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Oscars Mexican Seafood

4.4 (3.7k reviews)
ModerateMexican, Seafood
Updated over 3 months ago

Oscars Mexican Seafood Photos

OSCARS MEXICAN SEAFOOD ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Oscars Mexican Seafood

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Variety of tacos
Zachary S.

I came with family for a late afternoon lunch and it was mildly busy and lively. Tons of options to order, including vegetarian and today's specials. Outside has few seats, a nice ocean mural on the wall, perfect atmosphere. We first got our appetizer chips and guacamole. Chips are crunchy, thick, a bit dark. Guac is fresh, easy to scoop, nice texture. My horchata was cold and refreshing, perfect hint of cinnamon. Main food arrived after 15 minutes or so. Grilled Smoked Fish Taco: I was given lots of fresh fish, grilled nicely, avocado added texture, cilantro a nice touch. Battered Shrimp Taco: Big pieces of fresh shrimp, battered nicely, crispy and crunchy, generous toppings include coleslaw, tomatoes, all added a nice crunch. This taco place goes high on my list, and I definitely recommend to anyone.

Benjamin C.

Oscars Mexican Seafood After spending the day at the San Diego Zoo, I was craving some seafood. I came here upon a friend's recommendation. I got the Bluefin tuna (in a cup with avocado and 2 tostadas): Fresh, flavorful, and a perfect starter! The creamy avocado paired beautifully with the tuna, the battered fish taco (cabbage, onion, tomato, cilantro): one of the best fish tacos I've ever had, everything was perfectly ratioed and the fish was sooo good. And lastly, the grilled octopus taco (cabbage, onion, tomato, cilantro, avocado, cheese): My favorite of the three! It was my first time trying octopus in a taco, and it blew me away. The octopus was tender, smoky, and perfectly balanced with the creamy avocado and fresh toppings. Found another banger here in San Diego!

Pulpo Taco, Surf & Turf Taco, Battered Fish Taco
Alice Y.

Came to Oscar's around 7pm on a Saturday night and was surprised to see that there was no line! We put in a pickup order online and the order was ready for us with everything properly included. I got the pulpo taco, surf & turf taco, and battered fish taco. I regret ordering 3 because I was full after 2 but they were all good. My favorite was the pulpo taco. The meat in the surf & turf was a little tougher than I expected. I barely ate the battered fish taco since I was full but there was a little smokiness to it. One thing to know is that it's street parking only and this location has limited outdoor bar seating, so it's a good stop for a quick bite vs. a sit down restaurant.

Battered Fish Taco
Ryoung K.

There was quite a long line when we went around 12 pm. Parking can be found nearby, but a little difficult to find. You have to sort of wait a while to find seating outside. I saw quite a few people grab the food and talk about eating them at the beach. We decided to wait, sit down on the side and eat. We got several battered fish and the surf & turf tacos, but if you don't eat too much, one of each should be more than enough. The tacos were amazing. We had leftovers and it was still good later in the day. We also got the shrimp ceviche - very freshly served in a cup with a couple tostadas in a tin foil. My mom loved this so much. And of course we had to order some jarritos to go with them. Overall 10/10 food-wise! I'd recommend you visit while you're in SD.

Tracy L.

I always bring people to Oscars Mexican Food if they're looking for a solid taco spot. The normal Oscar's location I'm used to was temporarily closed so we went to this one; it was VERY tiny and packed because of the size. I ordered the crab/shrimp tostada as well as the battered fish taco. The tostada was HUGE! They also gave you two tostada shells so it was basically two. I thought it was delicious. The creamy avocado was the perfect touch. The fish taco was very tasty as well! I also recommend trying their sauces whatever you order. Depending on when you come, you may be able to find outdoor seating, otherwise, it may be easier to get your food to-go.

Crab tostada
Siu M.

