I went in to eat Lunch at 12:49 bleach blonde headed waitress told me to take a seat anywhere and they would be right with me. At 1:12 after she waited On 2 other tables that came in after me I left, MAD...I drove from Ripley WV just to eat some of their Tacos and apparently my presences was not acknowledged and my MONEY not wanted I do not recommend this place. I WILL NOT go again, and I'm overly offended by the waitress manner. Hire some help if she's over worked!!! Or just teach her how to take care of customers in the manner they arrive!!! I would leave a zero but I have to leave an a much undeserved ONE star read more

Wow!!! I went for the first time today and I was blown away!!! The jalapeño Margarita is among the BEST cocktails I've ever had, so I had two!!! The Caribbean Jerk Shrimp Tacos were amazing too, especially when I added the marinated jalapeños from my drink to the tacos...mmmmmm can't wait to go back! Service was friendly and prices very fair!!! LOVE it!! read more

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When I visited most recently, I was disappointed to learn they changed management/ownership. But the menu seemed the same, but you can tell who ever was cooking didn't care about the quality of food, I won't return order: hush puppies, mahi tacos (how they messed this up, i don't know). But all of it just seemed 'thrown together' and didn't have the flavors I wanted/remembered. This was my last visit. read more

Stayed @ a local B&B and this was recommended by the owners. Ok so listen I'm from south Florida and I can honestly say their Mahi Mahi was legit. It was blackened & cooked perfectly. The shrimp was well just shrimp & the cod was bla IMO. The star of the show was that Mahi & I bet it would've been awesome in a taco. The onion rings were pretty good as well. My only issue with the place is the location. It seems a little sketchy. It's just hard to put my finger on it to be honest. But I loved it nonetheless read more

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Great and friendly service. Delicious and flavorful Mahi Mahi grilled Caribbean jerk taco w/ Bean & rice and I am from CA read more

Tricky Fish - Stopped to try the MahiMahi grilled Caribbean jerk Taco w/ Beans&rice. Delicious, great flavor &I am from CA - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, West Virginia

Tricky Fish used to have tasty menu and funky ambience, but the quality has gone down significantly since new ownership took over. What used to be unique and flavorful, veg-friendly fare is now low quality fried food. I ordered the mahi-mahi tacos, and there was minimum meat, which was so salty I could barely eat it, and wilted lettuce and tomatoes on top. Very disappointing. I doubt I'll go back. read more

The service was great. The food was very delicious. I got the fried oysters sandwich and the oysters were perfect. The roll was a little sweet and there was plenty of lettuce and tomatoes for crunch. My husband got the fried fish. He said it was "very good." Two thing you need to know about him: on the scale of 1-10 good is 9+, he knows his fried fish and doesn't bother with soggy or under seasoned. The salsa is fresh and all the chips are fresh fried. Red beans and rice have a nice Caribbean flavor and the Cole slaw is creamy and crunchy with the perfect amount of celery seeds. While the place is ancient and very well worn, everything was super clean. We are very glad we stopped. read more

2 stars for the woman who helped us being friendly. Ordered hush puppies and a couple beers. Beer was good, glasses were clean-ish, hush puppies were over cooked and super dry. As for cleanliness... whoa... bathroom was dingy and had no paper towels. The floors in the dining area looked like they hadn't been cleaned in ages and the table was sticky. The manager/ owner maybe?? sat at the bar playing on her phone the entire time we were there. A delivery guy who came in, WITH a delivery, had to pry her away from the bar to pay the invoice. Can't recommend and will not be back if in the area again. read more

The food was really very good. Service was fast. Margarita was delicious. They don't have an overly extensive menu, but we found something for everyone. Our server didn't seem to know everything about the menu as we had a few questions, but he was very pleasant. It's a nice place to check out if you are in that part of town. read more

