave a side of their special sauce, which was very tasty. The mixed veggies surprised me a bit because these are usually bland whenever you get them as a side, but the mixed veggies here were very flavorful and had a good assortment. All in all, I was very happy with the food. The service can be tricky given how busy they are, but for the price and quality of the food, I can't complain. Also, the staff we interacted with were pretty kind and helpful. I think the people who were having trouble with service quality might've gone on really busy days.

This place is so good I loved how fresh it was. The line is long but it moves fast. It does get crowded so finding a seat may be hard but people are constantly coming and going so it shouldn't take too long. Cute place!

On Sunday, July 20th, I went to Newport Beach and got lunch to-go from Bear Flag Fish. There were a lot of people and a long line -- it seemed like a popular local spot. We ordered a shrimp skewer, a sandwich, and salmon to-go. The shrimp skewer wasn't cut, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't cut it properly, which made it really difficult to eat. In the end, I had no choice but to bite into it directly, and afterwards, I ended up getting a blister on my lip. Their chips and tuna tartare seemed to be popular items, and they were actually delicious.

Parking was pretty easy here and there's a lot around the location. The line is long and it takes a bit to get to the cashier and it is self seating. We ordered a poke bowl, clam chowder and ceviche- all of which was delicious. The ceviche was probably my favorite, honestly. The bread bowl was disappointing to whom I had gone witb but overall the soup was good. Would I come here again? Probably.

The poke at Bear Flag was honestly pretty good! However for the price, I feel that I can get just as great of poke at another place! Granted, Bear Flag is at a nicer area which is understandable! I would still come back! Bear Flag has always been busy every time I've gone but service is quick and easy! I really like the shop is open and bright!

My fiancé and I have eaten here every week for years, I always ask for fish to be cooked "WELL DONE"...every time (due to Drs orders and a bacteria sensitivity), once in a while they get it right, there's usually a long wait to get food and then I have to wait another 15 minutes to make my food the way I ordered it. Today I ordered a fish dinner plate "to go", and received a gelly, undercooked fish wherein the core wasn't even warm, I was hungry and ate it since I didn't have time to go back, my food has been coming back up all night. This is completely avoidable, please have a talk with your kitchen that "well done" means WELL DONE. I know it gets busy but they have one job and fail at getting this right 9 out of 10 times. This is gross negligence and/or laziness!!!

Tied for best sushi I've ever had with spots in Hawaii. Order at a counter and receive a number and food is brought to you. Lots of outdoor seating with a food-hall vibe and seating indoors. Sushi is phenomenal- fresh and flavorful. Always a favorite when visiting

The sea bass burrito cooked in lemon butter is beyond delicious. I recommend eating a burrito in the restaurant since they cut it in half and give you a lemon slice too! The Clooney margarita hit the spot and is pretty ideal when the wait time can be a bit long!

I came on a Saturday and it was busy but luckily I did not have to wait in line. I got the salmon poke bowl and it was DELICIOUS! The fish tasted so fresh and soft. You get to pick what kind of rice and up to 4 veggies. There are 2 types of sauces you get to pick from as well. Highly recommend!

usually never go for poke but since my friends and i were having a beach day, it was super fitting! we came right at the peak of lunchtime so the line extended through the door, but so worth for quality fish. for it being a small plate, the portion was incredibly generous and filling! the ahi tasted fresh, tender and almost buttery it paired nicely with the rice, though i wasn't the biggest fan of the default tangy, sushi-style base as you'd get with other places too -- i def prefer just plain rice instead. the mixed veggies were also well seasoned and complemented the ahi!

Oh my god!! The ceviche with nachos are amazing and tuna poke. Next best to Hawaii. OMG!! Go on Taco Tuesday for amazaaaaaaing fish tacos. Service, it's busy but they're definitely professionals and are friendly. Niiiice ambiance, perfect for any vibe really. I saw first dates there, families, and regulars. I'm going back here every. single. time. I go to Newport Beach again.

