Vancouver, Canada (The Joy of Food) — Vancouver has its fair share of excellent seafood and that includes Go Fish, a shipping container turned outdoor seafood shack serving fried and grilled fish within a short walk of the Granville Island Public Market.
Everyone knows the best food comes out of unassuming, no-frills establishments at affordable prices. Go Fish is one such place, known for heaping portions of fish and chips, seafood sandwiches, ‘tacones’ (fish wrapped in a cone-shaped griddled flour tortilla), and seafood-appropriate salads and sides.
You will find most fish classics here, most done extremely well. The cod is served scalding hot and is well-seasoned, moist, and flaky with a homemade beer-battered crust that’s puffy and expertly crisped. A layer of fries underneath serves as a bed, some of it soggy thanks to the stuff on top, all delivered in one of those bamboo steamers you’d see in dim sum places.
A side of red curry is one of the ‘globally minded’ soups of the day and features pieces of cod fish that manage to hold their shape and texture and absorb the curry to wonderfully spicy effect. If they’re serving this when you visit, it is something you must order.
Some Pacific Rim-style coleslaw is light and refreshing, rejecting the classic rich, gloppy mayo-dense spread you’d normally see on coleslaw and instead coming dressed with a sesame vinaigrette. While the coleslaw is a little light on flavor for me, texturally it hits the spot with a nice snap and crunch.
The view from Go Fish’s seaside patio is both stunning and serene, making this a perfect meal with copious amounts of zen. And because this is a shack, you’ll be outdoors in weather that might be sunny one minute and whipping you around the next. Wear your sun block or Eskimo jacket, accordingly.
There are a number of folks cooking in the two-by-four space so entrees come out quickly, even if the place is busy. Despite the rush, I experienced nothing but kind, efficient service. Thus, Go Fish for me ticks the boxes of ‘fresh,’ ‘tasty,’ ‘fast,’ and ‘affordable,’ and is well worth a try if you’re in the area.
Written by Joy
Thanks for reading. The Joy of Food blog celebrates eating well, traveling often, and living la dolce vita. San Diego, California is home base, but thoughts are from all over. Reviews and photos help to highlight wonderful (or not) food experiences from around the world.
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