Traditional Romantic Dining

We were driving down the street looking for some place different to have breakfast. We saw the comida corrida place on Madero was open for breakfast too. We thought it only opened a few hours in the afternoon for fixed price lunch. There is no sign on the restaurant. It doesn’t really have a name. It is just a comida corrida place on the street Madero. When they are open they have cardboard signs, listing the day’s offerings, leaning against the wall outside.

We walked in and found ourselves in a home. There were four or five tables; we sat at the only available one. Next to it was a piece of furniture with a TV and family photos on display. Over a few feet, on the sofa, were a snoozing grandpa and a handful of little ones watching cartoons. Looking the other way we could see the clean kitchen and two women cooking up a storm.

After a short wait one of the women came out to take our order. She was pleased we spoke Spanish. She said she’s pretty sure she has served many foreigners things they didn’t order. She called out the names of the soda pops we ordered and one of the cartoon entranced kids ran off. He bought the drinks next door. Soon our food was served. I had the huevos rancheros (tortillas topped with fried eggs and covered in salsa). The sauce was fantastic, tomato based with chunks of sautéed chiles and onions. The beans were good too. Sails had a big mound of eggs scrambled with chorizo. There wasn’t a lot of chorizo but it was tasty. At twenty eight pesos it was a great deal.

We asked for the bill. One of the kids came over to collect and make change. We will return. Soon. I would recommend this place to anyone, especially to someone hankering for home-cooked Mexican food or on a tight budget. If you don’t order in Spanish who knows what you will get, but I’m sure it will be good.

Sails said, "When they say home style cooking they mean it. We're in their livingroom. Good eggs, we should come back for lunch some day. Great prices."

sample menu
Huevos Rancheros............28 pesos/US$2.70
Cheese Omelette............35 pesos/US$3.30
Comida Corrida............40 pesos/US$3.80
soup, main course, beans, rice, tortillas and fruit water

Comida Corrida Madero is open Monday thru Saturday from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm. Credit cards are not accepted.

Directions - Comida Corrida Madero is on Francico Madero between Ignacio Vallarta and Pino Suarez. From the northeast corner of parking/plaza Lazaro Cardenas (the ocean is to the west) head north on Pino Suarez one block. Go right on Francisco Madero for a half block. The restaurant is on the right.

Restaurant Dianita, in Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone, is known for its inexpensive comida corrida (fixed price meal). It is small, clean and simple with brightly colored tables and a television in one corner. The menus hang on the wall.

The energetic waitress smiled, letting us know we’d been seen, as we took a table by the door. We arrived earlier than the usual lunchtime but the place was already almost full, mostly with people who live and work in the neighborhood. We looked up at the menus. The waitress took our order minutes after we arrived.

The a la cart menu was short, offering carne asada, milanesa (like schnitzel), burgers, sandwiches, burritos and quesadillas at very reasonable prices. The fixed price menu is changed daily. The meal includes soup, a main dish, rice, beans, tortillas and fruit water. There was a choice of cream of carrot or noodle soup. There were nine main courses from which to choose – chicken adobo, ribs diabla (in a spicy sauce), cauliflower fritters, liver and onions, Mexican beefsteak and more. Dianita is also open for breakfast, serving the usual at very reasonable prices.

Our soups and beverages arrived immediately after ordering. The water, served in a pitcher, was orange flavored and very refreshing. The cream of carrot was almost the color of split pea and had a crouton floating on top. It tasted mildly of carrot, garlic and something else I couldn’t recognize. It was hot, silky, soothing and extremely good. The noodle soup was angel hair pasta in a tomato broth. It was flavorful and quite satisfying. Soon after finishing, our main dishes were served. The fritters were two large cauliflower florets, split open, stuffed with cheese and enveloped in a chile relleno style batter. They were then covered in a tasty tomato sauce and topped with sour cream and cheese. They were absolutely wonderful. The bistec a la Mexicana was small pieces of beef cooked with tomato, onion and chile. It was great and a decent sized serving considering the price. The refried beans, sprinkled with cheese, were very good, the rice was about average and the hot tortillas were replenished as needed.

We were both impressed by the waitress. She was fast. The place was packed by the time we left but nobody seemed to need for anything. She ran around serving dishes, picking up dishes, refilling tortilla baskets and water pitchers, taking orders, handing out bills. Wow.

In short, Restaurant Dianita is a small, clean establishment with incredibly good, inexpensive food and great service – a budget traveler’s dream come true.

Sails says, "Good inexpensive meals. Taste like home cookin'. Nice waitress, fast service. Great stuffed cauliflower fritters. I eat here often."

sample menu
Comida Corrida............45 pesos/US$4.30
Breaded Chicken Breast............55 pesos/US$5.25
Hamburger and Fries............40 pesos/US$3.80
Machaca Burrito............15 pesos/US$1.40
Quesadilla............12 pesos/US$1.10

Restaurant Dianita is open daily from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm. Credit cards are not accepted

Directions - Fonda Dianita is on Francico Madero between Ignacio Vallarta and Pino Suarez. From the northeast corner of parking/plaza Lazaro Cardenas (the ocean is to the west) head north on Pino Suarez one block. Go right on Francisco Madero for a half block. The restaurant is on the left.