Food here is always great and fresh. Its also convenient that they have a free parking lot whereas everywhere else in the area is paid parking. We went on a sunday and waited in line for about 15 min and it was kind of hard to find a seat for two. The seats we did find were not super clean so would appreciate a bit more cleanliness and attention to detail. However food came out in a timely manner and food was great. Def decommend the ceviche.

Good spot to get your poke fix. The line was out the door, it took about 15 minutes after placing my order. The place was pretty packed, but they have lots of seating outside. Ordered the Bear Flag Burrito. It was light and could have used more sauce and seasoning, honestly prefer chipotle but overall a decent burrito. Got half pound of salmon poke for about $12 - they also see 1/4 for about $6. Large cuts of fish! The sauce was very simple, personally prefer a spicy mayo but I really loved the quality and would definitely come back and order this again. I liked how they gave chips too!

I hate complaining about restaurants that I know are good but wow... 30 minute wait for cold soggy tacos... things have certainly changed here and not for the best. Very unfortunate!!

I've had this place bookmarked for a while now so I'm glad I finally tried it. We got 1/2lb of both salmon and ahi tuna poke. Both were fresh and delicious but I preferred the tuna poke. Tortilla chips are already included with poke orders but we decided to also get a side of white rice. The rice added flavor and texture to the chip with poke. Also, our first impression after seeing the container portion was to doubt whether it would be filling but it definitely was! There was a long line we got there but it moved quickly and we received our order even quicker. The dine in ambience also looks amazing. We decided to place our order to go but will be back for dine in.

I am so confused by the amount of hype this place has. There is simply a lack of salt in all of our dishes. So very bland! We came at open, so we were one of the first ones there. It took about 20-30 minutes to get us poke, two tacos, and a guppy plate. There is minimal inside seating and more seating outside. Thank goodness I only got a quarter pound of the ahi poke and salmon poke to try. BTW it comes with a bag of chips each. I was so disappointed by this, as this was the one I was looking forward to the most. The only thing that was salted was the chips. The fish itself was fine? But the seasoning was nonexistent. The two fish tacos that we got were so bland as well. I mean sure, add more of their many sauces to add flavor. But why do we have to do that to enjoy the tacos? Lastly, the guppy plate. Hey, the vegetables were really seasoned, but the fish was super bland (which is fine in this case for a kids plate)! To preface: at the time of eating it fresh my toddler was already fussy. So even eating this he had some sort of VISCERAL reaction to the fish. I didn't think much of it, so I boxed it up to eat at home. Upon reheating it again, he had the SAME reaction. Wondering why, I tried his section of the fish and WOW it was SO SPICY. Like... REALLY SPICY, but only a small section of the fish. I had my husband double check this to make sure and he agreed. Yeah so, no thanks. I have had so much better poke elsewhere.

We had poke and the bear flag taco, the poke was great and came served with chips but the taco was the star of the show, the sauce on the taco was really good and the panko breading was just right.

I ordered the fish tacos, one Mahi and one Wahoo. They were fine. My family members enjoyed the poke bowls. I tried a bite of the burrito my sister got, and it was good! I would go back, but get the burrito. Service was friendly and the restaurant has a very fun vibe. Lots of outdoor seating in a cute courtyard.

The girl that took our order was so sweet & gave the best recs (I think her name was Katelynn) Ordered the burrito with blackened mahi mahi and it was DIVINE. I'll be dreaming of it until next time.

Suuuuuuuuper long line, but i was in the mood to wander, so thought id do something i NEVER do, and wait. The prices are fair and the decor very cute. Light beachy vibe. Fun spot with fresh fish and great mexican and sushi menu. Soooo California! I just ordered the poke which was premade (so/so). Still took 20 min from ordering to delivery at the table. I had to go up and ask. They lost my order. Oye. Thank goodness i had a skinny margarita

I am in love with Bear flag's food, always fresh and delicious. Ive been going to both locations for years and the food doesn't disappoint! I love their salmon bear flag burritos, and I substitute cucumbers for beans. Their ceviche and ahi tuna is a great choice for take out! This time we took our dog and sat in the patio which is very nice and dog friendly, although the restaurant (inside) only allows service dogs.

