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? Moving from the town of Ajijic westward, here are a few of our personal favorites.
Casa del Waffle – Located just west of Ajijc on the mountain side, this is a popular Mexican chain restaurant (similar to IHOP) which features tremendously large breakfasts. Expect line ups on the weekends as it is popular with the Mexican crowd from Guadalajara. Try the Country Style Breakfast which is a variation of Eggs Benedict a la Mexicana.
French Patissarie – Located west of Ajijic on the Lake side, features only two breakfast choices but are famous for all their fresh make pastries and breads. The best!!
Corazon de Malta GastroPub – Located west of Ajijic right beside the French Patissarie, features 12 varieties of beer crafted on site and traditional pub food. Great place to relax and enjoy the company of friends, or make new ones.
Smokehouse - Located to the left of the La Huerta Tuesday Market, if you're a meat lover then you've come to the right place. Ribs, brisket, burgers and a great bar setup.
Zarendeado Pero Feliz Mariscos - Located to the right of the La Huerta Tuesday Market, this little 'hole in the wall' restaurant features a long name for excellent seafood uniquely prepared.
Niisa - What started out as a bakery place has become very popular as a breakfast/lunch/dinner establishment. Meals prepared with care and love.
Rincon Espanol - Located three quarters way towards Restaurant Row, this specialty Spanish restaurant is guaranteed to delight. Large portions and exquisitely prepared
Restaurant Row – Located just before entering San Juan Cosala is a row of restaurants located right on the lake with seating for hundreds of people. The food varies from place to place but my favorites are Las Gaviotas, Bambu (especially their Sunday brunch), and Las Olas. Most have bands and dancing and are extremely popular with the crowd from Guadalajara on weekends and holidays. For a true Mexican experience and awesome lakeside views this is the place to go.
La Cima - Located just past (and above) Restaurant Row and the Lake, this restaurant offers THE BEST dining views as well as excellent seafood. THE place to come for special occasions!
Viva La Mexico – Serving authentic Mexican food, this gem is a little difficult to find but well worth it. Turn off the Carretera (highway) at the only set of lights in San Juan Cosala and drive down to the plaza, then proceed about 4 blocks west of the plaza and if you're careful not to miss it, you'll find it on the right hand side. This place looks like a 'hole in the wall' restaurant but actually is very large and popular with both Mexicans and Gringos. Don't miss out on the 'grande' sized margarita if you dare!
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.
The Tuesday Market, which is the certified organic market, is very popular with the expat crowd. You can pick up fantastic tamales, prepared salads, quiches, specialty breads, smoked salmon. Open 10-12:30 Tuesdays only in Salon de Huerta west of Ajijic.
If you can't find it in Ajijc or Lake Chapala, then continue on to the big city of Guadalajara for truly awesome food of all kinds :-)
This is by no means an all inclusive list. There are so many other great restaurants here and so many still 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 Contacting Us and letting us know your favorites. As always, feel free to contact me if you need further directions or information. Until then...'Buen Provecho'.
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