Carnitas Lonja is one of 10 places to get good fried fish and shrimp tacos for Lent in San Antonio.
Mike Sutter/StaffAs the first Friday of the Lenten season dawns today, the thoughts of Christians and anybody who watches one minute of TV fast-food commercials are drawn to fish. Fridays are the days when the observant eat fish to honor the 40-day period of sacrifice and reflection leading up to Easter.
That’s some spiritual heavy lifting, but from it arises the tradition of Friday fish fries across the country and the community spirit they foster. And for much of the country, fried fish is where it begins and ends. But San Antonio is blessed, if it’s OK to say that, with fish tacos on Friday and every other day from hundreds of taquerías and restaurants.
Here are 10 good ones to get you started.
On ExpressNews.com: Fred’s Fish Fry vs. Sea Island Shrimp House
La Barca De Jalisco is one of 10 places to get a good fish taco (far right) for Lent in San Antonio.
Mike Sutter/StaffLa Barca De Jalisco
This crazy sky-wedge of a building looks like it could break off and sail over U.S. 87 a few yards away, and their fish taco lets tilapia be the best it can be, with smart chile-salt sear over cabbage, tomatoes, cilantro and avocado — the right mix of crunch, sweetness and flourish a fish taco needs. 606 Steves Ave., 210-534-3111, Facebook: @Labarcadejal
El Bucanero is one of 10 places to get good fried fish tacos for Lent in San Antonio.
Mike Sutter/StaffEl Bucanero
From the churro trucks in the parking lots to the roving mariachis and the molcajetes piled high like Roman feasts, El Bucanero is a carnival that runs year-round in three locations around town. And there’s some great fried fish tacos hiding in the 10-page menu, dressed with avocado, lettuce tomatoes and onions. 16505 Blanco Road, 210-408-9297, more locations at el-bucanero.com
Carnitas Lonja is one of 10 places to get good fried fish and shrimp tacos for Lent in San Antonio.
Mike Sutter/StaffCarnitas Lonja
The Fish Lonja menu has been neatly folded into the everyday menu of carnitas here, and that means some of the best fried shrimp and fried fish tacos right alongside top-flight carnitas spread out on picnic tables scattered over a shaded courtyard. 1107 Roosevelt Ave., 210-455-2105, Facebook: @Lonja17
The Seafood Sampler is a grilled fish taco and a grilled shrimp taco with a baby spinach salad at The Cove, one of 10 places to get good fish tacos for Lent in San Antonio.
Mike Sutter/StaffThe Cove
A cool neo-hippie vibe, a big playscape for kids, cold beer — and fish tacos. The Cove is a one-stop shop for the Seafood Sampler: one grilled fish taco and one grilled shrimp taco on blue corn tortillas with a spinach salad on the side. 606 W. Cypress St., 210-227-2683, thecove.us
The Haven Southtown is one of 10 places to get good fish tacos like these on the Ralphie's Special for Lent in San Antonio.
Mike Sutter/StaffThe Haven Southtown
Formerly known as Taco Haven, The Haven Southtown is still the place for tacos, especially Ralphie’s Special, a trio of lightly fried corn tortilla tacos with grilled fish hiding under a mass of marinated cabbage, tomato and lime served with rice and ranchero beans. 1032 S. Presa St., 210-533-2171, havensouthtown.com
On ExpressNews.com: Mexican seafood showdown: El Bucanero vs. El Golfo de Mexico vs. El Siete Mares
Mahi-mahi fish tacos incorporate cabbage, tomatoes and onions on lightly fried corn tortillas at La Fogata, one of 10 places to get good fish tacos for Lent in San Antonio.
Mike Sutter/StaffLa Fogata
With locations now at Dominion Ridge and Austin Highway, the original La Fogata on Vance Jackson isn’t the only place to escape to the Mexican coast with Tacos de Pescado, made with grilled mahi-mahi and served with a lush chipotle cream sauce. 2427 Vance Jackson Road, 210-340-1337, more locations at lafogata.com
Fried fish tacos come with cabbage slaw and chipotle mayo at Panfila Cantina, one of 10 places to get good fish tacos for Lent in San Antonio.
Mike Sutter/StaffPanfila Cantina
The menu folds in street food, enchiladas, mole, tacos and enchiladas along with a daily brunch, but a trio of fish tacos is always on the list: three streamlined fillets with a simple, suitable dress of cabbage and chipotle mayo. 22250 Bulverde Road, Suite 114, 210-455-0702, panfilacantinaandrestaurant.com
Fish tacos incorporating cabbage-fennel slaw, guacamole, pickled carrots and hemp-seed salsa can be ordered with collard green leaves instead of tortillas at Pharm Table, one of 10 places to get good fish tacos for Lent in San Antonio.
Mike Sutter/StaffPharm Table
Pick heirloom corn tortillas or wide collard leaves for za’atar-crusted fish dressed as bright, tangy and crunchy as a summer salad. And always pick Pharm Table for a sunny table on the patio. 611 S. Presa St., Suite 106, 210-802-1860, pharmtable.com
El Siete Mares is one of 10 places to get good fried fish tacos (left) and fried shrimp tacos for Lent in San Antonio.
Mike Sutter/StaffEl Siete Mares Seafood Restaurant
One of the city’s old-school mariscos shops since 1994, El Siete Mares understands the simple beauty of a well-fried Baja fish or shrimp taco, laid out like tempura over tortillas dressed out in color and crunch like they do it at a roadside stand on the peninsula itself. 3831 W. Commerce St., 210-436-6056, Facebook: @ElSieteMaresSA
Tycoon Flats is one of 10 places to get good fish tacos for Lent in San Antonio, including a mango fish taco, top and a Southwestern fish taco.
Mike Sutter/StaffTycoon Flats
More famous for burgers, margaritas and nachos, Tycoon Flats is a sleeper for two of the city’s best grilled tilapia tacos, one dressed with mango and avocado, the other wearing a Southwestern ensemble of cabbage, pico de gallo and chipotle mayo. 2926 N. St. Mary's St., 210-320-0819, tycoonflats.net
msutter@express-news.net | Twitter: @fedmanwalking | Instagram: @fedmanwalking
