Fish 101

Fish 101 is a great place to go in Cardiff when you're in the mood for seafood. I've been there a few times, had a few different dishes and each one came out hot, fresh and delicious. The fish taste fresh, veggies also prepared fresh, and the latest side dish I've tried was the tomato and coconut milk soup. Wow, very flavorful! Fish 101 is usually crowded but the service is still very welcoming and friendly. The workers are always busy, clearing tables, delivering your meals to each customer, and making sure the atmosphere is comfortable and clean. Ive only tried a few dishes so far but Ive seen many customers devouring many of their other dishes. I highly recommend Fish 101, you won't be disappointed.

I'll start with what I didn't like for the sake of the reader. This place is very small, with limited seating. Parking is also tight. There isn't really much service here. You order from the counter, and someone will drop off your food by a marker number. After that, you're on your own. I had a party of 4, and all of the appetizers dishes I had to bus myself. I asked for appetizers to be sent out first, and the main dishes 2nd, yet everything came at once so we had no room on the table. Aside from that I loved the food. The oysters were very fresh and tasted really good! The burrito was fat and filling! The poke was delicious as well!

You can find good food at Fish 101. While not innovative or imaginative, you can get classic dishes with large portions for acceptable prices. It is an easy recommendation. We stopped by for lunch and luckily found seating. It is a bit limited in seating. Staff was friendly and patient as we decided our order. Ended up getting the Poke with Tortilla Chips, Mahi Tacos, and the Baja Fried Shrimp Burrito. They nailed the classic Hawaiian Poke flavor, though it could use a tad more seasoning. And the amount of Poke was a bit small, it doesn't help that it's served on a giant tray in a small bowl (it makes it seem even less than it actually is). The tortilla chips were standard issue restaurant style. Nothing special there. The Mahi Tacos had the classic baja taste and the fish was tender and juicy. My only gripe is the typical "soggy Dorito" type of tortilla used. I hate this type of tortilla but it's the most common one you'll run into. Lastly the Baja Fried Shrimp Burrito. This thing is massive. I could only eat half and had to pack the rest for later. It also had the classic Baja flavors here and was seasoned nicely. The shrimp, while not that sweet, were large, and had a nice bite/texture to it. Unfortunately the breading on the shrimp gets soggy. It would be nice if they figure out how to keep it crunchy long term so it provides a nice texture change from the all soft stuffings in the burrito. While there are some minor short comings, Fish 101 is an easy recommendation. The portion sizes should leave you filled without breaking the bank. Try to avoid peak times to ensure a seat otherwise be prepared to get take out.

Seriously fresh and welcoming. People were waiting before opening. Delicious 😋 accommodating for shellfish allergies if you let them know!

While the food was fresh, and the service what I expected, the food was bland and simple. I had the grilled shrimp tacos and my wife had a Mahi Mahi bowl. Both came with a green sauce. Neither of us could detect a flavor from the sauce. Her comment was the bowl had plenty of rice but was short on beans and fish. My shrimp tacos had plenty of shrimp and cabbage, it was lacking in flavor. The price was good and the portion plentiful, the taste was meh.

Why dont restaurants update their menus on Google? This happens all the time. 1.25 for oysters on the website 3.00 at the restaurant. Big selection of salds online 2 options at the restaurant. The service was good. The food is good and a decent value. I had the poke bowl it was a good portion but needed a little siracha sauce. I would eat there again.

Awesome staff. Fresh, clean food. Can’t leave without trying the dole whip.

the best fish I’ve ever had in my life. and it’s not too pricey and they always have super quick service.

