BajaNomad

Fish Tacos

Boshvideo - 7-23-2007 at 06:54 PM

Here in Philly, the Cheesesteak is the big food item. There is much to be said about where to get the best one and how to order and eat one. I suspect the same is true for the Baja Fish Taco.
One week from tonight, I'll be in La Paz at the start of my two week journey into Baja. I want my very first Fish Taco to be a positive experience. Any pointers on how to order or what "toppings" do you guys and gals prefer.

woody with a view - 7-23-2007 at 07:00 PM

tacos de pescado con todo!!!! shrimp (camaron) are usually awesome, also....

have fun---

edit: look for the little cart on the side of the road where there are locals eating. you know if the locals like it, it's good and fresh.

try to stay out of the restraunts for things like a fish taco. best of the carts....

[Edited on 7-24-2007 by woody in ob]

Boshvideo - 7-23-2007 at 07:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by woody in ob
tacos de pescado con todo!!!! shrimp (camaron) are usually awesome, also....

have fun---


Many thanks Woddy, thanks for all the help along the way.

danaeb - 7-23-2007 at 07:15 PM

Bosh - after you find your fish taco, walk to the malecon, because next week it will be hot. Find La Michoacana ice cream store across from Carlos n Charlies. If you like strawberries, try the paleta de fresa, ripe fresh strawberries mashed and frozen into a giant popsicle. Yum, yum, yum.

madwrktodos - 7-23-2007 at 08:09 PM

Bizmark on the malecon - best smoked marlin tacos in the world. Not just my opinion - Mexican and gringo friends all agree - THE best.

ItsBetterInBaja - 7-23-2007 at 11:04 PM

Fish tacos are like women. Each is beautiful in their own special way.
Here is how I prefer mine.
Warm corn tortilla
Fish pieces breaded and fried until crispy
Ample amount of white sauce (kinda like a mixture of milk and mayo)
Some of the green sauce (kinda like thin guacamole)
Lots of cabbage
Squirt of 1 lime
Maybe a little pico de gallo but I prefer without
There it is...my favorite Baja fish taco.
Follow Woody's advise and seek out a roadside cart with locals eating there.
(You guys thought I was heading in a different direction with that beginning line didn't you!!)

Curt

bajajudy - 7-24-2007 at 07:23 AM

Hey BV
Bring me a philly cheese steak sandwich, would you?

Gonzalez Hermanos is the best in La Paz. If you get to San Jose, then we are talking Rossy's!

Boshvideo - 7-24-2007 at 07:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajudy
Hey BV
Bring me a philly cheese steak sandwich, would you?



I'm happy to deliver... it just might be a bit soggy. As with a fish taco, cheese steaks are best right off the grill. Many thanks for all these great suggestions.
Bob

Diver - 7-24-2007 at 07:36 AM

I still remember our first trip to La Paz.
As we entered town past the whale tale in our camper, we noticed a roadside stand called "Mr. Fish". There were lots of poeple eating and waiting so we turned back and into their parking lot. Fish and shrimp tacos with all the sides available ! They were a great first tacos in La Paz.
Mr. Fish is no longer located in the same spot but I believe they are still in La Paz. Anyone know ? And are they still as good ?
.

CaboRon - 7-24-2007 at 08:53 AM

I prefer my fish tacos with the fish grilled ... not breaded and deep fried .... Anyplace in Baja Sur where they do it this way ..... ?? CaboRon

bajamigo - 7-24-2007 at 09:06 AM

Can't beat Pat's Rey de Tacos, Calle Novena y Avenida Passayunko.

capn.sharky - 7-24-2007 at 09:22 AM

"Fish tacos are like women. Each is beautiful in their own special way.
Here is how I prefer mine."
Which---your women or your fish tacos?:?::?::?::?:

bajajudy - 7-24-2007 at 09:23 AM

Ron
You can find places that do the grilled fish taco thing but that is not a Baja fish taco. What harm can one or two little pieces of fried fish do. ;D

CaboRon - 7-24-2007 at 09:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajudy
Ron
You can find places that do the grilled fish taco thing but that is not a Baja fish taco. What harm can one or two little pieces of fried fish do. ;D


BajaJudy,
:lol: I really do try to keep the fried food to a minimum ... the trouble with a good fish taco is that I do not have the will power to only have them once a month ..... :lol::lol::lol:
:lol:CaboRon :?: Is the grilled version called the Veracruz taco ??:?:

vgabndo - 7-24-2007 at 02:30 PM

Boshvideo...years ago when I built the expanded GAP store at 5th. and South St. there was a CheeseSteak stand next door. I lived on their sandwiches for months. Were they any good??? :biggrin: I had nothing with which to compare being a California boy.

