El Arrayan

4.4 (121 reviews)

ModerateMexican, Comfort Food, Gluten-Free

Closed • 5:30 pm - 11:00 PM

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El Arrayan - Jalapenos Rellenos $100 pesos "home pickled jalapenos, mild, filled with seasoned cooked tuna" - Mexican Near Me - Puerto vallarta, JAL

El Arrayan - Mezcalitos $95 pesos "hibiscus & rosemary, mezcal 100% de agave" - Mexican Near Me - Puerto vallarta, JAL

El Arrayan - Beef 'Barbacoa' $235 pesos "cooked in avocado leaf, plantain leaf & thyme. served with nopal cactus salad, and 'borracha' salsa" - Mexican Near Me - Puerto vallarta, JAL

+182

El Arrayan - Duck 'Carnitas' $325 pesos "the specialty of the house. slowly cooked, guajillo-orange-arrayan sauce, sauteed potatoes" - Mexican Near Me - Puerto vallarta, JAL

El Arrayan menu photos

Menu photo 1 El Arrayan Puerto vallarta, JAL

Menu photo 2 El Arrayan Puerto vallarta, JAL

Menu photo 3 El Arrayan Puerto vallarta, JAL

Menu photo 4 El Arrayan Puerto vallarta, JAL

Menu photo 5 El Arrayan Puerto vallarta, JAL

Menu photo 6 El Arrayan Puerto vallarta, JAL

Menu photo 7 El Arrayan Puerto vallarta, JAL

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EL ARRAYAN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?

Inside

24 Photos

Outside

14 Photos

Classy

Casual

Quiet

Good for groups

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Jerry C.

Paul R from San Francisco highly recommended that I try El Arrayán for dinner. Except for the airport rides, it was the only time we jumped in a taxi our entire stay and took us out of Zona Romantica. It was off the main road in a nice neighborhood. The ambience and food were wonderful. The tables are set around a courtyard with colorful tablecloths and Mexican artwork adorned the walls. The chili and mole sauces for the homemade chips were a nice variety. For appetizers, the cerviche was good, but the Jalapenõs Rellenos, seasoned tuna stuffed in a home-pickled pepper, was amazing and delicious, and my fav portion of the meal. We all ended up ordering the same house specialty entree, Duck 'Carnitas' which is 1/3 duck with Guajillo-Orange-Arrayán sauce. Authentic Mexican, not Tex-Mex, cuisine. The bottle of wine was reasonably priced. Service was professional and courteous. El Arrayán was definitely worth the effort getting there.

Stephanie L.

This is such a cute place for dinner. The special three course meal was 230 pesos (around $12.50)!! Food was delicious; especially the different sauces for the chips. The mole was complex and had a depth of flavor that kept us going back for more. We ordered all the different options on the set menu and loved the ceviche, which was fresh and flavorful with the avocados (it's not a typical ceviche but more like a salad). The salad was good with the highlight being the tomatillos. The fish was delicious with roasted garlic and shallots -- I would have liked rice instead of potatoes but that's just me being Asian. The shrimp and cactus oddly reminded me of Asian flavors -- specifically tiny dried shrimp Asians use in cooking, and tasted a little mushy. It's not something I'd order again, but glad I tried an unusual dish that I've never had. Dessert wise, flan was definitely better than the Mexican bread pudding with its simplicity. Bread pudding tasted like the holiday's though, with its nuts, raisins and spices. Absolutely a cute place to come with it's open courtyard and a see through kitchen. Decor is nicely done with beautiful art on the walls. It's also conveniently located close to the church in the main Centro part of town.

Jessica N.

What an incredibly delicious and authentic dining experience. Felt like I was visiting someone's home, eating a home cooked meal with a gourmet touch. Nestled on a quant side street right off the main malecon downtown Our waitress, Regina, made our experience even more enjoyable. She was attentive, welcoming and gave great recommendations! Our favorite dish was the prawn with peanut mole sauce ... to die for! Tortillas were warm and fresh. Desserts also beautiful... all made in house. Even the ice cream! I personally don't recommend the empanadas but it all depends on your taste. For me was too sweet. Don't miss this gem for an authentic meal in Puerto Vallarta

Ezekiel G.

