Emporio Sushi Y Mariscos

If food could stage its own thirst traps, Sinaloan-style seafood would be the culinary world’s Kim Kardashian – slightly exotic, all but impossibly perfect, and broadly (if not universally) appealing. Leveraging Instagram with Kardashian-level skill, Emporio Sushi y Mariscos built an army of 139,000 followers by perfecting the art of maximalist seafood social media photography, first winning our attention, and then our business. If there’s anyone offering more interesting Mexican-style raw seafood in Orange County, we haven’t found them.

While the Emporio location we visited in Orange was anything but sexy – somewhat cramped and old feeling, with thankfully great service – the seafood they’re serving is every bit as delicious as the photos they used to post. (Their Instagram has pivoted to less compelling text and video overlays in recent times.) Tostadas loaded with shrimp, scallops, octopus, and/or fish? Yup. Aguachile plates overflowing with shrimp and lime juice? Check. Stacks of ceviche with tropical mango and coconut or spicy dark lime sauces? Absolutely.