Wahoo’s Fish Tacos

 
Wahoo’s Fish Tacos is a chain started in southern California by three surfer brothers whose parents were also restauranteurs. Their concept is simple: their primary target is 18-24 year-old males, who are the largest consumers of commercially prepared foods in the US. And Wahoo’s is serving them inexpensive fish tacos with a little bit of Brazil and Japan mixed in. So if you’re a skater dude, a surfer, an X-gamer, you’re gonna love this little joint that feels like you’ve walked into a surf shop in California. But I’m not in their target. So how did I like it?

Simply put, if you’re looking for dining value, this place is appealing. I tried the Maui Onion Rings with a beer batter. They were a bit oily, but on the whole pretty tasty and had that requisite crunch!. The Baja Rolls were also decent. The mix of cream cheese, spinach, chicken and salsa rolled in a lard-free tortilla had an unusual but appealing flavor. I liked the healthier aspect of the tortilla. In fact, you won’t find an ounce of lard anywhere in the restaurant.

But the real heart of Wahoo’s is indeed the Wahoo. The restaurant chain is the largest importer of this popular Pacific Rim fish with the white flesh. Let’s get down to the restaurant’s namesake, the Fish Taco. You begin with two corn tortillas, blackened or grilled wahoo, lettuce, a mix of cheddar and jack cheese and pico de gallo. On the side is a very tasty roasted pepper sauce. I’m not a huge fan of fish tacos as a rule, but these were good. Wahoo has a firm texture that lends itself well to a taco or burrito. If fish is not your thing, you can choose shrimp or grilled veggies for that matter.

It’s in the Wahoo Bowls that the cultural diversity of the restaurant is revealed. I ordered a Banzai Bowl with a tasty concoction of fish and shrimp, grilled zucchini teriyaki style, ahi rice, and spicy cajun white beans. Now that’s a melting pot for you! The white beans were surprisingly good and really kicked the dish up a notch for me.The sauces are important and that roasted pepper sauce held up well. Another choice is the interesting Kalua Pig Bowl. This was an unexpected pleasure: the base is shredded carnitas pan-grilled in teriyaki sauce. Add the rice and beans and again, the diner has a tasty and reasonably healthy entree. The facility of Wahoo’s is that one can mix and match these bowls to their own taste.

In these economically challenged times, Wahoo’s makes sense. Aside from the draft beers which are, in my opinion, a bit pricey, the menu is laden with value. And while it may be targeted toward 18-24 year-old guys, when I’ve been in I’ve seen plenty of business types in my demographic group. The ambiance, true, is early surf shop, but ultimately, what matters is that you can get a quick, healthy, tasty and fairly inexpensive meal. Last time I looked, that kind of delivery can cut across virtually any demographic group.