Nico's Fish Market

Unlike The Fishery's formal sit-down setup or the boardwalk taco mills, Nico's runs more like a fishmonger with a side hustle in prepared food. You can grab a whole local branzino to grill at home or post up on Emerald with a poke bowl while someone else picks up dinner ingredients from the same counter. That hybrid rhythm — part retail case, part walk-up lunch spot — gives it a different cadence than the Garnet Avenue seafood grills that only operate one speed.

The **poke bowl** draws regulars for the sesame-forward sauces and the slivers of fresh ginger that cut through the richness, though the creamy drizzle divides people who came for clean, straight-ahead raw fish. The **Nico burrito** packs surprisingly light despite the heft — fresh without the heavy cream-cheese fog that plagues most beach-town fish wraps. The **spicy tuna ceviche** earns repeat visits for tuna quality that doesn't taste like it sat on ice all morning, punchy citrus, and enough heat to keep it honest.

Nico's also runs a **green Thai curry** that strays from the usual SoCal fish-forward menu but holds its own with proper spice balance and no sugar overload. It's the kind of off-script move that makes sense when you realize this place isn't trying to compete with the post-surf taco counter next door — it's carving out space for locals who want good fish without the boardwalk production.

Expect counter service, outdoor seating on a quiet PB side street, and a crowd that skews repeat-customer rather than Garnet Avenue first-timers. Parking's easier here than closer to the boardwalk, and the vibe stays chill even when it's busy. If you're buying fish to cook at home, ask what came in that day — the staff knows the difference.