My favorite stop on my recent trip to the San Diego area. Encinitas Fish Shop was recommended by one of my local SD work colleagues. I grabbed an Uber after work on a Thursday and headed north 11 miles. As I arrived at the Fish Shop, I could smell the goodness inside and saw the line waiting to order. The restaurant is on one side, with an open bar on the other. Ordering is as simple as 1, 2, 3. Pick your fish, pick how you want to consume it (plate, sandwich, salad), and pick your sides and drink. I went with my work colleagues recommendation of a blackened sea bass sandwich with onion rings and a Marg. That choice was FANTASTIC!!! You seat yourself once you order and place the buzzer given to you by the counter person on the unit on your table. Although busy, there were still tables available (bar and restaurant, plus out front). As the NBA playoffs were on, I sat inside. Everyone working here was friendly and as I already stated... my meal was the best I had on this San Diego visit. A bonus was a gorgeous sunset just 3 blocks down from the shop. I will be back to Encinitas Fish Shop when I next visit San Diego. read more

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Fish Shop is always a solid choice and never disappoints ! So many options and I like that you just walk up and order what you want. You can't go wrong with any fish taco or surf and turf. We had the Cardiff crack (IYKYK) and it was delicious ! The staff is friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere has a relaxed, beachy vibe that makes it a great spot to hang out with friends, fam or enjoy a casual meal read more

Encinitas Fish Shop - My mom visiting me. Loving the tacos !!! - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

* catching up on old backlogged drafts so this review may be a bit out of date Dropped by for lunch and got some oysters, coconut shrimp, and a grilled fish taco. All the food was fresh and delicious! There was quite a long line out the door but it moved relatively fast and there was plenty of seating both indoor and outdoor. You order at the counter before sitting down so it was a bit stressful going as a solo diner that wanted to eat there as it was super packed with lots of groups and families so people were grabbing seats while one member of their group was in line ordering. But I was able to grab a seat facing out the sidewalk to enjoy my lunch! read more

Encinitas Fish Shop - Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Encinitas Fish Shop offers a customizable dining experience where you can choose your fish, seasoning, and sides. We opted for tacos with yellowtail, shrimp, and albacore (seared rare). Overall, Encinitas Fish Shop has great seafood, but the supporting ingredients don't match the quality of the fish. The portions are generous. Yellowtail Taco - 3.5/5. The yellowtail was prepared with Cajun blackened seasoning. The fish itself was fresh and expertly cooked, with excellent texture, moisture, and doneness. Unfortunately, the rest of the taco didn't match the quality of the seafood. The tortillas, cabbage, and tomatoes tasted like standard, possibly low-grade ingredients from a typical food-service supplier. The tomatoes lacked sweetness and juiciness, while the tortillas were somewhat dry. On the positive side, the salsa was above average and complemented the fish well. Shrimp Taco - 3.5/5. My thoughts on the shrimp taco were very similar. The shrimp were fresh, high-quality, and cooked well. They remained succulent and juicy, making them the highlight of the taco. However, the supporting ingredients once again held the dish back. Better-quality tortillas and produce would have significantly elevated the overall experience. Albacore Taco - 2.5/5. The menu describes the albacore as "seared rare," but what I received was closer to mostly raw chunks of fish with only a light sear on the exterior. The fish itself was fresh and of good quality, but the pieces were cut quite thick, making the minimal sear even more noticeable. The result felt more like eating sashimi in a taco than a properly seared rare albacore taco. Thinner cuts, a more aggressive sear, or both would improve the balance of texture and flavor. Encinitas Fish Shop serves fresh, high-quality seafood and generally does an excellent job preparing the fish itself. The seafood was consistently the strongest part of every taco we tried. My main criticisms are that the "seared rare" albacore could be executed more effectively, and the tacos would benefit greatly from higher-quality supporting ingredients. With fresher tortillas and produce, these tacos could go from good to truly outstanding. read more

