Amazing tacos! I always come here when I'm in the area. The ceviche and tacos are outstanding. Despite the line, the order came out fast. The seafood is fresh and i really enjoyed the battered fish taco. Seating is very limited. read more

Food: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Busy place but it's thankfully quick! Also had to wait in line but not for too long. The guac is so fresh and delish - just need an extra squeeze of lemon. Sauces and condiments are up for grabs and a lot of it is self-service so it can feel more chaotic. The fish tacos, shrimp tacos, octopus tacos, and ceviche were all good! Not a 5, but a solid 4.5 :) read more

The mixed (fish & shrimp) ceviche is still just as good as I remember it from over a decade ago! So many more locations have opened up since then, but my friends and I happened to be around the area of this original Pacific Beach one. The ceviche cup was a perfect lil snack before our afternoon adventures. Easy to take your food to go or eat outside if there's standing room. Expect to wait at least 15-20 minutes. Oscars will always be a staple every time I visit San Diego! read more

I came with family for a late afternoon lunch and it was mildly busy and lively. Tons of options to order, including vegetarian and today's specials. Outside has few seats, a nice ocean mural on the wall, perfect atmosphere. We first got our appetizer chips and guacamole. Chips are crunchy, thick, a bit dark. Guac is fresh, easy to scoop, nice texture. My horchata was cold and refreshing, perfect hint of cinnamon. Main food arrived after 15 minutes or so. Grilled Smoked Fish Taco: I was given lots of fresh fish, grilled nicely, avocado added texture, cilantro a nice touch. Battered Shrimp Taco: Big pieces of fresh shrimp, battered nicely, crispy and crunchy, generous toppings include coleslaw, tomatoes, all added a nice crunch. This taco place goes high on my list, and I definitely recommend to anyone. read more

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Oscars Mexican Seafood After spending the day at the San Diego Zoo, I was craving some seafood. I came here upon a friend's recommendation. I got the Bluefin tuna (in a cup with avocado and 2 tostadas): Fresh, flavorful, and a perfect starter! The creamy avocado paired beautifully with the tuna, the battered fish taco (cabbage, onion, tomato, cilantro): one of the best fish tacos I've ever had, everything was perfectly ratioed and the fish was sooo good. And lastly, the grilled octopus taco (cabbage, onion, tomato, cilantro, avocado, cheese): My favorite of the three! It was my first time trying octopus in a taco, and it blew me away. The octopus was tender, smoky, and perfectly balanced with the creamy avocado and fresh toppings. Found another banger here in San Diego! read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

There's not much seating but the food is great. The fish tacos and the torta de Oscar are divine

Came to Oscar's around 7pm on a Saturday night and was surprised to see that there was no line! We put in a pickup order online and the order was ready for us with everything properly included. I got the pulpo taco, surf & turf taco, and battered fish taco. I regret ordering 3 because I was full after 2 but they were all good. My favorite was the pulpo taco. The meat in the surf & turf was a little tougher than I expected. I barely ate the battered fish taco since I was full but there was a little smokiness to it. One thing to know is that it's street parking only and this location has limited outdoor bar seating, so it's a good stop for a quick bite vs. a sit down restaurant. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Pulpo Taco, Surf & Turf Taco, Battered Fish Taco - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

There was quite a long line when we went around 12 pm. Parking can be found nearby, but a little difficult to find. You have to sort of wait a while to find seating outside. I saw quite a few people grab the food and talk about eating them at the beach. We decided to wait, sit down on the side and eat. We got several battered fish and the surf & turf tacos, but if you don't eat too much, one of each should be more than enough. The tacos were amazing. We had leftovers and it was still good later in the day. We also got the shrimp ceviche - very freshly served in a cup with a couple tostadas in a tin foil. My mom loved this so much. And of course we had to order some jarritos to go with them. Overall 10/10 food-wise! I'd recommend you visit while you're in SD. read more

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I always bring people to Oscars Mexican Food if they're looking for a solid taco spot. The normal Oscar's location I'm used to was temporarily closed so we went to this one; it was VERY tiny and packed because of the size. I ordered the crab/shrimp tostada as well as the battered fish taco. The tostada was HUGE! They also gave you two tostada shells so it was basically two. I thought it was delicious. The creamy avocado was the perfect touch. The fish taco was very tasty as well! I also recommend trying their sauces whatever you order. Depending on when you come, you may be able to find outdoor seating, otherwise, it may be easier to get your food to-go. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Fast lines, fresh food, great service We ordered chips and guac, ceviche, crab tostadas, battered fish tacos, skirt steak taco, and both battered shrimp and grill shrimp tacos. Everything was made fresh to order and came out pretty quickly. Our order was huge but no errors what so ever! Our group's fav were the battered fish tacos, but everything else was good too. Limited seating outdoors, but we did not have trouble finding seats as the turn over was quick! read more

