Wanted to try a new place and found the spot on Yelp. The staff here very friendly, attentive and I am sorry to say that is about all that was good. The food took about 30 min to be made and it was not even busy. The food is very bland not much flavor. The rice and beans had no taste at all! The salmon I had seemed fresh but all in all very disapointing. Not sure if I will go back here again. read more

Catalina Fish Kitchen - Fajitas - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I think most reviewers covered the information on reviews. Here is my take. a hole in the wall, kinda of hard to find gem in Costa Mesa. I had their Alaskan cod fish $ chips. The fish chips fried with Panko and not the classic batter. I prefer the classic light batter due to the light texture of cod fish. perhaps with a different fish a panko batter might do ok. the chips done exceptionally well. moist inside and crunch outside. the side cole slaw. also done the way I like it. not too much mayo and not sweet or too salty. they have Kona beer from Hawaii on tap. I always prefer Draft vs bottle. The inside is fun with lots of pictures of fisherman and surfers. They do have TV for sports even though it was running surfing videos when I was there. I may show up for the UCLA football and Dodger games .. The read more

It was my first time here and the food was amazing, i ordered the cheeseburger and my boyfriend ordered a sandwich. I was a little hesitant to bite into the burger because the patty was REALLY thick and i assumed itd be a little pink (yes i prefer my meat cooked) but to my pleasant surprise it wasn't. The potato wedges were cooked to perfection, even the thicker cut ones were nice and crispy. The environment was nice and the staff was pretty cool too. Their speed of service was quick even tho they were kinda busy so thats always a plus. You get what you pay for and it was worth it 10/10 read more

Catalina Fish Kitchen - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've only been here twice but their fish and chips are great! Best I've ever had and the tropical coleslaw is pretty good too. The tartar sauce just puts it over the top as the best. My next time here I'm going to try the clam chowder. I've been craving some good chowder and with their fresh seafood I bet it's going to be great. read more

I love the 3 piece fish and chips dinner! The best fish I have ever had! My son loves the big Khulna burger. It looks wonderful. My husband enjoyed his seared Ahi fish plate. We will keep coming back! read more

Catalina Fish Kitchen - Seared Ahi Kona Bowl. Good except, it could have used more Ahi and the sauce was a little too sweet. Next time I'll order something else. - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Had the Mahi Mahi rice bowl. Fish was dry. Veggies were over cooked. Jasmine rice tasted like plain white rice. First time ever ordering this. Won't get it again but might try the Seared Ahi bowl with brown rice. read more

I actually would give this place a 3.5 borderline 4. Very fresh fish! I enjoyed the flavor of the calamari tacos and the red salsa. I did not enjoy the cod taco. blech. Also thought the white cheese on the tacos was a little Sargento-from-the-grocerystore ish (white, with little flavor). Tortillas were also meh. read more

I'm so sad I just discovered this place! It's a little in the cut if Costa Mesa. I got a veggie bowl. My husband got a chicken burrito & ceviche. Our bill was just over $20. It was really large portions of food and really good!There's a great salsa bar with a ton of options. They also serve beer here. I will definitely come back again & again! read more

Catalina Fish Kitchen - Veggie bowl, ceviche, & burrito. - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Blackened ono fish tacos are worth living for! Stupid good! Big and satisfying. Black beans and rice are also a great compliment! Girls and guys behind the counter are also very nice. Green salsa! Blackened ono taco Good life! read more

special place with low key vibe, playing 70s rock and decked out in surf iconography. super cheap beer with assortment of seafood to order. great place to start the weekend and pregame for the nite ahead. this spot has seafood shack and baja taco favs. I got a lobsta tostada, fish ceviche, 2 drafts for 21 smackers. the ceviche was my favorite, it had nice chunks of white fish with pickle carrots & crunchy aromatics like celery; it went well with the large tray of tortilla chips. I wouldn't compare it to ceviche from a true restaurante de mariscos. it's closer to cocteles, but still good with beer. read more

