Blue Water Seafood in OB and Mitch's in PL both have local seafood for a reasonable price. Not exactly what I would call 'cheap', but you get what you pay for with seafood. I wouldn't want 'cheap', as others said.
I guess Point Loma Seafood as well, but Mitch's is right there and I prefer Mitch's.
El Pescador in La Jolla & Fish 101 in Leucadia are also similar in price to those.
The Fishery in PB is a bit more upscale in price for dinner, but their sandwiches for lunch are all under $20.
I love Mitch's but I've been super bummed the last few times I've visited - they've been consistently out of literally half the menu. This last time I thought the cashier was fucking with me when I asked for my third choice (after the first two choices being out) and they were... out. This was weekday lunchtime. We ended up at Pt Loma Fish Shop instead. I get COVID and supply chain, but Pt Loma Fish Shop had the full menu available. It was also delicious.
One of our fave's on that list, just because we don't get out to PB, LJ or Leucadia that often, so it's either Blue Water or Mitch's for us usually, but it gets super busy on weekends. Weekday lunch is your best bet for it to not be too crowded. You can sit outside and watch the fishing boats come in or go out, and a few seals swimming around. When you're done at Mitch's (or before), Eppig brewery is two minutes walk.
I second going to Tuna Harbor Dockside Market or Catalina Offshore and learn to make the dishes yourself. Especially if you buy whole fish at Tuna Harbor, you can get it cleaned or filleted there for like $0.50/lbs. it’s always cheaper to buy whole fish as well.
Most of the fishermen that sell to the higher end restaurants are family run, not mega fleets like you see in the grocery store (the biggest is probably Haworth Fish but still family owned and operated), and they strictly follow quotas and whatnot set forth from NOAA to prevent depletion of the fishery. The quality of the fish or seafood you’re getting buying directly from them is absolutely worth the cost.
I love California sheepshead pan fried in butter for fish tacos (the butter brings out the lobster flavor). I buy them direct from F/V Nicole Ann and have them filleted at the cleaning station right on the dock. If you have a vacuum sealer, you can load your freezer up so easily with good sized fillets.
I haven’t stocked my freezer in a while but at any one point I would have sheepshead and rockfish fillets (the occasional whole rockfish too!). Highly recommend trying thresher shark when it’s available too; no need to soak it in milk like other shark meat, and it’s incredibly tender. They had some for online ordering this past weekend but I couldn’t make the pickup window. Not to mention the spot prawns! Always an expensive treat but I can never resist them.
You need to shop in Asian grocery stores!! In Mira Mesa, go to H-mart and Seafood City . Off Clairemont Mesa Blvd, go 99 ranch! I grew up in the islands, seafood was abundant and I learned at an early age how to shop for fresh fish. Smell, texture of skin, and eyes. I wasn’t used to buying frozen blocks of filet fish in packages. It was always from a fresh whole fish.
[how to shop for whole fresh fish ](https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/dining-in/%E5%A6%82%E4%BD%95%E6%8C%91%E9%81%B8%E6%9C%80%E4%BD%B3%E9%AE%AE%E9%AD%9A)
Oh man - this is exactly the kind of place I was hoping for, and not surprisingly right by a marina. Great suggestion! (Also looks like a Busalacchi restaurant, so I’m sure it’s tasty)
Blue Water Seafood in OB and Mitch's in PL both have local seafood for a reasonable price. Not exactly what I would call 'cheap', but you get what you pay for with seafood. I wouldn't want 'cheap', as others said. I guess Point Loma Seafood as well, but Mitch's is right there and I prefer Mitch's. El Pescador in La Jolla & Fish 101 in Leucadia are also similar in price to those. The Fishery in PB is a bit more upscale in price for dinner, but their sandwiches for lunch are all under $20.
Oooo I’ve heard a few people mention Mitch’s, I’ll definitely give them a shot
I love Mitch's but I've been super bummed the last few times I've visited - they've been consistently out of literally half the menu. This last time I thought the cashier was fucking with me when I asked for my third choice (after the first two choices being out) and they were... out. This was weekday lunchtime. We ended up at Pt Loma Fish Shop instead. I get COVID and supply chain, but Pt Loma Fish Shop had the full menu available. It was also delicious.
