One of the best dining experiences I've had in the treasure valley. A lot of interesting flavors! The chicken mole was good... but the tacos and cocktails were delicious. Definitely recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: L a Birria Tacos
Cory Edwards
You know sometimes how you eat at a place and it’s so delightful that you don’t need to eat everywhere else to declare it the best? That’s AMANO. It’s the best Fine Mexican in Boise. It’s the best fine Mexican in Idaho. There’s a reason its chef was a James Beard finalist. I felt like I was eating at an Enrique Olvera restaurant like Cosme in NYC or Pujol in Mexico City. Really a special place. You’ll pay for it. So don’t go here thinking you’re just grabbing quick delicious cheap tacos. You’ll spend $50 a person easy with no drinks. But it’s worth it and a great place for special occasions or with friends.I hate when people say “it’s all good, you can’t go wrong.” While that’s general true here at Amano, here’s the order for what to get:1- Carne Asada Tacos - don’t dismiss this. I almost would never consider carne asada at a taco shop like this. There would usually be so much better to get. But that’s how good the carne asada is here. Get it.2 - Conchinita Pibil Tacos - when they tell you they’re spicy, surprisingly they mean it. The habenero hits you pretty good.3- Verde Mole Cauliflower - this dish comes with fresh homemade blue maize tortillas and they’re fabulous. The green mole and pistachios together is really fun and full of flavor.4 - Birria Tacos - I love birria, but I wouldn’t prioritize it here over the tacos above because it’s so easy to find cheap, delicious Birria today. These are great, but aren’t worth $28 when you can get just as good of Birria for 1/2 the price.The guac is divine. Must get with their homemade blue corn chips which are perfectly salted and perfectly crunchy. The corn app was also good, not great, but good especially considering that it isn’t corn season.Finally, the pudding dessert with the gray corn husk pudding was really fun, but a little too sweet. But it has a taste that reminded me of the corn husk meringue at Cosme.Such a shockingly upscale winner of a restaurant in a small, unassuming town. Bravo chef!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Cochinita Pibil Tacos
MAC
Food and drinks are very pricey, but authentic and delicious! Chili Relleno was great. Chili Colorado is amazing. Chips and salsa are not free but worth it. Restaurant is casual and people don't care how they dress which downgrades the experience.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chile Colorado, Chips and Salsa
Douglas Metzgar
Wow. The food slayed me! So much so that I spent all of my attention on the food and experience rather than snapping some food pics. And it was a really delightful experience. Our server, Ashley, knew the menu like the back of her hand and made great recommendations—it’s a really creative and delightful menu. I also went for the mezcal flight. The bar server was knowledgeable and went in-depth and answered all of my questions. We’re coming back.
I was so impressed with Amano. We were celebrating my birthday and they took a Polaroid of us and wrote a little card! It was so sweet.I had the Carne Asada tacos and they were incredible… probably the best I’ve ever had. I had the guacamole and ceviche as appetizers and it was a smaller portion than I was expecting but it was super yummy and flavorful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sonora Carne Asada Tacos
Chase H
This is the second time I've been to Amano, and the experience was equally amazing as the first!I've now tried their Birria tacos, esquites, guacamole con hierbas, and the lavender tres leches cake which are all fantastic! There are many more items that I would love to try and will be back again.The presentation is beautiful as is the location, which made for a wonderful date night. I would highly recommend this restaurant, no matter where you are in the valley.While some reviews mention the price, I'd say the quality, flavor, and experience warrant that. Especially for the location.This also doesn't mention the incredible and knowledgeable staff. An all around, top notch, experience. Amano has made it in our go again list, which is very limited for this area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: L a Birria Tacos, Guacamole Con Hierbas
Beth Dixon
I don't often like a place well enough to write about it but this restaurant had it all: good food, good service, good atmosphere, and good music. I got the fish tacos and asked to leave out the heat, which they were happy to do. The corn appetizer was monumental and in retrospect, would have been amazing in my tacos. I also loved the ceviche appetizer. It was full of freshness and flavor. Overall, one of the tastiest, freshest meals I've ever had the pleasure of eating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baja Cali Fish Tacos
Brittney Gonzalez
The food was Delicious!! I would eat there again just for that fresh spicy yummy food. The service was okay a little slow and had to ask a few times for the same thing, they sat 7 adults in a small bench seat so we didn't eat very comfortably.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: L a Birria Tacos, Baja Cali Fish Tacos, Chips and Salsa
Bae B
Excellent all around. Very well informed staff. Love the environment and attention to detail. Much care taken into the crafting of their food. The cocktails are incredible especially La Rebanadita. I didn’t get this, but have heard the fish tacos are delectable. Will have to try these the next time. Icing on the cake, I celebrated my birthday brunch with friends and a pleasant surprise, the server took a memorable Polaroid and gifted a dessert!Vegetarian options: A friend is vegetarian/pescatarian and has been here a few times.Dietary restrictions: A friend is gluten free. Their corn tortillas are crafted and hand made.
