The Machu Pichu at Red Onion Seafood & Mas.: 29-95

These light, fresh-tasting dishes make the perfect meal on a hot day.

With more than a dozen ceviches on its menu, Cafe Red Onion Seafood & Mas is a must visit for fans of marinated fish dishes. Try the Machu Pichu, an artistic combination of flounder, octopus, sweet potato, red onion, cilantro and Andean corn.

Several of the Mexican seafood spots along Airline offer humble takes on ceviche. We're fans of the version at Golden Seafood. It is fresh tasting, budget friendly and the restaurant's atmosphere is most festive.

Oporto Cafe's Salada do Mar with its shrimp, scallops, calamari and avocado in a lemon vinaigrette is among our favorite tapas plates.

Coctel de camaron at Ostioneria Puerto Vallarta: 29-95
I'm a sucker for giant soupy shrimp cocktails like the one served at Ostioneria Puerto Vallarta. A couple of shots of Tabasco and it's good to go.

Beaver's seafood campechana is a spicy stew of shrimp and blue crab served with a sampling of guacamole and crunchy (some would say too thick) chips.

The Mexican version of the seafood cocktail, campechana also is a specialty of Goode Company Seafood. Order the Extra version for a combination of shrimp and crab.

A spritz of fresh lime juice is the only thing that can improve on Pappasito's cilantro-spiked ceviche. Well, maybe a watermelon margarita can help it, too. Hit the bar at Little Pappasito's off Kirby at happy hour and you'll find a swell price on both.

And for a more Peruvian (vs. tomato-y Mexican-inspired) ceviche, try the Ceviche Mixto at Pollo Bravo. While it has cilantro, the seafood also is mixed with colorful confetti of corn, onion and sweet potato.