# Fish tacos: Battered & fried, or grilled? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 5, 2020, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tacos-battered-fried-or-grilled/853180 "2020-05-05T14:32:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2025, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tacos-battered-fried-or-grilled/853180/81 "2025-07-31T23:53:21Z")
It depends on the fish. I would not want Halibut, Mahi-Mahi, Mako or Grouper breaded and fried, grilling is definitely the way to go. But if you are going the cheap route, Tilapia, Catfish, Pollock, or Ocean Perch, yes, batter and fry please. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tacos-battered-fried-or-grilled/853180/82 "2025-08-01T02:24:44Z")
FWIW, fish taco sauce: 3 tablespoons sour cream 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 tablespoon lime juice ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon Sriracha sauce ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tacos-battered-fried-or-grilled/853180/83 "2025-08-01T07:39:26Z")
That sounds good, but I’ll stick with just a drizzle of crema. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tacos-battered-fried-or-grilled/853180/84 "2025-08-01T10:55:13Z")
Mine is very similar (makes a lot but lasts a while in fridge) ½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup Mexican crema ¼ cup whole milk 1 tablespoon ABC Sambal Pedas sauce (ABC is a brand of Indonesian chili sauce, amazing stuff available on Amazon and in Asian markets) 1 small garlic clove, minced, juice of half lime ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tacos-battered-fried-or-grilled/853180/85 "2025-08-20T23:16:41Z")
This week I went to Long John Silver’s and tried their salmon tacos with southwestern sauce. My mom had their shrimp tacos (with sweet chili sauce). My dad opted for classic two pieces of fish with slaw and hushpuppies (and maybe fries? I don’t remember). I was nervous when I saw the size of the foil wrap and disappointed when I saw how small the flour shell was– but there was a decent size chunk of salmon in each one, and not very much cabbage. The southwestern sauce seemed to have corn and black beans and tasted of lime juice. Mom’s shrimp tacos had reasonably plentiful and reasonably large shrimp. I don’t know that I’d recommend Long John Silver’s as a great source of fish tacos, but if you find yourself there, I”ve had worse. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tacos-battered-fried-or-grilled/853180/86 "2025-08-21T03:30:06Z")
Totally dependent on the quality of the fish. Good, wild caught, fresh fish, it’s criminal to deep fry, lightly grilled is the way to go. Generic frozen white fish fillet, is one of the few foods I actually prefer battered and deep fried ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tacos-battered-fried-or-grilled/853180/87 "2025-08-21T03:43:09Z")
> [@Eureka](#): > > I was nervous when I saw the size of the foil wrap and disappointed when I saw how small the flour shell was– but there was a decent size chunk of salmon in each one Salmon isn’t really the right fish for tacos. I _love_ salmon, but it’s not for tacos. Also, tacos are made with _corn_ tortillas. Flour tortillas are for poseurs. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tacos-battered-fried-or-grilled/853180/88 "2025-08-21T14:11:05Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Flour tortillas are for poseurs. I meant the restaurant was posing; not the customer. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tacos-battered-fried-or-grilled/853180/89 "2025-08-21T18:56:50Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’m none too fond of _any_ fresh-water fish. Salt-water, fine. So my “find a repulsive fish to use” list defaulted Fresh Water. And “perch” just sounds funny. Yeah, me, too. I ordered Walleye when I was in Michigan a long while ago because I’d never had it. Didn’t care for it. Not fond of trout catfish either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tacos-battered-fried-or-grilled/853180.md?page=4)