Mexican Cuisine
“Mexican Cuisine” (“cocina mexicana”) broadly describes cooking from any and all parts of Mexico. International tourists may be unaware of the wide regional differences among Mexican food, as "Mexican" is usually of only one style in foreign countries. In Acapulco you can find a taste of every different type and variety of Mexican cooking. Local Guerrero-style cuisine relies heavily on seafood, of course, mainly grilled, and with the addition of spices, usually on the hot side. The workhorses of Mexican dishes are the humble corn tortillas, best made fresh and by hand. On the tortilla will go a mixture of meat and/or vegetables. According to how they are prepared, they will become tacos, enchiladas, tamales, burritos or even fancier fare. The other important features of Mexican cuisine are beans and rice, as well as the sauces (or “salsas”), which add both flavor and color to the meal. In Acapulco, the avocado garnish is almost obligatory. As a general rule, if the restaurant is described as “popular,” you can bet it serves Mexican cuisine.
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La Jaiba Loca | The Jaiba Loca ("Crazy Crab" in Mexican Spanish) is a casual seafood restaurant in Costa Azul. It is on a corner of Magallanes (the street to the right of the Convention Center as you look at it),... |
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Los Rancheros | Los Rancheros offers wonderful daytime views of Acapulco Bay and a full menu of native Mexican dishes, the ones considered "classics" by the locals. Guests praise the excellent cuts of meat and the... |
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Tres Marías | Pie de la Cuesta is a wonderful beach just up the coast from Acapulco. Between the beach and the Lagoon of Coyuca lies the Tres Marias seafood restaurant, where visitors can enjoy fish tacos, ceviche... |
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El Cabrito | Since 1963, El Cabrito has been one of Acapulco's finest and favorite restaurants, serving traditional Mexican food with tremendous service in a welcoming and friendly, festive atmosphere. This... |
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El Amigo Miguel | One of Acapulco’s oldest continuously operating restaurants, El Amigo Miguel is a family-operated eatery with the best of home cooking and hospitality. The menu is dedicated to the fresh seafood that... |
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Los Tarascos | Los Tarascos is a popular, open-air taco restaurant. There are several in Acapulco: Costa Azul, La Condesa, on the Costera between Gran Plaza and Galerías Diana, on Cuahutemoc near Sears, in Acapulco... |
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La Torta | La Torta provides a quiet, traditional Mexican ambiance for good friends or couples to dine together. The dining area resembles the central plaza in a small pueblo, illuminated by lanterns and decked... |
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Los Pavorreales | Any visitor to the Laguna de Tres Palos should visit Los Pavorreales. (The lagoon is to the inside of the peninsula that goes out to the airport.) On the beach of the lagoon, this restaurant serves... |
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Carnitas La Esperanza | Acapulco has three Carnitas La Esperanza to choose from: One in Gran Plaza, one on the street connecting the Costera to Cuahutémoc on the west side of Parque Papagayo, and one in Costa Azul on the... |
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Chiles Verdes | Chiles Verdes is a great place to go for pozole on a Thursday afternoon. This lively restaurant has a long bar, a stage for live performances, and a busy kitchen. Tables and booths for around 150... |
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Cocula | Cocula is famous for delicious food and the enormous sombrero that covers the ceiling of the place. All dishes are prepared with quality ingredients and in the traditional style: handmade tortillas,... |
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Dragón de Oro | The Dragón de Oro is not big, fancy or splashy. It is there for those who enjoy the freshest in shell fish, prepared expertly. A mainstay of the Caletilla beach, the Dragón de Oro is basically a big... |
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El Capullo | Caletilla is a busy beach on the west side of Acapulco bay. There a visitor will find El Capullo on the seaside, under a palapa roof. El Capullo offers the freshest of seafood, prepared in accordance... |
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El Fogón | El Fogón is a popular traditional Mexican restaurant in Acapulco's "Golden Zone." The décor is reminiscent of an old-fashioned hacienda. The menu has lots of beef, chicken and pork entrees as well as... |
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El Jardín | The Hamacas Hotel is a storied accommodation in the traditional part of Acapulco, across from Playa Hornos, in between the docks at the town plaza or Zócalo and Parque Papagayo. Inside the Hamacas is... |
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El Merendero | This small, pleasant "Mexican Diner" serves light meals for lunch and dinner during the week and Sunday breakfast and lunch. It lives up to its motto of "Exaggeratedly Delicious." Each day a... |
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El Nono | El Nono is an open-air, casual, tropical restaurant by the shore, designed to appeal to those who really appreciate fresh seafood, expertly prepared, but without a lot of frills. Come as you are. The... |
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El Norteño | A "Norteño" is someone from the ranch country, "up north." Often the word conveys a sense of "country," as in "country cookin'." The El Norteño Restaurant, on Caletilla beach, offers fish and... |
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El Zorrito | El Zorrito is one of Acapulco's most festive Mexican restaurants. After 6 in the evening live trios play and sing whatever songs the guests request. Located on the Costera between the Gran Plaza and... |
