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$$ | Centro |
One of Cabo San Lucas's top restaurants is in a cobalt-blue adobe building painted with murals. Interior decorations range from Day of the Dead statues and silver crosses and hearts, to T-shirts and tequilas. The place seats up to 550 and is often full of tourists, but the menu is muy auténtico and filled with regional Mexican specialty dishes. Standouts include the molepoblano with chicken topped in a sauce made from dried peppers, seeds, spices, and chocolate; and chiles en nogada, poblano chilies stuffed with a meat-and-fruit mixture and covered with white-walnut sauce and sherry cream sauce. The tortilla soup is also recommended, as is the oven-roasted spare rib in chili and tamarind adobo. Mi Casa offers a variety of different fruit-flavored margaritas, and a wine list focused on Mexican, California, and South American wines. The large back courtyard glows with candlelight at night, and mariachis provide entertainment.
Av. Cabo San Lucas at Lázaro Cárdenas, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, 23452, Mexico
Known For
- Regional Mexican specialties
- Must-try mole poblano
- Live mariachi band
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Centro |
Everybody who dines here seems to know one another, but visitors are always welcome. The attraction at Michael's—not to be confused with Miguel's, the equally recommended Mexican place as you come into town—is an Asian menu combining Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines. Share an order of Mu Shu chicken or Vietnamese crab cakes as an appetizer. You'll dine on the patio behind the Galería de Todos Santos; you can browse while you wait for your food. Michael's keeps very limited hours, open just three evenings per week.
Calle Topete, Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, 23300, Mexico
Known For
- Patio dining behind the Galería de Todos Santos
- Open just three days a week
- Asian dishes like Mu Shu chicken
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Thurs. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$ | Centro |
You may feel like you discovered a well-kept secret when you find this palapa-roof house with adobe walls, just a few blocks off the main strip and around the corner from the Mar de Cortez Hotel. Sit on the front patio or in a backyard hut strung with weathered lanterns and photographs of the Mexican Revolution. Menu highlights include camarón coco (coconut shrimp with mango sauce), and catch of the day "Veracruz" style, meaning wrapped and steamed in its own juices with olives, capers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers, and herbs. Close to a dozen pasta dishes are also available, including sautéed shrimp and sausage diablo.
Calle Vicente Guerrero at 5 de Mayo, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, 23450, Mexico
Known For
- Coconut shrimp
- Pasta and Italian options
- Small bar with photos of the Mexican Revolution
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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For fresh, inventive sushi, there's no question that the Nick-San franchise corners the market, and this outpost in the Tiendas de Palmilla shopping mall wins the prize. Pair wine or sake with each of your selections, perhaps the lobster roll (with cilantro, mango, mustard, and curry oil), lobster sambal (marinated in sake with soy, ginger, and garlic), or tuna tostadas served on rice crackers with avocado.
Hwy. 1, Km 27.5, The Corridor, Baja California Sur, 23401, Mexico
Known For
- Great lobster roll and ahi tostada
- Sushi with a Mexican twist
- Sashimi with chili pepper sauce
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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For a garden escape along Highway 1, check out Ophelia, opened by Rosendo Ramos. It's a favorite among the Ensenada foodie crowd. Shiitake mushrooms, pork, and ginger glazes make somewhat unexpected but welcome appearances for this seaside town. At the root of all that's good about Ophelia is a blending of European, American, and Asian cuisines and a handful of dependable flavors and ingredients: fresh fish, tomatoes, chilies, and cilantro. Top sellers include the seared bluefin tuna, the fried wontons, and the grilled pork chops with a balsamic glaze. Daily specials usually come with regional vegetables and rosemary potatoes. A good stop on the way home after a long day touring Valle de Guadalupe's wineries, this spot highlights many of the region's wines.
Carretera Tijuana–Ensenada, Km 103, Ensenada, Baja California Norte, 22800, Mexico
Known For
- Octopus tacos and shrimp ceviche
- Zen vibe in garden patio
- Fresh yellowfin tuna
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Closed Mon
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | Centro |
Located in San José's oldest mission, this Mexican-Asian fusion restaurant is modern and sophisticated with a series of tropical patios romantically lighted by dim fixtures and a view of the stars above. The menu highlights gourmet fusion creations by chef Paul Zamudio, such as pad Thai or dumplings, but always accompanied by Mexican flavors.
Av. Zaragoza 20, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, 23401, Mexico
Known For
- Mexiatica (Mexican-Asian) dishes
- Fresh and natural raw ingredients
- $15 all-you-can-eat menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Closed Mon.
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$$ | Centro |
Everything is delicious, and prices are reasonable at this cheerful little restaurant painted in bright yellow and orange. Meats are the specialty here, but just about everything on the menu is good and choices are abundant. The tacos de arrachera, a kind of beef taco, are particularly tasty. You can pop in anytime, day or night, since this restaurant is open 24 hours.
