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.
AMORCITO
This innovative “urban taqueria,” an offshoot of popular and progressive Playa Amor, does the essential taco in various styles, i.e. Sonora, Street, etc. Amorcito’s (4150 McGowen St.) fish tacos range from the Rosarito with battered cod, avocado, remoulade, cabbage, salsa rojo and cotija cheese to the Baja shrimp with its white shrimp, “secret” remoulade sauce, avocado, etc. Think about combining it with a small plate of street corn esquites or popular charred Brussel sprouts.
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.
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.
LONG BEACH FISH GRILL
For more than 15 years, this family owned restaurant has gained a loyal following by offering delicious food in a fun, laid back atmosphere. Long Beach Fish Grill (1201 Redondo Ave.) offers 10 varieties of fish–halibut to swordfish to trout–for entrees and a slew for fish tacos, both grilled and battered, including wild caught mahi mahi, salmon, and Alaskan cod as well as shrimp. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor dining.
