LAReview
106 Seafood Underground
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Every friend we send to 106 Seafood Underground gets a little lost on the way, aimlessly wandering around West 106th Street in Inglewood looking for a sign. This is a Mexican restaurant, yes. But it's located in a residential backyard. There's no music to follow or any indication of the side entrance. And we tell our friends, like we're telling you now, to trust. The search ends with an unforgettable mariscos meal. 106's flavor combinations will reboot your taste buds. Operated by the former chef of Coni’Seafood (as well as other popular mariscos spots), the place serves shrimp ceviche punched up with tart green apple and fish chicharrón in a sweet-savory sauce that tastes like nước chấm’s milder cousin. There's a flaky whole grilled snook basted in a salty marinade and garnished with caramelized onions—a Nayarit-style dish that's a showstopper when it arrives at the table. Just as good are the grilled langoustines that sizzle in a sour, spicy, salty, creamy, who-knows-what-the-hell-it-is sauce. When we ate this for the first time, we spooned all of that sauce into our mouths like a parent feeding applesauce to a baby.
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
106 Seafood Underground's restroom may be inside a converted garage, but the rest of the set-up works like a typical, outdoor-only restaurant. Servers take your order in the shady patio dining area. There’s a professional kitchen set up in an outdoor shed. Families and guests lugging suitcases sit on plastic chairs as LAX-bound flights roar above.
If you were hoping for an ordering secret, there isn't one. Every dish here—and we mean everything—is slap-the-table good. So the only thing you'll need to prep ahead of time is the cash in your wallet. (106 Seafood Underground doesn't accept cards.) Oh and maybe a little patience when you inevitably can't find the entrance to the backyard and start to doubt this place even exists at all. That's part of the fun, though.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Langostinos
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Apple Ceviche
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Zarandeado
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Fish Chicharrón
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Marlin Tacos