Wahoo’s Fish Tacos

Santa Monica, United States

3.5

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 310-393-9125
Website:
www.wahoos.com
Address:
418 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA, 90401
Santa Monica
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.5 miDowntown Santa Monica
1 mi17th Street/Santa Monica College
1.7 mi26th Street/Bergamot
Categories:
QR code
Download QR Image Download vCard

Map

Streetview

Activate map

Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
No
Delivery
No
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Apple Pay
Yes
Good For
Lunch
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Average
Alcohol
Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wi-Fi
No
Has TV
Yes
Waiter Service
No
Caters
Yes

Today

Today 11:00 am – 9:30 pm
Closed now
Local time (Santa Monica) 08:56 Thursday, 12 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 11:00 am – 9:30 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am – 9:30 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 9:30 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 9:30 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 9:30 pm
Saturday 11:00 am – 9:30 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 9:30 pm

Description

Specialties

Drop In. Have Fun. Eat Well. Our mission has been the same since 1988, serve the food we like to eat to our friends and family! We feel that everyone who eats with us are like friends and family!

History

Established in 1988.

The three Wahoo’s brothers, Wing, Ed and Mingo, combined their love of surf and food to create a restaurant with an eclectic Mexican/​Brazilian/​Asian menu and a Hawaiian north-​shore vibe.

Wing, Ed and Mingo were born with the love of restaurants in their blood. Growing up in San Paolo, Brazil, they actually spent their early years above their parents’ Chinese restaurant. After school, you could find the brothers in the restaurant peeling shrimp or washing dishes. In 1975, the family moved to Orange County, California, where their dad opened the famous Shanghai Pine Garden Chinese restaurant on Balboa Island.

In 1988, the brothers decided to import the fish taco to Orange County, California, and give it a unique twist. They combined the fish taco with their Brazilian favorites and Asian inspired items. The brothers decorated the original restaurant with the donations of near-​by surf companies and that’s how Wahoo’s Fish Taco was born.

Meet the Business Owner

Ed, Mingo and Wing L.

Business Owner

We started out as a family run restaurant and remain that way today. We value all Wahooian’s, some who have been with us since day one. We look forward to serving our famous fish tacos for generations to come.

Wahoo’s Fish Tacos also recommends

Wahoo’s Fish Tacos

227

reviews

Mexikansk mat

,

Fisk & skaldjur

Ed, Mingo and Wing L. says,

«Check out our other locations!»

Wahoo’s Fish Tacos

162

reviews

Mexikansk mat

,

Fisk & skaldjur

Ed, Mingo and Wing L. says,

«Check out our other locations!»

Wahoo’s Fish Tacos

117

reviews

Fisk & skaldjur

,

Mexikansk mat

Ed, Mingo and Wing L. says,

«Check out our other locations!»

Related places

You might also consider:
140
ft
Tacos Tuzo
411 Wilshire Blvd (Santa Monica)
420
ft
Tinga
522 Wilshire Blvd (Santa Monica)
670
ft
Chipotle Mexican Grill
1218 3rd St (Santa Monica)
710
ft
Cabo Cantina
1240 3rd St (Santa Monica)
740
ft
Loteria Grill
1251 3rd St Promenade (Santa Monica)
1
mi
Baja Fresh Mexican Grill
720 Wilshire Blvd. (Santa Monica)

Nearby

Browse nearby places:
1
ft
Anna Maria’s La Trattoria
418 Wilshire Blvd
30
ft
Musha Restaurant
424 Wilshire Blvd
70
ft
Verizon Wireless
410 Wilshire Blvd
80
ft
Wilshire Chevron
432 Wilshire Blvd
90
ft
Postnet
410 Wilshire Boulevard
90
ft
Gracie Barra Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu
1207 4th St Ste 100

