- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Red Fish Blue Fish
Categories: Restaurants Fish & Chips Restaurants Food Stands Restaurants Seafood Fish & Chips, Food Stands, Seafood
1006 Wharf StreetVictoria, BC V8W 1T4
(250) 298-6877
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
151 reviews for Red Fish Blue Fish
Review Highlights
"I recommend the Fish Tacones and the chowder."
(in 51 reviews)
"We got Halibut Fish and Chips and Spicy Pacific Fish Tacos."
(in 12 reviews)
"The halibut - wow - freshest I've ever tasted."
(in 51 reviews)
Loading...
151 reviews in English
-
Review from Caz H.
11/12/2011
I love the food from Red Fish Blue Fish and if it weren't for the hour long wait, I'd eat here all the time!! (If only I still lived in Victoria!)
They had a cerviche special last time I was there and it was divine! Otherwise I usually have a tacone or one of the fish dogs.. the tempura pickles are always a must tho hard to finish unless you're a die hard pickle fan... One serving shared among two people is plenty!
Chowder is yummy as well and helps to warm you up after standing in the chill for an hour!! Definitely bring a jacket! -
Review from Original E.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 10/30/2011
Can't get enough, must take one more bite... Had the tempura cod with Kennebec chips, and this time I tried their killer hot sauce, man it's dope!
Lol!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/1/2011
It doesn't get any better than this! With so much to choose from, which means I will be going back… Read more »
-
-
Review from Adam Q.
10/3/2011
As good as reviewed. Great fresh fish. Scallops cooked perfectly. Very tasty chips.
Must eat place while in Victoria. -
Review from Eric C.
1/8/2012
Absolutely worth the extra look and wait when you're in Victoria. I had the wild Salmon sandwich on a Portuguese bun and it was one of the better sandwiches I had in 2011. Nice sear on the salmon and perfectly moist fillet. I'm not sure what makes a bun Portuguese but I wish they sold them in So. Cal. My wife had the Albacore tacones and loved them.
-
Review from M B.
Victoria, BC
1/8/2012
Very greasy food!
-
Review from Lan G.
9/2/2011 2 photos
Love it! Absolutely worth the long wait. In fact, I think it's part of the experience. :-) It's right on the ferry dock by the visitor center. The view is great. They have seats available along two sides of the dock. Nothing beats some yummy food and the view! We got fish + chips and some fish tacone. They are probably the best ones I have ever had. You can choose how many pieces of fish you want for fish and chip. Two is definitely a good amount if you want to try other things on the menu as well.
A secret to share: before heading to Red Fish Blue Fish, go to the soda fountain place across the street and get one of those traditional soda drinks. Perfect pairing! -
Review from Mark L.
7/28/2011
It's hard for me to rate something 5 stars when you have to wait 30-40 minutes for it and have to sit on buckets to eat it. But it is that good. I grew up on the water, granted in Florida, but fresh is fresh and this is fresh. And it's good. And they have sauces.
Fresh+good+sauces+outsidebeatiftulweatheronthedock = 5 stars.
Oh yeah, some of the best fried pickles i've ever had. Coming from a guy who lives in Atlanta, that's something. We know our fried pickles in the south.
For the record, my wife and I split the one piece cod+chips, the pickles, and two tacones: spicy fish and seared tuna. The poutine looked amazing, but we were already in supreme gluttony land.
I don't think the prices are any worse than other restaurants we sampled in the city during our three days. shrug. -
Review from Steve S.
11/10/2011
I was excited to eat here after reading reviews but when I arrived (Nov 1) it had closed for the season just the day before. I don't know when I will return to Victoria, so I was pretty disappointed. Bummer...
-
Review from Cindy B.
8/7/2011
I found this place on Yelp the first time I was in Victoria. The sad part was that because of time constrain, I had to head for my bus station back to mainland before they opened for lunch.
On my second visit, I went with 2 friends and one of them's parents (who lives an hour or two away on the island). While inline, I could see that there are just as many locals as tourists. Being a stand, they had a few benches on the harbour and one could see businessmen in shirt and tie eating next to others who were casually dressed, really good people watching.
