I can't wait to go again!! Oscar's was amazing, best seafood tacos I've tried. The restaurant is a bit small and had limited seating, so we ended up eating outside, but it was a beautiful day. I tried the tacos especial (fish, shrimp, scallops) and grilled octopus and they were both amazing! I would get 2 tacos or 3 if you're really hungry. read more

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

We came here before arriving to our hotel. It was quite busy at 1:30pm on a Friday. We ordered their Shrimp Ceviche, which was so fresh. Delicious! We also got the Spicy Shrimp Taco and the Taco Especial. I think it did lack a bit of flavor, but still, a better taco than you can expect in other cities. The service is a bit slow, so if you're in a rush, make note of that. Enough indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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Stopped by here for a quick snack of one fish taco because it was later in the afternoon and I had dinner plans. Well I should've canceled dinner plans and just eaten five more beer battered fish tacos at Oscars! It was so so delicious, a large, hearty fish portion, and everything was seasoned so well, including the pico de gallo and the sauces that you can add on the side. Must try! read more

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

My must-have in San Diego was fish tacos. My companion's friend recommended Oscars Mexican Seafood for just that. We came on a weekday during lunchtime. It wasn't busy, and we snagged a table outside, since I had my pup. Companion did the ordering, but the inside isn't too big and super casual. You order and pay at the front, and they bring your food out or call you. There's self-serve salsa and utensils. Service was kind and efficient. First off, they provided a complimentary consomeé. It was hearty and warm! We also got chips which were crispy. For tacos, we got the Battered Fish, Battered Shrimp, and Grilled Octopus Taco. My favorite was the Battered Shrimp. It had a nice flavor, a lighter breading, and was tasty. The fish was fine but not outstanding. The octopus was great! It was my first time having an octopus taco, and I enjoyed its chewy texture. I'd say you need to add salsa, because without it, there's not much seasoning or flavor. The tacos themselves are bigger than a typical street taco and hold well. I wasn't blown away by any taco, but it was good. If you're a visitor or local to San Diego, a visit to Oscar's Mexican Seafood would be fun if you like seafood tacos. But if you're not a fan, I'd say pass. This is one of their two locations off University Ave. with free parking in the shopping plaza out front. read more

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Great fish/shrimp tacos but the meats and seafood were a bit overcooked Wish they had like a salsa verde - most were crema The scallop ceviche was the best thing ever read more

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

The battered fish taco was amazing, it had plenty of flavor. I wasn't a fan of the grilled shrimp taco. It was hard to find the shrimp while eating the taco. It only had about three pieces in there for what you spent. I also got the grilled fish taco as well and the grilled fish taco didn't have much flavor. The side sauces that they give you with the tacos are amazing. I'd highly recommend. I believe it's like a cilantro lime sauce to add to all the tacos because they do seem a little dry. Customer service here was OK. There was a language barrier, but after translating, we were able to place our order successfully. This location also has inside and outside seating. read more

Been to this location a few times now! Service is a bit on the slower side. Complimentary fish stew is always nice! 4 of us ordered: battered fish taco $3.50 in a flour tortilla $1.50 surf and turf taco $7 ea atun adobado $8 (pineapple and al pastor) taco especial $8.25 ea smoked fish taco $7 ea mixed ceviche (fish and shrimp) $9 Some seating inside and outside. I personally ate the fish taco as a burrito, taco especial, and surf and turf. They are always loaded with good flavors! Could definitely be seen on the pricier side. Limited street parking. read more

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Exceeded my expectations as a novice San Diego seafood eater, which was recommended by a local friend! Food: Battered fish tacos were well seasoned and fresh salsa toppings to tie the flavors. We enjoyed the battered fish over the shrimp taco which was our overall favorite. The skirt steak taco was good, but bless your taste buds and choose the seafood options. I wanted elote some street corn after the beach to beat my craving. It was super crunchy topped with my liking of just chili and lime which hit the spot. Also, the employee was so kind with his benevolent act of generosity and gave our table fish stew samples. Unexpectedly the portion was a whole cup, I was beyond delighted with the chunks of white fish, earthy veggies and nourishing tasteful broth. It was warmly comforting which I would grab a bowl next time !! I appreciate the variety of seafood dishes to appease all parties Service: Uttermost stellar hospitality and thoughtful service to our group. Treated us with care to ensure we had a lovely dinner Ambiance: Good decor with wood and chromatic metal look. Everything was clean and well kept! Overall: Will visit again for battered fish tacos and stew! read more

