I can't really give this place 4 stars because it's not really THAT great but I would be a liar and misleading if I said this place was bad. So 3 stars it is. Every time I have this place it's usually catered by my job or someone's retirement party. It's always the same thing : chicken, trip tip slices, "salsa" , pinto beans, and a dinner role. Sometimes there's coleslaw or salad. I'm a meat eater so off the top the Chicken is pretty good... but it's pretty much to same chicken you'd get from El pollo Loco....not a bad thing but Imagine it costs more here. The tri tip slices....not bad but not great. Always kind of dry. I put "salsa"...because it's really just diced tomatoes....pinto beans ....again something you can get at el pollo loco but for less money. Then the dinner roll/salad/coleslaw side....nothing you haven't had at the Albertson's deli. Overall I feel like I might need to sit down and order something off the menu to have a better feel of this place but every time I hear "we're having coconut joe's cater" I can't help but roll my eyes and think "you could save more money by calling up el pollo loco instead" read more

Been going for years. They have a new pork dish that is money. I haven't had anything bad here really. I'm a notorious picky eater. They even seem to have a healthy conscious here. I like the whole Hawaiian thing they got going. The inside of the resteraunt has to be one of the most underrated places. I mean somebody took some time and serious $$ making that place look primo. If I had a complaint. I would encourage the management to change the style of the pasta salad to a more traditional creamy Hawaiian style macaroni. I think Bakersfield would be ready for that. If you got the calories to spare. Have that cake. Ohh try the salsa. I have never had this style of salsa any where else. And it goes with the charbroiled chicken sandwich perfectly. read more

I will stay coming here for the fun, food, friendly staff and it just being a great business. read more

Coconut Joe's - Amazing! Love the burgers and fries! Great atmosphere! Exceptional staff and they have the only cake in town worth going to jail for! - Fish & Chips Near Me - Bakersfield, California

I have such fond memories of this place. The cute Hawaiian theme decor reminds me of my childhood (I grew up on Oahu) and is just plane fun. Yes, I know I "misspelled" plain, but you would too if you were looking at the model seaplane almost 3 feet long suspended near the entrance. The music playing is a mixture of Jimmy Buffet, Beach Boys, and other tunes that make me think SURFING. Or maybe that's just the surfing videos playing on the television screens suspended at odd intervals on the walls. When I first moved back to Bakersfield, I ate here quite often, enjoying both the chicken and tri-tip plates that come with the choice of sides like rice, beans, and corn. When I started Yelping in 2011 I was so excited to return (I hadn't been here in a year) and write a 5 star review trumpeting their achievements in creating grilled meat entrees. And then something happened that ruined it for me. I came here twice and both times the tri-tip was dry and chewy/gristly. Somebody told me they were under new management, though I didn't do my research to check on that, and mom and I agreed we wouldn't be back. And just like that the love affair with Coconut Joe's was over. Six months ago, I joined a church group that likes to eat here once a month and came for the fellowship in spite of my misgivings about the food. I've been back here 6 times now, and every time I've been here the food has been quite good. Today I had the fish and chips plate. The fish was tasty and had a nice flaky texture. The batter had a pleasant taste, but it was a little greasy. The fries were excellent and there was a generous serving of them. I like that they have malt vinegar to put on the fish and the fries. Yummy. Last month I tried the chicken gumbo in the bread bowl that comes with a side salad and really enjoyed that. The 2 months before that I ordered the original 2 piece chicken combo which comes with a choice of sides, I always choose the rice and beans. Before that I tried the fish tacos which are also good. I no longer come here just for the fellowship, but find myself looking forward to the food. Today two of my friends ordered the tri-tip and both were raving about how good it was. One of them offered to let me try a piece, and I found it very tender and moist. I'd definitely come back on my own to try the tri-tip. I don't often write updates to Yelp reviews, and rarely to add more stars, but I felt that Coconut Joe's Beach Grill is back in the saddle, as it were, providing us a healthy, yet quick, way to pick up a tasty lunch or dinner or just hang out with friends in a fun atmosphere. Good work, Joe! read more

