Sandbar Sports Grill San Diego

This runner-up of the 2017 Tacotopia competition is no stranger to best taco contests. Sandbar has won no fewer than five fish taco contests in the past five years, thanks to the crowd-pleasing combination of flavors and presentation of its specialty mahi mahi taco. The marinated fish is served in a fresh flour tortilla encrusted with smoked cotija cheese, then topped with lime crema, chipotle aioli, spiced guacamole, fried cilantro, escabeche style slaw for acidity, and crispy fried tobacco onions.

It’s a mouthful for sure, with smoky, acidic, and spicy flavors exhibiting creamy textures as well as crunch with each bite. Beautifully served in a corn husk, there’s little wondering why Sandbar’s a perennial favorite among local fish taco fans. The beachfront sports bar sits next to Belmont Park in Mission Beach, offering a menu loaded with burgers, sandwiches, salads, and wraps. But we wonder how anyone decides not to order the award-winning fish taco so frequently named San Diego’s best?