Fish Tacos

I live in Arkansas and fish tacos have not exactly caught on here. I know of one place in Arkansas to get a fish taco and its a major chain "On The Border". I have had Wahoo's in SoCal and am hoping this craze catches on in my area, but it probably won't. Sucks for me I guess

quote:

Originally posted by Mattken85

I live in Arkansas and fish tacos have not exactly caught on here. I know of one place in Arkansas to get a fish taco and its a major chain "On The Border". I have had Wahoo's in SoCal and am hoping this craze catches on in my area, but it probably won't. Sucks for me I guess

A lot of places in Florida have Fish Tacos their menus..Especially south florida and the keys... Maybe you should consider moving..I think the avavilibility of fresh fish tempts the palate more than a land locked state...
...

Slightly off topic but I have a great Fish Taco recipe:
http://www.showcargarage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58

quote:

Originally posted by roossy90
Especially south florida and the keys.

"especially" and "florida" - too strong for my taste... you should really think about tuning it down a bit.

Awesome post, HRG.

quote:

Originally posted by sammur

Awesome post, HRG.

I agree. Great post. I must try it.

Here's a quick and easy way that I make fish tacos. I use tilapia----a little chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper on it----pan-fry till you can break it apart. Mix ranch dressing with hot sauce of choice----I use Tapatio or Cholula. Serve with shredded cabbage and onion on soft tortillas. Wash down with beer of choice.

Hey Ed, have you ever tried Pico Pica bottled sauce? IMHO, the two you mentioned suffer from the vinegar overwhelming everything else. Pico Pica is dark red and bursting with the flavors of the peppers and spices. The hot version sports no vinegar to slam those flavors.

IMO, Rubios in SoCal (have been to a couple in "The OC"") serve the definitive fish taco. Yes, it is a chain, but like In-N-Out is to hamburgers, Rubios is definitely a "Southern California Legend."

quote:

Originally posted by HotRodGuy

Slightly off topic but I have a great Fish Taco recipe:
http://www.showcargarage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58

Thanks, now we don't need Rubio's or Wahoo's Fish Tacos although that green sauce at Wahoo's I would like to duplicate.

Cabo Fish Taco in the North Davidson Street area of Charlotte has an excellent fish taco.

Don't know of too many places here in San Antonio that serve fish tacos,but I plan to make some maybe Friday night for dinner.Don't have any cabbage,but I'll use lettuce instead and i got Pace picante sauce too.Oh,yeah the Cheese Cake Factory at North Star Mall has them and they were pretty good.
I can't take cumin,tears me up,so I'll leave it off,but try the chili powder and other stuff instead.

Thanks HRG. My list of new things to cook is geting longer and longer. There is anouther thread about fish tacos and the recipe for Robio's.
Joe

Excellent Fish Tacos as well as Burritos and more at Pinata's on Rte. 107, Bethpage on Long Island, NY. Everything cooked fresh...

Had baked salmon in a fish taco at Sandoval's in Portland,Oregon. An interesting variation.

We make our own fish tacos using frozen tilapia fillets from Sam’s. I make up my own blend of ground, dried chilies, and I sprinkle that on the filets. Then I sauté them is a little olive oil.

The only given ingredient on the tacos is chipotle mayonnaise which I make using a small can of chipotles in adobo mixed with Miracle Whip. I then add any combination of lettuce, cilantro, lime juice, avocado slices, tomatoes or pico de gallo.

My favorite recipes are those that are quick and easy. This is definitely one of them!

no doubt about it, fish tacos, when done correctly are fanastic! Southern california has been doing them up right for a long time, and if you can ge dow to Baja, well you've just arrived in Fish Taco heaven!

Our cousin from Iowa was down visiting in May, the poor girl had never heard of such a thing and, in fact, was absolutely revolted by the idea. Could not get her to try them to save her life.

Somebody mentioned Rubio's, their radio spots suck but they do up a great fish taco. Anytime you are in Chandler, AZ find Guedo's (sp.) taco shop. Best tacos around, hands down.

BEST I had were in Ensenada by the docks. Several carts with "woks" built in...look for the ones with locals around it. Whip out two bucks..."Senor, quando tacos?" No answer but "Si!" OMG..the BEST and freshest fish tacos cooked in front of you on a pushcart...and I could NEVER find the limit on that 2 bucks!! I can cook a mean fish taco...but they are NOT quite the same. If you havent had an Ensenada fish taco washed back with Corona or Dos Equis... you havent had a fish taco..

