Dishes to Try

Here are a few dishes you might want to consider trying while you are in México:

Birria
A dish typical of Jalisco, birria is a meat stew made of beef, goat, lamb or a combination of these, seasoned with chile guajillo or pasilla and chile ancho.


Pozole Estilo Jalisco
Another Tapatío dish, this style of pozole is red soup made from hominy with pork or beef, chile de árbol, and other seasonings and garnished with lettuce, oregano, cilantro, avocado, radish, etc.


Cochinita Pibil
This is a style of barbecued pork developed in Yucatán. Traditionally, the pork is wrapped in banana leaves and slowly cooked in a pit lined with stones. The meat is soaked in a light vinegary sauce of oranges and annatto seed paste, which gives it its distinctive flavor and orange color.


Chiles en Nogada
Because of its red, white and green color, this dish is eaten to celebrate Mexican Independence (celebrated on September 16th). It is in season from September through November and consists of poblano peppers stuffed with a filling of meat cooked in spices and covered with a walnut (nuez de castilla) and pomegranate sauce.


Menudo
This is a soup made of hominy and gulp! tripe… but not any kind of tripe since its made exclusively from the smooth muscle that makes up cows' stomachs. Though it may not sound appetizing, we urge people to try it; it is quite delicious and is especially recommended as a cure for hangover. It is typically served with dried oregano, ground chile flakes, lime juice, and chopped onion as condiments.


Barbacoa
This is a typical Sunday morning dish consisting of slowly cooked meat (beef, goat or lamb).


Sopa de Lima
This light chicken and crispy tortilla soup comes from southern México. It has a unique flavor that comes from the rind and juice of the fragrant bitter lime grown in Yucatán that is used to season it.


Tamales Chiapanecos
The Chiapas version of tamales, they are wrapped in banana leaves and often contain pork or chicken meat seasoned with epazote and spices.


Chilaquiles
This is a very simple dish often served for breakfast. It consists mainly of fried or baked tortillas that have been cooked in a spicy green tomatillo and chile sauce or in a red chile ancho and tomato sauce. They are typically topped with cream or queso fresco and thinly sliced onions.


Antojitos (“Little Whims”)
This is the type of Mexican food most people in the US are familiar with. Antojitos is not a dish but a food category often sold by street vendors and in regional fairs. The famous tacos and quesadillas belong to this category, as well as gorditas (masa dough filled with meat, cheese or guisados and deep-fried), papadzules (tortillas in pumpkin-seed sauce), empanadas (seasoned meat or seafood wrapped in a pastry), flautas (fried tacos, filled with guisados and garnished with vegetables and cream), tostadas (fried tortillas covered with meat, chicken or beans, seasoned with salsa and garnished with vegetables), sopes, garnachas or picadas (fried masa dough flat cakes topped with guisados) and many others. Guisados are stews or simple meals-in-a-pot such as tinga (shredded chicken or pork seasoned with tomato and chile sauce), rajas (spicy poblano pepper, onions and tomatoes) or papas con chorizo (potatoes and spicy sausage) that are often used in the preparation of antojitos.


Tortas Ahogadas
Of special note amongst antojitos are Tortas Ahogadas (drenched sandwiches), another local favorite. The sandwich is made with bollillo rolls which are made crisp by heating them in a griddle, filled with shredded or stewed pork and beef, and fortified by serving it with a side of thin spicy sauce in which locals completely drench the Tortas. They can be quite delicious. If you want to taste one, one place you could try is Lonchertía Gemma.


Drinks to Try

Tequila is México's national drink, and we recommend sampling many varities. While it is most commonly drunk straight, it can also be served in mixed drinks, or with a can of Squirt or a shot of sangrita. In addition, México produces a wealth of excellent beers. Again, we recommend sampling different brands, many of which are not available in the US. After tequila, the most popular liquors are rum and brandy, many of which are produced domestically. We are not big fans of Mexican brandies, but we love rum (Mexican or otherwise) in a good mojito or Cuba libre. Oh, and you can buy Cuban rum (and cigars!) in México. Also, there are excellent non-alcoholic drinks, many of which are made from fresh fruit juice. Like restaurants, bars in Guadalajara are spread throughout the city. However, a large concentration can be found on Avenida Chapultapec.

Non-alcoholic Drinks

Freshly Squeezed Fruit Juices One of our favorite things about México has to be the abundance of juice stands serving every imaginable fruit and vegetable juice, freshly-squeezed, along with every conceivable combination of them.

Aguas Frescas Refreshing, non-carbonated natural flavor and fruit drinks, the most common flavors are horchata (made either with rice or dried cantaloupe seeds) and jamaica (hibiscus). Depending on the season, one can find tamarind, orange, cantaloupe, guava, lemon and chia seeds, watermelon, mango, pineapple and strawberry, and even barley or prickly pear cactus fruit.

