Food · Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
What to eat in Puerto Vallarta
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Puerto Vallarta, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Microstar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Pescado zarandeado, Smoked marlin tacos and Aguachile. Taco stands appear in the evening on street corners in the Zona Romántica and 5 de Diciembre, serving al pastor, carne asada and fish tacos at local prices. Restaurants in the Zona Romántica fill from about 7pm in high season; book ahead for popular places.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Pescado zarandeado
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 4
- Tipping
- Tip 10–15% in restaurants, 20 pesos or so per bag for porters, and tip boat crews…
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Pescado zarandeado
A whole fish butterflied, rubbed with a chilli and citrus marinade and grilled over wood embers in a hinged basket, served with tortillas and salsas to make your own tacos.
Where: Beach palapa restaurants at Las Ánimas, Mismaloya and Bucerías, and seafood restaurants in town.
Street food
2.Smoked marlin tacos (Tacos de marlin)
Shredded smoked marlin cooked with onion, tomato and chilli, folded into tortillas, often with melted cheese; a Pacific-coast speciality.
Where: Seafood taco stands and marisquerías in town, mainly at lunchtime.
Dish
3.Aguachile
Raw shrimp 'cooked' briefly in lime juice blended with green chillies, served with red onion, cucumber and tostadas. It is fiery and fresh.
Where: Marisquerías across town and on the beaches.
Dish
4.Birria
Jalisco's slow-cooked goat or beef stewed in a chilli broth, served as a stew or in tacos dipped in the consommé.
Where: Birria stands and small restaurants in the 5 de Diciembre and Pitillal neighbourhoods, mostly in the mornings.
Dish
5.Pozole rojo
A hearty hominy soup with pork and red chilli broth, topped at the table with shredded cabbage, radish, oregano and lime.
Where: Family restaurants and fondas, often on Thursday or weekend evenings.
Street food
6.Tortas ahogadas
A Guadalajara speciality: crusty birote bread stuffed with pork carnitas and 'drowned' in tomato sauce and chilli.
Where: Torta stands in town, mostly at breakfast and lunch.
Drink · Vegetarian
7.Raicilla
An agave spirit distilled in small batches in the mountains of coastal Jalisco, related to mezcal, with fruity or smoky flavours.
Where: Mezcal and raicilla bars in the Zona Romántica, where tasting flights are often offered.
Drink · Vegetarian
8.Tejuino
A cold, tangy drink of fermented corn masa served with lime, salt and a scoop of lime sorbet, sold from street carts.
Where: Street carts in the Centro and residential neighbourhoods in the afternoon.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Tequila
Jalisco is the home of tequila, made from blue agave in the highlands around the town of Tequila; look for '100% agave' on the label.
Where: Bars and tasting rooms on the Malecón and in the Zona Romántica.
Snack · Vegetarian
10.Coconut and fruit cups
Fresh coconut water drunk from the shell, and cups of mango, jícama and cucumber with chilli powder and lime, sold on the beaches and streets.
Where: Beach vendors and street carts along the Malecón and Los Muertos.
Food experiences
Street-taco night
Taco stands appear in the evening on street corners in the Zona Romántica and 5 de Diciembre, serving al pastor, carne asada and fish tacos at local prices.
Palapa lunch on a boat-access beach
Take a water taxi to Las Ánimas or Yelapa and spend a long lunch over grilled fish and cold drinks in a beach palapa.
Raicilla and tequila tasting
Specialist bars in the old town compare raicilla, mezcal and tequila styles from different regions of Jalisco and Nayarit.
Festival Gourmet International
Every year, usually in November, local restaurants host guest chefs from around the world for special menus and dinners.
Quick bites and street food
- Smoked marlin tacos — Seafood taco stands and marisquerías in town, mainly at lunchtime.
- Tortas ahogadas — Torta stands in town, mostly at breakfast and lunch.
- Coconut and fruit cups — Beach vendors and street carts along the Malecón and Los Muertos.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 4 are usually vegetarian: Raicilla, Tejuino, Tequila and Coconut and fruit cups. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Restaurants in the Zona Romántica fill from about 7pm in high season; book ahead for popular places.
- Street tacos are mostly an evening affair, from about 6pm until late.
- Check whether prices are in pesos or dollars, and pay in pesos for a better rate.
- Restaurants serve purified water and ice; ask for 'agua purificada' if unsure.
- Tipping of 10–15% is expected in restaurants and is rarely included in the bill.
Tipping
Tip 10–15% in restaurants, 20 pesos or so per bag for porters, and tip boat crews, guides and water-taxi drivers who help with luggage. Grocery baggers and petrol station attendants expect small change.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buenas noches | Good evening / good night |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much is it? |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| ¿A qué hora sale el barco? | What time does the boat leave? |
| Sin chile, por favor | Without chilli, please |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Puerto Vallarta famous for?
Pescado zarandeado, Smoked marlin tacos, Aguachile and Birria. A whole fish butterflied, rubbed with a chilli and citrus marinade and grilled over wood embers in a hinged basket, served with tortillas and salsas to make your own tacos.
+Is Puerto Vallarta good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Raicilla, Tejuino and Tequila.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Puerto Vallarta?
Tip 10–15% in restaurants, 20 pesos or so per bag for porters, and tip boat crews, guides and water-taxi drivers who help with luggage. Grocery baggers and petrol station attendants expect small change.