Wahoo’s Fish Taco

Yep, it closed. Told you. No way it was going to last with the service and the clientele it attracted.

As an update to my last review:
I received a response apologizing for my bad experience in the past and was asked to give them another shot to get it right! Since I like the food I’ll definitely try again… hopefully the service will have improved slightly as well and make this an all around great experience in the future. Props to them for at least reading Unilocal reviews and being concerned with customer feedback!

Okay we (me and co-​workers) are frequent customers of Buckhorn’s Grill (across the street). We decided to give other places a try. One co-​worker has given this place two other visits; however, this was definitely strike three!!! You can find his photo (52 of 52). There was absolutely no one in the place! Music was so loud it was truly unpleasant. Plus blaring Pop music with artists screaming. Wow!
Let me get to food — darn right too salty, I had the Maui bowl with black beans n brown rice. A few rice gains were so hard! Had to spit them out and place to side. Steak (if you’d call it that) was tough and drenched in teriyaki sauce (way too salty)! Black beans were the only thing good.
Buddies had burritos and shrimp bowl. Not good either. Anyway save your money! Don’t go here! Way over-​priced. I wish I could give better review because place has potential!

Really a bummer. I’m from SoCal and Wahoo’s was always a favorite alternative to fast food. But this restaurant is obviously not taking direction from the proactive founder.
Time to either get new management in or shut it down.
All of the food tastes like week-​old leftovers that were covered with saran wrap and pulled out of a fridge.
The fish is no better than frozen VandeCamps. Tasted all dry and flavorless.
It’s so surprising since their SoCal restaurants are ALWAYS on the mark.
Maybe they just aren’t busy enough to keep a steady stream of fresh food.
I even wrote an email to their customer relations dept. and never got a response.

Wow, how disappointing. I knew of Wahoo by reputation only, so expected a lot more from it. The three fish tacos I ordered came out after a looong wait with the wrong salsa, on stale tortillas and with pieces of fish that were literally smaller than two quarters. And for this I paid $ 10. I’ve had better fish tacos from fast food places. Two whole stars because they were edible and I haven’t gotten sick yet.

Wahoo! What a great place! I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to try this place out… but I was pushed to trying it out due to the fact that I purchased a deal on SnR’s site. Sweet!
I tried a fish taco and a carnitas taco, original style. Both were very good; I liked the fish better. Hubby said his burrito bowl was alright. What was awesome was the fantastic green sauce… yummers! We actually ordered the carnitas sliders, because we came in on a Saturday, and Wahoo’s has Happy Hour all day Saturday and Sunday… woot! The green sauce came with the sliders, and we dipped our l’il sammies in that sauce, and POW! Really good stuff!
Again, HH all day Saturday and Sunday, and really good deals. I got a nice-​sized mimosa for $ 2.22. We were gonna get the HH wings, but they were out of the sweet chili Asian sauce, and we’re both wusses when it comes to heat, so maybe next time. Hubby really liked the belgian white ale he tried on HH, but dang if I can remember what it was called.
The place has lots of big TVs, which was great because the playoffs were on… kinda have to have that, right? The two girls working were very nice and efficient. The food came out quickly and the right temp. The menu has a nice variety.
All in all, it was my first visit, but it won’t be my last. I like Wahoo’s and look forward to returning. Y’all should give this place a try!

Service was good, the bar was busy and the TV was on for all the games that weekend.
The food, on the other hand, was just OK. Fish in my fish tacos were really dry! No flavor at all. Everything was just AVERAGE.

We had a fantastic first experience at wahoos! Our server/​bartender, Lou was very helpful and accommodating. They were out of a few items on the menu due to it being the first day open after Christmas but she
made great suggestions and we were very happy with our overall experience. The happy hour specials were great and the citrus slaw was delicious. I would go back for the service itself.

