Last summer a friend introduced me to El Rinconcito del Mar, a restaurant in Boyle Heights specializing in some fine and affordable mariscos (seafood).

El Rinconcito del Mar was founded in 1986 by Juan Ramirez, a Mexican immigrant who had worked his way from beaing a dishwasher to a head cook to owner of a burger stand and then owner of a family restaurant. The original Rinconcito was smaller, but with the help of a SBA loan, Ramirez was able to open up the newer restaurant at the same location in 2002 (August 2005 LA Business Journal story.

I hadn’t visited for a while, so I jumped at the chance to take advantage of my day off (classes cancelled, no work scheduled) and have a good lunch with a friend.

My friend chose the campechana (pictured above) and I had coctel de camarón (shrimp cocktail). We drank beer with plenty of lemon juice, watched the Barcelona vs. Arsenal Champions League final, and I tried an oyster for the first time ever.

El Rinconcito del Mar is located at 2940 East First Street (near Evergreen).