While carne asada is king in the Sonoran desert, don’t dismiss the fish. Fish tacos don’t need to be complicated. The fish should be juicy and taste fresh. If they’re fried, they need to be crunchy. Everything else is a bonus. Here are our picks for the best fish tacos in Tucson. (P.S. If a place has a great fish taco, it’s safe to assume their shrimp taco is great too.)
The seafood at Cocteleria La Palma is exceptional, and the fish and shrimp tacos are no exception. While the quality of the seafood itself is notably fresh, the batter itself is worth a mention with its light, not-too-dense crunch.
What sets these fish tacos apart is their freshness and authenticity. Pico De Gallo makes their tacos fresh to order, starting from scratch with the masa, which ensures maximum freshness​​. Their fish tacos consist of two corn tacos filled with minced cabbage and three good-sized pieces of fish that have been breaded and fried, complemented by, of course, some pico de gallo and queso fresco. They are served with a side of re-fried beans and jalapeno carrot pickle, adding an authentic touch that you don’t often see in other Mexican restaurants.
For a mishmash of seafood, order the Taco Gordo at Taco Fish. The goliath of a taco is topped with fried fish, fried shrimp, and a pepper stuffed with meaty shredded marlin.
Whether you want grilled or fried, BOCA has you covered. The Salmon is marinated with citrus and grilled, while the Pescado features beer-battered whitefish. The tacos are dressed simply with chopped cabbage for crunch, while the daily changing salsas make it so you won’t get the same flavor experience twice regardless of how often you visit.
Order the fresh fish of the day on a taco and enjoy the beautiful courtyard.
