Great restaurants in Guadalajara come in a superb array, but each serves creative, flavourful Mexican food in relaxed and atmospheric spaces. Most eateries focus on locally-sourced ingredients and innovative techniques to prepare their culinary works of art.

Eat your way through contemporary Mexican cuisine by tucking into quesadillas with rose petals and strawberries, suckling pig with black mole, or crispy cheese chicharrón. If you’re wondering where you should dine on your next trip to Mexico, check out our picks for great restaurants in Guadalajara below.

  • 1

    Santo Coyote

    Authentic Creole cuisine with a modern twist

    Santo Coyote
    • Food
    • Group
    • Luxury

    Santo Coyote combines ancient Mexican recipes and a magical setting to create a one-of-a-kind culinary experience in Guadalajara. The home-style dishes include crispy cheese chicharrón, lobster and black beans, and traditional tortilla soups served with freshly baked bread.

    The restaurant also offers a daily breakfast buffet. It includes a wide variety of delicious options, including tacos, quesadillas, omelettes, crepes, and waffles. And on weekends between 1 and 6 pm, you can enjoy an international buffet with different kinds of pasta, Asian cuisine, ceviches, salads, and desserts.

    Location: C. Miguel Lerdo de Tejada 2379, Col Americana, Arcos, 44150 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

    Open: Monday–Friday from 8 am to 11.30 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to midnight

    Phone: +52 333 616 5864

    Map

    photo by cultivar413 (CC BY 2.0) modified

  • 2

    La Tequila Cocina de México

    An atmospheric spot for traditional Mexican food

    La Tequila Cocina de México
    • Couples
    • Food
    • Group
    • Luxury

    La Tequila is a charming restaurant in Guadalajara popular for its authentic Mexican cuisine and top-notch service and hospitality. Dishes include exquisitely presented tacos filled with various fillings, including tuna, shrimp, chicharrón, or beef.

    Options for your main course include tequila-infused shrimp, fresh fish fillets, and grilled rib-eye steaks. The tequila, wine and Mexican beer are worth trying here, too. For a unique experience, order the sample option on the menu. You’ll get to pick 8 dishes that are each paired with half a shot of tequila.

    Location: Av. México 2830, Terranova, 44689 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

    Open: Monday–Saturday from 1 pm to midnight, Sunday from 1 pm to 6 pm

    Phone: +52 333 640 3440

    Map
  • 3

    Bruna

    Innovative takes on traditional Mexican dishes

    Bruna
    • Families
    • Food
    • Group

    Bruna blends traditional Mexican recipes, unique flavours, and innovative cooking methods that provide guests with an unforgettable culinary journey. Each dish is flavoursome and artfully laid out, from the octopus and the duck in mole sauce to the aubergine tacos and grilled mussels.

    Make sure to save some space for dessert. You can’t go wrong with the chocolate mousse, crème brûlée Oaxaceña or the rose-petaled flavoured ice cream. Bruna’s setting in an old French-style mansion with moody lighting creates an elegant ambience that perfectly suits the exquisite cuisine.

    Location: C. Miguel Lerdo de Tejada 2418, Lafayette, 44150 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

    Open: Tuesday–Saturday from 2 pm to midnight, Sunday and Monday from 2 pm to 11 pm

    Phone: +52 332 003 0904

    Map
  • 4

    El Sacromonte

    Modern Mexican in an upscale setting

    El Sacromonte
    • Food
    • Group
    • Luxury

    El Sacromonte is a matador-themed restaurant where the gourmet cuisine perfectly matches the elegant atmosphere. The refined dishes are made with an original combination of local ingredients, flavours, and cooking techniques. 

    Creative plates include mango ceviche, quesadillas with rose petals and strawberries, prawns in lobster sauce with fried spinach, and black bean and red wine soup. The stuffed pepper chiles en nogada is a delicious option for vegetarians. Waiters speak English, and there is an English menu available as well. Reservations are recommended. 

    Location: C. Pedro Moreno 1398, Col Americana, Americana, 44160 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

    Open: Monday–Saturday from 1.30 pm to 11 pm, Sunday from 1.30 pm to 6 pm

    Phone: +52 333 825 5447

    Map
  • 5

    I Latina

    A longtime hot spot with inventive cuisine and cocktails

    I Latina
    • Families
    • Food
    • Group
    • Luxury

    I Latina is a pioneer of contemporary cuisine in Guadalajara and is about good vibes, great music, and incredible food. The trendy, family-friendly restaurant was founded by three friends who wanted to create a chic and innovative gastronomic concept.

    The result is an eclectic eatery with an equally eclectic menu that features a variety of avant-garde dishes and cocktails. Plates are infused with uniquely blended Mexican, Asian, and Mediterranean flavours. Save room for the chocolate truffles. Bookings are recommended.

