La Paz is the relaxed capital of Baja California Sur with a modest population of just over 250,000 people. It’s an eco-tourism hotspot with opportunities to see whale sharks, rays, and fish galore swimming around the 900 (or so) islands situated off the cost. If snorkeling with sea lions doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can enjoy a stroll down the Malecón, a putz around the town, or a visit to one of the museums.
But no matter what peaks your interest, there’s one activity in La Paz that’s a non-negotiable: eating fish tacos.
Fisheries in La Paz harvest an absurd amount of fish each year. (I can’t seem to find a hard stat on Google, but an exhibit at the town hall told me so). There are dozens of restaurants in La Paz serving up the catch up the day, which raises the question: “Where should I get fish tacos in La Paz?!?!”
The Koningsdam will pay 3 visits to La Paz, and I have dubbed it my Frugal Foodie obligation to go to a new spot each time. Visit numero uno was on November 26th, and I took my visiting cousins to my first La Paz taco spot: McFisher.
The Atmosphere of McFisher
McFisher has an open air dining area that’s relaxed with a communal feel. It has a mom-and-pop charm despite the large kitchen and numerous staff furiously working to keep up with all the patrons. While it’s clearly a tourist hot spot that graces a few “best fish tacos in La Paz” lists, there were still some locals noshing away. Including a woman with a pet bird that was very well behaved.
The Menu at McFisher
The menu boasts a long list of taco options as well as burritos, ceviche, tostadas, and quesadillas. Everything is reasonably priced, and you could easily go back again and again to try new things.
The Food
The meal started with a plate of tortilla chips and a mystery bean dip. The dip was light brown with a creamy texture that tasted as bland as it looked. Luckily, a whole assortment of sauces was delivered soon after. Spice is the antidote to bland, and I loaded my chips up accordingly.
I got “fish diablo” (not pictured) and “deep fried fish” (pictured below) tacos. They came naked, but the toppings and sauces made it easy to get them dressed up to a state fit for consumption.
The fried fish taco was stellar. I appreciated the ample amount of fish, and the freshness from the lime and pico de gallo balanced each bite perfectly. The fish could have had a bit more crunch. But for 40mxn/$2USD you can’t be too mad.
The “la diabla fish taco” was simply grilled fish covered in a spicy mayo. Perfectly edible, but not nearly as satisfying as the fried fish taco. Go figure something that has been stuck in a deep fryer tastes better!
We also tried a special that had chorizo, shrimp, and a big piece of grilled cheese. The shrimp was tasty, the chorizo was average, and I’m never sad eating grilled cheese. But the flavors didn’t make sense together. With that being said, it’s always fun to try something new.
When it comes to fish tacos in La Paz, McFisher delievers.
The food is great, the vibes are right, and the prices are low. Our party of 3 got 3 non-alcoholic drinks, 1 order of guac, 6 tacos, and the chorizo/shrimp/cheese special and the bill came to around $30usd. HOLY FRUGAL!
Next week I’m headed to Claro Fish Jr… stay tuned to see if it outswims McFisher.
Hungry for more cruise port eats? Get the scoop on where to get a ocean front meal on the cheap in Puerto Vallarta HERE!
