What to Eat in Puerto Vallarta: Typical Dishes You Cannot Miss
Puerto Vallarta offers an incredible culinary scene that blends traditional Jalisco cuisine with coastal specialties. From fresh seafood caught daily in Banderas Bay to beloved dishes from the state capital, this guide covers the typical dishes you absolutely must try during your visit.
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Seafood Specialties
Ceviche Puerto Vallarta Style
Ceviche represents one of Puerto Vallarta signature dishes, but with a unique local twist. While ceviche exists throughout Mexico, the Puerto Vallarta style stands out for its vegetable variety. Commonly prepared with carrots, cucumbers, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and sometimes a sweet touch with mango. What makes it truly unique is the fish - fresh and ground dorado (mahimahi), considered one of the finest species in this paradise. If you enjoy fishing, you can catch your own dorado and take it to beach restaurants to prepare this delicious Puerto Vallarta style ceviche. The recipe differs slightly from other regions, with carrots, cucumber, cilantro, and other ingredients frequently added to the mixture in the Banderas Bay region.
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Aguachile
Aguachile ranks among the best uniquely Mexican seafood dishes, but be warned - as the name indicates, this is a spicy seafood recipe. While most ingredients resemble ceviche, the seafood meat marinates in a mixture of green chiles and lime. The most traditional variation includes fresh, raw shrimp, cucumber, red onion, lime juice, and chiles (usually serrano or jalapeño) that have been ground with water, hence the name. It is typically served with tostadas and avocado. For those seeking shrimp meals with lots of flavor, aguachile is the way to go. Just make sure you have a cold beer or agua fresca to cool you down.
Pescado Embarazado (Pregnant Fish)
One of the local dishes that best represents typical Puerto Vallarta cuisine is pescado embarazado, or pregnant fish. The name sounds weird, but it is actually a linguistic deformation of pescado en vara asado, meaning fish roasted on a stick. This delicious local food is prepared by grilling fish marinated in lime over coals, then served with Huichol salsa. The fish itself can be school shark (cazón) or marlin. Another variant uses shrimp instead of fish. The name comes from a play on words: embara sounds like on a stick since it is served through a wooden stick, and asado because it is roasted over firewood. It is normally prepared with sea bass, marlin, or shrimp, marinated with lemon, hot sauce, and other spices.
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Bumpy Fish
One of the most popular foods in Puerto Vallarta is bumpy fish, a jerked fish dish. Like many other Mexican seafood recipes, the key lies in the marinade, which shows Asian influence in Mexican cuisine. Prepared with a variety of chiles, tomato, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce, these main ingredients make this one of the best Mexican seafood dishes. However, it is not an easy seafood dish to prepare at home. The fish should be filleted in half and grilled, always tasting better when eaten on the beach during your vacation in Puerto Vallarta.
Shrimp Cocktail (Cóctel de Camarones)
Although commonly referred to as a shrimp cocktail, the Mexican dish known as Cóctel de Camarones differs significantly from its American counterpart. It is a cold tomato soup with raw vegetables and poached shrimp that is popular throughout Mexico, especially along the coast. Cooling allows the tastes to meld together better, making it especially appealing in the humid weather along the Pacific Coast and Banderas Bay. Ingredients include shrimp, tomato, onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, coriander, cucumber, clam juice, ketchup, lime, jalapeño chile, serrano chile, Valentina hot sauce, and avocado.
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Jalisco Traditional Dishes
Birria
Birria represents one of the favorite local dishes, originating from Jalisco state. The main ingredients include goat or lamb meat, boiled in a spicy sauce that includes cumin, oregano, and ginger. It is served with lime (called lemon here), onions, and the inseparable tortillas. Birria has become one of the great dishes of Jalisco, and Puerto Vallarta serves some of the best. The slow-cooked beef is rich, flavorful, and perfect for tacos or dipping with fresh tortillas. This is a must for anyone wanting a true regional dish.
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Pozole
Another local favorite is pozole, which has different incarnations around Mexico. In Jalisco and Vallarta, it is a tasty broth that includes pork or chicken meat as main ingredients, seasoned with chili and includes special popped corn. Once served, you eat it with lettuce, radishes, and tostadas (sun-dried tortillas). It can be rojo (red) or blanco (white, or actually translucent). Pozole represents a traditional Mexican dish that you will also enjoy in Puerto Vallarta, with local variations that make it special.
Tortas Ahogadas
Tortas ahogadas, or drowned sandwiches, represent a Guadalajara specialty that has made its way to Puerto Vallarta. These sandwiches are drowned in a spicy chili sauce, typically filled with carnitas (pork). The dish embodies the bold, spicy flavors characteristic of Jalisco cuisine. While more commonly found in the state capital, Puerto Vallarta restaurants that receive many foreigners do have more consideration and sympathize with lack of courage when it comes to surviving a chili attack.