Great prices and delicious! The service was amazing. Emily and Naomi, Thanks for helping my boys out! read more

Catalina Fish Kitchen - Delicious and fresh. They were accommodating with my boys food allergies. Naomi and Emily were very helpful. We will be back for sure. - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Always a great lunch or dinner spot. Great fresh salsa. I love the tiger shrimp burrito! read more

Just left and will not be going back. Any place that serves chips with almost every meal should know better than to serve extremely stale chips. The burrito had basically just black beans and the rice was so bland. Not worth $10 at all. Would not recommend. Just drive a little farther and get fish in Newport. read more

Ordered the ono burrito and lobster tacos and was disappointed. Very little lobster in the tacos and the burrito was less tasty than one I've had from chipotle. The white rice was a bit soggy. I feel it was overpriced for what I received. I tried this place by takeout, so this is based on how good the food was only read more

Cod tacos with garlic butter (or any of the 6 seasoning options) are cheap and delish. Mango BBQ ahi nachos are my next fave. Been coming here for 8 years and live in Denver now. Whenever I'm back in So Cal I make sure to stop here. There's always the same guy ringing me up at the counter too which I love. Surf videos on the TVs and great vibe. Load up at the salsa bar to set off your meal. LOVE CFK! read more

Oh my god! The most disgusting food. The place looks dirty for starter, the fish was unseasoned and uncooked, chicken was uncooked, salad was sloppy, shrimp was suppose to be grilled but had no flavor and still raw. It gave my husband such bad food poisoning he started throwing up I'm surprised this place has fairly good reviews for a place with such horrible food. Never again. read more

I hate giving bad reviews. I usually write good ones but this place turned me off the minute I walked in the door. The menu is extensive and confusing to understand. With so many choices how can you tell what is really good? They use mozzarella cheese on all their dishes. Even the quesadilla? On a hamburger? They only offer black beans. The salsa bar is just weird looking and the choices are unappealing. My husbands salmon was a tiny piece and it looked previously frozen. My hamburger looked and tasted like cardboard. I ate one bite and chucked it. My husband wasn't thrilled with the salmon but he was trying to power through. We will not return. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE. I really wish I could come kick it down at this place every-other day. The vibe is socal surfer fish joint. Boards, best-of surf videos, sports, tikis, bombing beers, and GREAT fish. The owner is a super nice guy who makes a point to interact with his customers and spread his infectious smile. I'm partial to the seared fish and rice bowls, but the whole menu is delicious. Great portions, and fair price. If you live in the area and haven't tried this place yet, you owe it to yourself to stop by and try it out. Just like the fish, you'll be hooked! read more

My boss took us here as a team lunch before we start working from anywhere Friday tomorrow for all summer. First thought is they have a huge menu, spacious bench so 5 of us could sit. Tacos were good, I got the ahi taco and cod taco they were tasty. The place was quite, not loud at all so we were joking around and having a good time and talk about where we were going to work from on Fridays. read more

Had the Grilled Salmon tacos. I should have read the menu but they were topped with a lettuce cabbage and cold bagged Mozzarella cheese! Maybe I'm insane but who the fuck smothers a grilled fish taco with mozzarella cheese! Disgusting read more

I remember coming to this place a number of years ago and really enjoying it, so I was disappointed to have such a negative experience upon trying it again. We ordered the shrimp ceviche, clam chowder, and crab cakes to go. In our bag were all the items, a handful of stale crackers which had the year 2019 on them, cold/stale tortilla chips, random fortune cookies, and chopsticks (and no spoons for our soup even though I asked if utensils were in the bag). The biggest problem with every dish is that is extremely evident that the ingredients used are not high quality. The crab cakes tasted like imitation crab from a subpar California roll, the ceviche had an overwhelming taste of canned tomato, which was really disappointing, and we couldn't even eat the clam chowder as it had an after taste that reminded me of really bad tasting tap water, plus it was as thin as tap water altogether making it pretty inedible for me. We ended up throwing away most of the food, which is shocking because I pride myself in not wasting food, but I think it was warranted. read more