I ordered the 2 tacones: scallop and halibut. One friend ordered the salmon tacone. The other and his parents ordered fish and chips with coleslaw.
They mixed up the order and put the halibut tacone with the salmon and give my salmon-ordering friend my scallop. I bit into the salmon and realized it was wrong. By then, he was already halfway thru my scallop! "How could you not have known?" I asked incredulously. "Well, I thought i tasted a little different." *Faceplam*
Needless to say, I didn't enjoy the salmon, which was not seasoned enough for the size of the piece. On top of the blandness, I found it a little overcooked but again, anything more than medium on my salmon is considered overcooked.
When I finally got back the half-eaten scallops, it was everything I had wanted: sweet, fresh and cooked just right. The halibut was equally nice. As for the fish & chips, the pieces were huge and definitely good value.
To sweeten the deal of eating here was the beautiful view of the harbour. On a sunny day, one really couldn't go wrong! -
Review from Chelsea M.
Victoria, BC
7/12/2011
Anybody want to go to Red Fish Blue Fish? I do. All the time.......
Worked at a seafood restaurant less than a block away, and I ate my lunch here. A lot! -
Review from Lisa C.
8/14/2011
Definitely not worth the hour wait. That time would have been better spent at the Natural History Museum.
The best fish and chips I had was in Queenstown New Zealand at a stand next to the harbor with better view and no wait.
I also tried Go Fish in Vancouver, but I cannot really compare the two since I had the Cod at Go Fish which tends to be less dry than the Halibut. I prefer the batter at Go Fish which is breadier and their coleslaw is much better seasoned with no bitterness.
Good:
Local Shrimp Cocktail - similar to what you get at most Fisherman's Wharf stands. The little shrimps are much tastier than large farm-raised prawns.
Okay:
Halibut Fish and Chips - fish is really big, enough to feed two people. The halibut is a bit dry. Batter is very oily and Chips are very ordinary.
Ugly:
Spicy Pacific Fish Poutine - I had a bite and threw the rest away. Not into fish mashed into bits because I like to savor the soft flakey texture of good fish.
Tempura Pickles - I had a bite and threw the rest away. Pickles fried in the same batter of the fish. I was pretty sick of the batter after eating the fish and I am not into pickles.
Coleslaw - Bitter and not well flavored
If there is no wait, I would get the Shrimp Cocktail again. -
Review from Miki T.
6/28/2011
We stayed in Victoria in this past weekend and honestly, we were disappointed by the poor quality of food we got in Victoria. Thanks to Red Fish Blue Fish, you guys are the reason why we didn't leave Victoria completely hating their food! Smoked Tuna Tacone, BBQ'ed Oyster Tacone, and Halibut Fish and Chips were super flavorful and EXCELLENT! I believe in "5 star food does not have to be $100 per person" and Red Fish Blue Fish proved it!
Coleslaw was so good. I can eat 50lb of them. 30-min wait was totally worth it! -
Review from Erin D.
6/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Shrimp tacones delicious!
Coleslaw DELICIOUS!
French Fries....ok.
45 minute lineup, absurd.
It's not that amazing, but people are sheep and will flock to other sheep (like we did...baaaaahhh).
If there is no line, pay a visit, I think you can also call ahead which would be well worth it. Otherwise, there is a taco truck up the boardwalk that is DELISH! -
Review from Amanda J.
Victoria, BC
7/19/2011
My Victoria-dwelling boy has been telling me about this place for a long time. We've made a few attempts to go, but the line has been INSANELY long.... Yesterday, I decided to suck it up and wait in line. From start to finish, it took 60 minutes to get my food!
I had a one-piece halibut fish and chips. It was good. Really good. Highly delicious. The tartar sauce was dilly and fresh. The chips were perfectly cooked and not too greasy. Was it the best fish and chips I've ever had in my life? Not really. Would I wait in line for 60 minutes ever again for it? Highly unlikely. Maybe the line made it anti-climatic... I don't know.
