I had seen Fish Camp off PCH many times while driving and often wondered if it was any good. Recently, I shared a meal with some friends and managed to try a slew of things off the menu. For a fast casual seafood joint, the menu was extensive without being overwhelming and there is definitely something for everyone.
I started with a Cajun Bloody Mary ($5.95) which I could’ve kept drinking had I not driven myself and my son. It was delicious with the right amount of kick. I later found out there was a good amount of horseradish in it!!
We got some soup to try and New England Clam Chowder was surprisingly good. My son hogged the bowl after we had a taste. The flavors were good, but without being goopy and overly thick.
Spicy Red Seafood Chowder was just okay. The broth was nice, but I wasn’t fond of the salmon which was overcooked and tough. The soups are $2.95/cup, $5.25/bowl, or the sourdough bread bowl for $7.75.
We were all fans of Fried Calamari and the one here is quite delicious. You can enjoy half a pound for $7.95 or a whole pound for $13.75 which was great for the four of us to share. They were not greasy and served with a nice aioli.
Ahi Poke ($8.75) was very fresh although a tad underseasoned. I added a little soy sauce to it and it was great after that. There are peanuts in here for a slight crunch — not traditionally used in Hawaii by any means — so if you have an allergy, be aware of this.
We all loved the Steamed Manila Clams ($7.55) which were beautifully flavored. They serve it with a little extra broth for you to dip either the clams or the garlic bread in.
Wild Parmesan Crusted Sand Dabs ($12.95) were tender and had a nice lemon caper sauce drizzled over it. I could totally eat an entire order of this on my own. The parmesan crust was a great addition to the mild sand dabs.
My son’s Eastern Sea Scallops ($16.75) plate was quite good. They’re not as large as diver scallops, but prepared well and surprisingly, retained its moisture even though they were grilled which is often hard to control. Entrees come with a choice of two sides.
Beer Battered Fish & Chips ($12.75/3pcs) were a bit greasy but the fish was flaky and tasted great. Some malt vinegar helps cut the grease some.
What I loved about this place was how they have some healthy but also, delicious sides to choose from such as sauteed spinach, grilled zucchini and stir fried vegetables. The cheesy grits are a must as it is creamy, rich and so decadent!
My friends also had fresh oysters and thought the accompanying mignonette sauce very respectable!
If you’re not full after all the food, you can try the desserts. The Key Lime Pie ($4.45) was quite mouth-puckering, even for me and I love tart.
The Banana Pudding ($4.45) was surprisingly good and I ended up eating quite a few spoonfuls of this. My only complaint is that there wasn’t enough banana slices in it. Six spoonfuls and I got one banana slice.
I would totally eat at Fish Camp again! This location is a little far for me, but if they open one nearby, I would definitely visit more often!
Fish Camp
16600 Pacific Coast Hwy
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Tel: 562-592-2267
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