Fish 101 is one of my absolute favorite restaurants, and I always come back here. This is the perfect place to bring anyone who is in town and looking to have super fresh fish. I am very, very picky about the quality and selection of fish that I consume, and Fish 101's fish is caught daily and as fresh as it can get. I love the salmon bowl with salmon, brown rice, baby kale, and their chipotle mayo--it's simply outstanding. I also sometimes get the clam chowder, which is a 10 out of 10 for me. It has the perfect creamy texture and is packed with seafood and delicious vegetables. Some other menu items that I love are the Poke Bowl and the seafood curry. Both are incredibly flavorful and fresh. I am a longtime Fish 101 fan and love it so much. Highly recommend!

Ordered takeout via their website, so this review is solely based on their food! Got the poke bowl, Baja fish burrito, Mahi tacos, and fish sticks from the kids menu (this is basically a small plate of fish and chips). The Mahi didn't have much flavor but I'm guessing they expect you to salsa it up a bit more. The fish burrito was huge! Everything very reasonably priced and at a convenient location! Would come back for those giant fish burritos if we're back in the area!

The fish n chips were about a 9. Which is pretty good. The staff is amazing! The ambience is casual.

Sunny day in Cardiff! First visit to "Fish 101". It's an "order at the counter...deliver to your table" GEM at the coast‼ Huge menu. I had the Baja Fish Tacos (3). Comes with a delicious Verde Sauce. Enjoyed EVERY bite! They may have surpassed "The Brigantine's" which, I know, unimaginable. My lunch mates enjoyed the "Spicy Ahi Tacos" and the "Grilled Mahi Tacos". We shared a VERY nice bottle of Chardonnay. There is indoor and outdoor seating and it's dog friendly. I can't wait to visit the Leucadia location which is closer to my home.

This place was great. Just arrived in from out of town wanting to have lunch. You order at the counter which service was great and the person was pleasant. Food brought to the table had grilled shrimp tacos and my husband had the grilled mahi sandwich which came out hot and pretty big piece of fish. Tacos were so filling. There is seating inside and out. We sat inside but next time I would love to sit outside which is like bar seating and you look out to the street beach can be seen as well. Nice little place.

Fish and chips were very good.service was quick.Ambulance rock and roll music and picnic style tables . It's nice for a quick lunch. I'm going to try a salad for lunch the next time.

Great food & fast service. It's a crowded Wednesday night at 6:30 and they do not disappoint. My previous review from a year ago is upped one star as they are consistently on top of their game. Great fish tacos and clam chowder. This time order beer on tap which they offered a taste first. My wife who is not a soda drnker enjoyed her Stubborn Soda: Pineapple Cream. Next time in SoCal it's a definite stop.

Live this place! I'm usually there at least once a week. The people are always friendly & helpful. My go tos are the grilled fish tacos or grilled fish bowl, but you really can't go wrong with anything you get. Place is cool with a beachy vibe.

Outstanding!! Really feel, great value, casual and good selection. Feels like a cool neighborhood joint. Fish was cooked perfectly.

Reasonable super fresh seafood. Fried tuna taco special was unbelievable and a ton of food

Food: Fish N' Chips were excellent. Flavorful and pleasantly crunchy. Surprisingly filling with just 2 pieces (and I eat a lot), with lots of fries left over to fill up if I wanted. The house made tartar sauce it comes with is really good, but they give you a small amount proportionate to the amount of fish, so I recommend asking for extra sauce ahead of time. Also, they are very generous with the fries. This is the Way. Parking: Street parking. There is a big parking lot next door, but technically Fish 101 isn't alloted for that area. Shouldn't have trouble finding a spot regardless. Seating: Plenty inside. Service: Servers were quick and efficient. More than happy to help out with requests. Interior vibe feels kind of islander. It's nice, especially on a sunny weekend mood.

Good deal for fresh fish. Fish & chips (with more than enough chips), grilled mahi mahi and shrimp tacos were all excellent - and decent price. Small and local. Nice, friendly service. Definitely on my return list when in the area.

Very good food. Ordered at front and then they delivered to you. Good staff. Not a fancy place but plenty busy. Tables close together. Not a really big place.