I heard a few people in line behind me saying that they were visiting Victoria and had heard about Red Fish Blue Fish on the Food Network. That's awesome for this place, and I assume that's part of what adds to the lines. However, it was pricey for what I got (a 2-piece would run you almost $20!), and if I ever did go back, I would definitely call ahead for my food and skip the crazy wait. -
Review from Michelle W.
5/19/2011
At first glance Red Fish Blue Fish may be a bit deceiving because it is simply a shack on the harbor. But as you get closer, you'll notice the line of about 50 people waiting to get food, which says a lot about this place.
After about a half an hour wait, we got to the front of the line. We got Halibut Fish and Chips and Spicy Pacific Fish Tacos.
The fish and chips were very, very good. They came with fries and coleslaw, but what truly made this dish was the tartar sauce. Usually tartar sauce is very meh, but this was delicious. It was very flavorful, with lots of dill and some mustardy stuff--I don't know what was in it, but it was amazing. The fish was battered perfectly, cripsy on the outside and steaming on the inside. Fries were standard and coleslaw was good too.
This was my first time having fish tacos, so I don't know really how good they were compared to others, but I really enjoyed them (note that I did not LOVE them). They were in a warm grilled tortilla and had like cabbage and seemed like just coleslaw in there. It was really good with the tartar sauce, and overall I really enjoyed it.
Seating is just benches and some tables, and it was super busy. It's a little pricy ($15 for the fish and chips and $10 for two fish tacos), especially for like casual shack food, but really good, and worth the experience! -
Review from Alex G.
Vancouver, BC
7/21/2011
I know it's impolite to make the entire basis of a review how X is better than Y, but I can't help it. X, you do me wrong.
In Vancouver, we have a place called Go Fish. There's nothing wrong with it. They make really good fish & chips, at the seaside, and there's a lovely view from which to enjoy your lovely food. Sound familiar?
My Victoria friends can hardly ever get me to eat -indoors- when I'm visiting, because the promise of Red Fish Blue Fish is just that enticing. Like a number of Victoria restaurants, they're quick to point out that all of their sandwich breads are sourced from local bakeries, and a thousand times better for it. For something like two dollars, you can upgrade the fries from your meal into "poutine," which is actually just a pile of fried fish bits and spicy mayonnaise, and it's a wonderful oh-my-goodness-I'm-losing-my-peripheral-vision meal in itself.
If you are in Victoria and you don't eat here, you are a silly, silly person. -
Review from Mark T.
7/27/2011
Okay... my second 5 star review in a most unlikely spot. A converted cargo container hollowed out to form a take-out restaurant on a small pier tucked behind an older building.
The reviews here are correct. Lines are long... 30 minutes or more on average. I waited and got my food and was happy to come back a day later to wait longer.
Food Choices: BBQ Salmon Tacones sound better then the actual experience. They were good but could not detect much smokiness.
People come here for the Fish and Chips which were rated among the best in competitions. The Cod Fish and Chips were light, crispy and not oily like other Fish and Chips. The Halibut Fish and Chips cost more and were excellent as well.
Other items: The edamame Tacones were an interesting and delicious vegetarian choice. The clam chowder is not New England style but rather an orange chowder with too much saffron.
Overall... if you are in Victoria, you need to stop and enjoy the experience. -
Review from Alouise D.
Edmonton, AB
6/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I'm from Alberta where good, fresh seafood is either hard to find or really pricey. Going to Victoria I had a mission: to eat as much delicious seafood as possible. Red Fish Blue Fish was suggested by several people on Yelp Talk, and after seeing the reviews I knew I wanted to try this place out.
After a few wrong turns (I'm navigationally challenged) I found the restaurant. There wasn't much of a lineup and so I decided to order some tacones. I got two tuna tacones, not realizing that one would have been filling enough. The tacones were delicious, the tuna was tender and fresh. I did find the cabbage filling to be a little bitter, but I've never had a tacone and I presume that's how it's supposed to be. It wasn't bad, but it did throw me off, because I was expecting more a mild flavour. I really loved the side coleslaw, it had a different flavour than other coleslaws I've tried. It tasted like there was a bit of cumin or something like that. My grade: -A.
