This is a great place. Easy to get to. Kids loved it. Tasty food. Free dessert for all 3 of us, extra bowl of chips, etc. Chips come with salsa and refried beans to dip in. I ordered one chicken soft taco w/ pork enchelada and rice and beans, and a side of corn tortillas. I ate the taco and enchelada, and put the rice and beans in the tortillas for the kids. Combined with 2 bowls of chips and the desserts, we had more than enough for lunch. Best of all, even with a generous tip I was able to feed the 3 of us lunch for about 12 dollars! Seating was comfortable, staff friendly and attentive, not too busy at 1 PM, bathrooms were clean, and cute Mexican decorations. There is some room for improvement, but rest assured I will be coming back to El Tanampa again, and recommend it for you as well.
(4)
Cathy S.
Wow, what a great surprise! Food came quickly, was hot, spicy and delicious!! The service was fast and friendly.
(4)
Rachel Z.
Food : came out fast... I ordered a chimichanga I ate it all I liked it but not the best I have ever had but good. My husband ordered the Macho Burrito he liked it, says average and good. Service: Friendly staff handled a big group fast. Environment: Wobbly table, a bit hot inside, decor was lively. One Gripe: We brought a printable coupon and the guy was too lazy to redo the group check so we could use it. I took time to print it off before I came. I will definitely not go back because that is crap, and seemed like a totally bogus excuse and he was too lazy. What a rip not to honor a coupon that someone takes time to print off. I feel like they owe me $7... I will go someplace that will honor their coupons.
(2)
ILove Foo D.
At first my hubby and I weren't impressed with the fact that you are charged $2 per any additional chips and salsa and honestly, they aren't worth it to pay for any extra. The salsa is not bad, the slaw concoction is interesting in a good way, and the beans are just too "lardy" and over processed (no texture). When we received our food we realized there isn't even any time to gobble down more than one basket of chips it was delivered so fast! Also, our food came with guacamole without an extra charge or hike in price of the food so to us this evened out any possible extra charges for chips. I had the macho burrito with chicken and overall it was good. The rice and beans on the side were subpar, but I was too busy enjoying my burrito anyways. I've had better chicken at El Gallo Giro and Chapala but this was good. The hubby had the enchiladas rancheros and he enjoyed it without any complaints. Our waiter was very friendly and enthusiastic. From what we overheard in the restaurant it seems this is a place where repeat customers come often. Overall this is a good place and worth stopping in. It's nice to have a decent mexican restaurant closer to home that we can go to. Next time we will try the margaritas - they looked good and seem to be popular. This is definitely the most alcohol based mexican restaurant I've been to in the valley.
(3)
Kim R.
Yummy little place! Staff treats you like family! Their margaritas are wonderful! Try the fajitas, they do not disappoint. My whole family loves this place.
(5)
Amy J.
The food at El Tenampa is as good as any authentic Mexican restaurant in Boise. The food is reasonably priced and the wait staff is always attentive. When you are first seated, you are served the traditional chips and salsa, but also refried beans and something made with cabbage (I don't know what it's called!) It's so good! I like to make a little chip sandwich with the beans and cabbage.
(4)
Eroc D.
Ok, so this is my first review on Yelp, crazy enough. I am from the bay area and used yelp on a daily basis, just never participated as there was enough participation I didn't feel it was necessary. Being from Oakland, finding a good mexican restaurant is very important to me. El Tenampa has been my favorite thus far in the Boise Area. The food has been excellent, margaritas are ok, and service is usually good. Although service has been a little slow at times. Anyways, best mexican food so far in Boise according to me, whatever that is worth :). All Yelpers out there, PARTICIPATE AND SPREAD THE WORD! YELP WILL GROW IN BOISE, HAVE FAITH.
(4)
Vince P.
Really love mexican food, and this was the nest! Great service and cheep!
(4)
Shagen M.
