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    El Norteño

    3.6 (12 reviews)
    InexpensiveSeafood

    El Norteño Photos

    EL NORTEÑO ATMOSPHERE

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    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - El Norteño

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    Shrimp Taco
    Ashley C.

    El Norteño was our very first food stop in Ensenada. It's one of many open air food stalls in the Mercado Negro area. There are plenty of tables along the back side, each filled with several different containers of salsas. The chipotle and crema fresca were my favorite, on top of my shrimp taco. It's packed with shrimp and the tortilla was nice and warm. Not to mention our tacos were ready in minutes! We washed it down with their fresh lemonade, which was just perfectly sour and sweet.

    12 pesos ! so good !
    Maritza A.

    I recommend this place ! with so many fish taco stands it's hard to pick , I saw this had great reviews so I took a chance. This place is amazingly good ! I got a fish taco, and shrimp one . both were a little over 2 dollars . the way that they cook the fish and tortillas are just made perfectly . their salsa is in cute glass cups & you can put as little or as much as you would like. if you make it down here make your way to this stand !

    Marissa S.

    Shrimp and fish tacos anyone? This has become our go-to place each time we visit Ensenada. Located next to the fish market by the boardwalk, it's guaranteed you're only getting the freshest seafood fare there is. Imagine 14 tacos and a beer for a total of $18. That's dirt cheap! And you better believe it beats any taco you could find in Mexican restaurants in the US. Served very simply, it's fish and shrimp covered in beer batter, fried then wrapped in a tortilla. They leave it up to you to go crazy with all the toppings and condiments they have on each table. Other offerings are available but we come here mainly for the tacos. Shrimp aka camaron for me please! Trust me, you can't go wrong with that. Queso camaron is another thing to try with shrimp cooked in garlic, no batter, and then paired with Mexican cheese. It's also delisyoso. The fish is a popular item in our group and I can't blame them. Moist and flaky inside with a nice batter, ooh la la! 5 shrimp and 2 fish tacos is my normal order and I'm ready to explode by then. Stick with 4 if you have a normal appetite but don't fret, if you feel like you need more, you can add on later as it comes out fast. Kudos to the staff for being so quick and efficient. We're never less than 12 people in our party when we come and they seem to always serve us with ease, even having multiple checks at that. They speak english and accept USD. El Norteño is muy bueno!

    Marlin .. Shrimp .. Fish + Corona :: absolutely amazing and no sauce or chile needed!! $6.00 total
    Plan B.

    Review 53 Ask anyone in Ensenada about Baja Tacos and you'll be sent to El Norteño!! Getting here is'nt difficult. Find the movie theater and you're 100 yards away. The service here is very fast and accurate, the fish is extremely fresh!!! Now how much does it cost? 1-Corona 1-Jamaica 1-Shrimp taco 1-Fish taco 1-Marlin taco $6.00 !!!!! Need I write more? Get yourself here and eat till you can't eats no more :D Plan B

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    Muelle 3 - Beer & gin

    Muelle 3

    (125 reviews)

    $$

    Excelent food and great ambiance! You MUST make a…read morereservation or risk not making it. Service is excellent too. Wine selection is limited but very good

    While walking on the Malecon, we checked if Muelle3 has room for 4 hungry guests and fortunately,…read moreonly one table was occupied. The last time my friends attempted to eat here, the restaurant was full and it will take at least a 30 minute wait to get seated. Today, the 21st of November was our lucky day as we were craving the freshest ceviche Ensenada has to offer and experiencce the five star rating Muelle 3 was known for. Our party of 4 chose to sit outside to eat lunch on this cool, cloudy Friday afternoon and be exposed to the sights and sounds of this busy commercial and fishing port. Within minutes of getting settled, our free appetizer - Tortilla Espanola and a plate full of lemon & lime slices with an oyster shell-full of sea salt and chili powder occupied the center of our table. Then came the Ceviche de la casa. A winner in my book of ceviches! Plus a coaster-sized, fresh off the pan tortilla chips gave it a unique serving style. We had to order another bowl of tortillas because eating ceviche without it just won't be the same. The Calamar frito were perefectly breaded, without excess flour and grease in every bite. Another winner! Last but not the least is the Pasta de Mar with the clams of different sizes and pre-cut scallops in the their shell. Muy Delicioso! More hungry patrons started arriving and we still got prompt service. I will make it a point to grab a satisfying seafood dish or two here the next time I visit Ensenada whether by car or by cruise ship.

    La Cocedora de Langosta - Oyster agua chile

    La Cocedora de Langosta

    (92 reviews)

    $$

    Best seafood restaurant in Ensenada. Call the lobster play it was the best thing I've ever had. Way…read morebetter than American any other place I've had in Mexico. The service was top-notch. The restaurant was clean 10 out of 10 stars would recommend.