Long story short: I could barely walk when I left this place because I ate everything that was placed in front of me. A friend of mine that had lived in Puerto Vallarta recommended this place. And because I trust him, I had to try it. We arrived right on time for our 7:30pm reservation and took a table close to the window. The place is very open and set up around a central patio. Small colorful tables and Huichol art hanging from the walls. There was a singer in the back corner playing the guitar and he had a great voice! It definitely added to the enjoyment of our meal. We ordered two mezcalitos - cocktails made with fruit and mezcal, a liquor that is produced in Mexico and is the cousin of Tequila. We were also presented with two small tostadas that were compliments from the house/chef and they were so full of flavor! The table also received chips and three different types of salsas. For appetizers we ordered the sopers with chorizo, and the cricket tacos! The sopes were so soft and delicious, with plenty of chorizo on top, shredded lettuce, crema, and queso fresco. I loved them so much I ate them immediately. The cricket tacos were also really good! They were served with a small side of avocado and tomatillo salsa and fresh cut limes. The tacos were made with soft house-made tortillas, black beans, queso fresco, and the crunchy and flavorful crickets. The flavor is hard to describe because I've never had them before but I do recommend them. For our entrees we had the duck carnitas and the grilled steak. The duck was deliciously tender and served on top of a sauce and a side of potatoes. The steak was grilled and served with black beans, grilled onions, and tortillas. By now I was already getting full, but we still had dessert to try, and once I saw they had capirotada (a type of bread pudding) it was settled. I needed one! The capirotada came served with a small side of vanilla ice cream that perfectly complimented the bread pudding. It was crunchy, yet soft, and just thinking about it now my mouth begins to water. We also met one of the owners who was amazing. She came to the table and introduced herself and checked in to see how everything was at our table. Go eat here! The food is authentic and delicious, and the service is attentive yet not intrusive. I want to go back!

Brian M.

This is a wonderful place which was recommended to us by the Marriott Hotel concierge. We took the bus and arrived at 5:00. They didn't open until 5:30 so we wandered around that part of PV until it was time to eat. These people take their cuisine very seriously and the place is meticulously clean. The staff is extremely professional and our waitress spoke excellent English. Food was top knot notch but the star of the show was the cricket tacos. If we ever come back to PV, we will come here again. They do close for a month every year and I believe that the waitress say that this year, it'll be in September ('19).

'Cajeta' Flan $65 pesos "goat's milk caramel spread flan"

Dean C.

12/28/16 One finite life, but a life of infinity. One year, 365 days, 1095 meals. 196 countries, but an infinite number of personalities... 2016 has ended. Welcome 2017. Welcome all the foods of the world, and all those I have yet to even imagine. We Will Welcome Wonders. Let us eat forever. El Arrayan, and all of Mexico, cheers to your culture, to your people, to your food. Cheers to the Chinese, the French, the Russians, the Aztec, the Peruvians, the Japanese, the Thai, the Filipinos, the Vietnamese, the Africans, the Brazilians, the Spanish, the Swedish, the Germans, the Greek, the Persians, the Iranians, the Arabians, the Turks, the Columbians, the Salvadorians, the Romanians, the Czechs, the Italians, the Americans, the Janians... and everything else we ate last year... Can't wait to try Martian! 4/5 #mexico #puertovallarta #jalisco #mexican #star

Rick S.

Bottom Line - The food was fantastic enough that we came for the remainder of our meals in PVR; however, it was too bad that we only found this place with 2 days to go on our trip. Call and make reservations. Everything we had was good! NIGHT 1: Carpaccio de Pescado (90p) - Mmmm!!! Ceviche Buerrero (95p) - Yum!!! Guacamole (80p) - A little too creamy for us as we like chunks of avocado, but still good. Birria Cordero (290p) - Yes!!! Conchinta Pibil (205p) - More, please!!! Bola de Helados (60p) - Refreshing!!! Flan Cajeta (55p) - Nice and sweet!!! Margarita (75p) - Who can argue??? Agua de Piedra (75p x2) - Keep it flowing! Our total came to 1,100 pesos for our table of 3, and we were stuffed!!! NIGHT 2: Ceviche Guerrero (95p) - Had to order this again, for sure! Carnitas de Pato (260p) - The duck was really really good. I want more! Chuleta Premium (255p) - This pork chop was only okay; my friend said he wished he'd ordered something else Camaron Encacahuate (220p) - My other friend had these shrimps and he absolutely loved them. Along with 2 sprites (50p), our total came to 955p for our table of 3. We were stuffed yet again! The service was also amazing. Carmen remembered us from the previous night, as well as the wait staff. They were so friendly and the food was fantastic. This is easily the best food we had our entire visit to PVR.

