Basa Seafood Express: Your New Mission Seafood Stop

One of the supposed perks to living in a port city is that comestible sea creatures are supposed to be not only plentiful, but also cheaper than you would get inland. Growing up near Morro Bay, down the coast, I remember this being the case but in San Francisco not so much. As a matter of fact, if you have the strong urge to see your wallet burst into flame from the speed at which bills will be exiting it, then you should, by all means, go down to Fisherman’s Wharf. Even venerable spots like Swan’s or the Anchor and such are more than likely gonna make you really think about how much you want to have a shrimp cocktail.

This is, I suppose, due to various factors. Local waters don’t have much life in them due to the toxic sludge courtesy of Iron Mountain and the Almaden mines among other things. That and restaurateurs know that normally sane people will pay through the nose to eat the aquatic version of a bug. This even as radioactive currents are washing our way.

But the bounty of the sea is delicious. Thankfully, Basa Seafood Market on 24th Street has heeded the call for fishies at fair prices. Though they do have sandwiches containing scallops and lobster in the double digits, they have several options under $5.00. Clam chowder bowls ring it at $4.99 and a cup of ceviche is $4. You can get two fish tacos for $3.99, and they are actually good. No Van de Kamp’s in a tortilla placed on a giant bowl of tortilla chips. Given the quantities of the other things on the menu, it actually makes me wonder if the lobster roll isn’t actually a six-foot sub. If anyone has twenty-four dollars to blow, please let us know.

The people that run the joint are super sweet too and apologise profusely for epic three minutes it takes to prepare your order. Mrs. Paul takes longer to work her “magic.” The girl is getting on in years, though, isn’t she?

Credit cards taken. And the lady at the counter wants everyone to know that they can call ahead if they can’t hold on the seven minutes it takes to prepare the fried treats.

If you’d like to get our newsletter, signup right here, it takes 5 seconds.