If you are craving fresh fish whether it's poke , sushi or tacos this is the place . Bear flag fish never disappoints with its premium quality fish. I have visited this place a handful of times during different times of the day and their customer service is always great and rapid. Their cocktails and wine selection is always on point. There is plenty of inside and outside seating available. The bar might get a bit loud but the atmosphere is very pleasant. Everyone is there to enjoy some refreshing food and then continue on with their day in the area. I must add that although dogs aren't allowed inside; their outdoor seating is very dog friendly. I never forget to take advantage of their fish market and buy fresh fish cuts to-go for some home cooking .This bear flag fish is one of my favorites because its location is at the lido marina village which has a variety of shops and bars to enjoy after your meal. Let's not forgot the nearby beaches to enjoy! read more

See all

Such a vibe. They have a sushi bar, sunny outdoor seating, cocktails and fresh seafood! I ordered the grouper sandwich and it was very fresh and good but a little plain. I wish it was seasoned a little bit more. The guacamole was one of the best guacs I have had! Again, also super fresh. My friend ordered tacos and said they were amazing and had seared albacore on it. Next time I would definitely try the poke! read more

Bear Flag Fish - Grouper sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

i got a custom poke bowl with half brown rice half greens with 1/4 lb ahi tuna as my protein. for my toppings i chose, cucumber, chili crunch, micro greens, pickled ginger, pickled carrot, green onions and added avocado for $1 as my toppings. the sauce on top was tommy's. my bowl came out to $16.70 which was expected as it is in newport. i was satisfied with my bowl, it was light yet very filling at the same time, i really enjoyed the chili crunch and the tommy sauce was great. i'd say there are better spots for poke with better prices for bigger portions but i still really enjoyed this place. read more

Bear Flag Fish - poke bowl - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Food - Good fresh fish and good seafood selection. Bear flag taco with lettuce is good. But Salmon and Ahi poke a must try together with chips and Tommy sauce...yummy!! Rolls, taco and burritos also good! Service - order at the cashier and grab a seat indoors or heated patio. For dine in, good crew will bring the plated food to you with a designated table number. Self table cleanup and the crew will wipe down the table for next diner. Ambiance - relaxed ambiance and some inside music to level 4 out of 10. Place is always rocking' full diner time. There is heated outside seating that is on the side for Bear Flag customers and there is a back outside seating shared with ZPizza. On a good day, definitely good to stay outside. Our go to place in Newport, whether here or near Crystal Cove. Just chill and easy food. There are some draft beer and wine selections too!! Parking - plaza parking either in front or back of the plaza for free. There is also street side metered parking or even structure parking as needed. Overall verdict? - it's a repeat place when you are craving good fresh fish like poke, rolls, burritos, or grilled seafood item. read more

See all

Fresh selection of sea food. Place packed with people and long line but it moved fast. I ordered the clam chowder and calamari fries. Food came out rather quickly. Will definitely come back again to try other dishes read more

See all

I got the ahi tuna small plate and it was soo good. At first, I got the Mahi Mahi but I am very glad that they allowed me to switch it to ahi tuna once I realize the Mahi Mahi was cooked. I am definitely coming back here!!! read more

Okay... I'm a sushi snob. I've eaten sushi likely once a week or more for the last 25 years. This is some of the best fish I've ever been served at a sushi bar. Sat at the sushi bar and ordered omakase. The chef gave me a beautiful and generous spread. Some of the best toro I've ever had. The salmon, shockingly good! Ask for the house soy sauce. I love that they serve shiso leaves and fresh grated wasabi/horseradish. Sake list is a bit short, but they have a good assortment. Next time I'm back in this area, I'll absolutely be by here. read more

Bear Flag Fish - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Bear Flag Fish offers a variety of quality seafood entrees in a casual setting at decent prices. There were about a dozen choices of fish as well as sushi options, soups, healthy and splurge-worthy sides, fish tacos and burritos. There are indoor and outdoor seating options including bar-seating for solo diners. We were ushered in upon seeing a line out the door. We were hopeful of an excellent dining experience but our visit fell short of expectations due to service, food prep time, and taste of the food. One of our friends got the wrong order. Another friend experienced a severe delay in getting her food even though she ordered 15 to 20 minutes before some of the other ladies in our group. I enjoyed seeing the fresh cuts of fish displayed at the front of the restaurant in refrigerated cases which assisted me making my selection. There were a few prep methods for the fish entrees listed on a small table easel but unless you specified, our cashier didn't ask which one you wanted. I ordered the Cajun style, but sadly, their idea of Cajun seasoning is layering on a thick layer of the powdered seasoning AFTER grilling the fish which causes one to involuntarily inhale the seasoning while bringing a bite to your mouth, making the experience a bit unpleasant. The lemon sauce on the side, however, was a nice compliment to the fish. I appreciated healthier side options to compliment the style of fish prep. The broccoli and brown rice I selected had the perfect chew and cooked to perfection. Missed the mark: the cioppino is a misnomer. While the menu does describe it as fish with chunks of vegetables, I think the soup should be renamed altogether. For those whose vision is less than 2020 the description could easily be missed which was the case for my friend. She and I are both cioppino fans, and neither of us were willing to finish the smallest portion that she had ordered. My burrito-ordering friend didn't enjoy it at all and complained about it the rest of the night. read more