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This place was everything I dreamed of and more. I used to live in Baja Mexico and these battered fish and shrimp tacos took me back to a beach in Mexico. The bottles of sauce are so good I could drink them. The tuna ceviche is likened to poke with a sesame Asian sauce, I loved it! Small shop, but fortunately it wasn't packed yet when we went! read more

I was somewhat in the area and craving a good fish taco and stumbled upon Oscars. The parking lot is very small and fortunately I was able to get the last spot. The restaurant itself is not big with very limited seating but fortunately only one other party was there at the time. Ordering is done at the register and orders are brought to the table. Unfortunately, I do not remember exactly what tacos were ordered since ordering was a bit sporadic based on what sounded good on the menu. Once the tacos came, everything looked good and tasted even better. The seafood in each taco was very fresh and the avocado slices on top were just as fresh. The salsa was also very good and complemented each taco very well. If I am ever in the area, I definitely would want to go back to Oscars Mexican Seafood. My only tip for others is to hide any valuables in your car since I did see a few sketchy people walk by the parking lot while I was dining. The next time I visit, I will make sure to make note of which tacos I order! read more

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

Not super busy on a Wednesday evening. The store isn't super big so it could be harder to find seating when it's busy, but luckily we had a few tables to choose from. I got the battered fish taco, surf & turf taco, and smoked fish taco. There's a fridge with lemon slices and sauces, including a chipotle sauce that I liked the most. The sauces did feel a little watery in the consistency though. I liked the battered fish taco best, then smoked fish, then surf & turf. The battered fish was classic, smoked fish tasted pretty unique, and I felt like the steak and shrimp in the surf & turf were a bit on the tougher/drier end. I also thought the tortillas were on the drier end as well and could've been softer. I don't think the tacos here top other San Diego taco spots for me personally, but still solid tacos and glad I got to try Oscars once. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - 3x battered fish tacos, surf & turf taco, smoked fish taco - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

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Oscars is a must try! From their delicious battered fish tacos to the kind customer service. It was my first time trying Oscars and the lady that took our order was super patient with us, which I appreciate. We ended up ordering the fried fish and shrimp tacos. Our tacos came out fresh and the wait wasn't too long. The shrimp was decent, but the fish tacos really stole the show for us! Crispy and juicy protein. Be sure to pair it with the sauces at the fridge up front. We also got a complementary cup of seafood soup which was warm and hearty. Will definitely be back for the fish tacos! read more

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

Our Oscars team working today was top notch! They answered all our questions, were quick to serve our order, and offered us a free fish stew sample) my parents loved) and were so kind. The bluefin tuna ceviche looks small, but has a generous serving of tuna and is very fresh and nice kick. My dad enjoyed the Seabass burrito, and my mom also got the grilled Seabass taco and grilled shrimp taco. I had the Oscars combo with a grilled octopus (pulpo) taco & grilled especial mixed taco , and a pineapple spinach agua Fresca. The Fresca is so nice and refreshing! Not too sweet and the mint in the cup is a nice touch. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - 5/17/26 - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

Oscars is one of my favorite taco places! Gotta get the orange sauce. Otherwise its just ok Really enjoyed the fish battered taco and the bacon and shrimp with the cheese. The regular shrimp is ok. The chips and guac are also ok. The chips have a thicker harder texture to them read more

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Oscars in Hillcrest remains one of my absolute favorite spots. Huge shout out to Odra, Olivia, and Maria who are always so welcoming and make the vibe here even better. These ladies know how to hold down the fort! I decided to branch out from my usuals this time and I'm so glad I did. I tried the grilled fish salad, and it was literally the salad of my dreams. It felt like a fresh take on an Asian chicken salad but with perfectly cooked fish, it was massive, delicious, and actually really filling. I also went for the bluefin ceviche this time and was honestly blown away; the quality is just next level. We shared the ranchero burrito too, which I loved because it's so straightforward and no unnecessary frills, just a generous amount of protein and great flavor. Everything was delicious as always. If you're in San Diego, this place is a must! I can't not have Oscars when I'm out there its such a delicious place. read more

