El Nahual Restaurant - Tlaquepaque

El Nahual is located at Juarez #17 (one block past the Parian on the right side) and has a striking interior since it is not only a restaurant but also a gallery. Another plus it that there is a secure pay parking lot right next door.

We ate dinner there two different nights - Kathy had their stuffed chicken breast and their salmon, while I had pork tenderloin and their vaccio. Each dinner was well prepared and the service was exceptional. While off the typical walking areas, we do recommend this establishment!
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El Nahual Slideshow: https://picasaweb.google.com/118146709599975173363/ELNAHUALTLAQUEPAQUEJALMEXICO#slideshow/5699036111769936354

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I believe that they offer a breakfast buffet and maybe a lunch buffet? Dinner was order off a fairly extensive menu. Kathy found her two choices quite tasty and well prepared. I would rate my two choices average to good. The pork tenderloin lacked the pork flavor we are used to NOB and the vaccio wasn't overwhelming in flavor. As to taking fotos of menus, apparently this is an area where I lack proper talent as I cannot seem to get them to photograph properly. We had a brochure indicating that they have a website but it may have been like those mysterious email accounts that don't seem to work.

What is vaccio?
Chris

Chris:

Thank you for pointing out an apparent misspelling on my part. I thought that I had remembered this Argentinean steak as being spelled as I did. After some research, it is apparently spelled vacío.

Neil
I didnt know it was a misspelling.I had not heard the term vacio before,it looked like arracherra or skirt steak to me,thanks.
Chris

We had no idea that Valentines was such a big deal in Mexico but a walk around Tlaquepaque straightened that thinking out very quickly. We visited El Nahual for Valentine's Day dinner and were surprised that they had a special menu for the occasion - four special steaks and a special salmon dish. We both chose the Arrachera and it was exceptional!

El Nahual photo album with new photos added: https://picasaweb.google.com/118146709599975173363/ELNAHUALTLAQUEPAQUEJALMEXICO?authkey=Gv1sRgCM_18fzXqI226QE

We rate this restaurant as one of the best ones in Tlaquepaque, even though it is a bit off the normal traffic pattern.

viajero wrote:Neil
I didnt know it was a misspelling.I had not heard the term vacio before,it looked like arracherra or skirt steak to me,thanks.
Chris

I believe, as noted, it's an Argentinean cut. I had never heard of it either until I first ate at Ajijic Tango. Since Argentine-style grill joints are so popular here in Mexico, I've seen it a lot since. On the English language version of the menu at Tango, they call it "flap meat" or "flap steak". Whatever that is.

If I had to guess, I'd say it comes from the sirloin neighborhood, but that is just a guess. Could be way off.

Rosa:

Knowing that this is a very popular steak on Argentinian Steakhouse menus, I have tried it in an number of restaurants around Mexico without knowing the exact cut. From my experience, it may just be a cut that has to come from a good source and then cooked exactly right? I have had both tender and tasty versions and others that I wouldn't feed my dog if I had one. It is my humble opinion that Arrachera is more forgiving.

I never order Arrachera any more. More often than not, for me, it's been marinated beyond recognition. All I taste is salt.

Vacío can be good, or bad, like anything else.

I'm pretty sure I've eaten at that restaurant you're describing in Tlaquepaque. It was at least 3 or 4 years ago though, if it's the same one. I remember nothing about the meal. Nice photos.