See all

Wow how this places business practices has gone down the drain. The food, is still good, but they short change you on the fish every single time. Almost an oz of fish short this time, effectively stealing from us as customers. Now, in addition you need to pay for Tommy sauce and crunchy garlic. After paying for two of each, we got less than one filled cup of each. Once again effectively stealing from the customer. I've been coming here for years and would generally be shorted slightly on the fish, but it's gotten egregious. It's an absolute shame that bear flag has begun subsidizing their profits through stealing from loyal customers. As of now, nobody should go unless they plan and accept that they won't get what they paid for. read more

See all

Best burritos and tacos and some great fresh fish. Always a good place to hang out on the patio. Good vibes here.

I've tried Bear Flag a few times throughout the years (around ~5 occasions), but I feel like the time it takes to fulfill my order has gotten longer. The fish seem to be of high quality and the menu is extensive. I tend to come here for the poké on rice. The ambiance and interior gets pretty busy inside, and there's usually a bit of a strange waiting area when you're ordering to-go. I wouldn't say it's my go-to poké recommendation anymore, as it used to be a place I'd go out of my way to when I was in town. read more

Stopped in during the week, it added up quickly, getting chips & ceviche, side of guacamole, & 1 tray of oysters, for 2 people, was over $100. Good food, & cute casual ambiance, but didn't expect plastic ware, eating out of to-go containers & bussing my own table for those prices. But I guess they are going more for the market vibe with those elements. Keeps it casual. Given the area, to be expected though. Worth a try if you enjoy good fish. Don't expect a real fork though. read more

Best poké in SoCal. I love you Bear Flag. Like genuinely this would be my death row meal. Never stop doing what you do.

10/10, yes there's a line but that's how you know it's going to be good. For how long the line was, get were served super fast. The poke burrito was such high quality. The ahi was delicious, and they packed my burrito with it. When I order a burrito with seafood I expect it to be 90% rice but this was not the case at bear flag. Every bite had ahi and avocado and the sauce was incredible. Bear flag needs more locations. This burrito was insane read more

Bear Flag Fish - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Gabriel at the cash register taking orders . Please be more friendly and maybe smile once in a while. I understand the lunch rush can be hectic and stressful but you being grumpy towards paying customers doesn't make the experience pleasant at all . We are standing in line and waiting patiently as you're behind taking the orders . We do not come up to you rude so you shouldn't be that way towards us. read more

Love this place. Fresh seafood burritos, sushi, poke or whatever you are in the mood for. They get pretty busy but don't be deterred the line moves quickly and service is swift. Seating can be scarce at times, but because the food comes out quickly, if you wait a couple mins a table will free up. read more

SO FRESH! Tuna poke was so yummy and tasted very fresh, and each of the sushi rolls were delicious. Only reason I'm giving 4/5 stars is because the service was a bit slow the day that we went. Other than that everything else was wonderful. read more

Bear Flag Fish - Hurricane roll, bear flag roll and the La bamba roll - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

Ok, me and the fam were down in NPB and decided to give this place a go. Upon walking in, I told the cashier that we found them on Yelp.. and it was our first time. Now when you get a first-timer... you would think you would give them the lay of the land.. but that wasn't the case. We ordered our food and got a little number to find a table. The drinks never came! I had to go back in, ask for a copy of the receipt.. and was told then, (by the same cashier) that we had to go to the bar.. um.. nobody mentioned that. Once we were eating, the food was so-k but nothing to write home about (or even for this elite to take photos of)... For others who love this place, good on you.. I'll not return. read more

I was at Bear Flag Fish in Newport on january 4th, 2025 at 17:32. We have ordered two sushi and a shrimp cocktail. When the cashier passed us the sushi s, it was prepackaged. Literally store bought. So when we asked why this happened he said the sushi chef wasn't there. We already have paid $60 for store bought sushi and a shrimp cocktail that was served on plastic container. We got a refund for the sushi which was $30. Regardless, this is a situation that should not be repetead, or could let the customers know that the chef is not working. Do not recommend it. Ambiance was ok. read more

Bear Flag Fish - This is the sushi that we have received, it is not what we ordered and was premade. this whole meal was $60, which were not fresh. - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