Trio of complimentary salsas with chips!

Chris M.

Best meal we had in PV. Better than La Palapa and Cafe de Artistes. We love this place and highly recommend it as a must-try for authentic, amazing and reasonably priced Mexican cuisine. Chips & Salsa - Served w/ three different varieties: *Verde - Super mild, no heat at all. Cool and refreshing. *Roasted tomato - Medium heat. Very flavorful. I think it was roasted, if not, it was still delicious! *Chipotle & Garlic - More of a tapenade-like texture, or a paste. Not as spicy as you'd think, and not too garlicky. Almost had an earthy chocolate flavor to it. Spread a bit of this on your chip and top with the roasted tomato salsa. 1st Course *Duck Tostadas* Excellent flavor! Lots of shredded duck, not spicy at all, but deep, rich flavor. Topped with avocado, tomato and cream. *Shrimp Aguachile* Like ceviche, but not as acidic. The shrimp was lightly "cooked" by the acid/lime juice, basically raw, with raw onion, cucumber, cilantro and jalapeño/serrano. 2nd Course *Green Pork Posolé* If you love Posolé, you'll really enjoy this dish! Delicious and complex broth with shredded pork, then you top it with diced onions, oregano, cabbage and radish. Yum!! *Duck "Carnitas" w/ mole & potatoes* We got a duck thigh and leg, but I saw other people get breast. Our duck was well cooked - not dry at all or overly chewy. It had a nice flavor and the mole was amazing. The potatoes were OK alone, but when wrapped in a tortilla with the duck, everything just worked. Dessert *Carrot Cake w/ cinnamon & vanilla ice cream* This wow'd us. Great cinnamon flavor with a sinful layer of icing. Lots of chopped walnuts gave the cake a hearty texture. The vanilla ice cream was a cool complement.

Specialty margarita! Arrayan fruit with a sugared rim!

Kathryn R.

This is a great hidden gem in Vallarta! I call it a hidden gem because you will need to walk a bit into the hills to find it - It's not right on the Malecon or in any of the high-traffic tourist areas. We found it on our Yelp app (of course!) and we were so happy that we did! We were greeted by our server, who spoke perfect English and explained the menu to us. We could tell that she was proud of where she worked when she started off by saying something to the effect of "this isn't like other restaurants here." Her reason behind that statement is that their menu features authentic Mexican dishes from a variety of areas in the country. After some debate (because the menu looked so good!) we ordered their specialty margarita (made with Arrayan fruit), the plantain empanadas, the sopes with chorizo, the duck tostadas, and the duck carnitas (the house specialty).\ We were served a basket of chips and three different sauces while we waited. A green sauce with great flavor, a red sauce that had a little more spice, and a third which was kind of pasty and a little sweet like mole. I liked all three! First came the plantain empanadas filled with beans and cheese. Our waitress recommended using the 3rd salsa with this dish (the pasty one). She was right! A fantastic combination! Next came the other three dishes. The sopes are nice and small and thinner than I'm used to, which was appreciated. Sometimes they are so thick all you can taste is the sope. The duck tostadas were large with a good amount of duck meat - and perfectly seasoned and cooked. The duck carnitas were also perfectly cooked. They are served as a duck breast with sauce and tortillas. The meat was tender and the skin was amazing. All in all, great food, great service - worth the trip off the Malecon!

John F.