Fast lines, fresh food, great service We ordered chips and guac, ceviche, crab tostadas, battered fish tacos, skirt steak taco, and both battered shrimp and grill shrimp tacos. Everything was made fresh to order and came out pretty quickly. Our order was huge but no errors what so ever! Our group's fav were the battered fish tacos, but everything else was good too. Limited seating outdoors, but we did not have trouble finding seats as the turn over was quick!

Bluefin ceviche, smoked octopus, Battered Fish Taco
Crystal C.

I visited this location for a bit of a late dinner on a Saturday. There was no line but the hot food is made to order so there is a slight wait. The parking is street parking a bit difficult to find a spot nearby. This Oscars location does not have indoor seating but does have some counters outside and a handful of seats. This location is probably also least clean of the 3, but hey if you don't get sick and the food is still just as good, that's fine with me. I tried the bluefin tuna ceviche, the portion is smaller than the mixed. All ceviches come with tostada shells. Personally, I preferred the mixed ceviche (larger portion and cheaper). I think I may just prefer bluefin tuna as sashimi rather than seasoned. I haven't had anything that was not good at Oscars but my go to items are the battered fish taco (white fishes every time I've gone, but does vary) and the octopus taco. The octopus is a bit chewy but the smokey flavor is a nice touch.

Fish tacos with extra cabbage
Mekai S.

Came here on a weekend afternoon, needless to say it was pretty busy. The line went by pretty fast and waited about 10 minutes for 4 tacos. I get my tacos with extra cabbage, and I was stuffed after the 4th taco. The tacos tasted great and had no bit of fishiness whatsoever. You just have to get lucky with the seating, as the restaurant was pretty full. People seem to eat and leave pretty quickly as long as the food is coming out quick as well. Definitely an amazing place to stop by for a quick bite before walking along the beach. My only gripe is the sauce situation, as they keep the sauces in a mini fridge on top of a counter, and only have 1 container of each sauce at a time, which run out pretty quickly. Will definitely come back here if I am ever in Pacific Beach again - I would say it's one of my favorite fish taco spots in SD!

Christine L.

We always make it a point to stop by Oscar's on our annual trip down to San Diego. Our favorites are the smoked fish tacos, but everything we've had is good! This time we also got the shrimp ceviche and the battered fish taco which were incredible. The shrimp ceviche is heavy on the shrimp, and comes with a couple tostadas to pair. The restaurant is quite small and there are maybe 15-20 seats outside (all stools and bar seating). During peak hours it is difficult to find seating, so I recommend just ordering online and taking it to eat at a park or beach nearby. Oh, and the hot sauces (both red and green) are fantastic!

Connie S.

This is my must-stop spot every time I visit San Diego! I usually go for the fish and shrimp tacos, which never disappoint, but this time I decided to try something new. We ordered the Oscar's Combo - Taco Especial (smoked fish, scallops, shrimp) and a cup of the fish stew. Everything was absolutely delicious. The smoked fish in the taco added a unique flavor I haven't experienced at other taco places - it was a standout. As for the fish stew, I wasn't sure at first based on how it looked, but one sip and I was hooked. It's packed with chunks of fish, octopus, shrimp, veggies, and even avocado. Super hearty, comforting, and not fishy at all. Plus, it's perfect for warming up when you're sitting outside.

Surf and Turf Tacos ($6.50 each) make sure to get the white sauce!
Justin C.

I was craving a San Diego staple and was not disappointed. It had been several years since I've had Oscars and was curious to see how things are currently. I ordered two Surf and Turf tacos ($6.50 each). I absolutely love their white sauce. The shrimp is juicy with a nice sear and the beef is fairly tender and well seasoned. I appreciate the amount of avocado, coleslaw, red onions, and tomatoes they put on the tacos. My go to Oscars off Emerald Street was temporarily closed for construction but luckily the OG Turquoise Street location was open. It was packed when we arrived on a Tuesday afternoon at 12:30 pm, most likely due to it being a holiday week for Thanksgiving. It seemed like a good portion of the crowd were tourists which is not surprising. The food came out fairly quickly given the line and my cashier was very friendly. She even refilled the white and orange sauces for me before I could even ask for them to be refilled. Seating is outdoor only, mostly standing - there are a few stools. Oscars is almost synonymous with San Diego. It's a legendary Mexican seafood spot for a reason. Will be coming back for years to come.

