El Siete Mares
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: None
19 reviews
Neighborhood: Downtown
"dine la brought me here and i have to say, it was totally bang for the buck. SO MUCH FOOD. and great service too. it wasn't the best…" read more »
54 Reviews for El Siete Mares
mmm
huge fish tacos, they come double wrapped, so i usually make four tacos out of two, it's tough to handle if not
i always end up getting the two taco special and call it a day
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yum.
ceviche tostadas.
yum.
fish tacos.
yum.
cheap.
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Ceviche: muy bueno
Fish tacos: muy malo
That is what I have to say about this place. I have driven past this little taco shop and have come close to giving myself whiplash trying to figure out what so many people are waiting in line for. Turns out they are waiting their turn to eat some mean ass ceviche. This taco shop has a very streamlined menu, which is made up almost entirely of seafood items with the exception of a burger special and a few taco options which include a seriously yummy Al Pastor and chicken of course. I wasn't too impressed with the fish tacos, especially since I had my heart set on Best Fish Tacos in Ensenda (closed on Mondays). Nevertheless, I got to check out El Siete Mares and I'm glad I did because know I know where to go for some authentic ceviche. They sell Mexican coke (coke in the bottle) and the service is top notch. Definitely worth a visit if your in the mood for some Mexican comida de la mar.
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I have to admit I have driven by this place several times and it always seemed a little scary. "mariscos frescas" (or something to the like) in blue letters on a bright orange wall made me wonder -- hmmm...looks authentic, but will I get sick??? So I never made that stop. However, the other day we were over-empty on the food levels (you know, when your stomach starts turning on itself) so we decided to this was "go" time for the seven seas.
I chose fried shrimp tacos and my partner-in-crime chose the fish tacos, fried. That, plus two canned sodas, came to about ten dollars. I am not sure it was enough food, two small tacos to each plate with the fried shrimp tacos being deep-fried lil' pockets. This made me sad because although I love greasy, fried food I was hoping the shrimp would be fried, not the taco shell. The fish tacos just failed in general -- too much cabbage, not enough sauce and I am still wondering if there was any fish under that batter. They both tasted the same too, call me crazy but I was hoping there would be some kind of difference between the plates.
It was nice to sit outside on the patio and wolf down the food, you can't beat the weather even when it is on the hot side and a fish taco just seems to fit with it all.
I eyed the cerviche but that may have to be another trip since we didn't have time. Good thing I didn't get it because this little bit of food sat in my stomach for the rest of the afternoon, although I am unsure if it's because we wolfed it down faster than you can say "blueberry pie" or because it was just really heavy greasy food.
Nothing I would stop by on purpose, there's much better to be had in the way of the tacos mariscos.
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One day Edgar felt like putting on a too-small vest-y top, balloon-y pants and elf-y shoes that curl at the toes - a la Sinbad.
But alas, lacking a seafaring vessel, instead of heading to distant shores, Edgar jumped into Edgar's silver late 90s Honda and headed over to Silver Lake's Siete Mares (in American "The Seven Seas"), where Edgar supped on fish tacos instead of whatever it is that Medieval Persian Pirates sup on (cous cous perhaps? or maybe hummus?).
Edgar first became aware of Siete Mares when Edgar and his merry band of brigands (a.k.a. poker buddies) were watching a boxing match and noticed that one of the pugilists donned trunks with the eatery's name emblazoned on its waistband. Thus, whenever the poor fellow took a pounding below on his Davy Jones' Locker, the name of Siete Mares was pounded into Edgar's brain.
Enough back story! On with the review!
The fish tacos were fine. Not great. Not horrible. If Edgar needed a quick fix and was in that 'hood then Edgar would def. stop by - but Edgar wouldn't go out of his way to get Siete Mares' fish tacos - esp. since Ensenada's Best Fish Tacos is in its proximity.
Edgar will have to retire his Arabian buccaneer outfit now. Um, maybe not the elf shoes.
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Fuck yeah!
If I'm anywhere near here and hungry... I'm stopping and getting either the Carne Asada burrito or the taco plate special.
Cheap and good.
Do not order anything from here after 8PM! I think they only make a certain amount of food for the day. I stopped here late one night and they must have sieved the meat from the grease trap. Let's just say, squirts ensued.
Great for lunch though.
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Not great but won't kill you either. About $10 got me three huge fried fish tacos, a water and a sprite. Just me and my skateboard out on date night (the sprite was for my board).
