This is a two part guide. The first part is locations from Ed Kunze, he has lived in the area for over 11 years and is a food critic for the local English paper. The second part is a condensation of places frequented by many tourists
Places To Eat.....
where locals eat: $7.00 a person (or less...and includes your drink) - the taxis all know the locations
1) The Municipal Pier – For your fishing lunch, get to the pier about 15 minutes early and have your lunch made up at one of the tables set up by the locals. It is excellent traditional food, stuffed into a fresh hot roll of bread. (The bread is only minutes old). Three balillos will fill up a very hungry large man...for a cost of less than $3.00. You can also get coffee, orange juice and breakfast rolls. Lilly’s for after fishing – a cold one or fresh tiritas, hot ham & cheese sandwich, black bean quesadillas.
Also at the pier is a small store on the corner you can buy beer and other snacks.
2) Chendos – Great sea food. Near the municipal pier in Zihuatanejo, but on the other side of the foot bridge, turn right, two blocks, on left, 2nd floor (on the same road to Casa Bahia).
3) Lety’s Ola Salvaje – Great seafood. Olga at Chendo’s sister’s restaurant, turn left over the footbridge, blue building on right, stairs on left
4) Tamales Any- In Zihuat Centro. Order a couple of tamales with corn husks, a bowl of pozole, and a taco plate, and a chile relleno. It will easily feed 4 and everybody should share. Share a pitcher of Jamaica (Jara) water.
5) La Casa Cafe – Pedro and Lorna are Americans who decided to enjoy the life of Zihuat. Both are extremely personable, friendly, and full of local information. (Pedro also gives Spanish and French lessons). Outstanding American and Mexican breakfasts with such specialties as omelettes, French toast, and huge plates of fresh fruit. Open from 8:00 in the morning till about 1:00 in the afternoon. However, they are only open during the high season.
6) Tacos al pastor- There are several locations. Get 3 tacos each (1 order)- they are small tacos, an order of alhambra or shoot chuey each. Share a queso fundito. Be sure to get an order of the onions (they are sweet). Open at 7PM.
7) Pollo Feliz- As you enter into the center of town… on the right side. Great chicken, bar-b-qued over mesquite charcoal. Get a side order of beans and make your own tacos.
8) Pollo Feliz Takeout- Across from the Fuente the Sol. Better prices and it is the same food as the one in centro.
9) Doña Licha’s Cocina Economica- A favorite, behind the mercado and near Plaza Kiota. Excellent lunch and breakfasts. Open from 8AM till 6PM. Get either a small or a large jara (hara) of Jamaica (ha-my-ca) or a fresh squeezed juice. It is large, clean, and airy. Order the specials of the day off the typed slip taped on the right side of the menu, or order traditional. The huevos campanchanos -scrambled eggs mixed with ham, bacon, and chorizo. It also comes with hand made tortillas, beans and rice. 35 pesos, including your beverage, and you will be stuffed. Another place you can eat at every day and not get bored with the food.
10) Tacos Canasta- Next to the store Cacuate. They open about 8:30 in the morning and sell out by 2:00. The tacos are small, but 8 tacos will fill a man up. Order two of each - carne desabrada (shredded beef), barbacoa (beef cooked in an oven below ground), chicaron (pork skin), and papa con chorizo (potato). 8 tacos, and a fresh squeezed orange juice cost 38 pesos (about $3.50)
11) Capricio's – good charbroiled hamburgers and baked potatoes. Next to the Catholic church and across the street from the tourist market on Cinco De Mayo and on the way to the Municipal Pier.
Places that are a little more expensive:
1) Casa Bahia- Next to Puerto Mio. Owned by two Americans and the best place to get your fresh caught fish cooked. They cook all your fish and serve it about 5 different ways. They charge about ½ price when you bring your own fish. They have the absolute best beef fillet in town.Try a fillet covered with mushrooms and gravy. It is about 160 pesos. Also off the menu is their tuna steak...it is fantastic. Casa Bahia has a fantastic view of Zihuat Bay .