20 reviews of Wahoo’s Fish Tacos

No registration required
Place rating: 4
Culver City, CA
I go here a lot since I work nearby and I like the food I get. I really enjoy the banzai bowl with white rice and carne asada… I always say light teriyaki sauce because it’s been a bit inconsistent… sometimes my bowl is drenched, sometimes it’s not… so better to be safe. Their white rice just has something about it that I really love… maybe it’s the type of rice and the seasoning? I don’t know… I also love rice so… rice rice rice yum!
The workers there are so nice and attentive.
I love their churro chips! So very dangerous because it’s a big portion of them and I could get them all in one seating! Last time I got them, I carried them to everyone’s desk at work and initially they’re like «no thanks» but then I guilt them into trying one and then they can’t stop either.
I have to say I’m not a huge fan of street tacos or soft tacos so I’ve tried them here once and I didn’t really like them much so I haven’t gotten them again but I wouldn’t rely on my review of their tacos. I enjoy getting their outer reef burrito with carnitas as a wet burrito with the red sauce on top. It’s HUGE and it’s good! Their chicken taquitos are good. you’re usual taquitos. My co-​worker goes here a lot to get the chicken tortilla soup which she says is really good and she’s picky about her tortilla soup.
I’m not a huge fan of their guacamole and I really don’t like their salsa. It’s thick and more like a mole sauce or something… I personally like lighter salsas.
I’ve been meaning to try their Paleo Salad or their Kale Kai Salad as they look really good and I heard they were good from others but I just can’t stop getting my usual. :)
Place rating: 4
Chapel Hill, NC
Pretty legit. Guy was super friendly at the counter and helped me design something on the menu that fit what I was looking for since I was torn in between two things. Spicy chicken isn’t super spicy, but is very flavorful. Only gripe would be that I am in the far minority of people that like not only super spicy, but straight up hot food… and they didn’t quite have anything to cater to that.
All in all, definitely worth a choice for some fresh, flavorful grub!
Place rating: 2
Phoenix, AZ
Pretty bad experience. Customer service was not up to par, woman at the register didn’t even understand what we were trying to order (and we were reading it straight off the menu). Ended up with salmon tacos, which were pretty pricey and not very filling. Also ordered nachos and while they weren’t bad, the meat was interesting to say the least. The quesadilla my friend ordered was also okay. Can’t say I would return.
Place rating: 2
Venice, CA
Ordered the enchiladas and they’re nothing special. In fact, they were ready in 2 minutes and the chicken looks like it was straight out of a Costco chicken packet.
The quality of food is low but the place is pretty cool. Don’t order the enchiladas for sure.
Next time I’ll go to Benny’s tacos up the street with good Mexican food. I wish I had eaten there instead.
Place rating: 5
Bloomington, IN
Had the screamin burrito with guacamole. It wasn’t soggy but the inside was well mixed and saturated with the delicious sauce. Their 5 spicy sauces are terrific too and not overwhelmingly spicy, except the salsa one which just tasted like normal salsa. 5⁄5 would devour again
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
Wahoo Taco is a convenient taco place for me because it’s too near from where i live, aside from that they also serve delicious tacos, though it’s my first time here i already find this place amazing. We wanted a light meal and found this to be a perfect. Our fish tacos (one crispy and one grilled) were very good. We were also able to order a glass of wine with dinner. A fun
atmosphere!
Place rating: 3
Venice, CA
The grilled fish taco with heaps of cabbage spritzed/​marinated lime juice are pretty good. If you are in Santa Monica and a tourist and don’t think you’ll have a fish taco anywhere else consider stopping in. Or if you work nearby and crave a fish taco it’s a decent option. Here’s a blog post about fast food chains in southern california with fish tacos for a more expert opinion.
Personally, I’d rather have a cheaper fried fish taco at Rubio’s then the healthier and more expensive fish taco at Wahoo’s.
The Southern California sun must have fried my brain as I mistook Wahoo’s for Rubio’s.