DO NOT neglect the white sauce on your fish tacos. IMO it is as important as the fish! :lol:

IMPORTANT

bajaguy - 7-24-2007 at 02:32 PM

Always wash down the fish and shrimp tacos with a COLD Pacifico!!!!!!!!

Pescador - 7-24-2007 at 02:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by morgaine7
Hermanos Gonzalez on Calle Bravo across from Más dept store. It's a stand with limited seating, but they also have a sit-in place on the same street closer to the Malecon. Fish and shrimp tacos are excellent, and they have a "toppings bar", so you can choose your own. Enjoy!!

Kate


Kate is absolutely right, this is beyond a doubt the finest Fish Taco Stand in all of Baja Mexico. Jonathan Roldan who writes for Western Outdoor News even did a feature article on this place. There are even some stands that show Hermanos Gonzalez on the side but their taco's do not match the quality or taste of this place. It would be a sacrilege to go to La Paz and not stop here.

tripledigitken - 7-24-2007 at 03:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador
Quote:
Originally posted by morgaine7
Hermanos Gonzalez on Calle Bravo across from Más dept store. It's a stand with limited seating, but they also have a sit-in place on the same street closer to the Malecon. Fish and shrimp tacos are excellent, and they have a "toppings bar", so you can choose your own. Enjoy!!

Kate


Kate is absolutely right, this is beyond a doubt the finest Fish Taco Stand in all of Baja Mexico. Jonathan Roldan who writes for Western Outdoor News even did a feature article on this place. There are even some stands that show Hermanos Gonzalez on the side but their taco's do not match the quality or taste of this place. It would be a sacrilege to go to La Paz and not stop here.



Kate and Pescador,

Thanks for the tip re Hermanos. I am writing this one down for our next trip to La Paz.


Ken

bajamigo - 7-24-2007 at 03:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by vgabndo
Boshvideo...years ago when I built the expanded GAP store at 5th. and South St. there was a CheeseSteak stand next door. I lived on their sandwiches for months. Were they any good??? :biggrin: I had nothing with which to compare being a California boy.

DO NOT neglect the white sauce on your fish tacos. IMO it is as important as the fish! :lol:


Sounds like Jim's. One of the very best.

mtgoat666 - 7-24-2007 at 03:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Boshvideo
Any pointers on how to order or what "toppings" do you guys and gals prefer.


They are small and cheap, and toppings are usually applied youself at the bar. So not much you need to know. Don't like the first, then get another and do it different.
I pick off 50% to 80% the deep-fry batter from fish (remaining 20-50% adds the good grease taste), as the pot of oil is usually not the healthiest oil. Hard to find street stands that sell grilled.
Don't pay too much aattention to recommendations from gringos -- best to look around youself until you find stand that looks good, and use the crowd to guage popularity. Rule to follow in all foreign lands: don't eat at the stand or restaurant if it isn't getting traffic from locals - and if all you see are tourists/no locals eating, will be tourist food and prices.

Minnow - 7-24-2007 at 03:27 PM

I avoid the white sauce at all costs at all but the best stands. It is never refridgerated and always has mayonasa. Not a good combo, and could be a trip killer. I would go with Morgane7's advise if you want that perfect taco. Then, by all means go for the white stuff.:lol:

Boshvideo - 7-24-2007 at 03:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by vgabndo
Boshvideo...years ago when I built the expanded GAP store at 5th. and South St. there was a CheeseSteak stand next door. I lived on their sandwiches for months. Were they any good??? :biggrin: I had nothing with which to compare being a California boy.

DO NOT neglect the white sauce on your fish tacos. IMO it is as important as the fish! :lol:


Sorry to say thay just shut down that Gap store last week. You probably are refering to the Cheese Steak place one block down @ 4th and South. It's called Jim's and they do make a tasty product. Not the best IMHO, but tasty. You know, to be authentic, here in Philly they put cheese wiz (no comments) on the bread. It must be the equivalent of the white sauce you told me not to miss. John Kerry came to Philly and ordered a cheese steak with provalone.... next day in the paper they killed him for being "out of touch". Go figure.
Many thanks to all you good Nomads for your help.