2) Coconut's - One of the better and more established eating places. Lunch or Dinner
3) Frank's - The most recommend place in Ixtapa. Many feel all the other eating places in Ixtapa are just tourist places. Frank is Canadian. His establishment does excellent Italian and Mexican dishes. Very good service, sports bar, excellent food, and reasonable prices.
4) La Perla- On Playa Ropà. Good food, moderate prices, but the portions are a little on the small side for the main course meals. You can just go there, get a table under a palapa on the sand, and order off the appetizer menu. Ask for Francisco (the owner) and he has an excellent selection of Cuban Cigars.
5) Sr. Pintos- A blend of great American and Mexican food. Daily specials, with all you can eat. The American owner (Steve) and his Mexican wife (Maria) are fantastic people, long time residents of Zihuatanejo, and will help you in every way. Sports on the TV when the big games are on. Located behind the Elektra. A great place to meet the local Americas and pump them for information about the area.
--Ed Kunze
Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa Restaurants
The below is a list of restaurants in Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa ranging from the over priced to the low priced, notes or comments are from various reviews posted on several message boards. There is no guarantee of any of the information except for where some have dined noted by an ***.
Locations & numbers for Zihuatanejo are from the latest “Jared” maps (http://members.shaw.ca/ZihuaJ/ZihuaFr...). NO ratings from him only locations. There are 3 maps – El Centro , La Ropa, La Madrea; numbers are different on each map
Over Priced and over rated
For the rich & famous, big spenders, or those wanting to be, here are the over priced, over rated that you can go home and brag to everyone where you ate and how much you spent:
Kau Kan, La Ropa, ZIH, Jared #17, One look at the Lobster stuffed potato is enough to make most steer clear, about $100 with wine for 2 $$$$$
The Tides, La Ropa, ZIH, Jared # 9, $$$$$
Casa que Canta, ZIH, La Ropa, Jared #2 $$$$$
Beccifino's, IXT marina, see Amuleto $$$$$
El Faro, IXT, take the gondola at Pacifica – if it’s working $$$$$
Bogart’s, IXT, you’d think he still owned it & you were dining with him for $$$$$
Puerto Mio (AKA Villa Vera), ZIH, $$$$$
Il Mare, ZIH, La Ropa, Jared # 25 $$$$$
Amuleto, ZIH, mortgage-your-house expensive, but rare dining experience $$$$$
Moderate priced,
Food as good, better than most of the above
Coconuts, ZIH, El Centro , Jared # 26 $$$$ ***
Casa Bahia, ZIH, El Centro , Jared #40 $$$$ ***
La Perla, ZIH, La Ropa, Jared # 21 $$$$
Tamales “Any”, ZIH Centro, Jared # 33 $$$$ (not a favorite, if they have tamales, lots of meal, no meat.) ***
Capricho’s, ZIH Centro, next to the church Jared # 50 $$$ ***
Che Mangiamo, IXT, Marina upstairs, best view of the marina, Live music $$ ***
La Hija del Capitan, ZIH Centro, BBQ Ribs, Nicolas Bravo #39, above La Playa Bar $$$
De Dondes Eres, ZIH, La Madera , Jared # J $$$ Permanently closed.
