You might not expect the inland city of Guadalajara to be a great place for seafood. Yet despite being more than three hours from the coast, western Mexico’s most vibrant metropolis has a wealth of first-rate seafood restaurants. Here’s our rundown of the very best.
Ponte Trucha Negro
Restaurant, Seafood, $$$
Since 2009, Ponte Trucha Negro has been delivering an excellent gastronomic experience in the traditional working-class barrio of Santa Tere. The first thing you’ll notice about the restaurant is its vibrant feel. Like the surrounding neighborhood, the atmosphere is eclectic and chaotic. By contrast, the owners Alma and Salvador maintain absolute focus and dedication. The proof is in the menu, with its wealth of high-quality, truly memorable dishes.
This highly-rated restaurant offers colorful Thai-Mexican fusion dining in a trendy but laid-back venue. Next to its sister restaurant, I Latina, seafood abounds on the menu at the Anita Li. The Dorado Yucathai is a big favorite – dolphinfish marinated in achiote with orange juice and served alongside a cucumber, onion and papaya salad.
Never too far from the top of any local’s recommendation list, Puerco Espada has become something of an institution in Guadalajara. The laid-back taco restaurant has a somewhat hipster vibe, and boasts an impressive menu as well as fast, friendly service. The fish ceviche con rajas (sliced poblano pepper with cream) is highly recommended.
A must for foodies, this trendy eatery has established a reputation as the best place in the city for shellfish. With two branches in the city, La Docena has an impressive menu that includes oyster, mussel, octopus, crab and shrimp options. Chef Tomás Bermúdez is an expert in both presentation and flavor. The service and atmosphere are first-rate, and the restaurant also has an impressive selection of cocktails and craft beers.
A neat little spot located in Guadalajara’s northern suburbs, El Farallón de Tepic boasts a delicious seafood menu. A branch of the original restaurant located in Tepic, the capital of the coastal state of Nayarit, El Farallón sticks firmly to the traditions of Mexican Pacific cuisine. The fish zarandeado is a real highlight. For this traditional dish, the fish is split in half from head to tail before being grilled over hot coals in a wood-fired oven. The strong Asian influence on Nayarit cuisine is evident in the soy sauce used in the marinade.
Another restaurant with roots in the tastes and traditions of Nayarit, Mariscos Mr Cora has one of the largest seafood menus in the city. Specialties include stuffed crabs, shrimp in tequila sauce and molcajete – a mortar dish overflowing with shrimp, octopus, steak, vegetables and melted cheese.
With a branch in the flashy Guadalajara mall of Plaza Andares, Santo Mar is popular with groups of young, wealthy Instagram enthusiasts. The extensive menu explores different textures and flavors, combining traditional Mexican seafood with a selection of international flavors. The sushi section of the menu is impressive and the ceviche is excellent.
Since 2013, La Panga del Impostor has been providing excellent seafood in a laid-back nautical-themed venue. With a branch near Chapultepec Avenue and another in the swanky neighborhood of Providencia, the restaurant offers exciting dishes such as tuna in black habanero sauce and fried pork belly with octopus. The drinks menu at La Panga del Impostor is as impressive as the food, so take your pick from the extensive selection of local craft beers.
Located in the the charming Guadalajara municipality of Tlaquepaque, Puerto San Pedro is a premium destination for seafood lovers. You can’t go wrong with the delicious shrimp and pineapple boat or the tuna with portobello mushrooms and gorgonzola cheese. The restaurant also makes some of the very best micheladas in metropolitan Guadalajara.
Over the past 40 years, this seafood and cocktail restaurant has achieved legendary status among locals in Tlaquepaque. With its casual and cozy atmosphere, this is a great venue for a relaxing family lunch after a stroll through the center. The bacon-wrapped-shrimp with white rice and salad is as mouth-watering as it sounds.
