FOR NEWBIES: Old hands' favorites

For newbies, how about those of us who've been here a while passing on our favorites. The last post from a hard working newbie who deserves a pampering is under the "Elegante"thread (which died a well deserved death.)

Here's some of my favorites; some new, some old.
Seafood: Tabarka (plus some great new Italian offerings and many tapas)
Great lunches and dinners Cocinart and Gosha's; the latter with the best shrimp in town (IMO), Steak done on the grill. Noisy location on the careterra, but lovely garden.
Far out to the west, but excellent menu: Arileo's. Love the salmon.
NOB nostalgia food: Panino's
Great deli food: Emma's deli. Great matzo ball soup and huge, made to order sandwiches
Big mall across from Walmart: Indian place
Asian food: Chopsticks
Pleasant outdoor dining under trees and next to the lake: La Nueva Posada. Food's okay, too.
People watching on the Ajijic plaza: El Jardin. Good food, too.

What's yours?

Panino......best.....well you name it.  Uses quality products.
Bruno's......best meat
Emma's......best soup and sandwiches
Smoke House.....best BBQ
M & J......best pizza
Chuy's (Chapala)......best tacos (un surtido)
Memo's (Ajijc).....best pozole
I could go on and on but that's enough out of me.

Trailrunner can weigh in on vegetarian/vegan locations, as that's their expertise.

Don't care much about seafood, chicken, or Asian so will defer to gringal for those selections.

slainte39 wrote:
Trailrunner can weigh in on vegetarian/vegan locations, as that's their expertise.

Ok.

Best Healthy Food - MachiMá  (just west of the Ajijic Clinic)

Trailrunner wrote:

slainte39 wrote:
Trailrunner can weigh in on vegetarian/vegan locations, as that's their expertise.

Ok.

Best Healthy Food - MachiMá  (just west of the Ajijic Clinic)

Healthy food? eh?.......just had to do it, didn't you....... ...while I'm trying to extoll the virtues of pizza, red meat, BBQ, etc.

In Ireland the "supreme" health food is Irish coffee as it contains the 4 vital ingredients for the perfect diet of good health........
Alcohol....Caffeine....Sugar.....(and) Fat
...... this guy will live forever

Jajajaja Slainte! Thanks for my morning chuckle.  You're right, this guy will probably live forever . . . with insulin injections three times a day, a couple dozen stents, and a shoebox of daily medications.

Trailrunner wrote:

Jajajaja Slainte! Thanks for my morning chuckle.  You're right, this guy will probably live forever . . . with insulin injections three times a day, a couple dozen stents, and a shoebox of daily medications.

I liked Slainte's choices for sheer audacity! We know darn well his Mexican family makes him eat good food, too.

Perrys Pizza great burger but clam chowder to die for, and of course pizza

gringal wrote:

Trailrunner wrote:

Jajajaja Slainte! Thanks for my morning chuckle.  You're right, this guy will probably live forever . . . with insulin injections three times a day, a couple dozen stents, and a shoebox of daily medications.

I liked Slainte's choices for sheer audacity! We know darn well his Mexican family makes him eat good food, too.

Unfortunately yes.  They are almost religious about it.
On the board, away from prying, spying eyes, I can fantasize.
Damn those blood tests!

I forgot one:
Senor David's barbeque chicken grill on the Libramento across from the big mall, once jokingly called "Dusty Chicken" at it's former location.
When you don't feel like cooking or going out to eat, it's absolutely delicious, with all manner of sides available, from guacamole to various salads and salsas, all home made.  Also containers of small potatoes and of course, hot tortillas.  Opens around noon.

Of all those mentioned, I suggest that Viva Mexico is the finest of all for a restaurant choice, and has actually been around for many years.
The “dusty chicken“ by Señor David is the very best for a take-home meal anytime. It is also a long term survivor for very good, delicious, reasons.

RVGRINGO wrote:Of all those mentioned, I suggest that Viva Mexico is the finest of all for a restaurant choice, and has actually been around for many years.
The “dusty chicken“ by Señor David is the very best for a take-home meal anytime. It is also a long term survivor for very good, delicious, reasons.

Viva Mexico would be on my frequent good dining list, too, except for the distance and all those ##****% speed bumps and topes between here and there.
As for "dusty chicken", my husband brought some home for lunch yesterday and for Sunday "brunch" we sliced and fried the potatoes, which (try it) are great with guacamole. We have enough chicken left for burritos. They use big enough chickens that it would feed a gang.

Best cenaduria: Elba in Chapala.

For cenedurias, I agree 100%. Cenaduria Elba cannot be beat.
Newbies should know that they will not be able to find it before it opens at about 7-7:30 PM. That is when the doors roll up and the magic is available. Take a seat at any of the long tables, meet new friends and peruse the extensive menu. It is wonderful !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where? Northeast of the Chapala mercado, about a block, just off Lopez Cotilla on Zaragosa.

Totally agree with the two previous posts, great pozole (pollo o cerdo), tostadas, sincronizadas and other assorted men items not found at McDonald's.

Best food lakeside are offerings sold at the Monday & Tuesday markets - Mr. Massa's, Casa Vegana's, the gourmet pizza, gigantic stuffed baked potato, soups, spring rolls, chickpea tuna, dips, tahini - amazing healthy food. Mom's Deli, too, huge selection. Take it home! ALL restaurants lakeside expose Newbies to new GI bacteria. not a pleasant break-in experience. Uncooked food at your own risk! After a year, gut gets stronger. But local take-outs, no issues. If I want to see & be seen, i go to Tangos.

caligirl108 wrote:Best food lakeside are offerings sold at the Monday & Tuesday markets - Mr. Massa's, Casa Vegana's, the gourmet pizza, gigantic stuffed baked potato, soups, spring rolls, chickpea tuna, dips, tahini - amazing healthy food. Mom's Deli, too, huge selection.  Take it home! ALL restaurants lakeside expose Newbies to new GI bacteria. not a pleasant break-in experience. Uncooked food at your own risk! After a year, gut gets stronger.  But local take-outs, no issues. If I want to see & be seen, i go to Tangos.    

All good suggestions, but we're discussing actual restaurants here. For myself, if I want to eat at home, I cook. I'm a bit uneasy about all those prepared foods available because, frankly, I don't know the conditions under which they're cooked. Probably just fine and sanitary, but ??

As for the bacteria, several vendors offer items like Kefir to keep your gut ahead of the bugs. Pro-biotics from the drugstore are good, too. And, although we think "healthy" in association with salad, they are the worst offenders for giving you gut misery.