Márquez de León at Dominguez, La Paz, Baja California Sur, 23004, Mexico
Known For
- Tasty tacos de arrachera
- Open 24 hours
- Abundant choices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Centro |
Reminiscent of an old colonial hacienda, this two-story restaurant draws a crowd with its live music, Sunday brunch, and large menu ranging from fresh seafood to imported steaks. The front sidewalk seating is a great place to survey the world going by. The menu includes U.S. cuts of beef along with fajitas, chiles rellenos, a variety of seafood platters and lobster—always in demand. Latin bands and other musicians play nightly between October and May. Service can be slow at times, so be prepared to be patient, especially when you're trying to get the bill.
Blvd. Mijares 30, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, 23400, Mexico
Known For
- Live music Thursday–Sunday
- Hacienda-style dining room
- Flavorful chicken enchiladas
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Centro |
The local gringo cadre has nothing but bueno things to say about this affordable and dependable little Italian spot, located by the pool at the Siesta Suites Hotel in downtown Cabo San Lucas. Baked rigatoni, osso buco, chicken Parmigiana, lasagna, and lamb ravioli are just some of the many Italian staples offered at this funky little spot. Portions are large and prices are reasonable. Finish dinner off with tiramisu before hitting the main drag for some serious nightlife.
Emilio Zapata S/N, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, 23450, Mexico
Known For
- Large portions
- Reasonably priced
- Tasty traditional Italian cuisine
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, No lunch Sun.
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$$ | Playas de Rosarito |
In addition to the fresh Southern California cuisine, many come to this restaurant to connect with the charming owner Susanna who moved to Rosarito years ago to open a furniture shop. Her love for fine food prevailed, thus turning her store into a restaurant that makes people feel right at home. From the moment you try the fresh-baked bread with homemade butter and tapenade, you know you’re in for a memorable meal (don’t bother asking her for the secret recipe!). Everything here is made from scratch including salsas and vinaigrettes. Entrées are beautifully prepared, like the grilled salmon with strawberries and spinach or the pork chop covered in a mound of apple chipotle salsa. Susanna’s rich flan is made with Grand Marnier and three types of milk, a dessert perfect to share. Larger groups can request the private table in the wine cellar, ideal for private parties.
Blvd. Benito Juárez 4356, Rosarito, Baja California Norte, Mexico
Known For
- Fresh California cuisine
- Homemade breads
- Sweet dressings and glazes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$$ | Centro |
A beautifully redone adobe home sets the stage for this classy dining experience on an open courtyard under the stars. A lengthy tequila list tempts diners to savor the finer brands of Mexico's national drink, and an extensive wine cellar will give you plenty of choices for what to sip as you sup. The menu is a blend of Mediterranean and Mexican influences; select from excellent regional salads made from produce grown on the restaurant's organic farm, then move on to seafood choices like baked lobster, tequila shrimp, or catch of the day in pineapple curry. Another wonderful dish is rack of lamb in Cabernet sauce. The garden setting attracts mosquitoes, and the waitstaff requests tips in cash, so come prepared.
Manuel Doblado 1011, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, 23401, Mexico
Known For
- Succulent rack of lamb
- Mexican cuisine with Asian influences
- Beautiful garden setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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Popular with the surfing crowd, this palapa-covered joint is right on Cabo Azul beach, just south of San José del Cabo. Though their burger is the reason to come, the aroma of grilling lobster and tacos, and a sound track of surf tunes are why many return. The crowd can get downright rowdy. There's no question that owner "Big Tony" feeds you well for your pesos. With half-pound burgers, slabs of prime rib, or steak and lobster for two at under $30, you'll leave the beach a glutton, albeit a jolly one. Bring the kids in the daytime; they'll enjoy running from the dining table to the sand between every couple of bites. Sporting events sometimes blare on the TV, and live music is offered nightly.
Carretera Transpeninsular, Km 28.5, The Corridor, Baja California Sur, 23452, Mexico
Known For
- Fried fish and large portions
- Live bands playing rock classics
- Incredible burger
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Closed Permanently
This former olive oil refinery is reminiscent of a Manhattan loft with its high ceilings, concrete floors, white brick walls, and chalkboard bar surrounding the open kitchen. Start your experience with the refreshing roasted beet salad with watermelon salmorejo (tomato puree), followed by the Bluefin tuna tartar with mango and quinoa. If there’s one place to try lamb in Valle de Guadalupe, it’s here. Sheep are given a diet of olive branches, making this New York cut beyond flavorful and tender. Try pairing it with their homemade brew, a rich imperial brown. The outdoor terrace overlooking the vineyard makes an idyllic backdrop to the savory dessert—wine cooked pears bathed in a Belgium chocolate green tea soup.