    Ensenada. The tide dragged our vessel toward the coast as if compelled by ancient…read morepact--barnacle-bound and whisper-wrapped. My fellowship, a cluster of mere mortals with taste far keener than foresight, insisted we seek a place foretold in gustatory prophecy: La Cocedora de Langosta. I assented, though the sea had begun to speak again. A cruel trick of salt and memory. We arrived. The lobster was not served--it presented itself. Shell split like prophecy fulfilled, meat steaming with tales older than Atlantis. The ceviche? Lime and fire in perfect alchemy. It hissed in my mouth like the last words of a betrayed siren. A whole fish, fried until its soul ascended, left bones so clean they could be used in ritual. Angels wept; I salted accordingly. The risotto arrived next, not on a plate but in a chalice. Each bite stirred marrow and memory, comfort and command. My sea legs stood straighter. My resolve thickened. Libations flowed--freely, fervently, faultlessly. The chalice refilled itself (or perhaps the staff were trained in illusion and replenishment). Laughter, clinking glass, and something close to joy dared to rise. Staff were keen-eyed adepts, operating with the grace of trained familiars. The atmosphere carried hints of volcanic enchantment and citrus optimism. Barry the Brave Muffin Baker--my misguided nemesis-ally--might have found peace here. Or at least, a decent aioli. Verdict: A rare convergence of flesh, flavor, and fate. Five stars scorched upon the firmament by my hand. I may never return. But that's only because the enchantment forbade it.

    Mercado Negro de Mariscos

    Mercado Negro de Mariscos

    (13 reviews)

    12/16/2025 - Stop by the Mercado Negro de Mariscos (Black Market for Seafood) in Encinada, Mexico…read moreand decided to go inside to take a look. Surprisely, each giant calm costs only $3, plus a $3 cooking fee. I selected a table where I can get a lof of direct sun on my back, which in turn can boost my vitamin D3 level, and asked for a sashimi dish.

    Saturday September 7, 2024 Royal Caribbean Navigator of the…read moreSeas 85℉ / 55% Humidity Also known as Mercado de Mariscos, the Black Market is one of the largest seafood markets in Ensenada. The original location was where the modern fish taco was born supposedly. It all started when Mesoamericans nixtamalized maize, which became flatbreads. Eventually it led to corn tortillas, which were used to hold various fillings like seafood. The Spanish Colonial period introduced new ingredients and cooking techniques. Japanese fishermen in Baja California during the early 20th century helped popularize tempura-style frying. Seafood vendors brought batter fish to the mercado in the 50s/60s, which became a hit. Then a San Diego State University student opened the first Rubio's a couple decades later, and now fish tacos are enjoyed by everyone today. I didn't spend much time here because I had to make it back onto the cruise ship. But as someone who appreciates food and history, it was nice to walk around. The original mercado shuttered in 1967 and the vendors relocated to the waterfront, and eventually moved into the building you see now. Lots of stalls selling all different types of seafood. There's also restaurants nearby where you can order ceviche, cocteles, oysters, and other regional specialties. Mexico 2024 collection: https://www.yelp.com/collection/kYAzNGL6833M5SmSYnRRVA/Mexico-2024

    La Cevichería Oyster Bar

    La Cevichería Oyster Bar

    (97 reviews)

    Our FAVORITE place when in Ensenada is La Cevicheria. We have been visiting for a couple of years…read morenow and its still a standout in service and menu items. Never too busy even in the afternoon - they have plenty of tables outside and inside. We walk from the cruise ship terminal and its only about 15 minutes. No need to take the $4 per person shuttle if you are able to walk. They first seat you and bring out 4 different salsas/dips with tostadas that are so light and salty and crispy. The servers are awesome, they are quick and always come around to check on us. We speak some Spanish, but they are happy to speak English as needed! Unfortunateley there is only 1 bathroom, that's the only drawback. We normally get the regular oysters, the baked oysters, fish tacos and ceviche. Always delicious and such a great price! A dozen oysters is only $12. And they are large, not the mini versions in Cali. Unheard of in the states, so we ONLY get oysters in Mexico haha. This time we tried the Keto Taco - OMG so good, and now a new favorite. It's large and made of toasty cheese with fish and veggies inside. This time we got the shrimp ceviche and the large chunks of fresh shrimp are so darn good. Put some mayonesa on the tostada and then some ceviche, then some hot sauce and WOW! The limes they give are so juicy and ripe. We love their sangria, large portions and various flavors. Till next time!

