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Mention fish tacos to people and chances are that they either give you the gas face and say “Eewww!”, or repeat the term and giggle. Simply typing those words conjures in our mind innuendo-laced memories of our Uncle Stu holding his index and middle fingers to his mouth, flicking his tongue between them and talking about how he loved "eating fish on Friday at the 'Y'." Today’s Tribune, however, is all about fish tacos. Kevin Pang is launching a “fish taco offensive” to raise awareness of he calls “the perfect food.” Pang told us via e-mail yesterday, “my goal is to get people to know about it (many still think the idea of fish and tacos are disgusting), get people to appreciate it, and get restaurateurs to start adding it to menus.”
Specifically, Pang is trying to raise awareness of Baja-style fish tacos: those lightly battered, deep-fried pieces of whitefish, cod, or tilapia served on a corn tortilla with cabbage, lime and salsa. To do so, the Tribune has launched a multimedia campaign that tip-toes the fine line between awareness and publicity stunt. Pang solidly details the history of the snapper pouch, while radio legend Steve Dahl weighs in with an account of the first time he went down on a fish taco. We haven’t even had our morning coffee yet, and already we're mining gold.
Pang makes an appearance on Dahl’s WCKG (105.9 FM) radio show this afternoon to talk about his campaign. He also sat down for an interview with the folks at the Maniacal Rage Podcast. If that wasn’t enough, Tribune readers who make a “pledge” to hold their noses and try a fish taco can receive their own teal-colored “fish taco” rubber bracelet by visiting the Tribune’s “Stew” food blog. Expect to see Pang around town with a camera crew in tow today passing out those bracelets and ambushing chefs in an effort to get them to add fish tacos to their menus.
We expressed our skepticism of this campaign to Pang; with a little bit of hoofing and research, it isn’t hard to find a good Baja-style fish taco in the city. He replied that the whole campaign is more about raising awareness of the dish. “I went to school at USC and would drive down to San Diego often to eat fish and lobster tacos. Here in town, we tried fish tacos at around 15 places. I can't say any of them wowed me, but a few came close.” Those places include Chicagoist favorites Adobo Grill, Fonda del Mar, and Carbón. Pang is right; made well, a fish taco is a great thing to munch on (sorry, we can’t help ourselves).
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I would imagine that the only people saying "ewww" to a fish taco are those that don't like fish. Otherwise, what's not to like? (unless not prepared well, but isn't that true of any dish?)
I totally have a craving now. Damn you, Pang!
I never knew what a fish taco was until I had one at a humble little mall eatery in San Diego several years ago. I saw the light instantly. Pang is right. Chicagoans need to know more about how wonderful this dish is. We also need to make better ones. I haven't found a really good one so far, but the search continues. Any suggestions would be appreciated. (And please sign in when you make them so I can actually read your comments. Not a plug for Chicagoist, just for me and my fellow fish taco lovers.)
Oh, again with the registration thing. You people just harp and harp, don't you.
Here's what needs to happen. Registered readers who don't appreciate guests' shade of gray should hit that button at the top that says "Hide Guest Comments," thus saving their delicate eyes. And if Chicagoistas dislike having guests so much, they should require everyone who comments to register. I won't comment anymore, and I suspect the opinions expressed here will become far less diverse, but that would probably just add to the pleasure of the majority of registered folks who seem not to enjoy dissent.
As long as I have the option of not registering, though, I will continue to visit the site and will continue to be a guest.
F-ck you, cipher. Harping isn't what we're doing. Whining is what you're doing.
fish tacos are awesome when done right. my boyfriend usually doesn't prefer fish, but having a fish taco in san diego totally changed that.
i miss Rubio's. i haven't been able to find anything that compares to their beer-battered fish.
De Cero on Randolph has a nice, clean one--it's not fried, which is nice. But I think it was around $4 ... not exactly La Pasadita pricing. Which makes me hungry for La Pasadita, and wishing they had fish tacos.
Also, #1: You haven't gotten the "fish taco" joke yet? See the post for many crude clues, haha ... gross.
And there's Ferdy, always quick with the witty and eloquent comeback. I didn't whine. I stated my view on an issue only registered folks bring up anymore, and pointed out the obvious solution to your problems. You choose instead to berate. Typical.
As a frequent traveler to the Pacific coast, I, like Pang, cannot understand why fish tacos have not caught on here.
Try the fish tacos at Sidebar in the Loop. The best I have had around here.
First: "Comment Registration" and "dissent" are not mutually exclusive terms. You can be registered and disagree with what we write. Ferdy, as an example, may be cited as an example of such.