This place was absolutely packed when we tried to visit on a Sunday afternoon, though it was a holiday weekend. The staff were nice in helping me figure out what was gluten-free and also giving me recommendations of what they thought was best on the menu. There is a good amount of seating in the restaurant as well as in the back patio. I ended up getting fish tacos and they were amazing! read more

Not consistent, been here many times and this was the last. The poke bowl was not fresh, fish was warm, rice was stale and hard. The burrito tortilla was also stale and hard and the burrito didn't taste like before. I specifically asked for no onions on the burrito, she cashier said "it doesn't come with onions you have to ask for them extra" , I said ok great no onions. GUESS WHO GOT ONIONS ON THEIR BURRITO...Also very disappointed when the calamari came and it was in sticks, it was the only thing that tasted good tho. Also took over 30 min to get our food. Horrible. read more

The most amazing poke bowl I have ever had. Could eat this every single day!!! Absolutely delicious.

When I'm craving quick, fresh seafood, I think of Bear Flag. Their pokè and ceviche -- *chefs kiss*! A little on the pricey side for pokè. The salmon pokè was around $21-$23/lb. But if you're wanting guaranteed fresh and delicious, the $23/lb for pokè is truly justified. No regrets! They also have $3 fish tacos on Taco Tuesdays! Lucky for me, today is Taco Tuesday. So for lunch today I ordered two blackened fish tacos paired with a crisp can of Diet Coke. All under $15. Can't beat that! They also have ready-made sushi rolls and sashimi if you want to grab something quick to go. Another winner on the menu is their fish plates where you choose a fish of your liking along with two sides for $14! I love it here, and anyone who loves seafood would too! They have two locations in OC -- one in Lido in Newport Beach and one in Crystal Cove off PCH. Highly recommend! read more

Never been here and I don't know who needs to hear this but the halibut taco blackened with their special sauce was insane!!! Service and such good enough but that fish taco was fire! read more

Great spot to get something to eat and drink. Environment is excellent and is a great place to sit outside. Food is fantastic. read more

Bear Flag Fish - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Visited this place over a year ago while exploring the area with my sister. Everything was great; I've been wanting to come back and try other things off their menu cuz it looked so interesting and delicious. It wasn't too busy that day so service was nice and fast and the food and drinks we got were pretty good. We sat outside since it was warm and sunny, and honestly I was a huge fan of whatever vibe that was, cuz I felt very much relaxed and happy! Looking forward to coming back here someday:) read more

One of the best poke in OC! I ordered the poke bowl with 1/2 pound of ahi tuna and salmon with rice, seaweed salad, cucumbers, furikake, and green onion. The poke tasted super fresh and was delicious. I also ordered a side of guacamole and chips, which was super good too. They sell poke by itself for those who eats poke with their chips. There may be long lines depending on the time but they are pretty quick with to go orders. They also have outdoor seating so it is dog friendly and the view is also nice. I will definitely be back for the poke again! read more

Bear Flag Fish - poke bowl by the beach - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

Loved the vibe of this place! Customer service was great! The gentleman Justin was a great help. I ordered takeout and it was delicious! The burrito I probably won't get again or if I do I need to get some sauce because it was a little dry. But sushi, sashimi, poke was fire! I will definitely come again! read more

See all

Ordered Bear Flag Burrito and Salmon Poke Bowl with Cucumber, Crunchy Chili Garlic, Furikake, and Seaweed Salad The poke and bear flag burrito here is absolutely amazing. The poke is fresh and delicious and pairs very well with seaweed salad and crunchy chili garlic. I also see a lot of people order poke by the pound with chips and I've tried it, but my preference is still the poke bowl for the extra flavor. Furthermore, the burrito is bomb with the tommy sauce and I always get extra sauce on the side. Whenever I'm in the area, this is definitely my go-to place and the vibes are super nice for hanging out with friends or family. There is a nice outside seating area that can get crowded during the weekends, but generally a table clears up pretty quickly. read more

Bear Flag Fish - Bear Flag Burrito - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

The mahi mahi with black beans and brown rice are great. The tuna poke was good, too. Laid-back atmosphere, but with a friendly and efficient staff. Restrooms were good. Dogs were allowed outside. read more

The poke nachos is so similar to the one I had in Hawaii. The fish quality is very top tier and melts in your mouth!

