About Us

From our practices to our ingredients, to the traditions that inspire our food—everything we do is guided by the spirit of adventure, and a passion for sharing this journey with others.

ADVENTUROUS FLAVORS

RESPONSIBLE PRACTICES

HEALTHFUL GOODNESS

FROM BAJA BEGINNINGS

It was on a spring break trip to San Felipe, Baja California, where Ralph Rubio first fell in love with the fish taco. Fresh from the sea and full of unique flavor, Ralph knew he had to bring the idea home so he could share it with others. So, in 1983 with the help of his family, Ralph opened the first Rubio’s as a walk-up taco stand in Mission Bay, San Diego, serving up what would become our famous Original Fish Taco®.

TO COASTAL INSPIRATION

Today, over 250 million fish tacos later, Rubio’s has grown from a single stand to nearly 160 restaurants in three states, offering a variety of menu options that reflect our diverse community and celebrate the coastal roots of where it all began.

ADVENTUROUS FLAVORS

The desire to share unique, delicious food continues to inspire the way we explore new recipes and evolve our menu.

A PHILOSOPHY OF INTENTIONALLY PREPARED FOOD

Searing seafood on an authentic comal. Hand-battering our Wild Alaska Pollock. Making fresh salsa and our never-fried beans from scratch every morning—and preparing our Mexican rice with Ralph’s mom’s recipe. Everything we create for you is made to order, so you can enjoy the goodness of fresh, quality food.

A MODERN TWIST ON A CULINARY TRADITION

Since the day Ralph discovered the fish taco, taking innovative approaches while still honoring authenticity has been at the heart of our menu. Here, you get to explore a variety of new flavors and textures from many vibrant regions of Mexico and beyond—combined with the coastal influence that can only come from Rubio’s.

RESPONSIBLE PRACTICES

The ocean is the inspiration for everything we do. We’re committed to sustainability so we can help protect our environment, in respect for all it has given us.

SUSTAINABLY-SOURCED SEAFOOD

We believe we have a responsibility to not only provide the best food for our customers, but to do so in a way that does not harm the environment. That’s why we ensure our shrimp and wild-caught pollock are certified sustainable, and our Mahi Mahi and salmon are always responsibly sourced from select fisheries.

ECO-FRIENDLY PACKAGING

To do our part in protecting our environment for generations to come, we’ve made conscious choices and changes to be as responsible as possible with the materials we use. Our eco-friendly efforts include:

Compostable and biodegradable to-go containers made from molded fiber
To-go salad bowls made from rPET which reduces waste, requires 75% less energy than raw plastic and is 100% recyclable
Compostable, chlorine-free napkins
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)-certified paper cups

Healthful Goodness

Through our ingredients and sustainable practices, we hope to provide a variety of menu options that people will not only love but feel great about eating—while also inspiring a lifestyle centered around pursuing adventure at every opportunity.

DELICIOUS FOOD STARTS WITH QUALITY INGREDIENTS.

At Rubio’s, our menu features sustainably sourced seafood, fresh produce, stone-ground corn tortillas, and other quality ingredients, so you can taste and feel the goodness in every bite.

HASS AVOCADOS

We use only Hass avocados for their buttery flavor and rich, creamy texture.

CORN TORTILLAS & CHIPS

Our stone-ground corn comes from Mi Rancho, a 4th generation family-owned factory, and is grown in California and non-GMO Project verified.

BROWN RICE & QUINOA

Brown rice and quinoa is a good source of nutrient-rich whole grains, including fiber, vitamin B6 and magnesium.

PINTO & BLACK BEANS

Our beans are seasoned and cooked in our kitchens from scratch every day, never fried or refried.

SIGNATURE SALSAS

From mild salsa to salsa fresca, our salsas are freshly prepared in our kitchens every day and are the perfect way to spice up your meal.

RUBIO’S WHITE SAUCE

Inspired by the fish tacos in Baja, this signature sauce, made fresh daily, is light and creamy, offering a cooling contrast to our chiles and salsas.

CHIPOTLE SAUCE

Prepared by hand in our kitchens, our creamy Chipotle Sauce adds a spicy kick to our signature White Sauce with a touch of heat from chipotles in adobo.

MEXICAN RICE

Our Mexican rice is Ralph’s mom’s recipe. Just like her, we lightly toast our rice kernels, then cook them with tomatoes, garlic, and secret spices.

CITRUS RICE

Our Citrus rice is prepared fresh daily, with a touch of lemongrass and lime juice, for the perfect complement to any taco, burrito or bowl.

WILD ALASKA POLLOCK

Sourced from the icy ocean waters of Alaska, our Wild Alaska Pollock is certified sustainable by the Alaska Responsible Fisheries Management program.

SUSTAINABLE SHRIMP

100% of our shrimp is certified sustainable in accordance with Best Aquaculture Practices.

WILD MAHI MAHI

Our Mahi Mahi is wild-caught off the coast of Peru and Ecuador from responsible fisheries working toward their Marine Stewardship Council certification.