Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco): Restaurants

Economical

Cafe Economica - Just real cheap, good local food. Very cheap daily specials 'comida corrida' that are a full meal. Peñasco's working people (and some middle-upper class trying to fake it) eat lunch here! (Mexican owned)

Cheikys Pizza - Exceptional pizza here folks, also good italian sandwiches, spagetti plates. They even deliver!

El Galeon - Very economical breakfasts & lunch specials - foods pretty good too! (Mexican owned)

La Curva Restaurant - Home of some of the best, biggest economical Mexican food combination plates in town, good fish plates.  Good service, Great Margaritas, live Mariachis music many nights, cable of main sports events. (Mexican owned)

Margaritavilla -Looks like a bar - guess what?  It is! Also a motel & 'kewl' grill. Cheap daily food specials, Thai Food,  and at night grill your own steaks & chicken out on the patio (just ask & they will do it) - (U.S. Owned)

Rocky Point Chinese Restaurant - OK,  not much imagination on the name here, spartan tables with red  plastic table covers, and some really decent Chinese food at budget prices! Lots of locals hit this one. (Mexican Owned)

Villa Granada - Located inside the oldest operating hotel in Peñ asco, with that old Mexico charm that has been lost at many other places around town. Lunch specials can often be very good & cheap! (Mexican owned)

Moderate

Casa del Capitan - If you want to be 'somewhere' having a great margarita at sunset, and there's an ounce of the 'romantic' in you (or your trying to impress your date, view the city or propose marriage), nothing beats this one.  It sits up on what the pirates used to call the  'head of the whale' at the end of Aqua Ave. (Originally many locals thought this owner was nuts when he started building his own road & water lines almost 1 mile up the steep hill)  Great fish combination plates, shrimp, steaks, drinks, music & the best views in Peñ asco! (for those on a budget, mix up some margaitas, get up here near sunset [or anytime] and walk over toward the cement water reseviour next to the parking lot for a free breathtaking view of the city!) (Mexican owned)

Costa Brava Restaurant - Class, ocean views, live music, exceptional seafood, good portions and good staff. (Mexican owned)

Cocodrillos - Fun atmosphere, good fish, chicken and beef dishes, live music at nights & weekends, good waiters & drinks. (Mexican owned)

Friendly Dolphin - Exceptional seafood & Mexican dishes, fun outdoor patio upstairs, old Mexico decor & atmosphere just like you came here to experience.  One of the owners often sings & plays guitar for the customers. (Mexican owned)

Happy Frog - Exceptional seafood, a favorite of many locals, unknown to most tourists & foreigners living here.  Everything is painted green & there are frogs everywhere! (Mexican owned)

Lighthouse - Great view, very good food and some of the best live jazz, easy listening & dancing music for the 'mature' crowd in Peñ asco! (Mexican Owned)

Pricey

Cafe Plaza Las Glorias (inside hotel) - Bring your credit cards or lots of cash!  Entrees here can range from great to mediocre - beautifully designed surroundings & pool side view  (Mexican Corp owned)

Lilly's Restaurant - Good food, nice views, inside & outside patio seating, good margaritas, a place to 'be seen' & a place to watch the throngs of tourists, locals and vendors on the Malecon ('boardwalk') just down from fish markets! The staff is service oriented ( U.S.-Mex owned) 

The Story of the Taco Stands

As you walk past, inhaling the mouthwatering scents of seasoned,sizzling meats,onions & peppers,the vendors often call out 'Tacos al Gusto! Pase Joven!' (Taco's to your liking! Come on , mister!) At some of the busiest 'taquerias' (taco stands) you sit down at a bench,table or stand near the cart.

'Que quieres?' (How many?) a vendor's vocal wife or child may ask.If your 'espanol' is lacking just answer , 2 taco's por favor! ( 2 taco's thank you).

Suddenly you see a varying display of action as handmade tortillas are being put on the charcoal griddle, the meat that was slowly hissing on a quiet spot of the same fire is put on a cutting board,and that chunk of steak is artistically hacked into small tasty strips then scattered onto the tortillas. The meat is then topped with chopped onions,cilantro,grilled peppers (speak up & ask - or point to what you want)'Buen Provecho' ( Bon Appetit ) many stand owners say with pride.

Trying those spicy and tender onions can be heavenly- On the inside the crunchy, sweet taste can turn your head- Then you begin to notice your surroundings, that white Church across the street, the people around you , the tourists, locals-family's-kids as they pass by in front of you,the ocean's smell,etc.These stands are always located near the action & views.And they are cheap- such meals are about 12 Pesos (about $1.25 U.S.)

'OVERCOME THE FEAR' -- Food stands in Mexico date back to the times of the Aztec Culture which rivaled Rome in size,low crime rates,wealth,and community organization! They are now found throughout Mexico & many border areas within the United States. Some visitors initially stay away from tasting the foods offered from the street carts, lunch stalls, stands,or juice vendors. But, curiosty,lack of funds, and big appetites get the better of many visitors.In no time Mexico's 'curbside cuisine' can become addictive.

Many locals & visitors have their favorites- 'tacos de bistec' (like the ones just described above ) or 'tacos de cabeza', 'taco's of the head', that are made of the tender flesh of the cows cheeks.Goat meat stews,meat soups,tortas (hot sandwiches with piles of tasty meat,onions,peppers,cheese,avacados,etc can also be found at the stands).

One of the secrets of taco's in Mexico is what you put on it. Always at the stands & stalls are various sauces,onions,cabbage,peppers,salsa's!

Few customers ever get sick. In fact , in small towns, you may feel safer eating in the street than in a restaurant. At the taco stands you can see how clean the cooks hands, utensils and ingredients are. But in a restaurant you can only hope for the best. Mexicans themselves expect everything to be prepared with purified water. If you ask most vendors about their water they will quickly point to a large sealed bottle of 'agua purificada' (purified water) nearby.

Comparing travelers rules about eating on the street corners, a few things stand out-

* Avoid eating raw tomatoes,lettuce,carrots (they are often not rinsed)

* Never eat at any stand where nobody else is (Go with the locals)

We are all humans-We all get sick if we eat something not clean-So, follow the locals, and eat where they do !

Meantime, try 'gorditas' (corn meal patties stuffed with cheese & often deep fried-called 'little fatties')

Also try the many fruit juices, elotes (boiled corn on the cob) and tamales (corn meal patties wrapped in corn husks, packed with meat,onions,olives,etc) that are offered.

'THE LAST TAMALE' -- After your taco feast , check around to find a 'tamale stand' or one that supplies both! Some are sweet,some are not- but they are all usually 'hot & full of flavor' Talk with the carts owner, ask about the business & family!

My wife & I also make tamales ,and we sell them , says Enrique Maldenado, as he introduced me to his 6 kids as we talked. 'We make enough to eat, & to pay the rent.When there are no tourists it's a real struggle to live, sometimes we all fish so that the family can eat.

Travelers can learn a great deal about Mexico while eating at taco stands & tamale carts throughout the country's colorful towns & cities.

There is an old saying in Mexico- 'If you don't eat on the street, you're missing Mexico!'

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Defrente.puerto-penasco.com is a collaboration between De Frente newspaper and www.puerto-Penasco.com to bring you news and opinions - in English - from the Sonoran newspaper De Frente. You can read more at defrente.puerto-penasco.com

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