Wahoo’s has so far exceeded my expectations. When I lived in So Cal, I saw plenty of themed, chain restaurants that were more worried about how many surfboards they could hang on the wall than the food or service. Wahoo’s seems to at least balance these things out, and they have the best white beans I’ve ever had as a side dish. It’s a surfer/​skater vibe that my seem out of place in midtown Sacramento, but with beans like these it’s hard to go wrong.
My friends and I have this on our short list for places to watch football. There is usually a good amount of seating and some nice TVs over the bar and in the back room. My usual choice is the fish tacos. They taste fresh and I like the slaw garnish, although the seasoning on the «cajun» fish is almost non-​existent. I know it sounds silly, but I really just love the beans.
It’s been hit or miss with the bar service. Sometimes they are attentive and friendly, other times completely absent when it seems like they are covering shifts because of understaffing. Either way, they’ve kept it friendly, and I’ll keep coming back.

I’m not a big fan of chain restaurants. And truth be told, this was surprisingly my very first experience dining at «Wahoo’s Fish Taco». I’ve heard of them (as they have several locations in Southern California) but have never stepped foot into one. And when I found out they had opened a location right in Midtown Sacramento, I felt pretty convinced that I just had to try their food.
It can be a little difficult on how to classify «Wahoo’s Fish Taco». It’s a hybrid mix of Mexican/​Asian cuisine blended with a surfer-​beach theme. Its a rather odd setting having a beach-​inspired restaurant on trendy L St. but it is a nice addition especially when you have an eclectic mix of eateries in a such a small radius.
I came here with my lovely fiancée on a late-​Saturday afternoon. Not knowing what to expect, I enjoyed the spacious layout that this place has to offer. Inside you will find a wide array of surfboards, photos representing several surfers/​skaters, and brands that represent the surf/​skate culture. There is also a full bar, tables for dining in, and a register if you choose to take your food to go. And of course, several flat screen TV’s for those who wish to watch the games. The only thing missing here is some salty ocean waves and sand to complete the décor.
Since we sat at the bar, we were both more interested in trying their salads than say, their tacos, burritos, and bowls. I decided on ordering their «Power Chopper Salad» (for $ 9.49). This salad includes a bed of mixed greens, brown rice, garden veggies, black bean & corn salsa, and balsamic vinaigrette as my dressing of choice. And I got to choose one protein, since I was dining at an ocean/​surf restaurant, I opted for their wild caught salmon. I also choose a «Manhattan Cocktail» (for $ 5.00 during Happy Hour) as my drink of choice. My fiancée also ordered a similar salad but with chicken as her protein of choice. Within 10 minutes, both of our salads arrived.
I’ve got to say, the portions here are quite generous. And as I read several other Unilocal reviews, many people found the food to be rather odd. Of course when you mix fish into a burrito or on a bed of rice, you’re quickly going to get a mixed reaction. As far as my salad, I was definitely impressed by how tasty this salad was. They didn’t skimp on the salmon as there were several pieces generously placed on my salad.
The most alarming part of this experience was my «Manhattan Cocktail». Now I am someone that can hold my liquor pretty good. But a few sips of this and I was already feeling a buzz. And about 20 minutes later, I started getting a headache. I don’t know if it was the type of whiskey they used in this but it tasted mysteriously strong. If I would’ve just settled with a beer, I don’t think I would gripe about the cocktail.
Overall, I hope «Wahoo’s Fish Taco» survives in this part of town. They have a good thing going with eclectic food, friendly service, and a prime location to go with it. However, there are a LOT more restaurants within walking distance that is much better than this place. So with that said and done, it was worth a four-​star rating in my book. I feel once they generate more business, this could eventually be a happening spot. Only time will tell.