When I lived in San Francisco I had a very good experience with a fast food chain serving up fish tacos. Walking down Wilshire the other day I thought, great now’s my chance to see how the fish tacos stand up to my experienced palate which has actually been in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico eating fish tacos at food stands.
Today I realized all my past memories were of Rubio’s and that I’ve never been to a Wahoo’s before. Here’s how Wahoo’s stands out as different from Rubio’s:
* More expensive, I was surprised when my bill was $ 15
* No fried fish, only grilled fish tacos
* Better atmosphere, as long as you like skate park chic
* More extensive menu
Place rating: 4
Austin, TX
Salsa and chips are really good. I enjoyed the carnitas bowl, great flavor, and I’ve also had the burrito. Enormous portions especially for the price. To go boxes are available.
Place rating: 2
Queens, NY
Meh. I was expecting to be blown away since this was my first meal in Cali, but it was ok. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to get 2 tacos or the entrée with 2 tacos that comes with 2 sides.
Here’s the part that threw me off. I decided to get the entrée because I thought it would be cheaper since it’s just a couple of dollars more. But there are SO MANY HIDDEN FEES when you make substitutions. There should be a warning saying read this menu with a magnifying glass. They have like tiny asterisks hidden at the bottom end of the menu. I was one unhappy customer.
But yeah, the food was ok. It was hard to distinguish between the 2 tacos I got (I chose the fish and pork), I had to look for the meat to tell which one I was eating. It filled me up, but I had better tacos elsewhere during my trip.
Place rating: 3
Santa Monica, CA
Wahoo’s offers a decent taco or burrito that while won’t blow your mind, will at the very least pleasantly satiate your appetite.
The décor here is pretty cool and hip. There is outdoor seating as well as indoor and Wahoo’s stickers plastered all around the restaurant. The staff here are all very nice and helpful so zero complaints there. The Wahoo’s menu offers tacos, burritos or plates with a variety of protein options (Carne Asada, Shrimp, Fish, Chicken, etc.).
I usually get the Banzai Burrito with either Shrimp or Carne Asada and an extra Spicy Fish Taco. I am a fan of the fish taco. It’s a little pricey (protip: if you download the app and sign up for the loyalty program, you’ll get a free taco). The Banzai is okay — filling, but there’s better burritos out there in terms of value and taste. Also, I’d ask for the green sauce, which adds a nice extra level of flavor to whatever you’re eating. Also, there’s beer served here.
Overall, a decent lunch option around SM.
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
While there are endless dining options in the area, we ended up here for lunch and I loved my banzai burrito!
It had an Asian spin to it, veggies and grilled fish, an excellent sauce, I was in heaven!
Also a large portion for around $ 8.
Service was great, food came out quickly and they brought me some additional salsa as well as their cilantro dressing which i am also obsessed with!
Can’t couch for much else on their menu since i go with the banzai every time, but they are consistent in great quality and good service, worth returning!
Place rating: 4
Beverly Hills, CA
I love fish tacos and I wouldn’t miss the chance every time if I am close by a Wahoo’s. After visiting Barnes & Noble for my friend’s book signing event, I was so hungry that I Unilocaled and found Wahoo’s, YAY!
We walked in and as always, skip the confusing menu on the wall and went right to the ordering cashier. We order the following:
4 original fish tacos with salsa and pico on the side. 2 of the tacos were a combo with black beans and brown rice ($ 8.24) and the other 2 were just a la cart ($ 6.58). For drinks, we decided to be healthy and just have water.
Wahoo’s is always great though the brown rice was a bit burnt this time, but that’s okay. 5 stars are all for the tacos minus 1 star for the confusing menu on the wall. Maybe it’s me, but Mexican food really is just a few combos of meat, chicken, fish, tortillas, beans, rice, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese; why do people try to make it so complex is just beyond me! I would return if I am in the area, but I wouldn’t go to 3rd & Promenade just for Wahoo’s because there are plenty of Wahoo’s everywhere! So there, yes, I love fish tacos and I love Mexican food! Wahoo’s, I love you!
Place rating: 3
Los Angeles, CA