I understand a Wahoo's fish taco shop is opening or open in Panama City Beach I just don't know the location, csan anyone help me out? The last real fish taco i had was in San Felipe, Baja Mexico, called Rubio's

quote:

Originally posted by CoastFan

IMO, Rubios in SoCal (have been to a couple in "The OC"") serve the definitive fish taco. Yes, it is a chain, but like In-N-Out is to hamburgers, Rubios is definitely a "Southern California Legend."

I'll second Rubio's. I was introduced to them back in the early 90s when I spent a couple of weeks in seminars. Now, when I can get their fish taco when I go to Las Vegas, too.

Their carne asada is every bit as good as the fish, too!

For the best of them, I will be with Torchman in Ensenada, BC. Before all the urban renewal efforts along the harborside, the Fish Market area was pretty ugly, but the Taco Carts were still there. We often traded a bunch of Barracuda that we caught on our day-boat out of Gordo's or Sergio Sursseys "Clipper" dock, for a couple of dozen or so tacos to munch on on our way back to the Border. This was in 1986-1999 or so.

Janet Has to get a "fill-up" of Rubio's Fish Tacos everytime she visits the Inland Empire, while I prefer Farmer Boys (for other than Fish tacos)!

Killer Seafood in Mexico Beach Florida has some AWESOME fish tacos.
Marinaded Tuna, grilled, sliced and served with Killer's special taco sauce

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=5177

Maui Tacos (kind of a chain, I realize) in Kihe, Maui does a grilled fish taco that I gorge myself on whenever I'm on the island. I'm not sure what their marinade is but it's fantastic, and the atmosphere is one of an open-air shack on the beach with a lot of barefoot and shirtless people... fun to watch.

And I may be in the minority here, but the Rubio's fish tacos I've had (granted, it was in Arizona and Vegas) were average at best. Sort of like a fish stick topped with sauce and cabbage. I probably should go to the original locations in SoCal before I form a final opinion though.

My husband LOVES fish tacos but they are few and far between here in CT so we make them ourselves. We usually use fresh Tautog (blackfish) that I lovingly catch for him on my spearfishing trips with my dad. We prep them similar to HRGs method. I'll have to try the Sour Cream and hotsauce thing though - that looks very good.

If you live in the Chicago area, Chicks & Salsa in Glen Ellyn is really good. It's in a strip mall on Rossevelt just west of I-355. They have grilled fish tacos and battered fish tacos. The battered ones are the best I've had in the area. They also have shrimp tacos and they'll mix any three along with all the other types - steak, pork, etc.

This is the thread with the Rubios recipe:

http://roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1532

I don't think I have ever encountered "Fish Batter Spice". Is that a retail consumer product?

I agree with most of that recipe. Fish is correct pollock works great. I spice the flour with a little cayenne pepper, salt, paprika, garlic powder, and ground ancho chili's. I also add fresh dill to the white sauce. On the corn tortilla in this order I place fish, cabbage, white sauce, then top with pico de gallo with alot of cilantro and a thin herdez style hot salsa red or green (they serve both in little plastic cups). The cheese and guacomle thing I havent seen. I dont think cheese has a place on fried fish. I have eaten at Rubio's 100s of times and dont remember ever seing it or the guacomole. Served on wax paper in a basket with fresh lime quarters. Maybe the thin air in Denver is getting to them....Russ

I didn't know where to post this picture, because there are two fish taco threads in the Seafood forum...

I came home the other day to find these on the dinner table, and they were fabulous! Amy stuffed the corn tortillas with Trader Joe's panko-crusted tilapia, shredded cabbage, and a white sauce she whipped up from mayonnaise, milk, cayenne pepper, and Hatch green chiles. These are so easy to make that I really shouldn't be sad that Rubio's, et al. is so far away... Chris

quote:

Originally posted by ayersian

I didn't know where to post this picture, because there are two fish taco threads in the Seafood forum...

I came home the other day to find these on the dinner table, and they were fabulous! Amy stuffed the corn tortillas with Trader Joe's panko-crusted tilapia, shredded cabbage, and a white sauce she whipped up from mayonnaise, milk, cayenne pepper, and Hatch green chiles. These are so easy to make that I really shouldn't be sad that Rubio's, et al. is so far away... Chris

Excellet Job Well Done. Where is the hot sauce,cilantro, and lime? ....Russ

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Jackson
Excellent Job Well Done. Where is the hot sauce, cilantro, and lime? ....Russ

Russ, we totally forgot the lime -- it was left in the fridge. I was thinking about hot sauce, but Amy's white sauce had chopped green chiles (from Hatch, NM and marked 'hot' on the label) in it, and their heat was still tingling in my mouth for 20 minutes after we ate! I figured that adding hot sauce would compromise the chiles' taste...Chris

Damn, that's better than anything I've seen at Rubio's. Great effort by Ayersian.