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I visited this location for a bit of a late dinner on a Saturday. There was no line but the hot food is made to order so there is a slight wait. The parking is street parking a bit difficult to find a spot nearby. This Oscars location does not have indoor seating but does have some counters outside and a handful of seats. This location is probably also least clean of the 3, but hey if you don't get sick and the food is still just as good, that's fine with me. I tried the bluefin tuna ceviche, the portion is smaller than the mixed. All ceviches come with tostada shells. Personally, I preferred the mixed ceviche (larger portion and cheaper). I think I may just prefer bluefin tuna as sashimi rather than seasoned. I haven't had anything that was not good at Oscars but my go to items are the battered fish taco (white fishes every time I've gone, but does vary) and the octopus taco. The octopus is a bit chewy but the smokey flavor is a nice touch. read more

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We always make it a point to stop by Oscar's on our annual trip down to San Diego. Our favorites are the smoked fish tacos, but everything we've had is good! This time we also got the shrimp ceviche and the battered fish taco which were incredible. The shrimp ceviche is heavy on the shrimp, and comes with a couple tostadas to pair. The restaurant is quite small and there are maybe 15-20 seats outside (all stools and bar seating). During peak hours it is difficult to find seating, so I recommend just ordering online and taking it to eat at a park or beach nearby. Oh, and the hot sauces (both red and green) are fantastic! read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

This is my must-stop spot every time I visit San Diego! I usually go for the fish and shrimp tacos, which never disappoint, but this time I decided to try something new. We ordered the Oscar's Combo - Taco Especial (smoked fish, scallops, shrimp) and a cup of the fish stew. Everything was absolutely delicious. The smoked fish in the taco added a unique flavor I haven't experienced at other taco places - it was a standout. As for the fish stew, I wasn't sure at first based on how it looked, but one sip and I was hooked. It's packed with chunks of fish, octopus, shrimp, veggies, and even avocado. Super hearty, comforting, and not fishy at all. Plus, it's perfect for warming up when you're sitting outside. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I was craving a San Diego staple and was not disappointed. It had been several years since I've had Oscars and was curious to see how things are currently. I ordered two Surf and Turf tacos ($6.50 each). I absolutely love their white sauce. The shrimp is juicy with a nice sear and the beef is fairly tender and well seasoned. I appreciate the amount of avocado, coleslaw, red onions, and tomatoes they put on the tacos. My go to Oscars off Emerald Street was temporarily closed for construction but luckily the OG Turquoise Street location was open. It was packed when we arrived on a Tuesday afternoon at 12:30 pm, most likely due to it being a holiday week for Thanksgiving. It seemed like a good portion of the crowd were tourists which is not surprising. The food came out fairly quickly given the line and my cashier was very friendly. She even refilled the white and orange sauces for me before I could even ask for them to be refilled. Seating is outdoor only, mostly standing - there are a few stools. Oscars is almost synonymous with San Diego. It's a legendary Mexican seafood spot for a reason. Will be coming back for years to come. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Surf and Turf Tacos ($6.50 each) make sure to get the white sauce! - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here on a weekend afternoon, needless to say it was pretty busy. The line went by pretty fast and waited about 10 minutes for 4 tacos. I get my tacos with extra cabbage, and I was stuffed after the 4th taco. The tacos tasted great and had no bit of fishiness whatsoever. You just have to get lucky with the seating, as the restaurant was pretty full. People seem to eat and leave pretty quickly as long as the food is coming out quick as well. Definitely an amazing place to stop by for a quick bite before walking along the beach. My only gripe is the sauce situation, as they keep the sauces in a mini fridge on top of a counter, and only have 1 container of each sauce at a time, which run out pretty quickly. Will definitely come back here if I am ever in Pacific Beach again - I would say it's one of my favorite fish taco spots in SD! read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Fish tacos with extra cabbage - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

needed a light lunch and ended up at Oscar's! the interior is gives off an ocean dock style which was super cool. the seating is limited but i went while it wasn't as busy! - battered shrimp taco (5/5): the batter was a golden and crispy and had the just the right amount of batter. the shrimp was sweet and perfectly cooked and all the extra toppings of fresh cabbage, seasonings, and pico brought everything together. one of the best shrimp tacos i've had in a long time :) a must try - battered fish taco (4.5/5): same toppings and everything as the shrimp but i just enjoyed the shrimp more LOL. still a must try overall great spot for a satisfying meal and will come back to try the rest of their menu! read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Battered Fish Taco Battered Shrimp Taco - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

