Chico's Happy Fish Tacos, located on Tijuana's Plaza Viva Tijuana...

How could you not feel happy eating at a place named Chico's Happy Fish Taocs? Do dollar Corona beers put a smile on your face? Do you like to sit under a shady umbrella and relish some of the best people watching in the world? If the above combination doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will.

Photos: Yes, I know that Chico's Happy Fish caters to tourists, but they serve dollar beers and their fish tacos are great. If you don't want to walk the distance to Av. Revolucion and you're hungry for some delicious fish tacos, Chico's is the place to go.

Chico's Happy fish is located at the west end of Plaza Viva Tijuana, near the ramp that will take you over the river if your headed toward Av. Revolution. It is a very tourist-oriented eating establishment, as it caters primarily to norteamericanos on their way to or from Tijuana's shopping nirvana, known as Av. Revolucion. Like many taquerias in Mexico, the restaurant is open and faces the plaza, but they have many outdoor tables with umbrellas to shade diners from the sun. It's a fantastic place to kick back, relax and people-watch, while powering down on of their $1.00 Corona beers. Did I mention that they serve fantastic fish tacos too?

Photos: Jose, the owner of Chico's Happy FishTacos, is in front of the business and talking to potential customers about the virtues of his business. Dollar beers, especially Coronas? I'm sold!

All of the folks that work at the place speak excellent English, and they're all friendly and nice people. I struck up a conversation with Jose, the owner of the place, who is also the guy on the plaza who entices potential patrons to pay a visit. He complained to me that he doesn't make any money on the dollar Coronas, as he has to pay $.60 for each of them and when you get done with his expenses, his profits only amount to a few cents. Yet he properly told me that it brings folks inLeto his business, which is what it is all about. I couldn't complain, as I sat at a table, drinking who-knows-how-many dollar Coronas, people-watching, and munching on a delicious fish taco. At $12.00 pesos, the price of the taco is a little high, but I had to keep reminding myself that I was at Viva Tijuana Plaza, which simply lives for tourists. They also employ a waiter by the name of Julio who is about the nicest guy that you could ever meet, who is witty, chatty and a very interesting person to talk to.

Left: This visitor attempts to feed one of the many pigeons that frequent the Plaza Tijuana. Right: After finishing her attempt to feed the resident pigeons, the lady sips one of the dollar Corona beers.

I had heard of a little place in the Zona Norte called Kentucky Fried Buches, which basically is a place that serves tacos made from chicken necks, and I just had to check the place out. I asked Julio about it and he told me that he had heard of the place, and that it is located in Zona Norte, just north of the intersection of Av. Constitucion and Calle 123. Ed note: Later I found the place, but it was closed! Read about it here...

Left: Pablo, the friendly bartender at Happy Fish strikes his best post, as I go inside to order another of those dollar Coronas, as I sample some of the best people-watching scenery that I have ever seen. Right: Outstanding fish tacos, but somewhat expensive at $12.00 each (just a little over a U.S. buck) make up my meal at Chico's Happy Fish Tacos.

Chico's Happy Fish Tacos will put a smile on your face, as you sit at one of their shady tables, munch on a great fish taco, and watch people as your sipping a $1.00 Corona beer. When you're at Viva Tijuana Plaza, check out Happy Fish. You'll be glad you did.