The Halibut Taco is Alaska’s Unofficial State Dish. Discuss.

Travel Blog  •  Eva Holland  •  02.28.12 | 7:23 AM ET

Photo by supafly via Flickr, (Creative Commons)

I spent nine days traveling in Southeast Alaska last month, and as I went from one panhandle port to the next, and from bar to pub to restaurant, I noticed something: the halibut taco is everywhere. It’s even outstripping such traditional Alaskan standbys as king crab legs, beer-battered halibut fish ‘n’ chips, and seafood chowder. It’s the new normal.

I’m not World Hum’s designated taco expert, by any means—Jim’s the Mexican food addict around here—but I’ve been intrigued by unexpected Mexican-in-the-sub-Arctic offerings before. And I’m no less intrigued by the halibut taco seemingly conquering the last frontier.

Alaska isn’t a state that most people associate with cutting-edge cultural fusion (though if you spend much time there, you’ll see there’s more to the place than the Discovery Channel lets on), and it seems to me that the taco’s dominance there is just one more sign of our ever-shrinking planet. I say, bring on the tasty and fascinating cultural variations.

Tags: Food, Our Powerlessness When Faced With Mexican Food Far From Mexico, Shrinking Planet, North America, United States, Alaska, News and Briefs

Eva Holland is co-editor of World Hum. She is a former associate editor at Up Here and Up Here Business magazines, and a contributor to Vela. She's based in Canada's Yukon territory.


3 Comments for The Halibut Taco is Alaska’s Unofficial State Dish. Discuss.

Vagabond List 02.28.12 | 12:58 PM ET

Indeed it is, and a mighty delicious dish at that.
The halibut taco fits Alaskans like a pair of broken-in Carhartts - locally available fish served in a self-contained, edible vehicle. We’ve enjoyed many a halibut-cheek taco in Valdez, AK.
And they taste that much better when you catch your own!
Astute observation Ms. Holland. We featured this post in our morning travel links: http://www.vagabondlist.com/dailylinks/item/77-morning-travel-links-22812

praveen rastogi 03.02.12 | 6:45 AM ET

hello every one…........
how r u all…...........
your blog is to good i feel hungry. but i don’t know what is this plz tell me what is this if u dont mine…..............

thanks for share with us

praveen rastogi
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Maya @ Alaska from Scratch 03.06.12 | 12:09 PM ET

I love halibut tacos - my absolute favorite way to eat halibut, hands-down. I haven’t encountered many halibut tacos on the Kenai Peninsula except in my own kitchen, but I’d love to see them become more popular.
You can see my halibut tacos recipe here: http://www.alaskafromscratch.com/2012/02/21/alaskan-halibut-tacos/

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