Wahoo's Fish Taco
Wahoo's, which is decorated with extreme sports memorabilia, was kept busy all day.
Photos by: Lauren Ogle/The Runner
By Racella De Guia
Assistant News Editor
racelladeguia@gmail.com
Wahoo's fish taco's, is amazingly fun and wonderfully unique. The newly opened restaurant located in the student union is decorated with skateboards, snowboards, and surfing posters.
There is also a pool table and a small stage located in the restaurant where a wide flat screen television set is placed.
The atmosphere of the restaurant gave off a tranquil vibe. Not only that, but the food menu listed an array of healthy entrée's. Wahoo's also offer various beers, and wine.
The restaurant was very relaxing. It's a great place to unwind, especially with midterms around the corner.
Every entrée that wahoo's fish taco's serve is freshly made. All the meats are also grilled so cooked Cajun style. The entire menu that wahoo's fish taco's serve is completely lean and healthy.
One of the partners Steve Karfaridis, was kind enough to explain the history and nutrition of Wahoo's fish taco's. California State University, Bakersfield is the second university to have a wahoo's fish taco restaurant on campus.
In 1990, Steve Karfaridis, joined as a partner and the one location in Costa Mesa rapidly developed into multi-locations in Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach.
Wahoo's was established on 1988 by three brothers who grew up in Brazil. Wing, Ed and Mingo, shared their love of surf and food to create a restaurant with an eclectic Mexican/Brazilian/Asian menu and a Hawaiian north-shore vibe.
Wing, Ed and Mingo were born with the love of restaurants in their blood. Growing up in San Paolo, Brazil, they actually spent their early years above their parents' Chinese restaurant.
In 1975, the family moved to Orange County, California, where their dad opened the famous Shanghai Pine Garden Chinese restaurant on Balboa Island. People such as John Wayne would frequently eat there.
The brothers grew up both in the restaurant and on the beaches. Addicted to surfing, they would travel south to Mexico to surf and there got introduced to the fish taco.
Years of surfing trips to Mexico created a craving for the specialty of charbroiled fish, salsa and tortillas.
In 1988, the brothers decided to import the fish taco to Orange County, California, and give it a unique twist. They combined the fish taco with their Brazilian favorites and Asian inspired items.
The brothers decorated the original restaurant with the donations of near-by surf companies and that's how Wahoo's Fish Taco was born. Wahoo's then quickly developed a loyal and steady following, to where some locals came in daily and servers automatically knew what their customer would order.
Today you will find over 50 locations of Wahoo's all throughout California and Colorado, including Texas and Hawaii.
The Wahoo's brothers have really lived the American Dream. From a small apartment in Brazil to the success of over 50 Wahoo's locations, Wing, Ed and Mingo all share a deep appreciation for their blessings and what they have been able to build together.
Although the restaurant is has already opened Steve sais that "On February 10th there will be a grand opening of Wahoo's, where we will be giving away free snowboards, and skateboards, as well as coupons through email."