To be honest, was kind of disappointed during our visit here :( this was our first stop in San Diego, was hoping for some great fish tacos! The fish was pretty small compared to the tortilla. Also, I think the taco would have been much better with a creamy fish taco sauce! They do have a lot of different hot sauces though which I enjoyed. I liked the octopus taco much better, probably because it was unique and something new for me. What saved this place was probably the service. Really nice cashier who didn't mind explaining the menu to us. She also gave us a sample of the fish stew which was pretty good. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Grilled Octopus Taco - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Went to the one on Emerald Street and then realized when we got there it was being remodeled so we trekked over to this location and walked along to beach to find it. This location is a tiny place where you place your order and then listen intently for them to call your number. There are only a few spots to sit or stand to eat your food so you might want to get it to go. Came for the ceviche which could have used a little more lime. Ordered the combo of two tacos and a fisherman's stew and a grilled shrimp taco. Hubs really like the especial taco which had smoked fish and shrimp. Had the shrimp taco which was good and the avocado was fresh. Would have been happy with the cheaper version and didn't realize I ordered the fancier one with the avocado and slaw on it so make sure you clarify. Hubs loved the fact that there were so many sauces to put on top of this tacos. They have tacos for 1.99 Mondays through Thursdays I think from 2:30-4:30 but I'm not sure about the which ones. That would make it worth 4 stars if you could get a deal! read more

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Came here for lunch on a Saturday and it was very busy! We were able to find a parking spot nearby. We waited in line for about 30-45 minutes and then waited for our food for about 20-30 minutes. It was very busy but the time went by pretty quickly. The inside is very small and the outside is a couple areas to stand and eat your food. It is kinda hard to eat in a big group and it was just very crowded. We ordered mixed ceviche and a variety of tacos. The prices are great! The ceviche was very fresh and delicious. I tried the battered fish taco, smoked fish taco, and grilled fish taco. The prices were great and I was very full after. Tacos were delicious. So glad we tried! read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here for happy hour tacos and it was sooo worth it!! I got 2 battered fish tacos and I love the crispy fish with the slaw on top. I also got a battered shrimp taco, which I think is my favorite out of the 2. The texture was just so good! Their self serve salsas and sauces are the perfect addition on each taco as well. Seating at this location isn't that good, it's like on the side of the road and there's not much space either. But will definitely come back because the quality of the tacos is so delicious and fresh, and for only $2 each!! read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Oh My Goodness! I am speechless! This was my first time having Oscars Mexican Seafood and my coworker brought me 2 fish tacos for lunch and I wish I had ordered more. They were absolutely freaking delicious that I was so tempted to go get more the next day! Literally the best fish tacos that I have ever had in a very long time! I can't believe I lived in San Diego my whole life and I am now just having them! They were not salty or greasy at all! (Which is a plus in my books) The tortilla was thick enough that it didn't break apart (another plus!) and it had the right about of topping on there that it made it so flavorful that I just couldn't stop eating it. (Chef kiss!) I honestly NEED to come back and get more of their fish tacos but I also NEED to try other food items off their menu! I can't stop thinking about those fish tacos! read more

Little hole in the wall spot but this place is amazing! I always take my friends here when they visit. In my opinion, the best tacos here in San Diego. I went with the surf and turf taco and the fried fish taco (such a classic). I love the sauce options offered to top the tacos. Worth the wait! read more

