I drove past it three times before I decided I must be in the right place. After all, when Yelp directs you to great Mexican food in Hollywood, there are a few things you expect, the least of which is that the establishment in question is housed in a building. But there I was, standing on the edges of what looked like a private backyard party under a white pop-up tent just off Sunset Boulevard.
Welcome to Ricky’s Fish Tacos.
I was hungry, dammit–I’d just hiked up Mount Hollywood, after all–so backyard party or not, I was going in.
Turns out I was in the right spot: against a far wall, two large deep fryers overflowed with golden battered strips of what I assumed to be seafood, as a man and a woman attended the fryers, flipping the strips with tongs to make certain they’d been evenly browned. The man would turn out to be Ricky himself, as I found out later.
The air was filled with the aroma of the hot oil, laced with the chatter of roughly a dozen people who lingered waiting for their orders to be filled: police officers, hipsters, tourists, and families.
On the menu: fish, shrimp, and lobster tacos served with a light mango-pineapple agua fresca for a refreshing finish. Being allergic to shellfish, I opted for the fish taco–which was cooked separately from the other seafood–and dressed it with chopped cabbage, a little pico de gallo, and a tangy white sauce.
Sitting at the plastic tables and chairs set up for patrons, I enjoyed one of my favorite meals in Los Angeles. As for affordability, two tacos and a glass of that delicious agua fresca set me back a mere $6.50, a bargain in a city known for its high price tag.
This food looks beautiful Marsha! I’m going to have to try some when I make my way stateside one day:)
The pic really didn’t do the actual taste justice, but the main reason I wanted to write about this experience was because it was so unexpected but satisfying. Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