Ruta 15 Verified listing

Ruta 15 is bringing a level of mariscos to Long Beach that echoes some of the region’s best spots. It also harbors the essence of a culinary tradition in Mexico that is as precious as corn itself, where seafood becomes a representation of not just its people’s gastronomical talent but the way in which Mexican people come together.

Surely, Long Beach has had decent mariscos—with, to be frank, some of the best spots being Instagram-based, like El Pelicano Loco, or straight up birthed out of garages, like Mariscos El Garage—but our neighbor to the north has long held the trophy. There’s Holbox and its Chef Gilberto Cetina Jr. recently being a finalist for a James Beard award this year. Mariscos Jalisco, one of the strongest representations of mariscos from the great west coast state. El Muelle 8, which opened a shop in Downey and hails from the mariscos-richc city of Culiacán in Sinaloa.

And with the closure of Cheko El Rey Del Sarandeado in 2023—Long Beach’s sole Sinaloa-style mariscos joint that was from Coni’ Seafood alumni—our city needs a mariscos uplift.

In a sense, Ruta 15 harkens to this style of mariscos. The places where the seafood of the day is displayed over ice. Where oysters are shucked off the side of the road. The places where a variety of house-made hot sauces line up for your choosing. The type of place that would exist in Jalisco. Or Nayarit. Or Sinaloa. The very states where La Carretera Federal 15—or Ruta 15—runs through, a freeway which stretches from Nogales in the north before hitting the coast and ending inland at Mexico City.

Written and photos by Brian Addison.

For the full feature on Ruta 15, click here.