- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Harbor Fish Cafe
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood [Edit]
3179 Carlsbad Blvd(between Oak Ave & Pine Ave)
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Neighborhood: Carlsbad
(760) 729-4161
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Touristy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
95 reviews for Harbor Fish Cafe
Review Highlights
"It was the most flavorful clam chowder I've ever had."
(in 33 reviews)
"the beach view is breathtakingly beautiful."
(in 34 reviews)
"What a great place to grab some fresh Fish 'n Chips."
(in 11 reviews)
Loading...
95 reviews in English
-
Review from Sid A.
Corona del Mar, CA
12/30/2011
Love coming here, what a treat! If you're in Carlsbad this place is a must try! The views here are gorgeous, and the service is excellent.
The fish tacos are huge, though they require lots of salsa or tartar sauce to get the flavor level up. The fries definitely require the seasoning (ask for it), and if you get the Clam Chowder (which is a must) ask for cheese on top. There is a side of sourdough toast...definitely go for it, it's great for dipping in the chowder.
I always make it a point to come here whenever I'm heading to Carlsbad or SD, and will continue to do so for many years to come. -
Review from Laura D.
1/14/2012 5 photos
Needed a mid afternoon something and had been walking Joey by the beach, so stopped at Harbor Cafe. I thought I could take Joey with me onto the outside patio, but they told me I would have to tie him up outside the table area. Harumph. Ain't no way Joey's going for that.
So got some food to go. They are known for their fish and chips so that's what I got, with a side of cole slaw. The white fish, whatever it was, seemed very fresh and was cooked through (don't give me no sushi), but the batter was dry and uninteresting. The fries were also dry. The cole slaw was good.
The best thing about this place is that it is right at the beach and the view of the sunset is pretty great. I probably wouldn't come back here for the fish. But I'd come back for the sunset. -
Review from Marika A.
San Diego, CA
1/2/2012
My husband and I were in the area and I was craving fish and chips so we decided to try this place. We normally go to Harbor F&C in Oceanside (Totally awesome!) but thought we would try something new.
Verdict: Disappointed (Food)
Service: Excellent. We had a really friendly and wonderful waitress, however her fantastic service was overshadowed by our disappointment in the food.
Food: I guess we were expecting really good fish and chips - we ordered the fish & chips with fried shrimp combo and...
1. VERY greasy. Had to use a paper towel to wipe away the grease.
2. Weird taste. Seemed like they used very old oil to fry the fish and shrimp in. Did not taste fresh and was not super crispy.
3. My fish had a bone in it. I was not expecting it at all as that the fish are usually boneless for Fish & Chips dish. It was really gross to accidentally chew on it.
The meal was mediocre and we will not return. -
Review from Richard L.
San Diego, CA
2/4/2012
Service was good. Interesting menu. Nothing bad about the place or food, but it was not outstanding either.
-
Review from Paul D.
San Diego, CA
1/24/2012
This place definitely never disappoints. After a long day at the beach this is a place to get your fill. A little pricey for some items but I'm always satisfied. The place is small yet has indoor and outdoor seating. If you do want outdoor seating, beware of the sea gulls; they like to steal your food.
-
Review from Ashley K.
San Diego, CA
1/10/2012
This place was decent, but pretty pricey for what it is. $15 for the fish and chips, no refills on soda.. meh.
-
Review from Kimbro S.
Santa Monica, CA
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great customer service and very animated waiter. Their personal beer brand is actually pretty good! Im not a huge fish person so take that small bias into account, I thought the fish n chips were just too greasy for me.
-
Review from Jannet F.
Long Beach, CA
1/8/2012
My husband and I went there a couple of times when we were living in the Carlsbad Village area. My husband likes the fish n chips a lot but I think they're just ok and it's too pricey for my liking for the quality. We've also ordered the clam chowder before and it was weird. It was thick and creamy in the beginning but about ten minutes later it was a watery mess. I don't think I've ever seen clam chowder do that before. The service is just ok, not stellar or anything and I agree with the person who commented on the trash can by the entrance. It's not something you want to be sitting by while waiting for your order.
