Los Cotijas Mexican Grill in Anaheim

Los Cotijas Mexican Grill in Anaheim
Los Cotijas Mexican Grill in Anaheim

When I’m in the mood for fish tacos, I head to Los Cotijas Mexican Grill in Anaheim, voted the “best fish taco in Orange County”. Best or not, the tacos are delicious and cheap, especially on Taco Tuesday when the tacos are only $2 each along with $2.45 beers.

Los Cotijas Mexican Grill is a no-frills Mexican restaurant hidden in a strip mall off Katella and Brookhurst in Anaheim. As I have been coming here for years, I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to write a review. Well, now I have.

Interior of Los Cotijas Mexican Grill in Anaheim
Interior of the restaurant

The decor of the restaurant sure won’t win any awards. Everything seemed outdated, but do you really come to a restaurant for the decor? Of course not, you come for the food.

Orange walls and tabletops, wooden paneling , and dated tile flooring. The televisions hanging in the corners always seemed to be playing Mexican shows or soccer.

The inside reminded me of an old fast food restaurant with a few tables, high tops, and booths against the wall.

At the front was the cashier. Just behind the counter was an open kitchen busy with chefs grilling, frying, and preparing food at a dizzying pace. A back lit menu could be found hanging down from the ceiling just above the counter.

When you are ready to order, order with the cashier, take a seat, and grab your food at the front when your order is called.

Los Cotijas Mexican Grill menu

Los Cotijas Mexican Grill menu
Los Cotijas Mexican Grill menu
Los Cotijas Mexican Grill menu
Los Cotijas Mexican Grill menu

The menu at Los Cotijas Mexican Grill was simple but extensive to say the least. It would take me years to try everything.

On the menu you will find exactly what you would expect to find at a no-frills Mexican restaurant. All the items were priced well.

You have your combinations, enchiladas, burritos, tacos (hard and soft), tostadas, quesadillas, sopes, tortas, shrimp cocktails, and nachos. There were also a few specials.

One thing to note, since the menus have been printed, some prices have changed. Make sure you refer the the main menu board in the restaurant for the correct prices.

Los Cotijas Mexican Grill also offers deals on Taco Tuesday. Every Tuesday, tacos (excluding shrimp) are $1.99 each while all beers are $2.45. The bottled beer line up was quite diverse with Modelo, Negra Modelo, Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, Corona, Corona Light, Pacifico, Montejo, Shock Top, Dos Equis, and Dos Equis Amber.

Great variety of delicious salasa
I’m a huge fan of the salsa bar

I love the salsa bar. It’s one of my favorite parts about visiting.

At the salsa bar you will find pico de gallo, hot salsa, cotija salsa, green salsa, and oil salsa.

My favorite by far was the oil salsa. I seriously couldn’t get enough of this smokey and roasted pepper oil. Drizzling the oil on top of each taco added the perfect slow burn to each bite. I loved it so much that I took some of it home with me. All of the salsas were available for purchase in 8oz, 16oz, and 32oz sizes.

Along with salsa, there was an assortment of pickled vegetables including spicy pickled carrots, picked jalapeƱos, and a slaw of cilantro, onions, and green bell peppers.

Fish Tacos

Fish Tacos, Los Cotijas Mexican Grill, Anaheim
Fish Tacos

Los Cotijas Mexican Grill is known as the “home of the best fish & shrimp tacos in Orange County.” While I have no idea who presented them with this prestigious award, I do know that the tacos are great from personal experience.

Every time I stop by for Taco Tuesday, I always start with an order of two Fish Tacos ($1.99 each),

The fish tacos are served on top of two lightly toasted corn tortillas. I loved how the tortillas were hot and soft when served. Those who prefer flour tortillas should mention it to the cashier while making an order.

Packed into the tortillas was a big piece of fried fish, thinly sliced cabbage, pico de gallo, and a white sauce.

The star of the dish without a doubt was the generous portion of fried fish. On my visit, the fish was perfectly fried to a golden brown and came out pipping hot. The batter was crispy, light, seasoned well, and most importantly, not greasy. The fish inside was moist, flaky, and fresh. This is usually how the fish is prepared, but on a few occasions I arrived near closing time, the fish didn’t taste as fresh as I would have liked. Nothing a little squirt of lime can’t fix.

Not much to say about the sliced cabbage and pico de gallo other than it was fresh and complimented the saltiness of the fish. I really enjoy a fresh and crunchy sliced cabbage in any fish taco.

Bringing everything together was the simple white cream sauce which reminded me of a lighter sour cream. The sauce mixed well with the acidity of the lime and saltiness of the fish.

So are they the best fish tacos in Orange County? Maybe, maybe not. This subject is open to interpretation and debate. In my opinion though, the fish tacos were great, and some of the best I have had this side of Mexico.

Carintas Tacos

Carnitas Tacos, Los Cotijas Mexican Grill in Anaheim
Carnitas Taco

Carne Asada Tacos

Carne Asada Tacos packed with guacamole
Carne Asada Tacos packed with guacamole

Service

One of the great things about the staff at Los Cotijas Mexican Grill was how friendly and welcoming they were to each guest.

The service is consistently friendly on each visit, even late at night. In my opinion, great service at any restaurant is just as important as the quality of the food.

With friendly staff and quick service, I am always happy to return.

Conclusion

To be honest, it really doesn’t matter to me if Los Cotijas Mexican Grill has “the best fish tacos in Orange County” or not.

I keep returning time and time again for the delicious fish tacos, the Taco Tuesday specials, friendly service, and especially, the salsa bar.

I highly recommend you stop by and try their fish tacos and judge for yourself if they are the best fish tacos in Orange County.

Pros

  • Rated the best fish tacos in Orange County
  • Friendly staff
  • Salsa bar

Cons

  • 50 cent charge on credit card or debit card orders less than $7