Cuisine
Beachfront
Pizza
Bakeries
ENGLISH SPOKEN
Gourmet
Restaurants
Bistros
EAT WITH THE LOCALS
Casual
Restaurants
Regional Cuisine
Give us Your Feedback
For a small village, San Pancho has an astonishing number of excellent places to eat, with dozens of restaurants offering delicious food, ranging from high cuisine to corner bistros and taco stands. You can choose from fish tacos, fresh-baked pizza, hamburgers, steak, fresh-squeezed juices, great salads, and traditional fish and shrimp dinners, to mention only a few.
Most of San Pancho’s restaurants and bistros are located either on the main street, Avenida del Tercer Mundo (Avenue of the Third World), or Africa (see Maps & Directions). Africa has a number of restaurants between Tercer Mundo and the hospital that cater primarily to local Mexicans.
When buying from a street vendor in any country, it is a good idea to look for reasonable cleanliness standards. You will find that eating establishments in San Pancho are rigorous about sanitation and disinfecting fresh produce. Ice is produced from bottled water. ¡Goce!
Most of the nicer restaurants feature a wide variety of great live music, especially in the winter (high season). It is best to check ahead to verify that an establishment features live music on a particular night.
Your choices basically fall into three categories, 1) elegant dining establishments and more casual places that cater to gringos (they speak English), 2) traditional street-side bistros and vendors, and 3) authentic Mexican restaurants. Prices are listed in pesos; click the link for simple currency conversions1.
On The Beach
If you prefer dining on the beach (la Playa), there are two fine restaurants at the west end of Tercer Mundo. Pull up a chair, nestle your bare feet in the sand, and catch the sunset over fish tacos and a Pacifico. Both restaurants close around 8:00 PM, so go elsewhere to eat late. Watching the sun gently slide into the ocean is an essential part of eating dinner at these ocean-side oases.
Las Palmas (The Palms)
On the right (north) at the west end of Tercer Mundo
(311) 258-4035
This restaurant features great fish and other meats served in a number of traditional ways, and a nice selection of imbibeables. This is a long time favorite spot for the local gringos to gather and assess the relative merits of each evening’s sunset.
La Perla del Mar (The Pearl of the Sea)
On the left (south) at the west end of Tercer Mundo
(311) 258-4334
Amandine, who owns and operates two other excellent San Pancho restaurants, has recently renovated and reopened this restaurant featuring Mexican beach-style seafood cuisine. You can get breakfast, lunch, early dinner, and snacks. Beverages are available until midnight. Enjoy cumbia, salsa, reggae, and bossa nova music with your seafood burger, aguachiles, ceviches, nachos. There is also a kids menu.
Pizza Delivery
Toogino’s Pizza
On the north side of Tercer Mundo, just west of Africa
(311) 258-4461
Tasty pizza, fresh out of the oven, walk-up or delivery.
Bakeries
La Bottega dei Sapori
On the west side of America Latina, just north of Tercer Mundo
(311) 258-4392
This is an Italian bakery (yum) and restaurant.
Tortilleria San Francisco
On the west side of America Latina, just north of Tercer Mundo
Right next door to the bakery is the tortilla factory, where you can get freshly baked taco shells and entertain your children watching the production line. For pictures, go to the Daily Life slide show. The sign on the building states “Here we sell the freshest and most nutritious tortillas made.”
Dining for Gringos
Elegant Cuisine And Service
There are several higher-end restaurants where English is spoken, with a wide variety of innovative, amazingly good dishes and beverages, great service, and elegant surroundings. Expect to pay MXP $100-250 for dinner entrees (USD $9-23). There are also breakfast and lunch establishments that cater to gringos.
Live music performances are common, especially during the winter high season. Most dining is open air. Expect good value by US standards--a wonderful evening will cost roughly what you would pay at home in a typical family restaurant. Here are a few examples (not a comprehensive list):
La Ola Rica (Wave of Abundance)
On the south side of Tercer Mundo, west of México
(311) 258-4123
Proprietors Gloria and Triny have established one of San Pancho’s finest restaurants with great shrimp dishes, carne asada (the State of Nayarit is famous for its steak), lime chicken, salads, and excellent cocktails. Live music abounds.