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After some shopping at the Leucadia Farmers Market, we were all pretty famished so we headed down here for a tasty late lunch. This location opened in 2010 and is the second location to the flagship store in Pacific Beach, California. Here you can create your own dish by selecting your fish, marinade, and style (taco, sandwich, salad, or plate). The fish options are Mahi Mahi, Swordfish, Ahi, Albacore, Snapper, Yellowtail, and Diver Scallops. You order at the counter, grab your drink, and take a number. Finding a table is easy as they offer both indoor and outdoor dining. Once your food is ready, they will bring to your table. They are also pet friendly as my friend had her dog with us and Roxee was welcome. I went with the swordfish, garlic butter and the house seasoning along with a green salad and rice. My sister went with the Yellowtail plate, and my friend also loved the swordfish plate. We all enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine as we sat outside on a gorgeous, coastal day. Fish was prepared well and very tasty. We were all very pleased with our experience dining here. I have ate here one other time and I tried their fish and chips. They were good, but this meal was even better. I know I will return in the future. Service is friendly and helpful and the vibe is laid back. Street parking only but easy to find. The restaurant is also easy to reach on foot, bike, scooter, e-bike etc. read more

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It had been a while since I'd had oysters and it sounded really good. Years ago, when I lived in Pacific Beach I used to go to their Thursday $1 oyster night at that location. I moved to North County and a few years later they opened Encinitas fish shop. I have been for the oysters in the past but it had been a long time. I looked it up to make sure they still had oyster night and sure enough they do. The price is now $1.25 but that still feels like a good deal. They had 4 different types to choose from. There was only about 7 people in front of me when I got in line including a family. There was an older couple ordering and it took about 20 minutes for them to complete their transaction. The rest of the line moved ok after they were done, but I probably waited about 40 minutes just to order. I ordered 3 of each kind, a dozen. Then I went to get water. They were out of ice. I sat in the window seating and waited. It took a bit, but it was a nice day so I didn't mind too much. A girl came out calling names but it was very difficult to hear her. I finally heard my name and she dropped off my oysters. I asked for more cocktail sauce and she left to get it. She brought it back but immediately left and never told me which oysters were which. I had to flag down another employee and he told me which oysters were which. In the past, I haven't liked some of the choices, but this time they had a whole different selection and I liked all of them! They were so good and fresh. I don't know why I waited so long to return. I'll definitely be back for more soon! read more

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The food was excellent! Portion was large and filling. The fish was very fresh and flavorful. Came in hungry rolled out stuffed. Prepare to wait to place your order due to one cashier taking order. Maybe do table side ordering or mobile order to your table. Got the sea bass and it was very tender and flavorful. The onion ring was huge portion. The seaweed salad was excellent with a good little kick. Perfect weather to eat inside or outside here. The food came out pretty good quick. The seasoning they have is perfect not overpowering. Will be back to try their other dishes next time I'm in the area read more

Encinitas Fish Shop - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

Every time that we drive down to San Diego, there are a few restaurants that we dine at regularly. Encinitas Fish Shop is one of the best seafood restaurants that we've discovered so far. Encinitas Fish Shop is located in the heart of Encinitas. It's walking distance from the beach, so it's common to see people coming in wearing swim suits, shorts, and flip flops. Parking is a bit tricky as the parking lot is very small. Parking on the street can be challenging during busier times of the day. Sometimes the line extends out the door, so there may be a bit of a wait when ordering your meal. It's a very popular spot for tourists and locals. When you walk up to the restaurant, you'll notice patio dining, separated by the sidewalk. That's where all of the pet friendly seating is located. There is a narrow entryway as you walk up to place your order. The menu is prominently displayed above the fresh fish that's on the menu. They have a great supply of fish and having it openly displayed helps patrons feel confident with the seafood that they're consuming. The fish is grilled and served with a marinade of your choice. I personally love Cajun seasoning, so that's my go-to when we're here. I really enjoy their grilled jumbo shrimp. Of course I order it with the Cajun seasoning because it's spicy and slightly sweet. It's the best of both worlds! I usually get the Jasmine rice with my shrimp. Even though it's just rice, it goes perfectly with the shrimp. I absolutely love The Encinitas Fish Shop. It's hard to pick the perfect time to come here, but it's worth the wait. There's a reason why so many locals stop by for lunch and dinner. It really is that good! read more

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I think this was not bad for some good seafood. We came here for a meetup and saw this across the street so we decided to just try this place out. We ordered the fish and chips, which was a huge portion. The fish was good, but the breading can be a little thick. I think I also should've asked first extra tartar sauce because we went through it quick. The swordfish plate was not bad! It was a nice meaty fish and the sides of macaroni salad and coleslaw were both solid. Oysters were really fresh so definitely get some of those too. The service was counter service. However, the staff were all nice and helpful. There was also plenty of seating inside. read more

