Rubio's Coastal Grill, formerly known as Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill, is a fast casual "Fresh Mex" or "New Mex" restaurant chain specializing in Mexican food, with an emphasis on fish tacos. As of 2007, Rubio's operates, licenses or franchises more than 190 restaurants in California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. Rubio's was voted "Best of the Best (Cheap Eats)" in the June 2008 issue of San Diego Magazine. Its headquarters are in Carlsbad.
According to founder Ralph Rubio, he and some friends from San Diego State University were on spring break in San Felipe when he first encountered fish tacos at a local stand, and was inspired to open a restaurant serving them in his hometown, San Diego, California. Since then, the popularity of fish tacos has spread throughout California, although they remain uncommon elsewhere. Rubio's standard fish tacos are made from Alaskan pollock, which is battered, fried, and served in a corn tortilla, although optionally offered with a flour tortilla. Grilled mahi-mahi is also available at all locations.