The crab cake is a disappointment the crab is imitation crab. The salmon was dry and the only thing we liked where the vegetables

I haven't been here in years. The place looks the same and the food is still good. It's a small place in the industrial area off 17th street. They have a large menu of seafood, both fried and grilled. On Tuesday, they have all kinds of tacos on sale. Tiger shrimp, bay shrimp, Ono, scallop, mahi mahi and other kinds of seafood tacos. All are very good. There isn't much to them, but they have a great salsa bar to help boost the flavor a bit. Overall, I like this place and keep forgetting it's here. This place is good and has a good selection and it's reasonably priced for seafood. read more

Whoa- I must have missed the boat or something. 4 starts for this establishment? No way. Reasons for my 2 stars: - Tacos were far from the Mexican ones - no lettuce, onions or cilantro, loaded with shredded cheese and housed in a flour tortilla. I don't believe in flour tortillas for tacos. - Ceviche didn't look fresh and it had huge chunks of carrots in it. Who freaking puts carrots in ceviche? - I commend all the various salsas, but the chunky salsa was way too chunky for my tastes. The tomatoes seems like they were quartered instead of diced - Combos come with Jasmine rice which is literally white rice. The rice was totally bland with no light seasoning like Wahoo's or Chipotle's white rice. If I wanted plain jasmine rice, I would have gone to Sam Woo. - Workers were totally spacey and on slow mo. Maybe too much sticky icky? I had high hopes for this place, but I think that I'll stick to CA Fish Grill at home. read more

I tried the kona bowl for the first time here with chicken and it was delightfully delicious!!

mahi mahi fish and chips and beer!!! To end our day and celebrate finishing the relay we went here upon my teammates suggestion since they are from the area. First we ordered a pitcher of beer of some brand but its only half left so we got a free half pitcher of beer tooo!!! Lets talk about the food. its ok... oktnxbai read more

This place is unreal. Came in with friends, ordered the fish ceviche and chips appetizer, the crab cake appetizer, and a pitcher of Pabst. The cashier recommended I try the crab cake tostada special instead of the regular crab cakes. I figured it sounded nice and I always enjoy recommended dishes, so I went for it. My total was $27 before tip, which, considering the restaurant is a seat-yourself and order at the counter affair, was a very reasonable $3 bringing my total to $30. First up was the fish ceviche. The presentation was a plastic bowl filled with sauce and a few pieces of fish mixed with what seemed like pico de gallo. Chips were stale. Before I got the chance to try it, my main course arrived. Where do I begin? The smell of the crab cakes was absolutely overpowering - I hardly noticed that they looked like piles of soggy cat food on top of tostadas. As they approached my table, hints of seawater, chum, and soggy kelp filled my nose. Being an adventurous eater, I figured I ought to power through and try a bite. Perhaps the odor was only there to separate posers from the real fish lovers. Or not. Perhaps the crab used in this dish had died, hours, days (weeks!?) ago. It certainly wasn't fresh. I looked around the table at my friends, who were swiftly losing both their appetites and possibly the will to continue living with the scent of these crab cakes filling the air. They implored I ask the staff about the dish. I reached the counter and immediately the cashier smelled the plate. "Wow, that's gross," she exclaimed. I was then informed by her and the server that their manager (Angelica) told them to serve the crab that way! They had known it was smelly and old, but decided that their bottom line was more important than the health and safety of their customers. Disgusting! I received a half-assed apology and the price of only the offensive crab cakes as a refund. (Oh, and the server awkwardly handed me a can of Coke, presumably to smooth things over. Just bizarre.) $10 back on a $30 bill is apparently the amount they value my health, happiness, or ability to touch crab for the next few months. So happy I could spend $20 to drink some PBR and have an unforgettable olfactory experience! Thanks Catalina Fish Kitchen! read more

