Something for Everyone: My Top 10 Restaurants in Puerto Escondido
Fried shrimp tacos, fresh ceviche, steamy pozole, micheladas bigger than your head, food courts galore—is your mouth watering yet?
Note: This article was first written for StevenTheNomad.com in 2021. The version below was updated in July, 2022.
Oaxaca as a State is famous for its cuisine, and rightfully so. Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca’s second-largest seaside city, is the heart of where Oaxacan food culture meets seafood culture. There’s a burgeoning restaurant scene that’s growing along with Puerto Escondido, and it would take a few months to eat all around town—across all of Puerto’s neighborhoods.
If you don’t have that long, start with the list below. It’ll take you both back and forth across the map of Puerto and up and down along the scale of barefoot to fancy. This list will be sure to leave you with some of the most memorable restaurant experiences of your trip, and maybe even your life.
My Top 10 Restaurants in Puerto Escondido, in No Particular Order:
Read on to find my first 10 honorable mentions as well!
1. Bar La Morena
If you were only going to have a single meal in Puerto Escondido (say you’re just driving through) I think I would point you to Bar La Morena. It’s really the quintessential Puerto dining experience. It’s a sand-floor and plastic table restaurant without many frills, that dishes up incredibly tasty seafood at the right price.
They offer sashimi, tiritas, crabs, octopus, tuna tostadas, and more (basically, anything edible that comes out of the ocean). It’s incredibly consistent and always hits the spot, especially if you’re trying to fix a hangover. They also serve big, beautiful micheladas with all the fixings.
Dish to Try: Tostadas de Atun (tuna tostadas) are a part of my order every time I end up at Bar La Morena, and they’re always the first thing I eat when the food arrives. Wash it down with a spicy michelada as you happily tap dance in the sand.
2. Espadin
Anniversary date, the parents are in town, an important celebration of any kind—El Espadin is your spot. Even if they served cat food, and cat food only, it would be worth visiting El Espadin for the view. It’s situated at the top of Carrizallio beach and looks down at the beautiful protected bay.
Before the sun sets, you’ll likely see surfers bobbing in the water, waiting for the bay’s beginner waves. Luckily, it’s not just about the view. The food and cocktails are amazing, which really brings the entire classy experience together. Book ahead of time, go just before sunset, and don’t forget to snap a group photo.
Dish To Try: The garlic shrimp starter. It comes drowning in oil and garlic with a basket of panini-maker-smashed white bread, and ohhhhhhh patna’, is it good.
3. El Bunker de JP
The happiest place on earth. I know Disney Land tries to stake claim to that title, but I really think it’s inside this hidden seafood restaurant in the center of Puerto Escondido. Although it’s easily searchable on google maps, after you park you might need a little help finding the front door.
It’s tucked behind a mechanic shop, and once you pass a car in disrepair to find the entrance, you’ll step into the sand-floored paradise. Enjoy the fresh seafood and a few rounds of massive micheladas. In the end, your bill will still only be around 200 pesos (~$10 USD).
Dish To Try: Taritas. The sashimi is also amazing, but taritas (or “strips”) is a very Oaxacan way to prepare fresh seafood, and equally as tasty. Also, get a Michelada (with everything) the size of your head. For anyone reading this who has a strong “don’t put stuff in my beer” reaction to the idea of micheladas, just try it with an open mind. Think of it as a recipe for a delicious beverage, with beer as the main ingredient.
4. Sativa
“Fish Tacos and Mezcal.” That’s what the sandwich board in front of Sativa reads most days, and as I walk by I think to myself “YES, give the people what they want!” On the Oaxacan coast of Mexico, those are two locally sourced delicacies that you’d expect to find—and Sativa does them both extremely well.
They recently opened a second location in the La Punta neighborhood, but the original location has been going strong for over 14 years, right on the Zicatela strip. Enjoy the beach views from their upper deck, the mellow music, the beautiful details throughout the space, and especially—enjoy the mezcal. Sativa always serves it the proper way with an orange slice and sal de gusano (a mix of rock salt, ground chiles, and roasted ground worms).
Dish To Try: Anything really, but the fish tacos and the burger are both crowd pleasers.
5. Dan’s Cafe
There is just something undeniably nice about sitting down inside Dan’s Cafe. It’s a combination of the space's high ceiling, colorful tiles, and the sea breeze wafting through the windows. Dan’s Cafe, connected to Casa De Dan, has been a staple in Zicatela for many years.
Its menu is expansive, almost like a classic diner in the United States that has steak, cereal, and spaghetti. Instead, at Dan’s, it’s burgers, french toast, and molletes. Everything about Dan’s is unpretentious and done the right way. Good food, cheap prices, and an overall lovely experience, which is why so many folks return week after week.
Dish to Try: The Surfer Slam Breakfast Special. It’s the classic “two of everything” type breakfast, including pancakes or french toast. Also, if you show up hungry, go ahead and get a pastry while you wait to order.
6. No Mames
No Mames is Puerto’s best vegan and vegetarian restaurant (I’m ready to tussle over this claim if someone wants to have words) located in Espacio Cometa right on the main street of the La Punta neighborhood. They offer vegan food that somehow feels gluttonous. It feels like a cheat meal, but it’s all vegan and relatively healthy. I don’t really understand how they pull it off either, but go try anything off of the menu and you’ll be closer to understanding.
