Taco del Mar Catering: Fish Tacos, Burrito Bowls & Build-Your-Own Taco Bars for the Office

Taco del Mar is the Baja-coastal Mexican chain built on a simple idea almost no other office caterer in its lane delivers: fresh, build-your-own Mexican food with a beach-shack soul, scaled into a spread your whole team can customize. The name means “taco of the sea,” and the brand made its bones on the Baja fish taco, crispy white fish, crunchy cabbage, and a bright crema folded into a soft tortilla. Around that namesake sits a deep menu of burritos, bowls, tacos, nachos, and salads, all built from the same lineup of proteins, beans, rice, and salsas. For an office that wants Mexican everyone can make their own way, Taco del Mar is the coastal-fresh spread built for it.

For catering, that fast-casual menu scales into build-your-own taco and burrito bars, mini-burrito platters, and individual boxed meals. A protein-and-base format means each attendee builds the plate they want, from a carnitas burrito to a vegetarian rice-and-bean bowl to the signature fish tacos, off one order. Founded on June 8, 1992, on Seattle’s historic Pier 57 waterfront by brothers James and John Schmidt, who took inspiration from the simple beach eats of southern Baja, Taco del Mar grew from a single Pacific Northwest taco shack into a recognizable coastal-Mexican name. The fresh, customizable, build-your-own Baja format is exactly what sets it apart from the rest of the office catering field.

Origin Story

Taco del Mar opened on June 8, 1992, on Pier 57 in Seattle’s historic waterfront district. The founders were brothers James and John Schmidt, who came back from college travels through southern Baja, Mexico with a craving for the region’s simple, fresh beach-shack food: grilled and fried fish folded into soft tortillas, crunchy cabbage, bright crema, and a squeeze of lime. They wanted to bring that easygoing coastal-Mexican experience back to the Pacific Northwest, and the first Taco del Mar was built around it. The name, “taco of the sea,” pointed straight at the Baja fish taco that became the brand’s signature.

The beach-shack concept caught on fast in Seattle, and the brothers began franchising in 1996 to expand across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Through the late 1990s and 2000s the brand grew into one of the most recognizable coastal-Mexican names in the region, carrying the same relaxed, seaside-themed feel and the same Baja-inspired menu to every new market. The fish tacos, the made-to-order burritos, and the “Live Baja” attitude traveled with it.

The chain has changed hands several times since and now runs as a focused, regionally concentrated group of restaurants anchored in the markets where the Baja-coastal brand is strongest. The kitchens still build tacos, burritos, and bowls to order from the same lineup of proteins and fresh toppings, and the catering program brings that customizable, build-your-own Mexican format to offices and events. The fresh, coastal-Baja heritage is the structural difference that separates Taco del Mar from the sub shops, bakeries, and boxed-lunch chains in the office catering category.

What Makes Taco del Mar a Good Fit for Office Catering

Three things set Taco del Mar apart for an office catering order. The first is the build-your-own Mexican format itself. A taco or burrito bar with a lineup of proteins, beans, rice, tortillas, and fresh salsas lets every attendee assemble exactly the plate they want, from a loaded carnitas burrito to a light fish-taco-and-salad combination. Mexican is one of the most universally liked cuisines, and the make-your-own setup turns a single order into something a mixed office can all get behind. It is the interactive, customizable format that a pre-plated tray cannot match.

The second is how cleanly that menu covers a wide range of dietary needs in one order. The protein lineup spans chicken tinga, pulled-pork carnitas, and seasoned ground beef alongside plant-based chorizo for vegan eaters and a vegetarian rice-and-beans base. Corn tortillas and bowl builds give gluten-free attendees a clear path, and many builds are easily made dairy-free by skipping the cheese and crema. Where a lot of caterers treat dietary coverage as an afterthought, Taco del Mar bakes it into the core menu, so one spread feeds the carnivores, the vegetarians, the vegans, and the gluten-free crowd without separate orders.