Café Del Mar (Café of the Sea)
On China at the top of the big hill on the north end of Asia (turn right)
(311) 258-4251
The founder, Amandine, is French Belgian and it shows in the deliciously creative cuisine. Start with fresh-squeezed juices (the ginger, pineapple, and mint beverage is outstanding), then try the great Greek salad, pasta with Asian herbs, or grilled tuna. They also have a nice selection of tequilas and mezcals. Music can include contemporary and flamenco dance, reggae and jazz. There are also rotating art shows featuring local artists.
At the north end of Los Palmas, on the east side, in Costa Azul
(311) 258-4424
Also founded by Amandine, this is the fanciest restaurant in town and features a large rooftop dining area. MarPlata features renowned Argentinean meat dishes, or try fresh fillet of mahi-mahi cooked with white wine and estragon, tuna seared in olive oil, or Horneado Camembert with honey and mustard. A full bar is complemented by Spanish, French, Argentinean, Italian, and Mexican wines. Delectable desserts include Belgian chocolate fondue with fruits of the day and a wide selection of coffees.
San Pancho Café (aka Casa de Chile Relleno)
On the north side of Tercer Mundo, west of América Latina
This restaurant has just opened in San Pancho. The signature chile rellenos are just the beginning of the culinary masterpieces available in this beautiful rooftop palapa. The taco soup, guacamole with pomegranate, outstanding fish dishes and much more are served with flair and outstanding presentation. Traditional cuisine taken up a notch by a master chef. Excellent desserts and drink menu. Fabulous dining in a fun setting at reasonable prices. Hard to beat.
Don Pedro's
In Sayulita on Marlin, at the beach
Sayulita also has a great selection of fine places to eat. At the more expensive end, but well worth it, is this restaurant on the beach. The scenery is wonderful and the outstanding menu includes moussaka, artichoke heart ravioli, steamed Mussels a la Provencale, puttanesca, seafood bouillabaisse, Mouscovy duck breast, and chocolate mousse crepes. Great service and music.
Great Restaurants
La Casa del Gallo (The Home of the Rooster) aka Galloly Pizzeria
On the south side of Tercer Mundo, across from the soccer field
(311) 258-4135
Manuel Landa (better known as Gallo) regards this restaurant as an extension of his living room. It feels like that, too: cozy, warm and beautiful. Enjoy great crispy pizzas, salads, steak wrapped in bacon, shrimp, and chicken dishes under palm trees in the beautiful dining room beneath the stars. Dessert is also great. Excellent live music often includes Manuel on guitar and flute. On Thursdays, Frank does a presentation on the sea turtle preservation project.
La Taza de Café (The Cup of Coffee)
On the south side of Tercer Mundo, west of México, next to La Ola Rica
(311) 258-4162
This is a great breakfast place, with a lovely open and bright decor. They have an espresso machine for your favorite morning eye-opener, or you can order a wide selection of fruit and vegetable juices, fresh-squeezed to order. They also make great omelets--you can select from veggies, sausage, ham, and goat cheese.
María Deli-Café
On the south side of Tercer Mundo, near the beach
(311) 258-4439 or (322) 140-8088
Ines offers tasty breakfasts and lunches at the café, featuring eggs, pastas, salads, sandwiches, coffees, and desserts.
Bistros
El Jardin de Pancha (The Garden of Pancha)
On the north side of Tercer Mundo, towards the highway, east of Saigon
This is a popular breakfast and lunch place with a variety of omelets, milkshakes, smoothies, salads, baguette sandwiches, and desserts. Adjacent to a gift shop.
Ceci Bon
On the south side of Tercer Mundo, west of Asia
(311) 258-4115 or (322) 140-6928
Cecilia will cook you up a great breakfast to order. Check the board for daily specials.