Great seafood in a river city! Wasn't busy on a Saturday evening (after 7), but there was an event going on in the back. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather. I had the fried shrimp basket with hush puppies. The other member of my party had the fried shrimp basket with chips and salsa, and the wings with the Old Bay seasoning. The fried shrimp was breaded just right and had good flavor. Hush puppies (served with honey butter) were a good balance of sweet and salty. Chips and salsa were good, salsa could've had a little more kick for me, though. Old Bay wings were definitely different, but they worked! Chicken was cooked well, nice and crispy but juicy. read more

Tricky Fish - Sign on front patio - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, West Virginia

Highly recommend! The service and food were amazing. We felt welcome as soon as we walked in the door. The shrimp tacos with homemade mango salsa and Po' Boy sauce was fantastic. My husband ordered the wings with Wazzy sauce. He's had wings at many places and says they are the best he ever had. Our server Autumn gave stellar service. Thanks to the chefs Stony and Bruce! read more

The mahi mahi styled Monster Burrito is one of the best plates they make. Ask for waffle fries as side. They're not only good but hefty. Get your money's worth, you know? A lot of the dishes, despite being delicious, can be light. As in they're quantity, especially for the prices asked, don't fairly lineup, in my opinion. Pros: - Service is on point; friendly & helpful staff. - The food is tasty. Cons: - *The food amount doesn't always match price; the side (tortilla/potato chips, rice & beans, waffle fries, etc.) tend to be most of the quantity on your plate. - Place could be cleaner. Greasy table tops, mostly. It's not a health hazard level of bad, just enough to go, "whoa," when you unstick your forearms, which are now super shiny. *My real complaint. Like...don't get the crab cake. Unreasonably priced at $13 for a pretty minimal patty. Same goes for Fried Oysters. I realize they can be sandwiched, but they'd still not be much to them. They taste so good but yeah... The Monster Burrito is pretty large and is $10, you know? And it's REALLY good, so... Inconsistencies with plate sizes and $$. Not a bad time and I'd say is worth trying, I'm just wanting to exclaim that being picky and not adventurous with the whole menu isn't a bad thing at this restaurant. read more

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If I could rate a zero, I would. On 6/27/2024 I ordered lunch for myself and a friend. When we got back to work to eat, the food was so burned that it was inedible. I called the restaurant and was told that it would be replaced free of charge. I reordered it today, 6/28/2024, and when I got to the establishment to pick it up, not only was it not prepared, the cook had to call his manager to get permission. Why wasn't this done when the order was placed, or after the complaint was initially made? Not only did we not get our order, it was a hassle to get a refund. I will never eat/order from there again, and will discourage others against doing so. read more

I'm going to start this review with the food. After all that's what most people want to know. My wife had the cheeseburger and fries and I had the fried catfish tacos with fries. We also had a side of hush puppies. The hush puppies was awful. They are way too dense and greasy. My fish tacos and my wife's cheese burger was actually good. Nothing special but average. The shoestring fries were greasy and not very good. They were out of the waffle fries. As far as food is concerned I would rate this place average with 2.5 - 3 starts. However, my rating of 2 stars is being generous simply because the place is a dump. I can't remember when I've eaten in a place so filthy. This was a Sunday afternoon and not very busy at all. It looked like the floors hadn't been cleaned in weeks. The tables were in need of repair and cleaning. The walls looked like some bar bathroom that had posters ripped off. There are scuff marks all over the walls as well with trim and molding pieces missing. It made me wonder if the owner of this place doesn't care how the dining area looks, what does the kitchen look like? How well does the staff take appropriate measures for cleanliness in preparing my food? This place has potential. It needs a complete remodel inside with some daily cleaning measures put in place. Until then, I will not return. You be the judge. Let the pictures speak for themselves. read more

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More like 3.5. Went here while on a road trip. I ordered two tacos one fried catfish and one blacked with a side of beans and rice. My friend got the blackened shrimp. The fish was great. I particularly liked the fried catfish. Super crispy and tasty. The blacken catfish was good too. Great flavor. The rest of the taco wasn't very very spectacular. Iceberg lettuce, mediocre salsa and Mission flour tortillas. The rice and beans weren't bad. The shrimp was ok. The girl who took order was friendly and the interior was nice. I also liked that they had beer. It was a decent meal. Living in LA, my bar for tacos is really high so I'm probably over critical. This place is fine, it just didn't blow me away. read more

