I was not too surprised at how long it has been. The wife goes to the Irvine one but for whatever reason this never came up on our rare dinners together. Too many options I suppose. Tonight I suggested this and it was approved. She had the Atlantic Salmon w/garlic butter and diced zucchini with rosemary and cauliflower rice w/a shrimp skewer (add-on). She liked her meal. I did the BARRAMUNDI (Asian seabass per their menu I believe) in GARLIC BUTTER and Kale Slaw: -- I'll ask for more generous garlic butter next time -- tender fish, not dry, nicely cooked -- good sized portion for sure -- zucchini (B+) needed more rosemary but pleasing anyway and healthy -- kale slaw bland and plain (B-) so I brought it home and gave it a pan lighr fry and used chipotle dressing on it RATING = A STAFF kind and efficient. Dining space well maintained. read more

We usually love coming to this location but we had a really bad experience today, March 15, 2026. We started off with the wrong sides, but that happens a lot and it doesn't bother us. What was the first real problem was the fish in my wife's Cajun fish taco was completely burned. She didn't want to complain so she kept eating, but I tried it and the bitter burnt taste overpowered the whole taco. My wife didn't want to complain so we kept eating. Now, the second big problem is what got us upset. When we were already half way done, our 8 year old started complaining about their Cajun shrimp taco. We ignored him and told him to eat. He gradually got more upset so my wife and I tried a bite. The shrimp was completely raw! He also complained about the fries and we tried that too. It seemed undercooked too. The place wasn't even busy, maybe like 3 tables were occupied and 1 other person was waiting for takeout. How do you burned the fish but get all the shrimp undercooked, fries undercooked, and get the sides wrong when you're not even busy? We're never coming here again. read more

Exceeded all expectations - yet again Atlantic salmon w Brussels and salmon burrito bowl and terrific vanilla soda Soda so fresh and cold didn't need ice cubes Awesome service . Place clean as a whistle read more

I was really in mood of eating some lighter seafood and rice type of meal that wasn't gonna be poke or some sort of chirashi sushi. So I decided to give this salmon bowl type of thing a try from California Fish Grill. Well, the grilled salmon arrived pre-shredded and mushy. The rice wasn't cooked properly so it was very gritty and hard. The vegetable/salsa tasted ok, but not enough to offset the bland fish and awful rice texture. Would I order from here again? Maybe or maybe not. I may order something different but probably not from this particular location. It's too bad because everything including what I had ordered looks glorious and delicious from their online ordering system. read more

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Just a wonderful place to get fresh fish fried to perfection. We had some healthy tomatoes with feta cheese as a side dish. The clam chowder was excellent. The staff professional, friendly and nice. The place is large, clean and inviting, lots of outside seating with heaters too. read more

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Stopped by here with a fairly large group of 9 people. The staff was very helpful and accommodating and provided excellent service. The food is priced right and delicious. Each plate that we ordered we had no complaints and the fish tasted fresh and the sides tasty. I can safely recommend either the swai or barramundi as top choices with their garlic butter sauce. read more

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Tasted great and the service was fast. The Cajun shrimp, salmon, swai, and grilled chicken were nicely seasoned and served over white rice, beans, diced tomatoes, chili mix, and fresh chopped parsley. read more

California Fish Grill - Everything Protein Bowl - Seafood Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Forgot to check in here but I had a good experience. I was greeted right away, and although I chose the self service kiosk, the service provided was still very good. We chose to eat outside, this location has a small patio but very nice and plenty of seating. Everything inside was clean, including the restroom. For my lunch I always order the poke bowl from here, it's fairly large and delicious. read more

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They changed the fried fish recipe! Quite good. One star less for the Kale Cole slaw. They should toss the kale in coconut oil as that will make it easier to slide off the plate onto the garbage pail, read more

California Fish Grill - Vile does not adequately describe the fried fish at California Fish Grill. - Seafood Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I miss going to this place. I love the food. Taste fresh and good. Love the grilled fish with garlic butter and Cajun, the kale slaw is also good service is fast as well knowing it's busy and the place is clean. My son and I love this place. read more

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This place is horrible. The quality of the caesar salad and sweet potato fries were very below standard. The salad looked like someone took a handful of romaine and threw it into a to go container and then stepped on it. The sweet potato fries were not fully cooked and no sauce was included. If you want a "fuck you" meal, then order from this place. read more

I have never been here even though i've heard good things and i'm always at that shopping plaza. Finally went in for dinner on Tuesday evening. They had a Taco Tuesday special, $3.50 for most tacos. When we walked in, a Manager helped us order and use a coupon, she was amazingly helpful and set the tone for this location! The restaurant has a nice outdoor patio with plenty of chairs and umbrellas, and the inside was a mix of booth, low tables and hightops. Clean and plenty of space. We ordered three fish tacos and they were humongous!! We also got the fried fish & shrimp plate with fries, and a yummy tomato and feta salad. Portions were excellent. They also have wine and beer to enjoy. I tried the chardonnay and the bottle had about 2.5 glasses worth of wine for $15. Flavors were delicious, the pickled onion on the fish tacos was great. The fish was fresh and flaky and the batter wasn't too greasy at all. Shrimp was really good esp with their house cocktail sauce. Great spot for seafood! read more

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They help you at the kiosk to order your food. Food comes out hot and taste very fresh. The only downside is it takes a little while.