I just love the original fish tacos at Berryhill's Tamale House located on Westheimer near River Oaks in Houston. Just the right amount of crunch plus a wonderful sauce drizzled over the fish and cabbage and cilantro all on a soft corn double tortilla. Try the pork tamales and lemonade, too! The Reverend Billy F Gibbons of ZZ Top is a regular, so it's got to be prety good.

quote:

Originally posted by tamandmik

Damn, that's better than anything I've seen at Rubio's. Great effort by Ayersian.

I agree with that. Thank you. I will try that recipe.

I make a great cabbage salsa with finely shredded cabbage, tomato, cilantro, red onion, minced jalapenos, garlic and lime juice and I'm thinking it would be just the thing to dress a fish taco with. That, and some chipotle mayo. The kids have never had a fish taco and think it sounds gross but they love that cabbage salsa and would probably eat it.

I'm a big fan of fish tacos having been introduced to them on the west coast for the first time 8 years ago. I make them at home and serve them up with a mango salsa.

The cucumber is a surprising salsa ingredient, but it add a wonderful refreshing coolness to the salsa that compliments the fruit and is a foil to the fire. There's not much tomato in this since the mango/cucumber are replacing it's function. You can substitue in and out chili's depending on your taste and heat preference.

1 ripe mango diced
I cucumber, skinned, seeded, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
1 small tomato, seeded, diced
1 habanero chili, seeded (really helps take heat out and let the flavor come through)
2 jalapeno chili's, seeded too.
4-5 stems cilantro, leaves minced
juice 1 lime
dash or two of black pepper
Salt to taste

Best to let the flavors meld in the fridge for a good hour before use. The mangos being ripe and tender really only give this salsa a shelf life of 2-3 days before the texture starts breaking down.

Although it is sort of a chain (family owned I think, but there are a handful of locations), my favorite fish taco is served by Taco Nazo in the Los Angeles area. The one I've visited twice is on Valley Blvd (just east of I-605, south side of Valley). I love their shrimp tacos too. Their crema sauce (is that what you call it?) is smooth and tangy. I really enjoy Rubio's and Wahoos, but Taco Nazo is my favorite.

I was in SoCal in late May and drove right by Taco Nazo locations near Baldwin Park. I tried to find one but my gps (we named her Lola) didn't seem to take me down the right road! Since I was in a bit of a hurry, I thought I would try again when I was back in the area 2 days later. Unfortunately, my work load was increased and there was no time for Taco Nazo.

I will return!

No good places serving fish tacos in Knoxville that I know about...I should ask Sundancer if he knows of any. Tijuana Taco is gone. Blue Coast Burrito is gone. Moe's tried fish for a while, but no more.

There was a great fish taco place in the Memphis area, Booyas Burritos. Stopped by there a few months ago....out of business. Times are tough.

Just does not sound right.

The best fish tacos on the planet hands down are at Taco Nazo in La Puente CA on Valley Blvd. I have been going there for 15 years and they never fail. They are so good that back in 2000 my friends and I made our limo stop there on the way to prom so we could get dinner. The girls were upset that they had to stop in the middle of the "ghetto" on prom night. The fish is always big and juicy, the batter fries up perfect, and the crema is outstanding. Rubios and Wahoos have NOTHING on this place. Its actually blasphemy to even suggest they have something on NAZO. I am moving to the south for work and considered not going because they dont have Nazo there...thats how addicting they are.

YES!  This is the Taco Nazo I have visited I think.  It is the best fish taco I've ever had.  Now I wasn't trying to say Rubio's or Wahoos have anything on Taco Nazo, but if I am hungry, and I see a Rubios, and there's no Taco Nazo nearby, I WILL go in and I WILL enjoy my fish tacos at Rubios...even Wahoos.  I really like the rice at Wahoo's by the way.  But you are right, Taco Nazo is the best.

I was in SoCal the week of Jan 12, and I was able to enjoy Fish Tacos twice.  Once was a fairly nice sit down restaurant called La Casuelas Terraza in Palm Springs, CA.  I tried a dish called Pescado Achiote Tacos.  I think it was cod baked in a blend of spices and annatto seeds.  I don't even know what annatto seeds are!  But it was very good.  I also ordered their Fiesta Guacamole.  It was great!  Chips and salsa were very good...not the best, but freshly made and fresh tasting.

Later that week, I tried to stop by a Taco Nazo in the Anaheim area.  I found it on my  GPS but when I got there it had become a Senor Baja, a competitor of Taco Nazo.  It was good, both fish and shrimp tacos, but not as good as Taco Nazo.  I like Senor Baja better than Rubios or Wahoos.

