Guadalajara Restaurants

  1. 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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  2. 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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  3. 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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  4. 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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  5. 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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  6. 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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  7. 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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  8. 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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  9. 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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  10. 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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  12. 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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  13. 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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  14. 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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  15. 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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  16. Salvador Santos López Tortas Ahogadas

    A hole in the wall with a street-side grill, where Señor Lopez prepares T-bones and skirt steaks. Steaks are rubbed with olive oil, splashed with soy sauce and served with Greek salad and garlic bread. Don't forget to order a cold beer.

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  17. Santo Coyote

    Locals love to send tourists here because of the set piece décor - think massive palapa roofs - and Mexican Hat Dance performances (um, not good). But they do make their scintillating three-chili salsa fresh at the tableside and the mostly glass bar is magnificent. Plus, if you sit there you'll avoid the 'entertainment'.

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  18. Tortas Ahogadas Héroes

    The menu is simple: there's only tortas ahogadas, Guadalajara's beloved and famous hangover cure. Crunchy baguettes are filled with chunks of pork and drenched in a searing chili sauce and a squeeze of lime. Take a bite and your tongue will burn, your stomach unwinds and your head will clear almost instantly.

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