Recently on vacation in the PV and staying at a resort. Love all inclusive, but the wife and I really wanted to get into town for some authentic, quality food. On a referral from her manager, we stopped by this quaint little restaurant on an unapologetically small street, to have some dinner. It was around 6pm on a Monday, so it was slow. They open at 5:30 so we were the first to arrive. The decor is what you'd expect from a Mexican restaurant in a tourist town. Bright colors and artwork depicting various Mexican themes. The finding area is located under a tin roof, so there is an open air flow. On this day, it rained. What an atmosphere it set. The sound of drizzle atop the roof, and the tiny lizards that made their way from hiding to seek shelter was worth an admission. For an appetizer, we ordered ceviche and it looks small but was more than enough for us both. It was fresh and the flavors of onion and lime and sea salt and capers exploded like the 4th of July, or Cinco de Mayo. Our very attentive and kind server suggested a few hot sauces that did not disappoint. Jacky and I also sipped on the best margaritas we'd had since we landed. Not sure if that's a compliment to the place itself or an insult to our resort, but they were very good. Our entrees were next and they were just as pleasurable. I had chicken mole with some sauteed veggies. The mole was extremely flavorful and the chicken, though a tad overcooked, was very good. My wife had the pork cochinita, and wow! So much flavor and spice and tenderness. But the piece de resistance, were the homemade corn tortillas. I wiped up the mole with the extras. If my wife had her purse, we'd have taken a dozen to go. Our new was finished as most my meals there were, with a shot of tequila. Our server made an outstanding selection and we felt stuffed, but very happy. If you want a clean, well kept, quality serviced, restaurant with flavorful authentic food, I highly recommend you venture away from the resorts and grab a meal here. Also, very reasonably priced so go nuts!!

Mari C.

Arrayan is very clean. The drinks are good, had a margarita. Food is delicious, I had the cactus salad and fish. Service is very good! Everyone speaks English! Menu is in English too! It's very close to malecon area.

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Mark W.

9 years ago

We came to El Arrayán two years ago, and it was literally our best dinner during our stay. So, two years later, we came back again! I asked Carmen, the owner, to order on my behalf, from my drink to my dessert. All of it was amazing! My drink was a smoky mezcal magarita-ish drink with a spicy, citrus salt on the rim. Ordered a second one, because they were so good! Plantain empanadas for the appetizer, just amazing. Duck carnitas for the main course, their specialty. Can't go wrong with that!! For dessert, churros with Mexican hot chocolate! We will be back..again and again read more

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R K.

288

7 years ago

Incredible traditional mexican food without pretension. The best mexican food restaurant in PV. The dishes are delicious, surprising and prepared with serious care. This is a woman owned business that is committed to heritage recipes and perfect execution. Don't let the somewhat humble appearance fool you, this is real food for people that know the difference. Probably the best value for food of this quality in PV. read more

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Kathy A.

12 years ago

For me, this place is Ok, nice, but NOT a WOW!! Do you enjoy eating on top of printed VINYL tablecloths? The walls are decorated with large beautiful art from the same artist. The chairs are uncomfortable simple little wooden and straw seats and back. The staff is very polite and offers attentive and good service. All the patrons are North American, not one Mexican local. Being in Mexico at a Mexican restaurant, I was wanting something authentic and traditional. The server suggested that I try the duck since that is something not always on the menu. So I got the duck -it is plain and not very Mexican: a fried duck leg, cherry sauce on the side and roasted potatoes. Big deal! I was not impressed. I've seen as good from a food truck. The only thing I really liked was the complimentary chips and various salsas which they always kindly replenished. Of 5 nights and with all the substantial variety of restaurants in PV, this was our least favorite and least expensive for dinner. (US$99 inc a bottle of wine). In my opinion, all in all, the place is not bad, it is ok, good, but I wouldn't rave about it as other reviewers do. Incomprehensible! read more

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Pasha G.

160

170

11 years ago

Great upscale Mexican food. Duck cornitas were delicious. Lamb birria was also excellent and melted in your mouth. On top of that, they give those delicious dipping sauces for nachos which I never saw in any other restaurants. One even was some mole sauce based on chocolate. Great creative menu remembering the tradition. Way to go! read more

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Ryan H.

208

10 years ago

Most amazing meal we had in Puerto Vallarta! Maybe ever! The service was top notch- the owner of the restaurant even checked on us throughout & suggested fun places for us to go out on the town afterward! They were so accommodating! One of us is vegan and although their menu does not initially look like it has much to offer in this regard, they worked with us (quite competently I might add) to modify existing dishes to offer more options! We were so happy & it was so freakin delicious!!!!! Thank you Carmen! We will never forget you, your beautiful restaurant, it's delicious food, and our wonderful experience there! read more

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Adam S.

