My parents are coming this October for their first visit ever to Mexico and I've had where we're going to eat on my mind. I LOVE food (yum yum yum), so I thought I would share with you the stuff I think is yummy and where to get it, in case you are lovers of yummy (inexpensive) food as well. I'll warn you ahead of time ... I'm not a pineapple dressing over roasted chicken with a side of palm leaves and nuts found in the deepest part of Asia kindof person (when I eat!!) so this is just good, yummy, down home food.
1. I am a nacho lover. I LOVE NACHOS. I know it's not a true Mexican dish. But there are two places who put a twist on nachos that, I think, are yummy here in Vallarta.
a). Nachos con carne desabrada (shredded beef) from Pipis. It doesn't come with carne dasabrada but you have to order it with it because it's super super yummy. I also order this with an extra order of jitomate (tomatoes) on top. Costs like $60.00 pesos, which I think is quite a steal for the amount you get. Funny thing is, while you're there, get a margarita too -peach is my favorite - they are huge and will knock you on your butt! PIPIS Restaurant Bar Puerto Vallarta
. Nachos con pollo (with chicken) at Agave Grill. These are really original nachos - they use a diferent sort of creamy sauce and their chips are diferent too - I've never had nachos like this - completely yummy. I think these are around $80 pesos. Agave Grill, Puerto Vallarta Restaurants | BookIt.com ® Travel Guide
2. Molcajate at El Brujo. Seriously, you have not eaten Mexican food unless you have tried the Molcajate. Get the one that comes with steak AND chicken - it's enough to feed two people. They stew it in a special salsa, grilled steak and chicken, grilled onions, grilled cactus (I normally don't like cactus but I do like it with these tacos), refried beans and homemade tortillas. YUMMEE. Also they have SUPER great margaritas (very tasty) - their best I think is the Mango. El Brujo Review | Puerto Vallarta | Fodor's Restaurant Reviews
3. Tamales Oaxaquenos at Maria Candelarias. Just down the street from Pipis THE BEST tamales in Vallarta (by far, by far). If you love tamales like I do, this is the place for you - and it's SUPER cheap. I think each Tamal costs like $15 pesos (depending on the tamal). I love the Oaxaquenos with chicken - it's just a different way of wrapping the tamal - in a banana leaf, instead of a corn husk, and it gives the tamal a different texture and flavor. Maria Candelaria, Guadalupe Sanches No. 851, Col. Centro. Tel: 322-222-4603. ALSO you should try the atole - it's a hot drink made with corn - I don't know how to explain it really except I really like it - especially if it's vanilla, chocolate or strawberry.
4. Shrimp Cocktail. I'm not sure how to explain where this restaurant is but it's located in the Mercado (flea market) downtown, upstairs. If you're really interested, let me know and I'll get better directions. They have THE BEST shrimp cocktail, super inexpensive and you sit RIGHT ON the river - so, it's like getting amazing food, for 1/4 the price of other more established restaurants on the river. I think the medium Shrimp Cocktail is something like $60.00 pesos.
5. Best Breakfast Ever. I've mentioned this place before. It doesn't have a name but they have tables set-up in front of the house and tables set-up in this quaint, quiet garden in the back. Super super inexpensive and by far the best breakfast in Vallarta. He's located a couple of houses down (literally) from the corner of Brasilia and Rio de La Plata in 5 de Diciembre. My favorites (I have a lot) but if I had to choose his puntas de res, chilaquiles de chiptole. And great pancakes. Starts at around $30 pesos per plate. Fresh squeezed orange juice. YUM YUM YUM. he's only open mon-sat from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
6. Second Best Breakfast Ever - the Machaca at Freddy Tucans. I love machaca when it's made of beef (you have to be careful because it can be made of other things not quite as yummy, in my opinion, as beef ) and Freddie's makes it out of beef. yummy tortillas, refried beans. It gets super busy, so you want to go a little ahead of when you are hungry or you may have a hard time getting in. Freddy Tucans, corner of Ignacio L. and Basilio Badillo.
7. Cinnamon Roll French Toast at Boca Bento. Seriously TO DIE for. Of course, it's sweet, but oh sooooo yummy! They don't have their breakfast menu on the website because they call themselves something different in the a.m. ... Welcome to BocaBento Restaurant
8. Not to eat but to drink ... you have to try our aqua de sabores (flavored water) and THE place that makes the best is located right down town at the Michoacana on the corner across from Starbucks and right next to Los Arcos. My favorite flavors are Jamaica (more so when I'm really thirsty and not just wanting something to drink), Horchata (a rice based drink with canela and creamy- YUMMEE) and I'll let you in on a local secret ... they oftentimes have Horchata con Fresa (strawberry horchata) which is YUMMME - but it's not on the board - you have to ask them if they have it (which they often do). I also like Naranja (orange) and limon (lemon).
9. Tacos (and quesadillas) de Carne Asada ... I'm lucky - the best place is right down the street from where I live! The restaurant is called Majayote - get the dish that costs like $200.00 pesos ($20) - it will stuff 3 people and make very happy 4 people. The platter comes with grilled steak strips, grilled sausages, quesadillas, beans, homemade tortillas, grilled onions - super delicious. Close to the corner of Guatamala and Brasil in 5 de Diciembre.
10. Late night tacos ... again, we scored!! The best place (we've tried a ton!) is down the street - they open around 6 p.m. and stay open until around 3 a.m. So unbelievably yummy and super cheap (the quesadillas are $18 pesos and the tacos $12 pesos). No name - just a little taco stand. Corner of Guatamala and Ecuador in 5 de Diciembre. I've been there to eat with some of the top socialites of Vallarta (think stature of Maya Angelou) so I figure if they think it's great too, I'm not too far off the mark . Oh, I nearly forgot - there are two taco stands there - you want the one that's on the west side of the street, not the one on the east. The one on the east is right next to the party store. the one you want (west - west is closest to the ocean) is up against a wood store.
Okay - that's all I can think of right now - if you do happen to any of those places to try any of the food, lemme know - be interested to hear your take on things .
I do think it's doable and I do think Sayulita is one of your best choices. It's not impossible to get into town from Sayulita, in case you have guests who wish to do so. The only thing about Sayulita is that you'll want to make sure to give your guests plenty of time to rent and lock-in where they are going to stay, because it is a very small beach town and I can easily see places being booked quickly. I do love Villa Amor - I don't have other photos of the villa - BUT I will admit that I think it's pretty $$$. You might also try San Pancho or San Francisco (it's the same place - San Pancho is just the nickname for Francisco) - they have a lot of really beautiful villas there - I went there a few weeks' ago for a ceremony, having never been there before, and I was really impressed- I had no idea they had villas like that in that area. San Pancho is about 10 minutes north of Sayulita. You won't need a taxi in Sayulita or San Francisco - very, very small towns. To get into PV, if someone would wish to do so, you can either take a taxi or take a combi (like a vw van) - I think a bus passes by Sayulita as well. If you do stay in Sayulita or San Pancho I might suggest that you have a day where you all pitch-in and rent a van and driver so you can go into vallarta for those who have never been there to see stuff, shop, etc. But it's just a suggestion. Best of luck and congratulations!