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    Fish 101

    4.4 (1.5k reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Fish 101 Photos

    Business Info

    FISH 101 ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Fish 101

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    Mahi mahi plate
    Rick M.

    Had lunch with a friend here today. Lots of construction in front which was bad because parking is always tough in this neighborhood! So that wasn't cool. Ordered the Maui Mahi plate with broccoli rabe and brussels. Food was really good and price surprised me by being fair. Lots of seating inside and outdoors as well. Cool spot. Service here is fantastic!

    Elisa N.

    FISH 101 @ ENCINITAS Parking is available on the street, right on the main strip of Encinitas. My friends and I visited on a Saturday evening, and the place was definitely packed. Once you walk in, it's pretty simple, you grab a menu, decide what you want, go to the cashier to order, and then get a number. You can choose any available table. We ended up getting a table and tried a variety of items: shrimp tacos, fish tacos, clam chowder, and a burrito. Most of the food was really fresh and flavorful. The clam chowder could have had a few more clams, but at $10, it was still solid. The burrito was massive filled with beans, rice, and everything else you could imagine, for just $14. The vibe of the place was lively, with lots of people coming in from the beach. The service was decent, and overall, the atmosphere captures the classic Encinitas energy. I would definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area.

    One dozen fresh oysters.
    Nancy C.

    We first visited Fish 101 a few years ago, and the fish tacos here were memorable enough that our family had to visit this place again during our most recent Legoland visit. Both parking and an empty table can be a bit tricky to find, but don't let that be a deterrent. The food here is worth it. Other recommended dishes are the fresh oysters, the filling shrimp burrito, and the poke bowl. Remember to arrive early (I.e. before 5pm on a Saturday).

    Fish and chips
    Diana V.

    The fish and chips was pretty good, both crispy, definitely not soggy. My mom got mahi mahi tacos and said they were just ok. The parking situation here is abysmal, especially now with the construction. I'd plan to Uber next time for sure.

    Fish & chips (great flavor)
    Sal P.

    Fish 101 This place is a hole in the wall in Carlsbad . We found it by chance. I'm sure this is a local favorite. We had the Fish & chips & 3 grilled shrimp tacos with unsweetened tea. The fish ( Alaskan Cod ) & chips were fried to a nice crispy crunch and very flavorful. The 3 grilled shrimp tacos were packed with a punch with fresh ingredients having green salsa with the tacos. Our lunch was delicious!!! I wish I would have asked for names of the staff there, they were superb!! 10 out of 10!! I bought me a Fish 101 green shirt.

    baja fish & brown rice
    Rika L.

    Super friendly people & affordable eats on the beach! only thing I dont like is how the lettuce and cheese just look so carelessly on and extra.. But not mad at it. Just one taco is filling as well! The interior of establishment was a chill cozy vibe. Will def be back

    Fish taco
    Ace D.

    Fish 101 in Encinitas is a fantastic spot for fresh, flavorful seafood in a casual, beach-town setting. The fish and chips are crispy and perfectly cooked, and the seafood tacos are packed with fresh ingredients and bold flavors. The staff is friendly and attentive, making the experience effortless and enjoyable. The laid-back atmosphere makes it a great place for a quick lunch, casual dinner, or a stop after a day at the beach. If you're craving quality seafood in Encinitas, Fish 101 is a must-visit.

    Poke starter & chips and salsa
    Nevin A.

    I am glad we stopped at 101 Fish. It was such an awesome place in Encinitas. The restaurant had both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff were very friendly. They have good team dynamics which created cozy and relaxing vibe. Although there was a long line to order the food, we got many of our orders right away, once we were seated. We got many delicious dishes, -White clam chowder bowl 5/5 -Small chips and salsa 5/5 - Poke (starter) 5/5 -Side of coleslaw - Grilled shrimp plate with brown rice and coleslaw 5/5 - Grilled shrimp tacos 5/5 - Grilled mahi plate with white rice and seaweed salad 5/5 All the dishes were fresh, flavorful and the amount was very generous. The service was top notch. I will be back for more indeed.

    Baja fried fish burrito and Baja shrimp burrito and side of fries with best condiments!!!
    Bella D.

    Fish 101 became a regular stop when my parents lived here, but after they moved we haven't had a chance to come back. We planned a whole day trip around being able to come eat at Fish 101! It's the best fish/shrimp burritos... EVER! No place compares to the fresh, delicious meal, every time. Always a great place to eat, kind servers and feel relaxed and just enjoy. One of only a handful of places that we leave feeling satisfied every single time!

    Decor
    Helen H.

    This is such a warm and cozy dining spot! I loved every bite of what I ordered. The clam chowder was delicious and savory. The mahi tacos were so fresh and well portioned that every bite had all the ingredients listed. Prices are also reasonable for a decent meal. The people that work here are so gracious and polite, making the experience very positive. They have indoor and outdoor self-seating and ordering takes place at the counter. Parking can be challenging as it is located on a busy street and one must drive around and park in a residential area.

    Iced Lemonade
    Jennifer V.

    Absolutely loved my experience here! From the moment I walked in, this place felt amazing. The service was truly great - everyone was polite and respectful, and made the whole visit enjoyable. But the real highlight was the food. Honestly, it was better than expected! Every dish was delicious and surprising in the best way. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area! My only gripe is parking. We were lucky to snag a parking spot nearby. Check it out--worth every bite!!!!

    Alisha O.

    I was in the area and craving some fish tacos so I gave this place a shot! I liked that they came with 3 tacos, the guac had great taste and the green salsa had a good kick to it! I def recommend the Brussels! I kept seeing all of the reviews and they were really good ! The restaurant was nice. The service was fast.

    Ahi poke...yum!
    Rhondi S.