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

Counter ordering and small seating area on the patio. Service was quick and food came out fresh and loaded with toppings. The fish was fresh and delicious. Super filling tacos! read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Smoked Fish Taco and Battered Fish Tacos - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

Their grilled octopus taco is my favorite seafood taco EVERRRR!! I would drive down to San Diego just for this!!! Octopus ($8.75) -- EXQUISITE!! Absolutely phenomenal. The octopus is tender, perfect texture, good amount. Spicy Grilled Shrimp ($7.50)-- Not memorable, just ok, wouldn't get again I do remember liking their battered shrimp tacos so I have to come back next time for redemption!! But all their tacos come with big pieces of avocado and lots of fixings so they're all pretty hefty!! This location is nice because there's a parking lot in the front and they have both indoor/patio dining. They also give complimentary fish stew samples!!! Super nice of them!! I was surprised to find chunks of fish in there as I thought it'd just be a sample of the broth, but no, they're very generous here. The house-made salsas are stored in the fridge along with the limes. Those are self serve. They also have a little rack of spicy (store bought) salsas and hot sauces. I just slather on their orange and green creamy salsas, and while I can't pinpoint the flavors, it just adds to the taco and makes it extra delicious. Love this place and will be coming back again! Next time I want to try their ceviche too! read more

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Great tacos in a relaxed space. Vibe felt authentic and casual. I liked the battered fish taco and the grilled shrimp taco a lot! It definitely needs the spicy sauce though, otherwise it's a bit plain. The fish taco is great value for under $4. The other tacos are more expensive but come with a bunch of avocado and veggies on top. The service was also super friendly and efficient -- we got free fish/veggie soup to sip on while we waited for our order. read more

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

Came here at around 1:30 on a Saturday, and it was really crowded, be prepared to wait at least 40-60 minutes for food. There's one person at the front counter completing each order, so it takes about 3-4 minutes to complete each order. The crowd died down after around 2:30, so go during off peak hours to avoid a wait. This is one of my favorite fried shrimp taco places in San Diego. This visit, I ordered the fried fish taco, the fried shrimp taco, and the grilled shrimp taco. The fried shrimp taco is great, the flavors are well balanced and the vegetables are fresh. The battered shrimp is nice and crispy, well seasoned, and well cooked. The other two were ok but nothing special. The fried fish taco was a big soggy, even though I ate it pretty quickly after it came out. Ambiance is very casual and you order and pick up at the counter. My rating is just for the food. read more

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

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This is a solid fish taco spot with a mom and pop charm. We were greeted with samples of the fish soup and treated with the utmost hospitality. We ordered the surf and turf, smoked fish, spicy grilled shrimp, and breaded fish tacos. We'd enjoyed the surf and turf the most because of the flavorful steak. The sauces they offer are also a great add on. There was plenty of parking (rare for the area) and the shop was clean and well maintained. A great spot for families. read more

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

Whenever I visit San Diego, I will try to make it out to Oscar's just to get the beer battered fish tacos. It's even better if you can make it for happy house. The tacos are a must try and their sauces are really good. I've had a breakfast burrito once and it was so freaking good. The ceviche is also worth trying. It can get really busy here and parking is a nightmare. But trust, it is worth it for the food! read more

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The best fish tacos I have ever had. No contest. If you're looking for some mind blowing seafood tacos, you have to check out Oscar's! Compared to their other, more coastal locations, the one in Hillcrest is a bit cozier with a great parking lot and lesser crowds. My favorite has to be their Battered Fish Tacos. Amazingly crispy cod topped off with their homemade slaw. Drizzle a bit of their spicy avocado green sauce on top and you've got the perfect taco. A serious must-try! Other favorites include their Surf & Turf Tacos which come absolutely loaded and their Mixed (Fish & Shrimp) Ceviche which is insanely fresh and limey! read more