Got a 1/2 lb of tuna and 1/2 lb of salmon poke after a day of walking around Lido Marina Village and it was such a great meal. The poke comes with chips and the crunchiness pairs with the fresh fish so well. The poke is so flavorful and I could probably finish one pound by myself if I wanted to. The area where this restaurant is located is so nice and the vibes are so much better when the weather is warm and sunny.

This place has the best poke bowls. The parking can be a little tricky if it's a busy Saturday, but other than that, it's fairly easy to get to. This is the type of place that you order at the front and go sit down. They keep it relatively clean with a kind of casual beachy sailor vibe indoors.

Their fish plates are one of my favorites now! The red snapper always has the best bite and flavor and cooked to perfection. Their sides are always fresh and substantial. The service is quick and I appreciate them delivering your plates to your table.

Fresh poke, fast service, and friendly staff! I ordered half a pound of salmon poke with a side of rice, and everything tasted incredibly fresh and flavorful. The portion was just right. I also tried their fish taco, and it was absolutely delicious -- crisp, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Great spot for a quick and satisfying meal.

My fav place for poke! I love picking up a container or two and snacking by the beach!

The freshness of the food, the location of the restaurant with the sea breeze coming at your face, it's so relaxing. Food is always good here.

Came here yesterday to order food to go. We ordered the Ahi and salmon poke, two burritos and grilled artichoke. Cashier said the grilled artichoke was popular and was very good. When I opened up the container for the artichoke it smelled great, but unfortunately it was quite undercooked and was completely inedible. As I was peeling off some leaves, I found a dead bug that looked like a green worm. Gross!! There goes my $11.00. What a waste of money!! The poke was good and the burritos were ok. I don't think I will be returning anytime soon.

Simple, fresh, efficient, and fast. That describes everything at Bear Flag Fish. Great restaurant to go to for a leisurely day around Lido Village.

Poke is fresh and delicious! I've been here a few times and every single poke session is refreshin! Always hits the spot! And I can guarantee you everything else is top tier over here. From grilled to fried menu items, everything is a hit here. When my wife and I decide to go out for the day it's usually somewhere by the beach or coast. Located in a small village (plaza-esq), with fishing gear stores to hobby and decor shops. Lays this gem of a location, Bear Flag fish. Just a few minutes walk from the harbor you can get some of the freshest seafood in town. Oh and parking is free! Always packed, and always fresh ingredients. We opt for the poke bowls all the time. My order always consists of getting the half pound poke mix of tuna and salmon on white rice with a choice of 4 toppings (12 options total). My go to is seaweed salad, picked ginger, green onion and last cucumber all with extra Tommy sauce. All in all great stuff. I'll keep it genuine doesn't compare to what you get in Hawaii but still super fresh and delicious. You got sriracha and soy sauce on the side. Plus many other condiments for whatever you order. Also food comes quick, depending on line and how packed the location is. So if you're ever looking for that bomb poke spot or just some grilled fish tacos, this is it. Located in a beautiful area, super safe and convenient to explore. This is the right place to go for all your seafood desires!

What's happening to Bear Flag? We went yesterday to get our usual Salmon Poke Burrito. We noticed weeks ago that the size of the burrito had really shrink. But my comment today is not even about the size. Did they change the cook? My burrito was filled with a bunch of jalapeno piece (a lot), then I kept finding bones in mine, while my boyfriend found pieces of plastic! What the heck is going on? I've been going to Bear Flag since they opened the 1st one behind my house on 31st street. It's been great till now! We were both really really disappointed. Get your s...t back together Bear Flag, please!

Probably one of the best poke spots I've had. My husband said this was one of the best fish burritos he's ever eaten. Clean interior. Beautiful exterior to sit outside and enjoy the food. The staff was very, very helpful and the service was really quick. They even sell fish for you to take home which we also wanted to do but we had a long day so we didn't want the fish to sit in the car. Definitely going back.

