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Best Fish Tacos In Orange County

fish tacos 610
(credit: shutterstock)

Being so close to the Pacific Ocean, it's not surprising that fish tacos are such a popular item in Orange County. After all, there is something to be said for fresh fish, and something even more about enjoying it so close to the source. Whether you like your fish tacos grilled or fried, try these places for some of the best you'll find in our fair county.

sol cocina
(credit: Nika I./Yelp)

SOL Cocina
251 Pacific Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 675-9800
www.solcocina.com

SOL has a lot of things going for it — not the least of which is its location right on the water in Newport Beach. It also has some amazing fish tacos. The fish is roasted with lemon and garlic, then topped with all sorts of good things like salsa gobernador, cheese, and pico de gallo. You definitely don't get cheated on the amount or the flavor of the fish in the tacos. In fact, you'll be amazed at just how much goodness is packed into one tortilla here.

fly n fish
(credit: Danielle S./Yelp)

Fly 'N' Fish
2304 W. Oceanfront
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 673-8400
www.flynfishoysterbar.com

Fly 'n' Fish is another restaurant located right on the water in Newport, and if anything can make fish tacos even better, it's a view of the ocean while you eat them. The fish tacos here are made with Alaskan cod and topped with cabbage, pico de gallo and queso fresco. The tacos are available both fried and blackened, and both varieties are delicious. Parking can be a little tricky, especially in the summer, but the tacos are definitely worth the effort.

Mariscos Mocorito grilled fish and marlin tacos
(credit: Mariscos Mocorito)

Mariscos Mocorito
320 E. Katella Ave.
Orange, CA 92867
(714) 771-0050
mariscosmocorito.com

It's easy to drive right by this little restaurant and not even realize it. However, when you find it, you'll be glad you did. Like a lot of places, this one has fried fish tacos. However, the standout at Mariscos Mocorito is the grilled Marlin taco. The flavor is a little stronger than the usual whitefish taco and is served in a crispy shell and topped with lettuce, onion and tomato. When you try this, you might just have a new favorite fish taco.

Related: Best burritos In Orange County

Slapfish fried fish taco
(credit: Slapfish)

Slapfish
2727 Newport Blvd., Suite 302
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 723-0034
www.slapfishrestaurant.com

If you're looking for a casual place where you can get great fish tacos, Newport Beach's Slapfish is right up your alley. Whether you order the grilled or the fried fish tacos, your first thought might be to wonder how they got all of that onto one tortilla. For example, the fried fish taco has an entire filet on the tortilla with cabbage, avocado puree and pickled onions. Both varieties are delicious and pretty reasonably priced — especially considering so much is packed onto one tortilla.

Blackened swordfish taco from Taco Loco
(credit: Taco Loco)

Taco Loco
640 S. Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 497-1635
www.facebook.com/Taco-Loco

You could walk right past Laguna Beach's Taco Loco if you weren't looking for it, but once you've ducked into this little place, you'll be glad you did. You'll find blackened sea bass and swordfish tacos here, and you're not likely to forget them anytime soon. The spices used in blackening the fish add a nice flavor, then you can have your taco topped with avocado and your choice of mild, medium or spicy sauce. This place also has a good selection of bottled beers to enjoy with your tacos.

Related: Best Taco Tuesday Specials In Orange County

Gary Schwind is a freelance writer covering all things Orange County. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
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