YUMA (AZFamily)— A family restaurant from San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico, is leaving its mark in the desert southwest.

They are bringing their Mexican seafood to Yuma with their third restaurant, which opened earlier this month.

El Navegante, which translates to sailor, started 24 years ago with a small food truck.

Alberto Ortiz, owner of El Navegante, teamed up with his brother-in-law and together they entered the fish business.

“I bought a food truck for $500. It’s crazy to think that $500 got us here,” Alberto said.

Since then, they have evolved from food trucks. They have a restaurant across the border in San Luis Rio Colorado, one in San Luis, Arizona, and now one in Yuma.

Ortiz and his wife Felicita said each milestone was a dream come true.

“We have achieved many dreams and there are still more to be achieved, but now it is up to our children,” said Alberto.

With the third restaurant, the couple retired and their four children are now taking over the reins.

“For years we had customers from Yuma traveling to San Luis and telling us we needed to open a restaurant in Yuma. We can finally offer that to them,” Alberto said.

Felicita said her growth was thanks to her loyal customers.

“We have customers who still remember their parents taking them across the border to our restaurant. Now they are older and take their children with them,” said Felicita.

She said it was her distinctive taste that set her apart from the rest.

“We have this Mexican flavor, this savory flavor that we bring to our food. Over the years, customers have really embraced it,” Felicita said.

Her daughter Dayanara said she and her brothers have been working nonstop to prepare the restaurant.

The renovation took four months. They gave the restaurant a fun nautical theme and invested in interior design and lighting.

“Right now we start preparing food at seven in the morning so it’s ready when we open at 10,” Dayanara said.

Their menu features seafood classics such as ceviche, shrimp cocktails, fish and octopus tacos and their famous fish soups.

They have also put together a list of seafood appetizers, but with a special twist.

Their popular “Toritos” are stuffed peppers with shrimp and cheese, dipped in a spicy soy sauce.

In total, El Navegante employs 60 people across its three restaurants. They hope that their Yuma location will be as successful as the other two, as this will motivate them for their next venture.

“Maybe we’ll go to another state. Open one in Nevada, maybe in California, that’s one of my son’s dreams,” Ortiz said.

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