Atole This hot pre-hispanic drink has long been a breakfast and dinner favorite. It is prepared with a cooked corn mix diluted in water or milk, often flavored with vanilla or fruits like strawbery and guava, and occasionaly even with chocolate or pecans.

Liquor Drinks

Many cocktails do not enjoy the same popularity in México that they do in the US. Our advice is to skip ordering martinis and the like and enjoy a drink made with tequila or rum. Some popular choices include:

Rusa con Tequila Tequila and Squirt

Cuba Libre Rum and Coke

Margarita Tequila, lime juice, triple sec and sugar, garnished with salt and lime

Mojito Rum, lime juice, spearmint (yerbabuena), sugar and soda

Oaxaca de Noche Mezcal and coke. When made with tequila, it's known as a Charro Negro

Tequila Sunrise Tequila, orange juice and grenadine.

Cucaracha Tequila and Kahlúa. This cocktail is lit up at your table and must be drunk inmediately with a straw

Tepache Not a liquor drink, but a refreshing, light, alchoholic drink made from fermented fruit juices (often pinapple or guava) and sweetened with piloncillo (unrefined sugar)

Beer

Here is a list of Mexican brands, organized by color and listed in order from our favorites to our least favorites:

Light Pacifico, Montejo, Dos Equis Lager, Casta Dorada, Modelo Especial, Casta Triguera, Sol, Estrella, Corona, Superior, Modelo, Tecate, Carta Blanca

Medium Casta Bruna, Nochebuena, Bohemia, Dos Equis Amber, Victoria, Indio

Dark Casta Morena, Negra Modelo, Leon

Michelada A beer “cocktail”, basically 7 parts your favorite beer plus 1 part lime juice, salt and ice. Some places make them more savory or spicy by adding Worcestershire sauce, powdered chile, tabasco sauce or pepper. These are delicious and quite refreshing.

For an unsual look at Mexican beers, and some impressions on their taste, have a look at The Molecular Impressions Beer Shots.

Restaurant Listings

Adobe Fonda $$$
Restaurant/Bar, Alta Cocina Mexicana
Francisco de Miranda 27, between Juaréz and Independencia
Colonia Centro, Tlaquepaque
Phone: (33) 3657-2792 / 3639-9467
Mon-Sun 12:00 PM-7:00 PM
It offers: Bar, Live music, Takes reservations and credit/atm cards

Santo Coyote $$$
Restaurant, Cocina Mexicana Tradicional
Lerdo de Tejada 2379, close to the Centro Magno mall
Phone: (33) 3616-8472
Mon-Sun 1:00 PM-Midnight
Specialty: Cabrito al Pastor
It offers: Bar, Live music, Takes reservations and credit/atm cards

Birriertía Las 9 Esquinas $
Eatery, Cocina Mexicana Tradicional
Colón 384, between Galeana and Leandro Valle
Colonia Centro, Guadalajara
Phone: (33) 3613-6260
Mon-Sun 09:00 AM-8:00 PM
Specialty: Birria
It offers: Sit down and to-go meals

El Abajeño $$
Restaurant, Cocina Mexicana Tradicional
Av. Vallarta 802, Between Av. López Mateos and Hernán Cortés
Sector Juárez, Guadalajara
Phone: (33) 3630-0307 / 3630-2112
Tue-Sun 09:00 AM-11:00 PM
It offers: Bar, live Mariachi Music, Takes reservations and credit/atm cards
Another Abajeño Restaurant can be found in Tlaquepaque:
Juárez 231, Between Fco. Miranda and Alfarero Streets
Colonia Centro, Tlaquepaque
Phone: (33) 3635-9015
Mon-Sat 12:00 PM-10:00 PM, Sun Noon-9:00 PM

El Sacromonte $$$
Restaurant/Bar, Alta Cocina Mexicana
Pedro Moreno 1398, at Colonias
Colonia Americana, Guadalajara
Phone: (33) 3825-5447 / 3827-0663
Mon-Sat 2:00 PM-1:00 AM
Specialty: Quesadillas con Petalos de Rosa
It offers: Smoking area, Bar, Food to-go, Live music, Takes reservations and credit/atm cards, handicapped-accesible, Valet parking

Fonda de San Miguel $$
Restaurant, Cocina Mexicana Tradicional
Pedro Moreno 25, at the crossing with Donato Guerra
Colonia Centro, Guadalajara
Phone: (33) 3613-0809 / 3613-0793
Tue-Sat 08:00 AM-Midnight, Sun-Mon 08:00 AM-6:00 PM
Specialty: Pechuga San Francisco
It offers: Bar, Live music, Takes reservations and credit/atm cards

Los Arcos $$
Restaurant/Bar, Seafood, Regional Mexican (Sinaloense)
Av. Lázaro Cárdenas 3549, Between San Ignacio and Santa Beatriz
Colonia Jardines de San Ignacio, Zapopan
Phone: (33) 3122-3719 / 3122-3720
Mon-Sun 11:00 AM-10:00 PM
Specialties: Pescado Zarandeado (Ask for Pargo or Curvina), Callo de Hacha, Camarones Cucaracha (One of David's favorites), Aguachile de Camarones (quite spicy!)
It Offers: Smoking area, Live music, Takes reservations and credit/atm card, Valet Parking

