Guadalajara’s attractions go far beyond its beautiful architecture, its museums, its amusement parks and its shopping malls and markets, where you can buy just about anything. Its traditions and culture are a big part of what the city has to offer, and one of the most remarkable is its food, which makes Guadalajara one of Mexico’s culinary capitals. Picking the 10 best restaurants in Guadalajara is not easy, not only because there are so many places to eat, but because so many different styles of cooking are done so well.
Rather than a ranking, this list is a collection of what we consider the best places to eat in the city, in no particular order. The restaurants we recommend here serve international or contemporary cuisine that blends, to a greater or lesser degree, with Mexican cooking. If you are looking for traditional Mexican food, see our article on the best traditional Mexican restaurants in Guadalajara.
Bruna
Chef Óscar Garza’s menu is varied and balanced, with soups, pastas, seafood, steaks, poultry and even vegetarian and vegan options. The concept is Mexican at its core with international touches, and it uses innovative techniques to deliver one of the city’s standout dining experiences. The menu changes often to make room for seasonal ingredients. As for drinks, Bruna’s wine cellar is one of the best and most complete in Guadalajara, and there is also a cocktail bar that mixes different spirits with spices, herbs, fruit and infusions. Bruna has more than earned its place among the 10 best restaurants in Guadalajara.
Service: À la carte
Least expensive dish: FLAUTAS DE FRUTOS DEL MAR: 2 flautas (rolled crispy tacos) with sautéed shrimp, sole and octopus, served on a bed of red cabbage and fresh carrots and topped with a creamy cilantro and poppy seed sauce. MXN $225.00
Most expensive dish: CORDERO NEGRO, 300 g (10.5 oz): lamb chops with an onion-ash and mint crust over Oaxacan mole negro, served with wild black rice and seasonal sprouts. MXN $495.00.
TOMAHAWK 1.500 kg / (STERLING SILVER) MXN $1,450.00
Address: Lerdo de Tejada no. 2418, Col. Lafayette Guadalajara, Jal. CP. 44150. Tel.+52 (33) 20 03 09 04
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Hueso
Hueso is chef Nacho Cadena’s restaurant in Guadalajara. After the success of his restaurant La Leche in Puerto Vallarta, Cadena took on this project with his friend Juan Manuel Monteón.
The experience starts the moment you walk in. The restaurant is in an old house in the Lafayette neighborhood, remodeled to bring the chef and diners closer together, and diners closer to each other. That comes from its open kitchen and from the fact that there is only one table: yes, a single wooden table for 54 people. The walls are covered with more than 10,000 bones from different animals. It may sound macabre, but the effect is the opposite: the space is bright and harmonious.
The menu changes often, based on seasonal ingredients and the chef’s mood; that way, he says, he escapes monotony and avoids going crazy. The cooking blends local ingredients with Mexican, American, Spanish, French and Asian influences. The result is dishes like the pork shank braised in tomato and peanut sauce with sautéed shrimp, pickled onions and sprouts.
With food this good, Hueso clearly deserves a spot among the 10 best restaurants in Guadalajara.
Service: À la carte. Occasional tasting menu.
Least expensive dish: KAMPACHI CROQUETTES, 15 pieces (example; the menu changes daily) MXN $250.00
Most expensive dish: RACK OF LAMB IN MOLE 5000.00 g (example; the menu changes daily) MXN $700.00
Address: Efraín González Luna No. 2061, Colonia Lafayette, Guadalajara, Jal. CP 44150 Tel. +52 (33) 3615 7915
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Sagrantino
In more than 10 years, Sagrantino has become one of Guadalajara’s classic Italian restaurants and a regular on lists of the city’s 10 best. The Pernazza family created it to show how Italian cooking has evolved, combining traditional techniques with original, inventive dishes.
The kitchen is run by acclaimed chef Massimo Fongaro, who was born, raised and trained in Italy and has created a well-balanced menu with something for everyone.
The menu changes every six months, and there are specials every two weeks; diners’ favorites are added to the menu. Popular choices include wood-fired pizza, excellent pastas, fine grilled steaks, and fish and seafood dishes. Also worth mentioning are the Italian-Mexican creations, such as the grilled adobo octopus and the Sagrantino aguachile (a lime-cured seafood dish) with a touch of mango and strawberries.
The setting and the experience are hard to beat. High ceilings and wood details create an elegant atmosphere, and polished concrete adds a fresh, modern feel. The main dining room and the terraces work for a business meeting, a family celebration or even a marriage proposal.
Service: À la carte.
Least expensive dish: LINGUINE TREINTA (example; the menu changes every six months) MXN $168.00
Most expensive dish: RIB EYE 400 g (14 oz) / (PRIME) MXN $698.00
VACÍO (flank steak), priced by weight: MXN $916.00/kg
Address: Diagonal Golfo de Cortés 4152, Col. Monraz, Guadalajara, Jal. C.P. 44670. Tel. +52 (33) 3813 1379
Looking for great tacos? See our picks for the best tacos in Guadalajara
Magno Brasserie
Magno Brasserie is the restaurant of renowned Australian chef Paul Bentley, who, after a successful career in Australia, Europe and the United States, chose Guadalajara to showcase his take on cooking.
