Guadalajara Restaurants

  1. Alcatraz

    You'll have to search for the lava stone facade because it has no sign. But it does have the best desserts in town. The light-as-air jericalla custard, coffee cakes and blueberry cheesecake have won this family shop a steady stream of local loyalists.

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  2. Alta Fibra

    Not much atmosphere, but a young, conscious crowd descends to snack on shrimp made from carrots, ham crafted from soy and spinach and whole bean tacos. Vegans, rejoice!

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  3. Birriería las Nueve Esquinas

    This is a can't miss meal. The open, tiled kitchen, with its in-house tortillería is as beautiful as the tasty and absurdly tender barbacoa de borrego (baked lamb) and birria de chivo (steamed goat) served in traditional ceramic casseroles. Enjoy them with a stack of fresh tortillas and smaller bowls of guacamole, pickled onions and salsa verde swimming with cilantro and perfectly ripe chunks of avocado.

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  4. Bisquets Guadalajara

    A great breakfast spot, with baskets of fresh pastries - from pan chocolate to pecan rolls to sugary, lemony astorgas. It also serves eggs, omelettes, tacos and enchiladas.

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  5. Café Madrid

    What more could you want from a classic diner? The waiters are in white dinner jackets and the cash register, espresso machines and soda fountains are mint condition antiques. Come for breakfast. The huevos rancheros and chilaquiles have been favorites for 50 years.

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  7. Casa Fuerte

    This place leans toward fine dining, with an elegant bar, refreshing garden patio and a menu priced like an upscale Mexican restaurant in California. It's one of the more popular spots in town.

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  8. Casa Vieja

    One of Tlaquepaque's best restaurants; worthy dishes include the tequila-marinated chicken, the shrimp-stuffed fish fillet, or the grilled steak with tamarind and chile sauces. Also try the molcajete (a kind of meat stew), and the cold coffee with kahlúa, pineapple juice, cream and tequila(!)

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  9. Cenaduria Doña Victoria

    Victoria serves high quality Mexican soul food. Her street side skillet overflows with toquitos, tacos, tortas, pozole, quail, chicken and potatoes. The pollo dorado (around $25 ) is the best seller. It comes with potatoes, salad, tortillas and three kinds of salsa.

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  10. Chai

    Chai is your hippie chic café. Booths are actually love seats and sofas and flowers - from fake tulip light boxes to abstract wall paintings - are the general theme. The breakfast menu is superb. Think egg white omelettes and waffles with fresh strawberries.

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  11. Chong Wah

    Overdosed on comida típica ? Hit Guadalajara's favorite Chinese haunt. All the classics are here − Sichuan shrimp, almond chicken, lo mein − and it serves a popular weekend buffet.

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  13. Cocina 88

    By every measure - taste, creativity, service, style and value - this is the best restaurant in Guadalajara. The owners renovated and converted this turn-of- the-century mansion into a restaurant where guests choose their cut of beef or choice of fresh seafood from a butcher case and select their wine from the cellar rather than a list.

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  14. Danés

    Dessert lovers flock to this neighborhood bakery that turns out a luscious array of Mexican and European pastries. Dark chocolate oozes from the crust of the cuerno de chocolate and its sorbete de crema (a custard-stuffed pastry shaped like a cone) are dusted with cinnamon and encrusted with candied pecans.

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  15. El Abajeño

    El Abajeño Comida tipica is dressed up and served to businessmen and well-off families on a beautiful brick patio with fountains, candle chandeliers and roving mariachi. Try the wood grilled lamb (around $92 ).

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  16. El Parián

    Just southeast of the main plaza, El Parián is a block of dozens of restaurant-bars with patio tables crowding a leafy inner courtyard. This is where you sit, drink and listen to live mariachi music, especially on weekends. Waiters are eager but the food is so-so. Order an appetizer, but when it's time to eat a serious meal find one of these delicious kitchens.

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  17. El Tío

    Once the savory, spicy aroma wafts over you, you will not be able to ignore this humble taco stand. All it serves are bean and ground beef tacos with grilled peppers and fiery red salsa. Cue up with the locals and enjoy some exceptional street food.

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  19. Karne Garibaldi

    It has two specialties: carne en su jugo (meat cooked in its own broth flavored with beans, bacon and green tomatoes) and fast service (so speedy it landed in the Guinness Book of Records in 1996). Neither will disappoint.

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  20. Kristy & Edwards

    This lunch stand with a splash of color is across from the post office and serves burritos, fresh pressed and blended jugos (around $10 ) and burgers.

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  21. La Antigua

    The location and ambience outshine the food at this charming terrace restaurant overlooking the plaza. But it's worth considering for the made-to-order salsa and tortillas and the sizzling molcajete de arrachera, a traditional beef and cheese stew simmering in a spicy chili sauce.

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  22. La Chata

    Quality comida típica , affordable prices and ample portions keep this family diner packed. The specialty is a platillo jaliscense (fried chicken with five sides); it also serves a popular pozole (hominy soup).

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  23. La Estación de Lulio

    It's hard to get a seat for breakfast at this fine café because of the great jazz soundtrack and the complete breakfasts of eggs al gusto , spicy beans, chilaquiles , coffee and fresh pressed orange, grapefruit or tangerine juice.

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  25. La Fonda de San Miguel Arcángel

    A sweet and funky courtyard retreat from the sun where fountains gurgle, an old piano man tickles the keys and antique sculpture and bird cages are everywhere. Its specialty is a fish molcajete . Come at night and dine beneath a magnificent chandelier of wrought iron stars.

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  26. La Mata Tinta

    This is a wine bar, art gallery and café under one roof - although seating spills into the plaza. It has a prodigious wine list including Mexican vintages and a nice selection of baguettes and paninis. There's live music five nights a week and the walls are covered with rotating exhibitions from local artists. Tuesday night it shows art-house cinema.

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  27. LA O

    Another mansion has been converted by the guys at Cocina 88 into a cool new restaurant. This one serves Spanish, Italian and Mexican tapas and mains come with an endless salad and antipasti bar. Try the tart mango ceviche and the crumbly crab cakes sprinkled with cilantro .

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  28. Mariscos el Social

    The chef, known as 'El Socio' started serving his sensational ceviche and delicious shrimp and octopus cocktails, from his stainless steel cart on Glendale and Delicias, 20 years ago. He still works that corner, but he has a sit down café down the block that is equally great. Each week El Socio and his crew serve 350 kilos of shrimp and octopus. So, you know it's fresh. Order a shrimp and octopus plate if you're not into the soupy cocktails.

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  29. Mercado San Juan de Dios

    More adventurous stomachs can head to the Mercado San Juan de Dios, home to endless savory food stalls serving the cheapest and some of the tastiest eats in town.

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