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I don't make it to the neighborhood often enough-- but whenever I do I hit this well-travelled taco stand. If the restaurant is anywhere near as reliable as their satellite, I would probably recommend that, too, except I'm such a tourist I always wind up at that weird german place up the road...
5 for the fish and shrimp tacos! Crispy, light, delicious shrimp and fish tacos *enthusiastic thumbs up*. The fries are good too.
The ceviche is no bueno, especially "mixed seafood". Mixed seafood means mostly imitation crab meat and really tough octopus - maybe 1 or 2 shrimpies.
"El Siete Mares" is a Spanish phrase which means "the sieta mares."
Just kidding.
"El Siete Mares" is a Spanish phrase which means "the seven mares."
Just kidding.
"El Siete Mares" is a Spanish phrase which means "the seven seas."
Not kidding, just doesn't sound so interesting. It'd be better if it translated to "Kick Ass Latin Seafood" because that's what it is.
_C$
We were headed for the Observatory, so this was a close enough place to stop off and get some food. Unfortunately, it sucked. It sucked big time.
First of all, when I got my fish taco and shrimp taco, it was COVERED with cabbage and very little sauce. When we asked for salsa..you know, the good tomato chunks/cilantro/onions salsa, we were handed something that looked more like runny hot sauce. And not even spicy hot sauce - just mild. The fish and shrimp itself were okay. They don't fill up the tacos and the breading was too light. I was soo disappointed because I was really craving fish tacos.
The only thing I liked was the horchata, but you really can't go wrong there, can you?
Okay, first, go to the taco stand outside. There is no reason to go into the restaurant. Even if you are on a date. Eat outside, by the busy street, just like your hobo father.
Get a burrito with shrimp, fish, squid, or whatever they have on special.
You'll thank me later.
Ya hobo.
When it comes to any ethnic restaurant, you've heard people saying "if you see lots of _____(fill the black with whatever applicable ethnicity in question) people eating, that means the food is good and authentic; if you only see white people eating there, well, not so good."
El Site Mares proved that such presumption was totally a myth...or at least it is not necessarily true all the time. The authentic looking exterior, authentic looking menu, authentic looking clientele (mostly Spanish speaking, at least when I was there)....my expectations were pretty high.
To start off our exciting seafood fiesta, we had some oysters on half shells: the nastiest raw oysters i've ever had in my life. Gross. Worse than 20cent/piece oysters I had at a dive bar in Baton Rouge, LA.
Ceviche: I'd never seen ceviche made of imitation crab before. A huge slabs of imitation crab and defrosted baby shrimps are the major constituents of the cevhche at El Siete Mares. Unacceptable. And you know what, it wasn't even that cheap!
El Siete Mares seafood special plate: Mostly deep-fried tasteless defrosted stuff that are generally categorized as "seafood," though, if you had told me that I was eating a deep-fried cardboard, i would have believed you. It was all so bland, dry and totally flavorless. I searched for some sauce or fresh salsa to cover up the lack of flavor of the deep fried whatever on my plate only to discover that all I had was a pre-packaged tartar sauce (the kind you get with your economy flight meal). What! Oh, this special dish comes with huge slabs of imitation crab as well. On a plastic plate.
OK, if you name your restaurant "El Siete Mares" and give it a menu focused on seafood, one would naturally be lead to think that your restaurant's speciaties are seafood, right? Please, it is very misleading.
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I can't say how much I love this place. Skip the indoor restaurant and hit up the stand. The fish ceviche is spot on, and the Mexican-style shrimp cocktail is one of the best outside of East L.A. On a hot day, brownbag a king can of Tecate, order some seafood and enjoy the moment while you sit amongst all sorts of people who also need to feed their craving for good, cheap seafood...yeah, I didn't know there was such a thing either in Silverlake. Their Yucatan-style fish taco with cabbage and a creamy sauce is exactly what Del Taco wishes it could offer but can never...ever do...not like this
I was craving ceviche because, you know, it was fish Friday. When I went to eat it, I thought to myself, "man this is going to be refreshing and light and tangy..."
...and then I bit into a frozen chunk of fish.
I was so bummed. Ceviche should be served cold, but this was taking it a little too far. Maybe someone forgot to leave it in the microwave a little longer during the defrosting, but it kinda ruined dinner because I had to wait for the fishy to thaw. Wah.
