Best seafood in Idaho? Not in Boise, Yelp says, but close — and ‘spectacular’
When it comes to seafood, Idaho is what it is.
Landlocked.
And not alone. Plenty of other states are hundreds of miles away from the nearest ocean. That doesn’t stop diners from seeking out not-quite-fresh, still-delicious seafood.
Or Yelp from naming “The Best Seafood in Every State.”
In the Treasure Valley, some of the elite choices might seem obvious. Chandlers in Boise. Coa del Mar in Eagle. (I’ll order the bouillabaisse every time.) Maybe even a Northwest-based chain such as Anthony’s in Boise?
Or how about not in Boise at all?
In a somewhat shocking selection of best in Idaho, Yelp has hyped a Mexican restaurant that will be unfamiliar to the majority of Boiseans.
Its name? Pollos y Mariscos El Guero.
Address? 1204 12th Ave. South — in Nampa.
I have never eaten at Pollos y Mariscos El Guero. But I am officially intrigued.
In the recent article, Yelp wrote that “this ‘authentic ‘coastal-style’ Mexican’ spot outside of Boise is ‘consistently wonderful,’ according to local fans. Seafood specialties include several kinds of ‘awesome’ ceviche, jalapenos stuffed with crab and wrapped in bacon, and a generous shrimp cocktail that’s a ‘meal in itself.’
“Adventurous eaters should try the Medusa, a platter of fried shrimp and giant octopus tentacles with a spicy sauce, which is ‘a seafood lover’s heaven.’ It’s all served in a small, casual dining room by staff who ‘make you feel like family.’ ”
If you peruse other online reviews, you’ll quickly discover that the love appears to be real. “This place is a hole in the wall, in a good way,” one Google reviewer wrote.
Pollos y Mariscos El Guero ranks 4.6 out of 5.0 stars on Google from a whopping 894 reviews. Impressive.
On Yelp, it pulls a 4.4 out of 5.0.
“Pollos y Mariscos El Guero will not be a hidden gem for long if my review and others like it get more attention,” a recent Yelp reviewer wrote. “Wow! Our visit was spectacular. The service and the menu selections that we picked out were legit.
“The grilled octopus,” he added, “was a very thumbs up from my wife who is from Jalisco, Mexico, and a very critical eater.”
What do you think, Boise?
Worth the drive to see if this under-the-radar Nampa joint measures up as Idaho’s best seafood?
This story was originally published April 11, 2025 at 4:00 AM.