The next day I went to Red Fish Blue Fish again to try a one piece halibut fish and chips. I was a little worried about that the fish was tempura battered, because I don't really like tempura. However; this was amazing. Light, crispy, golden with delicious,fresh, flavourful fish inside. Best fish and chips I've ever had. The fries were a great accompanyment, although it would be nice if they were a bit crispier. My grade: A.
Third (and final day) in Victoria I wanted to leave by noon to catch the ferry over to Vancouver. But I delayed my day by waiting in line to have some more food from Red Fish Blue Fish. This time I tried the cod dog. I loved the take on fish and chips meeting the classic hot dog. The flavour combination with the perfectly battered fresh fish, the pickles, the sauce and the onions (even though I don't like onions) on that warm, sweet Portugese roll. This was my favourite dish so far. My grade: +A.
The service was good, and although there might be a bit of a line (I waited about 30 minutes on average) the food is worth it. The prices are good for the quality of food your getting and the amount. Like I mention earlier usually one piece is filling enough. If you're in Victoria you owe it to yourself to come out this place. I only regret that I wasn't able to try more things - like the deep fried pickles or seafood chowder. Until next time I guess. -
Review from Ferry G.
Vancouver, BC
5/18/2011
We heard about this place before we visited Victoria. The first time we came, it was closed as the place only opens during summer.
So, the next time we visited Victoria we went to this place. And it is worth it although the weather was a little bit chilly.
We tried the fish & chips and the tacones. They are amazing.
They have the best fish & chips and the tacones are unique and tasty. -
Review from Angela L.
3/26/2011
I took Red Fish Blue Fish's website's subtle, but insistent "Please call ahead" hint to pre-order by phone. Boy, am I sure glad I did! When I arrived 15 minutes later at high noon, I was ushered to the front of the 10+ couple/family deep queue to pay (with Visa, woohoo!) and grab a spot in the quickly filling semi-tented wharf-side seating area.
Oh, tacones! These warm little tortilla cones stuffed with fresh seafood (or edamame if you prefer veg), pea shoots and pickled onions are the stuff foodie wet dreams are made of. I was almost tempted to try to save a couple bucks and order two of the same thing ($6 each or 2 for $10), but my curious and now extremely satisfied taste buds are sure glad I didn't.
The chipotle shrimp was filled with sweet and juicy little salad shrimp and finished with a creamy sauce with a (tiny) kick. The lightly seared albacore tuna was grilled to rare perfection and drenched in spot prawn mayo. The little side of lightly dressed coleslaw made a nice accompaniment to both.
The shop name's nod to Dr. Seuss was the first clue that this place was going to be cool. However, what I found even more pleasantly surprising is that it's run by young, genuinely friendly, eco-conscious folks who cook to rock music and look like they love their jobs. Not only was the food awesome, it was wrapped in last week's Monday Mag personals section and when I was finished, there were compost and recyclable bins for me to sort my waste into. I can hardly wait to come back and try the rest of the menu. -
Review from Hilary G.
5/19/2011
I made the mistake of coming here at 12:30 and we waiting in line for an hour. Was it worth an hour wait? No, I have had better fish and chips.
If you come earlier or late, then it's probably worth it. The halibut was incredibly fresh but lacked some flavor. The tarter sauce was homemade and delicious. I had the fish poutine sauce on my chips which definitely jazzed it up and was worth the small upcharge. Between my meal and my husband's, it was almost $40. I could have sat down at a restaurant for that price. Luckily, the weather was nice, so I got a sun tan instead. -
Review from Bungalow B.
4/7/2011
My wife and I ate here three times on our honeymoon. I'm not kidding. We had lunch once and dinner twice. We used their outdoor seating for the lunch, and the other two times we took the food to go and ate in a waterfront park while watching the sunset. For each meal, we both ordered fish and chips. I didn't know there was such a thing as salmon fish and chips and now I'll never be able to enjoy anything but. The fish is incredible and the chips are perfect.
When you go here (and you should go here), you could order something other than fish and chips (they won't try to stop you), but why bother? Seriously.