I have eaten food from Coconut Joe's on various occasions and I believe the last time was at my sons' Elementary School for their carnival. I've been feeling under the weather and felt like getting clam chowder, it probably has some ties to the face I just reviewed Splash Cafe (Pismo) recently. My wife has eaten here more than I have and mentioned they have clam chowder. When we arrived it wasn't busy, just a few tables taken and a few lined up behind us as we ordered. My wife enjoys the Crabcake Sandwich here but apparently they have removed it from their menu along with the Chili. We thought possibly they ran out of key ingredients because it was still on the menu but the cashier stated it has been removed permanently. She had to change her order unfortunately, here is our order: **3 Clam Chowder Bread Bowls - 3 Stars **Wahoo Tacos with side of Corn and Slaw - 1.5 Stars **Big Hearty with side of Beans, Slaw and Flour Tortillas - 2.5 Stars **Banana Nut Cake - Not known as this time Each of my boys wanted the Clam Chowder Bowl and my wife and I split the other one. I think I'm being a bit generous with the 3 Stars for the Clam Chowder and I think it is reliant on two things that stood out: The bread was quite good with a nice toast, the other was the flavor of the chowder, good deep flavor and not too salty. The downfall to the chowder was the amount of potatoes in it, the top of the bowl was that nice chowder soup and had some variation of potato and clam. Now as you ate through, you start getting heaping amounts of potato. Have you eaten the boxed Scallop Potatoes you buy at the grocery store? Well think of that and that is how the chowder tasted. I ordered the Big Hearty because I have always liked their grilled chicken and have heard their Tri-tip is really good. Well the chicken was tender and moist, but had great flavor too. The tri-tip on the other hand was disappointing, I know places slice tri-tip thin but this was super thin and I think that was the contributing factor as to why the meat was super dry. Flavor wise it was definitely lacking, I was forced to use their salsa they provide to help make it better. The beans was alright, nothing special as well as the slaw. My wife ordered the Wahoo Tacos and she let me take a bite, nothing is worse then fish that is overcooked and not seasoned at all. I think they new how overcooked the fish was and tried to make up for it by drenching it with the cabbage mix and sauce, but we both felt it was extremely bitter. The Banana Nut cake was not touched as of yet so I can't say anything to it. Our visit was a bit regretted but you live and learn, we just won't be back here for a long while. The service was nice, the employees were helpful and did seem to feel bad they don't offer the Crabcake Sandwich anymore, but great service and disappointing food is not a winner, especially when the food makes the business. read more

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I used to work there, and would eat there all the time and I always loved the food. Even after I was no longer an employee I still kept coming back. If you go there, the best things to get are the tri-tip and the chicken. They have a grill out back for their meat and it makes it so tasty. The honowoowoo bowl is a sort of teriyaki bowl, very good. The mesquite grilled chicken salad, with oil and vinegar dressing is also amazing. My go-to meal is tri-tip with rice and beans. Throw some salsa on and make your own little bowl. Heaven! The only thing I avoid is the coleslaw. Very watery and slimy in my opinion. They are extremely clean, and the care that goes in to that establishment is amazing. They don't have amazing delicacies that you will rave over, but it's a great place to stop in for lunch. The decor, music, and everything else adds to the experience. read more

Truly a place for the unsophisticated...... I get it salt, pepper and grill.... It's time to turn the page .... I'm all for simple but this place has taken it to a new low. Is the food healthy ?? No seriously I think they find their chickens at some "POW camp for poultry" ... Where can you find birds with less meat on them..... I think they have invented vegan chicken and stop trying to pass off thighs as "white meat"!!!!! Fish n Chips??? Voted best in Bakersfield??? By who? And please don't be afraid to wipe off a table that somebody might eat at..... Not sure if you need to go back to culinary school or janitorial school... In the words of the CEO of Godfathers Pizza, "This dog won't hunt" read more

There Garden Burger is okay. Nothing to write home about. I love their French fries. Great veggie burrito. read more

