LBI’s Best Fish Tacos
Credit: El Swell
Fish tacos may feel like a California thing, but we’re convinced the East Coast perfected the art of the fish taco. And we love them. What’s not to love about a crispy beer-battered fried fish, crunchy cabbage slaw and chipotle cream sauce all wrapped in a warm tortilla? Anything that mentally transports us to the beach is a great thing. Anything that we can actually eat on the beach is an even better thing. Which is exactly what you’re going to do with these fish tacos. No imagination needed.
Here are the absolute best fish tacos and where to get them.
Barry’s Do Me a Flavor
The OG fried fish taco, piled high with slaw and crema, plus chips and pico on the side.
Barry’s Do Me A Flavor offers three different types of fish tacos - fried, grilled or blackened. While we aren’t here to tell you how to live your life, we strongly encourage you to get the original fried fish taco because well, it’s really that much better. The flavor and texture combo of the beer battered cod with the slaw and crema just cannot be beat here. Barry’s serves up their tacos in orders of three with a side of tortilla chips and pico, making it a dreamy mid-beach day pick-me-up. Polish it all off with some ice cream and you’re ready to hit the waves again.
Lohohana Tropical Grill
Caribbean-inspired tacos (cod, ahi tuna, or mahi) served picnic-style under tiki umbrellas with reggae vibes.
Biggy’s Beach Grill brings Caribbean vibes to LBI and their fish tacos are no exception. They have a few varieties to choose from: classic beer battered cod, rare ahi tuna or grilled blackened mahi. They all come with a side of fries or a side salad. Biggies is all about “making your own paradise” so they encourage you to take your food beachside or out to their picnic area with palm trees, reggae music and colorful picnic tables with tiki-style umbrellas.
La Bamba Mexican Kitchen
Authentic street-style tacos in a vibrant, homey setting—fresh, flavorful, beloved by locals.
La Bamba brings authentic Mexican street-food flair to LBI with a taco menu that’s hard to beat. Their battered fish taco is crispy, golden, and perfectly balanced with fresh toppings, while the shrimp pastor offers a sweet-savory kick thanks to pineapple and smoky adobo flavors. Tacos are served on soft, warm tortillas and loaded generously, making them both satisfying and beach-friendly. With locations in Brant Beach and Beach Haven, La Bamba is the kind of spot you’ll find yourself returning to again and again for bold flavors and casual island vibes.
The Shack
Fresh catch-of-the-day tacos with rice and beans, cozy outdoor lights, and a perfect BYOB date-night setting.
Beach Haven’s casual, fresh-fare joint, The Shack, has a little something for everyone but the star of the show… you guessed it... is their fish tacos. You can get them grilled or blackened with the catch-of-the-day, like mahi mahi. It’s always super fresh and delicious here and served up with a side of rice and beans. We’ve been loving their new outdoor dining area that is strung with fairy lights for a strong date night vibe. Bring your own beer or choose from a local wine they have available!
No matter which spot you choose, there’s nothing quite like biting into a fresh fish taco with the salt air on your skin and the ocean just steps away. From crispy beer-battered classics to inventive takes like shrimp pastor or blackened mahi, LBI proves the East Coast knows how to do tacos right. So grab a plate, find some shade (or sunshine), and let every bite remind you why beach days and tacos are the perfect pair.
