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    Home / Recipes / Photo

    26 Jul 29, 2015 Dinner  |   Jump to Recipe

    Crispy Fish Taco Recipe + The Best Fish Taco in San Diego

    You guys are in for a treat today!  Two treats really.

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Crispy Fish Tacos

    A few months ago, Jorge and I went on a hunt for the best battered fish taco in San Diego.  Given the massive amount of fish taco options available, we decided to start our search by polling friends, family and fellow foodies about their favorite spots for fish tacos.  This poll resulted in these top 3 restaurants/trucks (also vetted on Yelp): Mariscos Alex, TJ Oyster Bar and Oscar’s Mexican Seafood.  After we found a favorite fish taco, I then made my own Crispy Fish Taco recipe paired with a spicy Chipotle Crema.  This week, I’m sharing my pick for the best fish taco in SD plus my fish taco recipe over on Salt & Wind, a food and travel blog by Aida Mollenkamp.  Continue reading for photos from the hunt plus links to the winner and recipe.

    Let me start by saying that this was one of the tastiest “assignments” I’ve ever been on.  I love crispy fish tacos, and all three spots did not disappoint.  Here’s the criteria I had in mind when tasting each taco (more details here):

    • Authenticity
    • Flavor
    • Fish-to-Batter Ratio
    • Texture
    • Blow Out Factor
    • Fillings-to-Tortilla Ratio
    • Sauce selection

    Our first stop was Mariscos Alex in City Heights:

    Mariscos Alex Food Truck

    Mariscos Alex Food Truck Fish Tacos

    Next we went to TJ Oyster Bar in Bonita:

    TJ Oyster Bar

    TJ Oyster Bar Fish Tacos

    Finally, Oscar’s Mexican Seafood in Hillcrest:

    Oscars Hillcrest Fish Tacos

    Oscars Hillcrest Fish Taco

     

    For full details on each restaurant plus my final pick for best crispy fish taco in San Diego, visit Salt & Wind here.

     

    Now, on to my fish taco recipe.  This recipe starts with strips of cornstarch-dusted, air-dried tilapia dipped in beer batter and fried to puffy, golden perfection.  The crispy fish is then placed in a warm corn tortilla and topped with crunchy cabbage, bright cilantro and a healthy squeeze of smoky crema infused with chipotle in adobo and lime juice.  If you love fish tacos as much as I do, then you will absolutely love this recipe.  I should mention it also gets a Mexican seal of approval (provided by my Mexican boyfriend) :)!

    Crispy Fish Tacos

    Crispy Fish Tacos with Chipotle Crema

    by Brandon Matzek
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 4 servings

    Ingredients
      

    For the fish:

    • 2 pounds tilapia fillets
    • 3/4 cup cornstarch, divided
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder, divided
    • Kosher salt
    • 1/2 – 3/4 cup all purpose flour
    • 1 cup beer, preferably Mexican
    • For the chipotle crema:
    • 2/3 cup Mexican crema or sour cream
    • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
    • 3 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
    • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, plus more to taste
    • Kosher salt

    For the tacos:

    • Vegetable, canola or peanut oil, for frying
    • Corn tortillas, warmed in a skillet
    • 2 cups shredded cabbage
    • Lime wedges, for serving
    • Cilantro leaves, for serving

    Instructions
     

    • Cut each tilapia fillet in half lengthwise. Keep the shorter half of the fillet whole, but cut the longer half in half again widthwise. To a large bowl, add 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and 2 teaspoons kosher salt, whisking to combine. Add the strips of tilapia, and toss until evenly coated. Transfer the fish to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet, and refrigerate uncovered for 30 minutes or overnight. Meanwhile, make the crema.
    • Combine the Mexican crema, mayo, chipotles, lime juice and a pinch of salt in a small food processor or blender, and process until smooth. The crema should be fairly thin. Season to taste with additional kosher salt and lime juice. Flavors should be bright and bold.
    • When ready to fry, whisk together 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 cup flour and 2 teaspoons kosher salt in a large bowl. Add beer, and whisk until smooth. To test the consistency, dip a whisk into the batter, then pull up. If the batter runs off the whisk in a steady, thin stream, it’s perfect. If it doesn’t hold to the whisk, it’s too thin. Whisk in a little flour and test again. If the batter runs off the whisk in a slower, thicker stream, it’s too thick, whisk in a little beer and test again. Set batter aside for 15 minutes before using.
    • Meanwhile, fill a large cast-iron pot with enough oil to reach a depth of 2-inches, and preheat oil to 350°Working in batches, dip the fillets in the beer batter one at a time, making sure the fish is fully coated. Let excess batter drip off, then carefully lower the fish in the oil. Don’t overcrowd the batches as this will cause the temperature of the oil to drop quickly. Fry the fish until golden brown and cooked through (4 to 5 minutes). Transfer to a wire rack and immediately sprinkle with salt.
    • To make the fish tacos, place 1 or 2 pieces of fried fish in a warm tortilla with shredded cabbage. Squeeze a lime over the fish and cabbage, then drizzle with chipotle crema. Finish with a few cilantro leaves. The fish tacos are best enjoyed immediately!
    Keyword baja fish tacos, fish taco recipe, fried fish tacos
    Tried this recipe?Tag @brandiego on Instagram so I can check it out!
    Crispy Fish Tacos

