Popular SLO County fish taco stand is closing after 2 decades
Weekends will never be the same in Cayucos after Jan. 5.
That’s when Ruddell’s Smokehouse, the tiny take-out restaurant known for its smoked fish tacos, is scheduled to close after two decades of serving hungry beachgoers.
“We have made the incredibly difficult decision to close Ruddell’s Smokehouse (store and food truck),” Rose Ruddell, daughter of late founder Jim “Smoker Jim” Ruddell, posted on the eatery’s Facebook page on Sunday. “The historic building at 101 D St. will be coming down.”
“We want to thank everyone for 20 years of incredible support,” Rose Ruddell wrote. “This decision was not made lightly, and we recognize that this is not only a huge change for us but for our community as well.”
Jim Ruddell’s widow, Kathleen Ruddell, wrote via email that the business is for sale, but would have to relocate due to the upcoming demolition of the building.
According to Jim Ruddell’s 2018 obituary, the U.S. Army sergeant traveled the world before marrying his wife in 1988 and buying a Morro Bay home in 1995. After inheriting a smoker from a cousin, Jim Ruddell sold smoked fish from his truck by the side of the road as his 4-year-old daughter sold brownies.
Ruddell’s Smokehouse opened in 2001 about a block from the Cayucos Pier and across from the sandy shores of Cayucos State Beach. It was a popular draw for diners on the south end of the Cayucos business district.
The eatery’s 250-square-foot building was barely big enough for Jim Ruddell and his enthusiastic personality, but he, his family and staff created food that was the stuff of local culinary legends.
As The Tribune reported in 2018, enthusiastic word of mouth helped, too.
Ruddell’s Smokehouse earned recognition in publications including the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Cook’s Country, Eating Well and Sunset magazine. It even earned the attention of celebrity chef and Food Network personality Bobby Flay.
In 2016, Los Angeles Times writer Chris Erskine asserted that Ruddell’s Smokehouse served “the best fish taco ever. Yes, ever.”
The restaurant’s offerings range from a smoked salmon taco with apple slaw to smoked yellow tail dip served with hot, seasoned flour tortillas. The smokehouse also offered a hefty smoked chicken sandwich.
News of the restaurant’s upcoming closure prompted expressions of sorrow from fans and at least one competitor — Giovanni deGarimore of Giovanni’s Fish Market and Galley and Giovanni’s Take-Out Express in Morro Bay.
“It’s always sad to see the end of an era, especially when it’s a family-owned company,” de Garimore wrote via text Monday.
“For such a small location, (Ruddell’s) certainly had a mighty following,” he added. “Many of my customers mentioned how much they just love their tacos.”
In the Facebook post, Rose Ruddell encouraged customers to come and visit us over (the) next few months and enjoy our unique food!”
For now, she said, the restaurant will continue to be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. “Please stay tuned for hours as we get closer to our closing date,” Ruddell wrote.
For more information, go to facebook.com/ruddellssmokehouse.
This story was originally published October 18, 2021 at 11:55 AM.