Dish to Try: As the staff told me my first time there, “if you’ve never had a gringo, you MUST!” It’s a taco with deep-fried cauliflower that I now wake up in the morning thinking about.
Side Note about Food Courts: No Mames is now located in Espacio Cometa, one of the many food courts in the La Punta Zicatela neighborhood. The concept of food stalls/food courts/food parks has really taken off in La Punta, specifically, over the past two years. The concept is essentially that the land owner rents out these little kitchen spaces (that the owner builds) to aspiring restaurateurs who can try out a concept. It’s a low risk way to take a shot at the food game, and for the food court owners, they just collect rent from their food stall tenants and still run the one part of the property with the biggest markup—the bar. There are at least 3 food courts underconstruction right now, which will add to the 5+ that this neighborhood already has. It makes eating in La Punta a real dealers choice, but there has to be an upper limit to how many little food stands one neighborhood can support. We’re sure to find out what that number is.
7. Chili Garden
Chili Garden recently reopened its doors, and lucky for all of its loyal patrons, the food is as good as ever. Their new location—tucked back down a dirt road in Bicocho—is a comfortable and calming space. Perfect for a date night or a group dinner with friends.
I almost exclusively order the chicken Pad Thai when I’m there because it’s incredible and my mouth is watering writing about it, but everything on their menu is amazing. Puerto is growing and new restaurants are opening every month, but no matter how many Asian-fusion-style restaurants open, I have a feeling Chili Garden will always be my favorite.
Dish to try: Both the Pad Thai and the Pork Noodles are incredible. Also, the traditional Thai papaya salad is the perfect starter.
8. Las Cazuelas
Pozole is a Mexican staple that just fits a particular mood. It’s a rain on the window, log on the fire-type mood. When that strikes during the rainy season of Puerto, or maybe just on a surprisingly cold night when you feel a bit of a sniffle coming on—go to Las Cazuelas. Their tlayudas and sopes are also delicious, but everyone comes for the pozole.
There are three types and two sizes, and all orders come with a gang of fresh pozole fixings that you can add into the steamy broth yourself: sliced cabbage, chopped onions, diced jalapeños, sliced radishes, juicy lime, crushed red chile flake, dried Mexican oregano, and crispy tostadas. Making the dish complete is half of the fun. The other half is blowing on your spoon, then feeling your body warm from the inside out as the delicious broth splashes around below.
Dish to Try: Large rojo (red) pozole. Don’t forget to add everything.
9. El Viejo
El Viejo is in a fairly small, unassuming location, tucked into a little strip with a few other food options across from a huge unfinished church in Rinconada. After discovering it, I haven’t let two weeks pass without making up some excuse to drive past. I have to go to the ATM, El Vielo is sort of close.
Pull up a chair at El Viejo, order as many ahumado (smoked) fish tacos as you can put away, and get excited. You’ll be given chips with an array of tasty sauces and pickled vegetables while you wait for the main show. Once you load up the smoked fish with chimichurri sauce and a few pickled carrots, drain half of a lime on top, then dive in. Before you’re done chewing, I’m willing to bet you’ll be making up an excuse for a second visit, too.
Dish to Try: The smoked fish taco. Everything there is good, but don’t miss their signature dish. Also, get a generous, ice-cold jarra (pitcher) of jamaica or another “agua del dia” flavor to wash it down.
10. Fish Shack La Punta
Whether you found this blog or not, I have a feeling you would have found Fish Shack. I hear someone talking about Fish Shack multiple times a week. Someone who just had their first experience there and is telling a new acquaintance “yo, have you been to Fish Shack yet? You have to go get their coconut fried shrimp taco. It’s so good”
That person would be correct.
It’s an absolute treat and a Puerto Escondido delicacy. The Fish Shack operates out of a, well—shack, sort of. It’s an unassuming little wooden hole, down a tight alley, and it’s always full of people. If you live in Puerto Escondido, it’s basically impossible to eat at the Fish Shack without it turning into a social gathering. Go for the tacos, stay for the onda (vibe).
Dish to Try: All of their tacos are amazing. The only way you can mess this up is by not going to the Fish Shack.
Bonus Good News: The owner of Fish Shack is opening a new place in the coming weeks called “Smoke Shack,” which will be Puerto’s first BBQ joint with smoked meats, BBQ sauce on everything, and hints of southern soul food. I’m going to be the first one in line when they’re ready to open.
First 10 honorable mentions that just barely didn’t crack my top 10:
Kelly’s Cafe (cozy brunch spot in Tamarindo)
Doña Claudia (amazing and affordable brunch spot at the back of Zicatela Market)
Amarisa (two locations with great coffee and pastries, along with a complete breakfast menu)
La Chula (CDMX style taco joint with tasty house beans)
Nativo (best chilaquiles in town, hands down)
Atarraya (brand new beautiful restaurant with well-priced elegant food)
Elephant Garden (fancy brunch spot that does everything right)
Non-Solo Pizza (healthy daily options and the pizza is top 3 in town)
Sushi in Rinconada (my top spot for ramen and sushi)
La Batata Empanadas (easily the best empenadas in town if you want a taste of Buenos Aires)
I. Cannot. Wait. Gonna tear up this list next week!