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We were craving seafood for dinner. We decided to try Encinitas Fish Shop. So, we ordered the food through Uber Eats. We ordered many seafood dishes: - Clam Chowder Bowl 5/5 - Green Salad Heb Vinaigrette 5/5 - Mahi Mahi Plate 5/5 -Sea Bass Plate 5/5 - Yellowtail Plate 5/5 - Fried Calamari 5/5 The plates came with coleslaw and white rice We chose lemon butter seasoning for the order. The fish was very fresh, well seasoned, juicy, and flavorful. The proportions were huge. Clam chowder was creamy, rich,and savory. I wish we coukd go that night to the restaurant and enjoy the vibe and the service there. Everything came well packed and still hot. We had an excellent dinner. For sure we will go to Fish Shop in our next visit. read more

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We waited in line, which was pouring out the door, for almost half an hour. Got the yellowtail salad, TK taco, Pineapple Express taco, salmon plate, and fish stew. Our favorites were the onion rings and salad. Tacos were a bit underwhelming--the tortilla was cold and almost under cooked? The fish stew lacked flavor so we had to add a lot of seasoning from the table. The salad was amazing though. I got the fish shop seasoned yellowtail with citrus vinaigrette. Would recommend! Their fish is good quality and filling, but I don't think I would wait half an hour for this again. read more

Encinitas Fish Shop - Menu January 2026 - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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I got the spicy dorado taco and the TKO taco and both were SO GOOD. One order only comes with one taco but the portion is huge, I definitely could have just eaten 3 and would have been full. I'm from LA and I still think about these tacos, best fish tacos i've ever had. read more

Encinitas Fish Shop - spicy dorado taco and Tko Taco - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

Another good visit. This time we had the TKO fish tacos, with breaded fish, a regular fish taco, and the fish and chips. The highlight of the meal was the TKO fish taco. Tasted great with the mango salsa and would order again. They use a good size of fish in the tacos so you're not getting all condiments and filler. Fish and chips were okay this time. A little too much breading, but good-sized pieces as they are in the fish tacos. Some places have pretty skimpy pieces in their tacos and fish and chips entrees, but not so here. Good and helpful customer service by the cashier taking your order, and the food came out in a reasonable time. read more

Encinitas Fish Shop - Fish and chips (with extra fries for sharing) - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Had lunch with the family from out of town....hadn't been in a while. Still delicious. I ordered the Fish Shop Shrimp which has blackened seasoning and brown sugar!! So good. I also had the Elote Taco. We all liked our dishes and cold beer! Service is solid! Ambience is busy but fun! read more

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We love visiting San Diego, especially so we can go to the Encinitas fish shop! Such a fun atmosphere with great food and drinks. We tried the mahi-mahi fish and shrimp tacos, and the fish and chips! read more

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Came for lunch with a big group of it was crowded but we were able to find some space for us inside. I liked the option where you could customize your tacos but I ended up trying the elote fish taco, lobster taco, clam chowder and onion rings. The food tasted good but just wish there was a bit more of the proteins. The tacos were very heavy on the toppings more so the fish/lobster. read more

Wowowow -- absolutely loved this spot. Only ordered two fish tacos -- one made with fish shop seasoning, one made with blackened seasoning. Both incredibly delicious. My only regret is not going back for more. Cute location in downtown Encinitas with nice amount of seating, order at the counter style. read more

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Great seafood restaurant and they sell seafood. We had the fresh halibut and chips. The halibut cooked to perfection The batter was perfect too light flaky. A must try. A must stop We will eat here again read more

Stopped in on our way back home from San Diego and was looking for something that was pet friendly. This place popped up and it looked quite nice. There was plenty of seating outdoor on the patio as well as inside where the counter is and the bar area. You order at the counter and a pager is given to you. Seat yourself and place your pager on one of the tracking device so they know where you're sitting. Menu wise, seafood and more seafood. Fresh fish in the fridge counter which I assume can be purchase to take. It was quite busy for a Sunday night as well. We ordered a bunch of things to share which was great as it was perfect for trying things. The clam chowder was nice. Fish tacos, a good variety to choose from. Pick the style you want and the sauce. Poke bowl was quite nice. Good amount of everything added to it. The fish and chips were ok. A lot of batter and it was overcooked. The fries on the other hand were perfect. Also the ceviche was quite nice. The marinade that was used was perfect with all the flavors combined together. Service was good, staff were all friendly and the crowd was nice and lively. Plenty of seating inside as well as outside. read more