-
Review from Mitch K.
7/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Get the Fish and Chips! They were really good and inexpensive. 3 piece fish and chips was 15 bucks. We shared it between 3 people and were happy. They also sell a home made pilsner too.
Great place to go check out the sunset too. -
Review from Josh S.
Encinitas, CA
6/8/2011 1 photo
The food is the only thing saving this place, for me.
I often go to the beach at Tamarack, so this spot is a natural (close) choice for food. Every time I visit, three things happen.
One, I'm greeted by a trashcan at the patio entrance, then get to wait by it for my takeout. Nice.
Two, While at the ordering window, a waitress inevitably shoves in front of me to lay down a credit card to be processed.
Three, THEY LEAVE A STACK OF CUSTOMER CREDIT CARDS SITTING IN THE WINDOW! I've even uploaded a photo of them (yes, it's that bad). -
Review from Tim M.
West Los Angeles, CA
4/9/2011
Good low-key place for seafood. We went last night and it was freezing but the space heater made it bearable.
I got the grilled tuna sandwich. It was a nice size piece of meat and pretty flavorful. My one concern was the bread that it was on - it was literally oozing with butter. Fish is a very healthy food, it always surprises me how we go out of our way to add fat and carbs to it. So if you care about such things you should ask for the bread to be dry.
The chowder was really good - the sanwhich cam with a small but I wish I had a large. The coleslaw was really good too. My wife had the fish and chips, which she liked but didn't love -
Review from Maria C.
3.5...
What a great place to grab some fresh Fish 'n Chips!!! I had been here a couple times already and have enjoyed its convenience as a local.
After a sunset run, I decided to get a small clam chowder and a harbor fish combo (fish 'n chips and 1/2 order of breaded shrimp).
There are 2 sides to the outdoor establishment. It wasn't busy and was given the option to sit in the heated or ocean view patio. Opted to sit on the ocean side. Tables are tiny, and it was even a tight squeeze for me!
The chowder lacked the depth and density, but had good flavor. I didn't get much clam chunks (was I supposed to???). The shrimp portions and size were generous, and I felt the taste was OK. I would have preferred a thicker batter for the shrimp. We were given 1 huge piece of fish and this was my fav of the night. The batter was thick and crunchy, and the fish was very flaky. I would probably order just the fish next time.
The employees are really nice and provided service with a smile. Def a casual place so don't dress the part. You're able to see this place from CB Blvd (coast highway) and there's a small parking lot right behind the restaurant. Additionally, there is ample street parking along the CB strand or in the nearby neighborhoods.
Total with tip was $21. -
Review from Glenn G.
Walnut Creek, CA
7/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
It was OK. The kids like all the bustle and distraction. The fish and chips wasn't so hot for me. I'd probably give it another try because I'll eat almost anything fried.
A lot of tourists were there (myself included). -
Review from Ian K.
Gaithersburg, MD
4/23/2011
We went on a Saturday afternoon and squeezed into a table. It's a tight and cozy seating arrangement with a great location overlooking the ocean. Based on previous reviews we got the chowder, fish and chips and a blackened mahi taco. Our kids got a corn dog and a shrimp platter.
The food came out FAST, real fast, light they are cooking all the time and are ready to turn out the food. The chowder was good, not outstanding, but good. The fish was tasty, big pieces and very crispy. The taco, one big one, was also real tasty. The kids meals were well received by my boys. Lots of fries with all the meals, but pretty standard. Ice in the iced tea melted right away ;-( which is a pet peeve of mine.
Service was efficient but pedestrian, not alot of love, just turning tables.
$61 with tip. -
Review from Beverly A.
San Diego, CA
2/24/2011 2 Check-ins Here
my coworker took me here for my birthday, and i LOVED it! they're famous for their fish & chips, but i didn't feel like having fried food - so i ordered the ahi tuna sandwich. I was expecting small pieces cut up and placed in between two pieces of bread, what did i get?! Holy cow, I got an entire slab of ahi tuna (yes, a SLAB!) placed in between samich buns with lettuce and tomatoes. YUMMMMMMY!!!
wait, let me back up - did i tell you i had their clam chowder too? Mmmmm, it was pretty good.