This is a place for anyone who loves good food, with a wide selection of house-made charcuterie, pastas, burgers, and dishes of fish, duck, octopus, rabbit, lamb and beef. Magno’s cooking is mainly French and Italian, though it also works in Mexican elements remarkably well. Desserts are by pastry chef Jesús Escalera of La Postrería.
Among the most praised dishes are the poached asparagus starter with truffled polenta, poached egg, bottarga and Parmesan, and the duck magret, sliced and served over smoked apple purée.
Magno is in a 1925 house in the Americana neighborhood, with exposed brick walls and an open kitchen, plus wood and volcanic stone in the decor. The result is a casual, sophisticated and pleasant atmosphere.
Service: À la carte / tasting menu.
Least expensive dish: CORN AGNOLOTTI (example; the menu changes every six months) MXN $225.00
Most expensive dish: DUCK MAGRET (for sharing; example, the menu changes every six months) MXN $920.00
CHEF’S MENU (a selection of starter, pasta, main course and dessert) MXN $950.00. WITH WINE PAIRING + MXN $450.00
Address: Calle José Guadalupe Zuno Hernández 2061, Col Americana, Americana, Guadalajara, Jal. C.P.44160. Tel. (33) 2001 0724
Allium
Allium’s cooking is built on simple, fresh flavors, made possible by working directly with artisanal producers and harvesting its own rooftop garden.
It was created by award-winning chef Adolfo Galnares, who trained at the renowned Akelarre restaurant in San Sebastián. Working alongside Galnares is María Ortega, whose creativity and sensitivity in the kitchen have been key to Allium’s success. The two combine their styles and talents perfectly in dishes with simple but bold flavors.
At Allium the menu changes often, following the seasons. What stays constant is the skill with which they turn what each season offers into true works of culinary art. Favorites include pork belly in a green tomato “romesco” sauce, the catch of the day with sikil pak (a Yucatecan pumpkin seed dip) and the catch of the day with Mexican curry, all excellent.
The simplicity of the food carries over to the space: an intimate room with understated, casual decor, highlighted by hand-blown glass lamps and wood wall details that match the solid wood furniture. The terrace is the most requested spot: cool and relaxed, with lovely planters and a view of the lively street. Allium is well on its way to becoming one of the most solid restaurants in Guadalajara.
Service: À la carte.
Least expensive dish: LAMB RAGÚ (example; the menu changes often) MXN $295.00
Most expensive dish: CRAB AND SHRIMP RISOTTO (example; the menu changes often) MXN $320.00
Address: Manuel López Cotilla 1752, Col Americana, Col. Lafayette, Guadalajara, Jal. C.P. 44150. Tel. +52 (33) 33 3615 6401
Campomar
Campomar is currently one of the locals’ favorite seafood restaurants, and for very good reasons. It has four locations in Guadalajara, each with a casual, modern and fresh atmosphere, ideal for sharing its excellent Nayarit-style seafood.
You will find some of the classics of any seafood restaurant, but the menu also includes many Campomar originals you will hardly find anywhere else. Even with such an inventive menu, Campomar’s main draw is the flavor of every dish, the result of careful preparation, top-quality ingredients and traditional family recipes, mostly inspired by the state of Nayarit.
Dishes not to miss include pescado and camarones zarandeados (fish and shrimp grilled in a chile marinade), the shrimp and octopus chorreada, the “El Tigre” sea bass ceviche and the “Tifi Tifi” octopus tentacles, among many others. No matter how often you visit Campomar, you will always want to come back once more.
The service deserves as much praise as the food: friendly, warm and attentive to detail. Staff anticipate what you need and know the menu very well. In short, it is impeccable.
The Campomar experience is rounded out by a kids’ menu, a wide wine list, cocktails and desserts, plus generous portions and good prices.
Service: À la carte.
Least expensive dish: Ceviche tostadas MXN $41.00 / Dried shrimp ceviche MXN $130
Most expensive dish: Pulpo zarandeado (grilled octopus) MXN $290. Lobster (priced by weight, 600-1200)
Locations:
- San Dionisio 33, Jardín de San Ignacio, Col. Chapalita. Zapopan, Jal. C.P. 45040. Tel +52 33 96271005
- Av Providencia 2422, Col. Providencia, Guadalajara, Jal. C.P. 44630. Tel+52 33 31135949
- Blvrd Puerta de Hierro #4965. UP 13-10, Col. Puerta de Hierro Zapopan, Jal. C.P. 45116. Tel +52 33 36509223
- Av Paseo Punto Sur #235 Local R02 y R03 2422, Col. Los Gavilanes Poniente. Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jal. C.P. 45645. Tel +52 33 15969180
Alcalde
Alcalde has become one of Guadalajara’s most acclaimed restaurants in recent years. In 2020 it ranked number 15 on the list of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, the only restaurant in Guadalajara to earn that distinction. Alcalde aims for an exceptional dining experience through simple, honest cooking. It takes everyday ingredients that other restaurants often overlook and prepares them in unexpected ways, creating new textures and flavors. Humble ingredients such as fideos (thin noodles), tunas (prickly pears), nopales, verdolagas (purslane), chicharrón, quelites (wild greens) and huauzontle get the attention they deserve and become what sets this place apart.
