The best restaurants in Puerto Escondido
Places to eat
•
April 29, 2025
We don't need to tell you how special the food (and drinks) are in Mexico. It regularly ranks in the top 5 cuisines in the world, and for good reason. From mole to margaritas, eating and drinking is one of the best things to do in Puerto Escondido. So, here are a few places to put on the menu for your trip.
Where to eat in Puerto Escondido
There are sooo many places to eat in in Puerto Escondido. From cheap and cheerful taquerias (the food highlight of Central America) to European, Asian, and South American food, for a relatively small town this place packs a big punch.
To make your life easier, this list is split into locations. We're covering the main neighbourhoods you might find yourself in, though there are plenty of other places around the town too (too many to put in one list). There's also a handy cheat sheet at the end, whether you want a budget eat or a pricey treat.
Restaurants in Puerto Escondido: Rinconada
Rinconada has a few great spots, mostly along the main road (Boulevard Benito Juarez), with some tucked away in the side streets too.
Papi's Bowls
Just up from Playa Carrizalillo is Papi's Bowls, the perfect place to quench your thirst after you've tackled the steps up from the beach (if you know, you know). Papi's bowls have a super healthy menu of juices, paninis and smoothie/salad bowls.
They've also got a big outdoor seating section, with a pergola over the top to protect you from the sun. A great place to do some work for a couple of hours, with good coffee to keep all you digital nomads going.
Must try: The El Mañanero smoothie (coffee, banana, chocolate and cinnamon)
Plaza Chepil
Plaza Chepil is a food court with different spots inside, including:
Thai
Ramen
Burgers
Italian
Ice cream
German Bratwurst
There's also a separate bar to grab drinks, and a stage with entertainment (like live music... or a children's clown when we were there). This is a great place to go with a big group. No need to argue over who wants what, everyone can do their own thing and meet at one of the tables in the middle.
We've eaten at Oaxaca Grill, which serves burgers as big as your head, as well as wings and chips. Be prepared to roll home after that. We've also tried the pizza from Las Palmas, which was good but maybe not as good as La Spezia (more on La Spezia here). And, the ice cream, which is the perfect end to a big feast.
Must try: The cacao, sugar-free ice cream from Sunnycoco
El Nene
El Nene is a real Rinconada treat. Housed in a beautiful palapa building, on the main road in Rinconada, it's a big, breezy restaurant that serves up amazing locally-based, but internationally-inspired, food.
As soon as you sit down the team serve up homemade nachos, salsa, and some kind of peanutty dip which is to-die-for. Stand out dishes are the pork leg, the catch of the day, and of course, the fish tacos. Service is also incredible.
Must try: Slow cooked pork leg (and sangria)
Dulce Tierra Bakery
Brilliant for a quick bite or grab and go in the morning. Dulce Tierra has some mouth-watering pastries, as well as sandwiches, coffees, and a changing selection of bits to take home like honey, teas and freshly baked bread.
We can personally vouch for the cinnamon roll, chocolate croissant, the sandwiches and the coffee. You can also buy a whole cake to take away... watch this space, we'll be reviewing that soon.
Dulce Tierra has a cafe in Rinconada, Playa Zicatela, and La Punta, so you're never too far from great cake.
Must try: The cinnamon roll
Restaurants in Puerto Escondido: La Punta
La Punta is full of places to eat, all within super easy walking distance of each other. Many of them have been set up by people from all around the world who have decided to make this beachy neighbourhood home, so there's an incredible mix of cuisines, from Mexican food to Argentinian, Italian, American, and Middle Eastern.
Campestre
Campestre brings Argentinian steak and red wine to the Pacific Coast. The portions are big, the steaks are brilliant quality, and the drinks are great too. All the food is cooked over the grill, so you know you're going to get something good.
As it's steak, the prices are a little higher than some other restaurants in the area. However, the food is still super reasonable and definitely worth the money.
Must try: The empanadas
Chicama
You'll know which one Chicama is because it's the place that always has the huge queue out the front. Every day.