OK so anyways back to the samich :) i ate half and i was SUPER full, so i brought the other half home for my husband. things always taste better when they're fresh, but he still liked it. the order comes with fries too, but i didn't have much room left for that..
if I'm ever back in the area I'm totally eating here again! the beach view is breathtakingly beautiful! -
Review from Jenny R.
San Diego, CA
8/13/2011
Nice spot for eating sea life while watching sea life! Went for an early dinner on an unseasonably cool grey day and were treated to a little dolphin show offshore while dining. That alone gets it a star.
I got a combo with 1 piece of fried fish and half the order of a shrimp platter and while the fish was good, the fried shrimp were even better. Next time I would just get a fried shrimp platter. While the fish and shrimp were not overly oily, just right, I was surprised the fries were not oilier. In fact they were a little dry, although the flavor was good. I like my fries a little more, uh, unctuous than that. Ok, I mean I like 'em greasy. I was glad I had ordered the cole slaw substitute and was just picking fries off my friend's plate! The cole slaw is really good. My companion had the red snapper with cajun spices, steam-grilled in a foil packet. It looked really nice, not an overly large portion, and she reported the spice was not overpowering. She got 2 sides and a nice thick slice of grilled sourdough to mop up the sauce - yum! Atmosphere is as relaxed as it gets - there were several folks in towels-over-bathing-suits.
Bottom line, I wouldn't go all the way to North County to eat here if i wasn't already in the area, but it's a great choice after a day exploring the local beaches or trails. -
Review from Jamie R.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good view - right next to the beach, good prices, good service, and pretty good food. The clam chowder with a side of sourdough really hit the spot.
-
Review from CARmEn H.
7/18/2011
I ordered the clam chowder - it was just ok. I do not recall even seeing or tasting a piece of claim. There were a few pieces of potato. I had to chuckle when I saw that they charge extra buck and some change for a slice of sourdough bread. The thing that killed it for me was that they charge $3.00 for a soft drink and they do not provide free refills. The only positive thing I can say about this place is that they have a great view of the ocean.
-
Review from Emily Y.
San Jose, CA
8/12/2011
The atmosphere couldn't be more perfect. The sea breeze offers a perfect excuse to stop in for some fish & chips after a hot day at the beach. We order the fried zucchini & fish without the chips EVERY TIME. We're both convinced it's the best we've ever had. It can get incredibly busy though, & parking is the worst. But I still say it's worth it.
-
Review from Katie M.
Vista, San Diego, CA
9/1/2011
Best clam chowder of all time
-
Review from Chris D.
Tucson, AZ
9/13/2011
I agree withJenny great to watch seafood while you are eating some of them. Had the red snapper with Cajun spices and yes it was a little small for the money. The reason I had the snapper was , because it was the ONLY item there that was not deep fried! Great to eat outdoors ten feet from the beach. In this day and age , it would have been nice to have more choices than deep fried food. Service was fast and friendly.
-
Review from Mel D.
San Diego, CA
4/18/2011
Been lunching (yes I use it as a verb) at Harbor fish cafe for lunch during work. I have only tried their fish and chips so far, but this ranks as one of my top choices for fish and chips. That's saying alot considering I'm not a big fan of seafood in general, but fish and chips are tolerable.
One piece of battered and fried fish suffices for me since they are bigger portions. You can even substitute fries for clam chowder. I love that option.
Parking in the area behind the cafe can sometimes be a challenge so get their early or later for lunch because lines form quickly here. -
Review from Zack B.
Los Angeles, CA
2/13/2011
After a long day in San Diego, stopping in here for some grub just after sundown was the perfect end to a great day. The fish tacos were out of this world! Thumbs up for sure. The staff was friendly and service was fast. This will definitely be a regular stop for us when traveling from LA to San Diego.
As tempting as it may be, I would recommend against heading to Pizza Port afterwards to pick up some brews. See my review for details. -
Review from William B.