Tricky Fish - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, West Virginia

Where can I start? I was skeptical about any place with a fish theme in WV, but this place is honestly perfection. Dive into this dive bar because life is better under the sea. Ok, jokes aside, Tricky Fish has a lot to offer in a small location. They have Cajun food staples like blackened chicken and catfish, but also offer healthier options too. We had a picky eater in our party and they loved it, so it must be good. I had the chicken tacos grilled, which is only an option if you ask, but I couldn't imagine a more perfect taco. The Cajun seasoning was strong, but not overpowering and the beans and rice were amazing. The rice was aromatic and it made my bean-hating tastebuds reconsider. It's a dicey place for sure, but that fits the fish theme. It feels very local and loved by the community. If you can stop by, I'd recommend a little of everything. read more

Food was terrific and we are so appreciative that they are open. The oyster Po boy was excellent and the hot chicken was awesome. Great endless chips and salsa. We will be back for sure. read more

The name "Tricky Fish" would lead one to believe that the menu would feature fish and seafood. This is really not the case. They have a limited selection: Mahi, shrimp, and crab cakes. The remainder of the menu is burgers, tacos, etc. Although the server was very friendly, she didn't know what I meant by "half and half" sweet and unsweetened ice tea, although they had both. No hot beverages! I ordered the hush puppies, GREAT! Mahi, very good and the red beans and rice: very dry. The hush puppies are worth the visit. read more

How is one of the highest rated restaurants in Charleston? The food is always just sub par. We ordered some hush puppies tonight that were undercooked inside and hard on the outside. Idk how you do that. Fish tacos were not worth $9. Everything was slopped together. Also, it's nearly impossible to get to the back deck if there are people setting at the bar. Service forever the slowest. I'd rather eat Taco Bell than waste my money at this place. read more

Eaten here a few times over the years and though being a bit rustic it's never disappointed. In fact my last meal was a very tasty Fish stew. Located in Charleston's east end it's definitely a good place to go for good food. -Rich read more

Tricky Fish - Fish Stew, dirty rice & chips with an Orange Soda. - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, West Virginia

My favorite eats on the trip. Grouper tacos and Steak tacos specials were awesome! Zucchini fries with Tricky sauce also a special and I don't want regular fries anymore. We had some red Sangria - so good! The neighborhood is a little sketch but this place would have been right at home sitting on a beach somewhere. read more

Stopped here on our way passing thru town and am super confused how this place does so well in the reviews. First, the establishment is run down to such a degree that it has surpassed charming/quaint and is bordering on the treacherous! Siding falling off, wood rot, etc. Not a cute look. Far worse than the atmosphere was the serious lack of seasoning in the food. I opted for the blackened Mahi-Maui tacos with beans and rice. In my first bite and only bite of the rice, I determined it was bland, with slight off/rotten flavor that I wasn't a fan of. The tacos contained a tiny chunk of fish that was severely under seasoned. Tried the husbands onion rings and was sorely disappointed with them as well. Super thick coating and no seasoning. A common theme here! The only bright note was the husband's Mahi-Mahi sandwich, which was a nice size and fairly tasty! The hush puppies were nice too and I appreciated the hint of clove. Overall, expected better and was sorely disappointed read more

Tricky Fish - Bland mahi-mahi tacos and inedible rice and beans - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, West Virginia

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Food is good. I love the vibe of this place, nice and funky. Staff are great! Good drinks.

