Mariscos La Costa

Disclaimer: I’m partial to Mariscos La Costa. It was the first restaurant I tried in the Fruitvale district of Oakland and much like a first love, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Mariscos La Costa is a simple place. Orders are taken at a window and the dining area is a small, enclosed patio with large roll-up plastic windows. It’s friendly and comfortable and judging by the name, they’re probably best known for their seafood, but I find it hard to break from the habit of ordering the $3.75 burritos, quesadillas and tortas (it’s like they’re giving food away!). I’ve had all three and I’m rarely disappointed.

On my last visit I had the asada torta. The lightly toasted bun is covered with a thick layer of mayonnaise and filled with bits of meat, chunks of avocado, lettuce and tomato. The sandwich is tasty, but it’s a bit heavy on the mayonnaise and it’s missing cheese. The asada is good, but I prefer the chicken, which has a stronger flavor (unfortunately they were out of chicken on this visit). I found myself craving bites of Cathy’s asada quesadilla, which is stuffed with melted cheese and drips with a tasty grease, which the torta lacks.

I’m not disappointed with the torta at Mariscos La Costa, it just pales in comparison to the quesadillas and burritos. But, much like a first love, I’m quick to forgive and forget and I’ll return for another torta soon.

Mariscos La Costa
3625 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94601