12 years ago

Our fishing group has been going to El Arrayan for years. We keep coming back for the great service, interesting/flavorful food and solid selection of drinks. Would agree with a few other reviews that the Mole is one of my favorites year after year. I finally tried the soup this year and can't believe I've waited this long. Excellent all around and a hidden gem in PV town. BTW, the cactus garden up front is in the honor of the owner's Huichol culture. They traditionally used the peyote (hikuri) cactus in religious rituals. One year a member of our party thought it was an ash tray! He apologized profusely and after consuming the peyote was welcome back. :-) read more

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Barbe K.

157

9 years ago

Our family of ten went here last night and it was one of the highlights of our trip. Service was excellent, food was beyond excellent and the restaurant was quaint and comfortable. We are everything from duck carnitas to sopes to cricket tacos ( this was for the shear experience, but they were actually delicious). We will definitely include El Arrayan in all of our future visits to Puerto Vallarta. read more

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Bob M.

9 years ago

We went here in 2006 and 2007 and hadn't been back. Our meals at that time were spectacular and unforgettable. It is just as attractive as we remembered, with a cool traditional Mexican vibe. And the staff couldn't have been more professional, even though they were working around a fairly large film crew shooting a show for the Travel Channel. The food, though, was not quite spectacular, although it was good. Chicken with Two Moles was tasty but a little dry and Barbacoa was okay but no better than you can find at lots of taco stands. It's still an interesting, pleasant and fun place to go (there was excellent music too), just not one of our best meals. read more

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Piyali F.

Elite 15

162

12 years ago

First time visit to PV, and grabbed dinner here per the recommendation of our concierge. And it was DELICIOUS. Everything is fresh, housemade, and clean, caters to tourists but homemade flavors. Delicious drinks, amazing salsas, and you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Make a reservation if you go after 7pm. read more

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Lozzy W.

12 years ago

My partner introduced me to the proprietors, Carmen & Claudia, who are long time friends. It always feels super special to dine in a restaurant when the owners sit down with you, but even if that was not the case, I would recommend this restaurant as a "Best of PV" and we have chosen to trade turkey for tacos and eat here for the past two thanksgivings. This year we had a table of 13, including 3 little ones. We kicked off the holiday toasting Boom Boom's. These martinis are so smooth and a great way to celebrate being in Mexico (also a good diversion from all the margaritas!). You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu and my personal favorites are Plantain Empanadas, Vegetarian Tostada's, Poblano Peppers, Fish Casa Pedro, Beef Barbocoa and Duck Carnitas! read more

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James A.

12 years ago

Simple, rustic, yet refined. So much care and attention to detail. That's just the atmosphere. The food was beyond expectations and wonderful. The service was personable and welcoming. Then this delightful experience was topped with the best dessert! read more

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Jas S.

Elite 24

159

10 years ago

My first 5 star mexican restaurant. The shrimp ceviche and duck tostadas were superb. The pork cochinita piibil and beef barabacoa were also to die for. Service was attentive. Overall great value and will be returning again. read more

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Bruce M.

10 years ago

Wonderful ambiance! Indoor outdoor dining. Delicious food!! The duck carnitas were to die for. Great service. Lovely colorful artwork. Will definitely go back. Good for a romantic dinner or large group celebration. read more

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Chris S.

10 years ago

Went for Christmas Eve dinner and even though there were many large groups there, the service was friendly and attentive. Like many reviewers, I got the Duck "Carnitas" and enjoyed it a lot. We also ordered the cactus salad to share as an appetizer, which was also delicious. They also have a creative drink menu. You can tell they take a lot of pride in their food. I was too full to get dessert unfortunately. Even if you aren't staying close by, take a taxi to get here -- it's worth it! read more

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Kenzie S.