Coconut Joe's - Best coleslaw ever ! - Fish & Chips Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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I don't go here for the Tri-Tip, nor the Chicken. I go here, for one thing. Fish and Chips. Now, I notice there are a few, that have some pretty rough stuff to say, about Coconut Joe's and I just have to write it off, as someone had a bad day. As for my experience, I love my Fish 'n Chips. Not the lame, British "authentic" stuff. Good ol' American Fish and FRIES. Since I moved to Bakersfield, eh... 8-9 years ago, I've heard everyone RAVE about the Bowling Alley (obviously, the one by the DMV). Well, either we got there on the wrong day, or they have issues. 2 of my pieces, were literally "chewy and tough". Coconut Joe's however, ALWAYS has fresh and amazingly tender slabs of fish, with a wonderful batter. I'm not eating it to be healthy, thank you. I'm eating it, because its damn good. Best in town. read more

Consistently good food and service here. A very interesting themed restaurant out of an old beach boys music video, but one of my favorite spots for Fish Tacos or Fish and Chips. The chicken here is also pretty good, but generally all of the food is good quality. I'm definitely a fan of this staple of Bakersfield. read more

I really miss living nearby, where we used to eat a few nights a week. There's a few things on the menu that are just ok, but then there's things that I just crave!! Fish tacos with spicy ranch and the Jerk Chicken Bowl are my absolute favorites. This place is fast, and a good alternative to unhealthy fast food. The atmosphere is also lots of fun. Lots of Hawaiian schotskies everywhere! Lunch hours and weekends can occasionally get busy, but never overly crowded. They also do catering and have a rental hall I have heard good things about. read more

The food is good. Meats and sides are all delicious. The service is generally fast and in all the times I've been, they've never gotten my order wrong! This place seems to be underrated and yet, it's still busy. With their shark ad in the parking lot to the fun decor indoors, this place is a little unexpected oasis of a restaurant in a sea of bland places around town. I like it. The prices are good. The selection is great and the decor is awesome. Give it a try if you haven't. read more

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My wife and I both ordered the fish and chips. The fish and chips were good, but there are better places in Bakersfield to get fish and chips for about the same price. The atmosphere though is nice, and the service is fine and quick. You order at the counter and they bring the food to you. The best thing I liked here was the banana cake for dessert. read more

08/25/12 I went here once before, years ago. I could not remember anything other than going there. The decor is nice, the service is very fast and friendly. The food was easily forgettable. It was neither good nor bad. The food while not really hot was not cold either. The lukewarm white kernel corn was decent, but tasted like it came out of a can. I would expect that it did at most restaurants, but at least add some butter, lemon, garlic or at least salt! The salsa tasted like diced canned stew tomatoes with black pepper. I don't think I would even think of it as salsa if it wasn't called salsa on the menu. I now after entering, and dining still can not recall how my previous visit was here. I guess it must have been similar because I have forgotten. I remember the name, the building and the decor though. It looks like it should be a chain, but I don't know if there are other locations. I have to work in Bakersfield somewhat often and this place never pops into my mind like some others do, whether good or bad. (there is even one I recall that changed from one to the other over the years) Most of the other reviews seem to be right on the same findings, everything is just blah. read more

I had read such great things about this place, but was utterly disappointed. The best thing about this place is the decor! It's absolutely the cutest, best-themed place in Bakersfield, but that's where it ends. The food is bleh, plain, and not seasoned well. I didn't even finish my fish and chips because of how unflavored they were and my boyfriend said his burger was the same. The service was also poor. The guys working there were awkward and not very friendly. They kept the place clean, and that's about it. Maybe it was an off day? But I probably won't be going back for awhile. read more

The only reason I am giving this place 2 stars is because I am not food poisoned, at least not just yet. I had the hulihuli hamburger. The bun was soaked, I think it was water dripping from the lettuce. Being in the military, I have had my fair share of disgusting galley food so I am not very picky - therefore believe me, I know nasty when I taste it. The fries were seasoned with salt only but were ok to eat. Oh wow, what a disappointment! read more

This place is awesome. Supreme attention to detail when it comes to atmosphere, and the fish in my fish and chips was about the best fish I've ever had. I think it's cool they are able to create such a beachy atmosphere in the middle of a Bakersfield strip mall... Let's be honest here, good food or atmosphere doesn't need a standalone building. Best seafood in Bakersfield period. Fun fact.. did you know this is not a chain restaurant? This is a bakersfield original. So much respect. read more

This place is quite busy during lunch. The chicken and tri tip are flavorful but nothing out of the ordinary. The coke slaw is overly sauced. The rice is quite unspecial. The corn tortilla infused together into one huge piece. read more

