Cuisine Scene: Fish Tacos

When it comes to dishes well-suited to summer, fish tacos rank right up there with popsicles. Grilled or fried, they conjure up images of sunny days and surf. Long Beach boasts a full menu of establishments not only serving fish tacos but also interpreting them their own way: traditionally with cabbage or added to with the likes of ponzu, pineapple relish or “secret sauces.” All of it serves to make this familiar summer friend taste fresh and delicious.

ROE SEAFOOD

One of the city’s most acclaimed restaurants, Roe Seafood’s (5374 E. Second St.) cool vibe and creative coastal cuisine has made it a staple in Belmont Shore. Its fish taco is, as you would expect, a unique amalgam of ingredients, combined masterfully as cod is paired with basil yuzu sauce, roe sauce, cabbage, pico de gallo and served with ponzu brown rice as well as black beans and chips.

BAJA SONORA

Its fish offerings range from flaky tilapia to a deep-fried mahi-mahi as well as a shrimp soft taco with tasty shrimp, red and green cabbage, pico de gallo and a special sauce. Baja Sonora (2940 Clark Ave.) is a local institution well-known for its tacos dorados, i.e. “golden tacos,” fried, hard-shelled concoctions, stuffed with protein, iceberg lettuce, chopped tomatoes and grated cheese, that serve as an entry point to Mexican cuisine for many Americans.

BALLAST POINT

Fish tacos were born from the sun and surf, so is there a better place to share them than where you can have both with a cold beer? Ballast Point’s enormous deck overlooks Alamitos Bay, all the better to enjoy their Baja fish taco–Alaskan cod, cabbage, lime jalapeno crema, pineapple jicama relish on a hybrid tortilla–along with one of their many original microbrews, all the while taking in gorgeous views of Long Beach, Seal Beach and the Pacific Ocean.

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About the Author

Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.