Yup, you jogged my memory. Jim's

vgabndo - 7-24-2007 at 05:04 PM

Being a regular I could always ask for "yesterday's soup" if any was left over. Always better the second day and was one of "mama's" specialties.

That was a rough neighborhood when I was there, but it was in process of revitalization. There was a place down the street with giant metal ants all over the storefront. Very artistic, I'll never forget it. I have lots of memories of that project...only the food was good.:lol:

bancoduo - 7-24-2007 at 05:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajudy
Ron
You can find places that do the grilled fish taco thing but that is not a Baja fish taco. What harm can one or two little pieces of fried fish do. ;D
The original Baja fish taco was grilled fish.

bajajudy - 7-24-2007 at 05:49 PM

Duo
Where did you get that little tidbit? I cannot find anything about a fish taco that even mentions grilling it.
Documentation...por favor!

bancoduo - 7-24-2007 at 06:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajudy
Duo
Where did you get that little tidbit? I cannot find anything about a fish taco that even mentions grilling it.
Documentation...por favor!
Remember eating them at the street stands. Ensenada in the early 60's, right off the grill.

bajamigo - 7-24-2007 at 06:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lencho
Quote:
Originally posted by bajamigo
Can't beat Pat's Rey de Tacos, Calle Novena y Avenida Passayunko.

This is in La Paz? Mind giving a little more detailed directions? Where the heck is "Avenida Passayunco"?!

--Larry


Chiste. It translates to 9th & Passayunk, one of my favorite corners in S. Philly. It was a language quiz for BV, which, regrettably, he failed.

:tumble:

Boshvideo - 7-24-2007 at 07:51 PM

Got me on that one bajamigo. That is exactly the corner. Have you ever walked across the street to Gino's?. Better rolls, better steak.

bajamigo - 7-25-2007 at 08:41 AM

I lived on Pine @ 13th. Never got much beyond South Street. Sure would miss the cheese steaks were it not for the fish tacos!

CaboRon - 7-25-2007 at 08:45 AM

:tumble: I do love the juxtaposition of "Philly Cheeze Steaks" and "Fish Tacos" ..... and it seems people are passionately involved with both .... great stuff. :lol::lol:
CaboRon

bajamigo - 7-25-2007 at 11:06 AM

Similar addictions.
;)

bajajudy - 7-25-2007 at 02:42 PM

Well since we keep going back to philly cheese steaks, my favorite come from the Cheese Steak Shop on University in Berkeley. They have t-shirts that say "Warning May Become Habit Forming". A friend who is originally from Philly says that they are ok.
I was in Philly for Live Aid and ate a lot of pretzels and several cheese steak sandwiches but dont know where from. I seem to remember one place that was out from town and had the fake brick siding.
I sure wish that I had one right now!

Hook - 7-25-2007 at 04:55 PM

My wife and I have fish tacos at home pretty often. Generally, we use our vacuum sealed frozen fish after it hits the one year old mark. We have one of those electric deep fryers that is about the size of a coffee can and we do the basic beer batter of equal parts beer and AP flour and some salt and pepper.

The two additions to the conventional condiments that we have discovered in our travels are the marinated white onions with oregano AND the deep fried whole jalapenos. These jalapenos are fried in peanut oil. Just make a slit in them to allow them to release steam (VERY IMPORTANT!) and drop them in whole (no batter). We fry for about 3 minutes, remove, and let soak in soy sauce for at least an hour. We usually de-seed some for when we are feeling whimpy, too.

The peanut/soy/ jalapeno goes particularly well with the white sauce/avo combo we make, the white onions, limon and cabbage. It kinda clashes with salsa fresca so we usually forego that when we are having them this way. Plenty hot, of course.

Thanks to La Pasadita in San Quintin for first turning us onto the jalapenos.

bajajudy - 7-25-2007 at 05:20 PM

Hook
After you cook the chiles slice them and put them in soy sauce, add some sliced green onions and let sit overnight. Makes a killer salsa. I got that recipe from Ymelda from Picazon(used to be in San Jose, now outside of Loreto)