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First off the staff was great! Adriana helped us out and was kind and friendly and helped us a lot during the ordering process. She is a keeper! Hubby and I both had the fish shop shrimp tacos and the Pineapple Express mahi mahi tacos. I had it with corn tortillas and he had flour tortillas. The Pineapple Express tacos were our favorite! I had the Coleslaw which I found a little salty. But it was fresh. Then I got the seaweed salad which I loved. Next time I'll order the sautéd fish shop shrimp dish which is just shrimp. The pic on the menu looks yummy Nice atmosphere here read more

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Stopped by here many years ago while visiting family and decided I'd give it another try when I was in town. It did not disappoint and was just as delicious as I remembered! I tried the fish and chips here and they were fresh and delicious.The ordering is easy and the service was friendly. I like that they have indoor and outdoor seating as well so you can enjoy the nice weather while having lunch. read more

Love love this place! I've been twice now and have loved everything we've had: from the fish tacos to the clam chowder to the crab cakes. Everything was soooo fresh and it's also very affordable! read more

Encinitas Fish Shop - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

Best local, fresh fish spot in Encinitas for great quality fish. The tacos are particularly stand out, specifically, the Mahi Mahi and Spicy dorado ones! Such a nice, quick lunch spot by the beach with friendly service. read more

Encinitas Fish Shop - Mahi Mahi Tacos, Spicy Dorado Tacos, Ahi Poke Bowl & Shrimp Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

What a great selection of fish. Simple ordering process and table delivery by their great staff. Pleasant environment and watched the Cubs game and Wimbledon. We had clam chowder, a fish taco, coconut shrimp, a garden salad and a sea bass sandwich. The clam chowder was good and exceedingly rich. The coconut shrimp was very good as was the fish taco. The sea bass sandwich was tasty but a little dry; it had the Fish Shop seasoning. I can't wait until our next visit. read more

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This place is located in SD. Opened early and the food were so fresh! The place is huge and lots of seating. Indoor and outdoor seating. The workers were kind and accommodating. We ordered fish tacos with ahi and mahi mahi. The fish was fresh and fried to perfection. We also had clam chowder and also calamari. I also had a side of fried ahi. The dishes are huge, so we shared between two people. read more

Encinitas Fish Shop - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

I ordered the Blackened Halibut sandwich and the Lemon Butter Swordfish Sandwich. Both were very good, very fresh and full of flavor. The halibut was so juicy and tender, the best for sure. Slightly expensive, but worth it for the quality. The service was helpful in making choices and the food came out so quickly. read more

Encinitas Fish Shop - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

This place made me so happy! Half laid-back bar, half cute seafood counter , you can pick your fish and style it your way. We sat outside with our pup, enjoyed crispy coconut shrimp, and devoured the fish and chips (snapper was my fave). Sweet, crunchy, beachy perfection. I already know what I'm trying next time: surf and turf tacos! read more

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A wonderful staple. They have a few locations around the SD area. Fresh, delicious, and reasonably priced. You order at the counter and can choose between a variety of different fish and seafood options. You can choose between taco, salad, plate, or sandwich. You also get to choose the marinade. I love the Mahi in teriyaki sauce. The shrimp taco wasn't my favorite. This location has a parking lot, which is convenient since it's on the main street in Encinitas. They have both indoor & outdoor seating. Definitely a good choice for fresh fish. They have so many options so there is something for everyone! read more

This place is a big letdown. I really wanted to like this place and based on the high stars that it held, I was truly let down but the food. Since there were a few people in our group and we all love seafood, we stretched on the order a bit. Upon seeing the food, I already had a feeling it wasn't what it seemed to be. Let's start with fries. No one likes soggy fries. You could tell it was frozen fries that were reheated or something along that line. Some of them were at room temperature. You figured it be a bit hot after coming out of the fryer. The fish part isn't so bad. It was decent to good. But the batter... that looks like it was either left in the fryer too long or they are using old oil. Tacos, all of them, were lackluster with flavors that just didn't sit right. I advised everyone to stop eating it as it could lead to food poisoning. The color of poke looked like it was about to go. We also stopped that dish after the first few bites. Onion ring was good. Then again, it was compared with other dishes. Clam chowder ... don't get it. Just don't. Lumpia was decent. Texture was good. The filling though.. that was another questionable one. It stated seafood in the fillings... well.. none of us could make out what it was. The rice with it didn't make sense, to be honest. That was just a waste of food. Overall, I was pretty disappointed withthe quality of the food for the price I paid. The service staff was friendly and accommodating. But the food... you guys have a lot of work to do. I recommend that you skip this place until they improve their items because quality is definitely lacking. Best of luck to this establishment. read more

