Oscars Mexican Seafood

Great casual Mexican seafood spot. Authentic. Set up is great for take out, but enough tables for around 20. They offered fish soup samples, which had excellent broth and plenty of meat and vegetables. The grilled octopus taco was balanced and substantial. Others in our party enjoyed fried fish and smoked fish tacos.

Great service. Was given a cup of their seafood stew while we were deciding on what to order. Very hearty seafood stew with a chicken base. The taco especial was particularly great. Surf n tuf, which is usually my go to at taco shops was a little disappointing. I guess it goes to say that they are a seafood establishment and each and every seafood-based dish was fantastic

Best seafood tacos I ever had outside of Mexico. Staff members were very kind courteous and generous. Go straight for the shrimp or fish or shrimp+fish tacos. Don’t bother with the ceviche, taco was far better. And the horchata drink! That was amazing!

Oscar’s is easily one of my favorite spots for Mexican seafood in San Diego. The fish tacos are next-level—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Our favorites are the especial, octopus, battered shrimp, and grilled spicy shrimp taco. Don't forget to use their freshly made sauces in the fridge along with an assortment of other hot sauces. Their fish stew is also surprisingly fresh and savory. Portions are generous, prices are fair, and the casual vibe makes it the perfect stop whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or hanging with friends. This location has inside seating and easier parking since it's located in a strip mall. A must stop it you're in the SD area.

The octopus taco was perfectly cooked and the tuna ceviche was fresh. Update: Revisited and tried the fish/shrimp ceviche. It was zesty and fresh. The only knock is that they didn’t include the extra tostada, but charged me for it

A sincerly nice joint for a great bite of seafood. It's lovely food, made with love, with fresh in-house made salsas and agua frescas. I will say due to its popularity and the small size of the actual resteraunt, it *does* get super crowded at peak eating times. But what sets this place apart from other wonderful eateries? Veronica. She's almost always the cashier you speak to at the register to order your meal, and she's a literal angel. She's sweet, kind, and sp patient. She'll call you "sweetie" or "mija/mijo" and she means it. She's happy to tell you all about the menu items, and never skimps on twlling you how *she* likes it (spoiler alert: she's always right, imho). So come to Oscar's for the amazing mariscos (the fisherman's torta is INSANE) but stay for mama Veronica, because she's the heart and soul of this place. ❤️

This was the first place I ate at after arriving in San Diego for the first time. The lady behind the counter was so sweet and helpful, as were the other members of the staff. The torta I had didn't hold back in size and taste, and every scoop of the shrimp cerviche was packed with flavour and zest.

This place has amazing fish tacos — both grilled and fried. And their shrimp ceviche is so on point.

The service here the last two times I came were phenomenal. The fish soup on the house is refreshing and hearty. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu! From the mouth-watering fish tacos, to the juicy pulpo taco it is amazingly delicious. Please come down to OC & LA

Great tacos in a relaxed space. Vibe felt authentic and casual. I liked the battered fish taco and the grilled shrimp taco a lot! It definitely needs the spicy sauce though, otherwise it's a bit plain. The fish taco is great value for under $4. The other tacos are more expensive but come with a bunch of avocado and veggies on top. The service was also super friendly and efficient -- we got free fish/veggie soup to sip on while we waited for our order.

Oscars is a bit of an institution and in general I think it is rightfully praised for its seafood offerings. Their ceviches and tacos perhaps best display both the variety and quality of their food. The smoked fish taco is especially tasty, particularly when it is accompanied by any of several of their house sauces. The prices, too, although a touch higher than your typical Mexican spot, are pretty reasonable given the cost of SD dining. What Oscars lacks is space. The shop is small, which means that seating is not guaranteed during busy times. Nor are these space issues limited to seating: the parking lot for the strip mall in which it is located has relatively few spots; street parking can be a challenge. Still, if you can navigate these logistical challenges, it is well worth visiting several times to try all items on its menu.