The fish and chips here may be some of the best I've had in a while. Light and crispy batter, tender, delicious fish in the middle. Reasonably priced, generous sized pieces of fish. The rice bowl with fish was alright, but maybe a little bland in comparison. It had a light and healthy feel to it, and the ingredients were fresh. Could've used a nice pico or something else to jazz it up a bit more, although the tomatillo salsa that comes with it was good. Indoor and outdoor bar style seating with heat lamps, service was fast and friendly, bathroom was clean. Parking was available right out front as well as along the side streets. Nice place to grab a quick bite and watch a bunch of nice camper vans and decked out trucks cruise by.

Fish 101 was pretty good. I had the Tomato Coconut Soup and the Poke Bowl. My companion ordered the grille Mahi Mahi plate. All were pretty tasty. Love the casual yet relaxed vibe here. (I was especially grateful for the A/C on this humid day. :) This is a cashless location. There is a small parking lot in front shared with the neighboring businesses. Otherwise there is plenty of neighborhood parking. This place is within walking distance to Cardiff-by-the-Sea Beaches and Campgrounds.

I was so excited to try Fish 101 after seeing people with merch and Yelp food photos. Honestly, it was just ok. The good: broccolini & Baja fish tacos--tasty and the right consistency and texture. The ok: Baja shrimp tacos & salmon tacos--both had good texture, but lacked in flavor, especially when compared to the Baja fish tacos The bad: tortilla chips--stale!!; guacamole--just blended up avocado...so close to Mexico, I would think they would spruce it up a bit.

Solid local place. Great food, super fresh and cool vibes. apparently I need to write more for this review, lol.

cute place right near the water. Staff was friendly. The poke bowl was absolutely amazing. Clam chowder was good as well- not the best I've had but decent. Has a bit of outside seating. Service was efficient. would def come back for the poke!

Had a disappointing experience here. Burritos were missing the chipotle sauce and were really bland, especially mahi-mahi. Tomato coconut soup was delicious but we the bowls were barely filled and it was two bites Tomato coconut soup - ordered 2 of these and they came 1/3 of the way full. When I called they said they ran out of smaller cups so they put them in larger cups but the cups they came in were by no means large and there's no way with the amount it was filled that is equals their normal size. There was no soup! See photos. It was delicious though, I must admit Salmon burrito, add guac - barely any guac (we paid extra) and they forgot the chipotle sauce inside. We actually requested extra chortle sauce inside and got none at all. Salmon didn't have much flavor, didn't notice any seasoning. The whole thing was bland. Portion was not too big either, nor enough fish and lots of rice as filler Mahi-mahi burrito, add guac - barely any guac (we paid extra) and they forgot the chipotle sauce inside. We actually requested extra chortle sauce inside and got none at all. Fish had even less flavor than the salmon, didn't notice any seasoning once again. The whole thing was painfully bland, even compared to the salmon. Portion was not too big either, nor enough fish and lots of rice as filler $42 or so for all this so we paid a lot and no one was satisfied :( Called the restaurant to mention the lack of soup and sauce and they said they would refund but that was a couple days ago and I didn't receive a refund.

Fast, fresh, and Fantastic. Everything that came out was delicious. More than worth your money for great seafood or vegetarian food.

Went on to Fish 101 on a Saturday night for a quick bite. Casual spot, a surf video on the big screen and order at the counter and your food is brought out fairly quick to your table. Not many spots to sit outside, but was able to find a high top for 4 just in time-I'd say the size is the only negative as you only order one group at a time in a standing line at the counter and it is a smaller restaurant overall during busy times. Staff was friendly. Ordered the veggie burrito and did not have high hopes it would anything special, but it was delicious- excellent tortilla, pico, chipotle crema and all other ingredients were flavorful and good. Got a side of their house made hot sauce which was awesome as well. For the price paid definitely reasonable, solid food that filled me up and would order again. Other people in the crew liked the large sized farmers market salad and the fish tacos. A few good beers available as well. Will definitely stop by next time in town.