If you get there before 6pm, you might beat the crowd. If not, you're going to have to wait. But we promise you it's worth it.
Chicama brings a taste of Peru to La Punta. Before we visited Chicama, we'd never tried Peruvian cuisine before, but we can now safely say we're a fan. There's a lot of fish on the menu, and much of it is raw, so if that's not your style, Chicama might not be your place. If it is your style, this could be the best seafood you've ever tried.
It's got a lovely atmosphere with low tables, sand on the floor, dogs walking in and out, and an incredible menu (maybe one of the most unique menus in the area).
There's also a Chicama in Mexico City, if you need another fix after you've left Puerto.
Must try: Ceviche in leche de tigre (tiger's milk)
Casa Del Surfer
Casa Del Surfer is a bit of a hidden gem and, in our opinion, home to the best fish tacos (and possible the best food) in Puerto Escondido.
The owners are super passionate about healthy, clean food, and it shows. The tacos come in spinach tortillas, full to the brim with fresh fish, mango, salad, and flavour. The fish changes from day-to-day, depending on what's been caught that morning, so always ask what's on the menu.
The sauces are also incredible (shout out to the mango and habanero one). Wash all of that down with one of their fresh smoothies and your body will thank you. The breakfast menu is also great, if you need smoothie bowls, or something savoury, post sunrise-surf.
Must try: Mahi Mahi tacos with a passionfruit and mango smoothie
Fish Shack
You can't make a list of the best restaurants in Puerto Escondido without mentioning Fish Shack La Punta.
It might not be the most authentic taqueria, but it's definitely worth a visit. Mainly for the coconut shrimp tacos...
Picture huge shrimps coated in coconut batter, deep fried and put on top of tortillas with coleslaw, avocado and herbs. Mouth-watering stuff. The sautéed fish tacos, fish sandwich, and the po boy, are also great, as is the bloody Oaxacan cocktail (if you like Bloody Marys).
Must try: Coco shrimp tacos
Restaurants in Puerto Escondido: Zicatela
Uno y Mas
Uno y Mas holds a very special place in our hearts, and stomachs. Picture a hot, sweaty taqueria, on the side of the highway. The BBQ's smoking, the traffic's whizzing by, the atmosphere isn't date night vibes, but the food is next level. If you go here, you absolutely have to try the pastor gringas. And, all the hot sauce. Prepare to sweat.
Must try: Pastor gringas
El Cafecito
You can't visit Oaxaca State without sampling some mole, and El Cafecito is a brilliant place to do that.
This place has a huge menu with loads of Mexican favourites on it, including chilaquiles, fajitas, enchiladas, and huevos rancheros. There are also some Western options, like hamburgers and pasta. And, El Cafecito has a takeaway counter with fresh coffee and pastries (special mention to the chocolate and coconut one), if you fancy a quick bite on the way to the beach.
There's an El Cafecito in both Zicatela and Rinconada.
Must try: Chilaquiles with pollo and salsa verde
El Coste Parrilla
This beachside restaurant is sat right on the sand, with a front-row seat to the sunset and a bit of a breeze from the ocean. The menu is very ceviche heavy, so it's not for everyone but definitely for us.
Expect super fresh, raw fish dishes, grilled fish of the day, and guacamole on everything. We weren't drinking when we visited here, but we saw some cocktails being delivered to a nearby table and they looked incredible.
Must try: Traditional fish ceviche
Palma Negra
Homemade helados and paletas (ice creams and ice pops), in so many natural flavours. We've tried the strawberry and Philadelphia cheese (sounds weird, but trust the process) and the chocolate and pistachio (always a winning combination). There's a Palma Negra in Rinconada, Zicatela and La Punta, so you're never far away from good ice cream.
