Mel’s Fish Shack

Great little gem of a food joint! Excellent food & great service (friendly & genuine). A friend recommended & we went together while I was visiting LA, & it was so good I went back once with another friend before leaving town. Will definitely make an effort to dine there again the next time I’m in town.

The catfish tasted moist and the dill sauce and hot sauce were delicious. Simple and satisfying. But the french fries were so pathetic! If you can fry fish well, you should fry your potatoes well too! These were not fried enough and not salted or seasoned at all. Empty calories.

One of the top fish markets in the city of Los Angels is Mel’s fish shack hands down the only fish market I know that you can get your fish fried or grilled and they have some of the best customer service around so if you are looking for some good fish Mel’s is the place to get it from…

My worst Groupon to date, even though my order added to the amount of the Groupon he made me buy an addtional meal… The meals were tastless and small. I remember them having really great grilled fish, which was a grilled heap of mush. My family was still hungry… I will never ever again… Also the staff is very unpleasent and lacks basic customer service skills…

This used to be one of the best Fish places in Los Angeles. Not any more.
Let’s start with the women who are wearing gloves to protect themselves, instead of protecting the customers from cross contamination. She used the same pair of gloves, on the phone, to take the orders, to prepare the food. She never took that same pair of gloves off. And when she did, it looked like she put the same pair back on.
The grill looked like it was on it’s last leg, It was tilled to the side and nasty as hell. too many people in a small place. It was rated with the letter «A». Somebody call Restaurant Impossible.
The pictures that are on this site is not what that place looks like now. Those are old pictures. It used to look like that when they got that letter «A». They need a updo.

Well the place I was going to for 15 years closed about 4 years ago and was replaced with a Chipotle. Me and my family have been looking for a new place. Both places was always close to us but our spot was better. Anyway I decided to try it and I was very happy. Fish was fresh and fried perfectly. The hush puppies was great. The French fries can use some work. The tartar sauce was great. Potato salad was also just ok. Out of all the places we tried this is the closest to our old place regarding quality of food. For that reason I will go back!

This is a tasty shack!
I went there with a Groupon and because I’m always looking for a good fish joint! I was not disappointed. The menu is easy and very diverse. You can actually have your fish grilled and not all deep fried. However, I had both. I had the grilled trout which was so good you don’t want to share it, which made me happy I had more fish. I also had the catfish and the whiting, both deep fried and well seasoned and large portions. They offer a salad as a side– mixed greens, and they encourage health conscious eating. I thought that was a very nice touch.
The clientele was very mixed. The staff is really friendly and patient.
I like this place. I’m going back!

Used to live around the corner and when I moved I decided to try it. I was craving some fried fish after service, so I ordered one fried fish wrap (comes in two) it was so good and filling. The homemade dill sauce was excellent. I been missing out all these years. Everyone’s was extremely nice too. I will be back for your famous salmon.
Thank you

First few bites are delicious then it feels way too oily and battery. Also expensive.
If you go here, share a dish.
The people who work there are great, though.

Let me tell you something! You listening? I came here cause I was craving fish and chips and for whatever reason I picked this spot. If you want some serious food you come here! I got the 2 fish combo. Salmon grilled. Snapper fried. Hush puppies. Fries. Diet Coke. And was I blown away! Salmon grilled to perfection. Snapper fried light and not oily. The rest was awesome. And the tarter sauce ommggg sooo good. What a pleasure to be eating here. Don’t expect a fancy restaurant. This is a serious seafood establishment with good folks and an awesome chef running the kitchen. Thanks guys it was a great!

I had a Groupon for Mel’s and drove from Carson to use it.
Worth the drive. I ordered for dinners. The portions were nice sized and everyone was satisfied. Will be back.

We tried this place today for the first time and it was delicious.
We ordered the red snapper, the cat fish, the cajun catfish, and an order of tilapia all fried medium crispy. Out of the four my favorite was the cajun catfish, it was flavorful and juicy.
Service was wonderful as well, everyone was very friendly. I will definitely be back to Mel’s soon.

I was in the mood for some fish and had to find something new I try. So glad I did! Came here with the bf and we were greeted by the whole crew. The owners are super sweet and the woman there even have e the run down on how to make peach cobbler! She was so sweet! I promise I won’t think about it. :p
Family owned and operated! You can tell these folks put their heart and soul into the business and their food!
I ordered the salmon dish and my bf ordered a pound of tilapia. I looooved the rice and beans. I’m not sure how they make them but it’s sooo good! I’m glad I have leftovers for a midnight snack! Talk to you later!

I crave this place! Its a few blocks from my office, so I go way too frequently. Its an oasis in a food desert.
The people who work here are the nicest people ever! Very warm atmosphere, you feel like you’re picking up food from Family.
My favorite items are The Grilled Salmon Salad, Grilled Fish Wrap, Fish Tacos, Catfish, and the Fried Oysters.
TIP: Definitely pre-​order over the phone, they’re always busy, and it’s a small kitchen.
Don’t get this location confused with Mel’s Fish Market a few blocks East. (closed, I think — but easy to think you’re here, and they’re just closed when you pull into the market)