Don't do it! I guess the locals love this place? Well, I'm a local, and I think it's basically garbage. The first time I came here, I got a fish burrito ... which sounded like a bad decision, but I thought I could trust this "local gem." Wrong. It was really gross. Full of steamed rice, jack cheese and weird fish. Also, the waiter guy awkwardly-kind-of-on-purpose forcefully bumped into me while I was sitting. He was pretty attractive, but it was weird. So I go again. And you can never go wrong with fish tacos? Apparently so. Again, fish that tasted like canned tuna. And it was just all wrong. The salsa bar is mediocre. The ambiance feels like middle of nowhere Nevada, circa 1986. Maybe you'll be inspired to write a Springsteen tune here in the joint. This place has totally lost me. Cute charm? No, honey, that's just dust above a crappy old aquarium. I want to believe in this place, but I can't. They get two stars. Do yourself a favor and just go to Wahoo's. read more

The food is fine. But beware when paying with credit card. I left the "tip" section empty and signed the receipt. When my credit card statement came it was for more than my receipt stated. When I contacted the manager he sent me a copy of his version of the receipt where it showed a tip added, though it wasn't even remotely similar to my handwriting. The manager never followed up with me to let me know how the situation got resolved. read more

Yeah... I don't know how they got the 4 star rating from. I ordered the Alaskan Cod, Hawaiian Ono, Ahi Tuna, and Steak tacos. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference of any tacos besides the steak. You could run to your loco super market, buy a bag of Mission Flour Tortillas and some shredded cheese mix and have yourself some authentic Catalina Fish Kitchen tacos! For the love of Pete, my tortillas were served cold! Next time you want to come here for some tacos, come to my place and I'll make you the same thing and only charge you $1. read more

Wow. I thought that I had all the staple places that I needed, but I was missing Catalina fish. I have raved before about the California Fish Grill, but it no longer stands alone in my eyes. Catalina is like a localized wahoo's that specializes more in fish. And they do it well. They have a different special everyday and $6.50 pitchers. The first time I proceeded to go there 5 more times that week. My favorites so far: Ono Gumbo Yellowtail Fajitas Scallop tacos Calamari tacos Ono tacos Everything A must try. Pretty cheap too. read more

A friend took me for lunch and I was not disappointed. I ordered the calamari burrito and it was sooooo good that I almost had an orgasm. Their $1.50 beer speical is great too. We sat and hung-out, watched the surf video on their plasma tv, drank beer and ate good food... very nice indeed. read more

A little obscure and hard to find, but very much worth the trip! It's nestled within the industrial area near the Costa Mesa/Newport Beach border area. So about the restaurant - Fresh seafood, friendly environment, LOTS of menu variety, and fair prices. The setup is similar to your typical fish taco joint, with a cashier to order and a salsa/sauce bar. But unlike your typical fish taco joint, Catalina offers tacos and burritos and salads and chargrilled plates of 10+ types of fish. My personal favorites are the mango salsa appetizer and calamari burrito. read more

Sorry guys, I'll probably be back because I want to like like this place, but from what I experienced, you are a 2 star joint. Tacos are piled high with shredded cheese. COLD UNmelted shredded cheese. You'd be better off taking that flour tortilla, filling it with the COLD UNmelted shredded cheese, radiating it with microwaves for 55 seconds and having the fish on the side. I would be a gazillion times happier with a cheese quesadilla and fish, than what you try to pass off as fish tacos. I would be better off just grilling or pan frying a fillet myself and eat it with some tortillas. Probably cheaper and easier. Your Fish and chips on the other hand were pretty good. Nice crispy batter. Too bad those are only served on the weekends. The fish case did not look that appetizing nor did the fish look very fresh. One female employee was putting on make up and checking herself out using a mirror on the wall where everyone could see. It was the afternoon and it was a bit slow, but still, if there's time to lean...there's time to clean, and the place could have used some cleaning. I am sure the taco tuesdays and cheap beer might draw a lot of fans, but beer, no matter how cheap at restaurants will still be cheaper from the market. And the tacos, well, I'd rather be over at Taco Mesa on Taco Tuesdays for their dollar tacos. Way better food. Your location however is fun. Out of the way and somewhere you would not expect to find a restaurant. Maybe thats why I want to like you, because you are sort of a secret place. read more

