Fish House-Solana Beach

How have I lived here so long and not known about this gem? Fresh awesome seafood. Paella was perfect. Cioppino delicious and the crab cakes were mostly crab and less cake. Nicest people. Freshest fish. Healthy choices ior just go nuts with deep fried perfection! We shall be back!

Service was slow, and the food was edible but not great for the price we paid. Meh.

We really liked the fried oysters. He got a salmon burger which was super tasty, and I ordered fried cod and fries. The cod was in nice big pieces and batter was lovely. The fries are nice and thick. I don‘t remember the servers name, but she was the only person on the floor, with 5 tables, and was still very attentive. I was also impressed that the beverage selection included more than just a soda machine.

Over all great local eats and good service. I had the protein bowl which was delicious. I ordered it with both carne asada and with chicken. I also asked for fresh salsa and hot sauce. Seriously a stroke of genius. The menu said over a bed of sautéed kale so I was a little concerned. But the kale was amazing. The cook it with a dash of white wine and it was to die for. I would reconvene this plate to anyone.
The restroom was clean and and easy laid back environment with 9 beers on tap and a fridge full of bottled beers and bottled root beer for those of you that would so fancy. Over all nice little local joint.

Lucky to find this place in what looked like a pretty low energy area-​bad assumption on my part. They had a great paella and an awesome lobster burrito. We went for dinner but the lunch specials look to be really cheap!

Had a Ono sandwich tonight… sliced sourdough bread was dry, fish was dry and didn’t really taste fresh. I asked to have the bread toasted a bit but realized the server didn’t much care that I was not happy with my meal! Server Said he would tell the cook… won’t be going back

Picked up lunch here the other day. Ordering was fast and easy. $ 16 for a sandwich. The fish was cooked well and fresh. Overall ok

Not too impressed with this place, I may have ordered the wrong thing but I am not too much of a fan. Ordered a grilled fish sandwich which was just ok. Service was ok, super young kid waiting tables who was nice but nothing spectacular. Don’t think I will be back.

Got take out the other night… service is easy and warm and many people were finishing their meals and lingering… since its in the back side of a strip mall, there are only locals, adults only and families.
The clam chowder was excellent and I was so glad I got a large! The shrimp and fish tacos were just ok, seasoning was kind of cajun ish, just not what I was expecting. That’s my bad really, I should have gone for the snapper sandwich or fish and chips.
Until next time!

The age-​old adage of «good things» take time, or in this case «fresh and tasty,» applies to Fish House. I’d recommend calling in your order, if you are able. The fish and chips are delicious. Very much your standard fair. Which is not to say they aren’t worth ordering, but nothing exotic, or unique going on here.
The cioppino is an absolute gem of a dish. Not to be missed if you are a seafood lover. There are so many layers of flavor, with the crusty/​crunchy bread being a perfect compliment to the dish.
The paella is a very close second, in terms of depth of flavor. I recommend bringing a friend, ordering both, and sharing in the goodness of both dishes.
If I’m in the area, have an hour to burn, and am craving seafood, you can bet I will be at Fish House-​Solana Beach.

The hub and I decided to give this place another try since we always loved coming here for fish tacos and Clam Chowder. If you’ve read my previous review, you’ll know why I gave this place a 3. However after our last visit, I’d have to say they stepped up their game and redeemed themselves! I ordered their Half Snapper Sandwich and Clam Chowder combo from their «Lunch Special» menu which I’m happy to say, were both very good and tasted far better than I was expecting. There were no missing flavors or ingredients, thank goodness. It was like a breath of fresh air! Hub got his fish tacos + beer and ordered more after he wiped his plate clean. The tacos were really flavorful and they definitely fulfilled our seafood cravings!
Overall, we were really happy this time around. We will definitely be back again!

