Mariscos La Estrella
Cangrejos Marcianos (Martian Crabs)

Above the beach of Popotla is the sacred and holy seafood shack - La Estrella. No visit to Popotla is complete without trying the local spider crab. Referred to as the Marciano (Martian) by the locals, these large rugged crustaceans are only found in Baja California and a few other parts of the world. The local restaurants prepare them fried with butter and garlic. Once the shell is cracked open with a provided lava rock, the abundant meat is sweet, succulent and redolent of the sea. Diners buy live crabs from beach vendors for about $10-$15US each, and establishments like La Estrella prepare it in a classic way with a bit of Diablo sauce, for a small fee. Everything here is amazing from the shellfish to the fried fish but the main event is the giant live crab - deep fried, cracked and served blazing hot. The ramshackle hut just makes the whole experience more memorable. Bucket list.

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Location
Blvd. Popotla, Popotla, 22710 Rosarito, B.C., Mexico
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Opening times
Sat: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Closed
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