And, now that our intentions to phase out the guest comments is out in the open, enjoy it while it lasts.
Wanna talk about it further over fish tacos at Carbón? I might even buy.
My sister and her boyfriend regularly make delicious fish tacos. They really are tasty. The only problem with making them yourself is that if you don't get the right cut or type of fish, you can have a hard time with little bones.
The cabbage and lime really complement (compliment?) the fish.
Nothing against fish tacos or Pang--he's a nice, smart guy--but if reporters in this city are going to engage in journalistic crusades, I hope they also pick more serious issues along with the relatively trivial issues designed for the features pages.
"You people just harp and harp, don't you." Sounds like a whine to me.
You fired first, "Guest."
Fish Tacos are almost as wack as Justin SonWack
They both should be Boycotted!
Los Nopales has the best fish tacos in the history of the world.
I got a fish taco on accident once and i almost vomited.
Well, you guys can enjoy your little temple of self-absorbed circular conversation. I will not be nagged or forced into registration, so you guys can happily banter behind your fake names.
Unless Chuck's serious about the conversation and fish tacos. I'd go for it.
Guest 16. You must be very henpecked. Everything seems like nagging to you. Get help.
Fish tacos I have known and loved:
El Cid on Kedzie in Logan Sq.
Bar Louie (I know, I know) actually makes a good fish taco. I had one at the South Loop location a few weeks ago and it was delicious.
that guy looks like he's had one too many fish tacos
lol@19
I believe part of the reason fish tacos are not as popular here is because good, fresh seafood may not be as readily available. I'm not a big fan of seafood in the Midwest, if I'm on either coast it's a different story though.
You're not buying fish in the right place, Zack. Isaacson & Stein and Whole Foods both have great fish (the latter much more expensive, but I just had their Dover Sole at $9.99/lb and it was fabulous!). We don't have to suffer here anymore. Besides, the Lake Superior whitefish is extremely fresh and delicious here and would be a great fish to use in tacos.
Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out. I want to get some sea bass and try making the Le Cirque recipe from last night's Top Chef.
Handlebar has pretty good FT's but the best ones I ever had were in Austin TX. That is the fish taco capitol of the world.
"$9.99/lb"
that is expensive to me, then again I'm not a sole expert or anything. Soul, yes, sole, not so much. ;)
also i demand more "fish taco" jokes here. i mean, COME ON!
In honor of matty's worry Chicagoist will be come a circle jerk:
You're not buying fish in the right place, Zack. Isaacson & Stein and Whole Foods both have great fish (the latter much more expensive, but I just had their Dover Sole at $9.99/lb and it was fabulous!).
That's fine for you yuppie types on the north side, but I hardly doubt the local taqueria in Pilsen is shopping at Whole Foods for their fish. And if they were, you expect them to use $10/lb. fish and still provide a taco for a buck fifty? Yeah, maybe if they use a half ounce of fish and 6 oz. of cabbage. You're completely missing the point, Ferdy!
See, now I can be contentious and accountable! Wow, isn't this so much better?
i've had great fish tacos at handlebar and even better at rodan. wash it down with some harp lager.
So sorry I can afford to buy some good fish at a decent price (but still too much for the burger crowd) at Isaacson's. $9.99 is very good for sole, which doesn't have a lot of meat to begin with and is hard to filet. I love fish, and some of it is not cheap. However, I notice nobody bothered to find anything good about my suggestion to use Lake Superior whitefish, a local catch that you can get for $3.99/lb in season. You'd all rather pile on me. That's the Internet, long may it flame.
It took long enough for the city to get on board with fish tacos.
King Daley the First famously remarked decades ago that "There's nothing as wholesome as a fish taco", after all.
Which proves my point ... even the registered guys are piling on you. Accountability changes nothing.
"Which proves my point ... even the registered guys are piling on you. Accountability changes nothing."
Which was exactly *my* point as well -- I thought that was fairly obvious from my opening sentence, I should have known better than to try to joke around with the overly sensitive Ferdy. I mean, christ, "piling on"?? Matty made a simple comment that he thought it was still expensive (his opinion), then my post. Sheesh, lighten up!
New guest - Oh. That was supposed to be funny. Take a lesson from Matty - his comment was amusing.
Oh, Ferdy, always the martyr.
Isn't this just so much more pleasant now that you "know" who I am?
Martyr? Is that another one of your jokes. Call Second City. They really need you!
Guest 28 I like the handle bar and all, but they have more women with hairy legs and arm pits per cap. than Calf., Vermont, and Wash. State combined.