The best fish tacos I have ever had. No contest. If you're looking for some mind blowing seafood tacos, you have to check out Oscar's! Compared to their other, more coastal locations, the one in Hillcrest is a bit cozier with a great parking lot and lesser crowds. My favorite has to be their Battered Fish Tacos. Amazingly crispy cod topped off with their homemade slaw. Drizzle a bit of their spicy avocado green sauce on top and you've got the perfect taco. A serious must-try! Other favorites include their Surf & Turf Tacos which come absolutely loaded and their Mixed (Fish & Shrimp) Ceviche which is insanely fresh and limey!

AMAZING AMAZING CEVICHE, FISH TACO and SURF N TURF TACO! I was on a work trip and decided to get some seafood and def did not regret it! Employee who took my order was extremely nice and I had to come back for another ceviche because it was sooo delicious! Very flavorful and packed with a lot of lime/lemon.

Food: Battered Fish Tacos (10/10) - veggies tasted fresh, the limes were so juicy here, the sauces paired well, and fish was made well with a soft inside and slight crisp on the outside Torta de Oscar (10/10) - large portion size and packed with many layers and flavors. loved how cheesy it was as well Service: The lady was so nice! Straightforward ordering process at the counter and waiting for your number to be called. You can self serve yourself some water and grab sauces and lime that are all put out. Ambiance: Casual spot with some seats inside. Lots of natural light coming in from the big windows.

A Unique Seafood-Only Taco Spot Another great Mexican spot in San Diego, but what makes this place stand out is that they focus only on seafood -- and they do it really well. Honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I got the adobada taco with fish, and it was hecka good! It had that classic adobada flavor -- I think they use tuna -- and the portion size was generous. It's one of their specials, so if you see it on the menu, definitely grab it. 10/10. The surf and turf taco was also excellent. The combination of steak and fish had amazing flavor -- another 10/10 for me. Service was great, too. They even gave us free fish soup, which was delicious. The ambience is fine, but just a heads up: seating is limited and parking can be a bit tight. If you're looking for fantastic fish tacos, this is the place to go. Prices are on the higher side, but the portions are larger than your average taco, so it's worth it.

I've been here multiple times since my first review, and I must admit that I stand corrected! Now that I've made homemade horchata, it can definitely have the thick residue at the bottom if it isn't completely strained. So, my apologies!!! I actually LOVE the Horchata con Fresas from here! And, they have the BEST FRIED FISH tacos that I've ever had! The customer service is always great, too! The ambiance is okay-clean, but not fancy.

This is a great spot for Mexican seafood ! The fish tacos tasted so fresh. We also got the steak quesadillas which were delicious but a little smaller than I'm used too. The horchata was delicious ! It's a cute little spot with indoor and outdoor seating. The food came pretty quickly and there was a lot of people so definitely good service. Would come back here when I'm in San Diego

Stopped by Oscar's and ordered the battered fish tacos. They were excellent, with a light, crisp batter that wasn't greasy and fish that stayed moist and flaky inside. The toppings of fresh cabbage, pico de gallo, and creamy sauce tied everything together and gave the tacos a great balance of crunch, brightness, and richness. Each bite felt fresh and well-composed. Service was quick and no-nonsense. Staff took the order efficiently and had the food ready in just a few minutes. Even with a steady line, they kept things moving without sacrificing quality. The ambience is casual and lively, with that coastal taco shop feel. It's not fancy, but it doesn't need to be. The focus is clearly on serving good seafood in a laid-back setting, and it works perfectly. Oscar's delivered on flavor, freshness, and value. The battered fish tacos are worth seeking out and show why this spot has a strong reputation among locals and visitors alike.

3.5 It wasn't bad, but it didn't blow my mind. I was kind of disappointed given how popular this place was and the accolades it has received. I had the fish taco, octopus taco, taco gobernador, guacamole and the fish stew. All were good, not great in my opinion. Fish stew was actually kind of a stand out since it's not always your standard taco fare. I did like the fish taco and the governor was my favorite. Found the salsas also kind of mid.