Food is fresh and responsibly sourced. Beer and wine available. Lots of choices. Something for everyone

This place is not even close to what it used to be. Largely empty, overpriced, and small portions for fish. Never recovered from the pandemic. Staff doesn't seem to care about the quality of the food or cleanliness of the restaurant. Same story at their Fountain Valley location. Shell of their former selves. You order via kiosk and pick up when your number is called. If the owners don't want to pay employees to care, I see no reason to care to visit. read more

California Fish Grill - To go fish and chips. Completely inedible. - Seafood Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I thought that I was satisfied with the consistency and quality of the Lake Forest location. This is probably the third time our family has experienced issues. 1. Missing Sides 2. Son ordered Fish& Calimari plate. Greasy and extremely over salted. 3. Rockfish- Dry and strange texture Corporate has been good reaching out to make amends. I appreciate their efforts. However, after this experience, they have lost my continued business. I will go to the Tustin location. But will never set foot in the Lake Forest store. Spent over around $90 for a disappointing meal. Corporate needs to implement quality control measures. read more

This is not the first time we've come here--we come every week because we love the food. We've never had issues with the service or the food before, which is why today's experience was so disappointing. It started with the employee who took our order. His name on the receipt said Jonathan (not sure if that was actually his name). He was friendly, polite, and outgoing with the family in front of us, but when it was our turn, his attitude completely changed. He rushed through our order, barely listened, and when I clearly said "no onions," he cut me off with, "Yes, yes, yes, I got it. What else?" When the food came out, it had onions. I returned it and was told they would make a new plate. Instead, they gave me back what looked like the same plate with most of the onions just scraped off the top. It was obvious it had not been remade. I asked again for a fresh plate. By this time, it was still before the rush, yet I ended up waiting over 30 minutes while many other orders were coming out before mine. When I asked Jonathan where my food was, he responded rudely, saying, "I'll go into the kitchen right now," with an attitude and sarcasm instead of trying to help. What made the situation worse was watching how differently he treated other customers compared to us. He was warm and attentive to white customers, but dismissive and disrespectful toward us as Hispanic customers. That contrast was hard to ignore and made the experience even more upsetting. I eventually asked for the manager. The manager was polite enough, but the only resolution offered was a refund. We love the food here and have been loyal weekly customers, which is why this experience was so frustrating. Good food alone is not enough when customers are treated with disrespect. The staff, especially Jonathan, need a serious reminder about professionalism, customer service, and treating every guest equally. read more

Healthier alternative to a lot of other food out there. It's in a great location in the middle of it all. The restaurant has lots of indoor and outdoor seating. It's light and bright and I love the open kitchen to watch them grill your food. The service is fast and friendly and I love that there's wine and beer available. read more

A go-to spot for a filling and healthy meal! Tilapia Plate: 4/5 This is my favorite grilled fish option on the menu. I usually get it with white rice, garlic butter, and street corn (no onions), which comes with a $2.50 upcharge. The food is always well-seasoned and cooked perfectly. It's also a generous portion--enough to split into two meals. It loses a point only because the $2.50 side upgrade feels a bit overpriced. Service: 5/5 I ordered online and picked up at the left side of the counter--no need to stand in line. The staff was quick, efficient, and even offered me lemon. If you're in a rush, there's also a self-order kiosk. Ambiance: 5/5 The space is large with plenty of seating and ample parking. Tables were clean, and the self-serve bar was tidy and well-stocked. Overall: California Fish Grill is one of my reliable go-to spots. While the side upgrade pricing could be more reasonable, the quality and portions make it worth returning to. read more

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The food quality is excellent, the service is great, and Nora was very helpful to us. She also has a very friendly and professional attitude with customers. read more

I was being held hostage by a coworker who wanted to go here . I knew better but played along . They actually take a piece of salmon and run it through a meat slicer to butterfly it ...when you look down at it it looks like you've have two pieces of salmon unfortunately it's as thick as a piece of bologna... Don't believe me ? Give it a try...you will be amazed. Stick with shrimp or something they can't ruin . too bad they took over bone heads fish restaurant.,,place was great. Another no BS review by J Bosco read more

I came in for dinner with friends, and unfortunately our experience wasn't great. The food took a very long time to arrive, and when it did, the fries were cold and soggy. Everyone at the table felt their meals were cold and the wait was excessive. We were too hungry and short on time to wait for replacements, so we ate anyway. The service was also disappointing and awful . read more

Ordered salmon, white rice & Brussel sprouts.... What we got was salmon, French fries & corn. Of course it was a to go order so didn't check first before leaving. Salmon very thin & over cooked, French fries barely more than 10 or so. Not sure I'll try it again. read more

Kimberly's service was outstanding! Food was great as always and Kimberly was a a nice addition to the staff! Highly recommend this place! read more

