I don’t know who tipped R.W. Apple, Jr. off to this seafood-centric beach shack near Santa Barbara City College, but I’m grateful.

There’s no question what the draw is at Shoreline Beach Cafe: fish. And more specifically, ahi. Check out the colorful wooden ahi in the window.

At Shoreline Beach Cafe, diners can put their feet in the sand while they eat. Given the inviting atmosphere, the cafe attracts many species of diner, including a panoply of shorebirds. Finally, the reason they visit…

…Perfecty cooked grilled ahi tacos with pico de gallo, tomatillo salsa, and black beans topped with crema.

This is is one of the best pieces of ahi I’ve ever eaten, slathered with cayenne and seared, served with spicy julienned carrots and purple cabbage (and the occasional ladybug). And the price is right, $11.95 for two fist-sized chunks!