This is a really cute little place in downtown. I was super impressed by the host/server/bartender/cashier!! No joke, one guy did it all and he did it all VERY well. He was so fast I couldn't believe it! On top of it all, he had such a great personality!! The food was pretty good but the beans were very salty. Great chips and salsa!
(4)
Kurt A.
When it comes to Mexican food, there is only one place for our family to go to: El Tenampa in Meridian! We often go after work with the kids and I "kid" you not, the employees can't be any friendlier to mine! Starting with the drinks, we only seem to ever get the Margarita's and that is for one reason, they don't skimp on the alcohol! Very tasty and we just seem to love them. The food is top notch in my book. The re-fried beans are made with plenty of lard in them so they are creamy and tasty as ever. I get one of two dishes: the pork carnitas or the camarones el ajo. They do the pork in such a way that it has a crispy layer that seems to have been done in pork fat and as often as I ask them how they do it, they won't give it up. Good for them because it keeps me coming back! The other dish is the shrimp (camarones al ajo). It has this tasty garlic butter that comes with it and anytime you add butter to shrimp you win outright! You never leave hungry and the people, like I said, are top notch. I can't say enough about this place!
(5)
Aaron T.
If you want delicious authentic mexican food, try the best Mexican restaurant in downtown Meridian. Super friendly and fast service. There is a reason this restaurant has been around downtown for so long. Great tasting food bursting with flavors in every single bite. Give it a try. You won't be sorry
(5)
Desiree C.
Excellent food excellent service very quick! The buffet was yummy!! Most definitely would return if I lived out here!
(5)
eric h.
Good old Mexican food. If you're looking for nice cheesy not super healthy Mexican food, this is a great place.
(4)
Jaws S.
A sit down place to grab Mexican food, ok then. I understand it's a bit more than take out but my family can dine here like twice a year or so. Seriously. We are looking for good, cheap food but this only covers the good part. It's a bit americanized in that the tacos are like taco bell tacos. The rice is good though and I love their chips and salsa app (free) before the meal.
(3)
Johnnie M.
This place was decent. Authentic feel, decent prices, and friendly service. I didn't go at peak time though. If you get your food to go, verify what you get before you leave. I ordered two crispy beef tacos to go. When I got home I discovered that I got chicken enchiladas instead. I still ate them lol but I think I'll skip this place in the future. It was my own fault for not checking but there was only one other group in the restaurant and they already had their food!
(3)
Jill L.
Came in for the first time tonight. We were greeted warmly and brought chips right away. The food was very tasty and they had 2 for 1 draft specials. We will definitely be back soon!!
(4)
Stephanie F.
I seriously love this place! The guy who greets each time is so friendly we are always happy to see him. I recommend the Tuesday night special, two dinners and an app for $20. The Chile Verde is also very good!!
(4)
Genesee P.
We were a little nervous when we showed up and it was empty - but great atmosphere, great service and great food!!! We will definitely come back! 4.5 stars.....
(5)
Jane D.
The staff was SUPER friendly and the place was clean. The food was ok... not something I would recommend to friends but it wasn't gross either.... except the queso...don't get the queso.... Also, it was a bit more expensive than it should have been. An a la carte small enchilada was $5.00 alone. Based on how good the food was to how much the dinner cost, I don't think we'll go back.
(2)
S F.
This place was wonderful! The food was fresh an service was very fast. Our waitress was super nice and she helped us decide on their combinations recommending her favorite items! The chicken and chile relleno was amazing! This location is very understaffed in the evenings... But that shouldn't scare you away. Definitely will go again!
(4)
Jim C.
We are from Portland Oregon, and we first discovered El Tenampa in September 2012. We loved it so much that on our way thru the Boise area the following month, we stopped again. One year later, we are passing thru Idahp again, and made a point to have dinner again at El Tenampa. The service is excellent, the meal authentic, and the drinks nicely mixed. It's a definite stop for us when we are traveling Idaho.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
David L.