I finally made it here, I've actually eaten this food many times but its always been through catering. So I'm giving it a 3.5 stars, cute Hawaiian/beach style decor, with the same type of music playing overhead. They have a few TV's in there but I'm not sure if they do sports stuff though. The service here was so-so, when I first walked in it was a bunch of kids late teens/early 20's hanging out behind the counter talking and they saw me but didn't acknowledge me as their customer that should be helped. So I was like "HELLOOOO" and THEN they helped. I got the shrimp tacos this time and they were really good, my son and BFF got tri tip tacos, they weren't bad but not as good as my shrimp ones for sure! My shrimp tacos only came with one side though, there's with 2,that's ok cause I ate my son's rice and beans anyway, he-he. But we all left full, oh and the variety of teas they had were ok too. read more

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We ordered take out online for Mother's Day. There was a bit of confusion with our order, but they took care of it very quickly and were very friendly about it. Sierra helped us and she was great! Definitely recommend the tri tip (with salsa) chicken, coleslaw, and banana cake! read more

very cute beach themed interior!! random surf boards, tv screens showing beach waves, and different colorful objects clutter the wall. i went with two of my girlfriends and ordered the "Regular combo" which came with chicken, tri-tip, 2 large sides, and rolls. for sides we got their chili beans, which was warm and savory and delish! and had tri tip in it! and rice, which was just standard rice. and we asked to exchange the rolls for fries for an extra $1 (my friends said their rolls were blah). Also came with salsa, which was very fresh, with huge chunks of tomato in every bite. the chicken was very moist, tri tip very thinly sliced moist beef, and everything went very well together. finger lickin' good! the regular was enough for 3 girls, with some chicken leftover (and lots of beans and rice left uneaten!) it was hard to find parking, and its interesting that theres a $1 movie theater right next door?! (list of must try) all in all, delicious food and cute interior, friendly service. def would go back! read more

Coconut Joe's - Fish & Chips Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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The atmosphere and service are both fantastic. Twice I've had overcooked tri-tip which really sucks the flavor out of it, but the other 9000 times I've eaten there it's been spot on (2 out of 9000 is within a reasonable margin of error in my book). I've been here MANY times and usually stick to the tri-tip and chicken, although their fish and clam chowder bread bowl are awesome as well. A really cool place, unique to bakersfield with fantastic food and great service. read more

Driving from Fresno to LA & had a craving for fish n chips. Searched Yelp & found Coconut Joe's. Easy freeway access - lots of parking. Cute outdoor patio. Easy ordering. Friendly & knowledgeable cashier. Grab & go beer barrel was a big plus! Fun atmosphere, festive decor, plenty of seating. Fast service. Ordered the 2 piece fish N chips. Hubby ordered Paradise burger. Burger was just a standard burger & fries. Expected. Fish was delicious & perfectly cooked! Highly impressed with the fish. Fries were soggy, but no biggie. Overall very pleased. read more

This place seems like it's trying to be Islands (they don't have one in Bakersfield), and failing at everything except the decor. It has that beach vibe with the "shack" behind the counter, wicker decor, surf boards, and such. You walk up to the counter, place your order, and they bring it out to you. It's mostly American food, fish & chips, and burritos. The food honestly sounded delicious, but it was just disappointing. The food was bland, even the spicy chicken sandwich (it seriously tasted like the one from Burger King). It seemed like most of it was frozen at some point or cooked ahead of time & then microwaved. None of it tasted fresh. Not that it's ridiculously expensive, this place might be worth it if it didn't cost as much as it did. read more

My company just used Coconut Joe's for catering at our picnic. I loved it! I really liked there chicken, it was seasoned and cooked perfectly, and the Tri tip was super juicy. The servers were friendly too. I plan to go add them to my go to choices for food. Yummo! read more

