Sayulitas Mexican Food Is one of the best places to eat in Sayulita if you are looking for authentic Mexican food, not to mention one of the cheapest restaurants in town. I’m partial to their tacos al pastor with a side of guacamole and chips, but it’s hard to go wrong with anything on the menu.
The restaurant is about as typical of a Mexican restaurant as you can imagine: takeout containers, a small menu, and seating for about 12 people. On the weekends they have live music, which is always entertaining, especially if you are with friends who are new to town.
The walls are covered in graffiti and sports memorabilia with the occasional large mural. It’s very casual: everyone wears shorts or flip-flops depending on the season, and there’s not much space to stand around talking or enjoying yourself.
What Is Truly Special About the Food at Sayulitas Mexican Food?
A lot of the food is made by hand, which is rare for Mexican cuisine. The meat used in the tacos al pastor, for example, comes from a local butcher shop in Sayulita. They offer a variety of seafood dishes, including several different shrimp dishes and ceviche that are freshly caught off of the coast nearby.
All of their sauces are homemade, and many of their salsas. The guacamole is made with fresh avocados and lemon juice. You will not find better guacamole anywhere in Sayulita than at Sayulitas Mexican Food. If You’re From the U States or Canada, You’ll Need to Acclimate for Sure!
20 Famous Sayulitas Mexican Food Menu
1. Tacos al pastor
This is the dish that everyone knows Sayulitas is famous for. It consists of a corn tortilla with freshly sliced pork, onion, and cilantro. Though it sounds simple, it’s hard to make a great taco al pastor at home. The best tacos al pastor I’ve had in Sayulita has been made by someone other than the restaurant’s owners.
2. Mole
Sayulitas’ mole would put most American versions of moles to shame. I’ve never seen it anywhere else in Sayulita, and I’ve never been able to find the recipe for it. If you’ve had Mexican food in the states, you probably have a pretty low opinion of Mexican food here. Tacos al pastor are hard to make at home, but making a good mole sauce is even more difficult.
3. Fish tacos
Sayulita is home to many surfers who come here year after year for world-class surfing. The fish tacos are made with fresh, caught-that-day fish that has been marinated in vinegar and lime juice.
4. Super Nachos
This is a dish popular worldwide that is surprisingly hard to find in Sayulita. Sayulitas’ version comes with beans, cheese, and fresh guacamole.
5. Beer and a Burrito
Any traveler to Sayulita always ends up here at least once. It’s a combination of the local surfer culture and that it’s the only fast food place open until 3 am in town. They have a small kitchen with about 10 stools for eating in, but most people order their food to go.
6. Sayulita’s Tacos Al Pastor
Pork cooked with pineapple and onion in a spicy sauce, garnished with onion and cilantro. The al pastor makes up most of the tacos you’ll find here. Not only is it delicious, but it can be quite spicy if you don’t know what you’re doing. If that’s not enough for you, there’s a really good salsa called “Puerco servido” that comes with your tacos. Be sure to ask for it.
7. Fajitas
Freshly roasted beef or shrimp fajitas with plenty of peppers, onions, and cheese. The meat is marinated in red wine and lime juice before it’s cooked on the grill, making it juicy and flavorful. For vegetarians, also make an excellent vegetable fajita.
8. Taquitos
Ground beef in a traditional corn tortilla wrapped like a cigar and deep-fried to perfection.
9. Enchiladas Suizas
Filled with beans and cheese and topped with sour cream and guacamole, these enchiladas are covered in a red sauce from their homemade salsa. The best way to eat them is with the sauce on top, or you can drizzle it on top if you don’t like it as spicy as the rest of your meal.
10. Carne Asada
Grilled steak topped with onions and cilantro. The meat is marinated in a red chili sauce and served with rice, beans, and guacamole. Great for a quick meal, especially on the couch at night.
11. Burrito Loco
The vegetarian burrito is filled with black beans, vegetables, cheese, and cilantro. The burrito is then wrapped in a tortilla and covered with a delightful sauce.
12. Enchiladas Suizas
Sayulita has put its twist on traditional enchiladas by adding cheese and sour cream on top of the sauce. This tasty combination was invented here in Sayulita and is now available at every other Mexican restaurant town-wide.
13. Alambre
A plate of grilled beef, onions, peppers, bacon, and melted cheese, served with rice and beans. Enchiladas suizas are often served with the same alambre dish.
14. Nachos
A good nacho is one of the hardest things to come by in Sayulita, but they’ve got it down. The nachos are served with beef and pork, chicken, cheese, and guacamole. Each ingredient is covered with a red sauce made from fresh tomatoes.
15. Hot Dogs
If you’re looking to try out one of the most famous food items in all of Sayulita, this is your best bet. They’ve got a variety of hot dogs with toppings ranging from tomatoes and avocado to pineapple and jalapeños. On weekends they usually have live music, which is always entertaining!
16. Guacamole
One of Sayulita’s best-kept secrets. This incredible bowl is made fresh and is always served with a side of tortilla chips. The secret ingredient? Avocados from their orchard.
17. Seafood
If you’re lucky enough to have a day trip to the nearby coast, you can stroll through their walk-up fish market and pick up some fresh seafood for your meal.
18. Enchiladas Suizas
Filled with beans and cheese and topped with sour cream and guacamole, these enchiladas are covered in a red sauce from their homemade salsa. The best way to eat them is with the sauce on top, or you can drizzle it on top if you don’t like it as spicy as the rest of your meal.
19. Burritos
There’s nothing fancy about a burrito, but sometimes that’s what you want – especially when you’re on the beach after a long day of surfing.
20. Hamburgers
Not only does Sayulita have the best food in town, but it has probably the cheapest as well. The burgers are made to order, and you can choose from various toppings. All burgers exceed 10 pesos, which is about 85 cents USD.
Conclusion
Sayulita is a small town, so there is no need for many restaurants. Most of the restaurants in town are owned by locals who cater to locals, but almost all have at least a few English-speaking patrons who make it out every year.
As long as you know what you like and aren’t afraid to try something new, you’ll have no trouble finding your favorite meal in Sayulita. Please be sure to read my other articles on Sayulita.
