Mexican restaurants in Guadalajara
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A
Birriería las Nueve Esquinas
Half a dozen blocks south of the city center, the un-touristy Nueve Esquinas (nine corners) neighborhood specializes in birria, meat steamed in its own juices until it’s so tender it melts in your mouth. Birriería las Nueve Esquinas does it best. 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 (green sauce) swimming with cilantro and perfectly ripe chunks of avocado.
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B
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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C
Karne Garibaldi
This place 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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D
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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E
Cocina 88
Moneyed Guadalajara’s restaurant of choice is located in a renovated turn-of-the-century mansion, 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. Here, surf and turf has many meanings, such as perfectly seared scallops and filet mignon carpaccio. It’s not cheap, but it isn’t a total budget buster. Seafood and beef are sold at cost and guests are simply charged a kitchen fee per person.
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F
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 (fried eggs on a corn tortilla with a tomato, chili and onion sauce served with refried beans) and chilaquiles (fried tortilla strips cooked with chili sauce) have been favorites for 50 years.
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G
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 filete de res oro negro – beef with huitlacoche (corn fungus) sauce. Come at night and dine beneath a magnificent chandelier of wrought-iron stars.
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H
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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I
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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J
Cenaduría Doña Victoria
Victoria serves high-quality Mexican soul food. Her streetside skillet overflows with taquitos, tacos, tortas, pozole, quail, chicken and potatoes. The pollo dorado (fried chicken; M$30) is the best seller. It comes with potatoes, salad, tortillas and three kinds of salsa.
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K
LA O
The guys at Cocina 88 converted this mansion 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 garlicky pulpo (squid) and the salmon-stuffed squash blossoms.
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L
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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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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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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M
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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N
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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