La Bodeguita del Medio $$
Restaurant/Bar, Cuban, the best mojitos!
Av. Vallarta 2320, between Lope de Vega and Calderón de la Barca
Colonia Americana, Guadalajara
Phone: (33) 3630-1620 / 3630-1621
Wed-Sat 1:30 PM-3:00 AM, Sun-Tue 1:30 PM-1:00 AM
It offers: Bar, Smoking area, Food to-go, Live Cuban music , Dancing lessons on Wed and Thu at 6:30 PM, Happy Hour 1:30-6:00 PM daily, Takes reservations and credit/atm cards, Valet parking, Souvenir store

Casa Bariachi $$
Restaurant/Bar, Mexican
Av. Vallarta 2221, between Lope de Vega and Calderón de la Barca
Colonia Americana, Guadalajara
Phone: (33) 3616-9900
Mon-Sat 1:30 PM-3:00 AM
It offers: Live mariachi music daily from 3:00-6:00 PM and 11:00 PM-2:00 AM

El Pargo $$
Restaurant, Jalisco-Style Seafood
There are four of these:
1. Av. La Paz 2140 at the crossing with Marsella, Colonia Americana, Guadalajara
Phone: (33) 3615-7465, Mon-Sun Noon-7:00 PM
2. Federalismo Sur 876, at the crossing with Francia, Colonia Moderna, Guadalajara
Phone: (33) 3810-5285, Mon-Sun Noon-7:00 PM
3. Lázaro Cárdenas 4150, between Teresita de Jesús and San Juan de la Cruz, Colonia Camino Real, Zapopan
Phone: (33) 3121-3529, Mon-Sun Noon-6:00 PM
4. Av. Revolución, Between Carlos Fueyo y Motolinea, Colonia La Loma, Guadalajara
Phone: (33) 3659-0840, Mon-Sun Noon-7:00 PM
Specialty: Pescado Zarandeado (but the style is different from the one at los Arcos)
It offers: Smoking area, Bar, Food to-go, Live music, Takes reservations and credit/atm cards, Valet parking

Jacarandas $$$
Restaurant, International Cuisine
Av. López Mateos Sur 2500, at the crossing with Av. Mariano Otero (located in the top floor of the Crowne Plaza Guadalajara)
Colonia Ciudad del Sol, Guadalajara
Phone: (33) 3634-1034 ext. 4022, 4021 or 4076
Mon-Sat 8:00 AM-12:30 AM
It offers: Smoking area, Bar, food to-go, Live music, Takes reservations and credit/atm cards, Valet parking

Nude $$
Restaurant/Bar, International Cuisine and Noveau Mexican
López Cotilla 1589, at the crossing with Gral. San Martín
Colonia Obrera Centro, Guadalajara
Phone: (33) 3616-5491 /3616-5248
Mon-Sat 1:00 PM-02:30 AM
It offers: Smoking area, Bar, Live rock cover band, Takes reservations and credit/atm cards, Valet parking, handicaped-accesible

La Destilertía $$
Restaurant/Bar, Mexican
Av. México 2916, corner of Nelson
Fracc. Terranova, Guadalajara
Phone: (33) 3640-3440 / 3640-3110
Mon-Sat 1:00 PM-Midnight; Sun 1:00 PM-6:00 PM
Specialty: Creative Mexican cuisine involving Tequila
It offers: Wide selection of tequilas (over 200) reservations recomended, Takes credit/atm cards

La Estancia Gaucha $$
Restaurant, Argentinean Style Beef
Av. Niños Héroes 2860-A, at López Mateos
Phone: (33) 3122-6565
Mon-Sun 1:00 PM-10:00 PM
Specialty: Churrasco, and Bife de Lomo, also, give Argentinian empanadas a try!
It offers: Smoking area, Bar, Takes reservations and credit/atm cards, Valet parking

La Chata $
Corona 126, between Av. Juárez and López Cotilla
Colonia Centro, Guadalajara
Phone: (33) 3613-0588 / 3613-1315
It offers: Food to-go, Takes credit/atm cards

Los Alteños $
Taquertía
Av. Tepeyac
Colonia Chapalita, Guadalajara
Specialty: Tacos (Try the al Pastor, they are great here!)

Karne Garibaldi $
Traditional Mexican
Garibaldi 1306, corner of José Clemente Orozco, Guadalajara
and Mariano Otero 3019, in front of the Plaza del Sol, Zapopan
Specialty: Carnes en su Jugo (Meat stew), It's the only thing on the menu!

Lonchería Gemma $
Traditional Mexican
Located inside the Plaza del Sol mall at ‘Stall Local 6-B Zone C’
Phone: (33) 3122-0133
Specialty: Tortas Ahogadas