This place is located in Santa Monica in walking distance to the beach and shops. There’s an outdoor seating area and plenty of seating inside. The décor is awesome. It’s set up just like a surf shop with all of the signs, stickers, and beach themed ornaments. There are public parking lots on the adjacent streets and a few street parking spots out front.
Was hungry after a day of driving on PCH. Came in and ordered some grilled fish tacos with the lime slaw. I think they were $ 3.29 each. A bit on the expensive side for a small fish taco. It took about 10 minutes from the time I ordered to the time I got my food. I will say that the size of the piece of fish was decent. Must’ve been a tiny sprinkle of cheese. The slaw was the best part and made up about half of the taco. It is served with 2 corn tortillas. The flavors were great but wasn’t as good as it was hyped up to be. And especially for the price.
I might come back. Or I might search nearby for some other joint with more affordable fish tacos.
Place rating: 5
Hawthorne, CA
Shrimp tacos were real good. Had them with black beans and white rice. Great environment to drink a beer. The employees are very attentive.
Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY
Fast, healthy, cheap and delicious. Nice to see wahoos hasn’t changed since I used to come here weekly 5 years ago. Actually I did notice one thing that they serve wild caught fish, which is a big bonus considering how low the prices are. Beer of the month still costs under $ 3.
Place rating: 3
San Francisco, CA
Came for the fish tacos I heard so much about. They were ok, but not great. Experience didn’t live up to the hype. I actually liked the carne asada tacos better.
Place rating: 2
Los Angeles, CA
I have been to 3 other Wahoo’s and this is my least favorite since I found tons of bones in my fish the other day. (See photo.)
The clerk said it was normal, he said it was the back spine of the fish, but I have not seen that at any other location. That many bones was dangerous to eat and I pricked my lip on one of the bones. Lost my appetite too.
For this location my feeling is:
WaaaaaBooooooooooooooo!
Place rating: 4
Santa Monica, CA
Alas I gave it another shot because I was sent a gift certificate so I can’t say no to free food!
Went with my friend and we got a quesadilla and carnitas nachos.
The nachos were very cheesy and the beans were good. Chips were okay.
I feel like this is definitely a great spot to avoid promenade crowd because there weren’t a lot of people inside so that is nice!
This time no cute guys but that’s okay!
I think wahoos redeemed itself!
Place rating: 4
Santa Monica, CA
We come for what we call the «crack rice.» The rice here is soooo good, and we have no idea why– so we always ask for double rice and no beans for our combos! The Cajun beans are too spicy and the black beans too bland. I get the standard mild fish taco combo with the citrus slaw while my husband prefers the shrimp tacos – and we always give our dog a piece of fish on their dog-​friendly patio! Download their app and get a number one combo for free!!!
I will say though that their salmon is abysmal. Stick with the standard fish and you won’t be disappointed.
Place rating: 3
Somerset, NJ
Quick tacos, chips, and salads.
Stop in for a quick bite to eat after some hard paddle boarding on the Pacific and the unfortunate loss of a GoPro (don’t ask). This was a place suggested by a friend, but didn’t realize that it was a small chain place in California until I went searching for it on Unilocal.
The environment was chill, very laid back with a bunch of surfer themed items around the restaurant and in some of the menu item names. I had gone for the Fast Break Burrito myself, which came with chicken, rice, & cheese with green sauce and salsa on the side. I have to say the burrito was mostly rice, which was a little disappointing since it’s one of the reasons I don’t go to other burrito chains. The sauce was necessary to have since it was fairly dry overall, but the green sauce didn’t really give it much of the kick I was looking for and just passed over the palate Santa passing over celery sticks.
The chips and the guacamole on the side were righteous in their flavor and I had mostly scarfed those down with my pop just to satisfy my hunger left after the burrito. The girlfriend ordered a salad to which she was pleased with and it did offer some impressive flavors you don’t often find in salads. If I had to go again, I would probably try to get some extra sauces on my order and maybe go for a bowl option instead of the burritos.