By DENALI BOLLENS and COURTNEY WHYTE
Staff Writers

Bear Flag is a hip, up-and-coming restaurant in Newport Beach that sells fresh raw fish with delicious appetizers and entrees. Its appetizers include sashimi, poke salad, Peruvian ceviche, calamari salad, seaweed salad, smoked fish plate, shrimp cocktail, crab cocktail, grilled artichoke and clams & mussels. The most popular appetizer that has customers raving is the poke that Bear Flag sells by the pound. Customers can eat this poke with chips, tacos or burritos. Breanna Holman (Sr.) said, “The poke is to die for. I always order it with tortilla chips on the side and bring it to the beach with friends and family.”
For the entrees, customers have the option of putting ahi poke (raw seasoned tuna) or salmon poke (raw seasoned salmon) in a delicious burrito or taco filled with rice, beans, avocado, tomatoes, and the signature tommy sauce. Each day, the restaurant features a “Fish of the Day.” The “Fish of the Day” is picked from several types of fish including Ahi, Halibut, Mahi Mahi, Salmon, Swordfish, Wahoo, Lobster, Shrimp and Tofu. The burrito with Ahi fish is especially impressive as the avocado sauce perfectly complements the fish. Bear Flag also offers delicious, hot soups; the clam chowder is especially appetizing on a cold day.
One of the major advantages of eating at Bear Flag is the restaurant’s convenient location. Many UHS students purchase the food at the restaurant before or after a long day at the beach. Joe Moreira (Sr.) said, “After I go surfing, I always get the Ahi Poke burrito and extra tommy sauce. By far one of the best burritos I have ever had.” Bear Flag also stands out amongst other restaurants because of the healthiness of the food.
The downside of this restaurant is the pricing. Because the market prices for tuna and salmon are so high, the meals tend to be a bit more expensive than the average burrito. Burritos and tacos range from $7-$10. However, the taste makes up for the high prices.
Sydney Schneider (Sr.) said, “Bear Flag is my new favorite place to eat at. I find myself craving it in class even and I plan on taking my parents there this weekend to share it with them!” People continue to appreciate Bear Flag even after leaving Irvine. UHS alumna Aisha Ross (2013), who now attends University of Hawaii, said that she “still can’t find a place in Hawaii that is as good as Bear Flag.”
Sunday-Monday: 11 AM-8 PM
Tuesday-Saturday: 11 AM-9PM
3421 Via Lido, Newport Beach, CA 92663