Carretera 3, Km 84.5, San Antonio de las Minas, Baja California Norte, 22750, Mexico
Known For
- Succlent lamb
- Authentic culture of Guadalupe Valley
- Locally sourced food
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed.
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$$ | Centro |
Closed Permanently
The aromas alone are enough to bring you through the door, where you'll be greeted with visual and culinary delights. The small, comfortable, formal dining room has Asian antiques, and a fountain murmurs on a patio in the back. The chef blends Asian spices with aplomb, creating sublime pad thai, chicken curry, Thai lamb shank, and the catch of the day with lemon–black bean sauce. In high season, you can order mussels in a coconut broth, and shrimp with chilies and peanuts. To wash it all down? Try the Ginger Martini. Although some of the dishes are not authentic Thai cuisine, remember that you're in Mexico and that the prices are reasonable for such memorable food.
Morelos and Obregon, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, 23401, Mexico
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun., Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Centro |
Closed Permanently
Although this architecturally impressive, bright Amazon-green restaurant is primarily for meat eaters, with meat galore roasted in the Rodicio-style (Brazilian rotisserie), it also offers a surprisingly wide-ranging salad bar. Begin with chicken wings, fried plantains, or the soup of the day. A full selection of meats includes top sirloin, filet mignon, Mexican sausages, rib eye, chicken, ham with pineapple, turkey with bacon, and lamb. If you're really hungry, eat as much as you can or want for $25.
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, 23452, Mexico
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Centro |
Closed Permanently
This branch of the chain that advertises itself as "world famoso" is a great place for a Mexican meal or a drink on the malecón. Servers prepare a delicious salsa with a traditional molcajete, or mortar and pestle, right at your table, and serve it up with chips to start. The menu itself is printed in the form of a small newspaper with the main headline reading "For the 9th Consecutive Year, Carlos 'n Charlies is Not on the List of the 1,000 Best Restaurants in Mexico." Maybe not, but it does offer some excellent dishes like baked salmon covered in a sesame crust and served with sautéed mushrooms in U.S.-style surroundings that will make you feel like you're back home. Also look for the solid take on staples such as hamburgers and grilled-cheese sandwiches.
Paseo Alvaro Obregón at Calle 16 de Septiembre, La Paz, Baja California Sur, 23004, Mexico
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Centro |
Closed Permanently
At this small hacienda beside San José's town plaza, bougainvillea wraps around tall pines that surround wrought-iron tables, and pink adobe walls glow in the candlelight. Start with mushrooms diablo (steeped in a fiery-hot sauce), then move on to tender chateaubriand steak or charbroiled lobster. For more traditional seafood preparations, order the shrimp enfrijolladas—in a creamy black bean sauce—or the shrimp with a mild cactus sauce. If you like your dining experiences to come with a side of adventure, Damiana has created a "steak" out of ground shrimp in its signature Imperial Steak Shrimp. During peak season a trio of guitarists serenades the guests.
Blvd. Mijares 8, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, 23401, Mexico
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Aug. and Sept., Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Centro |
Closed Permanently
You'll find here one of the most creative menus imaginable, coined cocina lux. They feature only the top in Mexican boutique wines, and cook up delicious and creative dishes: fish aguachile (a spicy soup), lobster flautas, yellow banana mole, orange soup, and avocado pudding are just the beginning. Cocktail specials include a Spicy Martini and a Sweet Martini. Sunday there's a brunch from 10 to 4.
San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, 23401, Mexico
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun., Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Centro |
Closed Permanently
Set just a few blocks south of mainstream of San José, this spot is worth the search. The fine selection of Mexican wines and tequilas suits the stylish menu in this small, bustling space, where murals of the Virgin of Guadalupe adorn bright orange walls. In his open kitchen, chef Armando Montaño uses chilies from all over Mexico to enhance traditional and Continental dishes, coating rack of lamb with ancho chili and perking up lobster bisque with smoky chiles guajillos. The management refuses to stagnate, however, and changes the menu every month. One mainstay has been the Oaxacan tlayudas (similar to tostadas), possibly the most asked-for item of the last half dozen years here. After dinner, retire to the wine-and-tequila tasting room, admiring the service that brought it the "Distintivo T" award for tequila knowledge.
Calle Juárez at Morelos, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, 23401, Mexico
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, No credit cards
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$$ | Centro |
Closed Permanently
Nestled in "La Casa de don Rodrigo" building, this beautiful garden restaurant off of Boulevard Mijares becomes atmospheric and romantic once the sun sets. Relying on authentic ingredients and traditional recipes, El Comal is one of the more affordable Mexican options serving both classic and modern dishes such as cactus and Oaxacan cheese salads, black bean gorditas, carne asada à la Tampiqueña, chicken tamales, and cabrilla (sea bass) with grilled tomatoes.
Blvd. Mijares 1357, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, 23401, Mexico
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Credit cards accepted