With a large international population I was worried Ajijic food would be mostly gringo restaurants, thankfully I was wrong.
Ajijic has always been on my list of places to visit out of curiosity. It is a small town that drew many artists and then an influx of foreigners in the 1980s for it’s eternal spring. On Lake Chapala the weather never gets too hot or too cold.
The lakeside life is appealing with a beautiful waterfront, small town living. And when you need city life, Guadalajara is just a quick bus ride away or visit Mazamitla, known as the Switzerland of Mexico.
It sounds perfect.
But I also heard a lot of criticism on Reddit, my favorite place to get cantankerous opinions. People told me that Ajijic food had been diluted to Tex-Mex or Cali-Mex. Unlike food in Chapala, it would be tough to find real Mexican food.
Thankfully the truth lies somewhere in between. There are a lot of restaurants that cater to mild expat preferences but there are also expats who want authentic Mexican food in Ajijic.
And let’s not forget Mexicans live in Ajijic too!
Real Mexican Food in Ajijic
Authentic traditional food exists everywhere you find locals. And when I prepare to visit a new town I want to love it. I’m not the kind of person that looks for problems, instead my goal is to help people support local businesses.
I’m not going to lie, Ajijic was challenging. I scoured the internet, Reddit and Ajijic Facebook groups looking for local recommendations for where to eat authentic Mexican food in Ajijic. There just wasn’t a lot of information and people seemed to want to complain more than help.
So I had to wing it.
And after I posted about my stressful initial impressions on this Facebook post expats in Ajijic found it and were very upset saying I didn’t do any research.
One person also called me racist, I guess that’s against foreigners? *sigh*
I don’t mind criticism, but it’s not really useful if you don’t provide suggestions.
Thankfully some people offered more restaurant ideas and I’ve also included them below. So hopefully when someone in the future looks for traditional Mexican food in Ajijic they’ll find this useful.
Fonda Los Jarritos
Although there are many hotels in Ajijic that are close to the lake I purposely stayed here, which is north of the main road. Only a 10 minute walk from the malecon I knew it would be better to find food for Mexicans.
And a block away I found this fonda, which like the equivalent to what we know as a mom and pop shop. The family lives in the building and in the front is brightly colored dining room.
I love fondas because they feel like the next best thing to eating in someone’s home as a guest.
Food here is reasonably priced, service is warm and they have both traditional Mexican food along with some gringo favorites like gigantic pancakes.
For lunch they offer a daily guisado or stewed dish, as part of the fixed price menú del día . They’re open from 8am-4pm daily, closed on Mondays.
Marcos Castellanos 26-28, 45920 Ajijic, Jal., Mexico
Cenaduría Memo
Memo’s has been around for over 50 years and it’s well known in Ajijic to have great Mexican food, including Jalisco style pozole.
Unfortunately it’s made with pork, which Alan doesn’t eat so we could not visit. But I did pop in to ask about non-pork options and staff were really nice.
This is a cenaduría, which m eans it is only open for dinner from 5:30-10:30pm, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Hidalgo 25, 45920 Ajijic, Jal., Mexico
Teocintle Maíz
This restaurant in Ajijic is worth planning a visit around, something I did not know as I visited on the two days this restaurant was closed!
Teocintle Maíz focuses on Mexican maize heritage and regional dishes around Mexico like cochinita pibil from the Yucatan Peninsula. Much of the food is traditional Mexican using native ingredients.
It is often awarded best restaurant on Lake Chapala and I can see why. Open 1pm-9pm daily, closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Constitución 52, 45920 Ajijic, Jal., Mexico
Tatehuari * Cocina Mexicana
Formerly known as (formerly Cenaduría Axixic), it is a a small restaurant in Ajijic focused on traditional Mexican cooking.
They serve dishes like moles, stews, handmade tortillas and seasonal specials based on what is available.
The space is casual and calm with a local crowd, especially at lunch. Prices sit in the mid range for Ajijic.
This is a good choice if you want cooked to order food, real sauces and recipes rooted in Mexican home cooking rather than tourist friendly versions.
Carretera Ote. 31, Centro, 45920 Ajijic, Jal., Mexico
El Jitomatito
A casual Mexican restaurant in Ajijic serving home style plates at modest prices. It’s known for simple local favorites like the iconic Guadalajara dish carne en su jugo and salsas with fresh flavors.
Folks like it for casual lunches or dinners without fuss. The vibe is friendly and unpretentious with mostly locals and regulars at tables.
They’ve also started evening wine events and have featured both international and Mexican wine.
Open Wednesday – Sunday 1:30pm-10pm.
Carretera poniente #618 Carretera Chapala -Jocotepec #618, 45920 Ajijic, Jal., Mexico
Fonda Dona Lola
This casual Mexican fonda is well known locally for serving breakfast and lunch with classic home style dishes at easygoing prices.
The menu covers traditional plates like tortilla soup, chilaquiles, pozole and carne en su jugo along with other Mexican staples.
The place is laid back with lots of seating you’ll find a mix of regular locals and visitors eating there. Open daily 8am-3:30pm, closed on Thursdays
45920, Álvaro Obregón 18B, 45920 Ajijic, Jal., Mexico
Pan Tachihual / Panadería Tachihual
This is Ajijic’s signature bread made from one specific bakery. You’ll see locals eating this on the weekends. They are big, round artisan loaves sold on the street and at the bakery in the late afternoon.
Go there for the classic Tachihual and other pan dulce. This traditional bakery is well known but a bit tough to find as it doesn’t quite have a storefront but instead a door that you walk in and make your way to the bakery.
Don’t worry if you look lost people will help you.
Calle Emiliano Zapata 15, 45920 Ajijic, Jal., Mexico
Malecón or Plaza Principal
Sunday is an important day to rest in Mexico. Depending on the town, many restaurants can be closed as Mexicans choose to spend it with family and friends.
It meant I missed out on some restaurants I wanted to visit. But also, many Tapatios (people from Guadalajara) visit, bringing charcoal for the grills on the waterfront park to enjoy the day. And so instead of feeling like I was in a gringo town it very much felt like a blend of cultures.
And so I was able to try a local Mexican snack aka antojito called charales. It’s a dried or fried small fresh water fish that is very tasty. Vendors sell them along the malecon on weekends.
And in the Plaza Principal there was a mariachi festival and so there were lots of people to watch the shows, and so much good food. We found Mexican street corn, and hit the jackpot with pozole and tacos dorados with chicken!