Yelp’s best seafood restaurant in Idaho is coming to Meridian. It’s ‘spectacular’
When Yelp named “The Best Seafood in Every State” in the spring, the Idaho winner was a surprise — at least to Boise diners.
Locally owned Pollos y Mariscos El Guero — a Mexican restaurant in Nampa — is far from a household name in Ada County.
But that might change soon.
Expanding east to Meridian, the restaurant’s owner plans to open a second location in the former Quik Wok at 3055. E. Fairview Ave. in a strip mall.
Shortening its name to El Guero #2, the 3,944-square-foot Meridian restaurant will continue to focus heavily on seafood, said Pete Resendez of Montoya Group (Homes of Idaho), who handled the lease for El Guero.
“It’s not your typical Mexican restaurant,” Resendez explained, “where you have carne asada, burritos, tacos. Their strength is the Mexican seafood experience.”
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.’ ”
Pollos y Mariscos El Guero ranks 4.6 out of 5 stars on Google from a whopping 922 reviews. On Yelp, it pulls a 4.4 out of 5 from 128 reviews.
“Pollos y Mariscos El Guero will not be a hidden gem for long if my review and others like it get more attention,” a Yelp reviewer wrote. “Wow! Our visit was spectacular. The service and the menu selections that we picked out were legit.
“The grilled octopus,” the reviewer added, “was a very thumbs up from my wife who is from Jalisco, Mexico, and a very critical eater.”
If this emerging Nampa restaurant is as exceptional as Yelp claims, Pollos y Mariscos El Guero certainly is worth the drive for Boiseans.
And now it’s getting a lot closer. The tentative opening date for El Guero #2 on Fairview is the end of August, Resendez said.
“It’s aggressive,” he said, “but that’s what they’re shooting for.”