The food here is very good and reasonably priced. The restaurant is clean and we'll kept. The service is pretty quick and the new manager is friendly and interacts with everyone we saw there that day. read more

Great service. Very Helpful front register lady today. Food is good but salty. And be careful with their dressings, they have seem to have soy and are cheaper shelf stable ones. Would be great if they made some of their own dressings and use different oil other than canola. And I noticed when I was finishing my meal that there were pieces of edamame. And I told her that I have a soy allergy. Nothing serious, but I cannot eat soy. She told the kitchen so apparently this is the kitchen's fault. Be careful. read more

Pretty sure I have reviewed this place before... the quality is still there and inside the place is still clean so no worries on that end. They have this kiosk where you can choose to order your food rather than talk to the person 3 feet away... I get it but it clogs up the line in a major way and it causes some folks a bit of anxiety with people behind them impatiently waiting... they need to move the kiosk out of the order line... read more

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Fish and chips. They're using a new batter and its very thick and hard. Overcooked. Hardly any fish inside. Could they be cutting corners? The manager ordered me a piece of SWAI. She told me it was a flaky fish. It was gray. It was gummy and raw. I dont think it was cooked at all. On top of that, the soda fountain wouldn't distribute the Vanilla Agavi soda. It was broken. My $15 went down the drain and I left hungry and unsatisfied. I appreciated the manager trying to accommodate me, but she needed to make it right, and didnt. I use to frequent this restaurant and always enjoyed it. In time it has slowly gone downhill. Saturdays were packed. Not anymore. Just a few people, mostly empty. Sad. read more

Great price and good food. Love the new tomato feta! Keep up the quality and good prices ! read more

California Fish Grill - CAJUN!!!! - Seafood Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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What a sweet spot for Seafood lovers! I really enjoy the quiet and spacious setup, the courteous and friendly service. I especially enjoyed the Grilled Bronzino, Cajun style, with a side of sautéed/roasted Zucchini and the tomatoes and feta salad- Delicious! read more

California Fish Grill - Grilled Bronzino with two sides - Seafood Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Usually don't have too many problems with this chain, but this time it was all bad. First off told them I did not know the greek salad had the weird chunks of cheese, so they take it back as if they are going to remake me one, but noooo, they gave me the same one they just tried to take all the cheese off! Second realized I didn't sub taco shells for flour, usually not a big deal but the corn shells for falling all apart and didn't taste good at all, so I ordered and paid for some flour tortillas. Last but not least my salmon on the tacos were over cooked, pretty much burnt on one side and I did not even request that they even be cooked well done. read more

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Food is different and delicious! I got avocado toast w/bacon and OMG very different and so much better than everywhere else. A must try with a cool vibe. Classy and comfortable place to eat breakfast, lunch or a fun dinner. Customer service was awesome and they will alter to your liking. Just a great place with friends, family or a date night. read more

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Food and ambiance were amazing! The flavors are on the spot and the full dinner set feel healthy, fresh and pleasant to eat. I need to give this place a shoutout for making high quality seafood at affordable prices. I ordered grilled shrimp and avocado with kale salad and feta cheese, and is one of the best choices on the menu (in my opinion). We also ordered a few fish and shrimp tacos to share and a side of their new chimichurri Parmesan fries. All of them were fantastic and feel they are from a premium restaurant instead of a quasi fast food chain. read more

California Fish Grill - Seafood Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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What happened to this chain? The kiosk system needs to go. It's awful and takes away from the dining experience. The food is still good and fresh, but they have cut portions in half and you walk away feeling hungry. Both LF and Irvine locations need to be revisited by management. read more

Came for lunch today right as they opened at 11am. They were fulfilling a large delivery order but still were very helpful. They have implemented a self order kiosk and an associate helped me navigate it and answered questions. I ordered the new Everything Protein bowl and it was made well and tasted great. They did not skimp on the proteins and the bowl was so large I couldn't finish it, which isn't common for me. An associate also walked around asking the diners how their meals were going. Overall I think they are providing a great service and the food is high quality. Would definitely recommend. read more

The most disgusting food I think I ever ordered. it's not even really food by any definition. The "fish" dripped out of the batter. Never saw that before. Fries cooked in old old oil I think and cold as ice. read more

How this place only has 3.5 stars is beyond me, my experience in one word would be QUALITY!The breaded shrimp taco was one of the best seafood tacos I've ever had, the sauce and pickled onion were perfect on top. Also the sides were amazing the beans and rice were far from ordinary, so flavorful. And don't get me started on the Brussels sprouts, even my picky 3 year old tore them upppp. So good read more

California Fish Grill - Brussels sprouts mmmm - Seafood Near Me - Lake Forest, California

The best freshly cooked fish dishes. The fish tacos were plump and crunchy and light!!!! Their Greek shrimp salad was outstanding and is my favorite go-to meal. Highly recommend. read more

The French fries were cold and hard. The fried catfish had way too much breading. Something has definitely changed. This is the second time in two months with the same experience. It used to be my go to place for fried catfish. Time to search for a new location. read more

Out of all the locations I've been too this locations takes the top spot for me. I'd like to give out a huge shoot to Leslie for taking care of me. Incredible service from the team. read more