Celia’s
On the north side of Tercer Mundo, east of Afrika
(311) 258-4016
This restaurant is just reopening after a sabbatical. Celia is a truly delightful person and this is sure to be a great place.
Eat hearty with the locals
for great value
At the other end of the spectrum are the corner bistros where many Mexicans eat. With plastic garden chairs and low-frills service, often with a variety of self-serve condiments and side dishes, these eateries make up in charm for what they lack in elegance. At the smaller ones, it is a lot like being invited to dinner with the local families. Children and old people are often abundant.
Fresh-squeezed juices and tasty beverages made from grain (besides beer) are common. The selection tends to be limited, but consists of good, fresh food including eggs and beans for breakfast, meat and fish for lunch and dinner, and a variety of fresh sauces and veggie condiments. The locals are diligent about disinfecting produce, so you can safely eat at these places.
Many of these establishments tend to specialize in serving either during the early part of the day or in the evening. English is spoken only occasionally, so take a Spanish-English guide book and have fun. You can have excellent steak or fish, vegetables, and sauces with tortillas, for example, for about MXP $40-60. This is a phenomenal deal and a great time.
Los Delfines (The Dolphins)
On the north side of Tercer Mundo, east of México
(311) 258-4238
This is a popular spot in this category. Very friendly people serve a variety of mini tacos with meat, fish, cheese, or veggies. During the winter (high) season, they often have great flan. Also check out:
-
Los Tacos de Eva, the fresh fish taco eatery at the corner of Asia and Egipto is a local favorite
-
Try breakfast and fresh juices on the north side of Tercer Mundo, east of Asia
-
For dinner, another great place is on the north side of Tercer Mundo, west of Asia
-
Pollo Rostizado, at the corner of América Latina and Egipto, specializes in roasted chicken
Street vendors can also be a great source of good, inexpensive food. Taco stands can amaze you with great flavor and a hearty meal for less than MXN $30 (USD $3)--with beverage. You can also buy roasted corn right out of wheeled ovens with wood stoves.
Traditional Mexican Restaurants
There are a number of restaurants that cater primarily to local Mexicans. Prices are only modestly higher than the corner bistros. These places are fun to explore, as each has its own unique character and culinary specialties. Local people tend to let their hair down (so to speak) more in these establishments, so be prepared for real cultural experiences like cranked-up salsa music, soccer on TV, and animated conversations.
English is generally not spoken. However, people are friendly and accommodating to sign language and other rudimentary attempts at communication. These are the places to go to get a taste of real life among native San Panchans.
Restaurant la Avenida (the sign above says "Marcos")
On the north side of Tercer Mundo, toward the highway, west of Saigon
(322) 111-4716 Rigoberto or (322) 142-1221 Adriana
Adriana and Rigoberto have created a great restaurant on the east side of Tercer Mundo. It tends to be quieter, with more gringo-familiar dishes. Try pancakes with fruit, French toast (MXN $25), a hearty omelet, or tortillas with eggs or chicken for breakfast. The lunch menu includes red snapper, ceviche, and quesadillas. Among the dinner offerings are chile rellenos, chicken mole (MXN $60), steak (MXN $100), lobster (MXN $200) and fish enchiladas (MXN $50). Yummy food at affordable prices.
La Chalupa (The Little Canoe)
On the east side of México, just south of Tercer Mundo
(311) 258-4150
The family that owns this large Mexican family-style restaurant also owns the local fishing fleet. If you wish, around noon each day, you can purchase freshly-caught seafood here. Mahi mahi and shrimp are typically part of the catch.
So many great restaurants,
so little time
You will have to come and stay for a while to sample all the scrumptious yumminess, the hugely diverse and delectable dining options that San Pancho has to offer.
With so many outstanding places to eat, there are inevitable comings, goings, and changes in the local restaurant scene. If you find we have missed a spot that you love, have an update, or just want to share a great experience, please e-mail us with your comments.