El Encinal Mexican Seafood - La Jolla

The interior can be a bit loud and overwhelming for me (due to anxiety), so the outdoor seating area was ideal and extremely cozy! The food was amazing. The quality was exceptional, and everything was cooked to perfection. I particularly recommend the filet mignon, octopus, and scallops. My friend also really enjoyed the clams. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Overall, this is probably the best place I've been to in the last 3-5 years. While it might initially seem a bit pricey, I found the prices to be quite reasonable considering the quality of the food. It's a perfect spot for a casual and relaxed first date.

Fish market doubles a fish restaurant. Here you will find inexpensive and fresh seafood. Although you don't find sophisticated seafood dishes here, grilled seafood is still amazing. I love to appreciate fresh seafood with minimal cooking, which are made to them anyway and this place provides great grilled seafood. Definitely a must try when you are in Mission Beach area.

What a delightful dining experience! The meal was incredibly fresh and packed with flavor. The selection of options is truly impressive. The El Pescador salad, featuring smoked salmon, crab, and shrimp, was absolutely outstanding! We also tried the classic sea bass served with rice and vegetables, and it was cooked to perfection!

I was especially impressed with the oysters and the grilled sea bass. The East Coast sweet petites were mild, briny, and not too meaty, while the King Tide oysters from the West Coast had a clean, crisp finish and a plump, springy texture. Both types of oysters had a refreshing aftertaste—delicious! The grilled sea bass was fresh and had a wonderfully delicate, mildly sweet flavor, cooked to perfection. Unfortunately, the cioppino was just okay; not only did it fall short of our expectations, but the large portion was surprisingly small, and the seafood selection was rather basic. On the plus side, I loved that despite being a traditional fish market, it didn’t have that fishy smell at all. They also have a lovely outdoor patio where you can enjoy wine, the San Diego breeze, and sunshine. I’ll definitely be back for more oysters!

Options given, I could have rated the place with 100 stars. We stopped by this place, right after our sea kayak tour in La Jolla coves. We were exhausted, drained, cold and excited. The place has a charming vibe. I started feeling better with all fresh grill smell as soon as I stepped in. It’s a huge fish market cum restaurant. You have to wait in the line and order at the counter. Somebody will deliver the food. It’s a pretty casual place with laid back vibe. The place is always busy. We took a bowl of clam chowder and a sandwich made with some fresh grill of some fish Hawaiian opah), octopus, and jumbo shrimp. The fish and the seafoods are being sold by weight and then they grill them and serve according to your wish. We wanted them in a sandwich Mexican torta style). It’s huge, and tasted terrific. Both the clam chowder and the sandwich are superlative. The difference made by the quality of the seafood, they are absolute fresh. Still it won’t burn your pocket. I absolutely recommend the place.