**** My understanding is that this truck so no longer
A couple of weeks back, occasional commenter "Buddha" who I've known since the "Chowhound Days" shot me an email telling me that he believes the best fish tacos are now being served from a truck on the corner of J and Broadway in Chula Vista named Tijuana Jr. This past weekend, I finally had some time to drive down there are check them out.
When I arrived at 10am, they were already doing some serious business. The truck is located in the parking lot of a tire shop with very limited parking. I was lucky enough to snare a spot.
There's one guy manning the order window and another manning the window for payment making things easy.
Of course I went with a Taco de Pescado - the fish taco $1.25.
Good god, this thing was huge for a typical fish taco. Two large pieces of fish, moist, the batter is almost a laquer-tempura style, very crisp. Not to much flavor, the crema is watery, you'll need to add some sauce to this one, a squeeze of lime, and maybe the habenero onions. Still, this is a super deal for a $1.25 and I think it may be the best......I need to get back to Mariscos el Pescador and El Prieto for a comparison.
I also ordered a Gobernador, which had a ton of perfectly cooked shrimp.
This really didn't seem like the typical gobernador to me....though I loved the way the cheese had been melted and griddled in some spots. This thing literally fell to pieces in ten seconds. If this was indeed a gobernador, I really missed the onions, peppers, and seasonings. Still no complaints about pertion size, though this too was very mild in flavor.
I was more than satisfied as I left. I'll be back!
Thanks for the recommendation Jeff!
Mariscos Tijuana Jr
706 W J St
Chula Vista, CA 91910
On site daily from 9am - 7pm
Since I was down in the South Bay, I thought I'd check on El Charco, which looks exactly the same as 5 months ago. I think the place is a goner.
Mariscos Godoy is now Maricos la Perla Negra:
As I headed to the I-5 down Palomar I took a quick glance to my right and was surprised. Mariscos Godoy was now Mariscos la Perla Negra:
Anyone know what happened?
A funny thing happened as I was waiting at the light to get back on Palomar; CC sent me a text telling me that Mariscos Godoy had closed! Man, that was kind of weird....I squinted my eyes looking out at Palomar Street....looking to see if I could spot her.....
651 Palomar St
Chula Vista, CA 91911
Looks like a good deal, the pieces of fish are almost larger than the tortilla!
Posted by: Jason | Monday, 10 March 2014 at 11:16 AM
It's pretty good deal Jason. You can't complain for a $1.25
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 10 March 2014 at 12:43 PM
Hi, KirkK
Mariscos Tijuana JR is a long time institution on the free road about five miles south of the Rosarito Beach Hotel.
They have very good food and every time we drive by, we see Rosarito police cars in the parking lot.
Posted by: Gypsy Jan | Monday, 10 March 2014 at 01:21 PM
Omg, kirk! you mean to tell me you were on Palomar the same time i was? when i read your response, i thought you had seen it a few days ago not the very same day/time! haha...we were on our way to target...
hmmm...i took a drive by photo and the cars are different.
Posted by: caninecologne | Monday, 10 March 2014 at 04:14 PM
Hi GJ - That's interesting...thanks for sharing...
I was at the light trying to get out of the parking lot when I wrote that text CC......
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 10 March 2014 at 04:56 PM
haha, we were at the light so we could turn into the target lot! we missed each other, literally!
Posted by: caninecologne | Monday, 10 March 2014 at 05:02 PM
i just realized my photo is from the side facing out towards palomar. your shot is from within the parking lot! :)
Posted by: caninecologne | Monday, 10 March 2014 at 05:03 PM
That was so strange.......such a coincidence. Great minds and all that!!!
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 10 March 2014 at 05:08 PM
Kirk, Glad you got a chance to check out Mariscos Tijuana Jr. Without a doubt it is the largest fish taco known to man for $1.25. There is an orange squeeze bottle hot sauce there that is pretty damn hot! I think so far it is the best fish taco in San Diego.
Posted by: buddha | Monday, 10 March 2014 at 05:32 PM
$1.25 what a delicious deal!
Posted by: kat | Tuesday, 11 March 2014 at 01:39 AM
Hi Jeff - It is quite a deal.
Yes it is Kat!
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 11 March 2014 at 06:10 AM
The Tijuana JR taco truck is now on the NW corner of Broadway and H.
Posted by: Caninecologne | Monday, 10 April 2017 at 11:43 AM
Hi CC - Yeah, we saw the truck the last time we were headed home from Aqui es Texcoco.
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 11 April 2017 at 06:49 AM