Now that Boise’s ‘blown up,’ downtown concert venue opens adjacent sister restaurant, bar

By the time Knitting Factory took over the locally owned Big Easy Concert House in 2008, Boise was already on its way to becoming a nationally heralded quality-of-life destination.

Sixteen years later? The Los Angeles-based entertainment company continues to see big promise— specifically, in the downtown BoDo district.

On Friday, Knitting Factory will hold the grand opening for El Tejano, a Tex-Mex restaurant and bar at 850 W. Broad St. Located next door to the popular music venue, El Tejano will offer Mexican food, cocktails, bar games and more than two dozen TVs. It’s part pre-funk concert hangout, part sports pub — and entirely family-friendly. (At least until the downtown witching hour).

“Boise has blown up,” Knitting Factory Entertainment CEO Morgan Margolis explained earlier this year . “There’s restaurants everywhere. I think down in that corridor with the choices, too, I think we’re just a bit different. So, hopefully, we’ll be tied in with everybody.”

El Tejano feels like a good fit. Known for many years as Ha’Penny Bridge Irish Pub and Happy Fish Sushi and Martini Bar, the space has been reimagined as a single, 4,429-square-foot concept. (Even larger including the outdoor balcony.) Staying open long after dark, it will offer beer-friendly fun such as darts and cornhole.

El Tejano is a “food-forward establishment,” according to a press release. Its menu will provide the “best of the Southwest: grilled street corn, Frito pie, queso, nachos, fajitas, tacos, burritos, (a) signature chip and salsa bar and more. El Tejano’s drink menu will feature rotating craft beers from Idaho breweries like Lost Grove Brewing, Western Collective, Woodland Empire, and Highpoint Cider, alongside a dizzying variety of specialty margaritas, housemade micheladas, and domestic and imported beers.”

Pricewise, El Tejano won’t generate sticker shock in downtown Boise. Tacos are sold individually for $5 to $6. A pile of Texas Nachos is $16. A burrito is $13, or $17 as a plate with rice and beans. Margaritas and signature cocktails are in the $10 to $12 range. Craft beers are $6 — or you can order a $4 PBR.

El Tejano’s kitchen and bar will serve brunch, lunch, dinner and late-night bites seven days a week, according to the release. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Happy hour will run from 3 to 7 p.m. daily with $3 tacos, $5 draft beers, $7 wine and $8 cocktails.

After a couple of days of soft-opening service, El Tejano will host its grand opening from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday before rolling into normal business hours starting Saturday.

Launched in 2016, the original El Tejano is in North Hollywood. It’s one of four dining concepts co-owned by Knitting Factory. El Tejano in Boise — the only location besides the one in L.A. — is owned exclusively by Knitting Factory.

“El Tejano presents a tremendous opportunity to continue the growth of the restaurant, bar and entertainment scene in Boise,” Margolis said in the press release. “Our local teams have worked tirelessly to bring this concept to life and I’m proud to work side by side with them to make it happen.

“We’re also honored to be launching a cocktail there called The Salamanca, a mezcal-forward drink named for my late father, actor Mark Margolis of ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’ fame. Look for Dos Hombres partnerships in the near future.”

A mezcal brand, Dos Hombres is co-owned by Aaron Paul, who played meth dealer Jesse Pinkman on “Breaking Bad” — and is a proud Idaho native.