The third is the namesake Baja fish taco and the fresh, coastal character it brings to the whole spread. Crispy white fish, crunchy cabbage, pico, and a bright sauce in a soft tortilla is the dish that started the brand, and it gives a Taco del Mar order a lighter, beachier feel than the heavier Tex-Mex many offices default to. Combined with the made-to-order burritos and the deep menu of recognizable Mexican classics, the coastal-Baja freshness is what makes a Taco del Mar spread feel like a trip to the beach rather than a generic delivery. For an office that wants its Mexican catering to feel fresh and a little fun, the build-your-own Baja format is one of the most reliable picks in the category.

Menu Highlights

• Burritos. The heart of the menu and a centerpiece of most catering orders. Generously sized flour-tortilla burritos are built to order with your choice of protein, rice, beans, cheese, and salsas, from a hearty carnitas-and-bean build to a lighter chicken-and-veggie wrap. The big “Mondo” style burrito is the brand’s signature scale.
• Baja Fish Tacos. The namesake and the dish the brand was founded on. White fish, crisp cabbage, pico de gallo, and a bright sauce folded into a soft tortilla. Fresh, light, and coastal, the fish taco is the signature that sets Taco del Mar apart from heavier Tex-Mex.
• Tacos. Soft and crispy tacos built with the full protein lineup and fresh toppings, from classic seasoned-beef crunchy tacos to soft chicken-tinga street-style tacos.
• Burrito & Baja Bowls. The tortilla-free build for lower-carb and gluten-free eaters: rice, beans, protein, and toppings layered in a bowl. The clean, customizable base that anchors the dietary-friendly end of the menu.
• Nachos & Quesadillas. Shareable, crowd-pleasing options. Loaded nachos with seasoned beef, beans, cheese, and salsas, plus cheese-and-protein quesadillas, round out a bigger spread.
• Taco Salads & Enchiladas. A crisp taco salad for the lighter end of the lineup and saucy, baked enchiladas for a heartier, sit-down-style option.
• Proteins. The build-your-own backbone: chicken tinga, pulled-pork carnitas, seasoned ground beef, plant-based chorizo for vegan eaters, and a vegetarian rice-and-beans base. The protein range is what lets one order cover a whole mixed office.
• Sides, Salsas & Toppings. Guacamole, pico de gallo, salsas across heat levels, queso, sour cream, Mexican rice, beans, and tortilla chips. The fresh-topping bar is what makes the build-your-own format work.

Catering Formats Available

Taco del Mar catering organizes around a few formats, each with a different best-fit office use case. Specific package sizes, serving counts, and exact item availability vary by location.

What makes the format mix work at office scale: the build-your-own taco and burrito bar is the workhorse drop because it feeds a room from one spread and lets every diet self-serve, since the proteins, beans, rice, and salsas are all set out and each attendee builds their own plate. The mini burrito platter is the clean grab-and-go choice for working lunches and meetings. The individual boxed meal is the right call for hybrid teams and allergen-aware rooms where each attendee needs their own labeled portion. Across all of them, the made-to-order Baja-Mexican menu and the fresh-topping lineup are the centerpieces, and the build-your-own bar is what lets one Taco del Mar order satisfy a whole mixed team.

The Fish Tacos and the Coastal-Baja Wedge

The Baja fish taco is the dish Taco del Mar was built on, and it is the one that distinguishes the brand from the rest of the office Mexican catering category. Here is how it is built, why the coastal-fresh format matters, and how to think about it as a catering centerpiece.

The build. A Taco del Mar fish taco starts with seasoned white fish, tucked into a soft tortilla with crunchy shredded cabbage, fresh pico de gallo, and a bright, creamy sauce. It is light, fresh, and a little beachy, the kind of taco you would get from a shack on the Baja coast rather than a heavy Tex-Mex plate. For a catering spread, the fish tacos bring a lighter option that balances the heartier burritos and nachos.

Fresh, coastal, and build-your-own, which is the wedge. This is the brand’s structural difference. Where much of the office Mexican catering field leans on heavy, cheese-blanketed Tex-Mex, Taco del Mar brings a fresher, coastal-Baja sensibility and a fully customizable, made-to-order format. The proteins, salsas, and toppings are set out so each attendee builds their own plate, which is exactly what you want when one order has to satisfy a whole mixed office. For the do-it-yourself version of the same shareable idea, see our build-your-own taco bar guide.