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

Sure fish tacos came from Baja originally and sure it was probably angel shark and thresher before cod/halibut/haddock/flounder/wahoo, but there is something about the simplicity of fresh corn tortilla, fresh fish beer battered, thinly sliced cabbage, crema, salsa, lime. With TJ influencing it's very common to see avocado/guacamole added. Oscars keeps it original and keeps things fresh. They season the fish, beer batter which most places don't. Most places rely on the acoutremounts. I personally wished they didn't offer flour tortillas or used red onions and used a seasoned crema, use guacamole more than avocado slices. It's a bright, clean place that's simple. The burrito is the one dish that I like flour versus corn and which can actually hold full bites of ingredients. Cucarachas are good, but could use garlic (would really do well if it was more of a North Shore style). Garden Seafood salad is solid as it's a little bit like a ceviche. Their ceviche is one of the places that I consistently get the scallop more than the shrimp. They smoke their own fish for their torta de oscar and the fishermans torta is fantasitc with spicy, texture (skip the cabbage here) . It's pricey, but when most places skimp on the seafood and freshness you don't regret spending the money here. I really want them to have a campechana. Service is pretty good for how casual it is and you'll think you order too much because it looks and sounds so good, but I've never left stuffed to the gills even eating a burrito, torta, ceviche. read more

Food: Battered Fish Tacos (10/10) - veggies tasted fresh, the limes were so juicy here, the sauces paired well, and fish was made well with a soft inside and slight crisp on the outside Torta de Oscar (10/10) - large portion size and packed with many layers and flavors. loved how cheesy it was as well Service: The lady was so nice! Straightforward ordering process at the counter and waiting for your number to be called. You can self serve yourself some water and grab sauces and lime that are all put out. Ambiance: Casual spot with some seats inside. Lots of natural light coming in from the big windows. read more

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Great place for fresh seafood tacos, tortas, etc. Absolutely love anything with their octopus in it. All the items are crafted to really highlight the seafood and seasoned well. Large selection of various hot sauces to add extra flavor to what you order. Fast service and clean despite the high turnover. read more

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

A Unique Seafood-Only Taco Spot Another great Mexican spot in San Diego, but what makes this place stand out is that they focus only on seafood -- and they do it really well. Honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I got the adobada taco with fish, and it was hecka good! It had that classic adobada flavor -- I think they use tuna -- and the portion size was generous. It's one of their specials, so if you see it on the menu, definitely grab it. 10/10. The surf and turf taco was also excellent. The combination of steak and fish had amazing flavor -- another 10/10 for me. Service was great, too. They even gave us free fish soup, which was delicious. The ambience is fine, but just a heads up: seating is limited and parking can be a bit tight. If you're looking for fantastic fish tacos, this is the place to go. Prices are on the higher side, but the portions are larger than your average taco, so it's worth it. read more

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

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I've been here many times and haven't gotten around to writing a review. I finally got the opportunity to come back to San Diego, and Oscar's is always a must! The way it works is that you order up at the counter and pick up your meal on the other side when it's ready. I got the surf and turf taco which was packed with shrimp, steak and fat slices of avocado on top. It was quickly made and ready to serve. I ate it with their creamy green and orange sauce (idk what the actual names are), which was full of flavor and added a slight kick of spice to my taco. The price of this taco may be steep but it was definitely filling. While we were eating, they were offering cups of complimentary soup. It was very tasty with veggie and chicken pieces. Parking has always been a struggle, but I will always recommend coming to Oscar's if anyone is visiting SD. read more

I ordered via DoorDash and everything was still pretty fresh when it arrived. Ceviche was perfectly acidic and flavorful. Fish taco was crispy and filling with just one. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Fish taco and Shrimp Ceviche - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been here multiple times since my first review, and I must admit that I stand corrected! Now that I've made homemade horchata, it can definitely have the thick residue at the bottom if it isn't completely strained. So, my apologies!!! I actually LOVE the Horchata con Fresas from here! And, they have the BEST FRIED FISH tacos that I've ever had! The customer service is always great, too! The ambiance is okay-clean, but not fancy. read more

Beer battered fish tacos are the way to go! It's so worth it if you could make it for happy hour. They also give complimentary fish broth in a cup at the counter by the register. It's a pretty small place with a lot of people but let's be real, it doesn't take that long to eat fish tacos. read more

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

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This smoked fish taco was not something I expected to enjoy, because most places cut time and cost when preparing. However, the fish dip was very delicious and I would order it again. Everything we had was tasty. Everything was clean and the staff was nice. read more