This is truly a hidden treasure for fresh seafood and so much more! Stopped by for lunch and I felt like this is a Newport Beach locals spot. Loved the crowd and location. Very casual atmosphere with a mini fish market, great bar, with few indoor seating but lots of patio seating. To order food, you stand in line but it goes by very quickly. Then you take a number to whatever table you choose and the waiters bring everything over. Since the food is prepared fresh, it takes a while for the food to arrive. Everything was extremely delicious. We ordered the large lunch plate, selected grilled swordfish with garlic butter, and it came with 2 very large sides, we chose rice and beans. Also ordered for appetizers: guacamole with chips, two sushi rolls - Citrus Salmon roll and the Hurricane roll, both with soy paper. The chips were so delicious we wanted to take a bag home. Absolutely perfection! read more

Bear Flag Fish - Absolute perfection! - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

There's already a lot of reviews for this eatery so I'll be brief. - Basic fish taco: OK but small, somewhat bland and expensive. Could have used a tasty salsa but all they had was two varieties of packet hot sauce (sriracha and another brand) which were only adequate. - Basic fish burrito: better than the taco but still not great. Also needed salsa. Decent size for the cost. - Mahi mahi tacos: a step up from basic. Nice outdoor area; a bit tight and noisy inside. Service is efficient. Fast casual: order your food at the counter and they'll bring it out. I like that they serve food in metal, reusable plates. Menu board above and behind the counter is a little confusing for poke. The board says to check the 'poke menu' if you want that but there's no poke menu in sight. ‍ Overall, A-OK. I wanted typical 'San Diego style' fish tacos and that's not Bear Flag's thing, which is fine. Variety is a good thing. read more

See all

I actually liked everything I got there. We got the chips and salsa, the salmon poke, clam chowder, the grilled fish tacos and the grilled fish sandwich. The salsa and pico in the tacos was really fresh. The salmon poke had a great sauce and the clam chowder was nice and creamy. I liked the fish tacos, but the sandwich was the best thing I ate. The sandwich was really good. The bread was nice and soft, and the sandwich had a great sauce. All in all, everything was really good and I'd get that sandwich again in a heartbeat. read more

See all

Good for grabbing a quick bite when you are at the area for a reasonable price. Not for you if you are looking for well reserved restaurant. read more

I've been a regular at this restaurant for a while now, often bringing my family weekly and usually sitting at the bar or inside. Unfortunately, I've had several disappointing experiences with one particular bartender. She often comes across as dismissive and inattentive when I ask for basic things like drinks or condiments. For example, during my most recent visit, I asked her for salsa and it took her about three minutes to hand it to me--despite it being within reach. Just moments later, another guest asked for the same thing and she handed it over immediately. It felt like I was being intentionally ignored. I try not to make assumptions about people, but the consistent cold demeanor and lack of attentiveness are hard to ignore. My wife and I spent $97.13 on lunch, and all we ask in return is friendly, respectful service. I genuinely enjoy coming here, but this kind of treatment makes it difficult to keep coming back. Update: I ordered salmon sashimi confirmed it three times and they just brought me out yellowtail. This is the second time it's happened. read more

I love this place. The food is SOOOOOO good! Best I've had in a very long time. Amazing drinks and service. May be my new favorite place.

I came to Bear Flag Fish with a friend for lunch on a Thursday afternoon and there was still a line going out the door! Located in Newport Beach, this spot can get popular during any lunch time hours and parking can also be difficult. There's only metered street parking available in the area, and it did take me some time to find a spot after several rounds. When you enter the restaurant you'll notice that it gives off the cozy beach vibes inside. It's both a fish market and a restaurant so there were two counters for that. You order at the register and then they bring the food to you. There's not too much to comment on regarding the service since it was a rather quick transaction. It was also self seating, with both indoor and patio seating available, and we got lucky to find a table rather quickly. We came here because we've heard all the rave about their poke and decided to try it. For the two of us, we shared 1/2 lb salmon poke, 1/2 lb of ahi tuna poke, guacamole, and two Bear Flag Fish tacos. It also came with two bags of chips. The amount of food that came out was a good amount, and plenty to share; however, it was also expensive for what you're getting. We thought that the fish quality was high, although the salmon was very heavy on the sesame oil. The fish tacos were also not my favorite if I had to be honest. A lot of my fish was burnt so it left a bitter after taste after every bite unfortunately. The poke though was delicious and we also loved the guacamole! Overall, I think my friend and I just expected more for the price we were paying. I'd come back again if others wanted to try it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to return on my own. It's a nice experience though when you're in Newport! read more

See all

Highly so-so. Cons: Octopus nigiri was TOUGH. Miso soup was brought out in plastic container, even though we dined in - I hate having hot soup in plastic. Pros: Miso soup was tasty, even tho it was probably contaminated by leeched plastic chemicals. Salmon poke was good too (also served in plastic, alongside corn chips). Nothing mind blowing though. read more

Bear Flag Fish - Salmon poke served with corn chips - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Very good seafood burrito and amazing Bloody Mary. I think there was like 3 shots in there. Cudos to the heavy poor. Ding'd ya'll one star because the back patio is full of fruit flies. Owner - DM me I can take care of that for you for a reasonable cost read more

Bear Flag Fish - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California