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Street Food Essentials
Tamales
A Mexican favorite that you will also enjoy in Puerto Vallarta is the tamal (plural: tamales). These are actually an American dish that you will find in local variants from Mexico all the way to Patagonia. The local version is prepared with white corn dough filled in the middle with either salty or sweet options. The most popular are verdes or rojos (green tomatoes with meat or red tomatoes with meat, all include chili pepper in greater or lesser amount - ask before eating). Some have a sweet pineapple filling that kids like a lot and DO NOT include chili. The dough is then wrapped in corn leaves and steamed. Yummy, give them a try.
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Tacos Al Pastor
Tacos al pastor represent perhaps the most iconic Mexican street food, and Puerto Vallarta serves excellent versions. This popular type of taco is made from pork grilled on a vertical spit. It is a cousin of the Lebanese shawarma and Greek gyros, all descendants of the Turkish doner kebab. Pastor tacos arrived in Mexico by way of Lebanese immigrants who moved to the country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In Puerto Vallarta, places like Pancho Takos and Sonorita Olas Altas serve some of the best al pastor tacos, with the meat carved fresh from the rotating trompo and topped with pineapple, onion, and cilantro.
Fish Tacos
Given Puerto Vallarta coastal location, fish tacos are ubiquitous and excellent. From baja-style fish and shrimp tacos at Tacos Revolucion to fresh seafood tacos at Marisma Fish Taco and Balam Balam, these tacos showcase the abundance of fresh seafood from Banderas Bay. The fish and shrimp tacos feature generous portions, fresh slaw, and spicy baja sauce. Two tacos are more than enough to fill you up, offering incredible value for money.
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Understanding Spice Levels
Pica Poquito (It Barely Spicy)
Mexico is a country accustomed to chili and spicy foods. When you arrive from almost any part of the world, you are not ready for it and can be quite surprised when you purchase your first sandwich or taco and find out it includes jalapeño slices or spicy green sauce by default. Chili has been used for centuries, maybe even millennia here, so do not take pointers from locals when they tell you pica poquito, that it is a bit spicy (literally that it burns a bit). A little (poquito) is much too much for the newcomer in most cases. Puerto Vallarta restaurants and those around the country that receive lots of gringos (yes, that includes any foreigner who does not speak recognizable Spanish) do have more consideration and sympathize with your lack of courage and training when it comes to surviving a chili attack.
Local Drinks
Tequila, Mezcal & Raicilla
Jalisco is the birthplace of tequila, and Puerto Vallarta offers excellent opportunities to sample this iconic Mexican spirit. Tequila, mezcal, and raicilla represent the traditional alcoholic beverages of the region. Raicilla is a local distilled spirit similar to mezcal but made from different agave varieties, offering a unique taste of the region. These spirits are often enjoyed straight or in traditional cocktails.
Tuba
Tuba is a traditional fermented coconut drink that you will find in Puerto Vallarta. This sweet, slightly alcoholic beverage is made from the sap of coconut palm trees and represents one of the non-alcoholic drinks that locals enjoy. You can find tuba vendors along the Malecón, especially during evening hours.
Tejuino
Tejuino is another traditional fermented drink made from corn. This slightly sweet, slightly sour beverage is often served with lime and salt, representing a refreshing option on hot days. You can find tejuino at the Mercado Emiliano Zapata in the Romantic Zone.
Agua de Coco
Coconut water, or agua de coco, represents the simplest and most refreshing drink available in Puerto Vallarta. Fresh coconuts are sold throughout the city, especially on beaches and along the Malecón. The natural electrolytes make it perfect for hydration after a day in the sun.
Where to Try These Dishes
For ceviche and aguachile, visit Mariscos 8 Tostadas, a Puerto Vallarta institution when it comes to ceviche and tostadas. This no-frills seafood spot is always buzzing with locals, usually the best sign you are in the right place. The star of the show here is tostadas piled high with fresh ceviche or aguachile. For birria, try Birriería Robles, which serves some of the best in Puerto Vallarta. For tacos al pastor, Pancho Takos in the Romantic Zone is legendary. For shrimp cocktail, look for Mariscos El Guero, a small local seafood stand serving some of the best ceviche and aguachile at incredibly reasonable prices.
Final Recommendations
Puerto Vallarta culinary scene offers an incredible blend of traditional Jalisco dishes and fresh coastal seafood. The key is to be adventurous and try dishes beyond familiar options. From the spicy kick of aguachile to the rich flavors of birria, from the fresh taste of ceviche to the unique experience of pescado embarazado, each dish tells a story of the region cultural heritage and natural abundance. Do not be afraid to ask about spice levels before ordering, and remember that pica poquito from a local perspective might be much spicier than you expect. Embrace the culinary adventure, and you will discover why Puerto Vallarta has become a true foodie destination on Mexico Pacific coast.
