Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Am heading to Zihuatanejo in a few months for my honeymoon and am wondering if anybody has any suggestions on some of the local fare. I am just trying to assemble a list of maybe 5-6 spots that would provide a nice complement to the resort's food. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

It's been a few years since I was there, and we didn't have the opportunity to sample the more casual/less expensive places, but for a couple nice nights out on the town, here are two good options:

La Casa Que Canta is outstanding for a special meal. Its a gorgeous small independent resort.

The other that stood out is Caprichos which has a wonderful garden patio dining area.

Those two were hands down better than anything we found in Ixtapa where we were staying. Make sure you make reservations at either.

Congratulations on your impending nuptuals. You don't mention where you will be staying in Zihua so it makes things a bit difficult. I'm guessing you'll be staying in Playa La Ropa and not Playa Madera. You'll need to take a cab everywhere I list. I strongly recommend eating off-resort; Zihua is a little food mecca. We didn't make our annual two week trip to Zihua this year so my recs may be a bit rusty. The places mentioned here are all within walking distance of Hotel Irma.

There are many places along Playa Municipal that serve good food. Just check prices and the menu. Read through the boards that I link to below for reviews and such (I'm sure I've posted mine there...).
There's one place along the beach (second or third from Plaza Centro??) that has really good bacon wrapped shrimp but I don't remember the name. I can't recall all the places we ate because there was so much good food but here are my favorites. They are all in Playa Madera/Playa Municipal.

La Casa Cafe
Calle Adelita #7
Pablo and Lorna have the best coffee in Zihua and simple breakfasts that you'll crave. Closed on Mondays.

De Donde Eres
Next Door to La Casa Cafe
Open for dinner only, Neek and Sabrina offer three items, based on what looks good in the market. Everything is excellent...really! We were there a couple days after they opened and went there for dinner nightly after that. The following year, they allowed me to cook an entree. Wonderful little place. Tell them Dee (the gumbo lady) and Kerry recommended you. We gave them a book for customers to sign that is pretty interesting to read.

Casa Bahia
Above town....
Good food and a nice view. Most expensive meal we ate in Zihua. I'd consider it a special place.

La Gula
Calle Adelita #8 (across the street from La Casa Cafe)
Gets really good reviews from lots of people we've talked to. We thought it was too expensive and did not try it. Again, one of the special places.

La Sirena Gorda
Playa Municipal (along the beach)
Just good food

Panadería el Buen Gusto
Calle Vicente Guerrero #8
Nice bakery. Get there early.

Garrabos
Calle Juan N. Alvarez #52
Nice seafood dishes.

Kau Kan's
Not been but hear good things. Pricy.....

There's a place down the street from Rufo's (which is pretty good itself but very casual) that is really nice....I can't recall the name but their food's pretty good.

Oh, and stay away from Bandido's. It's major-league gringo-fied. Red sauce is watered down ketchup. Blech!

Since you've got a bit of time to do some research, I'm providing some interesting links to read up on when the cruise ships come in (avoid going into town....really) and just general information about the area.

This website has maps, pictures and a helpful list of restaurants for both Ixtapa and Zihua. It is my favorite reference for the area as it lists things to do around Zihua. Any of the restaurants listed here will be good (except Bandido's....it's terrible!)
http://www.zihuatanejo.net/

This is the BEST map of the area, as it shows restaurants, hotels, stores etc. I highly recommend you print it out and take it with you!
http://www.zihua.net/zip/links.php?page=http://members.shaw.ca/ZihuaJ/ZMapPage/Centro.htm

This website has the same features as the first one (but it has the best map that I linked above). I don't like it as much because there tends to be alot of sniping, especially when someone posts negative about one of the more "popular" restaurants (like Coconuts....but I digress).
http://www.zihuatanejo-ixtapa.com/

Edited - You didn't mention specific time frames. Some businesses in Zihua close down/run limited hours during non-peak months. You might be able to find more information about that on the bulletin boards provided above.

thanks dees_1! above and beyond what i was hoping for. we are indeed staying near la playa ropa. one of the reasons we are choosing zihuatanejo is b/c of the local fare. this gives me a great start on my research. Thanks again.

I agree that La Casa que Canta is a wonderful dining experience for a special occasion, and (if you have the disposable income) a wonderful place to stay. I find it to be a must anytime we visit the area for an excellent meal.

I had another very nice experience at Villa de Sol off Playa de Ropa. However, I believe it is now the Tides and am unsure as to how many changes have been made. In any case the setting is very romantic and right off of the beach.

Tamales Y Anne, great pozole & much more. We also enjoyed Franks across from the hotel strip in Ixtapa.

Another good place to cross-post your question and get good advice from people either residing in Zihua. or who visit often can be found when you follow the link below:

http://www.zihuatanejo.net/wwwboard/

Hey msandrew! Hope all went well with the wedding (if it took place before now). Wondering if you've returned from your honeymoon and if you'll be posting a report on where you ate (and how the trip was).

We might be planning a trip back to Zihua in early 2009 (*crossing fingers*) so I'll be watching for your posts!

We are going in a few weeks and i'll be back with a full report...hopefully with pictures. I'll try to post the first week of October or so. Thanks again for all of the great info.

dees_1 wrote:La Gula
Calle Adelita #8 (across the street from La Casa Cafe)
Gets really good reviews from lots of people we've talked to. We thought it was too expensive and did not try it. Again, one of the special places.

I somehow missed this thread. For any future Zihua visitors, do NOT miss La Gula. It's truly memorable dining experience, with terrific sunset views, a charming 2nd floor balcony view, open kitchen, and some incredibly delicious, inventive fare served without the slightest pretense. I have tried for years to replicate the perfect flavor balance in one particular appetizer: mashed banana and fresh melting cheese coated with breadcrumbs, fried, and served with an ever-so-slightly picante roasted pepper sauce.

Also, if you find a non-English speaking 80 year old named Fernando offering to take you out on his fishing boat for a modest fee - do it! This guy was an absolute blast, and helped us catch some gorgeous, huge tuna and take them ashore to be prepared at a local seaside restaurant. Our catch fed the whole darn place, and we felt like celebrities. NB, however: you will have to provide Fernando with a full case of beer for this trip, and he will start drinking it as soon as he picks you up at 7AM.

One other word about Zihua. Drug prosecutions are serious, and waiters will approach you with offers while you dine. On a related note, do not attempt to flush anything down the toilet at La Casa Cafe. I'll leave it at that in case the Mexican authorities are reading this thread.

unfortunately la gula is closed for remodeling until mid october so we will not be able to try that. after looking at their menu online i am pretty bummed about it. i will definitely be on the lookout for fernando though.

msandrew25 wrote:unfortunately la gula is closed for remodeling until mid october so we will not be able to try that. after looking at their menu online i am pretty bummed about it. i will definitely be on the lookout for fernando though.

Ah yes, a look at the La Gula website brought back such splendid memories. A shame you won't be able to try it, but don't sweat - Zihua is one of my favorite places on earth, and there is much beyond La Gula to enjoy.