Bear Flag is one of my go-to spots. We love the Ahi poke. We always get a poke bowl (1/2 lb ahi), 1/2 lb ahi poke, and a 12 oz clam chowder. Poke bowl - they use the same ahi as when you buy it a la carts. Decent portion size, fresh toppings. We like 1/2 rice, 1/2 greens. Ahi poke - good flavor, not fishy, comes with chips 12 oz clam chowder - consistent, hot bowl of soup, good flavor.

In a beautiful location with great seafood offerings, Bear Flag doesn't miss. The line can get long but definitely serves a testament to their popularity. We waited about 10-15 minutes for lunch this past Sunday. My go-to is their poke bowl, where the cucumbers and watermelon radish are neatly sliced. My fave topping that you don't see at many poke places is the pickled carrot. The spicy sauce on the fish is a great choice along with the chili crunch! Parking wasn't terrible either - we were able to find a spot in the adjacent lot. If you park in the structure I believe they will validate! This is a summer must.

This is one of my favorite places to get fresh poke! Ordering is quick and convenient, making it an ideal stop for any beach day. I always enjoy coming here with friends and family to enjoy their food. I definitely prefer their poke and chips over their poke bowls, but still recommend everyone try their stuff out to see what they like. Service is always friendly and helpful!

The ahi tuna was delicious and I would come back solely for that. The bowl I ordered was good, but I didn't love the salmon. I'm not sure if it lacked flavor or if the ahi tuna was just so much better but next time I will get all tuna. I also enjoyed the chili garlic flakes and I recommend for anyone who gets a poke bowl. My fiancée ordered the La bamba roll, which was solid but nothing special. It is on the expensive side ($58 total for about 4 items) but definitely high quality, delicious fresh fish

My favorite seafood in OC. I recommend the tuna poke, guac, seaweed salad. It makes a great bite on a chip, trust me, and add a little Tommy sauce. The tacos and burritos are also solid but a bit heavy, depends what you're looking for a in a meal. Everyone there is super friendly and can help you with the menu. I love the vibe, and seating (you order and sit down). I'd like to try the sushi too sometime soon.

A 1/2 pound of the salmon poke is the perfect amount to satisfy my craving. I love the poke from here!

Still as good and fresh as always! I've been coming here for almost a decade now and quality never disappoints. It's definitely become a lot busier over the years but I will always stop by to get my poke fix if I'm in the area!

One of my fav places to eat when I'm near Newport or Huntington also has a location This is a spot where everything on the menu is delicious! Perfect when you're going to the beach Chips and guac by the beach with either some sushi or fish burrito. Delicious!!

I came for dinner on a Sunday night, it was busy with a line out the door, but it moved quickly. You order at the counter and get a number, then the food is brought to the table. They have indoor and outdoor seating with heaters. I ordered the hurricane roll & bear flag roll. The fish was fresh & I loved the sauce on it. Parking- shared parking lot with other businesses

Fresh seafood, quality ingredients, Nice ambiance with indoor & outdoor dining. Busy place. Order at the front counter, so it's helpful to check out the expansive menu in advance. Be sure to view the special fish for the day. They also offer fresh raw oysters on the half shell which are not on the menu. We ordered a poke bowl with half ahi tuna & half salmon on salad greens with 4 ingredients they let you pick. We picked for the poke, edamame, pickled carrots, seaweed salad & cucumber. They neglected to included the cucumber but while we were not happy because the bowl was something like $20 and it's not like it was a ton of ingredients to remember, we just call it as oversight on the part of the staff. Speaking of oversight, when the staff brought our food, they only gave us eating intensive for one person but there were clearly two of us sitting there. Hello? We had the salad with fish and choose blackened walu which was good. It was very firm but perhaps that it how it's supposed to be. We also ordered 4 oysters on the half shell which were good. Nice alcoholic selections. We had a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio which were perfect for the meal. Overall a good meal but some little misses on details and service. They were quick to clear our table while we were still drinking our wine. Just wished they were that quick to notice the other things overlooked. Expensive lunch at about $90 including tax and tip for a casual place.

Best salmon, and best poke bowl I have ever had.. Very nice atmosphere too, girlfriend got Tuna she said the same thing.