They are disorganized, I got my burger fast but the other person didn't get his food for 30 mins. He went to counter three times. He had to get it to go. At lease they don't charge him. That is worth one star. I've never gone back. It's on the same block as my office. read more

Had the blackened fish tacos and chicken with chipotle sauce tacos and they were delicious! The hush puppies were the sweetest I have ever had. Chips were freshly fried! Everyone at the table enjoyed their food! read more

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Well, it might've been nice; after standing in a line inside for 15 mins we were told to have a seat, & they'd take our order then 20 minutes @ our table, no service - no order taken - no attention from the staff @ all They weren't busy - just horribly rude & unorganized So, I can't talk about the food - wasn't given the opportunity to sample it read more

You can't go wrong if you order something fried! Being from Florida along the Gulf, I am picky about my fish. Did that stop me from ordering the grilled mahi mahi tacos? No. Should that have? Yes. However, my ever so smart fiance ordered a fried chicken sandwich with waffle fries. I would have walked out of here disenchanted if I didn't try his meal. The bad: my mahi mahi was tough and didn't really have much of a taste. My future mother in law later remarked to me that any fish in West Virginia would have been frozen at some point. The tacos were not terrible, but not up to Floridian expectations. I also wasn't a fan of the rice and beans. The good: first of all I love the atmosphere. It really does remind me of being on the beach. It is very laid back. You order at the counter and then they bring you your food. I absolutely loved the waffle fries. I'm still craving them. They were fried to a crisp, not soggy at all! I also loved the fried chicken in the sandwich. Honestly it reminded me of Korean Fried Chicken (which is a little weird). Basically I believe they fry the sh** out of their meat so it gets that nice bronzed coating. If I'm ever craving fried food I would come back to this place for sure. read more

My food came out super hot and that was the best part of the visit. My PoBoy sandwich had only the shrimp and some lettuce between the buns. We had to ask for tartar sauce, which took a few minutes. I have no clue why the hush puppies tasted of nutmeg. The nutmeg taste was super strong. read more

Tricky Fish - Specials today - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, West Virginia

We were on a long road trip and needed to stop for dinner. We always try to hit somewhere Yelp-recommended (since we don't have a lot of variety where we live) so we picked this place because we love a good fish taco. First? Parking is a nightmare. Especially if you're not local and aren't familiar with the area. The main parking was full, the street was full, and there were no directions were else we should park (the lot was full of "[OTHER BUSINESS] PARKING ONLY" signs, which didn't help us). We eventually went down the tiny alley next door and there was a big open space with some parking spaces and no NO PARKING signs so we parked there--though I honestly still don't know if it was legal. Second? It's just a small place, so the person who takes your order is also the one who delivers your food to the table...but of course we didn't know this, so when we got to the counter, we waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. Then finally a guy walked by and said he'd be with us in a minute. Third, it's a SMALL place with only a handful of tables (see photo). There is seating outside, however. Fourth? Be prepared to wait. And wait. And wait. I'm guessing it's a one-man kitchen, because for our two orders of tacos and one french fry? It took a good 30 minutes--which is honestly something we didn't really need with a toddler and a newborn. And they were busy, but not slammed (i.e. no standing lines or anything). Fifth? The food is good--not great, just good. I'm glad we went and I'm sure we'd go there again if we lived locally, but it didn't knock my socks off. And the margarita was pretty meh. Last? The service was very personable. The guy was super nice, and even took the time to chat (and dance!) with our 3yo son! So, overall, an A-OK experience. Three stars. read more

Tricky Fish - Two small dining areas with 9 total tables (some 4-tops, some 2-tops, some bar-height). - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, West Virginia

I'm pretty picky when it comes to ordering seafood in landlocked states, so normally I just avoid it. Tricky fish is one of my few WV exceptions. I got a mahi mahi taco and a shrimp taco. I went with the cashier's recommendation and got my mahi blackened and shrimp jerk style. I go dairy free (no cheese or cream fraise) which leaves me with a super healthy, flavorful fish, pico, and lettuce. Two tacos with rice and beans is by far enough to fill me up. I liked the mahi mahi better than the shrimp, so next time I think I will avoid shrimp and get double fish (or the pulled pork, which is a spicy, but flavorful option). The big downside seems to be that it is a little pricey for Charleston and the amount of food that you get. The Tricky Fish atmosphere is unique and local. You sort of get that beachy vibe despite being in downtown Charleston. I love eating outside on the porch! The staff is super friendly and nice. And they are very aware of the ingredients and quality of their food. read more

Tricky Fish - Shrimp taco on the left and mahi mahi on the right, with a side of rice and beans. - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, West Virginia

Thanks for canceling my order because you supposedly ran out of food. Very unprofessional. I'll never order from a local restaurant again.