We have been coming here for years, well this location the last two. We are from AZ, but every time we come to SD we always have to stop by atleast once. We ordered two tortas, four tacos, ceviche and a Quesadilla on our way out. We loved every bite of it! Staff here are always nice and friendly, we love coming to this location!

One of my favorite tacos spots in San Diego. I am not from SD but everytime i'm in town, i always make a stop here if I can. Some of the items are a little on the pricey side. The Surf & Turf is $7 for a single taco, but they are hefty tacos. Just having 2 tacos will do it. I love all the toppings on the tacos, which brings a fresh element to them. The Surf & Turf Taco and the Battered Fish Taco are one of my favorites. The service was good! Always fast & efficient. We also received a sample of Fish Soup while waiting, which was tasty & warming. They have so many other options. so there's something for everyone!

Great tacos and fast efficient service. Definitely a great place to grab a quick bite! Will be back to try more tacos

Oh no, some changes since my last visit. Prices have gone up on the tacos (understandable these days), and while they seemed larger, it didn't necessarily make them better. The proportions felt a little off, like way too much cabbage and not enough fish or protein, which made for a kind of imbalanced bite. Bigger doesn't always mean better. Also noticed the vibe was a bit different this time. The folks behind the counter weren't as warm or friendly as they've been in the past. Could be an off day. Consistency is tough in the service industry, so I get it. Still hoping this was just a one-time hiccup because I've really enjoyed this spot before.

Great fish taco! Fish was perfectly coated and was not oily, the tomatoes and cabbage gave it a refreshing twist. The jalapeno salsa (more of a sauce) paired well with the taco.

Their taco Tuesday deal is so worth it, definitely go on a Tuesday to get the cheapest delicious fish tacos! I think it might have been $2/taco? They didn't skimp on the fish portion size and all of the toppings are super fresh. The salsa was good too, adding extra flavor The cashier was friendly and service was fast since it was a random Tuesday, not sure how it would be on a busier day. The parking lot is small too so might have difficulty finding parking on a busier day. Ambiance is very casual. They had seating inside and everything was clean.

While eating my beans, I bit down on something really hard. At first, I thought it may be a bone, but it turned out to be a piece of hard plastic. One end is pretty jagged and sharp. My first and last time I'll be trying Oscar's.

Oscars was the dinner choice for my wife and I while we were in San Diego. We weren't hungry as we already had evening appetizers at the hotel. We just need good tacos that were cheap and fast. I had my mind and stomach set on carne asada tacos. My wife had her mind set on fish tacos. I can never win. Oscars did have a $8.50 skirt steak taco, but, why when I can do other strange things? We ordered a taco especial, a smoked fish taco, and a couple of fish tacos. $30+ and about 15 minutes later, we had our 6 tacos. Okay, so they weren't cheap. The tacos all seemed like they were made with flour tortillas...no complaints since the Chinese in me likes flour tortillas. The taco especial had shrimp, scallop and smoked fish in it. It was a very good $8.50 taco. The $7 smoked fish taco seemed like a letdown after the $8.50 taco. The fish tacos were normal...the kind that my wife likes. It's a good place with good food. Not a place for cheap tacos. But, then again, nothing is cheap these days.

Came on Memorial Day weekend so it was a long wait, lots of people lined up. Good battered fish tacos! I think this place is pretty decent even though the fish tacos are a bit pricey it's loaded with vegetables and quite filling, you can probably be full with two or three. It's not the best fish tacos but it gets the job done. And bonus...the lady brings out their signature fish soup every 25 minutes for free! First come first serve and it is very flavorful and fresh. You could taste the soup in the broth as well as their special seasoning.