Garrabo’s, ZIH Centro, Jared # 19 - $$
Paty's Marimar on La Ropa, Jared #22 $$
Rufo's on Calle Adelita, La Madera , Jared # L $$
Bandido's across from the Artesan market $$
Braseros, EL Centro , Jared # 32 $
El Mango $
El Manglar on la Ropa $$$
Elvira's on La Ropa $$$
Chuleto's Continental cuisine on Paseo de Pescadores $$$$
Sirena Gorda, on Paseo de Pescadores, $$ ***
Elivra’s on Paseo de Pescadores $$$ ***
Don Memo's $
Mama Norma & Deborah's, IXT, $$
Chili Bean's, IXT, breakfast, $
Casa Cafe for breakfast on Adelita, La Madrea, Jared # I $$
Stall #30 (Fonda Economica) in el Mercado clean, cheap & yummy! $
El Mediteraneo, nice Italian fare on Fisherman's walk $$$
Casa Viejo- excellent pork dishes $$$
Casa Marina cafe-Great fresh fish & pizza, on Paseo de Pescadores $$ ***
Pueblitos- Great Sunday BBQ lamb $$
MJ & Richie''s – La Madera , Jared # O $$
Local Restaurants
Lilly’s, head of pier for snacks $
Dona Licha’s for breakfast, El Centro , Jared #44 $ ***
Rico Mar- Incredible cheap but excellent Mexican food in Pozole alley $
Santa Prisca for Pozole on Thursday afternoon, located on the road to Ixtapa near The Bodega, great live music and experience $
Chendo’s – lunch or dinner, cross bridge at corner of parking lot next to pier, turn right, two blocks on left, 2nd floor $ ***
Ola Salvaje – lunch or dinner, cross bridge at corner of parking lot next to pier, turn left, blue building on right, 2nd floor, stairs on left side $ ***
Gabo’s, in town $ ***
Leyo’s, seafood, lunch or early dinner, on hill toward Puerto Mio, ask taxi driver $ ***
Arbolito’s, upstairs across from Zocalo, seafood $ *** also in Ixtapa
And of course the hamburger stand across from the basketball courts... $ ***
OUT OF TOWN
Arminda’s, out of town on road to Petelan at San Miguelito turn off ***
Yosi’s – Coacoyul, Pork, turn at first left $ ***
For Oysters – palapas in Joluta, Km 63-64 Towards Lazaras Cardenesta $ ***
Restuarante Yuly – km 62 $ ***
Restaurante Leya – La Union $ ***
BARRA DE POTOSI – Enramada La Condesa, on right toward open beach, ask for Pancho $ ***
The $ signs are relative and depend on what you eat and/or drink.
$ - most meals under $10
$$ - most meals to 2 $20 or less
$$$ - most meals for 2 for $30 or less
$$$$ - most meals for 2 for $50 or less
$$$$$ - most meals over $50 and going to $100 plus
These only scratch the surface there are dozen’s more. Please feel free to add others, your comments or your favorites below the dashed line. The idea is to present an overall view of many area eateries.
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Addendum
Places to see and do:
1) Go to the gold vendors and church in Petatlan.
2) The crocodiles at Playa Linda (just before you go to Ixtapa Island ).
3) Ixtapa Island- the water gets muddy with poor visibility in the rain season because of the nearby river. It has great snorkeling at the eco preserve on Corral Beach . Many prefer the Island over Las Gatas, with the exception of the rain season.
4) Las Gatas Beach- in Zihuat Bay Like the island, the price for a water taxi is about 35 pesos each. Save your ticket for the return trip.
5) Barra Pototsi- out past the airport. A lot of the local people go there because it is similar to Las Gatas, but cheaper. Horse back riding also.
Futher comments from Ed Kunze:
"The Commercial Mexicana is as fine a supermarket as any I have seen. Buy your water, beer, sandwich stuff, etc. there. It is also the best place in town to buy liquor. And, they have a great deli.
I personally feel eating the shrimp and lobster here is a rip-off. Some of the shrimp dishes are outstanding however, but expensive. The lobster is just a spiny back lobster, charged at the market prices. You can do better at home.
Taxis get you anywhere around town in Zihuat for under 20 pesos. Use the micro bus for 5 pesos to go to and from Ixtapa. The micros have their destination marked on the front windshield. No matter where you are at, just raise your arm and the taxi or micro will stop.
The best time of the day to see the tourist markets and shops in Zihuatanejo is not during the middle of the day. It is too hot! Come into town about 6 in the evening and shop around a bit. Eat dinner, and do some more shopping. The shops stay open until at least 9:00. The town becomes vibrant and alive around 7:00 in the evening. This is when most of the locals venture out for their shopping also. "