This is a great place. Easy to get to. Kids loved it. Tasty food. Free dessert for all 3 of us, extra bowl of chips, etc. Chips come with salsa and refried beans to dip in. I ordered one chicken soft taco w/ pork enchelada and rice and beans, and a side of corn tortillas. I ate the taco and enchelada, and put the rice and beans in the tortillas for the kids. Combined with 2 bowls of chips and the desserts, we had more than enough for lunch. Best of all, even with a generous tip I was able to feed the 3 of us lunch for about 12 dollars! Seating was comfortable, staff friendly and attentive, not too busy at 1 PM, bathrooms were clean, and cute Mexican decorations. There is some room for improvement, but rest assured I will be coming back to El Tanampa again, and recommend it for you as well.
(4)Cathy S.
Wow, what a great surprise! Food came quickly, was hot, spicy and delicious!! The service was fast and friendly.
(4)Rachel Z.
Food : came out fast... I ordered a chimichanga I ate it all I liked it but not the best I have ever had but good. My husband ordered the Macho Burrito he liked it, says average and good. Service: Friendly staff handled a big group fast. Environment: Wobbly table, a bit hot inside, decor was lively. One Gripe: We brought a printable coupon and the guy was too lazy to redo the group check so we could use it. I took time to print it off before I came. I will definitely not go back because that is crap, and seemed like a totally bogus excuse and he was too lazy. What a rip not to honor a coupon that someone takes time to print off. I feel like they owe me $7... I will go someplace that will honor their coupons.
(2)ILove Foo D.
At first my hubby and I weren't impressed with the fact that you are charged $2 per any additional chips and salsa and honestly, they aren't worth it to pay for any extra. The salsa is not bad, the slaw concoction is interesting in a good way, and the beans are just too "lardy" and over processed (no texture). When we received our food we realized there isn't even any time to gobble down more than one basket of chips it was delivered so fast! Also, our food came with guacamole without an extra charge or hike in price of the food so to us this evened out any possible extra charges for chips. I had the macho burrito with chicken and overall it was good. The rice and beans on the side were subpar, but I was too busy enjoying my burrito anyways. I've had better chicken at El Gallo Giro and Chapala but this was good. The hubby had the enchiladas rancheros and he enjoyed it without any complaints. Our waiter was very friendly and enthusiastic. From what we overheard in the restaurant it seems this is a place where repeat customers come often. Overall this is a good place and worth stopping in. It's nice to have a decent mexican restaurant closer to home that we can go to. Next time we will try the margaritas - they looked good and seem to be popular. This is definitely the most alcohol based mexican restaurant I've been to in the valley.
(3)Kim R.
Yummy little place! Staff treats you like family! Their margaritas are wonderful! Try the fajitas, they do not disappoint. My whole family loves this place.
(5)Amy J.
The food at El Tenampa is as good as any authentic Mexican restaurant in Boise. The food is reasonably priced and the wait staff is always attentive. When you are first seated, you are served the traditional chips and salsa, but also refried beans and something made with cabbage (I don't know what it's called!) It's so good! I like to make a little chip sandwich with the beans and cabbage.
(4)Eroc D.
Ok, so this is my first review on Yelp, crazy enough. I am from the bay area and used yelp on a daily basis, just never participated as there was enough participation I didn't feel it was necessary. Being from Oakland, finding a good mexican restaurant is very important to me. El Tenampa has been my favorite thus far in the Boise Area. The food has been excellent, margaritas are ok, and service is usually good. Although service has been a little slow at times. Anyways, best mexican food so far in Boise according to me, whatever that is worth :). All Yelpers out there, PARTICIPATE AND SPREAD THE WORD! YELP WILL GROW IN BOISE, HAVE FAITH.
(4)Vince P.
Really love mexican food, and this was the nest! Great service and cheep!
(4)Shagen M.
