Mariscos El Veneno is a Mexican seafood restaurant in Chicago’s Ukranian Village that will change your life. From what I understand, the name translates to something like “poison seafood,” and it may sound like a bad Mexican seafood joke, but the food here is nothing but spectacular. I have gone to this place maybe three times now, and it’s yet to disappoint me.

If you are thinking tacos and burritos when you hear Mexican food, the delicious seafood cooked in Nayarit style (which I had never heard of until I visited this restaurant) will blow your mind. There is a similar restaurant across the street with flashier exterior and more inviting parking lot, but I never found the reason to try that place. You can tell the restaurant’s integrity by its largely Hispanic customer-base. Mariscos El Veneno is a BYOB joint, and will provide ice buckets and uncork your wine free of charge. In fact, the first time I went I obliviously ordered beer; the waiter said “we’re BYOB” then proceeded to ask the people (in Spanish) at the table next to us whether I can have one of their beers. They said yes!

I cannot tell you how many times I wished I spoke Spanish, but it never kills me as much as when I start talking about MEV. I never can remember what these amazing dishes are called (other than the Cucaracha shrimp, not shown but tear-jerkingly good), but to the left is my absolute favorite. I usually just point at the picture on their menu – the braised collection of shrimp, oysters and the juiciest octopus you will ever sink your teeth into. The spices are melded together so well in the broth that it is impossible to single out one of them, but it really requires the willpower of a Buddhist monk to stop eating this, no matter how full you are. I usually overeat like it was Thanksgiving. Probably not great for my health.

On our last visit we decided to order something we had not had before – and the waitress recommended the fish to the right. With a mountain of crabmeat/cheese stuffing on top, it was deep-fried to perfection, succulent yet with a crispy batter.

A word of caution, however – do NOT liberally sprinkle that salsa on top of your free appetizer ceviche! The stuff packs some serious, serious heat. I’m Korean and can handle my fair share of heat, but that undiluted habanero salsa can destroy your mouth. I was lucky to have someone warn me about it before I dug into it, but it still nearly gave me an anaphylactic shock.