Restaurants

Most of Rosarito [1]’s many dining options are crowded along Boulevard Juárez. You can find everything from tacos to steak and seafood. Much of the food is adapted to gringo tastes. The larger hotels have their own restaurants as well.

El Nido (Juárez 67, tel. 661/612-1430, http://elnidorosarito.net [2], 8 A.M.–midnight daily, US$6–23), has great atmosphere and the food to back it up. The beef is grilled over an open fire. For breakfast, try the quail eggs and venison machaca. The restaurant’s owner raises his own quail and red deer.

La Cazuela del Mole (Juárez at Calle René Ortiz, tel. 661/612-2910, noon–8 P.M. Wed.–Mon., mains US$5), specializes in authentic sauces called moles as well as house-made tamales.

La Flor de Michoacán (Juárez 291, tel. 661/612-1858, 8 A.M.–10 P.M. daily, mains US$5–10) still makes outstanding carnitas, and you can order them by the kilo (US$20 includes the usual sides of beans, guacamole, salsa, and tortillas).

Ortega’s Place (Juárez 200, tel. 661/612-0022, breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, mains US$15) is one of the original Puerto Nuevo lobster places, now with a restaurant in Rosarito. It still offers the lobster, but the buffet is more popular. Champagne brunch is a Sunday tradition.

Tacquería Los Poblanos (11 A.M.–1 A.M. daily), on Boulevard Juárez, across from the Festival Plaza, serves up spicy but good tacos al pastor for US$1. Restaurant La Tia (8 A.M.–3:30 P.M. daily) sits across from the Pemex on the southwest side of Calle Ciprés, packed with locals and not a tourist in sight. It serves birria, chicken, or beef in chipotle sauce. Plates start at US$5.

For espresso drinks, Café Spazio (Paseo de los Héroes 10958, tel. 664/631-3131, 7 A.M.–10 P.M. Mon.–Fri., 9 A.M.–10 P.M. Sat., noon–10 P.M. Sun., US$4–6), in the Zona Río is a good option.