The best restaurants 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). Plus, we're picking out the best of the best for boujee eats, budget eats, local eats, atmosphere and sweet treats.

Where to eat in 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 you 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. 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

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 both Rinconada and Zicatela.

Must try: The cinnamon roll

Where to eat in 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.

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 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.

It's got a lovely atmosphere with low tables, sand on the floor, 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 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.

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, in 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 and the fish sandwich are also great, as is the bloody Oaxacan cocktail (if you like Bloody Mary's).

Must try: Coco shrimp tacos

Where to eat in Zicatela

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

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? Looking for the best veggie options... we've picked out some of the best of the best.

Boujee eats: Campestre, because steak is boujee and Campestre is on the costly side.

Budget eats: El Cafecito, the prices are low, the portions are huge, and the food is bang on.

Local eats: 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?

Other recommendations

We've eaten at all of the restaurants above, so they've made it safely onto the list. But here are a few more places we want to visit soon, all recommended by foodies we trust.

• La Parrilla Mixteca: Budget tacos in El Centro.

• Uno Y Mas: Same as above (we've heard the burritos are good here too).

• Tlayudas Koral Ya De Regreso: Huge tlayudas and a homely vibe.

• Sommo Puerto Escondido: Upmarket, authentic Japanese food in La Punta.