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Flor de Acapulco | Flor de Acapulco offers elegant Mexican dining on a brightly-decorated, open air balcony that looks out over the central square and the wharf of the harbor beyond. It is hard to find a better... |
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Fragata Azul | In the traditional part of Acapulco, down on the wharf, the Fragata Azul offers a quiet and picturesque atmosphere with close-up views of the bay. It is a popular location for coffee and a pastry... |
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Ika Tako | Ika Tako is a bright and lively seafood and taco place, on the Costera close to the Emporio and Elcano hotels and next to Beto's lobster restaurant. The specialty is tacos made of fresh shrimp and... |
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Jovitos | Jovitos is a small place in the Condesa Beach area of the Costera, specializing in fun and seafood tacos (shrimp, octopus, fish or crab). To go with the beer and tacos, patrons can choose from almost... |
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La Casa de Tere | La Casa de Tere (short for Teresa) is a traditional Mexican restaurant in the Golden Zone, near Parque Papagayo. First time guests may be put to a little bit of effort to find the place, but it's... |
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La Casona del Granjero | La Casona del Granjero is a Mexican restaurant, serving traditional fare, but many dishes have been designed by the chef and are unique to this one place. Examples are the pumkin flower-filled squid... |
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La Margarita | La Margarita is co-located with Su Casa Restaurant on a hill above the bay in Costa Azul. Unlike Su Casa, which is entirely an open-air restaurant, La Margarita is indoors, so it comes into its own... |
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La Perla | Early in its history, Acapulco was called "the pearl of the Pacific." La Perla is the pearl of Acapulco. Located within the Mirador Hotel, La Perla specializes in continental fine dining. The... |
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Las Gaviotas | Las Gaviotas is an excellent place for lunch. They close when the last people have finished, at about 7:00 pm. The prices are very easy on your budget. The restaurant looks like a gas station, open... |
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Los Cazadores | Los Cazadores is a "pozolería," meaning that it is a Mexican restaurant specializing in pozole, a spicy corn dish with chicken, seafood or pork, accompanied by all sorts of garnishes. Pozole is very... |
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Los Navegantes | Los Navegantes is the restaurant in the Hotel El Tropicano. It has established itself as a favorite seafood place for visitors and locals alike. The ingredients are fresh and the recipes are proven... |
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Mandil Verde | Mandil Verde is a local "pozolería," or Mexican restaurant specializing in pozole, a dish widely served throughout Acapulco, especially on Thursdays. It is a chicken or pork stew (or sometimes with... |
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Mariscos Pipo's | Locally, "mariscos" in the broad sense means "any kind of fish and shellfish," and the family that operates Mariscos Pipo takes the "any kind" aspect very seriously. Virtually all types of seafood... |
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Mesón del Angel | The Mesón del Angel is on the main access road to the airport, beyond the turnoff to Puerto Marques. It has been designed as a calming, tropical garden retreat for the visitor. Even hammocks are hung... |
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Paco's | Paco's is an authentic, southern Mexican seafood restaurant in Acapulco's Old Town. Located under a palm-thatch palapa roof and decorated with various items of deep sea fishing gear, Paco's has... |
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Pollo Giro | Literally, "Pollo Giro" is a chicken being barbecued Sonoran style over charcoal on a spit. The Pollo Giro serves this delicacy with roasted small onions and hand-tossed tortillas with a complete... |
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Sportortas | Jorge Campos, one of Mexico's most famous goal keepers, established Sportortas - a mixture of sports and tortas (sandwiches). Sportortas is a light food restaurant, mainly sandwiches and snacks,... |
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Taco House | For those with a yen for fish or shrimp tacos, the Taco House in Icacos (the neighborhood of Wal-Mart and the Hyatt) is a great place to go. A local favorite is spicy octopus. Tacos House offers more... |
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Tamales Licha | Nestled in a building that dates back to an earlier era for the old port of Acapulco, Tamales Licha offers authentic southern Mexican fare. A tamale is a large corn tortilla spread thick with a spicy... |
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Tío Alex | Have lunch or a late snack at Tio Alex. Prices are reasonable, and the seafood is fresh and tasty. Visitors like the neat appearance of the restaurant, decorated in an unspecific maritime theme, and... |
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W Café | W Café is Woolworth's entrant in the economical café segment of Acapulco restaurants, sharing the category with Vips, El Portón, Toks, and others. Located on the inland side of the Costera just a... |
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Zapata, Villa y Compañía | Named after the heroes of the Mexican Revolution, Zapata, Villa y Compañía is the main Mexican eatery in Acapulco's Grand Hotel. The adobe oven (horno) is set up by the entrance, and all the... |