When it comes to restaurants, location is everything.  It can make a joint successful or just keep it in stasis.  However, it doesn’t always have to be that stringent, there are several grey areas. “El Marinero” in Norwalk seems to fall along that grey area, making its placement something to think about. Situated right in front of Cerritos College, on the corner of Alondra and Studebaker, it’s easy to miss thanks to the gas stations and convenience stores surrounding it, not to mention the fact that from the outside the place seems to be half the size of a 7-Eleven. While there’s a sign outside, it’s still easy to miss; just know that it’s right in between CVS and the Student Bookstore.

Looks lie

Expecting to find yet another cozy minuscule hole-in-the-wall, to my surprise “El Marinero” is everything but small.  It literally blew my mind away when I saw the size of this place. 

Its Mexican old hacienda décor gives the place a home-feel to it, which makes it comfortable.  There are several booths and you can sit pretty much wherever you please.

Camarón que se duerme…

Even though they have the typical must-have items pretty much every Mexican food restaurant has on their menu, at “El Marinero” seafood is definitely the highlight of the menu, hence the name “El Marinero”.

I usually grab a bite with a buddy or two; this time around I went with my usual partner in crime and a friend.  Only a couple of minutes into looking at the menu we decided on sharing a couple of dishes:  “enchiladas de camarón”, “camarones a la diabla”, “cocktail de camarón” and “tostadas de ceviche”- more than enough food for three people.  As our server was leaving, one of my friends called her up and ordered some “ostiones”.  I was in shock.

If there’s something I can’t stand are ostiones.  Especially after a really bad food intoxication incident with ostiones at a seafood restaurant whose name shall remain a secret.  After the ostiones ordeal at that place that left me in bed for a whole weekend, just hearing “ostiones” made me queasy. 

When the “appetizer” arrived my friends quickly dug and enjoyed their ostiones, after all, our server had told them “que estaban fresquecitos”.  They tried pressuring me into having at least one, but you know that ostiones are not the most appetizing things to look at. I decided to pass on the ostiones; but from what I was told, apparently they where indeed delicious and fresh.  

Shrimp extravaganza

As soon as our food arrived we realized we had gone shrimp crazy. We began with the “tostadas de ceviche”, and while everything was nice and fresh, there was just a bit too much onion, so before ordering it you might want to ask them to take it easy on the cebolla.

El “cocktail de camarón” was really good, but just like the “tostada de ceviche” it had a bit too much onion, other than that it was refreshingly good.

The “enchiladas de camarón” on the other hand were superb.  They were covered in green sauce and where jam-packed with shrimp, unlike other places that throw in only about three camaroncitos.  It comes with rice, beans and salad.  Props to the rice which has a very strong home-made flavor to it.

The “camarones a la diabla” couldn’t have been better.  For once, the salsa they where simmered in made honor to its name. Again, there was plenty of shrimp.  One thing to consider when ordering this dish is that you may want to specify “camarones a la diabla sin cola”, or else they are served with everything and it can get a bit messy.  

Closer to you

If you live or work near the Norwalk area, “El Marinero” is a decent spot to satisfy your appetite for mariscos.  The food not only is it fresh but it also has a home-made taste to it. 

Now, if you like some alcohol along with your mariscos you might want to stick to beer.  Even though they serve your typical margaritas and piña coladas, it’s better if you skip those… stick to cerveza or try their aguas frescas, their horchata is actually home-made and if you’re lucky enough, the piña will definitely quench your thirst and please your sweet tooth.