As I was walking away from Red Fish Blue Fish the last time, I turned around and hollered, "Hey, is this Heaven?"
"No," someone replied, "It's Red Fish Blue Fish." -
Review from Marty M.
The food was great but not worth the 1 1/2 hour wait. We ordered the tacones and
Halibut fish and chips. They do give good portions but for the wait we were expecting much more.
It's got a cool location on the marina, so bring a jacket. You can order in advance so that's always a plus. -
Review from Andrew T.
Based on a lot of good reviews, and a soft spot for food trucks (even though it's not a food truck), this was lunch after a rough ride to Victoria. Who'd have thought I'd be wanting fried food after my Clipper trip.
The line was long when we arrived about 12:45, but was well worth the wait. We ordered things to try and ended up with too much food, but that's OK. I had the special halibut ceviche and the Pacific rim chowder. The ceviche was a generous helping with sweet pickled onions and fresh sliced jalapenos on a bed of shredded lettuce and sprouts...great heat, great acid, perfectly tender and flavorful fish...I even ate the onions. Man oh man, just outstanding. My chowder was no slouch either. Chipotle coconut broth with corn, veggies, white fish and some tortilla strips, this was thinner than most chowder I think of, but really delicious. The only downside here was that the cute wooden cutout disposable utensils didn't like the heat soak, and my spoon became a flat paddle pretty quick.
Others had fish and chips in a perfect...and I do mean perfect...light tempura batter, fried pickles in the same, which were excellent, and poutine with a tangy white gravy over nice fresh fries and what I think was a fried cod fillet sort of shredded over top. Really outstanding.
This would be a must return every time I was here, although who knows how many times I'll visit. It can be pricey for "food truck fare," especially for the fish and chips, which starts at $10 for one good sized cod fillet and goes up rapidly for premium fish or multiple pieces. Their other options I thought were more reasonable. My large chowder and healthy portion of ceviche were the same price as a two piece cod and chips. The only thing that would have made this better would have been less of the ugly Americans behind us in line, complaining about the speed of the line, about how the restaurant took credit cards (when is the last time you heard someone complain about having the option to use a credit card?), and even about the nearby French tourists speaking French (how dare they!). Not to defend the Frogs, but excuse me, gents, but do you know why people hate Americans? You. You're why people hate Americans. -
Review from Shawn Z.
Vancouver, BC
7/2/2011
If you think you are getting a 5 star food quality at a five star restaurant then you need to go elsewhere. At $23.50 a plate for a two piece fish plate which at best rivals with Whitespots fish&chips for $9.99 this place had a 45 min line up while the food was prepared in two cargo metal containers. The interesting part was that they had the audacity to ask for a tip when processing credit cards.
This place was at best as good as a diner. If you have extra cash and lots of time to waste and no real taste for good quality food then I suggest going to red fish blue fish. -
Review from Tracy P.
Vancouver, BC
4/26/2011
Amazing. Hands down the best Fish & Chips I've ever had. And I grew up in Steveston. I know my Fish & Chips.
I didn't have the tummy space for one of those famous tacones, but I did give them the old litmus test: 1 piece halibut, with fries.
Let's start with the little side-slaw. I think they put sesame oil in it, but I was pleasantly surprised at how savoury it was, not a lick of tang. I find a lot of slaws to be over sour and dressing laden, but not this one.
While, I have to admit, it tastes a bit odd, with the fish & chips, that's not to say it's not good. Just not a good combo. I could eat a whole bowl full on its own haha
The fries were good. Kennebec. Nothing amazing, but still delicious.
And the fish? Good lord. The fish was tender, fresh and flavourful, and the batter was absolutely PERFECT. You know what I liken it to? The hot, crisp skin on a roast suckling pig or a peking duck. So perfectly seasoned, impossibly thin for a batter, it shatters in your mouth.
Yes, there is a huge line, I think we waited about half an hour to 40 minutes.
But honestly, I love seeing lines like that, because there is no better review, than a line up like that. -
Review from John T.