    Location: Av Inglaterra 3128, Vallarta Poniente, 44110 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

    Open: Tuesday–Saturday from 7 pm to 1 am, Sunday from 1.30 pm to 6 pm

    Phone: +52 333 647 7774

    Map
  • 6

    La Docena

    Delicious locally sourced oysters

    La Docena
    • Couples
    • Food
    • Group
    • Luxury
    • Nightlife

    La Docena is a Louisiana-style oyster bar that serves fresh seafood in a hip yet relaxed space. The restaurant ranks on Latin America's ‘best restaurants’ lists. Whether you choose fried baby squid, scallops, or grilled oysters, each dish is outstanding and perfectly prepared.

    There are also soups, salads, and beef and meat-free burgers if you're not in the mood for seafood. If you want to watch the talented team at work, sit on a barstool in front of the open kitchen.

    Location: São Paulo 1491, Providencia, 44630 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

    Open: Daily from noon to 2 am

    Phone: +52 333 817 1882

    Map
  • 7

    Restaurante Alcalde

    Among the finest restaurants in Latin America

    Restaurante Alcalde
    • Couples
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Nightlife

    Restaurante Alcalde is a renowned fine-dining spot run by chefs with extensive experience working at some of the best restaurants in the world. The carefully curated menu consists of a rich range of flavours, local ingredients, and Mexican recipes with an innovative twist. Dishes are made with seasonal produce, so the menu changes throughout the year. 

    An example of what you can expect at Alcalde includes beetroot salad with toasted macadamia nuts, grapefruit, and sour cream cheese. The suckling pig with black mole and aguachile beef tartare is unforgettable as the main course. Try a little bit of everything and order the tasting menu.

    Location: Av. México 2903, Vallarta Nte., 44690 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

    Open: Monday–Saturday from 1.30 pm to 6 pm and from 7 pm to midnight

    Phone: +52 333 615 7400

    Map
  • 8

    Hueso

    Superb design, ambience, food, and service

    Hueso
    • Families
    • Food
    • Group
    • Luxury
    • Photo

    Hueso is a notable Guadalajara restaurant that’s impressively decorated from floor to ceiling with around 10,000 animal bones. You’ll find a bear, puma, and tiger skulls, as well as a complete snake skeleton. While it may sound macabre, the result is stunning and is an Insta-worthy work of art.

    Quirky decor aside, the frequently changing menu featuring Mexican and regional Jalisco cuisine is just as remarkable. You will usually find salmon, duck, pork belly, and beef from Sonora on the menu. There are only communal tables in the restaurant, which prompt guests to share and interact with other dinners. Most of the dishes are for sharing. Reservations are a must.

    Location: Calle Efraín González Luna 2061, Col Americana, Obrera, 44140 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

    Open: Tuesday–Saturday from 7.30 pm to midnight

    Phone: +52 333 615 3591

    Map
  • 9

    Allium

    Farm-to-table cuisine in Guadalajara

    Allium
    • Families
    • Food
    • Group

    Allium is a top-rated restaurant serving creative Mexican dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients in Guadalajara. Fresh produce comes from the restaurant’s rooftop garden. Meanwhile, cheese comes from the nearby town of Atotonilco, seafood from Nayarit, and vegetables from Ajijic.

    Starters include smoked beetroot salad with yoghurt and pink peppercorn, roasted octopus with chorizo, and Huitlacoche risotto with smoked oyster mushrooms. There’s the catch of the day for your main course, plus lamb, duck, and short rib options. The restaurant has with 2 dining areas – 1 inside and another larger, semi-open-air terrace.

    Location: C. Manuel López Cotilla 1752, Col Americana, Lafayette, 44150 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

    Open: Tuesday–Saturday from 2.30 pm to 11 pm, Sunday from 2.30 pm to 5 pm

    Phone: +52 333 615 6401

    Map
  • 10

    Tikuun Comedor Local

    Creative Mexican delights in Colonia Americana

    Tikuun Comedor Local
    • Couples
    • Food

    Tikuun Comedor Local is a stellar restaurant serving modern and imaginative Mexican cuisine in Guadalajara's trendy Colonia Americana neighbourhood. The menu features creative dishes prepared with ingredients and cooking techniques from around the world. Options frequently change to reflect what produce is in season.

    Dishes could include pork belly, octopus with garlic, and shrimps with roasted onion sauce. The wine list is long and well-balanced with wines sourced from across the world. The restaurant is set in a charming old house and if the weather is pleasant, choose a table on the outdoor terrace.

    Location: C. Emeterio Robles Gil 50, Col Americana, Americana, 44160 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

    Open: Monday and Wednesday–Saturday from 2 pm to 11 pm, Tuesday from 6.30 to 11 pm, Sunday from 2 pm to 7 pm

    Phone: +52 333 825 0117

    Map
Jacqui de Klerk | Contributing Writer