With its lack of coastline, New Mexico is about as far from island living as you can get. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a taste of the tropics. The summer heat’s already here, so it only takes a little imagination and the right setting to create a tropical paradise in the Land of Enchantment.

Your jetlag free, tropical getaway starts the moment you pull up to Sharky’s, a beachy joint that somehow got marooned in Albuquerque!

With its vivid exterior, thatched roof and flip-flops-casual vibe, this food shack would blend in at any beach resort.

In Duke City, it stands out as a laid back escape from the traffic along Central Avenue.

Sure, it would be nicer to eat with a soundtrack of actual waves rather than engine noise but, once you’re tucking into incredible Mexican seafood, it’ll be a lot easier to pretend you’re in Baja!

Sometimes themed restaurants rely on their unique décor to attract diners and let the quality of the food slide. That’s definitely not the case here.

The Mexican dishes are flavor-packed, fresh, and authentic. The only fake things here are the palm trees.

In true beach shack style, you order at a window, then settle down at a shaded picnic table to wait for your food – perfection takes a little time.

Any meal that begins with chile shows promise, so you’ll want to kick your dining experience off with the Chile Caribe. Bacon-wrapped and stuffed with cheese. What’s not to like?

After that, you’ll want to focus on seafood – it’s what Sharky’s is known for. The fish tacos here are scrumptious and many diners agree that they’re the best in Albuquerque.

The shrimp tacos are also popular, while fish or shrimp burritos provide a refreshing change of pace from the regular meat and cheese-centric burritos.

How adorable is this ceviche? It arrives in a little boat and the freshness and taste live up to the plating.

Although this is THE place for seafood, if you’re in the mood for something else, the menu includes quesadillas, and beef and pork tacos and burritos, as well.

The best thing about Sharky’s? The prices. The food is super affordable – even when it comes to oysters – and the weekday deals are a steal. You can score five mini fish tacos for $5!

Sharky’s is located at 5420 Central Avenue SW in Albuquerque.

Its hours are Tuesday through Sunday, from 10:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. (closed Mondays). Check out the latest specials here.

Have you slipped into island time at Sharky's yet?

You may also be interested in these other Mexican restaurants that dish up divine meals throughout our state.