Dinner
Rubio’s Schmubio’s — Señor Fish is where it’s at
Señor Fish
618 Mission Street, South Pasadena 91030
Locations in Eagle Rock (Señor Fresh), Alhambra, and Downtown
(626) 403-0145
Under $10 per person
Daily 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Bottom Line: If you’re jones’n for fish tacos, there is no other choice.
“Always fresh, never fishy,� is a mantra more commonly associated with your favorite sushi joint than your corner taco hut, but Señor Fish may very well be bucking that trend. Sharing an unassuming strip mall with a Laundromat and House of Coffee (now the soon-to-be Señor Fish annex), this bare-bones, no-nonsense Mexican serves up what some consider to be the best fish tacos in Los Angeles.
Little can be said about the interior, except, perhaps, that it does not look like much has changed since it opened over 10 years ago: Worn, yellowed press review cutouts pepper the walls. A sterile, washed-out orange hue of formica gives the room some color, while a lonely soda machine sits perched atop a frail, crooked, wrought-iron buffet. It appears, thankfully, that the kitchen is in better shape.
A plastic or paper plate appears at your table less than five minutes after you order. The fish tacos are hot, crispy and moist, served with a well-balanced complement of lettuce, tomato, spicy Baja salsa, and sour cream – though more toppings are available at their fixins bar – and the rice is nice and fluffy. Order their famous Callo de Hacha (scallop burrito), but be wary of your eyes being wider than your stomach; it’s a tasty gigantic wrap easily large enough for two meals, though the combination of perfectly crispy, deep-fried scallops, lettuce, tomatoes, and mexican rice may be good enough to cloud your sense of delayed gratification.
What is most impressive, however, is that nearly every dish costs less than $10 – when was the last time you could eat shrimp and scallops without breaking the bank? Sure the service is non-existent and the digs could be updated a bit, but this means that you’re really only paying for the food, and good food, at that. No wonder take-out is a popular option. This is a perfect “cheap eats� destination for the adamant foodie, because the food is the star and you’re just there to eat up.
sneakypeteiii is a doctoral student in Chemistry at Caltech. He has been eating since he was a child, and reckons himself quite good at it. (see more of his posts).
Discussion
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nice! I think I may check out the Alhambra one (closest to me anyways) — the one in Little Tokyo looks absolutely ghetto with all the graffiti!
Thanks for the heads-up.
Hmm…. if you also had Wahoo’s before (Pasadena, Huntington Beach or West LA) - how does that fish taco compare?
In Pasadena, Wahoo’s rice is comparable, I would say, though Señor Fish’s seafood is simply in another class (at least in my experience). Hope you enjoy it!
If you guy’s think Senor Fish and Wahoo’s are good, you guys would die for Tacos Baja Ensenada in East Los. The best thing you could get around here without actually going to Baja.
Did they change the ownership of the South Pasadena store? I recently went there for the first time in nearly three years and found their fish taco not at all like I remembered. I much prefer Wahoo’s.
3 words…TACOS. BAJA. ENSENADA.
I guess I have to check out Tacos Baja Ensenada, then. The king of fish tacos may yet be crowned.
South Pasadena Resident, I’m sorry to hear that Señor Fish is not what you remember — maybe it was a fluke? I have always found Wahoo’s fish tacos a bit on the fishy side, but that’s just me.
Wait, did the Eagle Rock one become Señor “Fresh”? When did that happen? That one has the best atmosphere since you can sit on the patio.
The Eagle Rock location was called Senior Fresh for a year or so, then went back to being Senior Fish. Apparantly there was some internal feuding within the family. But it’s been Senior Fish (again) for several years.
I’ve eaten many fish tacos while in Ensenada fish market stands. Some good and some are great. Senor Fish is very average. Best fish tacos in Los Angeles area is definitely Taco Nazo. Original location is on Valley Blvd. off East of the 605. Check it out. It’s well worth the drive.
I’m an Eagle Rock local and although I like Senor Fish, I’ve recently discovered Taco Spot on Colorado Blvd (right by Coffee Table). I have to say that Taco Spot is definitely the best, if you’re looking for great taste and a healthy menu… I’ve been there several times now and highly recommend it to the locals..