The coastal character. The fish taco, the “Live Baja” attitude, and the bright, fresh toppings give a Taco del Mar order a lighter, sunnier feel than the average office Mexican spread. In a catering setting, that freshness is the small touch that elevates a tray of burritos into something that feels like a trip to the coast.

The catering scale-up. The Baja-Mexican menu scales cleanly across the catering lineup. As a build-your-own taco and burrito bar, the proteins and toppings spread across a self-serve buffet. As mini burrito platters, the menu becomes a handheld grab-and-go. As individual boxed meals, each attendee gets a complete burrito, taco set, or bowl, which is the clean format for hybrid teams and conferences. One brand, one made-to-order Baja kitchen, several ways to serve a room.

Dietary considerations. A build-your-own Mexican menu has natural range across diets. Vegan eaters can build with the plant-based chorizo or the rice-and-beans base; vegetarians have beans, rice, cheese, guacamole, and the full salsa bar; gluten-free attendees can go with corn tortillas or a tortilla-free bowl; and dairy-free builds simply skip the cheese, queso, and crema. As always, confirm ingredient details, gluten-free handling, and cross-contact protocols with the specific catering location when ordering.

The Build-Your-Own Bar and the Protein Lineup

The build-your-own bar is the format most office managers anchor a Taco del Mar order around, and the protein lineup is what makes it work for a mixed room. Each option fits a different slice of the team.

Chicken Tinga. Shredded chicken simmered in a smoky, lightly spiced tomato-and-chipotle sauce. The crowd-pleasing, middle-of-the-road protein that works in everything from a soft taco to a burrito to a bowl, and the safe anchor for a mixed office crowd.

Pulled-Pork Carnitas. Slow-cooked, tender pulled pork, the heartier, richer pick for the burrito-and-nachos crowd that wants a more indulgent plate.

Seasoned Ground Beef. The classic crunchy-taco and nacho protein, familiar and universally liked, and the one most attendees reach for first at a build-your-own bar.

Plant-Based Chorizo. The vegan protein built into the core menu. Spiced, satisfying, and a real option rather than an afterthought, it lets vegan attendees build a full burrito or bowl off the same bar as everyone else.

Vegetarian Rice and Beans. The meat-free base of rice, beans, cheese, guacamole, and the salsa bar covers vegetarian eaters cleanly and doubles as the gluten-free and dairy-free foundation when you adjust the toppings.

The fresh-topping bar. What ties the proteins together is the lineup of guacamole, pico de gallo, salsas across heat levels, queso, sour cream, cheese, Mexican rice, beans, and tortilla chips. The topping bar is what turns a tray of proteins into a true build-your-own spread, and it is the difference between a Taco del Mar order and a stack of pre-made burritos from a generic Mexican vendor.

Who It’s Ideal For

How to Order Taco del Mar Catering

Taco del Mar catering runs through the brand’s online ordering platform, with catering-enabled locations handling larger events. The sequence:

1. Go to the Taco del Mar catering page. The catering link is on tacodelmar.com, and online catering orders route through the brand’s ordering platform. For bigger or more custom events, the catering-enabled location can help build the spread.
2. Enter your delivery address or pickup ZIP. The platform routes you to the catering-enabled Taco del Mar nearest your office. Format availability and exact package sizes can differ between locations, since the footprint is a focused, regionally concentrated chain.
3. Pick your date and time window. Many locations welcome same-day or next-day catering orders, but for larger events and full build-your-own bars, give the kitchen extra lead time so it can prep enough proteins, tortillas, and toppings.
4. Choose your format. Pick from a build-your-own taco and burrito bar, mini burrito platters, individual boxed meals (a complete burrito, taco set, bowl, or salad per attendee), or an a la carte build of sides and add-ons.
5. Select your proteins and builds. Choose across chicken tinga, carnitas, ground beef, plant-based chorizo, and the vegetarian rice-and-beans base. For a mixed room, offer at least one vegan and one vegetarian option alongside the meat proteins, and include corn tortillas or bowls for gluten-free eaters.
6. Add sides, salsas, and beverages. Round out the spread with chips and salsa, guacamole, queso, nachos, and beverages as add-ons where available.
7. Add logistics and check out. For delivery, add building access notes, floor or suite number, and a contact phone number. Delivery is available on qualifying orders and includes set-up at many locations. For recurring corporate orders, ask the location whether they offer a standing arrangement.