This past year, on the family vacation to Destin, we caught a bunch of amberjack.  We made lots of fish tacos, while we were there, and since we got back, with the fish from the freezer.  Sprinkled heavily with spices, and grilled, it's excellent stuff.

many times in restaurants, they are made with tilapia, which is just too mild and soft for me; (and cheap for the chef to buy)  I like a fish with some meatiness to it.  Amberjack worked nicely.

There is a place here in St. Louis called Bar Louie, in Kirkwood, that also has an excellent fish taco; if you ask, they will make it with grilled salmon.  Tasty!

Guy, that salmon taco DOES sound tasty! Although... I have never had the pleasure of eating amberjack.
Joe

Anybody been to Best Fish Tacos in Ensenada in Los Feliz?  I read some good stuff about it.  I'll have to try it on my next trip in late February.

wow, all the recipe's look great, been using Costco talapia for other dishes, can't wait to try them in taco's, thanks for the ideas.

Jose Peppers in KC has pretty good fish taco's on their menu, also shrimp taco's but they're not as good in my book

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!! that looks good!!! especially since im hungry lol

Legran22


I just love the original fish tacos at Berryhill's Tamale House located on Westheimer near River Oaks in Houston. Just the right amount of crunch plus a wonderful sauce drizzled over the fish and cabbage and cilantro all on a soft corn double tortilla. Try the pork tamales and lemonade, too! The Reverend Billy F Gibbons of ZZ Top is a regular, so it's got to be prety good.

Just saw this thread and Berryhills was my rec too!  Is it still there?
 
Killer Seafood in Mexico Beach, FL is good too!

I found some excellent Fish Tacos at the 42nd Street Cafe in Long Beach, Washington..  3 tacos filled with perfectly cooked freshly caught Rock Fish, Pico De Gallo and Red Cabbage. I liked the fact the tacos were simple,  using fresh ingredients, perfectly cooked and very tasty. 

I thought Fish & Tacos sounded weird to til I tried one in California.I love em.

The only good fish tacos I have ever had have been on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. They were lightly fried and with the perfect chipotle mayo. Been trying to find some to live up to them but it is quite hard in Ohio.

The only place I've ever seen fish tacos was at Taco Del Mar in and around Seattle. Never had one though, I was too hooked on the beef and pork burritos. Now I think I'm willing to try one, but haven't seen any around here, so I'll have to make them myself.

The best fish taco I've ever had was at Pure Taqueria in Atlanta. Last weekend had mesquite grilled Talipia fish tacos at Margarita Grill in Pelham, Alabama. The smoke flavor really made them special.

Gekko, welcome to Roadfood! Like many things I read about here, that require a long trip, I must learn to make my own. Or... maybe you should start a fish taco stand in the UK? :~)
Joe

GekkoHQ


I've never had a fish taco but would love to try one so does anyone know where i can go for a good fish taco in england?

Buy some fish and chips, a pack of corn tortillias, fry them in a little oil, fold them over right out of the oil, add some chopped red onions, tomatoes, lettice, chopped cilantro, grated cheddar cheese or a Mexican blend, add the fish, first of course, maybe some hot sauce if you like, voila, a fish taco ala Great Britain, come to think of it add the chips on top, chips being french fries I believe!

   Well now, I would argue that cabbage and some sort of white sauce + salsa and corn tortillas define
fish tacos. They can be any variety of seafood, but preferably a whitefish of some type, breaded or not, , deep fried, boiled, steamed, grilled, + whatever south of the border
toppings you want to add.
   Tomatoes, cilantro, onions and avocados are typical around here.
    loved in SF too.
 http://www.eating-sf.com/2009/07/fiesta-fish-tacos-with-spicy-salsa-and.html

  I started an  I love fish Tacos FB group

I ate a fish taco at an outdoor arts market, for the first time about two months ago, and it was wonderful -  It was a piece of grilled fish nestled in a bed of cole slaw (made with purple cabbage), on a small corn tortilla.  It had a little kick to it, and I asked the vendor what he used to give the little spice to it, he mentioned he made a remoulade sauce for the cole slaw.  

I figure this how it was done - fish cooked on the grill - a small corn tortilla heated on the grill and the cole slaw made using a white remoulade sauce, seems like a pretty simple thing to do at home.  He was also making shrimp tacos too.  I mentioned this on the cole slaw forum, as it seems like the remoulade would be good just as a cole slaw dressing. 

I've never been able to undestand why anyone would want to ruin both good fish and good tacos by putting them together.

Michael Hoffman


I've never been able to undestand why anyone would want to ruin both good fish and good tacos by putting them together.

I know it sounds strange Michael. But you really need to try one before you can understand it. If you like fish you will love Fish Tacos...Russ

I've never been able to undestand why anyone would want to ruin both good fish and good tacos by putting them together.

 
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