(The coctel de camaron is good.)
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Eh, it's ok. For Los Angeles, this is NOT a good thing. Amazing Mexican food is everywhere here, and just "ok" doesn't cut it.
I've had the ceviche (good), fish tacos (good), shrimp burrito (better than good but not great) and tacos al pastor (ok) as well as the platanos fritos (frickin' amazing). Unfortunately, they're almost ALWAYS out of platanos.
Plus, the last time I was there they had a "B" rating and were trying to hide it behind the window.
Not the best Mexican seafood I've had but definitely serviceable. I guess what disappoints me the most is that the portions are kinda small and yet it's still expensive for Mexican food. The food itself is ok, but not really done to my liking, after the second time there I think I'll pass from now on.
Located on the north side of Sunset down in silver lake is this little stand/drive through, and its partner sit-down place. The stand is small with tables out on a covered patio overlooking the fine traffic on Sunset.
The menu is a varied array of tacos burritos, ceviches, and cocktails. I mean the shrimp and fish kind you drunkards.
I ordered fish, al pastor and carne asada. Ased if I wanted everything on it, I say yes. I find that is always a good way to go.
Fish tacos are really good. Lots of fish, cabbage, you know the drill.
The carne asada is okay, and the al pastor also okay not worht ordering again.
Moral of the story, check out this joint for some tasty fish tacos. Ask them for some spicy salsa cause the stuff they gave me was mild as can be and almost flavorless.
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Long day. Not much cash. First taco time experience with Siete Mares thanks to a colleague who knew exactly where to go. He delivered 2 piping hot fish tacos that weren't too heavy but didn't flake apart in my soft corn tortillas.
Fast, satisfying, cheap. Who could ask for anything more? I'll definitely be going back!
I completely love this place. the best fish tacos i have had, and the ceviche is bomb. (altho i only have the shrimp so far....every time.... camarones!!)
The reason this is not a 5 star is there is an indoor resturant.
i have not eaten in there, but i have 3 trusted friends that all have said do not eat there.
by all accounts known to me, the indoor is a bit more spendy, and not as good.
the outdoor stand on the other hand, absolutely fantastic.
there are few things in life that i wake up craving,, this is one of those things. i used to live quite close to the stand,, and even though i've moved a few miles away,, i never mind the trip. i love bringing out-of-towners here. sanfrookylners don't have fish tacos; they go a little heady after a few bites, saying things like, "i never knew it could be *this* good!"
7 mares can't be beat in a shrimp taco contest. not that i'm not up to try challengers,, i try the competition often. order the #3 combo ,, sub coke can for mexican coke bottle (everywhere south of the US gets real sugar, instead of high fructose corn syrup, in their coca-cola).
also, i only eat at the taco stand, not inside the restaurant. i sometimes have to go in there to swipe my credit card, and its, sad to say, not appetizing. i couldn't imagine eating in there.
This place is awesome and they have parking! I've been coming here for lunch every day for the last two weeks!
There's only a couple things to try on the menu:
Fish tacos, Shrimp Burritos and the Ceviche
My favorite are the Shrimp Burrito...I just can't get enough...and its huge.....eat it while its hot, otherwsie it tasted like ...well not good...Highly recommended and only six bucks...get it w/a Jarritos soda and keep it real!
Tried the chicken and carne asada once and they weren't that good.
It can take a few minutes to order and get your food, and that can seem like an eternity while you're waiting.....also they have a nice sit down place next door, that I've only been inside to wash my hands...
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4 Stars is a great complement for this place. I don't really have any gripes, the food was great though just a couple dollares more on each entrees then I expected. Especially since it looked like the place was inside a small mobile home. Don't get me wrong the inside was decent!
Anyways the fish was great as was the chevice. Margarita was a bit weak, for a Sunday morning though ;P
NOTE* you can eat inside or outside, both location are the same, right next to each other.
All in all, a nice little spot, though I don't think it will be added to my regular list of place to dine.
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After living .5 miles from this place for almost 3 years, it was finally time to give it a shot. The stand outside that is. I am super picky about fish so I went with the 4 taco combo. It was 6 bucks I think so not too expensive and it came with a soda. It was really good, especially with the cilantro and fresh limes. Actually the whole thing just tasted really fresh. My boyfriend had the ceviche, which I dared to try and it was also excellent. Granted I have not had it at a lot of places, due to my pickiness, but I am glad I tried it here as it lived up to the hype. It tasted zesty, fresh and not at all fishy. Can't wait to try more stuff!
