Puerto Vallarta
A tiny taquería favored by locals for bacon-wrapped fish-and-shrimp tacos, though you can get them without bacon too. The pulpo al pastor (marinated…
Must-see restaurants in Central Pacific Coast
Central Pacific Coast
The standout dish here is the pescado zarandeado (grilled whole fish), but the menu features an ample offering of favorites from the sea, including…
Sayulita
Mary's keeps things simple, affordable and traditional with menu items such as fish tacos or grilled shrimp on handmade tortillas. The popular curbside…
Mazatlán
Makes over three dozen flavors of paletas (popsicles), sherbets and Mexican-inspired gelato, including unconventional fruit flavors (lemon-rosemary,…
Manzanillo
On the ground floor of the Hotel Colonial in the old town, this restaurant opens onto a pleasant patio and has a menu of surf-and-turf fare, plus a full…
Ixtapa
Opposite the Park Royal hotel, this open-fronted restaurant has an extensive international menu, but is especially recommended for its delicious seafood…
Mazatlán
At this genteel eatery, enjoy chateaubriand béarnaise (steak with homemade béarnaise sauce) or poached fish blanca rosa (with shrimp, asparagus and…
Mazatlán
This brick-walled, high-ceilinged pizzeria draws an overflowing crowd of local youths nightly with its trademark salads and pizzas, including the house…
Central Pacific Coast
One of several palapas lining the beach, family-run Chicho’s is a great choice for meals thanks to gargantuan breakfast smoothies, pancakes, solid plates…
Mazatlán
This homey place offers well-prepared buffet-lunch fare including marlin, meatball soup, chiles rellenos (chilies stuffed with meat or cheese) and…
Puerto Vallarta
This friendly and highly recommended cafe doubles as a bookstore full of used books in English and social hangout, with good espresso drinks, delicious…
Zihuatanejo
This sweet little family-run place is all about straightforward seafood dishes and reasonably priced beer. Specialties include garlic shrimp, coconut…
Manzanillo
Manzanillo’s downtown market has a number of inexpensive food stalls to choose from. You'll find pretty good homestyle fare here, with chile relleno …
Sayulita
Down by the bridge, Ivan is still cranking out tasty tacos al pastor (spit-cooked marinated pork with chopped onion, cilantro and pineapple slices) long…
Central Pacific Coast
For fish, shrimp and octopus cooked a dozen ways, hop on a boat to this family-run place on a small island just across from Mexcaltitán’s main dock…
Central Pacific Coast
For four decades this little bakery has been cranking out some of the world’s best banana bread; with any luck, you’ll get a loaf hot from the oven. Juan…
Central Pacific Coast
This family-run restaurant does delicious Mexican and seafood dishes, including a fish-and-shrimp concoction called merequetengue. Seating is on the…
Central Pacific Coast
Come to this simple, family-run restaurant and let congenial Ricarda feed you Mexican standards for breakfast and catch-of-the-day and Pacific shrimp the…
Puerto Vallarta
This buffet-style place with only 10 tables eschews cheese for fresh, dairy-free dishes such as soy carnitas, yam lasagna (yes, that’s right) and a wide…
Central Pacific Coast
One of the best of the beachfront eateries. The ceviche is particularly fresh and tasty, and if you catch the staff cleaning fresh-caught tuna or dorado …
Central Pacific Coast
For fine home cooking, head several blocks inland to Cabaña de Vicky, where daily specials are accompanied by good salsa and fresh tortillas made with…
Manzanillo
This popular neighborhood taquería (taco stall) specializes in barbacoa (savory beef); eat it on the spot in tacos accompanied by heavenly salsas, or…
Central Pacific Coast
This cheerfully decorated restaurant serves tasty homestyle meals, including specialties such as lobster and camarones al coco (coconut shrimp with a…
Puerto Vallarta
A cheerful, often-crowded spot, good for wood-fired pizzas, pastas and people-watching. It's a local expat favorite. Request a table upstairs by the…
Puerto Vallarta
This gringo breakfast paradise serves waffles, omelets, Mexican dishes and almost anything else you could want. It's in an ample courtyard three blocks…
Manzanillo
This beachfront eatery has checked tablecloths, warm lighting, prime ocean views and a menu packed with pizza, pasta and Italian-influenced meat and fish…
Nieves de Garrafa de con Medrano
Mazatlán
A local tradition since 1938, this unpretentious family-run cart near Mazatlán’s Plaza Principal dishes out delicious homemade ice cream to devoted crowds.
Mazatlán
In a town swimming with sushi restaurants, locals consistently nominate Yoko as one of the best.
Puerto Vallarta
Grab a table on the pleasant outdoor patio and load up on sopes (tortillas with a layer of beans, cheese and salsa), tamales, chilaquiles, nopales,…
Central Pacific Coast
One of the humbler yet more popular of the beachfront palapas (thatch-covered restaurants) on Playa El Borrego. The pescado zarandeado (spiced, charcoal…
Zihuatanejo
Though there's a huge selection here, not all is that tasty. But what makes a visit worthwhile are the tacos al pastor (spit-cooked marinated pork) from…
Ixtapa
One of a clutch of restaurant-bars in an accessible slice of beach between the two hotel zones (follow dolphinarium signs). This is the nicest with lower…
Acapulco
Still the spot for authentic tacos al pastor (spit-cooked marinated pork). The tacos are tiny but their fillings are tasty, plus this is one of the few…
Zihuatanejo
An intriguing little spot with well-dressed, candlelit wood tables spilling onto the pedestrian street. It serves everything from sashimi to freshly made…
Mazatlán
Cozy and unpretentious, this breakfast and lunch spot serves dishes such as pechuga rellena (stuffed chicken breast) and flavorful soups such as nopales…
Acapulco
One of Acapulco’s most exclusive restaurants, Kookaburra is memorable for specialties including spaghetti with caviar or shrimp in tamarind mole sauce…
Zihuatanejo
A hearty and inexpensive breakfast or lunch is available in the market, which has rows of comedores (counter eateries) serving such gastronomic delights…
Mazatlán
Diners at spacious sidewalk tables enjoy hearty Mexican meat and seafood dishes here on Mazatlán's loveliest square. A popular choice is the filete…
