Restaurants in Southern Baja
-
A
Taquería El Fogón
Taquería El Fogón serves outstanding tacos al pastor (rotisserie pork tacos) and several other variations on the tortilla-packed-with-goodies concept. Vegetarians can dig into quesadillas or stuffed potatoes.
reviewed
-
El Zaguán
This small restaurant shows big imagination with mouth-watering dishes like filleted fish in peanut sauce with rice and organic salad, octopus soup, tuna marinated in sesame oil with papaya salsa, and shrimp sautéed in basil oil. Everything is organic, the atmosphere is romantic at night, prices are great, and the flavors exquisite.
reviewed
-
B
Mamá's Royal Café
Mexican decorations splash cheerful colors over the patio here, and breakfasts are the best reason to come. They're big and delicious and include several versions of eggs benedict, French toast and plenty of Mexican egg dishes.
reviewed
-
Tequila's Sunrise
If you can handle the Eagles barrage (you're almost guaranteed to hear Hotel California at least twice while you're here), pop into the restaurant that claims to be the original restaurant that was in Hotel California. Whether you buy it not, it's a fun place, and every inch of just about everything in the place is covered in permanent marker, business cards and dollar bills.
The menu features everything from surf-and-turf platters to garlic shrimp, salads and good ol' Mexican food. If you'd rather taste premium tequilas, try the tequila bar.
reviewed
-
Café Santa Fe
The insalata Mediterranea (steamed seafood drizzled in lemon juice and oil) will make even seafood haters change their evil ways. The open-air kitchen, designed by the owner himself, allows you to see the food as it’s being prepped for your table. Anything on the menu will delight, surprise, tantalize, but if you need suggestions go for the mussels in wine or any one of the various handmade raviolis: lobster, carne (meat) or just spinach and ricotta cheese. This is surely one of the best restaurants in Baja and is well worth the splurge.
reviewed
-
C
El Mesón del Ahorcado
It's hard to beat a name like El Mesón del Ahorcado, which means 'the hanged man's restaurant' or, as its called locally in English, the Hangman. And, indeed, the easiest way to spot the place is by the cowboy effigy dangling by its neck from the gallows out front. Even harder to beat than the name is the Hangman's food. This is the one restaurant in San José you shouldn't miss. The best part: it's cheap. Choices include quesadillas made with huitlacoche (a black fungus that grows on corn).
reviewed
-
Latitude 22+ Oceanview Roadhouse
Bring your sense of humor along with your appetite to this barbeque and burger joint northeast of town on the road to San José. Who knows where they pilfered all the maritime paraphernalia from, but it makes for great atmosphere. And the food? Wow! Appetizers include chicken wings, barbequed ribs, French onion soup and their delicious 'killa' burritos. Over a dozen burgers grace the menu along with mesquite grilled chicken, pork and beef ribs, roasted pork loin and grilled chops.
reviewed
-
D
Bismark II
Bismark II ; Bismark-cito (128-9900; Paseo Obregón at Constitución; mains USaround US$7-12) Long ago, a woman opened a taco stand that later grew into this favorite seafood restaurant with good prices and great fish. The taco stand tacos USaround US$1 to USaround US$6), open from 09:00 to 17:00, is still a hit and is parked daily in front of Bismark-cito, the family's other restaurant. The lobster tacos sell out by noon, despite their costing US$6 a pop.
reviewed
-
E
Huarachazo
Also known as the Burro Loco (crazy donkey), Huarachazo keeps its long menu of Mexican specialties authentic and fairly priced, and the place remains more popular with locals than with tourists. Try the enchiladas de pollo en mole (chicken enchiladas with mole sauce). There's also all-you-can-eat birria de res (a type of beef stew) and menudo (a traditional tripe and hominy soup). It's a very down-home place.
reviewed
-
F
El Comal
Boasting some of the best patio seating in town, El Comal serves classic mainland Mexican dishes with a gourmet twist. Plates include beef medallions in mole (a rich sauce seasoned with chocolate and spices), cochinita pibil (a traditional pork dish from the Yucatán; around US$16) and arrachera en su jugo (flanksteak served in its juice). Prices are reasonable by San José standards, and locals say it's good.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
G
Rancho Viejo
When it comes to meat, there's no competition; the melt-in-your-mouth tacos de arrachera (skirt steak tacos) are to die for. Also try the delicious tacos al pastor (rotisserie pork tacos) and the gringas (flour tortillas with meat, salsa and melted cheese). Vegetarians can go for the papas asadas (grilled potatoes stuffed with mushrooms, corn, onions and cheese); just tell them to hold the meat.
