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I was excited to try this place because of Anthony Bourdain. I liked the cute seating area. Service was fine. They give you chips and salsa while you wait for your food. Price was on the steeper side. It was $40 for two tostadas and one fish taco. The seafood was fresh but the flavors didn't quite mesh that well in the tostada with sea urchin and clam. You can skip the fish taco because you can find better in San Diego!
Great spot for seafood tostadas if you want to sit down and have drinks with it. If you want just food and a faster experience, I'd suggest going to the cart across the street which serves the same food. Sidenote, I got the Spanish menu understanding little Spanish so it was fun ordering "blind" and letting the taste buds fully explore flavors! Erizo Con Almeja: had a real ocean taste to it not sure if it had uni, very umami too Singapur: my personal favorite, almost like poke since the creaminess of the white sauce complimented the fish very well Marianne Premium: high quality tuna really shows out and is balanced nicely with the avocado Cachanilla: almost had a ginger spice to it, very refreshing and juicy Definitely a must have in Ensenada but try to go before 11 since the wait can get long if you want to sit in!
Having gone to the famous mariscos street food stand that is La Guerrerense Carreta on a previous visit to Ensenada, and eating seafood tostadas standing up with my brother in a street alley while having various juices dribbling down my chin, I knew how good the seafood tostadas here could be. But figured I needed a better way to eat it while visiting Ensenada again with my wife. So this time, went to the nearby sister restaurant, Sabina. It's named for the owner of the original food stand, and there are a lot of pictures of her with other celebrities who appreciated her talent in creating seafood combinations. The Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant is within walking distance from the cruise port, and is located in an area with a lot of other restaurants and shops. We came there soon after it opened around 10 am, and had the choice of indoor or outdoor seating. We showed that we were coming from California, by choosing indoor seating. We were given colorful menus and suggestions. We also got complementary chips and salsa, with 4 different varieties of her famous salsas being served. I tried all four of them, and two of them were way too hot, even in moderation. I did really like the green salsa, which tasted more like a simple guacamole. It also came with thinly slices of lime...each small slice producing so much more juice than any lime we get in California. My wife doesn't like raw seafood, so chose garlic shrimp (Caramones al Mojo de Ajo for Mex$405). There were plenty of jumbo headless, shell-on white shrimp, with the butter sauce being very light and not too garlicky. It came with a very good rice pilaf and sauteed vegetables (mostly squash which neither of us are a fan of). I went with 3 choices from the 5 selection 'Champion' list: 1. Erizo con Almeja (Sea Urchin with Clam for Mex$230) - winner of LA Street Food Fest 2011 for Best Original Showmanship 2. Caracol con Lajas de Caracol (Mixed Ceviche with Sea Snail for Mex$209) - winner of LA Street Food Fest 2012 for Best in Show 3. Singapur (Mex$209) - winner of LA Street Food Fest 2013 for unknown category). All three were piled high with fresh seafood, embellished with perfectly ripe avocado slices. None of them needed additional salsa, but adding a squeeze of lime enhanced. My favorite was the Singapore and would try the other two tostadas on the winners list the next time. The best way would be to order all the tostadas and split amongst a group of 4 or 5 friends (there are 6 other special tostadas and you can also create your own with the fresh seafood ingredients). Got two bottles of water (Mex$75 each...not cheap) and a local beer (Vera Niega Mexican Ale, a bottle being Mex$110) that was excellent. Service was attentive and friendly throughout, with multiple servers (Horacio and Antonio) attending to us, all trying to make sure we had a good time. Credit cards are accepted, using a modern tableside POS, and I was happy to pay a gratuity over what is customary. Bathrooms are modern, with individual stalls (most of them gender neutral) all sharing a nice common set of sinks. My wife and I left in fine spirits and it was beginning to fill up more as we left (all dining al fresco, of course). Dining at the nearby original food cart is worth the initial experience, but there is something to having food this good in a sit-down restaurant. Sabina is that place.
The service was great! Nice people, and good recommendations. The sea urchin was interesting, the blue fin tuna was yummy, pulpo tostada was excellent. I wanted the Bourdain experience and maybe made more of what I expected than I had. NOT the restaurants fault. Maybe next time, I'll stick with simple but ALWAYS mexican coke! ALWAYS
Super good! We had to stop by to try some of the ceviche and fish tacos, and we're really glad we did. Service was quick, friendly, and helpful. Our server provided some great recommendations! Now, for the food... -Singapore Tostada (crab salad with shrimp, octopus, and scallops for 209 pesos): my partner said it was a 5/5 and "so good." There was an abundance of seafood on it, and it tasted great. He said it paired great with a beer (he got the Harry Polanco Cerveza Red Ale). -Mixed ceviche with sea snail tostada (209 pesos): my mom tried this one and said it was refreshing, clean, and tasted fresh, not fishy. She really enjoyed it! She said this is great for someone who doesn't like greasy food. -The fish taco (for 69 pesos each): I really enjoyed this! I'm not a seafood person, so I appreciated that this was flavorful (especially with the great salsas and the peanut oil that our server brought over for us to try with the ceviche) and not at all fishy. Overall, we loved the food and service here! Would definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area after a cruise.