    Looking for the best fish taco in San Diego??  Click this link.

    Now it’s your turn to share!  Do you have a favorite battered fish taco spot in San Diego?  If so, please share below.

    26
    Brandon and Federico
    Brandon

    I’m Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Did you make a recipe? Tag @brandiego on Instagram so I can see the how it went!

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    Categories: Dinner Tags: baking powder, cabbage, chipotle chiles, cilantro, corn tortillas, cornstarch, crema, flour, kosher salt, lime, mayonnaise, tilapia, vegetable oil

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. J.S. @ Sun Diego Eats says

      July 29, 2015 at 8:46 am

      I’m going to have to make a stop at Mariscos Alex, out go-to spot is Oscar’s – just because the one in Hillcrest is sooo close to where we live!

      I love chipotle crema (and the creamy green sauce at Oscar’s) but generally am not a sour cream fan so I never buy it. Is there an appreciable difference between Mexican sour cream and regular ol’ American sour cream for making this sauce recipe?

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 4, 2015 at 6:04 pm

        Yes!!! Definitely check it out. I do notice a slight different between crema and sour cream. You could certainly use sour cream here though. The chipotle and lime outshine any nuanced flavors in the cream 😛

        Reply
    2. Averie @ Averie Cooks says

      July 29, 2015 at 9:33 am

      I loved this post and read your reviews on Aida’s site. I run by Oscars every day (or night) and no matter the time of day or night, that place is ALWAYS packed. Always. So I figured they must be doing something right. I should venture over to City Heights for Mariscos. Sounds like it’s worth it! Your fish tacos look awesome! Beer batter can’t ever hurt anything 🙂

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 4, 2015 at 6:01 pm

        Thanks Averie :)! Oscars was super busy when we were there. It’s definitely a hot spot.

        Reply
    3. Leanne says

      July 29, 2015 at 9:44 am

      I love a good fish taco, and I haven’t been to any of those spots yet… this must be corrected immediately! The nice thing is, even with a mediocre taco shop fish taco, it’s still usually a pretty decent fish taco!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 4, 2015 at 6:00 pm

        I agree! I was definitely splitting hairs here when judging the best. Check this spots out for sure!

        Reply
    4. Brian @ A Thought For Food says

      July 29, 2015 at 4:50 pm

      I just can’t get enough fish tacos. Seriously, they never get old. These look wonderful… and if I’m ever in San Diego again, I’m definitely checking these spots out.

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 4, 2015 at 6:00 pm

        Me too! Let me know when you come to SD and I’ll join you 😉

        Reply
    5. James says

      July 31, 2015 at 1:25 pm

      Your fish tacos look awesome. You can never go wrong topping anything with a chipotle sauce.

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 4, 2015 at 5:53 pm

        Thanks James!!

        Reply
    6. Cyndi Jackson says

      August 3, 2015 at 12:51 pm

      These look amazing! YUM!!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 4, 2015 at 5:49 pm

        Thanks Cyndi!!

        Reply
    7. Laurie Wessely says

      August 4, 2015 at 6:37 am

      5 stars
      I’m really jealous of your San Diego location for good Mexican food. For some years now I’ve been in search of a recreation or a recipe for a really delicious chile relleno taco. I had one once at a little taco stand in (of all places) Hoboken, NJ, but the next time I went there, the place was gone. Do you have any insights? I’m currently living in the furthest western exurbs of Northern Virginia (through no choice of my own).

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 4, 2015 at 5:49 pm

        That is a great question that I don’t have a good answer for! Chow.com has a good recipe for chile rellenos. Perhaps you could start with that and pair with a spicy red salsa?

        Reply
    8. Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      August 4, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      Really enjoyed your reviews over at Salt & Wind. I’m just bummed that our family was just in San Diego a few months ago and we somehow missed all three!! We’ll be going back again though and look forward to sampling each one. Your recipe looks great and lovely photos!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 9, 2015 at 9:05 am

        Thanks Kimberly! You will just have to come back again 🙂 Did you have fish tacos while you were here?