Looking for a lighter meal and craving seafood! Check this plate out! I had gone to the Leucadia location awhile back and now they have this location in Cardiff! Was craving seafood, so told the hubby I wanted lunch here! Got the salmon plate with rice & broccolini and the hubby got the mahi mahi plate with rice & brussel sprouts! Yum! Hit the spot! Not too huge of a space, but we were able to snag seating outside. Since I have been cooped up in the office for a few months, it's nice to have lunch outdoors! Definitely put this place on your list to go!

Best fish tacos I've had in a while! Enjoyed the Poke and fish burrito. I'll be back.

Food- Delicious! Got the fish & Chips Service- was very nice and Friendly Ambiance- nice setup for inside and outdoor eating. I'm going to give it four stars could've been five if the the person taking my order would have informed me how good the fish was so I could've order a third piece lol! Just playing I give it 4.5 lemonade was really good but I'm disappointed that they couldn't make a fried fish sandwich only grilled.

Poke bowl is so good & fresh! Perfect ratio of fish to rice and service was fast. Love this place for quick lunch

Food is just ok. My first time here I got the shrimp tacos. Nothing special and bland. Came again for another chance still with an open mind since our friends really like this place. This time I ordered the special - grilled fish sandwich. Got my order and there wasn't even fish on my sandwich. They made me a new order and were apologetic, but then the fish was very dry. My husband got the poke both times and said it was fresh and loves it. I'm not convinced. The service is ok. The staff are very nice however the lady that took our order didn't smile or greet us or say thank you or anything. Maybe she was having a bad day. Ambiance is super chill. The inside is pretty small. Usually have to wait for a table but it goes fairly quick. Our friends love this place so that'll probably be the only reason I go back.

Ok place to have some tacos if you are in the area an hungry. I had higher expectations the first time, the fish in my tacos seemed like frozen and then not fully cooked. I had to request the sauces apart, this is not Rubios where you can freely add. I thought might be a bad day but then I went another time and similar experience. Not terrible but just ok. The restaurant is inviting, though, very cute and they have a gift shop/merch area.

Great place to go when you want a good meal in Encinitas. Food was great and satisfying. We had the fish and shrimp burritos. Price is not cheap but certainly worth it. Service was fast and friendly and the place is clean and has a nice vibe to it. Definitely will be back.

We came here for dinner on a Saturday evening around 7 and it wasn't too busy. They have a very good menu selection. We ordered the poke bowl, fish bowl with mahi mahi, and a bowl of their tomato coconut soup. The soup was excellent. The portion size is a bit on the small side but it was a good complement to the meal. The Poke bowl was very good. The fish was fresh and the flavoring was very good - not too salty or bland. You can order the fish bowl with either salmon or mahi mahi. I chose mahi mahi and it was okay. The size of the bowl was good and was filling but it was mostly rice and beans. The amount of kale was good. The portion size of the fish was small and on the dry side. However, it did come with a couple sauces which helped. I also got it with avocado which helped with the dryness. Overall, the quality of food here is good, the prices are fair, and the staff was friendly. It was definitely worth the visit.

I'd give this place 3.5 stars for my to-go order of fish curry w/ brown rice. The curry was a light broth, and it felt healthier than some of the thick curries that one might get at a Thai or Indian restaurants. Although the flavor was fine, I enjoy a spicier dish, and I'll have to remember to ask them to spice it up if I order it again in the future. The vegetables and the mahi-mahi in the dish were really good, but the shrimp in the dish was just okay (I definitely would've preferred the dish if they had replaced the shrimp with more mahi mahi). Service was quick, and the price was reasonable for the quality and quantity of food.

Always great fish meals at Fish 101. I've been there several times and it never disappoints. The Salmon or Mahi grilled tacos are great and the grilled Mahi burrito is excellent. Seating is a bit tight, but they do have some outdoor seating. My go to place. The service is quick and the everyone is very friendly.

