THE BEST FISH TACOS IN PUERTO ESCONDIDO

If you know anything about this blog, you’ll know that we’re always on the lookout for quality food wherever we go. So when we went to the coast of Oaxaca to enjoy some time on the beach, we knew we had to seek out some denizens of the deep. After recently spending two weeks there and eating our way around, we came up with a list of where to find the best fish tacos in Puerto Escondido.

Puerto Escondido is an old fishing village, so you know the fish is FRESH! In these parts, you’re likely eating something that was just swimming in the Pacific only hours ago. We don’t always eat fish, but when we do, it’s near the coast in places like Puerto…

Smoked Fish Tacos El Viejo

This is a simple family-run joint with super-friendly service. The specialty here is pescado ahumado (smoked fish), hence the name of the place. The fish (similar to tuna) is caught daily by local fisherman and purchased on Playa Principal early in the morning. By the afternoon it’s already been smoked for four hours before it ends up on your plate.

The flavor is sooo good, smoky with a hint of sweetness. These are without a doubt the best-smoked fish tacos in Puerto Escondido. They offer tasty shrimp and fried fish tacos as well, but the ahumado is a required order.

On top of their tacos, you’ll get slices of avocado, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and a dollop of creamy homemade hierbabuena dressing. On the table, you’ll find rajas (a mix of pickled carrots and onions), parsley-infused oil, and fresh spicy salsa. It doesn’t hurt to wash it all down with a cold Victoria or Corona on a hot day!

Juan, who runs the place, said he supplies several other restaurants in the area with his smoked fish. It’s that good. Just eat here! You’ll dream about these tacos long after you leave. He told us he’s being flown to Bali soon to help open a restaurant near the Uluwatu area, the dude is going global.

Marisqueria Los Erizos

This is our winner for the best shrimp tacos in Puerto! The textures are seriously increíble! It’s made in the classic Baja style and the batter is on another level. It’s made to order and always served hot and crispy. Then you get the crunch from the purple cabbage slaw. To top it all off they have a wide variety of hot sauces, including a homemade beet habanero sauce that’s both tangy and sufficiently spicy. We were in awe of every bite!

The fish tacos contain lightly fried golden brown filets. Also made in the classic Baja style, the filets hang well over each side of the tortilla! The tacos range from 40-45 pesos each. They have a large menu for seafood lovers, including exceptional tostadas and tiradito. They also have oysters when in season. The cervezas are cold and the AC is always on. Go early in the afternoon to avoid a long wait and bring cash.

Read next: The Best Beaches in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca

La Olita

This open-air corrugated tin shack near Zicatela beach is a gem! The tacos are so beautiful that you won’t even want to eat ’em. These are easily the most Instagrammable tacos in Puerto. We usually prefer street tacos over gourmet styles, but La Olita is the exception. When you do eventually go for your first bite you’ll realize they’re a little hard to eat because they’re so huge! You might even need a fork, but it’s all part of the fun…

We decided on two orders, one of their dorado (mahi-mahi) fish tacos and another order of shrimp tempura tacos. The grilled fish was excellent, thick and juicy, with a nice subtle charred flavor. The tacos are topped with grilled broccoli, zucchini, eggplant, cauliflower, chile poblano, and pineapple. It was all super fresh and the veggies were salted just right.

The shrimp tempura came with a cabbage and carrot slaw in a creamy chipotle dressing, avocado, and get this, toasted coconut! Ooooweee, that really set the taco off. Both tacos are served on chewy moringa and amaranth tortillas, another unique touch.

They have three salsas, the pineapple sauce is sweet and pairs well with the others. Their tacos come in a set of 3 for 150 pesos. They also have several vegan and vegetarian options and have a creative cocktail list. Sip a refreshing Paloma along with your food! Cash only.

Interested in more Mexican food porn? The Best Things We Ate and Drank in Puebla, Mexico

Pinches Tacos

The next stop on our search for the best fish tacos led us to Pinches Tacos. Honestly, this place was probably our least favorite on the list, but it’s still worth mentioning and worth trying if you have time. Their claim to fame is making tacos “Sonoran style” (a state in northern Mexico bordering Arizona).

Our favorite fish taco was the pescado al ajo con queso (pan-fried fish in garlic butter with cheese). Definitely not bad, just not out of this world. Their Baja-style tacos are also decent, but they’re not as crispy as we prefer. The best part about eating at Pinches was the array of toppings and salsas they offer. Our least favorite part are the prices and that they only seem to be catering to the gringo market.

Pepe’s Tacos

Last but certainly not least, we have Pepe’s Tacos. Pepe is an absolute legend who serves enormous tacos topped with fresh pineapple, tomato, cabbage, shredded coconut, and cilantro. They’re a bit more expensive at around 60 pesos each, but they’re absolutely worth it.

It’s a small unpretentious place on a side street near Zicatela Beach. It’s all word of mouth, he doesn’t advertise much. We randomly stumbled upon it one day on a walk. Like fools, we were without our cameras so we didn’t get any pictures of these masterpieces. You’ll just have to go try it for yourself!

The coconut-encrusted shrimp tacos and swordfish were our favorites. They are giant! Pepe is a really fun dude that has lots of stories to tell. Half the reason we’d recommend going is just to be in his presence. He also does cooking classes. Depending on who you ask, these may be the very best fish tacos in Puerto Escondido.

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Have you had any tasty fish tacos in Puerto Escondido? Comment and let us know your favorites…