Meet the owners

Owners Ruben and Rocio Pedraza opened the first Treasure Valley El Tenampa location — in Nampa —  in 1993, and have since expanded, with El Tenampas now feeding hungry customers in Boise and Meridian.

"Sometimes it feels like yesterday and sometimes it feels like 20 years," Ruben told me recently in the eatery's colorful and fully stocked bar.

With the struggling economy, business has been down a bit lately, and Ruben  said it's hard to see other Mexican restaurants close their doors locally. But he stays positive.

The vibe

Walking through the front doors, you're hit immediately with a barrage of bright and inviting color nearly everywhere you look.

Many of the chairs, benches and tables — some adorned in bright green with exotic animals on them — as well as some of the tile, come directly from Guadalajara, Mexico. It made, sense as Ruben, explained that they try to provide their customers with an inviting Mexican hacienda-type environment.

The bar, which is equipped to serve much more than just margaritas, and patio add to the size of the restaurant, which seems deceivingly small from the road in Nampa.

The food

El Tenampa has been recognized for its excellent service and quality authentic Mexican food in a letter from the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs. And in my personal opinion, the honor is quite deserved.

On top of typical dishes that you'd expect of any Mexican restaurant — enchiladas, chimichangas, tacos and tamales — the massive menu features quite a range of seafood choices.

"It makes a difference," Ruben told me. "And our chile relleno is unique as well."

The restaurant is also working on catering services, and people can also make reservations for Christmas banquets.

After scanning the menu and eying the tasty looking margaritas, I was already sending a text message to my girlfriend by the time I was ready to leave.

Hopefully we'll be paying a visit to the Boise location soon.

Popular dishes

• Banderillas — Sliced steak, tomato, onions, peppers and mushrooms on a stick, then charcoal broiled. Covered with salsa ranchera and served with tortillas, guacamole and sour cream — $10.95
• Molcajete (good for two or more people) — Chorizo, grilled steak, nopales (cactus), melted cheese, grilled chicken, rice, beans and sour cream and guacamole and tortillas — $29.95
• Camarones Colima — Prawns prepared with bell peppers, bacon, onions, celery and carrots with "Mexican sauce," covered in Monterey cheese. Served with sour cream and guacamole and rice and beans — $11.75