Food was amazing... pulpo (octopus) taco was the best! Ranchero Burrito and surf and turf quesadilla

Wowow love visiting Oscars every time I visit SD!! Their fish tacos on flour tortillas are everything. Don't sleep on their fish soup and burritos too!! And unlimited sauce too always a fan fave when I bring visitors. And the people are also super nice!!

Really good Mexican seafood spot with fresh ingredients and standout tacos. The battered fish and battered shrimp tacos were the clear winners, perfectly crispy with great texture and really fresh flavors. These are also the better value at $4 compared to the $7 tacos that include more toppings like avocado. The surf and turf taco was pretty good with a lot going on, while the octopus taco just didn't hit for me. The sauces were excellent, especially the tangy red/orange and creamy cilantro sauces that they had available. All the tacos had nice crunch from the lettuce and really flavorful pico de gallo. The tortillas were freshly made and had good chew to them. Friends tried the tortas they're known for and said they were solid. The restaurant is small and cozy but can be hard to find seating. We had to wait a bit but there's nice outdoor seating available. Food took a little while since everything comes out fresh, which I appreciated. Service was great, very friendly and patient throughout. Would definitely swing by again for more of those battered fish and shrimp tacos

Heard these were the best fish tacos in SD, so I had to stop by and try! Walking in, I was shocked by the prices. Most tacos are $7+ each, except for the beer battered fish and shrimp tacos. I ordered 2 Grilled Fish tacos - one mahi and one red snapper, and they came topped with avocado and cilantro. There was a handwritten sign stating what types of grilled fish were available, so I am curious how often it changes! Both tasted extremely fresh and had great flavor. I also thought the amount of fish in each taco was generous. I would have liked an addition of pico or onion on the tacos, or a non-dairy based salsa option. I saw other guests order the ceviche, and I plan to come back to try that as well! This location is located in a small shopping center, so there is a parking lot and street parking available. Both indoor and outdoor seating.

Amazing service , atmosphere always busy , family owned and operated. Surprised I didn't know about this place the tacos are so fresh and so good ! Highly recommend !

I've had Oscars in the past but it's been a few years and I didn't realize the tacos were so huge! They're pricey but the portions make it well worth it. Fresh seafood and amazing sauces!

I can't believe it's taken me this long to try Oscar's as a native San Diegan. I used to think it was all hype but this is the real deal , and at an arguably affordable price. I've tried the fish, shrimp, and blue fin tuna ceviche, whatever you decide to get, it's gonna hit the spot. My favorite tacos to get are the atún(tuna) adobado & the grilled octopus taco, they're a bit pricey but they're massive. The Oscar's Torta is an honorable mention, but I personally like the tacos better. I've never actually dined in, but it looks rather small so, it might not be suitable for larger parties. The location is right off the freeway on University inside a strip mall either its own parking lot, but it can be a tight squeeze since it's busy and the spots are narrow. I think I've had 3 or 4 times in a span of 6 weeks since I first tried it, it's that good lol.

Best causal seafood tacos in SD! Everything is just so fresh and has a beautiful citrus zing to it that just hits. I came here freezing after walking around balboa park at night and they kindly offered me and my friend warm fish soup while we in line. Overall the best items to get are the shrimp or fish tacos ($3-4) and the ceviche. Or get one of the larger specialty taco that is a bit pricier $7 The restraint is causal with wood tables, simple and cozy.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE Oscars! They have the best tacos! I always get the meal which includes two tacos, rice, beans and a fruit water! I highly recommend this place. Parking is tight but definitely worth it if you can get here.

Every year we come to San Diego for comicon, we stop by Oscar's. The parking lot is decent in size, the seating is indoors and outdoors so there's options for you depending upon your party size. The food- always solid, a good balance of hearty meat and seafood umami with the surf and turf tacos/burritos. The rice and beans were standard, nothing special but pretty straight forward. As with all things these days, I was pretty shocked by the prices, everything has gone up...otherwise, I'm sure I'll be back here again next year.

