Flying Fish Bar & Grill

Mango fish tacos with grilled Mahi were fabulous, served with yummy black beans and rice! Another must try while in HMB!

I’m so happy every time I come here. Was greeted the second I came in, given excellent and prompt service, and my water was never empty for more than a minute. Awesome job and delicious food!
Thanks Mikael (not sure about spelling) for awesome and friendly service. I’m not from around here, but I’ll be back.

After reading a few reviews including one by fellow Unilocaler, Edna C. I was sold and had to give this place a try. I had a private laugh at myself as most of my life I have detested fish and never would have imagined going by choice to a fish restaurant. Maybe that has something to do with me choking on a fish bone as a little kid and not being able to breath? But whatever the case this last year has been a revelation for me in discovering that not only can I eat *some* fish, but I actually enjoy it.
The interior has a fun vibe with grass fronds and fish/​nautical décor. A good part of the dining area is light and airy with natural light and some pretty stained glass windows. The bar area is naturally a little darker but has good mood lighting. Service was pleasant and prompt.
I went in with my mind set on the grande mahi fish tacos. But I got swayed by the ahi and ended up with an ahi poke tower mixed with mango and avocado. It was fresh and tasted good but was lacking that certain something that makes it pop… maybe lemon or salt? I don’t know but it was definitely fresh, and I enjoyed it.
Now I know where to come when I am craving fish in Half Moon Bay. Will def be back to try more things on the menu.

We really enjoyed the seafood here after a day at the beach. My husband had the fish and chips combo platter which was a very generous serving so there was plenty for me to try as well. The batter was crispy and not at all greasy. There were at least 4 different kinds of seafood; it was nice to have all the variety. The price was a bit high, but there was a lot of food.
I had the fish taco combo — one mahi and one scallop taco. They each had a different salsa which nicely complimented the seafood. I also appreciated that the tacos were wrapped so that the sauces wouldn’t run down my hand and arm as so often happens with fish tacos. The combo plate included beans and rice which were simple but very tasty. I mostly ordered the combo because I was hungry and didn’t think that 2 tacos would be enough, so I was pleasantly surprised at how good the beans and rice were, not just a cheap filler.
We finished with the key lime pie, one of my go to desserts. It was rich and creamy with lime zest to bring up the flavor. The toasted coconut on top was a different twist. The crust was minimal and the filling was generous. Nice finish to a good meal.
We sat at the outdoor ‘patio’ tables. I didn’t love the setting right next to the parking lot and think that they could do something simple with planter boxes to block the tables from a direct view of the cars. We did appreciate that they had outdoor seating since we had our two dogs with us from the day at the beach and that was one of the reasons we choose this location.
We will be back next time we are in HMB.

we just ate here and I am giving 2 stars just to be nice but I definitely feel like I need a refund and I would never recommend this place to anyone
the service is good and nice but the food is sub standard
we started off with the ceviche and it was ok but nothing special but more edible then the main courses. the only thing I didn’t like about the ceviche is they brought it out on a bed of lettuce so all the juices and flavors you are supposed to enjoy with the fish are separated and fell to the bottom of the fancy little glass bowl
and then we had cioppino and the jeaux special (basically seafood linguiny that is supposed to have a cajun flare). the cioppino barely had any flavor and the mixed seafood ensemble barely tasted like it was cooked. the missing seafood flavor really surprised me because it was loaded with fresh seafood but it tasted like it had been washed off with water before they created the cioppino stew. and although the stew was red, you could barely taste the tomatoe sauce base that cioppino is supposed to have. I could have done a better job as a first time at home watching youtube
I wish I could say something better for the jeaux special but it was exactly the same as the cioppino, flavorless and inedible for either my wife and I
the flying fish bar & grill felt like a total tourist trap and I would have much happier waiting out the ride over 92 to get some good seafood in San Mateo at my favorite seafood chain there, hint hint
don’t get suckered in by the 4 star review like we did because its definitely not worth it!!!

Crabby cheesy bread is delicious, a must try when you eat here. Crab cakes and scallop tacos were yummy. Cute place just as you come down the hill from the Bay Area into Half Moon Bay. Friendly staff and causal tropical ambience. Clam chowder also a favorite here. Nothing fancy but good good and friendly staff!