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This location fits the definition of a hole in the wall!! OMG, so busy though. Smoked fish was so flavorful. Only way I knew it was there was the crowd read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Smoked fish plate - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Food: 10/10 Service: 7/10 Ambiance: 7/10 But whatever about service and ambiance, the FOOD IS JUST SO FREAKING GOOD. you're here for food and good food, not to make another friend. I love tacos, and this is one of my favorite places to get tacos. GET: Surf and Turf & Battered fish tacos (esp. during their happy hour) & grilled octopus read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Been here before & stopped by again for the grilled octopus tacos. 100% recommend!! Some of the best octopus I've had, very tender. Also got the smoked fish which was really good, and the battered fish which was good but I've had better and could skip next time. Definitely will be back!! read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Great seafood tacos at Oscars! We had the tuna adobado, shrimp & bacon, octopus and fish tacos. All tasted very good and very fresh. Nice staff that answers all your questions and the food comes out quickly. They have a dog friendly outdoor seating area as well. Recommend for nice tacos in PB. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been here so many times that the lady working cashier recognizes me. This place is just that good! Smoked fish taco: 1000/5. This is a must order here! The smoked fish is bursting with flavor and so juicy. They're so generous with their portions. Add the creamy green sauce and orange sauce and it's perfect! Surf and turf taco: 3.5/5. It's pretty good but not my favorite here, just because the smoked fish is so much more flavorful than this. The steak was also a little tough to me. Pulpo taco: 5/5. Delicious, tender octopus. It's perfectly cooked and the flavors are amazing. Taco Especial: 4/5. If you have never been to Oscar's, you should order this. It comes with scallops, shrimp, and smoked fish, so you get to try a lot of their fish! It's pretty good, but I just love their smoked fish so much more! Atun adobado taco: 3.5/5. I love the addition of the pineapple with the tuna. I would say that the flavors aren't very strong with this one - I couldn't really taste too much after eating a few bites of this. Pineapple-spinach agua fresca: 1000/5. This is a must for me (and such an underrated item)! After eating tacos, drinking this refreshing pineapple-spinach-cucumber agua fresca is the perfect way the end the meal. It's so yummy that I can't stop drinking it! Service: 1000/5. The lady working cashier is so so sweet, kind, and generous. She often gives complimentary stuff, especially when the wait is very long. Parking: It's a little hard, but if you drive to the other end of Emerald St, there are a good amount of spots to park at. Gonna miss this place so much now that I'm no longer in SD :( read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Surf and Turf Taco, Smoked Fish Taco, Pineapple-Spinach Agua Fresca - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Love this place and love it's location so close to the beach. Out of all the places in PB... I have been here the most. I am one of those people that likes to try different things, but the person that brought me got me hooked on the surf and Turf taco and it is all that I get. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Surf and turf Tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

A friend recommended me this restaurant and I'm so glad I tried this place out! We got their chorizo and potato, battered fish, taco especial and their skirt steak. All of their tacos tasted really good! Chorizo and potato was too greasy but that was to be expected. The battered fish was the best out of the four tacos. I highly recommend! Parking is not easy to find there but it's still worth going! read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Chorizo and potato, Battered Fish Taco, Taco Especial, Skirt Steak Taco - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Where does one even begin when writing a review for Oscars? I've had the pleasure of enjoying Oscars since their start in 2011 and let me tell you they still maintain the delicious quality and taste, with just some more added menu items over the years. First off, anything you get is great but my go to is always the fish ceviche (love that they have a few types) and those tasty fish (grilled and fried) tacos. This time Maria was a gem and made some epic home style fish soup that really hit the spot while seated outside in the crisp air. This is the original location, seating is bar style outside on the sidewalk, quick way to get to that yummy meal. Service is always a 10/10, everyone is really accommodating and kind. Shout out to Juan for having such a great staff! Highly recommend their two homemade sauces- you can't go wrong! Pro tip- this place is no joke and although the staff works fast the crowd does starts forming around noon (it's that good), but if you get here around 11-11:30 you're in the clear! read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Fish tacos (grilled and fried) - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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A bit underwhelming. Detailed breakdown below: **Service, 3/5** Friendly service, but the wait was quite long and there's no PA system, so you have to linger in the crowded area blocking the front door to hear your number for your food. The self-serve sauces and limes are in a fridge behind the counter, and the utensils, water, and napkins are also on the counter where you order, so it's all very cramped because of the poor layout and can get pushy quickly. **Price & portion, 3.5/5** $7-8 for a taco, and $17 for a torta were way higher prices than I expected. Since I wasn't blown away by the food, I didn't find the prices reasonable. **Taste, 3/5** Either overly salty or seriously lacking seasoning. - Fish stew, 2/5: This was EXTREMELY salty. I'm not sure if they just added way too much salt, or the stock they used had reduced too much, but I couldn't taste much of anything else. - Battered fish taco, 3.5/5: The fish itself was tender, but the batter didn't even hold it's crisp in the time I grabbed it from the counter and walked to my table outside. Even with the salsas and lime, I felt like there wasn't too much flavor in the taco, but I was most disappointed by the tortilla. The corn tortilla didn't taste fresh or homemade and couldn't compare to any spots I'd been to in SD. - Steak taco in a flour tortilla, 4/5: I enjoyed this one a bit more than the battered fish taco because the flour tortilla was better than the corn, and I thought the size was great. But again, even with the salsas and lime, it was as if the steak wasn't seasoned at all. - Octopus taco, 3.5/5: The octopus here was incredibly tender and perfectly cooked, but bland and devoid of seasoning. **Other notes** Parking lot here is super small. read more