What’s included: Taco del Mar catering orders typically arrive with serving utensils, and build-your-own bars come with the proteins, tortillas, and toppings set out for self-serve. Individual boxed meals arrive pre-packaged per attendee. Confirm exactly what serviceware and set-up is included with your location when you order.

For a streamlined experience across many caterers, order through Zerocater. Taco del Mar on Zerocater shows the catering menu alongside hundreds of other vetted caterers in one place, which is useful when you are rotating Mexican into the lunch schedule, building a multi-vendor catering program, or consolidating an ongoing meal program onto one invoice.

Delivery, Pickup & Lead Times

Note on location variability: Taco del Mar is a focused, regionally concentrated chain, so catering format availability, package sizes, menu options, and exact lead times can differ between locations. For recurring corporate orders, identify a catering-enabled location near your office that you have had a clean experience with and stick with that store. For how this kind of variability shapes lunch catering planning in general, the office manager’s guide to ordering catering covers the operational pattern.

Pros and Cons of Taco del Mar Catering

What Works Well

• Build-your-own format pleases a mixed room. A taco and burrito bar lets every attendee assemble their own plate, which makes Taco del Mar the safe, satisfying pick for a mixed office where the food has to work for everyone.
• Outstanding dietary coverage in one order. Plant-based chorizo for vegans, a rice-and-beans base for vegetarians, corn tortillas and bowls for gluten-free eaters, and easy dairy-free builds mean one spread covers the whole team without separate orders.
• The Baja fish taco is a fresh, memorable signature. The namesake fish taco brings a lighter, coastal feel that sets Taco del Mar apart from heavy Tex-Mex and gives the spread a sunnier character.
• Made-to-order, fresh-topping kitchen. Proteins, tortillas, and salsas built to order with a full fresh-topping bar is the difference between a Taco del Mar spread and a stack of pre-made burritos from a generic vendor.
• Format flexibility. The same brand delivers a self-serve build-your-own bar, grab-and-go mini burrito platters, and individual boxed meals for hybrid teams, so one caterer covers several event types.
• Universally liked cuisine. Mexican is one of the most broadly popular catering cuisines, which makes Taco del Mar a low-risk pick for an all-hands or celebration lunch.
• Casual, fun, and interactive. The build-your-own bar turns lunch into a small event, which lands well for team gatherings and celebrations.
• Lighter coastal options. Fish tacos, bowls, and salads give the spread a lighter end that many heavier Mexican caterers cannot match.

What Falls Short

• Footprint is concentrated. Taco del Mar is a focused, regionally concentrated chain anchored in the Pacific Northwest, so offices outside those markets may not have a local store within delivery radius.
• Not the pick for a formal, plated meal. The casual build-your-own format is the brand’s strength, but for a white-tablecloth client dinner, a plated caterer is a better fit.
• Hot proteins and tortillas are best served promptly. The made-to-order items peak fresh and warm. For a long buffet window, plan for them to be at their best early in service.
• Breakfast is not the brand’s lane. Taco del Mar is a lunch-and-dinner Mexican concept, so morning-meeting catering calls for a different vendor.
• Build-your-own bars need a little setup. A self-serve bar takes counter space and a few minutes to lay out, so for a tightly packed conference room, the individual boxed meals are the cleaner choice.
• Quality varies by location. As a multi-unit chain, two Taco del Mar locations can deliver different consistency. Identify a clean-experience location and stick with it.
• Mexican fatigue in heavy rotation. A taco bar is a treat once or twice a month. Programs ordering weekly will want to rotate Taco del Mar with sandwich, salad, and other formats to keep the lineup varied.
• Not an upscale or premium spread. The brand is fresh and casual by design, so for an event that needs to signal a step up in formality, a different caterer fits better.

