Bear Flag Fish Company was founded in 2007 by Thomas Carson, with aspirations to have the freshest seafood in town. This laidback restaurant was started with a love of the ocean and knowledge of fresh fish. Located near the beach, you can always look forward to enjoying the best views. You can find this groovy restaurant in Newport, Crystal Cove, Huntington Beach, and soon Laguna Beach . You can find many local beach concours eating at this restaurant. Many local surfers and beach goers wear loose and relaxed shirts with a wide variety of colors and prints with trunks and bare feet ready to plunge into the ocean at any time. When you walk into the restaurant you are taken aback by the slow-paced vibe. It feels as if you are walking into the ocean because of the paintings of the vast blue sea, realistic life-sized fish hanging on the ceiling, and the local catches of the day on a clear display in the front with a beachy sailor vibe. The vast oceans line the walls with reminders of where the delicious fish comes from. Typically playing on the TV are the WSL surf contests. With men and women getting barreled by 20-foot waves that look as tall as the Empire State Building.
When eating at Bear Flag, the Poke Bowl is a must-eat. The complexity of the poke bowl is astounding. Your eyes eat before your mouth, so you see the pink ahi poke covered in chili and garlic which add to the crunch, the smooth rice is the one calm element of the dish, the slimy and green seaweed salad makes you feel like a mermaid eating this dish under the sea. There is also cucumber that is in a perfect spiral that is inviting you to dig in, and two sauces opposite in color. The fish has a sensation that melts in your mouth mixed with a crunch of the chili coating that pops. Next, as you bite into the seaweed it slips down your throat with a salty casing. Then, when eating the rice it soothes your mouth with the variety of flavors already occurring. Finally, drizzled on top is the famous Tommy Tommy sauce that is made of aioli paired with the spicy sriracha that sets your tongue on fire. The only way to eat this dish is with chopsticks for the most authentic feel. Also, paired with a chilled mint Yerba Mate, the smooth minty liquid quenches thirst and soothes the spice. Another order-worthy dish is the fish tacos. The buttery fish that melts in your mouth with the crunch of the creamy coleslaw balances out the savory flavors to add vibrancy and variety topped with the Tommy Tommy sauce. Also, the fish burrito is a must-order. It is encased in a warmed flour tortilla and buttery fish. The beans are as black as the night sky, and also have coleslaw.
A tip to having the best experience is ordering online to avoid the lines. Also, if you go at sunset get the poke bowl to go and enjoy it on the beach while watching a beautiful sunset. This restaurant is the only spot in town with a proper surf vibe and delicious seafood to back it up. Get the California famous Bear Flag poke bowl and your nearest location today.