We met friends here for dinner and it was our pick for the place this time. Entering the lot was a bit sketchy... and the kitschy looking eatery was in a strip mall. Not what I was expecting. Walking in too, I had not been anticipating a walk up order counter, plastic cutlery and paper napkins. The vibe was off and for a Fri night, the restaurant was dead. I was worried! Fortunately, the food was decent! The booths were hard on our butts though, as we took a seat under an indoor umbrella adorned with Xmas lights! Our friends ordered veggie burgers and for an extra $1 got fries with their meals. They looked good and they enjoyed them! I got a 2 piece order of fish and chips - something I never get. But, the place is said to be known for their fish The fried is cod, grilled is cat fish). Thought it would be a safe bet. It was greasy as hell but good and I ended up taking a piece of fish home, I could only eat one piece. The fries were few under the fish in the basket but I was fine with that. Also ordered was a 3 piece mesquite chicken meal with rice and beans. He had no complaints. COLD BEER too! Prices were reasonable. Staff fine. The place could be a little cleaner I could be a tad paranoid these days with so many restaurants in Bakersfield getting shut down by the Health Dept. Before we knew it, 3 hours had passed - we had a great time but I cannot see coming back here anytime soon. It just was not THAT good. And just too many people wandering the parking lot asking for cash. read more

This place never disappoints! They definitely take pride in their food. They have some of the best homemade soups especially their Clam Chowder! The shrimp tacos were fresh and delicious! The burgers are huge and fries are always hot and crispy! The tri tip was seasoned and cooked to perfection! I also love the decor and it always looks nice and clean even when it's busy! We'll definitely be back REAL SOON! read more

Coconut Joe's - Absolute perfection! - Fish & Chips Near Me - Bakersfield, California

I'm a huge fan of Coconut Joe's. The food, service, atmosphere and music all make a trip to CJ's a great experience. I'm especially fond of the shrimp tacos, but the tri-tip and chicken are top-notch. And you have to try the fish and chips - the best Bakersfield has to offer. And they've put a TON of energy into the ambiance. With one-of-a-kind Hawaiian knick-knacks, gorgeous surf art, and a perfect soundtrack, you'll forget you're in a land-locked town.... All in all, Coconut Joe's is an absolute gem - a Bakersfield classic! read more

I always enjoy eating here good food, great service, reasonable prices and good value. I've eaten here quite a few times and recently attended a retirement party for a co-worker of my husbands and was pretty impressed. The party we attended was held in their banquet room and the room was decorated in traditional Hawaiian party decor not too fancy but the food...oh the food! The food was excellent. We had tri-tip and chicken with beans, salad and bread served buffet style. Everything was juicy, flavorful and cooked to perfection. The serving staff was great and the bar tender was great at mixing drinks and friendly. My husbands company has hosted a few events there previously and they've always been consistent with the food and great staff. Lunch takes a little long to get your food and is a little more expensive than other options however; it's always worth the wait. The staff is wonderful and the resturant is always clean and well kept. read more

Coconut Joe's has been here forever, and I've been coming here since at least high school. This shopping center off of California used to to have one of the premier movie theaters in town (United Artists) and Jimmy's Arcade. Fortunately, this restaurant remains. I've always been a big fan of the decor: the cozy, luau theme puts you in the Hawaiian spirit and makes you feel like ohana. And the TV screens showing old surfing movies is a great touch. The food has remained consistent throughout the years. The tri-tip is excellent. Although limited in choices, the sides are good. But my favorite has always been their fish tacos. The fish is perfectly cooked and placed atop a bed of slaw wrapped around a pillowy tortilla. Each order comes with 3 fish tacos, and you definitely get your money's worth. And the freshly made chunky salsa is some of the best in town. Plus, they have really refreshing tropical/passion iced tea. So come for the good vibes, fish tacos, and cool drinks - the perfect remedy for a sweltering hot Bakersfield day that will put you in the aloha mood! read more

I eat here a lot because it is close to my office. It is a little pricey for lunch, but the food is always good, and the service is excellent. It also may take a while to get your food, and you may have to fight for a seat. All of those issues and it still gets four stars. I also have not had a real problem eating healthy here. read more

This is the best place in town to get fish and chips. It is better than Brophy's in Santa Barbara. Their other items such as Tri Tip and Chicken are excellent. Atmosphere is very cool...especially if you are a Jimmy Buffet fan. Highly recommend. Service is terrific and very friendly. read more