I can see why this taco spot is so popular! Delicious tacos, sides, and sauces! The staff can give great recommendations if unsure of which ones to try. There are even local patrons that will recommend their menu favorites! Highly recommend the shrimp taco & guac! read more

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This was a great breakfast burrito (taco). The staff was so friendly when we came in. Ended up taking the food to the beach for a really nice morning meal. If I'm back in SD, I'll do it again. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Breakfast taco - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here on our last day of the San Diego trip because Oscar's is a MUST. Even though it was a Monday, the restaurant was full for lunch, but no line at least. We ordered two spicy grilled shrimp tacos and a ceviche to share between two, and waited about 10 mins for the order. Ceviche was super fresh, and the grilled taco was actually spicy with huge shrimp! Absolutely amazing. However, about 2 hours after getting Oscar's, as we were walking around we had REALLY bad diarrhea. Considering this was the meal we had in common I feel like that's what caused it. Many places in PB don't have a bathroom open to the public. It was quite the struggle, but there was a public restroom when one of us was in trouble (it was not so nice), and a cafe when the other was in trouble. Thank god for that. I hate to believe this was what caused it because it was so amazing but...that's the risk of consuming raw seafood I guess. Maybe stay in this area to use their bathroom (or be in a place with a bathroom) in case. The bathroom here is a bit dingy. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Grilled Shrimp Taco (spicy) & Mixed Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place will always be a staple for me! Have never had an order go wrong here. Favorites: Taco especial, battered fish taco, and the ceviche!! (drooling thinking about it right now). Wait can be long, depending on hours of the day. Seating can be a little unclear too, especially when it's a gorgeous day out. Still not enough a deterrent though. Love Oscars for a reliable taco stop before a very San Diego day. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

The restaurant is pretty small on the side of the road, so I actually missed it at first. I came around 9am on a Sunday and got my food pretty quickly. I ordered the smoked fish breakfast burrito and a grilled fish taco. I think this was the absolute best meal I had in San Diego. The smoked fish had a very meaty texture and great umami flavor! The grilled fish taco was also incredible, and it came with 4 pieces of fish. I also loaded it up with the orange and green sauces, and I tried a bunch of the different hot sauces they have up front. I really can't recommend this place enough! read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Grilled fish taco - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Wow! Best shrimp tacos I've had in my life! Make sure to try their sauces on the side and you absolutely have to buy a side of their ceviche! read more

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Smoked fish tacos are stellar. Chipotle sauce is good too, and they let you use a bottle! I wish they had guacamole that didn't come with chips and didn't cost $9. Like a taco add-on. But they had avocado at least. The fish stew was also surprisingly good. I did not expect to like it but I did. Don't bother getting the steak or pastor tacos. They're not bad but not amazing. I'd go seafood all the way. It's in the name anyway. I'm even slightly allergic to shrimp but their shrimp was very good. Had a few pieces! Nice drink selection and I would have had a Mexican Coca Cola but I did not want caffeine. Free infused water was good. Service and ambiance were not bad. No issues but not amazing. I'm not here for that though, I'm here for their food. Will try to be back if I can! read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is an old school taco shop. Simple menu, good prices, excellent food. The speciality here is the fried fish taco. This is a Baja style taco that has fried fish, Cole slaw, pico de gallo, cream, and salsa. You can get this variation with shrimp, grilled fish, and smoked fish. They also have a fish stew , burrito, and sodas. There is no actual dinning area. You can pick up and go, or eat along the counter height bar. Standing or sitting of available. The service is good and efficient. If you get here after 5/5:30pm, be prepared to join the line down the street. It's worth the wait! Tacos are all made fresh to order and are filling. They do not skimp on the portions. For an average price of $4-$5/ taco you are well fed with 2-3 tacos. The ambiance is quant yet inviting. This place is the epitome of the "hole in the wall" restaurant that you'd miss if you didn't know it was here! The food is delicious and all the ingredients are fresh. The corn tortillas are the regular side, not the smaller taco size. If you've not been to Oscars, add it to your must eat list for San Diego. So good! read more

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Usually not a huge fan of fish tacos, but when I am in the mood Oscars is the place to go! They have a great tuesday fish taco deal. The batter isn't too thick and the toppings pair well with the fish. I like their variety of sauces. No space to eat, you kinda stand outside. read more