San Diego and the all fish taco diet

Before we can even think about the trade show, yarn stuff, crocheting or weaving… we have to talk about the fish tacos. Having never been to San Diego, I was unaware (but quickly learned — thank you, Mari!) that the signature dish of the area is fish tacos. And by an incredible stroke of luck, my $17/night hostel was located a block away from (what is claimed to be) the home of the world’s best fish taco. South Beach Bar & Grille is located in Ocean Beach, a little old school beach community just a little northwest of downtown San Diego. The small, palm tree-lined streets are punctuated by smoke shops, body piercing parlours, Irish bars, and of course, surf shops.

I loved this spot. My day rate at the hostel cost less than the breakfast at the Hyatt hotel. It cost less than one day of parking at the hotel. I had a room designed with six bunks, but I was the only one in the room for three nights… so it was like getting a private room plus private shower. I would come back to this hostel in a heartbeat. Along with free towels (unusual at hostels, I found) and free Wifi, the hostel would serve a free, hot buffet with all the eggs and flapjacks you could eat. I’d get my coffee and walk the two blocks to the beach every morning, letting the sun and the sound of surf clear my head for the day. The residents were warm and friendly… and just very real. And no matter what I did in the daytime, I’d always come back to OB for dinner…

On Thursday afternoon, before I started my five hour drive from San Diego to Los Angeles (not the smartest thing, I know, but I had to get to the Unwind anniversary party), I bumped into this undeniably awesome taco shop in Mission Hills called Lucha Libre Taco Shop. Eating mahi tacos in a shop with hot pink walls and zebra striped chairs with luchador masks embroidered to them… it’s a completely perfect combination. And they have a bathroom painted entirely in metallic silver with mirrors on the ceiling… take your photo there and you can post it to their myspace page. Hah.

In the Starbucks line up on Saturday morning at TNNA, I bumped into Chris Bylsma and she recommended the Tin Fish across the street from the San Diego Convention Center, just outside the Gas Lamp district. She said it was so good she ate there twice in one day!

I think I’ve always associated tacos with the kind of small, crispy hard shell that is awkward and messy to eat… the fillings of the taco end up everwhere except your mouth. But these are light, soft tortillas, doubled up for strength and topped with a fresh, grilled piece of fish, a pile of shredded cabbage, salsa and white sauce. They are just fresh, light but filling. The grilled ones never make you feel weighted down. Mari wondered if they put butter in the rice because it’s so addictive.

I’ve been home for three nights and I miss my fish tacos.