I enjoy scenic walks and was delighted that my wife and daughter decided to join me in visiting OC’s Bolsa Chica Wetlands. Being first-time visitors, we were awed by the beauty of the wetlands and the numerous species of birds that frequent the area. After walking the trail, my daughter demonstrated her skill at finding restaurants and directed us to the nearby Fiesta Grill.
My daughter proudly stated that Fiesta Grill has five stars on Google and was confident of her choice. The restaurant is in a strip mall in a quiet residential section of Huntington Beach. The strip mall suits the surfer community’s needs with a board store, donut shop, and convenience market.
Fiesta Grill is a fast-casual restaurant. As you enter, you face the extensive menu above the counter. I expected to find tacos, burritos, enchiladas, nachos, tostadas and combinations. However, given the restaurant’s small size, I was surprised to find tamales, tortas, taquitos, and sopes. They even offer Huevos Rancheros and Chorizo and Eggs.
Popular items include Carne Asada Plate, Chile Relleno Burrito, Deluxe Wet Burritos, and Taquitos. Because “Fish Tacos” is emboldened on their exterior sign, I went for the Baja version of their fish tacos. Their fish tacos are also available grilled. Tacos are available in either soft or hard shells. I was surprised to find that chips and salsa are not gratis.
While the restaurant lacks servers, I was impressed that the person taking our orders tracked whether the customer dined inside or at one of their outdoor tables. He deftly remembered each person (presumably by face) and delivered it to their table, complete with utensils and napkins.
My wife is a creature of habit and selected the Crispy Beef Taco and Cheese Enchilada Combo. She ordered this to measure the restaurant with everyone else and was pleased with the quality. She acknowledged that the refried beans were delicious, though she thought the rice was a bit soggy and lacked flavor.
I’m partial to Baja-style fish tacos, and I’d rate these in the top five I’ve experienced. The tacos are larger than most, crisp and tender on the inside. The creamy white sauce topping had notes of lime and nicely complemented the fish. While it was double-wrapped with two tortillas, they are sturdy enough to omit one to save on carbs.
If you like Mexican food and reside in North Orange County, add Fiesta Grill to your list of places to try. Otherwise, if you enjoy taking nature walks, walk the Bolsa Chica Wetlands and head and reward yourself with tasty Mexican fare.
Fiesta Grill, 417 17th Street, Huntington Beach; fiestagrillhb.com
A second location exists at 19484 Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach.