I get the feeling that the people surrounding us at Bay Park Fish Company have been coming here for a while.
It just has that feel to it.
Nestled in the quaint and communal neighborhood of Bay Park, this restaurant is quintessentially San Diego.
Photos of local fishermen with their catches adorn the walls, as do fishing rods and various mounted fish.
If you haven’t guessed yet, the theme here is fish.
Seating is ample, though in the evenings and weekends, the place gets packed. There is an outdoor patio, but pickings are slim, so if this is a requirement, come early.
Brooklyn loves the booths here, which line both walls.
Up a small ramp is the bar area, which has a sports bar feel to it, but not in an obnoxious way. It feels like a place where you can sit, drink a beer, watch a game, and engage in some friendly conversation with a neighbor or the wait staff.
This place just feels screams consistency. When you show up, you know exactly what you’re going to get, from the food to the service.
They even serve their entrees on blue plates, as if to say no matter what changes San Diego may be going through (and there are a lot at the moment), we’ll be here serving up the staples.
And those staples do not disappoint: Fresh fish entrees (including an obligatory catch of the day), a wide variety of local craft beers, appetizers like ahi poke and calamari, and coastal mainstays like fish and chips, crab cakes, seafood pasta, clam chowder and ceviche.
The fish tacos will always be a solid bet, with the halibut or mahi being prepared in one of three ways: battered, grilled, blackened, then topped with cabbage, salsa fresca, and crema.
If you’re not a white fish fan, the salmon tacos, topped with shredded lettuce, mango sales, and chipotle sauce, are divine.
I’m partial to the shrimp a la diabla tacos, which are served on two tortillas with melted cheese and topped with a spicy onion, bell pepper, cilantro chili sauce. If you’re looking for tons of flavor, look no further.
Due to its chowderhouse-esque, East Coast ambience, I almost overlooked the sushi menu, but don’t make this mistake.
Bay Park Fish Company’s sushi rolls are some of the freshest I’ve ever had—and they’re included in the happy hour menu.
Say what? Happy hour? That’s right!
While the price range is typical for a seafood restaurant, happy hour is always an option for a good deal and on Tuesdays you can get fish tacos for $3.50.
Happy hour runs from 3pm-6pm DAILY, yes even Saturdays and Sundays, and includes discounts on wine, beer, appetizers, oysters, and basic sushi rolls.
As you may have caught on, Bay Park Fish Company is indeed more than just a typical fishery, even if fish is their claim to fame. On the menu, you’ll find dishes that range from Asian-inspired ahi wontons and sushi towers to burritos, burgers, tortas, and tortilla chips to the classic mussels, clams, and oysters.
Here’s Brooklyn devouring a bowl of edamame.
It can be easy to mistake variety for lacking in quality. After all, a jack of all trades is a master of none. But Bay Park Fish Company knows what they do best: Fresh as heck fish.
And if you stick to that, you’ll be good to go.
Bay Park Fish Co. Details
Dining options: Indoors, bar, outdoor seating, takeout or pick up. (No sushi bar)
Location: 4121 Ashton St, San Diego, CA, 92110
Payment options: Cash, credit cards
Food service: Brunch, happy hour, dinner