Oceanside, CA
11/25/2010
Location of this restaurant is pretty special, as it sits right near the ocean where you can just walk across the small parking lot and look over the cliff and there you are! It's a beautiful place during the day, but gets pretty chilled in the evenings, but they do take care of the elements a bit with a cover over the eating area and size covers that blunts most any of the wind blowing.
We came here recently after what had been a long time to test the fish & chips (we are ever after a good fish & chips meal!) and because it was in the evening, we had the good fortune of finding easy parking right behind the place - normally this is a bit of a challenge during the day.
The fish was formed in long strips where there was enough oil on them that adding some vinegar was a must. The batter was overcooked a tad, so thank goodness there was decent tartar sauce to mask that flavor, and the fish fillets themselves were very thin but melted nicely in the mouth. Fries on the other hand were cooked on target and the clam chowder sure smelled good. Over all, the fish & chips aren't good enough to make this a go-to-place.
Beyond that though, they actually have some quality fish meals such as halibut, shark and lobster, and with the great view this restaurant provides, you can certainly do worse.
Also want to say that the waitress, an older lady I believe, was very nice and helpful and made a "blah" meal enjoyable. -
Review from DAVIE R.
San Diego, CA
8/29/2011
I would give it three stars but the cook didn't put in the fries... they were closing down and since I dropped $16 bux on 3 pieces of fish and a tiny coleslaw, I asked him to toss in some fries for my little boy that were headed for the trash anyway. He gave me a big smile, turned around as he put tin foil on the food, and handed the plate to me with a wink. I got it back to the hotel across the street and there were no fries!! I would have purchased some but they rushed me away. My 2 year old had no fries :(
The worst part of all what that one entire piece of fish was all DOUGH (consider that is almost *8 bux each).
It's a shame because the other 2 pieces were delicious. Hint* use Heinz malt vinegar cause it's way better. They didn't have it.
Hope you had an overall better experience than we did.
DR -
Review from Brandie B.
San Marcos, CA
Great fresh fish, yummy fries. Its a little pricey but you definitly get your money's worth. I only gave 4/5 stars because of the squished seating factor....otherwise its super yummy!
-
Review from Trent C.
Carlsbad, CA
5/7/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I live a block away, so this is a place I walk by often when I take the kids to the beach. I decided to stop and try it out one Saturday since it was just me and my little boy. I got a fish taco with a cup of clam chowder.
I don't understand the complaints of one of the other reviews. If you don't like good fish tacos, then go back to getting the dinky soggy tacos that most places sell.
Although I had to get my food to go half way through lunch, as my son was ready for his nap, I finished my taco and chowder at home and was wishing I could go for another taco. Come to think of it, I'm gonna head over there tomorrow. -
Review from Ella K.
Sealy, TX
10/14/2010
This place is such a hole in the wall. It isn't fancy. The servers aren't snobby. The bathrooms are a little crummy. It's right on the beach.
IT'S PERFECT!!!
The fish tastes like they caught it ten minutes before they fried it. The clam chowder is SO amazing I want to sneak into the kitchen and steal the recipe. The french fries are basic but they compliment the fish perfectly. Parking is easy to find (unless it's the middle of a Saturday or Sunday) and the view of the ocean is breathtaking.
I am having lunch there tomorrow! Friday! I can't wait!!!! -
Review from Serene E.
Carlsbad, CA
1/31/2011
Love going here when the SUN is out and sit out on the deck. Love the fish tacos there, it is very tasty. And it is always nice to have a bucket Coronatis with the fish.
Tables are a bit small, and some times it can be a little wait for a seat but it is worth the wait. When you are done you can take a stroll along the beach. -
Review from Shawn B.
Carlsbad, CA
3/2/2010
Overpriced, overbattered, underseasoned fried food.
3 of us got the fish tacos, and 2 of us got the fish n chips plate. The regular fries have no seasoning--not even salt--on them. The seasoned fries were strangely bland. Perhaps because our tongues were sheathed in grease.
Don't get me wrong, there is definitely a time and place for sinful fried food. And usually frying food makes it taste good. I just don't think Harbor Fish Cafe has a good formula.