A lot of hype on the Lobster Burrito (disappointed) :(
The Surf n Turf burrito was better :)
Calamari strips were huge but delicious :)
Clam Chowder was good
Fish & Chips (could use a little seasoning)
Service was great
Good beer selection

The first thing I learned when I came here for lunch was that they have been around for over 20 years, since 1994 in fact. I did not know that. Given the have a good track record, I was excited to try one of their lunch specials, the Half of Snapper Sandwich on sourdough with a bowl of their famous Clam Chowder for $ 7.99.
I asked for my snapper to prepared blacked for a Cajun twist. I was not only very pleased with the succulent preparation and great seasoning and blackening of the snapper, but I was also very please with the beautiful thick flavorful piece they put in the sandwich. Overall, the snapper was very well prepared and tasted great.
I liked the way they left the tomatoes, lettuce, and red onions on the side, including the tartar sauce, which allowed me to control the amount I wanted on the sandwich. The tartar sauce was very good. I can’t remember if they said they make it in house, but I think they do. Good stuff indeed.
The clam chowder was great too. It had just the right creaminess, not to loose nor thick, just right. Its flavor was terrific with not only a subtle clam flavor, but a nice mêlée of herbs and seasoning as well. The chowder also included nice pieces of tender clams with a small bit of a chew, in a good way of course. As tradition goes, the oyster crackers went very well with the chowder.
Great daily lunch specials, ranging from $ 6.99 to $ 7.99 and very nice service.

This place was quite the catch! It was a recommendation that paid off on an otherwise wasted morning.
Their lunch special had two price choices: $ 6.99 and $ 7.99 both with seven menu items served every day of the week from 11am to 4pm to wet your appetite. I went with a classic, fish tacos off the $ 6.99 menu.
Add to the stunning sea food selection, a line up of great beers, and ample seating both inside and you have a party ready to happen for any game night celebration. The fish tacos were killer, just what I needed to re-​energize and get back out to finish my errands.

3.5 Stars !!
We came here for their popular lobster burrito.
They have indoor and outdoor seating.
Although I feel like the indoor seating is a bit tight inside.
Sticky tables. They could use some better table spray.
The food prices here are actually pretty cheap/​decent for being a fish market.
Lobster Burrito $ 10.95
(served with rice and beans)
Honestly the rice and beans were a disappointment. It looked like plain hard rice and mushy beans with a little bit of cheese on top. We didn’t even bother eating that part. But the lobster itself was pretty good. Plentiful of lobster meat but the rest of the filing tasted like pico de gallo and cabbage. I think it would taste better with chipotle sauce and guacamole.
Fried Oysters & Chips $ 14.95
(Served with fat cut french fries, coleslaw and marinara sauce)
Personally I don’t eat marinara sauce, so I requested for ranch instead. I didn’t like the fries because they were super plain and chewy. I prefer thin cut fries that are crispy and flavored. I also don’t eat coleslaw so I gave it to my bf and he didn’t like it either. The dish came with 8 pieces of fried oysters which is great. They were pretty crispy and good, but also flavorless.
Overall, they have potential here but could use some work on flavoring their food. And especially they need better sides.

I’ve been eating in this area for so many years and never noticed this restaurant. But just the name made me curious and when I saw the reviews/​rating, I decided to give them a try. So happy I did!
Located in a very small strip mall but seems to be adequate parking. When I went inside, there were only a few people eating. It’s clean inside and the seating is very comfortable. While the menu has so many great items I wanted to try, I settled for the fried fish tacos and fish and chips.
The fried fish taco was a big piece of fish with light breading. Very crispy and came in semi crispy corn tortilla with cabbage and shredded cheese and a container of some spicy red sauce. After biting into the taco I realized the freshness of the fish and with the hot sauce on top this was a great fish taco!
While the fish taco was quite good, the fish & chips were amazing! I had the two piece cod and each piece was lightly coated and very crispy. I bit into the fish and it was the most amazing tasting fish! I put a little of the tartar sauce which was different from a traditional tartar sauce. I also tried it with a squeeze of lemon and the vinegar. The fish was great with anything I tried but honestly, this fish was amazing with nothing else on it. Of course the chips that came with it were the perfect size and cooked to perfection as well. This dish came with a side of cole slaw which I also have to say was excellent!
Out of all of San Diego County, they have the best fish & chips by far! No question about it. I am so looking forward to coming back to try the grilled fish tacos and a grilled piece of fish for dinner. They really do have amazing fresh fish and this is a new favorite for me.
One comment for the owner: please get rid of the styrofoam to-​go containers. It won’t be long before they are banned and they are horrible for the environment. You cannot recycle them in San Diego County and there are local companies that make recyclable to-​go containers. Cost comparison between recyclable containers and styrofoam to-​go containers, it might cost 15 cents more per container which as a consumer, I would be more than happy to pay. I hope you will take that into consideration and I would be happy to give a 5 star rating if you make the change.