BOMB.COM!!! Everyone that works here seems to genuinely happy to be working here. Which sets a really welcoming vibe. I appreciate that! The menu is straight forward. I chose the magi tacos which come with 3. It took about it just under 10 minutes to get my food (if you're eating in, they bring it to you). SUPER delicious tacos! The fish was fresh off the grill, seasoned to perfection, and the texture was so soft. The fresh cabbage, pico, and Mexican crema was cold and fresh! I . Low . This . Place!! Off the charts delicious! Count me in to eat here at least once a week from now on!

Outstanding service, good food, friendly staff and great atmosphere, good prices. Nice sit down indoors not to big.

We usually always choose Fish 101 when it comes to date night. We had an especially great experience last night and it made me wonder why it took me so long to write a review. The service is always so friendly and accommodating. The owners are amazing too! My husband goes back and forth between the bowls and burritos but I can't bring myself to order anything other than the mahi tacos (with extra crema of course!). Last night we topped it off with the strawberry hibiscus margarita by Seaborn and we were both amazed at how delicious it was! Along with the great merchandise (we can't stop buying hats!), they also sell their delicious hot sauce, so there is always a reason to stop by next time you're driving by!

Fish 101 isn't fancy, but it doesn't pretend to be. If you want good food with great flavor, check it out. The clam chowder isn't overly heavy on the cream and is packed with flavor. A cup isn't enough, but if you want tacos then a bowl will be too much. The spicy tuna tacos were some of the best I've had. Tuna was prepared perfectly, and there was enough to be meaty, without being fishy. It looks like the cabbage on top is a lot, but when the tacos are separated it is just the right amount. Patios with heaters are in both the front and the back, so there is plenty of room. Food service is extremely efficient. Will definitely eat here again on my next visit.

This is my go to seafood restaurant in North County. The food is consistently fresh and the food quality and portion sizes are good. There is a relaxed atmosphere and service is good. Thank you fish 101 :)

This was the worst clam chowder I have ever had. They are better off to call it potatoe starch soup, two small pieces of shrimp, tons of potatoes. It cost $17, was not worth $2 for the ingredients.

I'm very sad to report that a previous favorite has started to slide. I recently moved away from the area and haven't been to Fish 101 in a while. I, and everyone I brought here, have always been crazy about the fish tacos. So my first visit back meant a stop for fish tacos for lunch. I fear the economy is making them choose to cheap out on some aspects that contributed to the quality experienced on previous visits. Where there used to two fresh corn tortillas to support each taco, there was one harder, maybe stale, corn tortilla. Guacamole and salsa used to be a part of the platter. Now you have to pay for a side. It just didn't have that fresh quality this time. It makes me sad when a restaurant cuts quality instead of raising prices. I've seen many restaurants make that choice and soon go under as customers become disappointed with the drop in quality they were accustomed to. I hope they make it through.

Be careful at this location if you are trying to use their gold gift card. They sell them, but can't seem to honor them... They couldn't seem to get the card to work but told us they would figure it out and to go ahead and order/eat. Half way through the meal the waitress comes over and tells us she can't get it to work and that we will have to pay the $60 bill with a credit card. She didn't even offer a discount or free item from our order to compensate. $60 out of pocket instead of using the $50 gift card (and $10 out of pocket) was a damn expensive lunch we were not anticipating and can't really afford. I will never spend another dime at this company and will ensure I inform my co-workers (from whom I received the gift card) of my experience.

Evan , the best server, was so great today!!! Saved my purse that I left by mistake!!!! The food is sooo good here, everyone is terrific , thank u Evan for turning in my purse with ALL the $1000's!!!!!

