Crispy, breaded fish and thick flour tortillas might not strike you as the healthiest option for a midday meal. Nevertheless, combined with layers of raw spinach, sweet corn salsa and spicy mayo dripping out of both ends, the Hefe’s Fish Tacos served at Bend’s local restaurant, Parilla, blends the perfect combination of flavors. 

The corn salsa and red cabbage provide a fresh sweetness that is balanced well with the tangy mayo, creating a lovely fusion of spicy and sweet. Savory white fish stays tender in the middle of its crunchy outer layer and holds a rich meaty texture, adding depth to balance out the lighter vegetables. To bring it all together, layered in between the tortilla and fish are soft spinach leaves, which have a mild taste that doesn’t overwhelm with a strong earthy flavor. 

For those concerned with how healthy the tacos are, the initial blow of knowing the fish is fried is softened by the abundance of vegetables wrapped up in the tortilla as well. 

Together, the fish, vegetables and sauce create a delicious, fresh combination that is comparatively complex to other fish tacos. To top it all off, the dish comes with three large tacos making the $15 cost well worth it during a quick lunch for Summit students.