This is a really cute little place in downtown. I was super impressed by the host/server/bartender/cashier!! No joke, one guy did it all and he did it all VERY well. He was so fast I couldn't believe it! On top of it all, he had such a great personality!! The food was pretty good but the beans were very salty. Great chips and salsa!
(4)Kurt A.
When it comes to Mexican food, there is only one place for our family to go to: El Tenampa in Meridian! We often go after work with the kids and I "kid" you not, the employees can't be any friendlier to mine! Starting with the drinks, we only seem to ever get the Margarita's and that is for one reason, they don't skimp on the alcohol! Very tasty and we just seem to love them. The food is top notch in my book. The re-fried beans are made with plenty of lard in them so they are creamy and tasty as ever. I get one of two dishes: the pork carnitas or the camarones el ajo. They do the pork in such a way that it has a crispy layer that seems to have been done in pork fat and as often as I ask them how they do it, they won't give it up. Good for them because it keeps me coming back! The other dish is the shrimp (camarones al ajo). It has this tasty garlic butter that comes with it and anytime you add butter to shrimp you win outright! You never leave hungry and the people, like I said, are top notch. I can't say enough about this place!
(5)Aaron T.
If you want delicious authentic mexican food, try the best Mexican restaurant in downtown Meridian. Super friendly and fast service. There is a reason this restaurant has been around downtown for so long. Great tasting food bursting with flavors in every single bite. Give it a try. You won't be sorry
(5)Desiree C.
Excellent food excellent service very quick! The buffet was yummy!! Most definitely would return if I lived out here!
(5)eric h.
Good old Mexican food. If you're looking for nice cheesy not super healthy Mexican food, this is a great place.
(4)Jaws S.
A sit down place to grab Mexican food, ok then. I understand it's a bit more than take out but my family can dine here like twice a year or so. Seriously. We are looking for good, cheap food but this only covers the good part. It's a bit americanized in that the tacos are like taco bell tacos. The rice is good though and I love their chips and salsa app (free) before the meal.
(3)Johnnie M.
This place was decent. Authentic feel, decent prices, and friendly service. I didn't go at peak time though. If you get your food to go, verify what you get before you leave. I ordered two crispy beef tacos to go. When I got home I discovered that I got chicken enchiladas instead. I still ate them lol but I think I'll skip this place in the future. It was my own fault for not checking but there was only one other group in the restaurant and they already had their food!
(3)Jill L.
Came in for the first time tonight. We were greeted warmly and brought chips right away. The food was very tasty and they had 2 for 1 draft specials. We will definitely be back soon!!
(4)Stephanie F.
I seriously love this place! The guy who greets each time is so friendly we are always happy to see him. I recommend the Tuesday night special, two dinners and an app for $20. The Chile Verde is also very good!!
(4)Genesee P.
We were a little nervous when we showed up and it was empty - but great atmosphere, great service and great food!!! We will definitely come back! 4.5 stars.....
(5)Jane D.
The staff was SUPER friendly and the place was clean. The food was ok... not something I would recommend to friends but it wasn't gross either.... except the queso...don't get the queso.... Also, it was a bit more expensive than it should have been. An a la carte small enchilada was $5.00 alone. Based on how good the food was to how much the dinner cost, I don't think we'll go back.
(2)S F.
This place was wonderful! The food was fresh an service was very fast. Our waitress was super nice and she helped us decide on their combinations recommending her favorite items! The chicken and chile relleno was amazing! This location is very understaffed in the evenings... But that shouldn't scare you away. Definitely will go again!
(4)Jim C.
We are from Portland Oregon, and we first discovered El Tenampa in September 2012. We loved it so much that on our way thru the Boise area the following month, we stopped again. One year later, we are passing thru Idahp again, and made a point to have dinner again at El Tenampa. The service is excellent, the meal authentic, and the drinks nicely mixed. It's a definite stop for us when we are traveling Idaho.
(4)