One afternoon, driving down restaurant row in Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone, looking for somewhere new to try, we spotted La Fonda. It has been here a long time but we had never been in. From the outside it looked like many of the other storefronts on the street. Inside was clean and airy with nicely dressed tables. Out back was a cute little terrace with bamboo fencing, tropical shade giving plants and lovely murals of Vallarta.

The waiter, who had patiently shown us around, who had waited while I took snapshots, smiled when we headed back in and sat under a fan. He quickly brought us our drinks and menus. I was surprised by the prices. They were very high by neighborhood standards with fish fillet at 130 pesos, shrimp for 160 and steaks 180. The appetizers, salads and soups were equally overpriced although I have to admit much of it sounded good. For those who don’t eat meat there was a vegetarian platter of mixed veggies covered in melted cheese for 100 pesos. Outside was a sign for the fixed price menu including soup, main course and fruit flavored water for about 70 pesos. I knew what I was having.

On the back of the menu is an explanation of what a fonda is. It comes from the Arabic word funduq. In Mexico it used to describe a place where travelling people could get a bite to eat and rest. In modern Mexico the word now refers to any small restaurant worked by its owner.

My noodle soup was quickly served. It was a large bowl full of macaroni in a tomato based broth. It was a little bland but not bad. For the main course there had been three choices. I went with the chicken Veracruz. It was a large serving of chicken breast simmered in a tomato salsa with plenty of bell peppers and onions and served with refried beans and mashed potatoes. It was wonderful. The chicken was tender, juicy and flavorful, the sauce complex, and even the beans and potatoes were great, although tortilla chips stuck in mashed potatoes struck me as funny. Sails had ordered the tortilla soup. It was very good. The tasty broth was thick with crunchy tortilla strips and topped with lots of avocado and sour cream.

The waiter asked if I wanted dessert. That day it was included in the fixed price menu. Unfortunately I was too full. I leaned back in my chair, let out a sigh and noticed the ceiling. It was a sky with fluffy white clouds and birds flying past. What a nice detail.

If it weren’t for the prices I would whole heartedly recommend this place. The food was excellent as was the service and the surroundings were very pretty.

Sails said, "Hmmm, a fancy fonda, suspiscious. Definately too expensive for a fonda. Nice waiter. Good food. Comfortable patio seating. I like it but.........hmmm, suspiscious."

sample menu
Crab Enchiladas............60 pesos/US$5.70
Avocado Filled with Shrimp Salad............75 pesos/US$7.10
Cream of Mushroom and Garlic Soup............60 pesos/US$5.70
Ginger Shrimp............160 pesos/US$15.25
Veracruz Style Fish Filet............130 pesos/US$12.40
Stuffed Chicken Breast............150 pesos/US$14.30

La Fonda is open monday thru Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Credit cards are not accepted.

Directions - La Fonda is on Basilio Badillo between Constitucion and Insurgentes. From the southwest corner of parking/plaza Lazaro Cardenas (the ocean is to the west) head south along Olas Altas for one block, go left on Basilio Badillo three and a half blocks. The restaurant is on the right.

Located in Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone, La Fondita Café Kaffe is next door to La Ballena Azul (The Blue Whale), our favorite skanky cantina. We had not eaten here because it is not open at night. We were headed to the cantina early one day and decided to stop in for a bite first.

The restaurant is long and narrow with simple wooden chairs and tables, terracotta tile floors, overhead fans, and a television, usually tuned to soap operas, in the corner. The kitchen is by the front door. We could see how clean and tidy it was. There are pieces of furniture painted on the wall. We sat between the fully stocked china cabinet and the table complete with a bowl overflowing with fruit. At the back of the restaurant is another room surrounded with murals. It gives one the impression of sitting in a ranch house staring out at the bay. The place was about half full, the patrons were casually dressed locals.

A very serious, grim looking man appeared with breakfast menus and left. Lunch still wasn’t being served. It was a typical menu offering the usual egg dishes, including traditional Mexican ones, omelets, chilaquiles, hotcakes, fruit plates, yoghurt and oatmeal. There were also tortas (Mexican style sandwiches) and burgers. The prices were inexpensive with most items costing between 18 and 25 pesos.

As soon as we put our menus down the waiter appeared. Breakfast was quickly prepared and delivered. We had all ordered huevos rancheros (fried eggs on corn tortillas topped with salsa). We had ordered the eggs over easy, sunny side up and over well. We all got what we had asked for. The sauce was flavorful and a little spicy. Our meals were served with good refried beans and fried tortilla strips. We were all pleased.