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This could be so good....but really poor management. Line out the door and one person on register. Tables filthy and unbiased. Guess the boss must be sleeping in the back read more

Encinitas Fish Shop - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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We eat here every time we visit our son. The seafood is fresh and delicious with lots of options for grilled rather than fried. We love it! read more

One of those places where you "don't judge a book by its cover." In this case, food looks good on photos, tastes like disappointment. I honestly don't think it's too difficult to do any seafood dish wrong, however, they can. Almost like they don't care to make it good. Putting it aside, friendly staff and cool spot for casual hangout. - elote tacos with albacore: bad corn tortilla, unseasoned fish, loads with cabbage, no sauce or salsa by the way. Elote has the most flavor out of everything else - blackened seasoning scallop tacos: not even blackened seasoning, it tastes burnt and plain - onion rings: super greasy and oily, worse than fast food chains - fish n chip: good flaky cod but thick, greasy, unseasoned batter. Fries are still cold, also worse than fast food chains. Tartare sauce kinda saves it - ahi tuna poke: not sure how long they've marinated that fish for. It's been sitting with seaweed salad for days. Weird oily taste, can't even tell the flavor - clam chowder: shouldve called big chunk potato cream soup, no sign of clam. One of the worst I've had so far - lobster lumpia: the only item that tastes more ok than the rest, no sign of lobster, by the way There are much much better seafood spot around the area. The first 2 star review, and this place deserved it. Save your money, don't come here! read more

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Loved the concept, but food was just okay in my opinion. I've heard a lot of great things about Encinitas Fish Shop and I was excited to try for lunch! You can pick your fish, seasoning, and style (sandwich, tacos, salad, plate). I got two tacos with salmon and lobster. The seafood was fantastic but I didn't like the corn tortillas. The seafood was also covered in sauce and cheese. My husband got the halibut fish and chips. The fish was so moist, but the breading was thick. Almost tasted like pretzels. Once you order up front, they bring the food to your table. Quick service, but food was just okay. read more

Is good food i like the service is ok I like they have outside sit I will be back again

This popular fish shop has great indoor seating and outdoor patio area that offers open air dining. The fish options are numerous from tacos to seafood plates. We tried the mahi mahi plate, tacos and poke bowl. We thoroughly enjoyed the tacos and large unique onion rings. They are a must try! They offer beer, wine and bar service for those who want a cocktail. Service here was friendly and efficient with our order. We liked it here. read more

Encinitas Fish Shop - Fun patio - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

Great fish taco, loved the sauce and the slaw. It wasn't over the top amazing but it was a very solid taco. I would come back and try some more things on the menu. Looking at others food around me I could see myself enjoying more of the items on the menu. Good ambiance and the service was wonderful. read more

Went here on a Sunday for lunch. The place is busy, there is a constant line at the counter. We had the clam chowder and fish and chips. The portions are healthy and the fish and chips were very tasty. The clam chowder was a bit too lumpy. They have a good beer and cocktail selection. The food comes out at a good pace. Great place for lunch. Parking can be a bit tricky but otherwise a great place. read more

Wow! We ordered way too much food... but literally finished every scrap because it was all so good! My husband and I devoured 6 tacos, fries and onion rings and everything was top notch and high quality. Even the onion rings were battered to perfection. Service was great, but as the other reviews said, the line can be long to order. The vibe is chill, leaning more towards families than date night. read more

Encinitas Fish Shop - Menu for build your own - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

This was our first time dining here. We had a taste for seafood, so we decided to give this place a try. The food and service were delicious. Pet friendly dining outside for pets read more

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Everything here is a hit. Super fresh, creative menu with lots of great options. I got the fish stew and the snapper plate. The stew broth was classic and really flavorful, and the snapper was very fresh. We ordered it with the house seasoning which was great, though a little on the salty side. The onion rings are killer. Overall, such a great atmosphere. Perfect for a rainy day, super cozy. Service is super fast read more

Encinitas Fish Shop - Fish Fish Shop Stew Small, red snapper plate, onion rings, French fries - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California