Fish Taco vs Shrimp Taco
Fish Tacos are white fish, beer-battered and deep fried, or grilled. Shrimp Tacos are shrimp, battered and fried, or grilled/sautéed. Both arrive on corn or flour tortillas; the meat and the method are what separate them.
Side by side
The difference is the filling: Fish Taco uses white fish, Shrimp Taco uses shrimp.
Which one to order
Fish Taco usually comes with shredded cabbage, crema, pico de gallo, lime; shrimp taco with cabbage, chipotle crema, avocado.
Fish Taco is associated with Baja California, shrimp taco with Baja California / Sinaloa.
In the US you will find fish taco most in San Diego, coastal California, and shrimp taco in San Diego, Los Angeles, Gulf Coast.
Neither is the better taco in the abstract — they are different dishes that happen to share a tortilla. Order by which method you are in the mood for.
Which is easier to find in the US
Across this directory, 253 venues name fish taco and 10 name shrimp taco. Fish Taco is the easier of the two to track down. These are counts of venues that say so in their name or listing, so both undercount.
Read up on each
Fish Taco vs Shrimp Taco: common questions
What is the main difference between fish taco and shrimp taco?
Beer-battered and deep fried, or grilled for fish taco (white fish), versus battered and fried, or grilled/sautéed for shrimp taco (shrimp). The method is what changes the texture most.
What is a fish taco?
White fish (battered and fried, or grilled) in a warm tortilla, topped with shredded cabbage, a crema-based white sauce, pico de gallo and lime. The battered version is tied to Baja California and the town of Ensenada.
What kind of fish is used in fish tacos?
A firm, mild white fish. Battered versions usually use cod or pollock; grilled versions often use mahi-mahi, and tilapia, halibut and haddock all work.
Are fish tacos healthy?
The grilled version is one of the lighter tacos: lean protein, cabbage, a corn tortilla. The battered-and-fried version with a heavy crema sauce is much richer. The fish itself is a good source of protein and, if it is mahi-mahi or cod, low in fat.
Last updated September 29, 2026. Venue details refresh with each data import.