Must try: Chocolate and pistachio ice cream
Mercado Zicatela
We're cheating a little bit here as Mercado Zicatela isn't exactly a restaurant, but a huge food market full of more than 15 eateries, and a load of food stalls selling everything from organic buffalo meat and cheese to fruit and veg. It's not exactly in the main area of Zicatela, so you need to moped or collectivo there, but you can easily spend a whole afternoon grazing, shopping, and enjoying the killer views across Mexico’s Pacific Coast.
Glou Glou
Tucked away from the main hustle and bustle, Glou Glou is one of the closest things you can find to a fine dining restaurant in Puerto. In the words of the restaurant itself, "we serve wines from small producers around the world and dishes with seasonal ingredients from the Mexican Pacific coast". Get away from the main drag of La Punta Zicatela, and get yourself to this gem.
Puerto Escondido best restaurants for?...
There's such a variety of restaurants in Puerto Escondido, if you feel overwhelmed, you're not alone. Deciding where to eat is always one of our biggest challenges of the day. The phrase 'paralysis by analysis' could not be more accurate. If that's you too, this section will help...
Ready for a blow out dinner? Trying to stick to a budget? Want to wow someone important... we've picked out some of the best of the best.
Special occasion
Sommo or Glou Glou. Both have great food, and great vibes. The best way to celebrate any occasion.
Date night
Sommo in La Punta. High-end Japanese food, incredible cocktails, and a swanky vibe, the perfect spot to wow someone.
Boujee eats
Campestre, because steak is boujee and Campestre is on the costly side.
Budget eats
Uno y Mas. Your bank balance, and your stomach, will thank you for visiting this place. The best tacos of all the restaurants in Puerto Escondido. Easily.
Local seafood
Casa Del Surfer, these are tacos like you've never seen them before. Fresh, clean, and so full of flavour.
Atmosphere
Chicama, because it's always busy, and because we love the sandy floor and open kitchen.
Sweet treats
Dulce Tierra, cookies, cakes, croissants, what more could you want?
Where to eat in Puerto Escondido
There are sooo many places to eat in in Puerto Escondido. From cheap and cheerful taquerias (the food highlight of Central America) to European, Asian, and South American food, for a relatively small town this place packs a big punch.
To make your life easier, this list is split into locations. We're covering the main neighbourhoods you might find yourself in, though there are plenty of other places around the town too (too many to put in one list). There's also a handy cheat sheet at the end, whether you want a budget eat or a pricey treat.
Restaurants in Puerto Escondido: Rinconada
Rinconada has a few great spots, mostly along the main road (Boulevard Benito Juarez), with some tucked away in the side streets too.
Papi's Bowls
Just up from Playa Carrizalillo is Papi's Bowls, the perfect place to quench your thirst after you've tackled the steps up from the beach (if you know, you know). Papi's bowls have a super healthy menu of juices, paninis and smoothie/salad bowls.
They've also got a big outdoor seating section, with a pergola over the top to protect you from the sun. A great place to do some work for a couple of hours, with good coffee to keep all you digital nomads going.
Must try: The El Mañanero smoothie (coffee, banana, chocolate and cinnamon)
Plaza Chepil
Plaza Chepil is a food court with different spots inside, including:
Thai
Ramen
Burgers
Italian
Ice cream
German Bratwurst
There's also a separate bar to grab drinks, and a stage with entertainment (like live music... or a children's clown when we were there). This is a great place to go with a big group. No need to argue over who wants what, everyone can do their own thing and meet at one of the tables in the middle.
We've eaten at Oaxaca Grill, which serves burgers as big as your head, as well as wings and chips. Be prepared to roll home after that. We've also tried the pizza from Las Palmas, which was good but maybe not as good as La Spezia (more on La Spezia here). And, the ice cream, which is the perfect end to a big feast.
Must try: The cacao, sugar-free ice cream from Sunnycoco
El Nene
El Nene is a real Rinconada treat. Housed in a beautiful palapa building, on the main road in Rinconada, it's a big, breezy restaurant that serves up amazing locally-based, but internationally-inspired, food.
As soon as you sit down the team serve up homemade nachos, salsa, and some kind of peanutty dip which is to-die-for. Stand out dishes are the pork leg, the catch of the day, and of course, the fish tacos. Service is also incredible.
