TacosNearYou

What Are Fish Tacos?

By Niam Hocaine, founder and food writer · Updated August 31, 2026

A fish taco is 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 comes from Baja California and the town of Ensenada; the grilled version is lighter and common in Southern California

Baja fish, carne asada and chicken tacos in a holder on a wood block at a city taco stand at nightFish Tacos

Cod and pollock are typical for battered, mahi-mahi for grilled. Below: what fish is used, whether fish tacos are healthy, and where to eat them.

Fish Taco (Tacos de Pescado) are Baja California tacos made with cod, mahi-mahi, or local catch, beer-battered and deep fried, or grilled, served on corn or flour tortillas.

Also called
Tacos de Pescado
Family
Seafood
Filling
White fish
Cut / main ingredient
Cod, mahi-mahi, or local catch
How it is cooked
Beer-battered and deep fried, or grilled
Tortilla
Corn or flour
Usually topped with
Shredded cabbage, crema, pico de gallo, lime
From
Baja California, Mexico

Ensenada is the accepted origin of the battered version

Where US venues name it

CA 161TX 21AZ 17OR 16IL 13NV 9WA 9CO 7

Counted from venue names in our directory, so it undercounts places that serve it without saying so.

Share your location and we search 50 miles around you for the closest fish taco tacos, each shown with its distance.

Where to eat fish taco in the US

Los Angeles, CA

  1. Baja California TacosTaco shop · 1904 Hillhurst AvenueHours not recordedCallDirections
  2. El Antojito Taco's y MariscosTaco shop · 16717 S Figueroa StHours not recordedCallDirections
  3. Baja California TacosTaco shop · Los Angeles, CAHours not recordedDirections

Phoenix, AZ

  1. Sr Ozzy's Tacos Y MariscosTaco shop · 1717 West Southern AvenueHours not recordedCallDirections
  2. Tacos y Mariscos SinaloaTaco shop · 2808 West McDowell RoadHours not recordedDirections
  3. Tacos y Mariscos TopolobampoTaco shop · 3108 West McDowell RoadHours not recordedDirections

Costa Mesa, CA

  1. Baja Fish TacosTaco shop · Costa Mesa, CAHours not recordedDirections
  2. Baja Fish TacosTaco shop · Costa Mesa, CAHours not recordedDirections

Alhambra, CA

  1. Baja Cali Fish & TacosTaco shop · 2001 West Valley BoulevardOpen, closes 8:00 pmCallDirections
  2. Baja Cali Fish & TacosTaco shop · 31 East Main StreetHours not recordedCallDirections

Fresno, CA

  1. Tacos y Mariscos Las EspuelasTaco shop · 4724 North Blackstone AvenueHours not recordedCallDirections
  2. Tacos Y Mariscos TijuanaTaco shop · 4313 North Blackstone AvenueHours not recordedCallDirections

Providence, RI

  1. Baja's TaqueriaTaqueria · 223 Thayer StreetOpen, closes midnightCallDirections
  2. Baja's TaqueriaTaqueria · 227 Thayer StreetHours not recordedCallDirections

Berry Hill, TN

  1. Tacos y Mariscos “El Tapatio” #2Taco shop · 3611 Nolensville PikeHours not recordedDirections
  2. Tacos y Mariscos El AmigoTaco shop · 3901 Nolensville PikeHours not recordedDirections

Winfield, TX

  1. Taqueria Daysis Y MariscosTaqueria · 100 East 5th StreetHours not recordedDirections

Dumas, TX

  1. Mariscos y Birria El SinaloaMexican restaurant · 313 West 1st StreetClosed for the dayCallDirections

Cordova, AK

  1. Baja TacoTaco shop · 137 Harbor Loop RoadHours not recordedCallDirections

Fish Taco: your questions

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 August 31, 2026. Venue details refresh with each data import.