Serious Eats
Which Taco Chain Makes the Best Fish Tacos?
[Photographs: Farley Elliott]
Summer is a beautiful thing, isn't it? Last week, we explored the Los Angeles options for fresh, delicious fish tacos from the best local spots in and around the city. This week, with the sun still shining and summer in full swing, we're hitting up the bigger chains.
If you don't happen to live near the salty Pacific, where can you go to find a serviceable fish taco in your area? Well, that depends on what sort of Mexican-inspired chains exist around you. If it's nothing but Taco Bells and El Pollo Locos, you might be in trouble. But if you've got a Baja Fresh—or better yet, a Rubio's—you might be in for a pleasant surprise.
For a look at the normal criteria for grading fish tacos, check out this post. However, since most of these places don't specialize in the seafood creations we're concerned about (not to mention their menu limitations as chains), it's a bit unfair to grade them accordingly.
Still, tortillas and toppings and preparation all matters, even if you're eating fish tacos from a truck stop in Utah.
The Chains We Tried
Recommended
Rubio's Sesame Soy Fish Taco
Rubio's Fish Taco Especial
Wouldn't Kick This Taco Out of Bed
Baja Fresh Battered Fish Taco
Wahoo's Grilled Fish Taco
Not Recommended
Baja Fresh Grilled Fish Taco
Wahoo's Cajun Fish Taco
Del Taco Fish Taco
How about you—ever had a decent fish taco from a chain?
About the author: Farley Elliott is a writer and comedian living in Los Angeles. He blogs about burgers at Beef and Bun and covers the LA comedy scene for LAist.com.
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