reviewed
-
H
Peacock's
Another Mecca for alta cocina (haute cuisine), Peacock's serves some of the tastiest food in town. The chef mixes Mediterranean and Latin flavors into dishes like filleted fish braided with strips of nopal cactus; braised duck in tamarind sauce, or (here's heavy) grilled flank stake rolled with cheese and poblano chilies. It's above Playa Médano near the road down to Hotel Meliá San Lucas.
reviewed
-
I
La Cascada
An outdoor patio and a lengthy seafood menu makes this little joint extremely popular. Try the chile relleno de marisco (chili stuffed with seafood), or the house specialty, bolsitas de mariscos (seafood, onions, tomatoes and chilies baked in tinfoil). One regular claims the pescado veracruzano (fish baked with veggies) is to die for. Great breakfasts, too.
reviewed
-
J
El Michoacano
This open-air branch of the renowned carnitas (slow-roasted pork) chain serves up some of the best cheap eats in Cabo - which is why locals flock here, especially on weekends. Three people can fill up on a half-kilo of carnitas (unless you're famished). Orders are accompanied by chips, tortillas, chicharrones (pork cracklings), beans and salsa.
reviewed
-
K
El Michoacano
It's technically not a taquería, but you do wrap the carnitas (slow-roasted pork) in corn tortillas, so it's close enough. Buy the pork by the kilo, sit at the outdoor tables and chow down. Wednesdays are two-for-one, and it's cheaper if you buy your own tortillas at the tortillería next door and take it all to the beach.
reviewed
-
L
El Pollo de Oro
Scrumptious grilled chicken and delicious oven-cooked pork ribs are only part of the story. The rest: great prices. A quarter roast chicken goes for around US$3, as do the huge breakfast plates of chilequiles (a traditional tortilla chip and chile-sauce dish) or huevos rancheros (ranch-style eggs). Patio seating; always busy.
reviewed
-
M
Giggling Dolphin
Excellent, reasonably priced fish dishes include mouth-watering items like chile relleno de queso y camarón (green chili stuffed with cheese and shrimp) and other takes on traditional Mexican seafood dishes. With tablecloths, Mexican music and big wooden chairs, it can be romantic or casual, depending on your mood.
reviewed
-
N
D' Pancake House
This is the place for breakfast in San José. Huge portions, reasonable prices and over fifty items to choose from (including waffles, egg dishes, fruit, granola and, of course, pancakes) make it a sure shot. At press time, the owner was firing up a new dinner feature: a buffet featuring sushi, salads and Mexican food.
reviewed
-
O
Margaritavilla
Famous for its gargantuan margaritas, roaming mariachis and hearty appetizers, Margaritavilla is an upscale, two-story Mexican restaurant catering to foreign palates. Plates are huge (but tend to be a bit bland) and prices are extortionate. Still, a marina-side table makes for great atmosphere to knock back a margarita.
reviewed
-
P
Tequila
The big draws for this classy favorite are the beautiful patio and the 90 varieties of Tequila's namesake swill. The food has morphed from Mexican and Mediterranean-inspired over the years to more strictly Californian, prices have skyrocketed and quality has remained about the same (great, but astoundingly overpriced).
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Q
Asadero Super Burro
Behind mounds of freshly made flour tortillas and boxes of avocados, women grill up steak for the house specialty, the super burro, a massive burrito jammed with diced steak and your choice of condiments. They also serve stuffed potatoes and 'volcanoes' (flour tortillas piled with meat and melted cheese).
reviewed
-
The Fish House
Although the airy dining room feels quite upscale, the prices are reasonable, especially considering the quality of the fare. The menu (which includes dishes from coconut shrimp to calamari in guajillo chile sauce) is imaginative yet straightforward, and emphasis is placed squarely on preparing good food.
reviewed
-
R
O Mole Mío
With wrought-iron furniture, Mayan fertility figures adorning the walls and colorful lanterns for light, the décor is as creative as the food. Even standards like enchiladas and tamales are presented with a whole new twist. The seafood is outstanding. Lobster (around US$30) is the priciest thing on the menu.
reviewed
-
S
Taquería México
Open-air Taquería México has plastic tables and fabric tablecloths and serves up delicious tacos, stuffed potatoes and reasonably priced seafood to a mostly local clientele. The fish filets are particularly good. On Thursday and Sunday, try the pozole (pork and hominy stew). Full bar.
reviewed
-
T
La Panga Antigua
With dishes like yellow fin tuna in a merlot reduction, pan fried jumbo shrimp over fettuccini with organic vegetables, and rack of lamb in annatto rub and pineapple salsa, La Panga Antigua sits squarely within the mold of San José haute cuisine. It's beautifully decorated and highly regarded.
reviewed
