Baja fish tacos, Gulf shrimp and zarandeado fish

Though ranch food dominates the image of the north, its long coastlines on the Pacific/Sea of Cortez and the Gulf of Mexico support a rich seafood tradition. On the Pacific side (Baja California, Sonora, Sinaloa), you get grilled and fried fish tacos, tacos gobernador (shrimp with cheese), marlin tacos, aguachiles and ceviches that feel distinct from those of the south. A standout is pescado zarandeado—butterflied fish marinated and grilled over wood or mangrove coals, a dish with deep roots along the northwest and North Pacific coast.