Literally the best place to get Mexican food in Idaho. The cocktails are to die for and the food is amazing. The Chile relleno tastes just like my mom’s and that’s the biggest compliment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dees Mar
Update to my review from 2 years ago. Food is still very traditional and delicious. Vibe is great and it has an authentic Mexico vibe.Me and the wide just wanted to get out of the house and we walked in, no reservation needed. We order the birria tacos a small tostada, off of the appetizer section and two alcoholic drinks and a guacamole dip. Our total was over 100.00 before tip. That blew my mind! We go out to eat often and don't mind paying for upscale but this blew our minds. Over all I'd go back, but won't be a regular.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: L a Birria Tacos
Claudia Morgan
Food was good but too spicy hot, even though we ask not too add the hot peppers, the waiter was super nice, I would give him 19 stars if I could. Overall, super expensive! Nothing better than a regular Mexican food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Brenna Rettberg
every bit of the experience was A+
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eric Guerra
Holy smokes! If it wasn't for Gonzalos outstanding service, I'd knock off a whole star! Warm hand towel!?!? ✋️.One question before you get the Carne asada tacos, are you ready to pay $11.66 a peice?
Good food, over hyped and over priced.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
One of the best dining experiences I've had in the treasure valley. A lot of interesting flavors! The chicken mole was good... but the tacos and cocktails were delicious. Definitely recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: L a Birria Tacos
You know sometimes how you eat at a place and it’s so delightful that you don’t need to eat everywhere else to declare it the best? That’s AMANO. It’s the best Fine Mexican in Boise. It’s the best fine Mexican in Idaho. There’s a reason its chef was a James Beard finalist. I felt like I was eating at an Enrique Olvera restaurant like Cosme in NYC or Pujol in Mexico City. Really a special place. You’ll pay for it. So don’t go here thinking you’re just grabbing quick delicious cheap tacos. You’ll spend $50 a person easy with no drinks. But it’s worth it and a great place for special occasions or with friends.I hate when people say “it’s all good, you can’t go wrong.” While that’s general true here at Amano, here’s the order for what to get:1- Carne Asada Tacos - don’t dismiss this. I almost would never consider carne asada at a taco shop like this. There would usually be so much better to get. But that’s how good the carne asada is here. Get it.2 - Conchinita Pibil Tacos - when they tell you they’re spicy, surprisingly they mean it. The habenero hits you pretty good.3- Verde Mole Cauliflower - this dish comes with fresh homemade blue maize tortillas and they’re fabulous. The green mole and pistachios together is really fun and full of flavor.4 - Birria Tacos - I love birria, but I wouldn’t prioritize it here over the tacos above because it’s so easy to find cheap, delicious Birria today. These are great, but aren’t worth $28 when you can get just as good of Birria for 1/2 the price.The guac is divine. Must get with their homemade blue corn chips which are perfectly salted and perfectly crunchy. The corn app was also good, not great, but good especially considering that it isn’t corn season.Finally, the pudding dessert with the gray corn husk pudding was really fun, but a little too sweet. But it has a taste that reminded me of the corn husk meringue at Cosme.Such a shockingly upscale winner of a restaurant in a small, unassuming town. Bravo chef!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Cochinita Pibil Tacos
Food and drinks are very pricey, but authentic and delicious! Chili Relleno was great. Chili Colorado is amazing. Chips and salsa are not free but worth it. Restaurant is casual and people don't care how they dress which downgrades the experience.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chile Colorado, Chips and Salsa
Wow. The food slayed me! So much so that I spent all of my attention on the food and experience rather than snapping some food pics. And it was a really delightful experience. Our server, Ashley, knew the menu like the back of her hand and made great recommendations—it’s a really creative and delightful menu. I also went for the mezcal flight. The bar server was knowledgeable and went in-depth and answered all of my questions. We’re coming back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chile Colorado, Baja Cali Fish Tacos, Chips & Salsa Flight