I went here for lunch, as I do about once a month. I got the hearty pair, which includes 8 oz of tri-tip, 2 pieces of chicken, 2 sides, and bread or tortilla. I got white meat chicken (breast & wing) and my sides were rice and cole slaw. The chicken had great flavor and the tri-tip was marinaded to perfection. The rice and slaw were good as well. I used my tortilla to make a rice and tri-tip taco, very good. Their salsa is always great too, with large chunks of tomato. read more

Had lunch here yesterday for the first time. It's good but nothing that will blow your skirt up. The Tri-tip was good, the chicken was good, the beans and veggies were good. I had an iced tea for lunch. All and all a reliable lunch place, I would eat here again. It's nothing amazing, but there wasn't anything wrong with it. read more

I love their food it's always great but the service this time was not we paid extra for all white meat and that's not what we got and we paid for 2 pieces of chicken n got one good size piece n one tiny tinyyyy lil wing and it was to go so of coarse we could not go complain ( or I would have) so just an FYI to check you food before you leave if you order to go .. And to just throw this in we heard the guy taking the order tell the guy behind us that he was the last customer so he would receive a free large cole slaw so I was super bummed we got jipped n he got free stuff .. :( read more

Coconut Joe's - You call this 2 pieces of chicken???? Horrible service this time very disappointing - Fish & Chips Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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I found this place on a fluke while trying to buy my girlfriend one of the first Ipod touch's. It sits in a pretty normal location in Bakersfield next to a strip mall and a second run movie theater. Step inside and it's like you are in Hawaii. Don Ho and other traditional Hawaiian music is playing inside. The decor is pretty nice with surfboards and straw awnings. The food here is pretty good and the fries are seasoned and thick. Its also very clean. I'm surprised that there aren't any other restaurants closer to LA. Even still, I have no problem making a day trip up to here from the LA area just to get away. Make sure you take the kid's over to the truck with the great white in the bed. read more

It was my co-workeer's last day at work and our team all went to Coconut Joe's to have a send off lunch. I was hoping I'd love it, after all, you'd think that with a name like Coconut Joe's it has to be good! Our wait staff was friendly, but sadly my critique is the same as others here have made. The food was bland and tasteless and it really needed more than just salt. I had the cod tacos, they weren't bad, but they weren't anything, they were bland and boring. Del Taco has a better seafood taco. I was sandwiched between two orders of fish and chips, one remark I heard was "How can this be the best fish and chips in Bakersfield?" obviously referring to the sign on the door. Out of 9 of us, 5 people remarked that the food needed seasoning. Seems to me the owner doesn't care. How hard is it to read yelp and respond with a little action? I won't go back there, because there are plenty of places to spend my money on tasty food here in Bakersfield. read more

This is a review of Coconut Joe"s banquet facility not Coconut Joe's the restaurant. This place is located in a warehouse near the restaurant. Our high school class reunion committee chose this place for the event. They made a good choice too. First the good : there was plenty of space, The food was pretty good There was just one choice. Chicken beef,salad,beans and a roll. We were given one token for a drink. I thought the meat was tender and portion OK. What I did not like is they did not put a pitcher of water on the table. No water was available. The room was nicely decorated with a beach theme. There was a bar, and a another room for the dancing. Parking was not a problem. It was a very enjoyable evening and Coconut Joe's was a good choice for this kind of event read more

I hadn't been here in awhile but glad we revisited! I had the tri tip sandwich with sides of beans and corn. Was soo good! The tri tip was perfectly tender and the bread had been lightly buttered and garlic'ed before being toasted on the grill which gave it a perfect amount of char. My husband had the chicken cesear salad while my boys had the chowder in a bread bowl/side salad combo. We left feeling full and happy!!! read more

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Well, the food deserves 5 stars. But it's quite crowded a lot of times and long waiting is quite common. So I had to dock a star. Otherwise, I highly recommend it. As far as their fish sticks go I think the comparison needs to be made to appreciate how good it was. There's a place called Giovanni at Morro Bay which has many fish and chips places. It was voted the best fish and chips in that tourist town. Well, Coconut Joe's beat them hands down. That's how good their fish stick was. It was tender and moist. Bit on the salty and greasy side...but you can't help that with fish sticks. I'm getting hungry thinking about it. I'll have to grab this tomorrow for lunch. read more