Favorite whole fish dishes?

[ipsedixit]

My go-to for a whole fish dish is at Sea Harbour. Steamed fish straight from the tank.

There are others that I like, I suppose. There's Jitlada's Sea Bass, Zucca's Branzino and Shiro's Catfish, and maybe a few others I'm missing.

What about you?

Where do you go for a whole fish dish?

[OCAnn]

Spanish mackeral @ Sushi Momo. If you ask for two orders, you get four pieces of sushi, followed by the head & bones (intact) fried (and cracker-like).

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Sushi Momo
208 N Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92832

[Ciao Bob]

Lukshon - whole steamed fish with black bean ghee has wowed me a few times lately.

[ns1]

whole baked catfish, favori or thien an restaurant.

[reality check]

One of the first times I went to Master Chef, they had a whole fish in a brown sauce and it was wonderful. I've read on CH, that Master Chef isn't as good now as before, I haven't been in over a year, so I don't know.

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Master Chef Restaurant
937 N Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

[Robert Thornton]

I'm a big fan of that catfish at Shiro's.

[ipsedixit]

I like the goat hot pots at Phong Dinh and the pork's blood. Never cared for their baked fish dishes, however.

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Phong Dinh Restaurant
2643 San Gabriel Blvd, Rosemead, CA 91770

[Porthos]

Which type of whole fish straight from the tank? Black cod? China Cod? Sea trout? Does anyone know the name of the red rock cod looking thing with the big head and delicate tender flesh? Thats easily my favorite whole steamed fish.

[A5 KOBE]

I believe it is called pacific rock cod.

[ipsedixit]

Yup, pacific rock cod.

What's available in the tanks will vary, depending on what's at the market, etc.

[cant talk...eating]

It's not just one species, but yeah, it's a rockfish (family = Sebastidae), and dozens of species occur in the eastern Pacific. Typically deep-water, slow-growing. And darn good.

My vote is Mariscos Chente for most memorable, but followed up by a sort of surprising entry, the whole striped bass at Enoteca Drago. Really spare grilled preparation with lemon.

I like the whole pompano at Thai places but none stand out right now.

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Enoteca Drago
410 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Mariscos Chente
4532 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066

[mc michael]

links and info

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Jitlada
5233 1/2 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Shiro Restaurant
1505 Mission St, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Zucca Ristorante [CLOSED]
801 South Figueroa, Los Angeles, CA 90017

sea harbour
3939 Rosemead Blvd, Rosemead, CA 91770

[bulavinaka]

Pescado zerandeado from Mariscos Chente brought me back to appreciating whole fish dishes.

[westsidegal]

also, their deep fried mojarra frita is fabulous.
Mariscos Chente
west imperial highway at yukon
inglewood, ca

[wienermobile]

I really like Chinois Whole sizzling catfish with ginger and ponzu sauce.

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Chinois
2709 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405

[Baron]

For me, nothing beats a whole imported Dover Sole (not to be confused with the cheap stuff sold at the super market.) It's high end usually between $40-$60 ala carte. Typically its sauted or baked and wheeled to the table where the server will debone it. I always take the whole fish and bone it myself.It's a sublime dish. The Grill on the Alley in BH does a good job. I had a great one in Vegas and I Cugini in SM serves a decent Dover Sole. A whole Dover Sole resembles a small baby halibut. The flesh is white and firm with a delicate sweet taste - just perfect.

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I Cugini
1501 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[J.L.]

I've eaten fish all over the world, all sorts of ways.

In my book, there is no better way to cook fish than to steam it Chinese style, straight outta the tank, with some scallions, light soy, ginger, hot oil and garnished with cilantro. Complex, tender, and sublime. The fish stock also goes great with jasmine rice.

Sea Harbour's chefs do it right, I agree. Though on a good night, Hop Woo (yes, on the Westside!) has a damn fine version of this also (see my poorly taken picture)

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Hop Woo
11110 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

[bulavinaka]

Hop Woo? Is that talapia?

>>In my book...<<

Okay, i'll bite - what book?!?! You can't make statements like that in passing and expect no response...

[J.L.]

My book? Hmm... A novel idea! I shall try to make it happen and put it on Amazon once it's published!

Yes, it is tilapia - Though rock cod is fantastic for this type of cooking as well.

[raytamsgv]

Totally agree!

[A5 KOBE]

I too am a sucker for steamed whole fish. I usually get it at Ocean Star. Maybe I will have to try Sea Harbour.

[mc michael]

Seafood Village can do a respectable steamed fish as well.

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Seafood Village
9669 Las Tunas Dr, Temple City, CA 91780

[ipsedixit]

The whole fish dish to get at Seafood Village is the "House Special Fish" which comes in it's own chafing dish and hot plate, and the broth is this wonderful gelatinous concoction of sour cabbage, dried tangerine peels, lonquat and conpoy.

[tissue]

888 has a similar dish... very tasty. I like to eat 2 bowls of rice with the tasty broth.

[maudies5]

I love the way Toscana prepares a whole fish. They start it off on top of the stove and finish it in the wood burning oven. Last week I had a beautiful whole Orata. They nearly always have Branzino. The fish is always done perfectly. Moist and never dry. The vegetables sides are also great.

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Toscana Restaurant
11633 San Vicente Blvd Ste 100, Los Angeles, CA 90049