1) Crabby, cheesy bread: delicious as always. 5 *
2) Crab, Lobster, Corn bisque: OMG delicious. Should be on the menu every day. 5+*
3) Ahi tuna steak sandwich: disappointing. Was very bland. I love ahi and this was cooked perfectly, but they could have added something to give it flavor. Had to add mayo to even eat it. 1*
4) Mojito: they’re usually awesome here, but was disappointed this time. Seemed watered down. 1*
This visit was lower than usual for the food. Won’t order the ahi again and will try something else. The kind waitress (who I just love getting), gets 5 stars. I’m horrible with names, so hope to get her name next time.

We have been there on a weekend afternoon.
The place is neat and well maintained. Staff is friendly, service was little delayed but cant complain with so many people at this place. The food was amazing. We ordered scallop tacos, fish tacos and a seafood combination dish. We loved the scallop tacos over any other dish.

Pretty average plate of food, pretty average service. French fries lukewarm and flabby, but on the bright side, I wasn’t inspired to eat too many of them. Nothing to complain about but no reason to urge you to dine here either. I haven’t found a really amazing place in Half Moon Bay though.

Full disclosure: I have only been to Flying Fish Bar & Grill once, but my experience was so good I just gotta Unilocal about it.
My boyfriend and I came for dinner on Valentine’s night this year. Even though it’s usually pretty tough to get a reservation for Valentine’s, they took one from us the day before. We showed up at 7, were seated right away, and got awesome service the whole night.
We got the dinner special that night, which included: champagne, a house salad, lobster ravioli, and chocolate cake. All for…$ 30. It was so well-​priced I felt a little suspicious, but everything was great and the portions were generous. We also got the prawn nachos as an appetizer, which I highly recommend.
Next time I’m in Half Moon Bay I’ll want to come back!

Half Moon Bay, CA
Dinner Review: A-​Ok +
Crab toast, fish n chips both solid and hit the the spot.
Tip: If you’re big on Fish n Chips — Barbara’s down the street is worth a try.
Service — as expected for a casual restaurant.
Ambiance — Feels like this place moved in and replaced a previous restaurant. An older, dated, tacky feel. On the other hand super casual and comfortable.

Great place to stop for lunch in Half Moon Bay!
Wanted to try something different besides the usual Barbara’s Fishtrap (one of my favorites) and stumbled upon Flying Fish Grill.
Definitely get the cheesy crab garlic bread. I thought the cheese wouldn’t go well with the crab but it was amazing! Super hefty amounts of crab for $ 12. Delish!
Pass on the cioppino — lotsa seafood goodies but the broth lacks depth of flavor!
The BF enjoyed the tacos — get the platter with salmon!

We dropped by for an early brunch after an early morning hike. Found this spot on Unilocal since many other places weren’t open yet. It was actually pretty empty when we arrived.
I ordered the Crab Melt. The cheesy goodness was a bit too much, overpowering the other flavors particularly the crab. The first few bites were delicious. Halfway through, I was getting full because the melt is a bit on the heavy side.
More diners started piling in closer to noon and it seemed that there was at least one order of fish & chips at many of the tables. I’ll know what to try out next time!