Great place for some delicious tacos. I recommend the Oscar's plate, which is 2 tacos, 1 side, and a drink for $20. The juices/agua frescas they have is wonderful! I had the strawberry Fresca, it was refreshing. The tacos are great. My favorite was the octopus taco. Service is friendly. The place has indoor and outdoor seating, it can get packed but it wasn't a problem finding seating. Casual vibe. I recommend.

Wow what a great spot for ceviche! We came on a Thursday afternoon and tried the mixed ceviche - so good! We also had complimentary soup that was warm and delicious - full of veggies and potato. Great service too!!

Much better experience than last time. This time I ordered the 3 surf and turf tacos, which was just enough to fill me up. It was loaded with its of steak, shrimp, and avocado! I liked how it was cheesy too! Their sauces are unlimited and soo addicting. They have the orange one which is slightly spicier than the light green one. I'm already craving some more of this. Until next time San Diego! Service was efficient and busy!

Amazing fish taco! Would come back here for the salsas. I dream about eating this taco again.

We were recommended this joint while visiting San Diego. Best fish tacos ever. We ordered the smoked seafood taco, spicy shrimp taco, and taco especial. The flavors were so delicious - packed with savory cilantro yummimess paired with their house cremas and salsas. SO DELICIOUS. You need to go here if craving any taco. Loaded with yummy seafood cabbage and cheese. ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND !

We went on a busy afternoon. Although their food is made fresh to order & it was busy, we got our food quickly. While we waited they offered complimentary fish caldo which was soo flavorful and delicious, not overly fishy. I had the fried fish taco & the beef taco, both tortillas were full and tasty. The fresh made tortilla chips were some of my favorite, they were fresh and crispy. Would definitely recommend!

Oscar's is so good. The only thing is that prices are on the high side for everything but the battered fish taco. I'm updating my review because I recently tried their chips & guacamole and I really enjoyed it. It's over $9 though so it better be good. The chips are so crunchy and it's a good amount of guacamole to accompany the chips--the ratio was pretty good. They have a happy hour on some weekdays from the afternoon up until 5pm.

Oscars is such a great spot for seafood tacos and definitely worth the visit. They did mess up our order and handed us someone else's food at first, but honestly it did not matter much because we got what we ordered and the tacos were still fantastic. I have been to another location before and while this one tasted a little different, it still hit the spot. The taco especial was a standout with shrimp, fish, and scallops all packed into one amazing bite. The surf and turf is my usual go to and it was just as delicious as always, especially with their chipotle sauce that ties everything together perfectly. They were even offering free fish stew samples which was a nice surprise and added to the experience. The ceviche here is an absolute must. Fresh, bright, and flavorful, it is honestly some of the best I have ever had. Between the incredible tacos, the killer ceviche, and the generous little touches, Oscars continues to be a seafood favorite.

Got shrimp ceviche , 2 fish tacos, and a surf and turf taco. Goated. Best fish tacos I've had in Southern California and shrimp ceviche is very fresh and refreshing. I like this location a lot for the seating.

The high ratings are actually very deserving. I got a variety of tacos and shared with my boyfriend. Everything was so good and tasty, I would definitely come back here again and recommend this place to anyone. I can't remember the specifics of which were my favorite but I'm sure anything you order on the menus is good. The sauces are in the front alongside with a pitcher of water with cups. It could get a bit crowded so seating can be limited. Service is nice. Parking spots are also very limited. Just be mindful of the space and enjoy the good food!

