About Oscars Mexican Seafood

The fish taco – at least the one we all know and love with fried fish, purple cabbage, crema, and lime – was invented in the Baja California town of Ensenada, just an hour drive south of San Diego. This makes San Diego the closest American location to the invention of the fish taco. This makes sense because if we could describe San Diego as a food we would probably describe it as a fish taco. Fresh, easy going, healthy, and delicious.

Oscars Mexican Seafood has been churning out some of the best fish tacos in San Diego for years now. They serve some of the best mariscos in San Diego since their opening in 2011. In addition to their Ensenada-style fish tacos, Oscars serves a delicious smoked fish in any variation you want – on a taco, in ceviche (our favorite), or on a torta. They serve a couple other street tacos, like carne asada and skirt steak, but we tend to stick to the seafood here. Make sure to add your own hot sauce (in the refrigerator or on the tables) before you leave.

Their location in PB is the most popular and perfect for lunch on a summer beach day. Beware, there is always a line stretching out the door. They also have a location in Hillcrest.

Great For

• Lunch
• Eating healthy
• Quintessential California
• Fresh smoked fish

A Closer Look

Tijuana-born local San Diegan Juan Bernardo Montes de Oca opened Oscars Mexican Seafood in 2011. He used to own a semi truck business in Otay Mesa and would eat street tacos made by a man named Oscar Valenzuela who would drive up from TJ in his food truck. Juan became so enamored with these tacos that he decided to open his own taco shop. The rest is history.