White Boy/White Dog Move To Skid Row

Certified Beach Dude Moves To Downtown Los Angeles

I just went to Senior Fish for my first time, and the whole experience, including the walk, was just perfect. I can’t believe I had not been to Senior Fish before, as I walk past it’s brick structure on the corner of 1st and Alameda at least daily. I had ran into my neighbor Kyle at The Edison last week, and he swore by the place- the fish tacos are his favorite (and what Senior is known for, along with the scallop and shrimp tacos and burritos).

The restaurant is decent sized inside, and also has an outside patio in the back, with high cement walls to block traffic noise. You order at a counter, and then get your own plastic utensils and cups of salsa at the salsa bar, and select a seat on patio, or at table or a counter with bar stools inside. As it was mid-80s outside, I stayed in the air-condioned restaurant.

All of the patrons today were hispanic- which was a great sign. When the waitress brought my food, she spoke to me in Spanish (then apologized and repeated in English). There were extended families, and an older, tanned guy in board shorts and flip-flops that made me feel like I was in Ensenada. Actually, the whole vibe was “South of the Border”- distressed concrete floor, wobbly tables, and exposed brick and cinder-block walls, with the stereo playing some great hispanic soft-rock, including my all-time favorite, bittersweet love song, A Puro Dolor. Even the 1st St cross walk visible from my seat was made of Spanish paver tiles (but in the background was the Japanese-American museum to the left and the Twin Towers jail loomed off in the distance to the right).

Ok, so the atmosphere was perfect- but how was the food? The chips, salsa, and guacamole were all a 9 out of 10 in my book. The chips were salty, the salsa I chose was spicy enough to bring on a little sweat on the brow and to keep me licking my lips to cool them, the guac was chunky and fresh, and the Corono was a perfect compliment. I had 2 carne asada tacos, and they were near-perfect too (not quite the quality of beef as found at Lime Cafe, but far more authentic and tasty). The whole meal was just under $12, not including a tip. The real value here appears to be the lunch special (11am - 3pm M-F) where $6.95 gets 2 tacos of your choice, rice, beans, and a drink (shrimp and scallops $1 extra). They also have a breakfast menu on weekends.

After lingering a little and enjoying the people-watching, I hit the side walk for the 3 block walk home, through the Japanese ladies with their umbrellas out to protect them from mid-day sun, the black homeless folks lying on the sidewalk in what shade they could find with all their possessions next to them in a shopping cart, with German “dance-metal” band Rammstein pounding on my earphones. This sure beats a ride on the old Disneyland “It’s a Small World” ride…