(AKA) La Guerrerense Restaurant instantly became internationally famous when Tony Bourdain called the street stall that proceeded this restaurant the best street food stall in the world. Chef/owner Sabina Bandera's luck took a turn for the better. This is a woman that said prior to having the stall she didn't even like seafood. Unfortunatley, circumstances in her family forced her to think of a way to make money to support her family. Pristine seafood is plentiful in this part of the country and it's also inexpensive. Ease of entry into the street seafood business was easily so the solution was obvious. For someone that doesn't like seafood, she has come up with some of the best seafood tostada topping combinations that I have ever seen anywhere (ceviche with urchin and clams, ceviche with shrimp, octopus, sea snail, scallop and clam, fish pate with scallops, ...). If you didn't know any better, these are combinations that would be put together by world class trained chef. She has great tastebuds and a knack for putting together flavors that even Michelin stared chefs would be hard pressed to do. No, she did not attend culinary school. Bourdain called it right when he declared her stall the best in the world. By the way, did I mention her fish tacos? Yes, I also have to talk about her fish tacos which are nothing less than great. If it was possible, I would eat these every day, they are just that good. Pristine chunks of fish that are lightly battered and fried. Her crema for the tacos is heavy on the mayo side, but it works beautifully with the sweet chunks of fish. Before entering you will see pictures of her with lots of famous chefs that have come here to pay homage to Sabina who is also naturally a brilliant chef. I had the privilege of visiting a few years back and now a visit to the area is not complete without eating here at least once.
The food here is delish! Great menu with yummy seafood options!!! Opted to sit outside and the weather was perfect. There was some live music playing and it was so nice. Me and the hubs tried 4 different menu options, all delish. Had chips and different salsas brought to us. We did have to ask for the p-nut chili sauce. Server was super sweet, and gave all good recs. My fave was the cocktail, it tasted EXACTLY like she described it. (Great English too if your Spanish isn't great). The best cocktail! It was a seasonal offering, so don't remember the name. But delish, sweet & tangy! El Gobernador w Shrimp = Delish! Probably my fave! Of course shrimp cocktail was perf.
The Anthony Boursain hype is real! Every dish we tried was made with fresh ingredients and savory marinades! Tried their popular getraguense with shrimp and every bite was citrusy with a hint of spice. My mouth is watering just thinking of these flavors . The Uni tostada with clans comes its own syringe of salsa with the perfect proportion. Ensenada tacos are a little pricier than the street woods but are perfectly battered. Worth it! The agua mala local beer compliments the meal. Quick and friendly service in a touristy doi that feels local.
comida deliciosa!!! Appetizers: Oysters: the freshness makes it delicious. It's mouthwatering. Pulpo (octopus): it's tender and I love the dressing that they mix with it. Guacamole: nothing really specia, however the chips that come with it is so good. Tostadas: Singapore: the best tostada I've ever had! It's made with fresh crab, shrimps and scallops. Highly recommended! Ceviche Mixto: combination of different seafoods: fish, shrimp, crab and scallops. Pescado; the fish they used was tuna. They have an indoor and out door sitting. Friendly atmosphere and good customer service.
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An 8 minute walk from the port. Absolutely lovely staff. Best fish tacos, best guac, best margaritas. Id give it more stars if i could. Tucked just away from the street, glad we found it! If i ever make it back to ensenada, ill make sure to stop by! read more
4 years ago
All I gotta say is get the tacos norteno it's a octopus with chicharron taco it's bomb Get the drink called pastorcito it's alcohol and has pineapple with cilantro very good drink read more
7 years ago
THEE place to stop and eat when visiting Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico it is literally the top award wining fish tostadas. The taste is so unique, delicious, fresh assortment of fish and at a perfect location. Defenetly worth the price, a reasonable price by the way. Make this place part of your itinerary. No joke!. My family and I have made it our go to spot for several years and the taste and vibe is consistent. Dont get confused there are 2 locations by the same owner and chef that serve the same food. The restaurant "Sabina" and the tostada stand "La Guerrense". Love it! read more
THIS PLACE IS A MUST GO TO IF YOU ARE EVER IN ENSENADA. Every cruise I take, I make the trip off the ship to this place. The octopus tacos are to die for. I've never had a better taco spot ANYWHERE!!! I crave these tacos when I'm back in the states. The octopus is always charred to perfection with so much flavor and always so easy to eat. It's not the kind where you have to chew it 30 times before swallowing. It's soft and tender, melting in your mouth. Go get it now!!! (If you can, of course) read more
2 years ago
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4 years ago
Wanted to try La Guerrerense but they were not open, luckily Sabina's was so we were able to try the same amazing food. Everything was so good but if I had to pick a favorite it was probably the La Negra Noche Agua Chile. Right behind that was the Singapur tostada, Guerrerense tostada, and then the Campechana. I'm sure I would have loved everything on the menu and hope to go back and try more. read more
3 years ago
