Mexican Food Chronicles - Fish Tacos

Fish tacos are one of the most popular and sought-after Mexican foods worldwide. Crispy, buttery fried fish topped with the best flavors of Mexico - it’s no wonder they’re so popular at Mazatlan. Our traditional fish tacos are light and always full of fresh veggies, making them a summer favorite.

The first fish tacos originated with the indigenous people of coastal Mexico. For thousands of years they wrapped fresh fish in stone-ground corn tortillas. The practice of deep frying fish was most likely introduced to native Mexicans by Japanese fishermen when they began visiting Mexico on fishing and trading expeditions. The combination of fried fish with tortillas and other traditional Mexican flavors like pico de gallo led to the creation of the first fish tacos.

Fish tacos began to gain popularity in Mexico and California in the 1950’s and 60’s “in the Baja city of either Ensenada or San Felipe; it's an ongoing debate, with both cities claiming to be the ‘home’ of the fish taco. From their tiny stands, street vendors in these cities produced simple, inexpensive fare fast.” (NPR.org)

It wasn’t until the 1980’s, however that the popular street food began to spread throughout the U.S. Entrepreneur Ralph Rubio fell in love with fish tacos from local taco stands in Baja California. He was so inspired by this street food that he opened his own restaurant, Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill. Of course, fish tacos were a highlight on his menu. His restaurant chain became popular throughout the Southwest, consequently, so did fish tacos. Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill eventually expanded nationwide, and there are now more than 160 locations throughout the U.S.

Because of their mild flavor, fish tacos are incredibly versatile. Many versions of this popular dish include fresh ingredients like guacamole, pico de gallo, cole slaw and tropical fruits like mango and papaya.

At Mazatlan, we make our fish tacos with a traditional, crowd-pleasing recipe. Our classic fish tacos are filled with breaded, deep-fried cod on flour or corn tortillas, then topped with pico de gallo, garnished with cabbage and chipotle sauce, and served with rice and beans. Enjoy them with an ice cold beer or a glass of refreshing Horchata. 

Heat wave keeping you out of the kitchen? Beat the heat in our air-conditioned dining room or grab a table on our outdoor patio at our restaurant in Everett, WA and try our delicious fish taco today!