Restaurants in Guanajuato
Very much a page in progress. I enter places as I have the time, inclination or a recent visit.
Regional Cuisine
Don’t let anyone persuade you that there is no decent food in Guanajuato. Instead try Las Mercedes with a group of friends. Their regional Guanajuato cuisine is out of this world as this report by Steve Sando, better known as Rancho Gordo, the guy for heritage beans, shows. Taxi drivers know where it is.
Nouvelle Mexican
El Jardin de los Milagros Nice setting, much pleasanter out in the garden than in the ex-hacienda which can be cold and dark. I haven’t been since Bricio Dominguez took over. Nouvelle Mexican.
Coffee
Cafe Tal, run by an aimiable coffee-roasting French horn player is a local favorite. Mexican coffees, great hot chocolates in various concentrations from practically liquid chocolate to a long but grown up drink are good. The student life will take you back to the 60s. The floor could do with a sweep. But a good place to meet a friend. Open 8-midnight every day. Temezciutate 4, opposite VIPS on Sangre de Cristo. 752 6212
Seafood
Mariscos El Amigo. A mini chain of home-style restaurants from Silao. The branch in Guanajuato is at Alhondiga 42. Parking (take a right immediately after the restaurant going up Alhondiga). Nothing fancy and closes around 6. But good for an informal home-cooked meal.
Ethnic
Delica Mitsui Japanese. May be not what you have come to Mexico for. But it’s very good, owned by a young Japanese couple. Four tables in a tiny space. Take out. Open for comida and into the evening. Go to Plaza San Fernando and up to the top of the wedge-shaped space. Bear to the left. That’s where you will find it.
Inexpensive Mexican
Chauhuistle. On the outskirts of town on the left hand side of the road to San Miguel via Juventino Rosas. Well-liked owners, tacos, comida corrida, huge hamburgers. Service is slow but everyone in Guanajuato comes here sooner or later so great people watching. Open from breakfast through evening.
Patlán. On the outskirts of town on the right hand side of the road to San Miguel via Juventino Rosas. Best carnitas in town (though Carnitas Ricos in Silao are even better). Order by weight or order a bolillo. Last time we were there the local hawking club arrived with their falcons.
Tapatio. In front of the university steps. Great comida corrida at 50 pesos. Last time I went, the choice was 1) puchero de res (beef veg soup mexican style) or crema de verduras (cream of veg, delicious), 2)rajas de chile poblano (strips of poblano chile with corn and cream) or mexican rice, and 3) chamorro de puerco en adobo (yum) or bistek encebollado (thin beef steak with onions) plus home made totopos, large round loaves of good bread, coffee or dessert plus agua fresca. How do they do it?
Manolete. Autopista Irapuato-Silao, frente a parque ind. Firpasi. a twenty minute drive from town, we had wondered that this place always had a parking lot full of cars. Finally we made the trek and discovered their Friday $85 peso all you can eat seafood and fish buffet. Seating for hundreds, more than fish and seafood, this is a phenomenon. Here’s a link to my friend Bob Mrotek’s much fuller description. Quality varies–the clam chowder is great and full of clams, the fried fish I was less keen about.
Posts
We just came back from a wonderful meal at Mariscos El Amigo in Guanajuato. The food (a fish dish and a shrimp dish) was great and the service was friendly and good. We were the only gringos in the place.
This is the type of place that we like to eat at. Any more of these local family places in town?
[...] her blog, Rachel has a great page with recommendations about eating in Guanajuato (as well as more pages with recommendations for other Mexican [...]
Where in town is Las Mercedes exactly? I’ll have to try it my next time in town.
I too am amazed at the people who say there’s no great food in Guanajuato. I’ve learned to cook some fine recipes from there, and when I make them for friends here (in DFW, Texas) they are always amazed.
My husband and I have decided that Guanajuato food doesn’t get much respect from the foodies because it’s basic, good, home cooking, and a lot of people don’t really appreciate it, no matter where they are in the world. We have a little Mexican restaurant we like here in Denton, and the family who runs it is from Guanajuato state. We order off the menu, but they always bring it to us Guanajuato-style, not the Tex-Mex style that seems to keep them in business.
Glad you share our opinion about the food Samra. Las Mercedes is in Colonia San Javier, rather a trek but nothing like as far as La Valenciana. I think they have directions on their web site.
When I’m in Guanajuato I always buy Greg’s (Cafe Tal) beans!!! and grind them at home. I LOVE my coffee and his dark roasted beans are the best by far.
Good to hear from you Norah. I bet Greg would love to have this vote of confidence.
Can someone give an opinion of El Gallo Pitagórico? (I can be very fussy about Italian food.)
Saludos,
Mike Warshauer
Great view of the city. Food inconsistent as in so many restaurants in Mexico, ranging from great to so so.
I’m trying to make a Valentine’s Day reservation — but the email address for Las Mercedes isn’t working.
has anyone been in touch with them recently via email? if so, do you have a working email address for them?
thank you!
joanne
Did you try lasmercedesbanquetes@gmail.com? I have to write them today and will forward your message.
thank you! I did reach them and was able to make a Valentine’s Day lunch reservation … but I didn’t tell them about the email address problem. I’m glad you let them know.
Rachel: we are headed to Guanajuato Sunday … any last minute advice .. suggestions?
Glad it all worked out. And hope you have a good time. Last minute thoughts? Walk, walk, walk, I think. We are in Austin, Texas right now so I’m not sure what special event are going on.