Seeing as we only spent 5 days in Guadalajara, we didn’t have the time or the experience to put together a substantial “Top 5” (let alone “Top 10”) list of Best Food/Restaurants in Guadalajara, so we are going about this in a more abstract format. Some dishes, areas, restaurants, and categories; here are the must eats when visiting Mexico’s second largest city:
1. Tortas Ahogadas
This is the famous cuisine of Guadalajara. Basically a sub sandwich drenched in salsa, it is advised not to dig in to this dish in nice clothes. Or if you don’t want to be embarrassed eating in front of your company. This is going to be a messy situation and there is nothing you can do about it. You can find them all over the city but some of the places we tried/were recommended by locals were Tortas Toño, Tortas El Güerito, and Beto’s Ahogadas.
2. La Chata
The staple restaurant of Guadalajara, a trip to this city isn’t really complete without a trip here. Nothing fancy or out of this world, just an extremely efficient restaurant where every meal tastes like it was cooked by you grandmother. If your grandmother had lived in Guadalajara her whole life.
3. Tlaquepaque
A bustling and charming town within a city, this barrio is what travelers’ dreams are made of. A zocalo filled with street vendors selling everything from the local treat of tejuino (a strange sugary corn beer thing with lemon ice) to more standard sustenance (elotes, tacos, tamales). It is also home to some of the best and most innovative restaurants in the city including, but certainly not limited to: El Patio, Casa Luna, and the always fun El Parian (where you have you choice of a number of teamed up restaurants).
4. Fancier Fare
Guadalajara doesn’t have the same gravitas as say Puebla or Oaxaca when it comes to specific regional cuisine; however, it does boast some of the best restaurants in Mexico and quite possibly, even all of Latin America. If you’re looking for a fine dining experience but don’t want to pay the NY or LA fine dining prices, here is your chance! With renowned restaurants like La Docena Oyster Bar & Grill, Ofelia Bistro, Hueso, and many others, you really can’t go wrong with your date night options in this town.
5. Santo Coyote
What appears to be a tourist trap (think Rainforest Cafe meets the Mexico stop in Disney’s Epcot), this restaurant actually proved to be quite enjoyable. Packed by 7pm, make sure you make a reservation or get there early. Your food comes out in trunks still being heated by fire and the salsa is made fresh tableside. The menu has range and the drink list (including craft beers) is extensive. An all around fun, quirky night out, especially if travelling with kids.
6. Desayuno
To start your mornings off right, you actually don’t have that many stand out options to choose from. There are plenty of respectable cafes and restaurants dishing out the usual huevos rancheros, but not many must visits here. If you are really into breakfast and must dine with the best of the best, we suggest Pa’l Real or Chai – Vallarta (careful as there are a lot of other “chai” named spots throughout the city). La Rinconada was a solid choice in the center, if not for the food quality for the ambiance of the old Victorian mansion it’s housed in.