Their batter-to-fish ratio is much too high. I demand less batter! And their batter isn't even good. It's like funnel cake batter. Covered in powdered sugar, it would be delicious. Enclosing fish, not so much.
Their fish tacos are nothing like a fish taco should be. The piece of fish sitting in my tortilla was 12 inches long. How can you get a good bite that includes a little of each element when you can barely gnaw through that humongous fried slab? Also, way too much cheese.
This place is a tourist trap. Please, locals, let the tourists have their beachside view. The rest of us can bring our own sandwiches. -
Review from Joann N.
Carlsbad, CA
7/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Best Clam Chowder in San Diego
-
Review from Steven M.
4/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
Let's make a list;
View.......................... Yes
Location................... Yes
Tons of menu items to choose from................. Yes
Reasonable prices for fish................................... Yes
Good portions..........................Yes
Another place I drive by all the time and had never stopped in at. Great place for lunch to sit outside, see the ocean and enjoy some fresh seafood (casual) style. The fish and chips? Huge and tasty and an absolute must try.
Great food. Great service. Great value. -
Review from Anita L.
7/13/2009
Had some friends visiting Legoland so ended up meeting up and eating here. The views are great if you are sitting out by the patio facing the water. It's not a fancy place, just like a shack really, 2 servers are madly rushing about trying to get orders in, drinks to the table, bring food out etc etc.
With the main courses most come with your choice of fries, clam chowder, coleslaw -- at first we asked for a variety but once we sampled the clam chowder, we ended up swapping and getting more of the chowder.
The chowder was really quite good -- thick but not glucky and flavorful. I'm not into eating soup the consistency of glue.
I was excited seeing the chowder was quite good, but when the main courses arrived, I was less than enthused. My special of the evening was grilled halibut -- small piece of fish for almost 20 bucks and it was DRY. I think the fish and chips was pretty reasonable since you get 4 gigantic pieces -- a bit much if you ask me of fried foods -- if you can finish it.
The fish and chips mix with shrimp was also a huge portion -- 2 pieces of really big battered fish and some battered shrimp. I've had better fish and chips for sure, but if you're here it's usually because you're on vacation or just wanting to enjoy the view.
Service is really lousy -- had to ask for drinks a few times and then not checking back to see if everything is okay. It had the feel of a chain restaurant or even fast food place -- but even chain restaurants have slightly better service than this.
I wouldn't come back again by choice. -
Review from Devin K.
Las Vegas, NV
3/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
The fish is fresh and the Fish and Chips are delicious. Excellent food, great view right on the Ocean and a very relaxing environment. I've been eating here ever since I was a little kid.
-
Review from Rob K.
Encinitas, CA
9/6/2009
A-Okay sounds about right, but this place has some good things going for it. Call it 3-4 stars. I go here every so often and usually get the fish 'n' chips (it's what they're "famous for") because I love me some fish 'n' chips. The portions are pretty big and it's good stuff. The french fries are also really good.
In the past I've usually gone off-season or on weekdays and it's pretty mellow. Recently I went on a Saturday in midsummer for the first time and the vibe was a bit different (read: crowded with tourists). The Zonies didn't ruin the experience, it just wasn't what I was used to. I'll try to avoid that in the future.
With it being such a warm day the fish 'n' chips didn't sound as appetizing as it usually does, so I went for something refreshing and got the shrimp cocktail. It was just a big heaping cup of bay shrimp, which are barely shrimp in my opinion, and a mediocre coctail sauce. They could do this cocktail a lot better. I also got a side of fries and was offered a couple bites of their po' boy sandwich which was quite tasty. The cole slaw was okay, nothing special.
There are two seating areas to choose from - both are outside, I believe but the one on the right is not inviting at all. The one they call "the patio" is where you want to be. It's a small palapa-covered area with seating for about 30 people. You're only about 50 feet from the bluff's edge which gets you a nice ocean breeze and whiff of salt air.
The do serve a few bottled beers which will run you about 4 bucks per. Soft drinks are about $2.50 and they have an annoying "no refills" policy. Why they would want to cheap out like that I have no idea so that's a bit lame of them. There are other entrees that sound pretty good that I haven't tried and they also have a chalkboard with daily specials.