Victoria, BC
10/29/2011
So cool to have a fun outdoors place like this, with such excellent food! If you go outside of regular lunch hour, you may not have the long line ups that others comment on. Go, and enjoy. Especially that chowder.
-
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
This place is amazing. Great, fast, affordable, fresh food located right down on the harbour.
We arrived just after 12:15, which was perfect, we beat the lunch rush (which can really create a line if its a nice day) and I had the BBQ Salmon Tacone. They will do the tacones as taco salads for those who can't do the gluten. Which is fabulous. So my BBQ salmon tacone with col-saw which was $5 before tax/tip and was perfectly filling for lunch.
In the past I've had the fish and chips and my colleagues rave about the Red Dog (salmon in a nice Irene's bun). I highly recommend checking this place out for lunch if you're a good olde downtown employee, or if you're just visiting (or if you're about to catch a flight, they're conveniently located close to the float planes). -
Review from Marlena M.
Vancouver, BC
4/25/2011
Getting my Fish and Chip on while in Victoria was a big priority, and they had to come from Red Fish Blue Fish on Wharf St. The line-up at this place is almost as legendary as the fish; when we got there at 1pm it was as long as the pier itself. I'm not sure exactly how long we waited but during the wait I was able to:
* Go to Starbucks, get two drinks, and walk back
* Read Bigfoot: I Not Dead
* Smoke cigarette
* Meet many dogs
* Change mind on order 4 times
* Get despondent
It's an impressive line-up. However the Haddock and Chips is some epic greasy goodness. My boyfriends first time having fish and chips and now at least he's starting to understand why anyone would eat fish in the first place. The Tempura Pickles are either the creation on a pregnant woman or a genius. Or a pregnant genius. It's the kind of thing that Cookie Monster would now be forced to call a "sometimes food". Worth the wait, I just hope next time Flying Pig shows up. Recommend.
http://womaneatscity.w.../ -
Review from alison k.
4/19/2011
Oh. My. Gosh. Almost couldn't find this place but so, so glad we were able to track it down! I came here twice during a three-day trip to Victoria--a fitting first and final meal of our stint there.
On top of adorable port-hole windows, friendly employees, a roof-top garden, and sustainable practices, the food is to die for. Wish we had a seaside spot like this here in Sacramento. Or a sea, for that matter. -
Review from Alan H.
5/29/2011
I AM IN LOVE WITH RED FISH BLUE FISH!!!
Before I get started, I only have one complaint....... i wish i lived closer to this place! I dream about the day red fish blue fish moves to Virginia. Sad to say its a dream and not reality =(.
Anyways, the food omgosh was so fresh, flavorful, delectable all of those terms you use to describe amazing food. I found this place on yelp and I saw a special on food network.
I was visiting Victoria with my family and we loved this place so much that we ate here twice in three days!
I got to try the spicy pacific, oyster, shrimp, salmon tacones as well as the bbq salmon sandwich and the soup. All were excellent choices! They get all of their fresh seafood from different parts of the island.
MY OH MY. First bite you get the combination of slaw and fish complemented by the sauce thats added and if you add the spicy sauce it gives you a nice kick to give you a whirlwind of flavors in your mouth. AHHHH I'm getting hungry thinking about it now!
The place itself is basically a window down by the water. So there is a nice view for you to enjoy while you are eating. Not your typical seafood place. There are stools and mini tables for you to use. Another plus is they are recycle friendly! The people working here were pretty friendly and the food was made pretty quickly even though the lines were pretty long. Prices were really good. I spent about 10 dollars each time and for awesome seafood that comes in pretty generous proportions, it's definitely a steal!
This is definitely MY FAVORITE seafood place and all the other seafood restaurants could learn from RFBF.
One day Red Fish Blue Fish, I shall return, but until then keep up the good work! -
Review from jillian t.
4/16/2011
I have an almost-three year old who doesn't always want to eat what we are eating. My husband and I always try to give him new foods, but he doesn't always want to even try them. At Red Fish, Blue Fish, he not only wanted to try the food, but proceeded to NOM NOM NOM his way through it. From the Thai-inspired coconut, corn and fish soup, to the tempura cod tacone, to the Kennebec fries, he kept eating, and only stopped because he was full. No "I don't like it, Mama", just happy eating.