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I don't know about you guys, but the people at Siete Mares make HUGE fish tacos. Girth AND height.
After eating at Best Fish Tacos in Ensenada.... I wanted to try SM's version, which is more expensive but because of the amount of food thrown in. BFTE has a variety of salsas, but I like SM'S for its simplicity and tastiness.
Batter is different for both places... BFTE is lighter, SM has somewhat of a crunch/bite that is signature in fish tacos (depending on how fast you eat it upon picking up your order).
A lot of ppl come here for three things: ceviche tostada, fish tacos and shrimp burritos. i only tried the fish taco and shrimp taco.... enjoyed them both. Overall, both BFTE and SM have good variations of fish tacos... not sure who's more authentic. doesn't matter, bottom line is that their tasty.
For the calorie lovers, try the shrimp fried taco (tacos dorados). Every bite will guarantee oil dripping down your forearm.
salmon burritos are the best! good stuff. total hole in the wall, which makes it even better. go!
shrimp tacos were delicioso. we ate our food in the car and they provided the plates. loved it!
I'm going to reiterate what all the hip taco eaters already know.
Want the tastiest crispy fish taco ever? Get in line at the outdoor stand at Siete Mares. Eat your tacos HOT, or they start to get gross. The seafood cocktails also have a huge fan base (I find them a bit too watery).
I tried the Ceviche Pescado last night. It just about blew my mind it was so good.
Update: Stick to the tacos unless you're feeling really brave. We had the ceviche again. It was seriously gross and fishy. Oh well.
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This is my standard fish burrito place. I'm new to the whole eating flesh game, but I think this place is pretty great - always reasonably fresh and tasty. I tried going vegan again a little while ago, and it was largely a craving for some fried fish from 7 Mares that did me in. Once or twice I have gotten fish in my burrito that wasn't totally fried, which is pretty gross, but I think I trust them not to kill me. I've never gone to the sit down restaurant as it always smells a little too fishy for me, but the taco stand is fine. It's even kind of nice to eat in their covered outdoor area despite the cars rushing by on Sunset three feet away. I think it says "El Playita" on their receipts, and I like the idea that a shack in the middle of a parking lot on Sunset could be considered a "little beach", haha. I hope I got that translation right, high school Spanish, you know.
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Ohhhhhhh diggity dank! Good Lord, a little bit of heaven wrapped in a tortilla. My arteries are clogging just thinking about those big tacos filled to the gills (pun intended) with batter fried fish, shrimp or calimar They come accompanied with shredded cabbage, crema and some nice chipotle salsa that could be a little spicier but I guess that's what the oversized bottles of Tapitio are for.. The calimar is my personal favorite, just one these is worth 2 tacos anywhere else. Be forewarned that they are messy so grab a fork you'll need it.
Not feeling fried? Try out the ceviche, its wet and fishy totally tasty just like a bad girl should. Ewwwwww... sorry for that analogy.
Avoid the salmon at all costs.
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Note #1: I'm only talking about the taco stand, not the restaurant. That said, I've only had one taco there (it was great). What I love is their ceviche.
Is it the best ceviche in LA? No way. But it is the best cheap, drop-in, available-for-take-out ceviche I've ever had. The basic fish is good...the Super Mix is awesome. Served with giant crunchy tortillas.....that's a slammin' meal.
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I haven't been inside the actual restaurant.. just their taco stand outside... I LOVE THESE TACOS!!!! I don't even like tacos, in general. (it's sort of one of those cultural things where I was forced to eat as a kid, now I stay as far away from mexican food as possible) but jesus christ these tacos are good- with horchata- yummmm.......
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I actually happened to have fish and chips here, which to my suprise was much better than any H & Salt I've tried. My friends had fish tacos and a fish burritos galore, it seemed more interesting than my plate so I sampled what they had. Hmmmm... this review is turning out a bit crummyso I'll opt for brevity by saying: "fish tacos, muy bueno, affordable prices."
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I don't remember everything I ordered because I may have had one too many cold ones in me at the time but I did wake up the next morning with photos of fish tacos on my camera. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I lost my camera and what the person who found it would think. They'd probably think "holy crap this guy is obsessed with tacos" or maybe they would think "taking pictures of tacos? why didn't I think of that?"