California Trip #1
«You cannot teach a crab to walk straight.» –Aristophanes
Coming from the Mid-​Atlantic, I know about crab. In fact, crab is one of my favorite foods. When I planned my trip to California, I wanted to check out their interpretation of crab. So, after arriving in Half Moon Bay (HMB) and starving on my first day, I decided to check out Flying Fish (FF).
Crabby-​Cheese Bread: This appetizer dish was definitely tempting: garlic bread with melted cheese and fresh crab on top. Reviewers are correct – it was delicious! I could eat that dish every day. However, I barely tasted the crab over the garlic. I’m a simple girl when it comes to crab – I like it innocent and sweet. If I’m going to pay that much money for crab, I’d prefer to taste it. Crab is such a delicate flavor, and while I love garlic, it’s too powerful to pair it up with crab. 4*
Fish ‘n Chips (FnC): I know, I know. Why did I order FnC instead of a crab dish? Well, I knew FF had a Crab Melt, but the thought of a crab and mayo combination sounded wrong. (I did, in fact, try out this abomination later on at a different location. You will have to wait for that.) And, for some crazy reason, I didn’t want to try their crab cakes. Maybe I was worried that I would be disappointed as I’m quite picky about my crab cakes. I was also hella hungry and couldn’t decide. FnC sounded good so I went for it. FF uses cod in their FnC, dipped in tempura batter, and fried in rice oil. They were perfect: golden brown, crispy, and good flavor. 4*
Coleslaw: I was both excited to try their coleslaw and worried since my last few experiences were awful. Thankfully, FF hit a homerun with their unique coleslaw. Well, it was unique to me anyway. They use pineapple along with standard ingredients, but I guess that might be typical in California. I can tell you that I had never tasted pineapple in coleslaw before, but I am definitely a fan! I think I’ll have to add it to my own coleslaw next time. 4*
I was happy with the food at FF – no complaints on that regard. The service was good although the server needed some time to warm up to me. She also brought my FnC first, and then my appetizer soon after. It wasn’t a big deal since we never discussed how I wanted the food out. The interior décor of FF is a bit dated, and there is no view of the water, which would be a plus since you’re in beautiful HMB! I would rate them 4 stars for food and 3 stars for the rest, so I would give them a 3.5 stars overall if I could, but Unilocal doesn’t let me. Since it was during my first day in California, and I was flying high, soaking up that wonderful Vitamin D, I will give them a 4.

Great service and very delicious! We came on a Saturday around 2pm after spending the morning at the nearby pumpkin patches.
My boyfriend and I shared the crabby cheesy garlic bread and it was really delicious. Sadly it was $ 11.95 which is rather a pricy appetizer.
Next I had the jeaux pasta and my boyfriend got the fish sandwich. I enjoyed my food but it was a little on the salty side. My boyfriend thought his food was good too but he complained about the fries being too chewy. I’m not even sure what that means b/​c I thought they were fine.
This place deserves a great review b/​c the service is awesome. Our waitress was so nice and kept coming back to fill our glasses with water.
Overall, I had a very enjoyable time here and it wasn’t too expensive.

We took a random Monday off and decided to spend it at Half Moon Bay. I was looking forward to a having a picturesque lunch with Tater Tot. Flying Fish Bar & Grill came under a Unilocal search of «dog-​friendly patio» so we headed there.
Little did we know the «dog-​friendly patio» was three janky plastic tables from a garage sale, placed right at the side of the entryway, complete with a scenic view of the parking lot and flies hovering around us.
To make matters worse, it was over 80 degrees that day and there were no umbrellas or shade. At least my pale thunder thighs got some vitamin d.
Not bitchin’ but just a honest warning to others if you want to dine with your furbaby. I didn’t expect a ratchet outdoor patio – that’s all.
The staff made up for the drab ambiance. The hostess was a hoot and told me that a customer once brought a high chair that attached to the table for their dog:
. The servers were really welcoming but service was like watching paint dry on the wall (it was less than 25% filled inside). Since we were the only ones in the «outdoor patio», we did have to go inside a couple of times if we wanted something. Not a big deal since it allowed us to escape the blazing sun momentarily.
Now onto the most important thing: THE Food.
Maybe because we’re spoiled with top-​notch seafood restaurants in San Francisco like Hog Island, Woodhouse Fish, Anchor Oyster Bar, etc., but I found the food at Flying Fish Bar & Grill to be pedestrian. The quality and execution was lackluster but for the prices, it wasn’t bad.
We started with the much raved about Crabby-​Garlic Cheesy Bread ($ 11.95):
. Overhyped and overrated. The crab wasn’t adequately strained so there was an unappetizing wet, salty layer (the crab) when you bite into the bread. I ended up removing all the crab and it was much better. You can’t go wrong with melty cheese and garlic on crusty carbs.
For my entrée, I opted for the seafood tacos «grande» (w/​cheese & guacamole): one fish ($ 4.75) and one shrimp ($ 5.25):
. You have an option to add rice and beans… for $ 5 which is too pricey IMO so I opted out. My fav was the shrimp. They were large, crunchy, and sweetly tender. You only get two pieces though so savor each one. The fish was greasy so I didn’t care for that. A major gripe is the tortillas fell apart upon the first several bites because it was drenched from the aioli and slaw; they should double up on the tortillas. Paying an extra 75 cents to make the tacos «grande» was pointless. I got several specks of cheese and a squirt of guac. For the BEST fish tacos («Nick’s way»), check out Underdogs in SF:
. They literally pile on a ¼ cup of guac on your taco!
Mr. NSS ordered the Fish & Chips ($ 11.95):
. He loves fried foods and he usually kills his entrée and half of mines but he left more half of the food on his plate. I had a fry which was like diner fries and a taste of the coleslaw which was really sweet.
Another mildly disappointing restaurant experience in Half Moon Bay is in the books. *Le Sigh*
If anyone has any dog-​friendly restaurant recs in Half Moon Bay, please let me know!
Or, maybe I should bring a collapsible table and chairs, and make my own «outdoor patio» in a restaurant’s parking lot next time.

