When it comes to frugal bites that taste like a million bucks, baja fish tacos take home the gold.
The baja fish taco is a humble item. It’s simply beer battered fried fish topped with fresh cabbage and pico de gallo wrapped up in a warm tortilla. A healthy slather of the chefs special sauce that’s a mix of mayo, sour cream, and perhaps some chipotle ties it all together. The combination of bright flavors and different types of crunch has the ability to spiral the tastebuds into unadulterated foodie bliss. And, in Baja California, you can snag one for under $3USD. If you know where to look that is…..
I’ve been working on a cruise ship bopping around Mexico for the past few months, and we’ve done several Baja California cruise runs that stop in Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, and Loreto. Many a fish taco has been consumed, and most have been pretty darn good because I’ve gotten pretty darn good at picking spots.
Here are key tips on what to look for in a taco spot on your Baja California cruise to avoid overpriced, under-flavored tacos.
- Look for a menu that serves tacos a la cart. Spots that serve tacos via platters are always more expensive. Platters take time to put together, time requires labor, labor ain’t free.
- Keep an eye out for a toppings bar. Authentic Baja tacos are served totally naked, and you use the toppings bar to dress them up as you wish.
- Kitschy signs in English with phrases like It’s “Beer O’Clock” and “The Tequila Made Me Do It” are immediate nos.
- Bare bones decor with no hint of “trend” is a great sign.
- Note who the diners are. Plenty of locals is a green flag.
- And, of course, a Frugal Foodie 101 rule: get off the waterfront/main tourist drag.
Following these 6 tips will set you up for success. But of course I have some specific recommendations too.
Let’s dive into where to get fish tacos on a Baja California cruise!
Stop 1, Cabo San Lucas: Los Claros
The secret to finding good fish tacos in Cabo that are a reasonable value for money is to get off the water front (tip #6). Los Claros is a casual spot that’s a short walk away from the hubbub, and they serve up mean fish tacos and epic margaritas to match.
The fried fish taco boasts a respectable palm-sized fillet for the frugal price of 40MXN/$2USD. Rather than a tempura batter, it has a thinner, crunchier coating that gives each bite an ideal fish to coating ratio. Plus, the toppings bar is impressively stocked with a few types of slaw and plenty of sauces, making it easy to customize your taco to your liking.
I washed everything down with jalapeño margarita, and I highly advise you do the same. It was strong, not too sweet, and made with fresh ingredients rather than a pre-made mix.
Low prices, great food, and strong drinks make Los Claros a can’t miss on your Baja California cruise.
Pro Tip: I also tried the grilled fish tacos, and the amount of shrimp was shrimpy…. skip these!
Have a taste for Al Pastor tacos in Cabo San Lucas? Check out THIS spot too!
Stop 2, La Paz: Claro Fish Jr
On your Baja California cruise, stop #2 will likely be La Paz. La Paz has loads of dining options, but there’s one spot that’s so good I ended up going back 3 times: Claro Fish Jr. Claro Fish Jr. is a casual joint that’s just off the Southern end of the malecon. It’s frequented by locals with a few tourists sprinkled about— something I like as tourist who pretends like I’m different from all the other tourists.
The fish tacos come with two huge pieces of tempura beer battered fish that are crunchy, light, and not in the least bit greasy. The toppings bar gives Los Claros in Cabo a run for it’s money with even more types of slaws, sauces, and forms of pico and corn salads. Each “pescado capeado” will set you back 48mxn/$2.32USD. Not to shabby!
While this post is dedicated to fish tacos on your Baja California cruise, it’d be criminal to not get the coconut shrimp tacos at Claro Fish Jr. The huge shrimp are covered in a delightfully crunchy, perfectly sweet coconut coating that pairs stupendously well with the various spicy sauces and fresh coleslaw mixes. It’s a genius menu item that I’ve never had before, and something that may just may a “best bites of 2025 list”.
Stop 3, Loreto: Tacos Nany
If your Baja California cruise calls into Loreto, get pumped! This pleasant town has relaxed charm with a well-preserved pedestrianized center featuring a tree lined walkway peppered with artisan shops and restaurants. Paying 160mxn/$7.75USD for a taco platter at one of said restaurants isn’t necessarily expensive compared to prices back in the US. But as a Frugal Foodie, I’m here to tell you there are better tacos for lower prices at a spot not too far off the main drag at Tacos Nany.
Tacos Nany is a mom and pop operation that serves 5 types of taco, soft drinks, and margaritas. That’s it. If you want something else, head somewhere else! The fried fish tacos are made to order, and they have a beautifully light batter with a solid crunch factor. The toppings bar has fewer options than the other two fish taco spots on this list, but it has what you need to get the job done: cabbage, special white sauce, hot sauce, and lime. I went twice, and on the second visit there was pickled onion which added a nice tang.
The food is tasty. But what makes Tacos Nany a home run is the service. There’s one woman who spearheads the front and a man who running things in the back. It’s the type of establishment you want to give your money to. Plus, each fried fish taco is just 40mxn/$2USD,
If you love fish tacos, these 3 spots are a can’t miss on your Baja California cruise!
Happy eating!