I was so impressed with Amano. We were celebrating my birthday and they took a Polaroid of us and wrote a little card! It was so sweet.I had the Carne Asada tacos and they were incredible… probably the best I’ve ever had. I had the guacamole and ceviche as appetizers and it was a smaller portion than I was expecting but it was super yummy and flavorful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sonora Carne Asada Tacos
This is the second time I've been to Amano, and the experience was equally amazing as the first!I've now tried their Birria tacos, esquites, guacamole con hierbas, and the lavender tres leches cake which are all fantastic! There are many more items that I would love to try and will be back again.The presentation is beautiful as is the location, which made for a wonderful date night. I would highly recommend this restaurant, no matter where you are in the valley.While some reviews mention the price, I'd say the quality, flavor, and experience warrant that. Especially for the location.This also doesn't mention the incredible and knowledgeable staff. An all around, top notch, experience. Amano has made it in our go again list, which is very limited for this area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: L a Birria Tacos, Guacamole Con Hierbas
I don't often like a place well enough to write about it but this restaurant had it all: good food, good service, good atmosphere, and good music. I got the fish tacos and asked to leave out the heat, which they were happy to do. The corn appetizer was monumental and in retrospect, would have been amazing in my tacos. I also loved the ceviche appetizer. It was full of freshness and flavor. Overall, one of the tastiest, freshest meals I've ever had the pleasure of eating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baja Cali Fish Tacos
The food was Delicious!! I would eat there again just for that fresh spicy yummy food. The service was okay a little slow and had to ask a few times for the same thing, they sat 7 adults in a small bench seat so we didn't eat very comfortably.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: L a Birria Tacos, Baja Cali Fish Tacos, Chips and Salsa
Excellent all around. Very well informed staff. Love the environment and attention to detail. Much care taken into the crafting of their food. The cocktails are incredible especially La Rebanadita. I didn’t get this, but have heard the fish tacos are delectable. Will have to try these the next time. Icing on the cake, I celebrated my birthday brunch with friends and a pleasant surprise, the server took a memorable Polaroid and gifted a dessert!Vegetarian options: A friend is vegetarian/pescatarian and has been here a few times.Dietary restrictions: A friend is gluten free. Their corn tortillas are crafted and hand made.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: L a Birria
Restaurantji Recommends
Literally the best place to get Mexican food in Idaho. The cocktails are to die for and the food is amazing. The Chile relleno tastes just like my mom’s and that’s the biggest compliment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Update to my review from 2 years ago. Food is still very traditional and delicious. Vibe is great and it has an authentic Mexico vibe.Me and the wide just wanted to get out of the house and we walked in, no reservation needed. We order the birria tacos a small tostada, off of the appetizer section and two alcoholic drinks and a guacamole dip. Our total was over 100.00 before tip. That blew my mind! We go out to eat often and don't mind paying for upscale but this blew our minds. Over all I'd go back, but won't be a regular.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: L a Birria Tacos
Food was good but too spicy hot, even though we ask not too add the hot peppers, the waiter was super nice, I would give him 19 stars if I could. Overall, super expensive! Nothing better than a regular Mexican food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
every bit of the experience was A+
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Holy smokes! If it wasn't for Gonzalos outstanding service, I'd knock off a whole star! Warm hand towel!?!? ✋️.One question before you get the Carne asada tacos, are you ready to pay $11.66 a peice?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5