Had a tough time trying to decide what tacos to try while in San Diego but Oscars was on every list I saw so we just had to try. My boyfriend and I both got Oscar's combos which included 2 tacos of your choice, a side of rice/beans/half and half, and a flavored fruit water. We also split chips & guac which had large fresh chunks of avocado in it. The mango fruit water tasted like it was made from authentic fresh mangos and did not taste artificial at all. The pineapple spinach fruit water was surprisingly delicious, reminded me of green juice. We stuck to all seafood tacos (taco especial (smoked fish, shrimp, and scallops), grilled fish, and grilled octopus) as that's what they're known for here. They certainly did not skimp out on the amount of seafood they put in each taco and then they filled it to the brim with toppings. It was nice because the corn tortillas used kept the tacos together well and did not easily fall apart as you tried to take each ginormous bite. This was already enough food for the two of us but then as we were just getting started on our meal, the staff came around to each table asking if people wanted free tacos as they had an extra double order that they were trying to not let go to waste. So on top of the 4 tacos we had, we got 3 additional free tacos. The quality of the food is great (taste & portion size) - we dreamed about these tacos the rest of the trip and will definitely come back to San Diego just for them hehe

I did not understand the hype of this place. I got the battered fish taco, had to wait super long, and the taco was so dang dry. All my other friends that got battered fish also weren't very impressed. (We spent the day doing a taco tour, so our opinion is quite valid!!) I could be convinced to come back and try something else. My other friends got the surf & turf taco said they liked it, and it did look visually more appealing so perhaps try that. Decently sized inside. Since it's tacos people eat fast so the tables will clear out pretty quickly while you are waiting for your food. Hard to park in the plaza. We parked 2 blocks down in a paid lot.

World class tacos Friendly people Will come here every time I'm back in San Diego All of it good, the fish stew was super fresh tasting the breaded fish tacos were amazing and the surf and turf as well

Always hits the the spot, if you love tortas, or fish tacos. This is your jam! And I mean fish tacos, while I'm sure the carne asada tacos are delish, they specialize in pescado. The sopa de pescado and ceviche are bomb too!

IG: @allysxn.eats both times we've been here, it too SO LONG to wait for the food. maybe around 20-30 minutes after ordering. otherwise, the grilled fish and surf and turf tacos are my favorite. the horchata was super grainy and pretty sweet. i wouldn't get the horchata again.

My favorite food in the entire San Diego trip. If you are looking for taco, this won't disappoint. This is way better than the Taco Stand. The battered fish is fried perfectly, juicy fish, crispy batter but not oily at all. The special with smoked fish is a rare find and it's absolutely delicious. All the salsa is really good. Parking is terrible though.

Definitely the top fast casual seafood taco place in SD. We came on a Saturday around 6 and it was busy! Luckily we found a parking spot in the lot but it's small so you might end up with street parking. They have mostly indoor seating but some larger tables outside. We ordered the fish tacos, taco especial (smoked fish, scallop and shrimp), skirt steak taco and an atun adobado. The fish tacos and taco especial are still the best. My only knock across the board is that the corn tortilla was very dry and crusty, like they were not freshly made. Service is sooo friendly. In hearing my parents talk about the fish stew, the cashier said he'd let us try it. I thought he'd just give us a small bowl but he gave the four of us individual portions to try. It was delicious! I would definitely order that on a cold day. It had fish, potatoes and carrots.

After exploring Balboa Park, we wanted to find some fish tacos to eat and Oscar's was nearby. We got the smoked fish burrito, skirt steak burrito, and bartered fish taco. I think all 3 were solid, but lacked a bit of flavor and needed the salsa that is provided at the counter. With the salsa though they were pretty good. It's not a TON of food, but we also weren't super hungry so it hit the spot.

Ima be honest and say the people were nice and friendly but the food quality wasn't that good. Price was okay I would say it's fair and not overpriced. We ordered the fish tacos (fish battered) and surf and turf (steak and shrimp). To me it did not have that much flavor or taste to it. If you add the sauces from the fridge (free) it makes it alright. But if I paid the same price and went to "the taco stand" I think that place blows it out of the water since over there they also hand press their tortillas and season the protein well. The steak was kind of dry as well... I always judge the food based on how it's served to me without me adding any sauce first. With the sauce it's alright. Food: 2.5/5 dry, unseasoned Service: 5/5 quick and friendly Price: 4/5 reasonable for the area Ambience: 4/5 some seats indoor and outdoor nothing fancy.