Must try: Slow cooked pork leg (and sangria)
Dulce Tierra Bakery
Brilliant for a quick bite or grab and go in the morning. Dulce Tierra has some mouth-watering pastries, as well as sandwiches, coffees, and a changing selection of bits to take home like honey, teas and freshly baked bread.
We can personally vouch for the cinnamon roll, chocolate croissant, the sandwiches and the coffee. You can also buy a whole cake to take away... watch this space, we'll be reviewing that soon.
Dulce Tierra has a cafe in Rinconada, Playa Zicatela, and La Punta, so you're never too far from great cake.
Must try: The cinnamon roll
Restaurants in Puerto Escondido: La Punta
La Punta is full of places to eat, all within super easy walking distance of each other. Many of them have been set up by people from all around the world who have decided to make this beachy neighbourhood home, so there's an incredible mix of cuisines, from Mexican food to Argentinian, Italian, American, and Middle Eastern.
Campestre
Campestre brings Argentinian steak and red wine to the Pacific Coast. The portions are big, the steaks are brilliant quality, and the drinks are great too. All the food is cooked over the grill, so you know you're going to get something good.
As it's steak, the prices are a little higher than some other restaurants in the area. However, the food is still super reasonable and definitely worth the money.
Must try: The empanadas
Chicama
You'll know which one Chicama is because it's the place that always has the huge queue out the front. Every day.
If you get there before 6pm, you might beat the crowd. If not, you're going to have to wait. But we promise you it's worth it.
Chicama brings a taste of Peru to La Punta. Before we visited Chicama, we'd never tried Peruvian cuisine before, but we can now safely say we're a fan. There's a lot of fish on the menu, and much of it is raw, so if that's not your style, Chicama might not be your place. If it is your style, this could be the best seafood you've ever tried.
It's got a lovely atmosphere with low tables, sand on the floor, dogs walking in and out, and an incredible menu (maybe one of the most unique menus in the area).
There's also a Chicama in Mexico City, if you need another fix after you've left Puerto.
Must try: Ceviche in leche de tigre (tiger's milk)
Casa Del Surfer
Casa Del Surfer is a bit of a hidden gem and, in our opinion, home to the best fish tacos (and possible the best food) in Puerto Escondido.
The owners are super passionate about healthy, clean food, and it shows. The tacos come in spinach tortillas, full to the brim with fresh fish, mango, salad, and flavour. The fish changes from day-to-day, depending on what's been caught that morning, so always ask what's on the menu.
The sauces are also incredible (shout out to the mango and habanero one). Wash all of that down with one of their fresh smoothies and your body will thank you. The breakfast menu is also great, if you need smoothie bowls, or something savoury, post sunrise-surf.
Must try: Mahi Mahi tacos with a passionfruit and mango smoothie
Fish Shack
You can't make a list of the best restaurants in Puerto Escondido without mentioning Fish Shack La Punta.
It might not be the most authentic taqueria, but it's definitely worth a visit. Mainly for the coconut shrimp tacos...
Picture huge shrimps coated in coconut batter, deep fried and put on top of tortillas with coleslaw, avocado and herbs. Mouth-watering stuff. The sautéed fish tacos, fish sandwich, and the po boy, are also great, as is the bloody Oaxacan cocktail (if you like Bloody Marys).
Must try: Coco shrimp tacos
Restaurants in Puerto Escondido: Zicatela
Uno y Mas
Uno y Mas holds a very special place in our hearts, and stomachs. Picture a hot, sweaty taqueria, on the side of the highway. The BBQ's smoking, the traffic's whizzing by, the atmosphere isn't date night vibes, but the food is next level. If you go here, you absolutely have to try the pastor gringas. And, all the hot sauce. Prepare to sweat.
Must try: Pastor gringas
El Cafecito
You can't visit Oaxaca State without sampling some mole, and El Cafecito is a brilliant place to do that.
