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"Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free, silowetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands, driving memory and fate, deep beneath the waves, let me forget about today until tomorrow." (Bob Dylan)

Let's Talk About Eating In Puerto Escondido

Many people think the main reason to go to Puerto Escondido is for the sun or the beach or the surf or the relaxed attitude. For many others the main reason to go the Puerto Escondido is for the food. There are so many places to eat in the little town that it is almost impossible to eat at all of them in a two week stay. The biggest problem is that after going to one restaurant many people will keep going back and before they know it their vacation is over and they have only been to one or two places. That is not necessarily a bad thing because it forces people to come back to Puerto more often to visit restaurants that they missed the first time. There are all kinds of cuisine in Puerto for all sizes of gourmands. There are the local style restaurants that have tacos and enchiladas and tostadas or chicken or beef or pork or goat.

Empanadas are popular too. Enfrijoladas as well as entomatadas are a tasty treat. There is roast chicken outlets that do a rotisserie or Kentucky style thing. There are seafood restaurants that have the freshest fish a person can buy. They prepare fish in almost any manner you could think. One of the most popular is Huatchinango Veracruzana (a whole fish that is cooked in a pan with a red sauce with bell peppers and spices that is known around the world). Another way fish is cooked is “Pescado Empanazada” (breaded). A la plancha in still another way they cook a fish. There are other types of seafood in Puerto as well. There are oysters, lobster and octopus for example. You can also get sushi in this town that seems too small to have anything. Well it used to be too small to have anything. It seems that Puerto has grown a lot in the last 3-5 years.

There are taco carts that sell tacos right on the street. These taco carts are three wheeled bicycle things that are self contained little restaurants. They offer tacos that the guy makes right in front of you. He has the meat prepared beforehand but chops if up as people order their tacos and heats up tortillas while you watch. The cook will ask if you want onions or cilantro or chile. He will put the whole thing together in a matter of seconds and then you can decide if you want a soda or an agua. Aguas are flavored waters. It is kind of a watered down juice. Usually sugar is added and of coarse there is ice in the cooler from where it is dispensed. There may be sandia (watermelon), melon, orange or jamiaca. No matter what they have it will go well with the tacos. The cook has a helper that will take your money when you are finished.

When it comes time to pay it will cost you less than you think possible and you will walk away with a smile on your face that will last the rest of the day and a lump in your belly that will last throughout your nap in the hammock. Breakfast is always a good meal in Puerto. There are many places to eat a morning meal but the most popular on Zicatela is El Cafecito. There is another Cafecito on the Rinconada that is crowded with the Bococho crowd. There are a few other places on the Rinconada as well. You can get a good meal at Tio’s on Playa Zicatela and watch the surfers while you eat. A little hidden spot to get a superb meal is El Tabachin next to the Santa Fe and behind it. Paul Clever does food right.

The Santa Fe is a good spot to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have a unique vegetarian fare that will knock your socks off. El Jardin, owned by an Italian named Franco is good for pasta, pizza and other Italian dishes. At the Arco Iris you can get a good dinner while you watch the sunset behind the surfers catching giant late afternoon waves and enjoy a 2x1 happy hour. La Hosteria has a good buffet. And La Galeria has two outlets also. One on Zicatela and one at the west end of the Adoquin where you can admire the art on the walls while you scarf on your delicious Italian food.

On the Adoquin there are some other real good little places that are little more than tables and chairs. These places always seem to be crowded because not only is the food cheap it is very good. Some of these places are owned by some of the fishermen families. You can bet the fish is as fresh as it gets in these establishments. They are also good places to get good cheap breakfast. Down at the point there are a few little eateries where you can sit and watch the kids surf while you eat and read or drink beer in the afternoon while you enjoy the shade. These kinds of places exist on the other beaches of Puerto Escondido as well. At Angelito or the little beach across from Angelito named Manzanillo. At Carrizalillo there are also restaurants where you can grab a bite.

At Carrizalillo there are also restaurants where you can grab a bite. Playa Principal has a few places that are right on the beach. Los Crotos comes to mind and the restaurant at Las Palmas and El Rincon del Pacifico come to mind. Also a relatively new place called Pascal’s is on the beach at Playa Principal. This restaurant is very good even if it is a little pricey. The food is excellent and the location is romantic. It is worth at least one dinner there. Walking up the dirt street at Playa Marinaro there is Flor de Maria which is one of the best places to eat in Puerto. The original El Cafecito in Puerto was located across the street from Flor de Maria but it is not open any more.

There are holes in the wall that you can find by just walking around. Oh and there is a great lunch spot out by the Benito Juarez Mercado. It is called Cafeteria La Casita. It is very clean and the food is excellent. They usually have a couple egg dishes and a mole enchilada dish or two and salad, a shrimp soup and shrimps in butter. Their menu changes as availability of the ingredients. The best thing about the place is it is very cheap. Two people have a difficult time spending $6.00 dollars. There is another cafeteria type place that is fast, cheap and good. It is called La Juquilita and there are three of them. One by the new bus station and one near the mercado and one on Avenida Oaxaca. They have eggs, sopes, meat, chorizo and quesadillas among a few other things. Be sure to come back to this page because in the next few months it is going to change quite a bit as I add photos and menus and reviews.

 

 

 

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