Lunchtime is a busy time at La Fondita Café Kaffe filling up with people who work nearby. The only thing offered is the fixed price meal which changes daily. For forty pesos you get soup, main course, rice, beans, tortillas, bread and fruit water. The day we were here the soup was cream of celery and chayote. The choices of main dish were chicken breast (breaded, with melted cheese or grilled), meatballs in a chipotle sauce, fish fillet (garlic, in a spicy sauce, butter, breaded, or with tomato, onion and chile), liver and onions, or beefsteak with onion, tomato and chile.

Judging by the one thing and one time we ate here my conclusion is – good food, efficient service, great prices. Something smelled really good as we were leaving. We will be back and we will try the lunch.

Sails said, "Solid food, solid service, good prices. We'll be back."

sample menu
Chilaquiles with Chicken............28 pesos/US$2.70
Eggs Scrambled with Chorizo............22 pesos/US$2.10
Pancakes and Bacon............22 pesos/US$2.10
Steak and Eggs............35 pesos/US$3.30
Comida Corrida............40 pesos/US$3.80
soup, main dish, rice, beans, veggies,
tortillas and fruit water


La Fondita Cafe Kaffe is open daily from 8:00 am until late afternoon. Credit cards are not accepted.

Directions - La Fondita Cafe Cafe is on Francico Madero between Insurgentes and Constitucion. From the northeast corner of parking/plaza Lazaro Cardenas (the ocean is to the west) head north on Pino Suarez one block. Go right on Francisco Madero for two and a half blocks. The restaurant is on the right.

Mi Suegra is one of the cheap comida corrida (fixed price meal) places in Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone. It is one block up from the beach. From the outside it looks just like all the other storefronts and houses on the block.

We walked in. The waitress, who was sitting down watching television, looked our way, twisted her mouth to the side, and faced back toward the TV. There were no other customers. We looked at some of the many photos on the wall. There were maybe ten tables in the place. We chose the one under the fan. Eventually acknowledged, we were brought menus. I asked what was offered on the fixed price menu as we were early for lunch and it hadn’t been posted yet. She bellowed toward the kitchen. Someone hollered back that only the chile rellenos were ready. She smiled and we asked for a few more minutes. She happily went back to watch her show.

The regular menu offered the usual egg dishes, chilaquiles and pancakes for breakfast. The lunch section was much longer with an assortment of snacks, burgers, sandwiches, beefsteaks, chicken dishes, salads and plenty of seafood. Antojitos (little whims) like tostadas, crunchy tacos, enchiladas and sopes are served for dinner. Pozole, a traditional hominy and pork stew is also offered. The prices are cheap with breakfast and dinner between thirty and forty pesos and lunch between 60 and 70. The fixed price menu includes soup, main course, rice, beans, tortillas and fruit water for 45 pesos.

The waitress, seemingly in a much better mood, came over as soon as she noticed us staring at her. We ordered. I asked for the comida corrida and was immediately brought noodle soup and cebada water. The soup, angel hair pasta in a flavorful tomato broth, was pretty good. The beverage, which I believe is made with barley and sugar, was also tasty. As soon as I finished my soup the main dishes were served. Linda had the machaca – here it was shredded beef, potato and bell pepper scrambled with eggs. It wasn’t good. There was very little meat, the eggs were runny and it was bland. It was served with gross crusty rice and refried beans. My chile relleno wasn’t any better. The cook hadn’t bothered pulling the seeds out of the chile and the batter tasted old. The sauce was good but offered little consolation. It was served with the same rice and beans.

I used to come here on occasion but hadn’t in the last few years. I always remembered the food being ok. I do not recommend Mi Suegra (my mother in law). If you are in the neighborhood and want a good, cheap, home cooked comida corrida go across the street to the place with no name (there is a big menu leaning against the wall when they are open) or go up to the corner, to Dianita’s.

Sails said, "Not impressed, your chile was full of seeds and linda's eggs and machaca hardly had any machaca, not to mention, I've never seen that color of horchata before."

sample menu
Comida Corrida............45 pesos/US$4.30
Eggs Scrambled with Chorizo............35 pesos/US$3.30
Cereal and Bananas............25 pesos/US$2.40
Hamburger and Fries............45 pesos/US$4.30
Nachos with Chicken............40 pesos/US$3.80
Liver and Onions............40 pesos/US$3.80
Beef Fajitas............60 pesos/US$5.70
Breaded Fish Filet............70 pesos/US$6.70

Mi Suegra is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 am until 8:00 pm. Credit cards are not accepted.

Directions
Mi Suegra is on Francico Madero between Ignacio Vallarta and Pino Suarez. From the northeast corner of parking/plaza Lazaro Cardenas (the ocean is to the west) head north on Pino Suarez one block. Go right on Francisco Madero for a half block. The restaurant is on the left.