So, I stopped in on a whim, since I just finished a 3-​hour appointment and was hungry.
1^st off, parking. Ugh! Yeah, I came in just after noon, so finding a space took some driving around. After 5 minutes or so and one loop around, I got a space. Upon leaving, though, I had no idea where my car was and I was sober! Can’t imagine otherwise :)
Atmosphere: Clean, bright, and quiet. TVs on, but no blaring sounds. I’d say about 20+ people enjoying lunch.
Walking in I was greeted with numerous «Welcome to Wahoo’s» shout outs from a couple of the staff. It seemed honest and sincere, unlike Coldstone where everytime someone walked in ALL the staff screamed, «Welcome to Coldstone,» like a bunch of canaries. I always wanted to shout back, «STFU!» Anyway, this was nice.
Up at the counter I was confused and unsure of what/​how to order. Wahoo’s virgin, I am. The girl at the counter was extremely helpful, assisting me to pick something which would help with my cravings.
So, I decided on a plate with a sautéed shrimp taco, spicy fish enchilada with green sauce, brown rice, and pinto beans.
Overall, A+. That shrimp taco freakin’ rocked. Plump, juicy, and perfectly cooked. My mouth just watered! I could go for one right now :)
Everything on the plate was yummy. I ate both the taco & enchilada and ½ of the rest, which I took home.
Will I be back? Oh, yes. And I’ll opt for a shrimp bowl, unless I can get one delivered ;)

10÷8÷14
Sooooo I’m all about the Mexican food here in Cali it is the best I must say. Tried this place downtown for dinner after doing some running around all afternoon. Got the 2 tacos with sides dish. I decided to get the fish a d chicken tacos and made them Cajun. It came with rice and black beans. Of course we had to wash it down with a margarita. Lol! The tacos where’s so delicious and the stand out for me was the citrus slaw topping the tacos. So good!!! I loved my food experience here and this will be a regular spot for me.

It pains me to write this review because Wahoo’s was one of my go-​to restaurants back in Austin, TX, but the food missed the mark 3 times in a row. I ordered the Maui Bowl each time and received a very small portion of meat and about 16 pounds of rice. I think I would have developed stage-​2 diabetes if I finished my meal.
Management needs to enforce proper quality control on the kitchen. Send them down to train at a different location, or hire an experienced cook from one of the other restaurants. This is a franchise — the model works, just execute.
Two times I had to order from the bar because the register was closed, this made no sense to me since it was 6:30 — 7:00PM. Never close the register; you are a restaurant, not a bar. It’s fine to serve drinks but the focal point should be the food.
I may give them one more chance since I hate cooking, it’s in close proximity to my apartment, and I can use the extra rice to feed half the homeless population of Sacramento.

On a hot day full of hard work and little time to eat, Wahoo’s saved the day! It filled us up, cooled us down and gave us energy to power through a long afternoon. Plus, it was super tasty.
I’ve always been a fan of Wahoo’s, since way back in the day when I lived in San Diego. Their fish tacos are fresh, unfussy and delicious — especially with the addition of their new citrus slaw (yum!).
This particular Wahoo’s is set up in an interesting way — the bar area, where you line up and order your food, and the dining area which is a bit more private and less traffic-​filled. The staff is kind and happy to accommodate their guests, the space is clean and well-​organized, and the food is tasty and gets to you in a flash.
Hooray for Wahoo’s!

A little slice of Southern California in Sacramento…
I honestly have no idea if we even still have any Wahoo’s in San Diego but years ago I would go to the one in 4S Ranch all the time. Anyway, Wahoo’s Fish Tacos is a pretty great catch when it comes to the lone line of fish taco chains. See what I did there?
I have no idea how long this Wahoo’s has been there, but it really doesn’t look as broken in as the ones down south. Less stickers, wall art and used skate decks than I am used to, but is still a Wahoo’s none the less. As for the grub, I dove into the kale salad with a piece of spicy fish on top drizzled with a vinaigrette. Peep the picture below and you’ll get a good look at it — presented well but in this case not as good as it looks. Should have rolled with the staple fish taco, rice and beans, which is hard to go wrong with.
We actually rolled back her later in the day for another bite to eat, some beers and to watch the Niners lose with a bunch of locals. The pours were heavy and the crowd could certainly drink kicking at least three of the beers on tap. Good on ya, Sacramentans, is that what we call ya?

