A popular Mexican restaurant will open a second CR location [PHOTOS]

After six years in Cedar Rapids, a wildly popular Mexican restaurant is opening a second location across town.

El Bajio Mexican Restaurant opened in 2016 just off 6th Street and 33rd Avenue at 555 Gateway Place SW, and it was a big hit. According to his website, “The family behind El Bajio Mexican Restaurant is proud to bring the flavors of traditional Mexican cuisine to the people of Cedar Rapids.” The locals definitely approved. People love the place. El Bajio has more than 1,100 google reviews and these reviews are equivalent to 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Now El Bajio has crews working out of their second location, at 1140 Blairs Ferry Road NE. It will be located in the same building as Dunn Brothers Coffee and the Good Feet Store, across from Burger King.

Owner Javier Garcia told me earlier this week that the new restaurant will be a little bigger than the first location. The 3,569-square-foot restaurant will seat between 130 and 150 people, according to Garcia.

Before we take a look at some of El Bajio’s phenomenal dishes, let’s talk about something that’s referenced outside of their West Side location: The Scorpion Challenge.

Here is one of the victorious challengers:

So how many people have swallowed a scorpion with their drink? According to Garcia, about 1,000 over the past few years. He told me the restaurant got four or five scorpions every week and “they left”. Over the years, Garcia says only a handful of people haven’t finished the job.

Now, even if you don’t catch me doing the Scorpion Challenge, you’ll definitely find me sampling the food featured in the photos below. Garcia says he hopes El Bajio’s second Cedar Rapids site will be open in a few months.

Green chilaquiles:

Seafood Tour:

Mexican Pozole Soup:

Mojarra:

Tacos :