7/3/2021

I found out about The Original Fish Company through my mom, who has been RAVING about this place. Usually when my mom raves about something, it’s a hit or miss. It’s either really good, or really bad. I decided to give this place a shot to see what the hype was about. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed with the result this time.

The Original Fish Company has been around for more than 30 years and pride themselves with serving only the freshest and finest fish selection. Unlike most restaurants, the Original Fish Company buys whole fish from trusted fishermen they’ve done business with for years, and cooks them using their mesquite broilers.

The Pre

Reservations:

We came on a Saturday night before July 4th. They do not take reservations unless you’ve checked in with them physically. Wait time on this busy night was about 30 minutes, for a party of 5 people. This restaurant is MASSIVE (in terms of number of tables and space), and there was still a wait time. This just goes to show how poppin’ this place was. They do have a nice waiting area outside for you to sit down as well, which was probably as big as some hole-in-the-wall restaurant’s dining areas.

Attire:

We saw everything from casual tank tops, shorts, and sandals to business casual attire. Depends on the occasion. The people dressed up were mostly celebrating a birthday or special night out with their spouses.

Parking:

Parking is pretty convenient, with a big lot right in front of the restaurant.

Location:

Currently, their only location is in Los Alamitos, California. They can easily turn their restaurant into a chain, however they purposely chose not to, in order to preserve the quality of their food and the excellence of their service.

The During

Order: This is not a family style dining restaurant, so everyone at the table should order their own entrée!

1. Sourdough Bread ($Free) - The sourdough bread rolls with butter were complimentary and were absolutely delicious. Probably the best sourdough bread I’ve ever had. I had about 3 rolls to myself, and honestly was kind of full before the meal began. These aren’t your average size dinner rolls either, like at Wood Ranch or The Cheesecake Factory. They’re actually pretty big. If you finished the bread basket before your meal comes out (like I did), be sure to request more bread. You’re going to need it to dip in their superb clam chowder.

2. New England Clam Chowder with Crackers ($Included with the order of any entrée) - Creamy, rich, savory, and not too fishy. The chowder had a nice consistency and it wasn’t too thick like other clam chowders I’ve tried. Definitely the best New England clam chowder in the Orange County area. If you get an entrée and don’t opt for the New England clam chowder, they also have a Manhattan clam chowder or salads (house or Caesar) for you to choose from as well.

3. Assorted Fish on a Skewer ($26.95) - The skewer has approximately 5 pieces of mesquite broiled fish. The fish was fresh, juicy, and seasoned to perfection. I’m no fish connoisseur, so I couldn’t tell you what was in the “assorted” fish. One thing I know for sure, is that there was definitely salmon and halibut pieces in there. With this entrée, you get to pick 2 side dishes. I opted for french fries and cole slaw. If there was one thing I’d skip out on in the future, it’d be the cole slaw. It wasn’t that substantial or flavorful, and there are much tastier sides to choose from. If I’m being honest, the only reason I got the slaw was to be a bit healthier…

Service:

The service was on point. Our waitress constantly checked in on our table to ensure that our dining experience was top tier. As soon as we were seated, the waitress came to take our order of drinks. Shortly thereafter, she brought us fresh sourdough bread, and took our entrée orders. The clam chowder took about 15 minutes to come out, but that wasn’t an issue at all. We were happily munching away at the complimentary bread. As soon as we finished the clam chowder, the entrées were served promptly.

If you’ve read my previous blogs, you’d know I have an interesting way of measuring how the service is at a restaurant. I drink a LOT of water with my meals. We’re talking 4 to 5 glasses per meal. Often times at restaurants with poor service, I have to ask several times for my water to be refilled. The less I have to ask for water, the better the service is because it means the waiter/waitress is constantly checking in on us. At The Original Fish Company, I didn’t have to ask for a refill ONCE. My glass was never even half-empty. Amazing.

Ambiance:

The ambiance was quite interesting and to explain it, I’m going to separate the restaurant into 3 spaces.

1. Front of House - also known as the front part of the restaurant. There is a small “market” where you can buy a variety raw fish, chowders, and dipping sauces. Kind of reminded me of a street fish market, kind of like Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle. There’s also a window you can look through into the kitchen, to see the chefs preparing an assortment of dishes.

2. Indoor Dining - Dark oak wooden interior and dim lighting with fancy chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. We wanted a quieter, more intimate setting so we opted for indoor seating.

3. Outdoor Patio (covered, and with heaters) - Seems to me to be a bit more casual than indoor dining. We came on a Saturday night, and there was actually live music. Very pleasant atmosphere and cute design.

The Verdict

Its only been a few days since I came to The Original Fish Company and I kid you not, I’m craving their New England Clam Chowder AGAIN. When initially looking at the menu, I thought holy smokes, almost $30 for a skewer of fish? This is a rip off. What I didn’t realize was the amount of food they give you. The skewer comes with clam chowder plus 2 sides, and unlimited complimentary sourdough bread. Once the check came, I happily paid. The price went from a rip-off to a steal. I consider myself to have pretty high expectations, and for me to say this was the BEST sourdough bread and BEST clam chowder I’ve ever had, really means something. I will be coming back in the near future, and I implore you to give this place a shot, if you’re ever in the area.

Kha’s Official Rating: 8/10