This place has a huge menu with loads of Mexican favourites on it, including chilaquiles, fajitas, enchiladas, and huevos rancheros. There are also some Western options, like hamburgers and pasta. And, El Cafecito has a takeaway counter with fresh coffee and pastries (special mention to the chocolate and coconut one), if you fancy a quick bite on the way to the beach.
There's an El Cafecito in both Zicatela and Rinconada.
Must try: Chilaquiles with pollo and salsa verde
El Coste Parrilla
This beachside restaurant is sat right on the sand, with a front-row seat to the sunset and a bit of a breeze from the ocean. The menu is very ceviche heavy, so it's not for everyone but definitely for us.
Expect super fresh, raw fish dishes, grilled fish of the day, and guacamole on everything. We weren't drinking when we visited here, but we saw some cocktails being delivered to a nearby table and they looked incredible.
Must try: Traditional fish ceviche
Palma Negra
Homemade helados and paletas (ice creams and ice pops), in so many natural flavours. We've tried the strawberry and Philadelphia cheese (sounds weird, but trust the process) and the chocolate and pistachio (always a winning combination). There's a Palma Negra in Rinconada, Zicatela and La Punta, so you're never far away from good ice cream.
Must try: Chocolate and pistachio ice cream
Mercado Zicatela
We're cheating a little bit here as Mercado Zicatela isn't exactly a restaurant, but a huge food market full of more than 15 eateries, and a load of food stalls selling everything from organic buffalo meat and cheese to fruit and veg. It's not exactly in the main area of Zicatela, so you need to moped or collectivo there, but you can easily spend a whole afternoon grazing, shopping, and enjoying the killer views across Mexico’s Pacific Coast.
Glou Glou
Tucked away from the main hustle and bustle, Glou Glou is one of the closest things you can find to a fine dining restaurant in Puerto. In the words of the restaurant itself, "we serve wines from small producers around the world and dishes with seasonal ingredients from the Mexican Pacific coast". Get away from the main drag of La Punta Zicatela, and get yourself to this gem.
Puerto Escondido best restaurants for?...
There's such a variety of restaurants in Puerto Escondido, if you feel overwhelmed, you're not alone. Deciding where to eat is always one of our biggest challenges of the day. The phrase 'paralysis by analysis' could not be more accurate. If that's you too, this section will help...
Ready for a blow out dinner? Trying to stick to a budget? Want to wow someone important... we've picked out some of the best of the best.
Special occasion
Sommo or Glou Glou. Both have great food, and great vibes. The best way to celebrate any occasion.
Date night
Sommo in La Punta. High-end Japanese food, incredible cocktails, and a swanky vibe, the perfect spot to wow someone.
Boujee eats
Campestre, because steak is boujee and Campestre is on the costly side.
Budget eats
Uno y Mas. Your bank balance, and your stomach, will thank you for visiting this place. The best tacos of all the restaurants in Puerto Escondido. Easily.
Local seafood
Casa Del Surfer, these are tacos like you've never seen them before. Fresh, clean, and so full of flavour.
Atmosphere
Chicama, because it's always busy, and because we love the sandy floor and open kitchen.
Sweet treats
Dulce Tierra, cookies, cakes, croissants, what more could you want?
Related
Website design by
© Pieces of Puerto
2025
Everything shared here is based on our personal experiences and opinions. We are not paid, sponsored, or given freebies to write about anything. We just write what we love (or don’t). If you decide to follow any of our tips, just know you're doing it on your own terms.
Website design by
© Pieces of Puerto
2025
Everything shared here is based on our personal experiences and opinions. We are not paid, sponsored, or given freebies to write about anything. We just write what we love (or don’t). If you decide to follow any of our tips, just know you're doing it on your own terms.
Website design by
© Pieces of Puerto
2025
Everything shared here is based on our personal experiences and opinions. We are not paid, sponsored, or given freebies to write about anything. We just write what we love (or don’t). If you decide to follow any of our tips, just know you're doing it on your own terms.