I’ve decided to spend this weeks allotted writing time to reflect on my time in Mexico. I haven’t written too much about my day to day experience and thought it might be fun to do so! Most of you know I love food. I have a hard time turning down a taste of pretty much anything. In my early 20’s I stayed at an all inclusive in Puerto Vallarta and, despite venturing out into the world several times, my overall experience of the food was not noteworthy or enticing.
This time I have been constantly surprised by the rich flavors and unexpected combinations. I dined like a queen in Cabo and have stumbled upon some exceptional street food in Puerto Vallarta. I’ve taken plenty of shots of various establishments and plates and thought I’d take today to share some of them with you!
This photo was taken around the time that we realized this taco restaurant we had been eating at didn’t have a kitchen. The food was being cooked on a hot plate in the parking lot and the ‘counter’ was the tailgate of a truck. This was the first stop I made after arriving from the airport my first trip into Puerto Vallarta. I saw ‘7’ beside the pastor taco and assumed, after being in Cabo, that this was a $7 US taco. Big city, more expensive, right? Well, no. It’s 7 pesos, folks, which barely qualifies as money really. Needless to say, multiple trips were had and they are still the best tacos I’ve had to date.
Most nights, about a meter away from the meat sizzling on the hot plate, resides this woman. She fries up and sugars fresh curros and sells them for 6 pesos a piece, or 60 pesos a coil. That’s about the equivalent of 37 cents and $4, respectively. They are delicious. We were never quite sure what her hours were, so sometimes we stocked up before dinner. I’d like to say we waited to eat them, but dessert first may have been the reality.
We found this gem shortly after. The ambience leaves something to be desired though. It’s on a relatively busy street corner, on something sort of resembling a sidewalk, I guess. The Mexican symphony of honking, rumbling cars was our entertainment and when we arrived one of the waitresses was plucking the cooks eyebrows. Needless to say, I didn’t have high hopes. However, it was one of the best burgers I’ve had in Mexico so far, and it too is a short walk from “home.”
I’m currently staying at a friends place while I land back in Puerto Vallarta. Around the corner is a big market that sells a variety of wares and fresh foods. Sort of the Mexican version of Granville Island, except it’s a regular thing, not a novelty.
This guy is in the far corner. He sells medium sized fresh juices or smoothies for 25 pesos. The bustle of the room always leaves me feeling like I’m trying to make a bid for service in a busy deli in New York. Next door, there is a shop with breads and cheeses where we have often grabbed snacks on the way to the major bus station that takes you to Sayulita and Bucerias. There is also a sweet little shop that sells natural health products and things like incense and essential oils. Delightful!
There is a decent taco stand around the corner from here too and the wait staff is so friendly they even held my friend when she was crying at the table. (Travel isn’t all fun and games, folks.) Despite this hospitability, you can only eat so many tacos. One night, in desperate longing for something other than, we roamed and stumbled upon this place.
Imagine incredibly uncomfortable grated metal bar stools, a tarp that rests against your back to provide shade, and service that consists of a hand reaching out, seemingly from nowhere, holding a plastic plate with your hot sandwich on it. Another 60 peso gem.
When you are craving something sweet after, simply turn around and visit my favorite lady in town. I’ve sat down to eat my sandwich disappointed she’s nowhere in sight and then turned to see she’s silently arrived with her case. I’m not sure how she does it, but I suspect she’s lowered from heaven on a fluffy cloud.
I opted to write this before breakfast and I’m now starving. I’m going to head out into the world to see what I can find. I wish you happy snacking and will write to you again soon!