Methinks a reviewer below has not actually been here, because taco nights - Tuesdays and Thursdays - DO NOT have tacos for $4! Ono tacos are always less than $2, and Alaskan cod tacos are $1.25, while Ahi tacos are also $2 or $2.25. The food here is fantastic. The chips are usually great, though they have served the bagged kind on occasion, but who cares, you are using the chips to eat phenomenal ceviche for $4 or great guacamole. The salsa and dressing bar is also great, and the variety is great - they have ultra hot (habanero) and mild, as well as stuff in between like black salsa and shark bite. I almost always get the seared ahi salad and ceviche, but also get the best deal on the menu - the ahi nachos - when I am really hungry. Massive platter of chips covered with beans, cheese and tons of smoked ahi tuna. Seriously, don't listen to me, go there yourself. Catalina Fish Kitchen is literally the best seafood deal around, and the food quality is just fantastic. read more

Their shark bite salsa is spicier than the habanero and has a lot of flavor as well! Love it! read more

Catalina Fish Kitchen - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I used to think this place was average. And it's true, there are some lackluster items. Like the tacos are mostly cheese. But then I tried the Lobster/shrimp/bacon burrito and considered getting a tattoo in honor of this restaurant. I can't say enough good things about it. Order this burrito, your life will change. read more

Good deals on Taco Tuesday. Actually they have a "deal" every day of the week and it's usually pretty good value. I love their blackened calamari burrito most. Their chowders are really good - ask for it pink. Good deals on beers. They are typically playing reggae or chill music. You can expect to get a seat or table pretty easily. There is usually at least one surf video going on always. The owner cruises around and chats with tables. Love the vibe here. Oh wait, did I mention that the men's bathroom is painted as if you're standing inside a giant barrel? Nothing like getting pitted while taking a piss! Epic!! I hate to report that their salsa bar has gone downhill, especially their pico de gallo. Step that shit up and you'll have 5 stars in no time! read more

After a busy day of errands, I dropped in around 4pm Sat. for a refreshing cold brew before my last stop at Trader Joe's nearby. They had Michelob Amber Bock on tap and served it up in with a smile and a happy hour discount. With friendly staff and food that looked and smelled great, I will definitely go back and, next time, have fish & chips with my favorite Amber Bock draft. read more

There are a few ways to look at things as they relate to restaurants. You can A) be like reality TV shows and not reference anything outside of what is directly in front of you, or B) compare your dining experience to others prior. I've got to go with B. Catalina Fish Kitchen comes in at roughly the same price point as Bear Flag, and boasts a menu that is definitely more eclectic. The menu was full of appetizing choices, and the decor was actually my favorite part of the experience, with great signed pictures of some SoCal surf spots, and a wicked painting that allowed me to get barreled as I used the facilities. As I eyed the menu, the staff was friendly to recommend items, and I decided on the swordfish and bacon burrito, expecting glory. Unfortunately, for $9.50, I was gravely disappointed. I was given a plate of chips from the bottom of the bag with some loose lettuce in a pile (what the hell am I supposed to do with that?), and a bean like paste that I guess I was supposed to eat as a side. Not a good start. The burrito itself had nothing that I liked at all. There were too many beans, not enough bacon, and the swordfish was gamey. I didn't even finish it. My roommate also felt that his ahi burrito was also to dependent on beans. At the end of the day, I think CFK does offer a different experience than Bear Flag, has ample seating, more personality, and a different menu with an equal, or slightly higher price point. Would I come back here and try out something else... probably, but I wouldn't be especially excited about it. 3.5 stars. read more