IG: @allysxn.eats both times we've been here, it too SO LONG to wait for the food. maybe around 20-30 minutes after ordering. otherwise, the grilled fish and surf and turf tacos are my favorite. the horchata was super grainy and pretty sweet. i wouldn't get the horchata again. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - IG: @allysxn.eats - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

Oh no, some changes since my last visit. Prices have gone up on the tacos (understandable these days), and while they seemed larger, it didn't necessarily make them better. The proportions felt a little off, like way too much cabbage and not enough fish or protein, which made for a kind of imbalanced bite. Bigger doesn't always mean better. Also noticed the vibe was a bit different this time. The folks behind the counter weren't as warm or friendly as they've been in the past. Could be an off day. Consistency is tough in the service industry, so I get it. Still hoping this was just a one-time hiccup because I've really enjoyed this spot before. read more

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Oscars was the dinner choice for my wife and I while we were in San Diego. We weren't hungry as we already had evening appetizers at the hotel. We just need good tacos that were cheap and fast. I had my mind and stomach set on carne asada tacos. My wife had her mind set on fish tacos. I can never win. Oscars did have a $8.50 skirt steak taco, but, why when I can do other strange things? We ordered a taco especial, a smoked fish taco, and a couple of fish tacos. $30+ and about 15 minutes later, we had our 6 tacos. Okay, so they weren't cheap. The tacos all seemed like they were made with flour tortillas...no complaints since the Chinese in me likes flour tortillas. The taco especial had shrimp, scallop and smoked fish in it. It was a very good $8.50 taco. The $7 smoked fish taco seemed like a letdown after the $8.50 taco. The fish tacos were normal...the kind that my wife likes. It's a good place with good food. Not a place for cheap tacos. But, then again, nothing is cheap these days. read more

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the shrimp tacos were really good, super fresh and refreshing. they also gave us complimentary soup and honestly that was one of the highlights, the broth was so flavorful i could've just sipped on it and been happy. we ordered the surf n turf too and that's where it fell a little short. the meat was a bit tough and not the best cut, which was kinda disappointing. salsa was solid though. just moved to san diego so we're still on the hunt for our go-to spots. this was decent and i might be back, but it didn't fully win me over yet read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Surf and Turf Taco Spicy Shrimp Taco - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here for a quick lunch. The food surprised me. I should have came here for dinner instead of waiting two hours for the ridiculous inronside in little Italy. The cashier lady is friendly and gave us free soup sample. I highly recommend this place read more

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

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Oscar is 1 of my 2 favorite taco places in SD, which i usually visit when I'm in the area. This time I came a bit late, around 8ish pm. I ordered battered fish & shrimp tacos, however, the food was not good/fresh as usually. A generous portion of cabbage & tomato, but a little less shrimp & fish?! read more

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

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Their taco Tuesday deal is so worth it, definitely go on a Tuesday to get the cheapest delicious fish tacos! I think it might have been $2/taco? They didn't skimp on the fish portion size and all of the toppings are super fresh. The salsa was good too, adding extra flavor The cashier was friendly and service was fast since it was a random Tuesday, not sure how it would be on a busier day. The parking lot is small too so might have difficulty finding parking on a busier day. Ambiance is very casual. They had seating inside and everything was clean. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Fish tacos, taco Tuesday - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came on Memorial Day weekend so it was a long wait, lots of people lined up. Good battered fish tacos! I think this place is pretty decent even though the fish tacos are a bit pricey it's loaded with vegetables and quite filling, you can probably be full with two or three. It's not the best fish tacos but it gets the job done. And bonus...the lady brings out their signature fish soup every 25 minutes for free! First come first serve and it is very flavorful and fresh. You could taste the soup in the broth as well as their special seasoning. read more

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Solid spot for fish tacos! We came on a Saturday around noon and there is a moderate sized parking lot so we found parking in a few mins. We got the battered fish taco, battered shrimp taco and surf & turf taco. The tacos were loaded with toppings! I love a good crispy battered fish/shrimp taco and this place does it pretty good. I wasn't expecting it to come with no sauces but there is a fridge with lots of sauces/salsas to grab. The surf & turf taco was also nicely marinated. Service was pretty quick and there is indoor and outdoor seating. I would come back if I'm in the area. read more

Oscars Mexican Seafood - Battered Shrimp Taco, Surf and Turf Taco, Battered Fish Taco (clockwise) - Seafood Near Me - San Diego, California