Everyone loves to eat out and in Lake Chapala we are fortunate enough to have an abundance of great restaurants with terrific prices. So where should you go for a great meal? Traveling from the traffic lights at Wal-Mart eastward towards Chapala, here are some of our personal favorites.
Lake Taco – Located on the bypass road to Guadalajara just up from the Wal-Mart and located just behind the Pemex Gas Station, Lake Taco features a wide variety of fantastic burritos and tacos. I recommend the fish tacos either deep fried or grilled (a la plancha) or any of their burritos. The fish & chips are also fabulous as are the quesadillas. Meals are accompanied with homemade salsas. Be sure to ask which is ones are hot. As a bonus, while you are enjoying your meal on the open air terrace with a fabulous views of the lake, you can have your car washed right next door.
Adelita's Bar and Grill - Near the Church on the main plaza in San Antonio, Adalita's became famous for their Tuesday Rib special (reservations almost a must on Tuesdays!) which are the best ribs Lakeside. All the food is awesome!!! Try the Stuffed Blue Cheese Burger if you dare! This is also THE place to go for drinks and fabulous food throughout the week. Things really get going Monday, Friday and Saturday nights with the live bands and dancing. Come early or you won't get a table.
Mario's Restaurant - (also near the church and main plaza of San Antonio) Mario's has authentic Mexican food of every variety. Seafood, meat dishes and traditional Mexican are all featured and prepared in many different ways, or however you like it.
Cafe Negro - Located along the Carretera on the mountain side across from Superlake, excellent freshly prepared breakfasts along with a variety of freshly squeezed juices.
Lety's Mariscos - In San Antonio, about 1 block south of the Carretera down from the Ishop mail corner. Mexican seafood and authentic Mexican cuisine.
La Pacena - If you are a lover of seafood then you must go to this restaurant. They offer a huge variety of fresh seafood well prepared any way you like it.
Paninos – Located on the lake side of the Carretera just as your are exiting San Antonio eastward, features terrific lunches & sandwiches. Highly recommended are the deep fried scallops or the taco bowl. A keyboard player adds to the ambiance with tunes you'll love.
Food Container – Located in Riberas on the lakeside of the Carretera (close to 7-11) serves great burgers and wedge fries as well as sushi, sandwiches and Mexican food. Hint: When you order a Mexican dish you get fresh salsa prepared right at your table. What a treat!
La Huerta Cafe – Excellent lunches prepared fresh. Oftentimes there will be musicians to entertain you while you eat.
La Estacion - Unique pizza toppings on a sour dough crust. They have so many variations it makes it hard to choose. The fun is going back! Terrific pastries made fresh too!
Delicias – Located on the mountain side of Hidalgo (Carretera) just as you enter the town of Chapala, this true Mexican establishment features awesome and very large Mexican style breakfasts.
Casita del Molcajetes - Located at the east end of the Chapala Malecon in Chapala, features traditional molcojetes with wine and margarita's that are FREE and BOTTOMLESS! Can you believe it? Try their nachos too!
Magnolias - Likely the best Indian food Lakeside IMO and very popular.
Letra Che - This excellent seafood restaurant is located in behind Chapala. All seafood dishes are highly recommended including the appitizers like the ceviche and tuna tar tar. These are enormous so be careful how much food you order. Favorite drink is a play on the mojito called the torito. A tasty beverage with dark rum, soda, lime juice and a negro modelo beer.
If you get tired of eating out and just want a quiet dinner at home yet still don't want to cook, then try some of the prepared food options.
Monday Market (located in Sunrise Restaurant in San Antonio) has vendors who sell prepared foods such as soups, chili's, stews, and prepared salads. Open 10-12 Mondays only.
This is by no means an all inclusive list. These are simply SOME of our favorites. There are still so many other great restaurants and so many that I have not tried. And as is often the case in the restaurant business, they come and go and the quality can change with changes in management or chefs so take these suggestions as a starting point and enjoy the adventure.
As I was writing this blog, I kept adding and adding more favorites. There simply is no end to the great dining available here in the Lakeside area. I realized too that there are many super 'hole in the wall' restaurants as well as a recent influx of really good food trucks from Guadalajara. So stay tuned for future blog posts on these two types of eateries.
What are your favorite restaurants? Help me and the readers of this blog find the best restaurants Lakeside by posting your favorites. As always, feel free to Contact Me if you need further directions or information. Until then...'Buen Provecho'.
Michaela & Ricardo are your FULL SERVICE Real Estate Agents. Along with our Retirement Seminars, our over 20 years of combined experience Lakeside, and our network of area Professionals, we help guide you to from beginning to forever in your Retirement Journey to Lake Chapala, Mexico.
