Midtown Lunch

It’s been a big couple of months for Ricky’s Fish Tacos, the much heralded fish taco stand that popped up last year on the sidewalk of Sunset Junction. Considered the best Baja fish taco in Los Angeles by the Taco Task Force, Ricky’s started off as a Saturday and Sunday lunchtime treat. But after a brief stint on Santa Monica Blvd., it looks like Ricky has found a permanent spot in a parking lot at 1400 Virgil (just south of Hollywood Blvd.) The rainbow umbrella is gone, replaced by three big green pop up tents, covering two big fryers… and if the last two weeks are any indication, he is now open Tuesday Wednesday Thursday through Sunday!

Last week Ricky’s kicked off the Angeli Cafe’s new series of Street Food Mondays, and tomorrow Eating L.A. (aka Profiled Lunch’er “Pat”) will celebrate their 6 year blogiversary by throwing a party at Ricky’s, with “cupcakes, free fish tacos for the first 25 readers, friends and supporters, and muy special aguas frescas”. Basically, if you work (or live) anywhere near the border of Hollywood and Los Feliz and haven’t been to Ricky’s- what the hell are you waiting for?

Fish taco porn is after the jump…

There are two options: fish or shrimp, and each taco is $2.50 and made to order- so it takes a few minutes. When Ricky had his one man operation in Silverlake, tacos were served fully dressed… but now that there is more space, the Taco Task Force will be glad to hear that it’s every customer for themselves. Shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, crema, and your choice of three (maybe four?) salsas- none of which are too spicy, so go crazy!

Clearly one fish and one shrimp is the way to go, and these tacos are fairly large… although I could have definitely eaten another one. Super crunchy, full of flavor, and really fresh. What more could you want from a Baja style fish taco. What I loved the most is that they let the fish/shrimp rest after frying, to not only ensure maximum crispiness- but also to let it cool down. So your tacos are completely ready to eat as soon as they hand over the plates.

Over the past month I’ve been following Ricky’s on Twitter, watching them gradually blossom from a weekend lunchtime operation, to a six five day a week lunchtime operation, that seems to be creeping closer and closer to dinnertime. It’s only a matter of time before Ricky’s graduates from being that special weekend treat, to a weekly lunchtime requirement.

Ricky’s Fish Tacos, 1400 N. Virgil (Just south of the intersection of Sunset/Hollywood)