a MUST visit for lunch if you’re making the trek to Half Moon Bay!
At first we were pretty annoyed since it took them a while to take our order EVEN THOUGH the restaurant was not busy BUT they were apologetic and more than accommodating afterwards
—CRABBY CHEEZY BREAD: you MUST order this as an appetizer if anything at all, Toasty buttery deliciousness with real crab
—Scallop taco: grilled, never had scallop tacos before, pretty good
—Cod taco: deep fried, crispy and also good
—clam chowder bowl: i didn’t try it but my friend loved it
Tacos are pricey at $ 4 – 5 each but it is seafood i suppose (too bad i’m not a fan of their corn tortillas)

As it is pretty much known, Half Moon Bay is saturated with seafood restaurants, and fortunately, Flying Fish is one of the better ones that offer more creative selections without compromising freshness.
We tried the clams appetizer and a selection of their fish tacos, all delicious and well-​portioned. Service is attentive and friendly, although a little bit slow at times. The atmosphere screams old school fish shack-​check out their paintings on the walls. Overall, I definitely would prefer this restaurant above the others when in HMB.

I was hoping to LOVE this place, but I left thinking, «That was okay».
We ordered the Crabby Cheesy Garlic Bread. Who wouldn’t after seeing all the pictures here on Unilocal and the rave reviews. Our opinion… it was okay. The taste was not extraordinary. I did not melt into a mmmmmoan of culinary ecstasy as I bit into a piece. No, it was okay and not worth the $ 11.99 price tag. The pictures look great; I posted one of my own. In addition to it not being outstanding, it was much, much smaller than I expected.
I ordered the crab melt with coleslaw. They added dried cranberries to the coleslaw, which was a nice touch. The sandwich was good. Lots of crab and lots of cheese. I could taste the crab. I think I tasted celery, so overall the flavor had some nice subtleties, but it was heavy handed on the cheese. It appeared they grilled the crab mixture in a sort of a patty before putting it on the bread. Pretty cool, except it was unevenly distributed. Half the sandwich had 70% of the crab and the other half had portions of bread with no filling.
Mark really loved the Mahi Taco, but felt the deep fried cod taco lacked flavor and left him longing for tartar sauce.
I could see the food really hitting home at a better price in the previous location. It’s less impressive now. The new, higher prices should deliver higher quality cuisine.

The service here is impeccable! Our waitress was super friendly, made sure we had everything we needed, and was super fun to chat with. We tried to get the steamed clam recipe from her, but she said even she couldn’t get it from the kitchen staff.
Food is good — we had appetizers instead of main dishes, but they filled us right up.
Poke — thumbs up.
Ceviche — thumbs up.
Steamed clams — thumbs ALL THE WAY UP!

Wir sind für 4 Tage bei Freunden in Mountain View, bevor wir mit dem Wohnmobil starten wollen.
Mittagessen im Flying Fish. Unser Freund empfiehlt uns die Fischsuppe und die ist superlecker!
Reichhaltig, lecker, toll :-)
Danach war der schöné Spaziergang an der Half Moon Bay dringend nötig, ich hab die Portion — sehr zum Leidwesen meines Mannes — allein aufgegessen :-)

Malerischer Ort «Half Moon Bay» an der Strandroute No. 1 nach San Francisco. Parkplatz direkt vor der Tür, romantisches Rentnerstädtchen. Absolut lecker, frittierte Calamari mit Zitrone — und leckerer Seafood-​Eintopf ein Traum. Alles frisch und aromatisch zubereitet.