A New Counter Focused on Baja-Style Fish Tacos Lands in Downtown Montreal

Shaughnessy Village has a new option for tacos, with El Pescadito now open on Sainte-Catherine, just west of Concordia.

As the name might suggest to any Spanish speakers, fish tacos are a focus here (and take note: it has no connection with the Mexico City chain by the same name). Specifically, Baja-style fried fish tacos, with crispy battered pieces of fish on a tortilla with a red cabbage slaw and creamy salsa.

The restaurant is going beyond the Baja California peninsula (although the fish tacos are perhaps most notable for being comparatively rare in Montreal) — other staples like tacos al pastor, chicken tinga, or cheesy gringas all figure onto the menu. If you’re looking for more seafood, there’s a mango-sauced ceviche on the menu.

Plus, there are a few other Mexican specialties — pozole, a traditional pork soup, horchata (the Mexican version of the drink, made with rice and cinnamon), and tres leches cake for dessert.

It’s a casual spot, to be sure: it takes over a former Dagwoods location between Guy and St-Mathieu, a narrow space decked out with beach shack-style untreated wood fixtures and decorative seashells, in line with the fishy theme. Prices are fairly modest — two tacos will set you back around $6 or $8, which isn’t the cheapest in town, but also, it’s 2020 and those prices (especially for seafood) certainly aren’t wild.

STATUS — El Pescadito is open at 1627 Ste-Catherine West from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

• El Pescadito [Instagram]