Oxnard's Top 5 Foodie Secrets

Prepare your taste buds for a treat and check out these Oxnard restaurants:

1. Fishermen's Catch

Secret: Everyone loves a good family secret, and this family is like no ordinary. The family that owns Fishermen’s Catch is an Italian fishing family that dates back three generations. Locally owned and operated, the father and son duo take their fishing boats (the Sandy Bea and Philip Nick) out each morning to catch fresh fish and the seafood of the day. The Guglielmo’s opened Fishermen’s catch to bring you the freshest fish. After their early morning fishing excursion, you can meet them at the fish market and grill where they are serving up your seafood favorites.

Fishermen’s Catch specializes in catching fresh local sea bass, halibut, yellowtail, crabs and lobsters. The fish they don’t catch are purchased from high quality sea vendors in North America. They take pride in their fish and are redefining fresh “If we don’t eat it, we don’t sell it” and it’s all reasonably priced. Try their selections of grilled fish, bread bowl clam chowder, fish and chips and much more. Eat and enjoy your favorite fish selection with a picture-perfect view of the Channel Islands Harbor.

2. Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine

Secret: Want to know one of Brazil’s best kept secrets?... Moqueca. When you think of Brazilian cuisine you may think of a rice, beans, chilis and even Brazilian steakhouses with endless meat options. However, Moqueca is one of Brazil’s best seafood plates or shall we say bowls. Moqueca, a Brazilian seafood stew, comes from the southeast region of Brazil from the state of Espirito Santo located along its coast. It is served in a clay pot with your seafood of choice, fresh rich tomatoes, onions and cilantro sauce, lime juice and urucum (Brazilian seasoning).

Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine is serving up the authentic flavors of Brazil’s rich cuisine. You'll find a variety of moquecas on the menu that vary based on the fish used. The restaurant is family owned and showcases an environment of art, culture and music from their country. You can enjoy this cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere that overlooks the Channel Islands Harbor. Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine has been named one of the top 25 Brazilian restaurants in the nation by Business Insider.

3. Mrs. Olson's

Secret: Mrs. Olsen’s coffee hut is a local favorite breakfast restaurant with a unique outdoor dining experience. Their outdoor seating area is furnished with beach chairs sitting on top of the sand. This one-of-a-kind experience makes you feel like you are on the beach while having a view of the beautiful Channel Islands Harbor. Watch paddleboarders or people kayaking over the water. This unique outdoor space is something worth checking out.

Dine at Mrs. Olsen’s for breakfast, brunch and lunch with their country fried potatoes, pancakes, Chilaquiles and breakfast burrito. They also have live music on select weekends and karaoke nights. Be sure to arrive early to get a spot on the sand patio and leave time to enjoy a walk around the marina.

4. CJ's Barbeque

Secret: Looking for good southern comfort food without having to travel to the south? CJ’s Barbeque is that place. CJ’s Barbeque has a true southern feel. This restaurant is brought to you from a local resident with ties from Mississippi bringing the southern flavor to Oxnard. A must try for foodies that love BBQ. The restaurant has a down-home, low-key, get-bbq-sauce-on-your-face kind of feel to it.

This barbeque joint offers a full menu of mouth-watering dishes. Since it's hard to try them all, go for the meat sampler with a side of corn bread. Everything on the menu is affordable, and you can even order family meals to feed a large group.

5. Golden Chicken Inn

Secret: Did you know there was once an Oxnard’s Chinatown? In the 1900s, Chinese settlers made this area of downtown Oxnard their home and opened restaurants and businesses. Golden Chicken Inn was one of those restaurants and is now the oldest remaining restaurant in Ventura County. Located in the heart of downtown Oxnard, this hidden gem is a great place to grab lunch.

Golden Chicken Inn serves authentic Chinese cuisine. Some menu favorites include egg flower soup, egg rolls, chicken chow mien and the orange chicken. The restaurant is located on the second floor of the downtown building and their friendly staff is waiting to serve you.

Whether you're visiting Oxnard for a few days or a week, these five restaurants should be on your itinerary.