Discover the best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta, a sought-after tourist destination, captivating visitors with its stunning landscapes and vibrant atmosphere.
Moreover, this city boasts a culinary scene that pulsates with flavors from around the world, offering a diverse range of dining options.
The purpose of this blog post is to take you on a gastronomic journey through Puerto Vallarta’s culinary landscape, as we uncover the absolute best restaurants that the city has to offer.
Our tour begins at the iconic Malecon in downtown, bustling with a myriad of food stands and vendors that tantalize your taste buds at every turn.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to savor the freshness of ceviche or quench your thirst with local drinks like tejuino and tuba water.
If your hotel is situated in the North Hotel Zone, a visit to the neighboring Versalles neighborhood is highly recommended.
Versalles exudes a warm and bustling atmosphere, its convenient location grants easy access to an array of local restaurants.
Prepare to embark on a delightful gastronomic adventure as you explore the friendly streets of Versalles.
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Xolo Maíz Agave Chile
Located along Puerto Vallarta’s boardwalk, Xolo restaurant offers a truly unique and unforgettable gastronomic experience.
One of the standout dishes at Xolo is the Molcajete Xolo.
This delightful creation features a combination of skirt steak, chicken, and shrimp, served with panela cheese, cactus, and onion.
Presented in a traditional stone mortar, the dish is accompanied by Xolo’s special sauce.
For those seeking a classic Mexican dish with a twist, the Xolo Enchiladas are a must-try.
These enchiladas feature fresh catch of the day and a medley of seafood, smothered in guajillo paste and gratinated with Mexican cheeses.
A mixture of fried chiles adds an extra layer of complexity and heat to this delectable dish.
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El Barracuda
Known for their commitment to quality and flavor, Barracuda offers a diverse menu featuring a range of seafood delicacies.
One of the most popular dishes at Barracuda is their mouthwatering fish tacos. Made with fresh, locally sourced fish, these tacos are expertly seasoned and served with an array of toppings and sauces.
Another standout dish is their delectable ceviche.
Prepared with the finest seafood, such as shrimp or fish, the ceviche at Barracuda is marinated in a tangy citrus-based sauce.
The result is a refreshing and zesty dish that perfectly captures the essence of Mexican coastal cuisine.
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La Palapa
La Palapa is a famous restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, offers an extraordinary dining experience with its picturesque beachfront location on Playa Los Muertos.
Taste in their exquisite culinary creations, such as the mouthwatering Seafood Enchiladas.
These delightful enchiladas are filled with a medley of shrimp, fish, scallops, and mushrooms, complemented by Monterey Jack cheese and a spicy and smoky red pepper sauce.
Another standout dish is the La Palapa Style Shrimps.
This dish features succulent shrimp combined with the richness of parmigiano reggiano, banana, coriander, and the creamy textures of potato and corn puree.
The dish is elevated with a tantalizing soursop and tequila sauce, creating a truly unique and unforgettable culinary experience.
At La Palapa, you can savor these extraordinary dishes while enjoying the stunning beachfront views.
It is one of the best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta.
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Tacos La Mucca
Tacos La Mucca, the latest brainchild of chef Joel Ornelas.
The local specialty in Puerto Vallarta, known as the taco arriero, is a hearty delight.
It consists of a thick handmade tortilla loaded with a generous amount of beef.
The meat is complemented by melted cheese, beans, and finely chopped cabbage.
At Tacos La Mucca, Chef Joel enhances the arriero taco by using tortillas made from locally grown traditional corn and delicious Angus beef cooked over a wood fire.
For an even more delightful experience, you have the option to add bone marrow to your taco, creating a truly unique and unforgettable culinary experience.
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Ocho Tostadas
One of the most famous and best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta is 8 Tostadas, located really close from the airport a Marina Vallarta.
Marina Vallarta is a popular area known for its marina, golf courses, resorts, and dining establishments.
Indulge in their famous crispy fish, and try the crab tacos, a combination of creamy enchiladas and tacos, filled with crab.
Don’t miss out on trying their octopus or shrimp cocktails, as well as their ceviche or marlin tostadas.
You can choose between raw or poached butterflied shrimp, accompanied by sliced avocado.
These dishes are prepared using the freshest ingredients sourced from the local area
Complement your meal with the restaurant’s tamarind margaritas, crafted with raicilla instead of tequila, for a unique twist.