Taco del Mar vs. Other Mexican Catering

The office Mexican catering category has more contenders than most office managers realize. Here is how Taco del Mar stacks up against three of the most-compared fast-casual Mexican peers for office orders.

Chipotle is the closest mass-market peer, the clean-ingredient build-your-own option for a big casual crowd. Use Chipotle when broad familiarity and a simple ingredient list are the brief; use Taco del Mar when the fresher coastal-Baja feel, the fish tacos, and the deeper dietary range are what the event calls for. For the alternatives landscape in this lane, see our Chipotle catering alternatives guide.

Qdoba is the queso-forward fast-casual peer, leaning on its 3-cheese queso and loaded nachos. Use Qdoba when an indulgent, cheesy spread is the goal; use Taco del Mar when you want a lighter, coastal sensibility and the signature fish taco. The Qdoba catering alternatives guide covers that comparison set.

Moe’s Southwest Grill is the Tex-Mex peer built around free chips and salsa and a big topping bar for a festive, share-everything vibe. Use Moe’s when a chips-heavy Tex-Mex party is the brief; use Taco del Mar when the fresher Baja format and the broader vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free coverage matter more.

Taco del Mar and Zerocater

Taco del Mar is part of Zerocater’s network of hundreds of vetted catering partners. Zerocater pairs teams with the right caterer for each event, handles delivery logistics, and provides ongoing support. Mix Taco del Mar with complementary caterers for variety across the week or across an all-day event.

Offices rotate build-your-own Mexican spreads with sub, salad, bowl, and other catering formats to keep weekly lineups balanced. For the broader catering landscape, the office manager’s guide to ordering catering covers the full format mix; the board meeting catering guide covers the executive-lunch end; and the tech company catering guide covers the all-day, kickoff-heavy event landscape where a build-your-own taco bar lands well.

Planning an event and not sure which menu fits? CaterAi builds custom menus based on your headcount, budget, dietary needs, and date. Chat with CaterAi to adjust items, add onsite staff or decor, and check out in minutes. For recurring meal programs, our corporate catering solution handles vendor rotation and delivery without requiring you to re-order each week.

Because Taco del Mar is a build-your-own, dietary-friendly brand, it pairs naturally with the interactive-bar and dietary catering guides. See our build-your-own taco bar guide for the do-it-yourself version of the same shareable-Mexican idea, and our vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and mixed-dietary catering guides for the dietary-planning angle that a build-your-own Mexican bar handles especially well.

Comparing Vendor Spotlight peers across the network? Read our deep dives on Jersey Mike’s catering, WaBa Grill catering, Romano’s Macaroni Grill catering, Capriotti’s catering, Paris Baguette catering, Playa Bowls catering, and Duck Donuts catering. For brand-guide comparisons in the Mexican lane, see our Chipotle and Qdoba catering alternatives guides.

For office catering in Taco del Mar’s home Seattle market and other metros, browse the city listicles for Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Denver. The Seattle, Los Angeles, and Denver office catering cost guides cover the local market context.

For Mexican and taco partners across Zerocater’s network, browse the Mexican catering directory and name-drop partners like West Coast Tacos in Bellevue and La Costenita Cuisine in Seattle for the Pacific Northwest; Bayshore Taqueria, Underdogs Cantina, and El Pipila in San Francisco; Vida Modern Mexican and Matty’s Mexican Kitchen in the Los Angeles area; Tia’s Taqueria and Renegade Burrito in the Denver area; and across other metros, El Rey Tacos and Lupe’s Mexican Kitchen in NYC, Tio Luis Tacos in Chicago, El Xolo Tacos in Austin, and El Jefe’s Taqueria in Cambridge for a multi-market Mexican rotation.

Menus, pricing, package sizes, item availability, and catering formats vary by location and change over time. For the current Taco del Mar catering menu and a live quote in your area, check Taco del Mar on Zerocater.