    Wow, service is hit or miss. This time was a miss... I had to wait 20" just for my clam chowder, hubs got his mahi mahi plate before me.

    Grilled shrimp tacos

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    1 month ago

    The food is ok the price is good everything is ok is not bad the service is ok the even clean

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    2 months ago

    Good fresh fish, good value. Lots of seating. Nice staff. I like that they offer a full bar

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    2 months ago

    Delicious Brussels sprouts! Yummy food. Seating in the back was comfortable and away from traffic. Friendly staff.

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    5 months ago

    One of the best places around! Fresh and tasty food. Super friendly people. Same quality every time.

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    Page 1 of 39

    Ask the Community - Fish 101

    They used to have amazing fresh oysters, daily sashimi specials, and decadent soft serve. Then during covid this all went away. Anyone know if this stuff has come back to fish 101 post covid?

    Are they doing delivery during the Covid-19 situation?

    Yes, to a smaller, limited area though

    Which type of tacos are the tastiest?

    They have a FISH of the day & it varies but their grilled fish tacos are the best. I think I had Swordfish tacos a while back & they were so good!

    Is there a good view from the patio? Thanks!

    The back patio is fenced in, but it's a very cute environment. I believe there are some chairs and tables in the front of the restaurant, but those are facing the street.

    Is this like a fast food restaurant or a real restaurant with a server that waits on you? Do they have a bar...or is it like soda machines that you get up and fill yourself?! Are there baskets and paper plates or real plates?

    Real restaurant Not really waiters. You order at the counter and sit and the bring you your food.… Read more

    Are Dogs allowed?

    Dogs are allowed in the front patio. We've taken our dog there several times but there is limited seating and it is somewhat cramped. Not sure about the back patio.

    View All 9 Questions

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    If you haven't tried the spicy surf and turf burrito here, you're missing out. It's the perfect…read morebalance of heat and flavor. Since the location is in a small plaza, parking is definitely a challenge when it's busy. I highly recommend placing a mobile/phone order ahead of time so you can just grab and go. Highly recommend!

    I decided to stop by Los Tacos in Encinitas after reading all the great reviews about this specific…read morelocation! The parking lot has plentiful parking but was completely full as I was leaving around 12pm. There were tons of order pick-up spots and 20-minute max parking spots that help with the flow. The restaurant was impeccably clean with a growing line of lunch-goers. The workers were very efficient and the line moved quickly. I also noticed the apparent owner/manager talking to regulars and greeting customers as they walked in, which I really liked to see! I was served my order to-go in less than 10 minutes and ended up unexpectedly using the other 10 minutes after taking my first bite--after that it was hard to stop. The burrito was the perfect size (not too large and not too small). My original breakfast burrito was wrapped in a fresh hand-made tortilla filled with fluffy eggs, the perfect amount of bacon, cheese, soft fresh potatoes, topped with the avocado salsa verde which went perfectly with everything. I even ended up sipping the salsa (it was that good) between bites of the burrito. I was also blown away by the clean and fully stocked salsa bar. So many options (including non-spicy ones for those with gastric limitations too!) and they even offered radishes, carrots, and pickled onions individually wrapped with care. Everything tasted fresh and home-made. After 7 years being away from San Diego, Los Tacos delivered exactly what I had been missing. This location really blew me away and I will definitely be back to see what else it has to offer.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Original Breakfast Burrito with Avocado Salsa
    Original Breakfast Burrito with Avocado Salsa
    3 taco combo (mixed between garlic shrimp, baja style fish and carne asada)

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    Pavlos Tacos

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    I rarely write reviews, but this meal was bad enough that I felt I had to share my experience…read more The Surf & Turf Burrito was confusing from the start. It contained crinkle-cut, Ore-Ida-style fries, a few decent shrimp, and dry carne asada. The pico de gallo had an overpowering flavor and a soggy texture. The burrito itself was large, and the toasted tortilla was one of the few positives. The fish tacos were equally disappointing. The tortillas were cold and rubbery, while the fish was this overly large, rectangular, store-bought frozen fillet rather than something freshly prepared. The rolled taco combo was arguably the worst item. They were extremely dry and topped with what tasted like processed, store-bought melted cheese. The avocado mash (not guac) was actually pretty good, which was one of the only highlights of the meal. The beans tasted like store bought, canned beans and the rice was okay. Most importantly for any taco shop, the red salsa was simply awful. The green salsa was decent, but the red salsa was honestly the worst I've ever tasted. The flavor reminded me of Ragu marinara sauce mixed with a dash of hot sauce...I kid you not! I don't enjoy leaving negative reviews, but I hope ownership takes this feedback seriously and makes some changes. There is potential here, but the food quality and ingredient choices need significant improvement.

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    Stopped here to get a birria quesadilla because it's a favorite. I didn't get to eat any of it…read morebecause my best friend and cousins devoured it. They said it was the best birria quesadilla they've ever had. It's in an unassuming gas station off in Leucadia right off the freeway and totally worth the stop. I love birria anything and it looked and smelled delicious even though I wasn't the one eating it. I can't wait to get it again.

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    Front counter/register
    Front counter/register
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    Encinitas Fish Shop

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    * catching up on old backlogged drafts so this review may be a bit out of date…read more Dropped by for lunch and got some oysters, coconut shrimp, and a grilled fish taco. All the food was fresh and delicious! There was quite a long line out the door but it moved relatively fast and there was plenty of seating both indoor and outdoor. You order at the counter before sitting down so it was a bit stressful going as a solo diner that wanted to eat there as it was super packed with lots of groups and families so people were grabbing seats while one member of their group was in line ordering. But I was able to grab a seat facing out the sidewalk to enjoy my lunch!

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    Fish 101 - seafood - Updated June 2026

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