Based on the varied reviews here, I must admit I was a bit worried going in with a Groupon. Like if it’s takeout, do I really take it out and eat a park somewhere, or in my car with the windows rolled down?
Thankfully, the owner was friendly and struck up a conversation with us and let us sit down to have his food fresh. There was only bottled water available, so we got Coke for $ 1 per can instead. Our meal came with two slices of wheat bread, but we had enough food as it was.
I see what others mean by small pieces of fish– I too am used to huge chunks of fish when I order it anywhere, but they had the smaller pieces here that were quite thin and you can see the chef removing different types from their cooler and throwing it on the grill or frying it up. Their taste is possibly attributed to the thin servings of fish– we got medium fry, and it was just right and lightly battered to get a bit the right taste and texture they had wanted to achieve.
My sole was quite good and my buddy’s tilapia was in larger pieces but unfortunately, I am not a fan of the latter. Potato salad had a nice mustard taste in the background and was good, but not the best I’ve had. I also had hush puppies, and they were perfectly round and got a bit repetitive after a while. I ended up dipping it in my hot sauce and it was pretty bomb after that. I really enjoyed the shrimp– I think the breading really worked for my jumbo shrimp and it satisfied my cravings. Now put that into a po boy and you’re golden.
I loved that everything was not dripping with oil here and did not taste greasy. I was very full afterwards, but I didn’t feel bogged down or anything, and that was greatly appreciated. Aside from the weird bits (it was confusing to order on the phone, we were told that the Groupon didn’t apply to dinner, but we were able to get dinner anyway, and some other things), I thought Mel’s was pretty cool. The owner informed us that they’d be moving a block down later on to a bigger place, so that was cool and it seems like they are doing well.

Ridiculous. Two pieces of fish for a lunch and 3 pieces for a dinner. Don’t wonder why we go to the Asians for fish. Maybe it was because I had a Groupon. Never again. I don’t do rip off just because we are the same. Ridiculous. Lousy. Who gives the neck and the belly as a 2 piece lunch. Family Fish for life! We aren’t ready. Angry because I was so very reluctant to buy the Groupon because I know how we do. But when I read the history of the restaurant, I decided to support. NEGATIVE

So good! Ordered our food to go. Got the grilled red snapper dinner which comes with 2 sides. For my sides I had the potato salad and coleslaw. Dinner comes with 2 pieces of sliced wheat bread. The garlic sauce that comes with the meal is amazing… ask for an extra one. You will eat it!
The fish was perfect! Fresh not one bit fishy and so flavorful. Perfectly cooked.
Potato salad was everything you would expect except the potatoes are mushed not diced. Cole slaw was good too.
Bread is just filler but I think its intention is to wipe your plate clean. lol.
Loved everything I had and will be back for more. Might have to wait until my wedding diet is over though as this is not diet food and I can’t help but eat everything on my plate.
Enjoy!

Dear Unilocal,
Hello. How are things with you? I’m good. Today I was in the mood for something delicious and reasonable so I browsed through my bookmarks and decided to visit this place. The place was easy to find and the staff was very friendly.
I ordered two lunch specials: a sand dab with onion rings and a snapper with hush puppies.
The fish was tasty. Not too salty or aggressively seasoned. Nothing too exciting.
The sides were lack luster. Frankly they were down right stingy with them. We got 6 hush puppies and about 10 onion rings.
The meals also came with pickles, two slices of bread, and hot peppers.
I just expected more. Unilocal,you steered me wrong today. Le sigh…
Sincerely,
Disappointed

Me and my wife with our daughter tried Mel’s Fish Shack today and have to say some of the best Catfish and Salmon we had in a longtime. The Catfish was tender and juicy with a crisp outside that was just perfect they made it right there fresh on the spot no heat lamp or frozen fish just fresh fish made to order. My wife had the salmon grilled also perfect cooked just right. Fish can be tricky if cooked a bit too long or a bit too short but they did it just right.
So the food is 4 stars for the simple straightforward good cooking and freshness but why 5 stars? Because of their service and friendliness because from the time we got there they were very kind and helpful with helping us order just the right fish and sides as well as they helped us find a place to put our 4 month old daughter while we ate because it’s a little hole in the wall place with no booths and very compact, but they made room for us and our baby you’ll have to eat there to know what we mean. Never said this about a place to eat but the people working there made us feel like family or old friends. This place is a gem.
I highly recommend the place and don’t let the parking or outside of the place detour you it’s what’s on the inside that counts!

YUM! I love fried fish (it’s the inner fat kid in me haha) and have been wanting to try Mel’s for a while now! I bought a Groupon ($ 13 for $ 26 worth of food) and finally got around to trying it this Sunday for lunch. Mel’s is quite literally a no frills shack, which I loved and we ordered from the friendliest man. Even though it was lunchtime, we ordered from the dinner menu and just had to pay the tax on top of the Groupon.
FOOD:
— Fried catfish filet (crispy) with potato salad and coleslaw — yummy! The fish is fried to order and is served HOT HOTHOT! Mel’s does a cornmeal breading, which I really enjoyed because it was light. Fish is super tender. Potato salad was good! Not heavy on mayo and had potato chunks in it. Coleslaw was fresh, also not mayo-​heavy.
— Fried red snapper (crispy) with mixed greens and macaroni salad — also yum! The snapper was firmer than the catfish but delicious. The mixed greens were definitely one of those store bought kind, but fresh and still good. Macaroni salad was a bit sweet and kinda smothered in sauce.
Both meals were served with two slices of bread, and they gave us pickles, peppers and 3 different sauces — tartar (looked homemade and heavy on the dill — yum!), tabasco/​chili, and this vinaigretty sauce.
SERVICE & VENUE:
Everyone was friendly and very nice. There are about 6 – 7 stools at the bar/​counter to eat at and since no one was there, we found a seat quite easily. Fish is fried to order and I could watch them preparing it through the window. They don’t have water cups– bottled water or soda only.
PARKING:
Street parking was easy to find.
DELISH! I’d definitely come back!