Oh, and the food is pretty awesome for grownups, too. My BBQ salmon salad had two huge fillets of salmon on a dill Caesar salad. The corn and coconut fish chowder was, indeed, perfect. It's worth the wait in line, and knowing that's it is all safe, sustainable seafood makes it worth every penny. It's a perfect example of Pacific Northwest cuisine in it's simplicity and quality. Definitely a must stop every time I'm home. -
Review from Nicole N.
10/3/2011
Love it! Ordered the seafood chowder and shrimp tacone. Chowder was light but good and it had a nice heat. Shrimp tacone was refreshing and wasn't too heavy. Great place that also is very green.
-
Review from CJ C.
4/28/2011
I was browsing through yelp for recommendations while waiting for my flight to Victoria. Once again, fellow yelpers, you were right on point. I walked over to Red Fish Blue Fish and I experienced the best fish and chips I ever had. I was lucky. Even though it was an amazingly lovely day, I went at an odd hour--about 2:45, so the line was short and so was the wait.
The slaw was tasty, the fries were nice and crispy, but it was the deep fried halibut that was the STAR of the show. Perfectly cooked, tender, steaming hot and with a crispy, crunchy crust that was total perfection! I agree with the yelper who said the crust shattered--in the best way. My only regret is I had no room for the tacones--wanted to try the oyster tacones. Maybe next time! -
Review from Karlie M.
1/24/2011
Some of the best food me and my husband had while in Victoria was at Red Fish Blue Fish. We actually ended up going there three times in four days. Red Fish Blue Fish is a seafood stand on the water on Wharf Street in the Inner Harbour . For being somewhat of a "fast food" type of place, there is great variety on the menu. They have the classic fish and chips (and slaw), in your choice of halibut, salmon or cod; eight different kinds of fish tacones, which are exactly what they sound like, rolled cones with fish and pea shoots and onions; and sandwiches and salads. We had both the tacones and the fish and chips, and they were both delicious. The fish was hot and flaky and the fries were just right. The tacones were an interesting treat, and very pleasing. The flavours went so well together. One is great for a snack and two are perfect for a light meal, perhaps at lunch.
Seating is bar stool style along a counter, with maybe about 10 chairs, as well as a few chairs at the condiments station. On one of the nicer days we were there, there were also short stools near the water with no tables that you could sit and eat at. Every time we went we encountered different staff, and they were all friendly and upbeat. They all seemed to really like where they were working.
I originally wrote this in March, and I still think about how delicious the food was. I can't wait to go back to Victoria for many reasons, and RFBF is one of them! -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
10/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
Should you go prepared for a wait? For sure. Is it worth it, absolutely!
Contents of my purse for such a line-waiting (gasp I waited in a line):
-Umbrella (just in case)
-Granola bar (just in case, blood sugar ya know!)
-Bottle of water
-iPhone (check in!)
-Kindle (yeah, I roll like that)
Should you chose different tacones and pay for them individually or just go with the two they have on the board? I say, pay the $1 extra and go variety! One tempura cod and another BBQ wild salmon. FTW.
Now, if only I had a friend there with me, I would've ordered fries. Next time I'm packing a buddy in my purse too!
(Go soon, they're closing up for the winter at the end of October)Listed in: Weekend Getaways, Victoria, BC Beauty!, Quay's and Wharfs Galore
-
Review from Clare M.
8/24/2011
It's hard to really add much more then anyone else has, because we can all say that the food is really good. This was the one place that the hubs was determined to go to because he loves fish and chips. When we got there though, he was almost deterred because of the line. I had to do a little convincing which was surprising because I thought he was sold.
We waited a good 30 minutes in line, which moves pretty darn slow. It's definitely worth the wait though. We ordered:
- The halibut ceviche. For $8, it was a smaller portion, but was pretty delicious. It was not your standard ceviche, but a small cup of well sauced fish with peppers and lettuce. Came with a crispy tortilla. I wished it would of come with some salty tortilla chips, but really, it was delicious.