    While down here from the booze cruise, our group stopped by this place for some fish tacos and boy…read morethey lived up to our expectations! They have plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. We got 2 types of ceviche per our server's recommendations, both were fire. I got 3 types of tacos, 2 were amazing but the 3rd one with octopus wasn't good, a little too chewy for my liking and there wasn't a lot of flavor. But the other two tacos were amazing, can't replicate anything like that back home. Overall great place, will come back down here any time I'm in Ensenada

    El Güero Mariscos

    El Güero Mariscos

    (47 reviews)

    $

    Omg I love Mariscos and this spot did not disappoint. It's a small vendor posted outside on the…read morestreet with a bunch of guys, basically in an assembly line, slanging seafood. The long lines meant - it was so good and worth the wait. Honestly, it wasn't too long. My friend and I ordered 1 tostada each. She got the aguachiles and I the Guera. Great portions packed with flavor. I went back for oysters, which they shuck right in front of you. There were so many chile bottles to choose from. They also had some dark "crack" sauce that I chose to put on. I'm no sabo so I no sabo what the salsa was but it was delicious. Spicy, tangy, umami. Muyyyy ricooooo

    During our first cruise stop in Ensenada while walking back from our lunch stop back to the ship,…read morewe noticed the large crowds gathered around El Guero Mariscos. Thus we made a point to stop by for food during our second cruise stop in Ensenada, 4 days later. We discovered the large crowds were not in line waiting, but were instead enjoying their ceviche and other cold seafood while standing up. It made for a festive atmosphere, definitely ramping up the enjoyment of really great tasting seafood. The food stall is located facing the main road of Ensenada (walking distance from the cruise port) and is separated into two parts: the front serving seafood tostadas and the back serving cocktails and aquachiles. Each had different lines, with a common guy accepting payment after delivery. They have been doing this for a while (1981?) and things are efficient. I wanted one thing, which was the mixed cocktail with all the seafood available (campechano, a word I've come to love since moving to the LA area). They have 4 sizes from chico ($105) to jumbo ($360). The seafood mix is diced together ahead of time to save on time, and are mostly diced pretty fine. The mix is prepared fresh though, and was ready in about a minute. It was excellent, refreshing and just the right amount for me. I had wanted to try the seafood cocktail again from La Guerrerense (another nearby famous seafood stand), so that was our first stop during our second visit to Ensenada in 5 days. We then visited other sites in the area, saving El Guero for the end before we headed back to the ship. As expected the cocktail from Guerrerense was very good, but this version from El Guero was even better....better selection of seafood, and more finely mixed to give a better representation of the different textures of the freshness. That would make it the best seafood cocktail I've ever enjoyed.

    Mariscos Bahia de Ensenada - Lobster

    Mariscos Bahia de Ensenada

    (96 reviews)

    $$

    Visited during port 2 of our Carnival cruise. We were walking around exploring the town and decided…read moreto stop in when we got hungry. The restaurant feels more upscale than expected, but still clearly a place locals frequent, which is usually a good sign. It specializes in seafood. If you don't speak Spanish, they do provide an English menu, though prices are listed in pesos. We ordered 6 tacos total, 4 fish and 2 shrimp, along with 2 cokes and 2 bottled waters. They also brought complimentary chips, salsas, lime, and cabbage, plus ketchup and mayo on the side (we didn't end up using those). The tacos were simple but very well done. The fish and shrimp were fried fresh, light and crispy without being greasy. The shrimp was my favorite. The pico de gallo was fresh and flavorful, and the lime and cabbage added a good balance and crunch. I honestly wish I would've ordered their whole fried fish because it looked incredible, but there's no way two people could've finished it in one sitting. The restaurant itself was clean, and the staff were extremely attentive. The service felt high-class in the sense that they were very respectful and treated the experience with care, almost like a fine dining environment, while still being approachable. Total came out to about $40 USD with a 20% tip ($34 before tip), which is excellent value for the quality and portion. Overall, this is a solid seafood spot in Ensenada. Simple food done right, elevated by great service and a clean, welcoming environment.

    Our waiter, Paco, opened the door and walked us to our table. He gave us plenty time to look at the…read moremenu and answered our questions. He was super patient knowing Spanish was not our forte. The appetizers were homemade tortilla chips and salsa. We ended up ordering two dozen oysters and and a seafood tower. I ordered an octopus taco, grilled to a tender texture and smokey flavor. The portions were very hefty and satisfying. The inside of the restaurant is very spacious and confortable. When we arrived, the restaurant was just getting busy probably due to Independence Day. Despite the busyness, all the staff were extremely attentive and friendly. Muchísimas gracias!

    El Norteño - seafood - Updated May 2026

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