Puerto Vallarta has a wide variety of delicious traditional Mexican cuisine that visitors should enjoy when visiting Banderas Bay. Do you have a vacation planned to Puerto Vallarta soon, or do you own a second home in the area? Either way, check out this article which talks about some of the most popular local dishes that are typical to the region. Read below to learn more about some of the most traditional dishes you can enjoy in Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay. Why not try as many dishes as you can, and let us know which is your favorite and why?
Puerto Vallarta: Important Culinary Destination
Did you know that Puerto Vallarta is one of the most important culinary destinations in Mexico? What originated as a quaint fishing village has developed into a center of gastronomy and numerous international chefs have made Puerto Vallarta their home.
There is also an International Gourmet Festival that is held annually that attracts a lot of attention to Puerto Vallarta’s culinary scene. Puerto Vallarta and the surrounding Banderas Bay are home to more than 400 restaurants that offer a variety of traditional and International cuisine, from casual street fare to upscale 5-star gourmet dining. Some of the most typical dishes in Banderas Bay include pescado zarandeado, burritas de camarón or marlín, pescado embarazado, birria, pozole de camarón, ceviche and so much more.
Popular Local Dishes to Try: Pescado Embarazado and Ceviche
One of the most common local dishes in Puerto Vallarta is known as “pescado embarazado”, which translates to pregnant fish in English.
However, a play on words is to blame for this unusually named dish which was initially known as “pescado en vara asado”, which means roasted fish on a stick. The delicious local dish is prepared by grilling marinated fish in lime juice over hot coals, then the fish is served with spicy Huichol salsa. The most frequently prepared types of fish used in this dish are school shark (cazón) or marlin, and sometimes shrimp is used in place of fish.
Seafood dishes are very popular in Puerto Vallarta, and fresh ceviche is another must-try local dish. Classic ceviche is prepared with fresh white fish that is ground up with onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and lime juice, there are many variations of ceviche to try. You can spread the ceviche mixture onto a tostada, and top with fresh slices of avocado and any salsas that you like including spicy chile mulata sauce which is made with toasted chile piquin peppers, garlic and oil, or even try a chipotle mayonnaise mixture that packs a creamy and tasty punch to your meal. Another popular version of ceviche includes a tomato-based sauce with fresh shrimp, octopus and scallops.
More Traditional Puerto Vallarta Foods: Pozole and Tamales
Another local favorite dish in Puerto Vallarta is pozole which is a broth-based soup that can be found all around Mexico.
In Puerto Vallarta, pozole’s main ingredients are pork or chicken that is seasoned with chile’s and includes a special popped corn known as hominy. You serve the soup with fresh shredded lettuce or cabbage on top, diced onions and cilantro, radishes, and of course tortillas and tostadas on the side. Pozoles are typically red or white, depending on the type of peppers used in the preparation of the dish.
Another Mexican favorite food that is popular in Puerto Vallarta and all around the country are tamales. The local version is prepared with a white corn dough mixture that is spread on the inside of dry corn husks. Meat, vegetables or cheese can be added to the filling and the tamales are sealed up. Then, the tamales are steamed in a closed container for a few hours until they are cooked and ready to serve. Simply unwrap your tamale and enjoy!
Tortas Ahogadas and Birria: spicy local dishes.
Last, but not least, we can’t talk about Puerto Vallarta traditional foods without discussing the famous “Tortas Ahogadas” which is a very typical local dish that originated in Guadalajara.
These sandwiches are made with a special local white bread known as “birote” that is hard and crusty on the outside, and soft and satisfying on the inside. The bread is typically stuffed with shredded pork meat and then covered with a generous amount of a sauce made from tomatoes and spicy chile peppers. Some variations of torta ahogadas include shrimp and other fillings, and the tomato sauces you can use to drown your sandwich can range from mild to super spicy.
Another popular local dish to try is “Birria”, which is shredded goat or lamb meat that is boiled in a spicy sauce. The meat is served in a sauce made from a mixture of cumin, oregano, and ginger. To make the most of your birria, add fresh slices of lime, diced onions and cilantro, and homemade corn tortillas and enjoy.
There are loads of great authentic Mexican foods to try in Puerto Vallarta. Try as many as you can from our list, and let us know what you liked best.