- A cup of the chowder. Again, not your standard chowder, but it was finger licking good. The corn in the soup gives an amazing flavor.
-I went for the seared tuna Tacone. One was more then enough, as it was a great size, but I as definitely wishing for more (even though I really didn't need it).
-Mike S. had the creme de la creme of the orders which was a take on the blt but with seared albacore. It was DELICIOUS!!!!!!! I've never had a better fish sandwich. I would highly recommend ten times over.
Small shady eating area for customers, but if it's full, then the rest of their seating is buckets (it had a pretty special harbor charm). We were lucky enough to get a spot which was nice right on the water. Overall, it was a long wait and a little pricy (we spent over $40 with tip, which coming from Portland which is food cart land, we aren't used to such a premium on carts). I love that it is all eco friendly from the food to the utensils as well. Definitely worth a visit! -
Review from Jon L.
9/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
Sometimes I delay writing reviews because I have to prepare myself to write about the grandiosity of the place. This is one of the places. This was the first spot that I visited when I got off the Victoria Clipper and headed into town. And I have to say Red Fish Blue Fish is a MUST visit in Victoria!
The boat ride did not leave me much cutoff to heading over to this space. They apparently close at 7 pm. It is in an indescript spot in the Inner Harbour. It is past the visitor information stand at the center of the Inner Harbour. Walk a block or two on Wharf Street. There is a small sign for the spot. You then walk down a flight of stairs in which you will come across a shipping container converted into a food stand. Yes, I give slightly crummy directions. But consider this a foodie treasure hunt that is worth it.
As noted by the titling of the stand, fish dishes are the stars of the menu. Fish & chips and tacones (taco-cones) being the most notable specialties. They also offer sandwiches, salad and chowder here. Their sides are very interesting as well like mushy edamamme, curry chips and fish poutine!
This is a busy stand with so much to choose from. Racked with a lot of choices, I decided on a tempura cod tacone with cole slaw ($5) and a half order of the fish poutine ($6). Was not sure if this would fill me up, but the answer is yes and then some!
One tacone is a good serving already. I liked the use of breaded cod which is a different take on fish tacos. The sauce inside the flour taco is very creamy. As for the fish poutine, it was my first time trying poutine and it really delivers on awesomeness. Chunks of fish and melted cheese over fries is really good! It is so good that I wonder if any other renditions of poutine could ever compare. The only small suggestion I will give is to share a half order of the poutine. It is heavy food and a half order is more than enough.
If my grandiose review has not hooked you, a big plus is that there is a good amount of seating including some that is covered near the stand. And the fact that they have a strong recycle program. Simply put, Red Fish Blue Fish is a must try place when in Victoria. -
Review from Craig F.
Victoria, BC
10/29/2010
Was in the mood for some F+C today and decided to let other Yelp reviews guide me.
My halibut was super fresh and the batter was crispy and delicious. I've had good fish from several local places, but RFBF is now at the top of my list when I'm craving golden brown and delicious.
I don't like pickles, but ate 1/2 of my wife's order of the Tempura pickles. They are really tasty!
It's wharf/container location is a bit better suited to a warm weather day, since there's no indoor seating, but this October afternoon was nice enough to enjoy the marine splendor, albeit with a jacket on. -
Review from Jay W.
Markham, ON
11/17/2010
When I think of fish tacos I think of Los Angeles? San Diego? Baja? Oahu? Nope... Victoria. BC. Canada?!?
Yes British Columbia, famous for killer whales, Pacific salmon, snow capped mountains and now... fish tacos.
RFBF is a seasonal joint so if you come outside of tourist season, you're going to be SOL and find nothing but an empty dock. During tourist season, just follow the crowd to the back of that massive lineup!
They make a great fish taco that rivals the best fish taco joints in the rest of the Pacific. I believe they only make fried fish tacos and not grilled fish tacos, but don't quote me on that. The halibut's the best of their selection IMO and their chips aren't bad either!
Anyways, if you're ever in Victoria, take a stroll along the waterfront and drop by RFBF for some killer fish tacos!