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El Tacón de Marlin
El Tacón de Marlin, located across the street from the airport on Avenida Francisco Medina Ascencio.
Offers a unique coastal twist even to burritos, which they call “burritas.”
These seafood-filled delights perfectly capture the essence of Vallarta mariscos philosophy.
They are affordable, high quality filling, and incredibly delicious.
Unlike traditional burritos, El Tacón’s burritas omit rice, beans, and French fries.
Instead, they showcase beautifully seared seafood, shredded lettuce, a touch of cheese, and sliced tomatoes.
The original burrita features smoked marlin.
But there are options with shrimp, octopus, smoked crab, and bacon-wrapped fish fillet.
The burritas are generously sized, halved, and grilled to perfection for a crispy, golden surface.
El Tacón de Marlin has multiple locations throughout Puerto Vallarta, including one conveniently situated outside the airport.
This makes it an excellent choice for a final memorable meal in paradise before departing.
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Restaurante Bar Fernando’s
Pescado zarandeado is the celebrated dish in Puerto Vallarta, a must have for weekends or beach feasts.
Considered the best version in the region, this butterflied fish is coated in a savory seasoning, smoked in a zaranda basket, and served with refreshing salsa verde.
Owner Fernando Olivares perfected it over decades, now carried on by his son, César.
Don’t miss the shrimps zarandeados style and the irresistible smoked bean-filled tacos, crisped over an open wood fire.
The restaurant is about a 45-minute drive from downtown Puerto Vallarta, so remember to reserve your fish in advance.
This rustic, local restaurant is not luxurious and offers a down-to-earth dining experience.
Set in a charming spot, it may lack air conditioning but still provides a comfortable ambiance.
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La Tienda Grande
La Tienda Grande, a restaurant opened by chef Salvador “Chava” Carrillo, offers an excellent experience in every aspect.
From the decor, history, cocktail selection, and food to the attentive service provided by the chef himself.
Don’t miss out on trying their extraordinary horchata martini, the Chino taco, cheese croquettes and macho relleno.
For Chef Chava, opening La Tienda Grande was like returning home.
After honing his skills as chef de cuisine at La Leche restaurant, he ventured to Dubai to further his culinary journey.
Eventually, he returned to his roots and opened a restaurant in his hometown’s working-class neighborhood of Ixtapa.
La Tienda Grande’s menu reflects Chava’s international experience.
Featuring dishes like squid ink fettuccine with chiltepín chili and shrimp, charcoal beef carpaccio with black sour sauce, and sea smoked ham (local cured sashimi with bone marrow cream, amaranth, and sunflower seeds).
Although La Tienda Grande is located about 30 minutes away from Downtown Puerto Vallarta, it is one the best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta.
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La Milpa Fonda Bistro
Milpa Fonda Bistro, located in Puerto Vallarta’s El Pitillal neighborhood, is spearheading the change towards heirloom tortillas-focused menus in the city.
Approximately 20 minutes from Downtown Puerto Vallarta, this restaurant offers a delightful array of dishes that celebrate corn as the cornerstone of Mexican gastronomy.
Indulge in gorditas de chicharrón, pinole cappuccinos, multicolor quesadillas crafted from various heirloom corn varieties, and mouthwatering sweet corn cheesecakes.
Every dish at Milpa Fonda Bistro is made in-house using chef-sourced corn tortillas and inventive flavors.
Despite its humble surroundings and furnishings, the restaurant exudes a clean and bohemian atmosphere.
From the delightful smoothies to the tantalizing main dishes and delectable desserts like the house-made raspberry ice cream with cocoa chips, every bite is a delight.
The service is exceptional, ensuring a great and gracious dining experience.
Milpa Fonda Bistro may not be a tourist hotspot, but it is where you can truly savor the best and most authentic Mexican food in Puerto Vallarta.
Puerto Vallarta Airport Transportation
We encourage you to embark on a culinary adventure and explore the gastronomic richness of Puerto Vallarta.
Enjoy the flavors of regional specialties like the taco arriero or the famous seafood-filled enchiladas.
Don’t miss the opportunity to try traditional dishes with a modern twist, crafted by talented local chefs.
As you plan your visit to Puerto Vallarta, remember that TPV Puerto Vallarta airport transportation provide the best option for traveling from the airport to any spot in the city.
