Fish Tacos

As the weather gets warmer, what could be better than a light, fresh fish taco?

* Tlapazola Grill: Build your own--you get a 6 1/2-ounce piece of grilled salmon, chunky salsa fresca, guacamole with just enough jalapeno, Mexican rice, beans and three corn tortillas. Lunch only. (Fish taco plate, $8.) Tlapazola Grill, 11676 Gateway Blvd., West Los Angeles, (310) 477-1577.

* Baja Fresh: Here the taco is lightly breaded snapper, shredded cabbage, salsa and a secret citrus dressing rolled up in a fresh corn tortilla. (Fish taco, $1.95, taco plate, $5.50.) Baja Fresh, dozens of locations throughout Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties.

* Alegria: At this cozy place, it’s a generous piece of Atlantic cod sauteed with a smoky salsa, set on chopped romaine and cabbage in two corn tortillas. (Tacos de pescado, $6.25; with rice and beans, $8.25.) Alegria, 3510 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 913-1422.

* Taco Surf: A symphony of textures--breaded snapper, shredded cabbage, creamy sauce and homemade guacamole. (Fish taco, $1.95, three taco special, $5.50, two tacos with rice and beans, $7.50.) Taco Surf, 5316 1/2 E. Second St., Long Beach, (562) 434-8646; 522 Main St., Huntington Beach, (714) 374-4478; 115 Main St., Seal Beach, (562) 594-0600; 16281 Pacific Coast Hwy., Sunset Beach (562) 592-2290.

* La Serenata Gourmet: You can choose grilled mahi mahi, halibut, sea bass or swordfish for your taco here. It will be assembled with sauteed tomatoes and onions and topped with tomatillo sauce or molcajete (roasted tomato and grilled chile) sauce. On top come onion and avocado slices. (Tacos de pescador, $9.95.) La Serenata Gourmet, 10924 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles, (310)441-9667.

* Taco Mesa: The big tacos here are made with blackened Pacific red snapper or grilled calamari. Both kinds include chipotle mayonnaise, Oaxacan cheese and jalapeno cheese and a relish of red and green cabbage, diced tomatoes, cilantro and citrus juices. All this comes in a red and blue corn tortilla garnished with cotija cheese and Mexican sour cream. (Blackened fish or grilled calamari taco, $2.49; with rice and beans, $5.00.) Taco Mesa, 647 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, (949) 642-0629, 22922 Los Alisos Blvd., Mission Viejo, (949) 472-3144, Saddleback Shopping Center, 3533 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, (714) 633-3922.