Don't eat here unless you like terrible service and mediocre food. The waitresses disappeared after we ordered. There was literally no host or waitresses in the restaurant for a solid 30 minutes. We should have walked out. read more

Fantastic food, good service, quick in and out bite! I was traveling from North Carolina to Illinois and found Charleston to be a good lunch stop. Stopped into Tricky fish as it wasn't far from the highway. You walk in and order at the counter and take a seat. Food is brought out to you on the patio or inside. I went with the Mahi Mahi taco blackened and a pulled pork taco per the workers suggestion. The Mahi was juicy and delicious with the perfect balance of dressing and lettuce. The pulled pork was delicious and portions will not leave you hungry here. I consider myself a large portion guy and was full after 2 tacos and the rice and beans side. 5he only downfall is difficulty parking as there are only 4 or 5 spots behind the restaurant. We were lucky to snag one. read more

Tricky Fish - Pulled Pork and Mahi tacos! The rice and beans have a little kick to them and taste fantastic. Definitely recommend this! - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, West Virginia

One of my favoritest places in Charleston. Came up from Tampa for a wedding and made a specific trip just to have the fish tacos and hush puppies. Truly heaven! Tastes just as good as it did last time (8-9 months ago) Check out this place, you won't regret it! read more

Tricky Fish - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, West Virginia

We travel through WV often, so I keep looking for good stopping points. The good: my grilled shrimp taco and my pulled pork taco tasted great. The spice on the shrimp yummy; the pulled pork generous and delicious. My side of rice and beans a bit bland and I would guess had been sitting for too long. My husband did not enjoy his lobster roll: I did take a taste and the lemon flavor struck me as a bit over powering. The bad, which bears repeating from other reviewers-the appearence is a dump. My non picky husband didn't want to touch anything in the bathroom. They need to remodel so the cute fish murals can be surrounded by cleanliness. read more

If I could do less stars I would. My husband and I ate at this "restaurant" while visiting Charleston WV. We wanted to support a local place rather than a chain. The server took about 10-15 minutes to greet us. We almost left but we used to be servers, so we decided to give her the benefit of the doubt since she was the only one working. When we finally got greeted, I had asked for a local beer if she had any suggestions. She replied we have Pacifico... I said so nothing local to WV she said "I don't know here's the list".. She the took about another 20-30 mins just to bring us our beverages and take our order. Again we still tried to be patient with her. When it came time to order I got the Cajun fish taco and my husband got a burrito. The "taco" came out on a very cold tortilla, with old Wilted lettuce, a few pieces of fish and some what I'm guessing is shredded cheese from the local Kroger. It lacked any taste at all. I had to saturate it in hot sauce just to eat it. I DO NOT RECOMMEND this place at all. We now live local to the area and will never be back. Sorry if this is your fave place to eat in Charleston, and maybe we had it on a off day, but it was the worst $40 I ever spent. read more

Got the mahi-mahi and catfish tacos for this latest visit, both tasty. Good beer selection. Staff has been friendly every time I've been there. Nice, bright decor with Charles Hamilton art. ~~update July 2017~~ I've now been coming here for years, and the fish tacos are always good. These are not huge fish tacos, but they are tasty, and they have expanded their beer selection, which has a lot of local offerings. The hush puppies were really good as well. The parking lot in back is really small, so you might have to look around a bit for parking. read more

The staff were really sweet, and they make a MEAN mf drink. The catfish tacos are my go-to and they put me onto Fat Tire beers. 10/10 I'd eat here everyday. read more

A bit over rated tbh.... Hit or miss, really. Beer selection is pretty dope. Service is meh read more

Tricky Fish feels a bit like a great dive bar- with awesome food. After driving several hours in the car, I needed food with substance, but it also had to be vegan. My sister and I both got their vegan hot dogs with waffle fries and they did not disappoint. I wanted to order the same meal again because it was so good! I'll definitely be back if I'm in the area again. read more