I was very excited to see a new taco place open downtown. From the outside, this place looks like a blast. Cool surf themed décor, big screen TVs, nice bar. The menu looks yummy — lots of options and not horribly priced ($ 5 plate of nachos). What sunk this ship for me was the wait for my food.
A plate of nachos took 30 mins to come out of the kitchen… and it was literally tortilla chips and nuked shredded cheese. If Shark Week wasn’t playing on the big screen, it would have been a waste of my lunch hour.
I think the solution is to phone ahead and grab it to go.
UPDATE: Got free coupons for the INSANE wait for food the second time I had lunch here. Extra star for picking up the ball they dropped.

Wahoo charged gourmet taco prices, but it’s got nothing compared to what I’m used to in Dallas (been spoiled by Torchys, Velvet & Fuzzys). There was a lot of menu items, but they all seemed to use the same set of ingredients and lacked variety overall.
I ordered a banzai bowl, which was… not was I expecting. It tasted like a salty version of (chinese) stir fry that I usually make at home, although the black beans were a nice touch and the carnita was tender. I brought home the other half as leftovers, and mixed it with another cup of brown rice and, making sodium ratio more appropriate for consumption.
The area is very spacious, with surfboard décor, but it didn’t seem that well put together. Too dark maybe? Not sure what the right adjective is here. There is also a nice bar area. Staff is very friendly.

After an awesome CMYE we decided to give this Midtown newbie a try. Wahoo Tacos was still going through their soft opening so their menu was limited to appetizers and tacos. When they are in full swing they will offer a variety of tacos, burritos, bowls and more with a Mexican/​Asian twist.
Since it was pretty late and we were looking for a quick salty snack before heading home we ordered the nachos with pork and Cajun fries. Unfortunately for me both dishes were just okay. It seemed like the only things on the nachos were pork, cheese and black beans. The pork had good flavor but there could have been more under all the beans and cheese. My husband even said I made better nachos at home! The fries were alright. They were served with spicy ketchup but I didn’t taste much of a difference.
It was late in the evening and things are still new. Maybe I’ll give this place another try later on but for now three stars it is.

I have mixed emotions when chains pop up. I had never heard of Wahoo’s, so I was hopeful since the inside looked really nice and there was plenty of seating.
I was not impressed with the food. The menu was pretty big, but since it was close to closing they didn’t have some items. We went with the carnitas nachos and cajun fries. The nachos were comprised of chips, shredded pork (not enough of it and no flavor), black beans, and lots of cheese with a side of pico de gallo. I’m guessing guacamole and sour cream were extra since the cashier wanted to know if I wanted it on there. The cajun fries didn’t have much, if any cajun spice and the ketchup tasted like regular ketchp, not spicy ketchup as described.
I can see the potential for a quick lunch or casual meal, but parking around here sucks! There are other places in The Handle District that I would rather go to, but let’s see where they can go with it.

My boyfriend told me that Wahoo’s was in LA and now that they have one in Sac that I should try it out. Oh boy, I am glad I did. I am not ashamed to say that I’ve already been here twice in one week.
I am in love with their tacos. I have tried the chicken and the tofu ones and they just keep me coming back for more. I cannot get enough of Wahoo’s!!!
When you walk in there is this cool urban vibe. I love all of the skate decos on the walls and chairs. When you go to order, the staff is very friendly. They have helped me when I couldn’t decide and they did not steer me wrong.
Aside from the tacos, you gotta try the appetizers too. I love the chicken taquitos. They have a satisfying crunch. The Baja rolls with the santa fe ranch is a perfect match. They have onion rings too! They are HUGE and hit the spot. I cannot wait to try more of the appetizers offered.
The only little hiccup I have to say about this is parking is hard to find. I usually just park around the corner and walk over. Heck, I would ride my bike to this place from my place in East Sac because it is THAT GOOD.