Battered Fish Taco Battered Shrimp Taco
Esther K.

needed a light lunch and ended up at Oscar's! the interior is gives off an ocean dock style which was super cool. the seating is limited but i went while it wasn't as busy! - battered shrimp taco (5/5): the batter was a golden and crispy and had the just the right amount of batter. the shrimp was sweet and perfectly cooked and all the extra toppings of fresh cabbage, seasonings, and pico brought everything together. one of the best shrimp tacos i've had in a long time :) a must try - battered fish taco (4.5/5): same toppings and everything as the shrimp but i just enjoyed the shrimp more LOL. still a must try overall great spot for a satisfying meal and will come back to try the rest of their menu!

Grilled Octopus Taco
Evelyn B.

To be honest, was kind of disappointed during our visit here :( this was our first stop in San Diego, was hoping for some great fish tacos! The fish was pretty small compared to the tortilla. Also, I think the taco would have been much better with a creamy fish taco sauce! They do have a lot of different hot sauces though which I enjoyed. I liked the octopus taco much better, probably because it was unique and something new for me. What saved this place was probably the service. Really nice cashier who didn't mind explaining the menu to us. She also gave us a sample of the fish stew which was pretty good.

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18 days ago

There's not much seating but the food is great. The fish tacos and the torta de Oscar are divine

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Oscars Mexican Seafood Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Oscars Mexican Seafood

It this kid friendly?

If your kids like to eat fish tacos, then yes! But it doesn't have any toys, games or play structures. It's also primarily a stand/sit outside and eat, or takeout, place.

Is there a kids menu?

not that I saw...but I wasn't looking :0

Are the corn tortillas gluten free?

I dont think so! I witnessed someone asking a month ago and the cashier said no

What time do they start serving their fish/shrimp tacos?

Should be an all day thing as far as I know

Do they have Happy hour?

No, they do not!

Where do you guys get your fish? From a local fisherman or how do you order it? Is it frozen and then thawed?

Hi! Yes, from a local fish market and we don’t use frozen fish always fresh:)

Is the battered fish taco dairy free?

Yes

Do you use lard in your food?

No, we do don’t.

Are you guys open on Monday July 5?

Yes

Is this place currently open for take out?

Yes, as of a week ago. They seem to be loosey goosey with their closing time so beware. They've closed before their stated hours on at least two occasions.

What time and day is happy hour?

Any happy hour here?

99c battered fish tacos from 2:30-5:30pm from Monday to Thursday

How big are the tacos?

Standard taco size - think small corn tortilla folded in half with fillings. Two-three are enough for most people.

In the past, they didn't accept credit cards. Do they accept it right now?

Yes they take credit cards

Is there a happy hour?

Yes. 99 cent battered fish tacos 2:30-5:30 Monday through Thursday.

Can we bring our fur babies?

Yes! They have outdoor seating :)

When did this location open?

2011

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My partner and I are doing alphabet dating for 2026, and it was her turn to pick. If you haven't…read moreguessed it yet, we're on the letter "F," so this spot fit perfectly. Tucked into a neighborhood, the restaurant looks great both inside and out. We decided to sit outside since the weather was nice, which made the experience even better. For drinks, we went with the "Her Name Was Lola" and "Sweetest Taboo", both solid choices. To start, we had the tuna tostada (a weekly special) and oysters. Both were fresh, flavorful, and honestly left me wanting more. If you're getting oysters, I highly recommend asking for the house-made hot sauce instead of the usual Tabasco. For our mains, we went with the cod fish and chips and the grilled swordfish tacos. Both dishes were excellent and really hit the mark. All in all, I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in the mood for seafood.

