Bear Flag Fish Co. — Review by Grub with Greg
Newport Beach, United States — Mexican / Fish Tacos
The reviewer visits Bear Flag Fish Co. in Newport Beach to try their famous burritos that draw long lines. While the Bare Flag burrito and Pokey burrito both have decent flavors with the panko-crusted fish and sesame-infused sauce, the reviewer concludes they're not worth the extended wait times.
What was great: The Bare Flag burrito has panko crusted fish with interesting flavors; the Pokey burrito with Tommy's creamy sesame sauce has a better flavor profile
What could improve: Not worth the long wait times that customers endure for the burritos
The Dishes
The reviewer sampled two signature burritos from Bear Flag Fish Co. The Bare Flag burrito features panko-crusted fish combined with lettuce, black beans, and rice. According to the menu instructions, it's best topped with Tommy's sauce. Initially, there was some confusion about which sauce to use, but the correct creamy Tommy's sauce with sesame seed oil provided a much better result on the second half of the burrito. The Pokey burrito, when tried with the correct Tommy's creamy sauce, demonstrated a noticeably improved flavor profile compared to the Bare Flag, offering a more satisfying taste experience.
The Experience
The video title and transcript heavily emphasize the long lines of customers waiting to order at this establishment. This is clearly a major draw and talking point about Bear Flag Fish Co., suggesting the restaurant attracts significant crowds eager to try their offerings.
Value & Pricing
The Bare Flag burrito is priced at $7.98, which represents reasonable value for a fish burrito. However, the reviewer questions whether the price point justifies the extended wait times customers experience.
Notable Moments
The reviewer's niece Sabrina provides a special announcement correcting which sauce is actually Tommy's sauce, leading to a mid-review restart with the proper condiment application.
The reviewer states: Is it worth standing in those long lines for? Personally, I don't think so.
The Verdict
While Bear Flag Fish Co. serves competent fish burritos with decent flavors, particularly when dressed correctly with the creamy Tommy's sauce, the reviewer does not recommend waiting in the notorious long lines for them. The burritos are adequate and fairly priced, but the experience of waiting is not justified by the food quality, making this establishment best visited only if you happen to arrive during a slow period without a significant queue.