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Guide to Food & Restaurants in Ajijic & Lake Chapala, Mexico

This guide to restaurants in Ajijic, which includes a photographic overview to some of the common types of Mexican foods found in the area, will help you when dining out at Lake Chapala.

Dining Out Guide

For the uninitiated, it can be tricky to figure out some items on the menu when you're ordering Mexican food. So it's easy to stick to something familiar like tacos or enchiladas, and you can end up missing out on some of the more interesting dishes to be had. What is carne en su jugo? What's the difference between a torta and a lonche? A sope versus a pellizcada? Check out the guide below to some of the common foods – comida típica – found at Lake Chapala.

Restaurants & Food in Ajijic

Then further below, check out the guide to 30+ restaurants and food-related businesses in Ajijic, from ice cream made in barrels to yellow-corn tortillas and sushi. In addition to all of the wonderful local Mexican cuisine, we're also fortunate to have a wide variety of restaurants here, including Thai, Vietnamese, top-notch pizza, and many more. Some have been around for 50 years, some just popped up recently.

What's Open Right Now

Tortas Ahogadas Aquí Es

Café en Acallí

Dining Out Guide to Mexican Food at Lake Chapala

Food & Restaurants in Ajijic

International

Cocinart

A mix of international cuisine from north of the border, Europe, Mexico and other parts of the world.

Sopa azteca (Aztec soup) is a common soup that has a tomato base, fried tortilla strips and other garnishes.

Mexican

Teocintle Maiz

Traditional Mexican cuisines from across the country, with some plates given a contemporary flair.

Curry fettuccini with mussels and shrimp.

North-of-Border/European

Manix

More than 30 years serving Mexican, Italian & other European cuisine in Ajijic.

Fusion Fine Dining

Emmanuel’s Kitchen

International fusion fine-dining in Ajijic.

Classes include the history of the recipe and the ingredients that are used.

Mexican Cooking Classes

Take a gastronomic trip through Mexico’s traditional foods with chef Ayrton Ruvalcaba.

Mexican

El Chile Verde

This extremely popular restaurant serves some of the best Mexican food in Ajijic.

Seafood

Lobo de Mar Mariscos

17 mostly hard-to-find types of tacos, tostadas & other seafood in a garden setting.

Mexican Food

Fonda Los Jarritos

Wonderful Mexican food at excellent prices at this homestyle fonda.

Mexican, Asian, International

Dharma

Mexican & international cuisine, plus espresso drinks & a bar.

The seating area is in this well-trimmed garden.

Bar/Pizza/Salad

Casa Barragán

Pizzas, fancy salads & a bar inside a garden that’s across from the malecón in Chapala.

The restaurant is owned by Mary de los Ángeles Castillo.

Mexican

Lonchería Mary

This restaurant next to the Ajijic plaza serves great homecooked-style Mexican food seven days a week.

Fruits & Vegetables

Frutería López

Buy your fruits & vegetables from one of the dozens of neighborhood fruterías in Ajijic, such as Frutería López.

Pizza

Purple Garlic Pizza Brothers

The crust, sauce, cheese & toppings – everything comes together to make this the best pizza in Ajijic & Lake Chapala.

Which the taquero cuts and flicks with his knife so the pineapple falls into the taco that waits below.

Tacos Al Pastor (And More)

Tacos Los Fabian

Exceptional tacos where the specialty is the Puebla-style tacos al pastor, plus other dishes you can’t find locally like alambre.

Massaman curry: Thai Muslim curry with chicken, potatoes, peanuts and coconut milk.

Thai Cuisine

Pian Thai Kitchen

40 authentic dishes prepared by a Thai chef now living in Ajijic. Pad Thai, curries, soups, spring rolls & much more.

Donuts

Donas Donuts Ajijic

Donuts, coffee, breakfast & brunch at this longstanding donut shop in Ajijic.

Tacos

Tacos “El Cholo”

This taquería has been serving tacos on the Ajijic plaza at night since the late 1970s.

Sushi/Japanese

Masayume Sushi

Delicious sushi, tempura, rice bowls & teriyaki — yes, smack in the heart of Mexico.

Ice Cream

Ice Cream by Flavio

This ice cream has been pushed through the streets of Ajijic daily for the past 30 years.

Deli

Lilifher

National & international cheeses, cold cuts & fresh-baked bread. Get a sandwich to go & eat on the plaza nearby.

Middle Eastern/Arabic Tacos

Kamellos Food Truck

An Arab taco truck on every corner – especially this one, where you can get Middle Eastern-influenced Arabic tacos (originally from Puebla) & the kamello (from Torreón).

Mexican

Mariño’s

Shrimp & fish tacos & tortas, pachola, chilaquiles, eggs & other items make up the menu at this small kitchen on the highway in Ajijic.

Tacos

Taquería Mi Lindo Ajijic

This late-night place for tacos, vampiros, campechanas, quesadillas & more uses just-made tortillas & is open until 3 a.m. (5 a.m. on Saturdays).

It's served with limes, chopped onion, radish slices, cabbage, and tostadas. Dip the tostadas in the broth or pile the pozole onto them.

Pozole & "Little Cravings"

Cenaduría Memo

For 50 years, one family has been making the basic antojitos which define Mexican street food in this dinner-only restaurant, where you can choose from 5 tasty à la carte choices.