Baja is known for splurge seafood at affordable prices, but locals prefer to eat everyday seafood at one of the down-home mariscos (seafood) shacks. La Cahua del Yeyo is a dive where you can dive into Sonoran seafood classics for about one-third of the price of sit-down seafood restaurants in town. Atmosphere is spare and tortillas aren’t made fresh, but the fish and excellent salsas and dressings make up for these compromises.
Sonoran seafood is a bit funkier than familiar Baja classics. No fried fish tacos here. The specialties are blood sausage, manta ray, and strangest of all, tuna fin (aleta). Aleta has the texture of raw clams and an even stronger flavor of the sea. It’s an acquired taste, but one that grows on your after a few tacos. We like them so much that we now will scold our fish monger for throwing them away. Because of the gelatinous texture of the fin, we recommend getting it in a combinado con aleta taco which also will include firmer manta ray and stewed vegetables. It’s strange that shark fin is an expensive (and environmentally irresponsible) delicacy and tuna fin tacos can be had for pocket change. Take advantage of it!
Our favorite taco here is octopus and olive. It’s rich with olive-oil flavor, the octopus is tender, and salty olives are a great Mediterranean touch. This is a semi-gourmet taco at street taco prices, and one we look forward to returning for. Also recommended are tacos dorados. Although they don’t have much inside beyond the faint taste of fish paste, they offer a crunchy contrast to other tacos.
Do get soup. It starts with a rich shrimp-based broth and can include any number of marine animals. The rich soup itself is one of the best consummes we’ve tasted in Mexico
It’s best to stick to house specialties. The marlin and shrimp taco gobenador (with cheese and cream) is overly dressed, and the marlin is dry.
Sunday | 8:30am - 5pm |
Monday | 8:30am - 5pm |
Tuesday | 8:30am - 5pm |
Wednesday | 8:30am - 5pm |
Thursday | 8:30am - 5pm |
Friday | 8:30am - 5pm |
Saturday | 8:30am - 5pm |
Other Nearby Restaurants
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Tortas Wash Mobile
Tijuana, Baja CaliforniaA popular mini-chain of street-food vendors, Tortas Wash Mobile serves one of the tastiest bites anywhere: steak Sandwiches, Tijuana-style.
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D.Z. Akins
San Diego, CaliforniaDZ Akins is San Diego’s archetypal urban deli, home of overstuffed sandwiches, excellent potato pancakes and blintzes, and fresh bakery breads.
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OB Noodle House & Sake Bar
San Diego, CaliforniaFantastic Asian-fusion fare and quick service have made OB Noodle House & Sake Bar Ocean Beach’s favorite noodle spot.
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Tacos Salceados Ermita
Tijuana, Baja CaliforniaThe most inventive taqueria in Tijuana is known for crispy cheese in tacos and on its Papa Cuadrada, a mind-blowing hash of potatoes & meat.
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Las Ahumaderas/Taqueria las Tres Salas
Tijuana, Baja CaliforniaIn boozy Tijuana, the 24-hour taco alley remains a draw for tourists and locals alike. The tacos are reliable and the experience is memorable. A Tijuana staple since 1960.
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Tacos Memo’s
Tijuana, Baja CaliforniaAmong the crowd of Tijuana taco trucks, Tacos Memo’s is one of the best, tempting pedestrians with mesquite-grilled steak topped with chicharron cracklings.