Plan Your Office Catering with CaterAi

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Taco del Mar catering priced?

Taco del Mar catering is priced by format. Build-your-own taco and burrito bars are typically priced per person or per package, so cost scales with headcount. Mini burrito platters are priced per platter, and individual boxed meals are priced per box. Sides like chips, salsa, guacamole, and queso, plus extra protein trays, price a la carte. Taco del Mar sits in the value-to-mid fast-casual tier, more of an everyday team-lunch spread than a premium catered meal. Pricing varies by location, so check the catering platform for your nearest Taco del Mar for a live quote.

What is Taco del Mar’s signature catering format?

The build-your-own taco and burrito bar is Taco del Mar’s signature catering format. The proteins, rice, beans, tortillas, salsas, and toppings are set out buffet-style so each attendee assembles their own tacos, burritos, or bowls. The format feeds a mixed room from one spread and lets every diet self-serve. Taco del Mar also offers mini burrito platters for grab-and-go and individual boxed meals that pair a complete entree with sides, for teams that want a pre-portioned option.

Does Taco del Mar cater individual boxed meals?

Yes. Alongside the build-your-own bars and mini burrito platters, Taco del Mar offers individual boxed meals, each a complete burrito, taco set, bowl, or taco salad with sides. The boxed format is the clean choice for hybrid teams, conferences, board meetings, and any event where each attendee needs their own labeled portion rather than serving themselves from a bar. Confirm the exact box contents and customization options with your specific catering location at order time.

Does Taco del Mar offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free catering options?

Yes, and dietary coverage is one of Taco del Mar’s strengths. Vegan eaters can build with the plant-based chorizo or a rice-and-beans base; vegetarians have beans, rice, cheese, guacamole, and the full salsa bar; gluten-free attendees can choose corn tortillas or a tortilla-free bowl; and dairy-free builds simply skip the cheese, queso, and crema. Because the menu is build-your-own, one order can cover the carnivores, vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free crowd at once. As with any caterer, confirm ingredient details, gluten-free handling, and cross-contact protocols with your specific location when ordering.

How far in advance should I order Taco del Mar catering?

Many Taco del Mar locations welcome same-day or next-day catering orders, which makes the brand a useful option when plans come together late. That said, for larger events with full build-your-own bars and high headcounts, give the kitchen extra lead time, ideally a day or more, so it can prep enough proteins, tortillas, and toppings. The catering platform shows the earliest available delivery slot for your specific address. For recurring corporate orders, ask the location about setting up a standing arrangement.

How does Taco del Mar catering compare to Chipotle, Qdoba, or Moe’s?

Taco del Mar is the Baja-coastal Mexican option, with a fresh, customizable build-your-own bar, the signature fish tacos, and deep vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free coverage. Chipotle is the clean-ingredient mass-market peer for a big casual crowd. Qdoba leans on its queso and loaded nachos for an indulgent spread. Moe’s is the Tex-Mex pick built around free chips and salsa and a big topping bar. Choose Taco del Mar when you want a fresher coastal feel, the fish tacos, and the broadest dietary range in one order.

What types of office events is Taco del Mar catering best for?

Taco del Mar catering fits all-hands lunches, team meals, working lunches, celebrations, training sessions, and any casual event where customization and variety matter. The build-your-own bars are ideal for buffet-style group lunches where everyone makes their own plate, and the individual boxed meals suit hybrid teams and conferences where each attendee needs a labeled portion. It is less suited to breakfast events, small two-to-three-person meetings, formal plated client dinners, and occasions that call for an upscale, white-tablecloth presentation.

What makes Taco del Mar a good fit for office catering?

Taco del Mar built its catering around a fresh, build-your-own Baja-Mexican format rather than a heavy pre-plated tray. The proteins, tortillas, and salsas are set out so each attendee builds their own plate, the menu covers vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free needs in a single order, and the namesake fish taco brings a lighter coastal feel that sets it apart from heavy Tex-Mex. For an office that wants Mexican catering that is fresh, customizable, and genuinely covers a mixed room, Taco del Mar’s build-your-own format is one of the most reliable picks in the category.

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