The kitchen is led by chef Francisco Ruano, a Guadalajara native born and raised downtown near the Mercado Alcalde, which gives the restaurant its name. Ruano has worked at some of the best restaurants in the world, including Mugaritz (Basque Country), El Celler de Can Roca (Girona) and Noma (Denmark). Today his experience and technique show in the flawless execution of each dish and in the creative structure of the menu.
The dining room where Alcalde serves its straightforward cooking is simple and unpretentious. A few tasteful decorative touches give it a casual, welcoming feel, where what really matters is on the table, not on the walls. Its exceptional quality firmly places Alcalde among the 10 best restaurants in Guadalajara.
Service: À la carte and tasting menu.
Least expensive dish: SEASONAL CATCH IN HABANERO-LIME BUTTER WITH SIKIL-PAK. MXN $310.00
Most expensive dish: AMERICAN WAGYU TONGUE WITH MOLE COLORADITO AND SWEET STUFFING. MXN $410.00
TASTING MENU MXN $1200.00
Address: Av. México 2903, Vallarta Nte. Guadalajara, Jal. C.P. 44690. Tel. 33 3615 7400
Looking for great tacos? See our picks for the best tacos in Guadalajara.
Tikuun Comedor Local
In just a few years, Tikuun Comedor Local has more than earned a place among Guadalajara’s best restaurants. It serves modern, imaginative and expertly executed Mexican food, drawing on regional cooking from different parts of Mexico and combining it with ingredients and techniques from other parts of the world.
A constantly changing menu gives free rein to the creativity of young chef Carlos Espinosa, who makes sure both the kitchen and the dining room run at a high level. The service is another of Tikuun’s strengths and rounds out the experience nicely.
It is housed in an old home in the Americana neighborhood, with simple decor that is enough to create a warm, almost family-like atmosphere. For all these reasons, Tikuun Comedor Local is a place you should not miss.
Service: À la carte.
Least expensive dish: N/A
Most expensive dish: N/A
Address: Calle Emeterio Robles Gil 50, Col Americana. Guadalajara, Jal. C.P. 44160. Tel +52 33 38250117
Xokol
By far the most modest-looking place on the list. Xokol’s art is not on the walls, in elaborate furniture or in fancy tableware. Its strength is the kitchen, and it has a secret weapon that makes it stand out enough to be counted among the 10 best restaurants in Guadalajara: heirloom corn. Around it, Xokol builds a style of cooking reminiscent of what you might find in an Indigenous community. That cooking is lifted by the creativity of chefs Xrysw Ruela and Oscar Segundo, who experiment with very traditional ingredients and techniques and combine them in unexpected and successful ways.
The menu rotates every two weeks, sometimes every week. To the delight of regulars, the taco mazahua is always available. Besides being a restaurant, Xokol is also a molino (corn mill) that sells its acclaimed tortillas to restaurants such as Bruna, La Tequila, Nerium and Alcalde, among others.
Service: À la carte.
Least expensive dish: N/A
Most expensive dish: N/A
Address: C. Ignacio Herrera y Cairo 1392, Col. Santa Teresita. Guadalajara, Jal. C.P. 44600. Tel +52 33 1229 9085
Beluga
One of the locals’ new favorites, Beluga Restaurante opened in Zapopan in February 2021. Not even opening in the middle of a pandemic kept it from quickly becoming a favorite with food lovers.
The decor and atmosphere make Beluga elegant, modern and on trend. The large restaurant has several areas, including a semi-covered terrace, a main dining room and a private room, each with the right atmosphere for a full sensory experience.
Let us save the food and drinks for last and talk about the service, because there is a lot to say and all of it is good. The staff have clearly been chosen with care: all friendly, smiling and attentive, and all one step ahead of what you need. Their training shows too, since every server knows each menu item perfectly and is ready to make a suggestion, answer questions and handle special requests. Service as good as Beluga’s does not happen by chance; it takes a lot of work, which shows a real intention to win diners over beyond the food itself.
As you might guess, Beluga’s menu is mostly seafood, though there are also pastas and top-quality steaks. Some dish names may sound familiar, but the level of sophistication of Beluga’s preparations is unmatched by any other seafood restaurant in the city. The menu includes a wide selection of starters and shorter sections of shellfish, main courses and sides. Among the most acclaimed dishes are the grilled oysters, oysters Rockefeller, pulpo zarandeado and Caribbean lobster.
With a well-designed menu, excellent food and impeccable service, Beluga holds one of the most secure spots on our list of the 10 best restaurants in Guadalajara.
Service: À la carte.
Least expensive dish: TACO GOBERNADOR (shrimp and cheese taco) MXN $95.00
Most expensive dish: CARIBBEAN LOBSTER 1 KG, MXN $1,950.00,
Address: Av Terranova 1121, Lomas de Providencia, 44647 Guadalajara, Jal. Tel +52 33 3835 4233