We came on a Friday night. The place was packed. Reservations is a must. Parking is street…read moreparking. Give yourself some extra time to find parking, to make the reservation time. Our server told us their specials for that night. I ordered the Sea Bass, my husband ordered the special, Crab Buccantini with squid ink pasta, and my friend had the swordfish. Every dish tasted really good. There was one problem with my dish, one of the pieces of sea bass was not cooked, it was pretty raw. One of the pieces was fine, the second was not. I'm not sure how that would happened, unless they didn't cook them together. I let my server know and he ordered me another dish right away, and apologized. Overall, we had a great time and enjoyed our food. Our server was very nice and friendly. I would come again.

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JRDN Restaurant - Enjoy brunch in San Diego on our restaurant's patio.

JRDN Restaurant

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This place looks like it's about to impress. Beautiful, upscale vibe with a sleek dining room and a…read morebig sports bar up front. Service was solid, and it definitely feels like a "special occasion" kind of spot. The Wagyu burger, though, was a letdown. Amazing fries, but the burger itself was surprisingly bland--even with grilled onions and cheese. For $26-$28, the "Wagyu" label felt more like marketing than magic. I've honestly had more flavorful burgers at In-N-Out (animal style), which isn't a great look for a high-end burger. On the bright side, my wife's risotto was excellent--easy 10/10. The chicken was perfectly cooked, the risotto was rich and flavorful, and even the waitress said it's one of her favorite dishes (advice I should've taken). Bottom line: great atmosphere, good service, one standout dish--but skip the burger. I wouldn't go out of my way to return unless someone else was choosing. Street parking only, mostly free if you're lucky.

I write this review a little late. The view this place…read moreprovides is incredible. Even at night it was still a vibe. We waited quite awhile before we even got waters to the table. Server was very friendly once he got caught up, & servers can really make or break a place, ours was what made it good. The food was alright, and portion size was great but other than that, nothing worth mentioning. The pictures and taste are completely different. My favorite if I had to choose is the mac & chesse. That I finished, and they did cook the steaks as temp requested. The ceasers salad was absolutely horrible not going to lie. I'm not someone to completely knock a place without trying another dish so next time we are back in SD I may try something else, especially with that view.

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JRDN Restaurant - Wagyu burger at locally owned restaurant

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JRDN Restaurant - JRDN is one of San Diego's Top Place to Eat. Enjoy an eclectic menu with coastal influence.

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Single Fin Surf Grill - sriracha shrimp taco!

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We were visiting from out of town and wandered into this place. The food and service were…read moreexcellent! I got the Blacks Beach Fire Burger and the Bondi Bloody Mary, both of which were delicious. They were also really understanding about my friend's shellfish allergy and did their part to keep her safe.

While on a round trip to San Diego, this fun little town has so much to offer with various bars and…read morerestaurants along Mission Blvd. Single Fin caught our eye, and seemed like a chill bar & grill to try! As soon as you walk in you're greeted by the friendly bar tender, and are instructed to take a seat anywhere you'd like. The menu is available via QR code, and you order both your food and drinks at the bar. At the time we came in there weren't many people, but a crowd started gathering after about 30 minutes or so, which was nice! Our food came out - with a decent amount of wait time - and it looked great! We ordered a couple of cocktails from the menu as well, which we got right away. I had gotten something similar to an Espresso Martini, but the drink fell short in both the taste and the presentation. My beer battered fish tacos were good, but nothing extraordinary. I believed they lacked a bit of taste...perhaps seasoning? The jam burger on the other hand, extremely juicy and flavorful! The fries were nice and crispy & seasoned. Overall, the food and drink were a bit inconsistent, but it may also very well be the items I ordered. For that, I'm docking it one star, but again it may come down to my taste buds and previous items I've had from other grills. I'd definitely give it a try, again, and keep exploring their menu.

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Oscars Mexican Seafood - mexican - Updated May 2026

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