        Reply
    9. Megan Keno {Country Cleaver} says

      August 6, 2015 at 1:53 pm

      I absolutely love fish tacos – these look so fantastic!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 9, 2015 at 9:05 am

        Me toooooo 🙂 Thanks Megan!

        Reply
    10. fabiola@notjustbaked says

      August 7, 2015 at 9:48 am

      LOVE the Mexican boyfriend approval disclaimer! These look amazing, and I am sure when I make them, they’ll get this Mexican’s seal of approval as well!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 9, 2015 at 9:04 am

        Hahah yes, it’s an important distinction. Thanks Fabiola!

        Reply
    11. Matt @ Plating Pixels says

      August 7, 2015 at 3:24 pm

      I have a cousin in San Diego so will check this out if I ever make it down there. Until I can try this, thanks!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 9, 2015 at 9:03 am

        Yes!! Come visit. Especially if you love Mexican food.

        Reply
    12. Cynthia/What A Girl Eats says

      August 7, 2015 at 10:15 pm

      That must have been a hard job, searching for the best fish taco! Your version looks great!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 9, 2015 at 9:03 am

        Haha yes, it was a tough job, but someone had to do it 😉 Thanks Cynthia!

        Reply
    13. cristina says

      August 8, 2015 at 3:23 pm

      We’re so fortunate to live in Sun Diego for the best fish tacos. Going to try your list of best places for one of our favorite dishes. The Brigantine’s Oyster Bar serves a really delicious fish taco too! Thanks for sharing and looking forward to trying these places. 😉

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 8, 2015 at 6:39 pm

        I’ll have to give the Brigantine a go. Thanks for the suggestion!

        Reply
    14. Steph @ Steph in Thyme says

      August 8, 2015 at 6:28 pm

      What an awesome mission and outing – how fun! Thanks for sharing and for sharing Salt & Wind, what a gorgeous site!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 8, 2015 at 6:39 pm

        It was really fun :). Thanks Steph!

        Reply
    15. Lorena says

      August 18, 2015 at 7:31 am

      Yummm!! I will definitely get some Tilapia next time I go to Costco! Haven’t had fish tacos in like forever! This looks like a fantastic recipe to have fish tacos again 🙂

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 19, 2015 at 3:31 pm

        Thanks Lorena. Yeah, definitely give this recipe a try 🙂

        Reply
    16. Amber | Caleigh's Kitchen says

      August 18, 2015 at 7:47 am

      Unfortunately, I’ve never been to San Diego though my sister lived there for a while. I so desperately want to try some fish tacos out there. Your recipe sounds perfect though, I am pinning for later and going to have to try it out!
      I’d love it if you would come and share on Try A Bite Tuesday Link Party that’s happening over at Caleigh’s Kitchen!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 19, 2015 at 3:12 pm

        Thanks Amber and come visit soon!

        Reply
    17. heather @french press says

      August 18, 2015 at 8:30 am

      hands down my favorite meal – and I would happily eat my way around SD in search of the best fish tacos

      Reply
    18. Laura @MotherWouldKnow says

      August 18, 2015 at 8:33 am

      I love your comment about the fish to condiments and add-ons ratio. That’s key to my version of a perfect taco. Can’t wait to try your fish.

      Reply
    19. Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic says

      August 18, 2015 at 9:44 am

      Flesh to batter ratios and blowout factor are definitely key in evaluating any good taco. That smoky chipotle crema sounds divine!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 19, 2015 at 3:11 pm

        Haha, so key!! Thanks Kirsten 🙂

        Reply
    20. Jennifer Stewart says

      August 18, 2015 at 6:05 pm

      Corn starch is the secret weapon! I love that for chicken wings but never thought to use it on my fish! Awesome recipe and I can’t wait to try all the fish joints listed when I finally get to go to San Diego!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 19, 2015 at 3:10 pm

        Agreed! Do you have a favorite chicken wing recipe that uses cornstarch? Thanks!

        Reply
    21. Julia says

      August 18, 2015 at 6:27 pm

      Fish tacos are the best. I love that they are crispy too, that makes me happy. I haven’t been to San Diego but I need to go it sounds like. 🙂

      Reply
    22. Lauren says

      August 18, 2015 at 7:14 pm

      I adore fish tacos! These look divine!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        August 19, 2015 at 3:09 pm

        Me too! Thanks Lauren 🙂

        Reply
    23. Jim Parrillo says

      December 30, 2020 at 4:47 pm

      I am so psyched to find this. Fish tacos are definitely one of my favorites and this recipe looks phenomenal! Thanks!!

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote

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    I'm Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Read More…


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