Ricky's Fish Tacos - Silverlake

*Post by Angela.

Every month, it seems as though dozens of new high-concept/fancy/$$$ restaurants open in Los Angeles. And yes, we do enjoy trying them out, although the speed at which that happens depends on the state of our bank accounts. But the fancy stuff? That’s not the main reason why we love the L.A. food scene.

Much of the beauty of this city is the sheer number of quality cheap food options. And the place that epitomizes the glory that is street food? The parking lot operation you see below.

Ricky’s Fish Tacos are bomb as hell.

Tucked away in a small lot right off Sunset Junction (around the corner from the Vista movie theater), Ricky Piña mans the double fryer to produce the most amazing fish and shrimp tacos we’ve ever had.   

The batter is a thing of beauty - light, airy, and crunchy. Both the fish and shrimp come out cooked perfectly, and when stuffed into a warmed tortilla along with shredded lettuce and your choice of any number of available salsas (don't forget the crema!), eating tacos is transformed into something almost sacred.

In addition to the usual fish and shrimp tacos, on certain days Ricky will throw some lobster in the mix for a few dollars more (watch his Twitter feed for the next offering). They are really delicious, served with a generous squirt of lobster crema, though I don't know that anything can top Ricky's basic fish taco (made with Vietnamese catfish). The meaty, flavorful variety of catfish makes for the best fish taco in LA, and anyone who says differently clearly hasn't visited Ricky's. 

If you haven't already caved to the pressure, drop what you're doing right now, hit the ATM for some cash and drive over to Ricky's (as long as it's before 4 pm, when he shuts it down). And be prepared to wait a little bit, as making tacos this good takes some time. But what's a little time in exchange for a food experience that embodies the best of what L.A. has to offer?