This new Boise restaurant serves Mexican — sandwiches? Yep, and it’s ‘awesome’
It’s a good sign when you walk into a new Boise restaurant, and staffers from a restaurant next door are there ordering lunch.
That was the scene Tuesday at El Tesoro’s Tortas and Tacos. The locally owned newcomer recently opened in the former Senor Fresh Mexican Eatery space in a strip mall at 12375 W. Chinden Blvd.
It’s days old. So new that it has a lone Google review: 5 stars. “Very awesome restaurant ... ” it reads. “The tortas are amazing.”
Tortas — aka Mexican sandwiches — are El Tesoro’s menu specialty. That’s certainly not unheard of in Boise. Los Reyes de la Torta food truck, for example, is a familiar sight on Fairview Avenue. Still, El Tesoro’s helps diversify the local food scene.
Granted, waiting for your order next to a person wearing a Guido’s employee T-shirt might make you quiver with thin-crust pizza cravings. No matter. Staring at the al pastor-loaded vertical spit behind El Tesoro’s counter will calm those urges.
El Tesoro’s is small, bright, clean — and a 100% counter-service operation. Food is made to order and comes in plastic foam containers. It falls squarely into the realm of fast-casual, except maybe the “fast” part, for now. I didn’t time my takeout order — and the restaurant was about half full — but it felt like at least 20 minutes for my Al Pastor Torta ($12.99) to materialize.
Still, this is a fledgling eatery. Efficiency will improve. The staff — which included co-owner Leah Venegas at the register — is small. But my Al Pastor Torta was large. The fluffy bun hid a generous amount of marinated pork. El Tesoro’s tortas come with mayonnaise grilled onto the bread, plus grilled onions, an Oaxaca cheese blend, refried beans, tomato and lettuce.
This substantial sandwich was all about the meat. I didn’t notice the beans or cheese much. Once I drizzled on spicy sauce — mild, medium and spicy are available — it was game on. (“Spicy” was not insane-hot, by the way.) It’s shocking how quickly a dude can eviscerate what appears to be a potential gut bomb. If you ingest one of El Tesoro’s tasty tortas for lunch, be warned: You might need a nap.
(Note to editor: Notice how I didn’t get around to writing this until the next day?)
El Tesoro offers 14 different tortas. The cheapest is the vegeterian El Poblano ($11.99): sliced, breaded, deep-fried poblano pepper, grilled peppers and onions. The meatier end of the scale is the omigod-ish Papa Grande ($16.99): breaded steak, breaded chicken, hot dog, ham, chorizo, egg, avocado and housemade chipotle sauce.
Add a fountain drink and fries to any torta for $3.39 (small) to $3.99 (large). El Tesoro also sells bottled Mexican Coke and Jarritos beverages. Alcohol is not available.
El Tesoro also offers half a dozen tacos at $2.99 each, plus a Build-Your-Own Burrito ($9.99), Fajitas Veggie Burrito ($8.99), a Taco Salad ($10.99) and more. There are three desserts: Fried Ice Cream ($5.49), Churro Cake ($6.49) and Sopapillas ($5.99). If you can put down a dessert after devouring a torta, you’re a bigger man than I. Quite literally.
Online ordering, delivery and pickup are on the way soon, El Tesoro’s promises on its website.
Until then? Stroll in, prepare for a little wait while the al pastor gets sliced — and bring an appetite.