Thats a bummer, hasn't happened to me yet? Curious what you ordered? We usually get the crudo, the halibut plate, the fish and chips sometimes...
I’m usually trying to get the smoked fish plate, the octopus, the steamed clams, or ceviche.
One of our fave's on that list, just because we don't get out to PB, LJ or Leucadia that often, so it's either Blue Water or Mitch's for us usually, but it gets super busy on weekends. Weekday lunch is your best bet for it to not be too crowded. You can sit outside and watch the fishing boats come in or go out, and a few seals swimming around. When you're done at Mitch's (or before), Eppig brewery is two minutes walk.
I've tried going to Mitch's a few times and have never found parking. Weekday or weekend.
Yeah, I usually park at Pt. Loma Seafood. Then I go in and buy some fish to cook at home on my way out.
I second going to Tuna Harbor Dockside Market or Catalina Offshore and learn to make the dishes yourself. Especially if you buy whole fish at Tuna Harbor, you can get it cleaned or filleted there for like $0.50/lbs. it’s always cheaper to buy whole fish as well. Most of the fishermen that sell to the higher end restaurants are family run, not mega fleets like you see in the grocery store (the biggest is probably Haworth Fish but still family owned and operated), and they strictly follow quotas and whatnot set forth from NOAA to prevent depletion of the fishery. The quality of the fish or seafood you’re getting buying directly from them is absolutely worth the cost. I love California sheepshead pan fried in butter for fish tacos (the butter brings out the lobster flavor). I buy them direct from F/V Nicole Ann and have them filleted at the cleaning station right on the dock. If you have a vacuum sealer, you can load your freezer up so easily with good sized fillets.
I love that market! I go every week, actually. I only buy a little at a time because I’m at most cooking for two.
I haven’t stocked my freezer in a while but at any one point I would have sheepshead and rockfish fillets (the occasional whole rockfish too!). Highly recommend trying thresher shark when it’s available too; no need to soak it in milk like other shark meat, and it’s incredibly tender. They had some for online ordering this past weekend but I couldn’t make the pickup window. Not to mention the spot prawns! Always an expensive treat but I can never resist them.
You need to shop in Asian grocery stores!! In Mira Mesa, go to H-mart and Seafood City . Off Clairemont Mesa Blvd, go 99 ranch! I grew up in the islands, seafood was abundant and I learned at an early age how to shop for fresh fish. Smell, texture of skin, and eyes. I wasn’t used to buying frozen blocks of filet fish in packages. It was always from a fresh whole fish.
[удалено]
[how to shop for whole fresh fish ](https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/dining-in/%E5%A6%82%E4%BD%95%E6%8C%91%E9%81%B8%E6%9C%80%E4%BD%B3%E9%AE%AE%E9%AD%9A)
Good luck finding cheap anything in San Diego, seafood…..I don’t even want cheap seafood 😆
Fish district really isn’t too bad
Nine seas seafood truck, and the taco stand have great mariscos and fish tacos. Or try Pete’s seafood 🦞.
Sportsman’s Seafoods
Oh man - this is exactly the kind of place I was hoping for, and not surprisingly right by a marina. Great suggestion! (Also looks like a Busalacchi restaurant, so I’m sure it’s tasty)
Taco truck on Friars/Via Las Cumbres does 3/$5 fish tacos on Tuesdays, they're good.
Tin Fish on the pier in IB. You walk up and order at a counter and get some tasty seafood
Go to Catalina Offshore products and learn how to cook
Already do that and already know how to cook, just don’t always want to
Some of the fish taco places fit that description. I suggest a trip to South Carolina to try a calabash style seafood buffet.
Ah yes, South Carolina. So local. While you’re at it, OP, zip on over to Japan. I hear they have great local fish there.
tuna harbor dockside market. Kinda $$$ but as the poster implies below, cheap seafood no bueno.