Despite its shortcomings I actually enjoy it here, especially on the right day. Maybe avoid tourist season (they have plenty of biz right now anyway), go in the cooler months and try those fish 'n' chips. Sneak in a Pepsi while you're at it. Afterwards you can poke around downtown Carlsbad (should take you about 5 minutes) or better yet walk off your lunch along the seawall. -
Review from Heather B.
Escondido, CA
11/12/2009
It was overcast on the coast this morning, and around 9am I thought, this would be a perfect day for Ivar's clam chowder (Seattle people, you know what I'm talking about). My entire five years in North County, I'd never run into a place that was comparable.
A huge wave of homesickness hit me, and then I remembered this place I drove by every so often... it was right on the water, practically, and reminded me a bit of the Ivar's on the pier in Seattle. I decided to give it a shot, and I am so glad I did.
Everyone there was extremely friendly and helpful. There were two servers milling around, and when I grabbed a to-go menu one of them took it from me so she could write in some new additions to the appetizer menu (calamari rings, yum!). The guy behind the little window who took my order was super friendly, and pretty easy on the eyes, too (you reading this, fish boy? Look me up).
After reading the reviews about how big the fish pieces were, I thought I was prepared for what I was about to receive, but I was surprised! The piece of fish I got was HUGE! It didn't even completely fit on the to-go plate I got. It was perfectly battered, crispy and not mushy. Obviously, I opted for the chowder vs. the fries, and I wasn't disappointed. It was the perfect consistency and exactly what a chowder should be: clams, potatoes and a little bit of celery.
Harbor Cafe took the edge off my homesickness, by all means. The only thing they get docked on is a poor parking situation, as other reviewers have described, but other than that, everything is top notch. -
Review from Carol J.
5/10/2009
A very simple small place right on the ocean front. Their 1 piece of fish is huge and fits the whole plate. I like how you can substitute the Chip in Fish & Chip with clam chowder or cole slaw (I like to eat healthy) without additional charge. The fish was really good, light and fresh.
Parking is a challenge here though.... but if you can get there before sunset, enjoy good company and a few drinks. The view and location is awesome and it's not pricy at all! -
Review from Kira S.
Walnut Creek, CA
7/4/2011
The location is stellar, the service and food just ok.
The clam chowder is good. The fish tacos are very different than Rubio's or Wahoo's--I prefer the other two places but my husband LOVESthe fish tacos at Harbor Fish. So it comes down to personal taste. I will say, that the tacos here are very big, so the one taco plate should be enough for most.
This place is super casual so definitely don't dress-up. The service is more about getting you in and out, some crack a smile, other's don't. Go for the views of the water or especially the sunset and you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Brian N.
Portland, OR
5/28/2011
A simple fish and chips joint that has much more. The fish is pollock, which is the main drawback. All the seating is outside right at the beach. Bring a coat if you come at night as it gets cold under the canopy or out in the open. The food is solid but nothing exceptional. I'd give it a 3 on taste alone, but it's not just about the taste. Big portions for a good price pushes this to a 3.5. Being on the beach, pushes it more towards a 4, vs. a 3. Clam chowder is very good and their own beer is a pretty good ale. Shrimp is huge and fish tacos are good.
-
Review from danielle n.
Los Angeles, CA
9/8/2008
I really like this place.. you can get a nice view of the ocean while having some food from the sea. The wooden benches are cute and the ambiance is very dock/wharf-like. It feels like a scurvy sailor might come in to have a bite to eat. You definitely have to like fried food to come here.. and be prepared to feel a little bit gross afterward. I had the clam strips (yum) and clam chowder.. which was pretty good. Not much clam in it, but I may be a snob growing up in an area near New England.
My friend had the fish and chips.. also greasy/tasty, but again, pretty intense. We both brought home our dishes to finish at a later time! Couldn't go all the way with 5 stars because it seemed over priced for what it is. If you are going later in the day bring a sweater- it's cold by the water! It was pretty simple to find parking on Ocean Street.. but maybe because it was a monday night around 6? We lazily watched other people exercising in front of the ocean after we finished our meal.