I went for the fish & chips but wound up getting the mahi bowl with brown rice which was healthier & excellent. The wife got a Mexican Coke & the fish tacos and loved them and we shared an order of the balsamic brussels sprouts which were delicious. We returned later in the week for my fish & chips but I ended up with the Fish curry & brown rice which was outstanding. Again, the wife got Baja fish tacos & again, the Brussel sprouts. The fish tacos come in 3's & the wife only beats 2 so I SCORE!!

Excellent! Fresh fish and a great ocean vibe. We enjoyed our tacos and polo bowl. We are now big fans and will be back!!

If the service was better, it would have 2 more stars. The food was great, I order chips and Guac. BOMB! and also decided to get the shrimp burrito. BOMB and big(ate the 2nd half the next day). I stood in the "to-go-section" for about 5 mins before being helped, while 3 other customers, who came in after me were helped within seconds...that right there I didnt appreciate. When I'm spending money at your spot and there's not even "ill be right with you" or "just a min" noooo!!! not when there is other places I can for sure eat at!! NO MAAM!! Looking at some of the past comments looks like I'm not the only one who has experienced sh&^%y service.

Some of the best fish and chips Ive had. Up in the top 3. Batter crispy and light. Fish great. Even though my fries got steamed and a lil old on my drive home I could still tell they were freshly made and devoured them where ordinarily I'd toss takeout fries. They would have been 100 if I ate them right away. Clam chowder was pretty good although I can be rigid about how I like it. I am fully anti-bacon in clam chowder, I find it lazy and a distracting flavor. However I didnt pay attention when I ordered it so here I am. The bacon was subtle but I nevertheless noticed a salty bite that gave it away, I didnt prefer. Thankfully the bits were small and did not overpower the chowder the way most places make it so they did a good job & I finished it off. Will return no doubt!

Totally sold out! The quality of the fish here is now garbage! The owner(s) are trying to cut costs so badly they destroyed their reputation with myself and all my buddies. They even have a manned salsa bar where you get a scoff when asking for more than 1 salsa (and they are miniature). This place has been scratched off the list!

We've been to the Fish 101 on Hwy101 and it has always been good. We decided to try the Fish 101 for lunch in Cardiff last Friday and I can say this, "We won't be back". The grilled shrimp sandwich was so overdone, it was rubbery. The grilled mahi mahi bowl was also overdone and not flaky, more like tuna fish. And lastly, the Fish N'Chips were two little pieces fried til the batter was dark. The bill was over $45 for this?! I regret that I gave a 20%tip but that was before we got the food. We won't be back!

good mahi taco, solid battered fish, pineapple soft serve was decent. Got food quick and the outdoor seating was nice

We wanted seafood and passed this place a few miles back and now I saw this other location. We stopped and it was about 11:30 just right as 12 came the place was packed with the line out the door. When you enter there's a batch of paper menus so you can ck out what you want. When you get to the front the menu is also on the wall. I wanted to try a lot so I can see how it is. First a dozen oysters sweet from Washington State. Yes they were fantastic but no horseradish on the platter??????? At $22 was great. Then a cup of clam Chowder also was full of clams and thick but to salty for my taste. $4.25 also good. Then 3 mahi mahi tacos grilled not fried and so fresh just right. A plate of Ono with fries and cole slaw was ok. Overall yes I would come back.

I always pass by Fish 101 and finally made it a point to stop and eat here. Walk in, stand in line to order, then find a seat. They will deliver the food to you. There's outdoor seating too and you can watch the sunset. Food: Mahi Mahi Plate with 2 sides; broccolini and fries. Spicy Ahi Bowl with Rice Overall, the food was delicious. I ate all of my Mahi Mahi and Broccolini. Wasn't a fan of the fries. The Ahi bowl was also delicious. You can tell that the fish they serve is fresh. The workers were all nice. Definitely will return.

The food here is amazing! The fish burritos are delicious and worth coming back for. The seafood curry is great as well as the fish and chips. The location is in a good spot and the restaurant is nice. The service is wonderful and everyone is very helpful.