Siete Mares is an interesting establishment. They have a restaurant as well as a taco stand and presumably they serve the same kind of food at both. I assume the menu inside the restaurant to be a little more extensive and also serve cocktails but I could be wrong. I've only been to the outdoor hut.
I remember the fish taco being absolute heaven. Crisp fish on top of soft corn tortillas and a special red sauce as well as a light cream sauce topped with cabbage. It was enormous and for two bucks each quite the deal. Deliciouso!
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This place is essential when you're craving for some Mexican seafood and you're tired of the snobby, fine-dining, have-to-come-dressed-up restaurants!
Dress casual and if you feel like some street food in a street setting, then opt for the "taco stand." More in the mood for indoor seating and food served on plates with silverware? No problem, the indoor restaurant's right next door. See, you can't go wrong.
The Fish Ceviche is awesome at the taco stand! I usually order the family pack that they have, which includes a plastic cup of fish ceviche and 4 tostadas. Don't be fooled by the name because it actually serves one very hungry adult! When you get it, the cevichelooks kind of disgusting...but dude is it good! Presentation is overrated anyways. You scoop some of the ceviche on the tostado, add some Tapatio for spice and some lime juice for extra sour and take a bite - repeat and enjoy!
Not in the mood for seafood, their beef tacos are really good too! Told you you can't go wrong here.
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Oh, how I love tacos. And oh, how the tacos here disappointed me. On a shrimp-taco kick after a mind-blowing lunch at Baja Tacos in East Los Angeles the day prior, I orderd one expecting--at least--some glimmer of shrimpy, fried, taco heaven. I got very little. Not little shrimp, mind you--this might have been the most over-filled, enormous "taco" I've ever seen--just little love: haphazardly fried shrimp, greasy and over-sour cream, huge chunks of cabbage.
And while this may be my penance for ordering a non-fish taco a a place named for the sea: the al pastor was simply the worst al pastor I've ever, ever, ever had. It clearly did not come off of a proper al pastor spit; it had the texture and dripping oil content of pan-fried ground pork. No cilantro; no pineapple; no love. I didn't come close to finishing it--and it was only about three bites.
The shrimp taco will do in a pinch, if you're about to seize for lack of some fried fish and cabbage in a tortilla, but if you can safely drive yourself elsewhere without endangering the public--do yourself a favor and do so.
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one of the best places for tacos in the silverlake neighborhood. i've been going here for years. when i hanker me some tacos, i usually order a combo of carne asada and al pastor. if it's a take out order, i ask for the sauce on the side to minimize sog action (i'm talking about the taco stand and not the restaurant).
i've also ordered their salmon burrito, ceviche, tamales, and their fried platter (fried fish, fried shrimp, and fries). all REALLY good too. i've never been disappointed with their food and the service is quick.
i typically don't sit there and eat unless i need my daily dose of ehaust fix. it is right on sunset and if you've lived here long enough, you know traffic has gone way out of control these past few years.
This place is really hit or miss... i go here pretty regularly and the confounding thing about this place is that when it's good it can be one of the best mexican food stands in the silverlake/hollywood/los feliz area (better than muchos tacos, burrito king or even the solid, but somewhat overrated and trendy yuca's), but catch them on a bad day/bad shift and you can be subjected to a pretty lame, soggy, and over-cooked fish taco or burrito. i suppose this place is kinda like that old girlfriend you know will let you down half the time, but you still give her another try because when it is good, it's really, really good.
if you are looking for more traditional taco/burrito fare (chicken, carnitas, beef, etc) one of the other mexican places referenced above are better bets, but if you are in the mood for mariscos, give this place a shot.
I live across the street from here so this place is more for convenience than a place i would visit if given multiple options. I find the burritos to be inappropriate-- they have corn and peas in them which is more like what you'll find in San Fran. But their fish tacos are pretty darn good, especially in the summer, provided that it's not too hot, otherwise you are bombarded with the smell of seafood waste that's rotting in garbage cans on the side of the stand.
Pros: it's cheap, they have orange soda, salsa aplenty and my dog can sit outside with me.
Cons: spicy carrots are soft, place can smell in the summer heat
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Is it me, or is this place going downhill? Ever since they got that new menu board, it just hasn't been the same.
The prices went up but the portions got smaller. And they are always running out of spicy carrots.
Fish tacos are still delicious!
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i frequently consider moving back because of this place. home of the best fish taco in los angeles.
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