Came here following their Anthony Bourdain fame. Waited in line for a table. It was the only meal in Ensenada I did not love. There is no doubt in my mind that Bourdain would not have recommended what we were served. The tostadas ingredients (cod and pulp, urchin and clam) were not good by themselves or in their combo. We like all of these ingredients in other settings, but I guess that the expectations were so high, it was a major let down. The pics of Sabina with an octopus draped over her head are not cool. read more
3 years ago
You've probably seen the long line across the street at the Sabina food cart - don't bother, just come to the restaurant location so you can enjoy the cool air and indoor seating! According to our tour guide, it's all the same food. We ordered the pescado con mango ceviche and it was so refreshing! It has a bit of habanero already so if you can't handle the spice then don't add any more spicy sauces from the salsa station. That was definitely my mistake! Other than that crazy level of heat, the fish itself was so fresh and they didn't skimp on the portion. The entire tostada was packed with ceviche on top! read more
Since we were staying in the outskirts of Ensenada, we just had to go to La Guerrerense, a popular food cart and institute opened by Sabina Bandera, for ceviche and tostadas. But when we, by accident, stumbled to Sabina's restaurant across the street from the cart, we had to give this place a try. Nice menu offering the popular dishes La Guerrerense is known for plus an addition of a hot foods menu. Opted for the Sea Urchin Tostada and the Sea Snail Tostada. Both were topped with plenty of seafood at an amazing price (especially for Americans since the dollar is strong vs. the Mexican peso right now). Since they were out of clams on this day (Saturday 9/2), they offered to substitute scallops for clams. Sure! The tostadas were delicious, especially when you add some of the salsas at the condiments bar, including Sabina's line of salsas that she now has bottled and sells at this restaurant. Staff was very helpful and patient, and even provided us with some samples to help us choose. read more
4 years ago
The staff is not friendly and it takes 15 minutes to get your drink order in. I ordered something simple and it took 45 minutes to get my order. Finally got fed up and told the waiter if food doesn't show up in the next 5 minutes I would leave. It wasn't during peak hours so don't know why it took so long. Highly do not recommend this place. Finally when food arrived the fish that was suppose to be fried came out raw in the middle. read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
5 years ago
This is owned by Sabina, the famous chef who started out with the little cart across the street. Anthony Bourdain talked about how good this place was, and he was certainly right. I started out with a Baja Fish Taco... and I more inhaled it than ate it. It was delicious. The tostadas... and the clam... best things we ate on our entire trip! I only regret that I filled up before I could try more. This chef certainly deserves to be recognized for her skill. read more
4 years ago
Un lugar muy limpio, con un servicio muy bueno y la comida muy rica, las tostadas de ceviche de pescado o de paté de pescado muy ricas.... read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
My family and I took a cruise with Ensenada as a stop. This place was awesome! Will go again when and if I get a chance. Glad my bilingual son went with us. The staff is extremely helpful but only knows Spanish. read more
7 years ago
Food: I had the ceviche tostada, the octopus taco and the pazole, all were extremely good. The shrimp ceviche was perfect... not too salty and very flavorful even without sauce. I was surprised with the octopus, I like the spongy texture of octopus but not the overpowering fish taste. This one was great because the octopus had a grilled almost BBQ flavor. Pazole was fresh and loaded with avocados! Also, they let you taste all of their authentic sauces. The peanut one definitely has a unique flavor, not sure if I like it or not, but watch out for some of the hot ones!!! Atmosphere: I am glad they have a restaurant, I have never really been a fan of standing while eating. Cool little place, very clean restrooms, lots of space inside. Parking might be a bit difficult at times though... Price: Great price, delicious seafood tacos for less than 2$! One of the big downsides though was the fact that a few things were already "out" by lunch. If I want to try everything, I am going to have to get here early! Service: Awesome crew, very helpful and they knew English which was a big help. I tried my "Spanglish" out and probably messed up royally, but then they asked "What would you like, sir?" Also there was a guy going around cleaning up all of the tables. Great service! Overall: This is a bomb place, I gotta come back here and try more things on the menu. Great price, great location, great service and awesome food. Someone call the skipper, I AM HOOKED! read more
Not ragging on this great institution in Ensenada; cerviche, raw seafood and citric acid was not my thing for an entire meal. The bits of chewy octopus was tough to eat too. Cerviche as an appetizer is doable, just not an entire meal for me. This place is a phenomenon in Ensenada. Visited by Antony Bourdain, this is a food destination for Baja. Sabina has a street food stand which more popular than the restaurant. I personally recommend the restaurant which was more comfortable and less crowded. The service is friendly and sweet. read more
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Absolutely fantastic. The best octopus taco I've ever eaten. The fish taco is good but kind odd as it's more like a burrito than a taco. This is a must try and should be a tourist spot on its own. I've never had tacos this good any where. read more
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More info about Restaurante Sabina
Av. Adolfo López Mateos 993
Col. Zona Centro
22800 Ensenada, Baja California
Mexico
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