Came here Friday night and found it to be bustling though still had plenty of seating. The waiter remarked how busy it was, and I was surprised he considered this particularly busy for a Friday night. The age range of the people eating there were on the older side, most looked to be 60 or 70 which gave me hope — they know whats good right?
The food was good, I got a lobster quesadilla ~$ 11 and my hubs got the California burrito ~12. Both were what we had hoped they would be and I think we’d both order them again. The price for the atmosphere of the place it seemed a bit high though. The best part was the $ 1 side of guacamole, which had a nice lime-​y taste and took me by surprise. I saw a few people eating clam chowder and they looked happy.
The con, and it’s a big con, was the wait. When we first sat we waited about 10 minutes to put in our order after we had set down our menus, and then another 25 – 30 minutes to receive our order. The restaurant was just not busy enough to account for this.

Lobster burrito… NUFF SAID! Party of 7 of us came in for lunch. Out of 7, 4 order their infamous lobster burrito. It’s fantastic! Large lobster pieces, cabbage and a spicy hot sauce served on the side make it a perfect meal (ask for a couple lime wedges, and you’ll be writing 5 star reviews yourself). The meal comes with rice and beans for $ 10.99, and the burrito is good size so it was a good deal that’s for sure. I don’t eat beans so I can’t speak to the flavor of those but the rice… oh man the rice was outstanding! I wish I could make rice that good.
So what did the other 3 people order you ask?
One had the salmon burger which he says was very tasty. The other 2 shared a fish and chips order and they both enjoyed the fish and chips. The fish had a beautiful golden crunchy exterior and appeared to be nice and flaky inside.
Glad we went out of the way to come back for lunch. (We had walked in the day before for a to go drink and the smell of the amazing food is what drew us back the following day). I will definitely have to make this a go to spot if I find myself in the area again.

So yummy!
Crab Cakes were the first thing to hit my hungry mouth, and boy, did they deliver on deliciousness. Lobster Burrito came next. Juicy and tender.
My boyfriend got one of the Mesquite Char-​Grilled fish entrees with a side of Cole Slaw. I believe he got the Sea Bass.
I know it’s a fish restaurant, but the Cole Slaw deserves kudos. Every place makes it differently, and I really liked it here!
We loved the food and will definitely be back.

Decent fare with spotty service.
We walked to this little restaurant before going to the Belly Up for a show. Initially, we weren’t entirely sure we’d actually be dining here, but neither of us really wanted to wander around Solana Beach trying to find dinner, so we grabbed a couple of menus and the cleanest (yet still dirty) outdoor table we could find, and settled in.
The menu is pretty expansive, which was nice, but it was also a bit more expensive than I would have liked or expected. It took a bit of time for me to decide on an order — I kept waffling between what I was really drawn to (put off by the price) and what I could settle on (lower price point).
In the end, I ordered their two fish taco plate, and substituted vegetables and fries for the rice and beans. The hubs got a snapper sandwich. We also ordered two iced teas to try to fight off the heat.
There was only one waiter working that night, which is probably why the service was sub-​par. Don’t get me wrong, he was friendly enough, but it took forever for us to get the drinks, and he never wiped down the table, even though I asked for some extra napkins to do that myself.
The food took a bit longer to come out, as well, given that they weren’t that busy (maybe there was only one person in the kitchen, too…) My husband loved his sandwich, which was a good thing. My plate was okay. It didn’t blow me away, and at first I thought they had given me the wrong thing. I ordered the grilled fish, and on first glance, it looked fried. Closer inspection revealed it wasn’t fried, just really saucy.
The thing with the plate I ordered was, apparently the tacos were a mix of different fishes, all chopped up and served together, not just one kind or one piece, like I’m used to. It was interesting, and it was tasty, but it was also super messy. The tortilla had no chance against all the sauce within the tacos.
Overall it wasn’t a terrible pre-​show meal, but I kind of wish we had stopped somewhere else beforehand. Ah, well. Now we know.