Sandy N.
Yelp
This is my partner's favorite fish taco restaurant in San Diego, so I knew I had to try it one day! We came here on Saturday around 1PM and had to wait approximately 30-45 minutes before being seated. I'm not sure if this is something they do regularly, but I noticed that they seat people in groups so that everyone in that area finishes around the same time. So, even if you see empty seats, they won't seat you right away... or maybe it was just for that day since they were short staffed.
We were seated at the bar stool area, where we had to share the table with eight other people. I honestly didn't mind, but having that table be a maximum of eight people instead of ten would have been better since it was quite cramped, awkward, and easy to overhear conversations. The stools were also a bit short especially for someone with my height ):
Now, let's talk about the food. One important note when ordering is that you can't modify anything, so what you see on the menu is what you will get. We ended up ordering everything: Smoked Fish Dip, Estilo Baja, De Espada, De Coco, Fish & Chips, and De Hongos. Each taco plate costs $12 and comes with two tacos per plate.
Our appetizer, the Smoked Fish Dip, came out first. Let's just say it was the best fish dip I've ever had. The fish tasted incredibly fresh, and the pico de gallo and lime really enhanced the flavor. There was a small amount of mayo included and it wasn't too overwhelming to the point where it masked the freshness of the fish. This dish was honestly a MUST-HAVE.
As for the tacos, my ranking from favorite to least favorite is: De Espada, De Hongos, De Coco, Estilo Baja, and Fish & Chips. De Espada was grilled and very juicy, flavorful, and fresh. De Hongos was unique - the mushrooms absorbed a ton of flavor and were cooked to perfection. De Coco and Estilo Baja were okay for me; the main difference between the two were the seafood - fish versus shrimp. The flavors and toppings were almost identical, and I didn't love how the aioli overpowered the seafood's freshness. Lastly, the Fish & Chips was my least favorite. The combination of potatoes and mayo on top of the fried fish was overwhelming and heavy for me. I wish they added some vegetables or something more refreshing to balance it out.
Overall, I can tell this place aims to be unique, and while some dishes were definite standouts, there were also some that didn't quite work for me. I do appreciate that you can taste the freshness of the fish (when the sauce isn't too overpowering) and the homemade tortillas. The wait wasn't too bad, considering how there were only two staffs. The staff was amazing - knowledgeable, attentive, and hardworking. The place is small, but they made it work somehow. No takeout available. Free street parking.