7 years ago

We had the chips & queso, the duck carnitas, the beef barbacoa, and it was all delicious! Both meals were served authentically with homemade corn tortillas. A great local restaurant with a chill vibe. Definitely a place to come back to! Also ordered the ice cream sampler, very good! It comes with coffee, vanilla, Mexican chocolate, and Carmel and cookies. If you love the taste of espresso, you will love the coffee ice cream. The Carmel and cookies was our favorite! read more

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Sheeva G.

Elite 16

181

536

201

12 years ago

Such a cool place for classic Mexican cuisine. If you want to try something new, get the chapulines tacos (crickets). It was definitely an interesting experience, but a fun one. Yummy cochinita pibil too. It's located in the beginning of the new malecon, and up a few streets. Great ambiance as well! read more

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James H.

178

11 years ago

Love the artwork. Nice building. Clean. Open air kitchen a plus. But the menu disappointed. The sauces while good didn't bowl me over. Service very good. Hostess friendly and helpful. But something was left in the cuisine to be desired. read more

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Brian P.

145

12 years ago

We absolutely love this restaurant, and will stop in once or twice per visit to PV. Delicious and inventive food, and high quality service in a very nice setting. Another plus, this restaurant does not attract the obnoxious crowd you'll see at Señor Frogs. Then again, why would you eat at Señor Frogs? El Arrayan certainly knows how to appease your taste buds, read more

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Hunter S.

637

9 years ago

This place was the most fantastic part of our entire trip to PV! The most amazing food, great drinks, friendly staff, all in the most beautiful setting. We will be sure to recommend this to friends and family! Not to mention this will be a MUST next time we visit. read more

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Ken C.

11 years ago

This restaurant is the best restaurant in Puerto Vallarta. I have eaten here at least half a dozen times, and every time I have had an extraordinary meal. El Arrayan really does have special food and a great atmosphere. This place is one of the precious few where they really care for you and make the effort create a very memorable dinner. read more

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Ken H.

11 years ago

This restaurant is overrated by most reviewers. I ordered the duck which was recommended in Fodor's. It was OK but nothing special. My wife ordered the shrimp which were very small and again, nothing special given the higher than average prices for PV. The salsas at the table were good and one blackish salsa reminded me of coffee and cigarette ash mixed together...strange but surprisingly intriguing on a chip! The ambience was boring, all tourists and no locals eating there at all. The wait staff were friendly and attentive however. I advise skipping this place and finding more authentic Mexican food in PV. read more

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Laurel C.

10 years ago

Really interesting choices. Not your every day Mexican food. The pulled pork was delicious. Service was great and the margaritas were fresh lime and delicious. read more

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Jennifer F.

156

9 years ago

Cute and unassuming spot. Beautiful decor and very happening. While I had very high expectations of the food, it just wasn't very good. Sorry folks, it was slightly disappointing. Husband had the duck, which is the house specialty, but is had no flavor whatsoever. I had the pulled pork dish, which was tasty, but certainly nothing overly special. Empanadas were good. Very busy spot, and service was a bit slow. read more

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Nick S.

8 years ago

Both gluten and dairy free, the flavors combined in the cricket tacos (a must-try), barbacoa beef, and duck were all sumptuous. The wine selection was also nicely curated by our waitress who knew her Baja California reds. This is what makes a truly special restaurant experience. read more

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Francis A.

12 years ago

El Arrayan is a diamond in the rough. It has an outdoor / indoor feel, VERY friendly and helpful staff and food that would make you question reality. Now, I'm not a food critic and I wasnt that hungry when my friends and I walked in, but from the reservation down to walking out after dinner, everything was a pleasant experience. I will highly recommend this to anyone. Planning on going back spring of 2015 and this restaurant is on the top of my list for dinners. read more

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John J.

11 years ago

My experience was just fair. It seems this restaurant has some faithful followers and some good ratings, which draw a crowd. I waited about a half hour on a Monday night, due to this, my expectation was that it would live up to the hype. Perhaps my perspective is skewed by being a New Yorker, but all of the dishes we ordered were lackluster. The most exciting thing was the cricket taco. But beyond this novelty it was just crickets on a tortilla, not a fully considered dish. When you consider that PV has some of the best traditional street food meals at 20 Pesos, then this 400 Pesos meal at a highly rated restaurant should have been spectacular, and it wasn't. read more

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Kara F.

8 years ago

We had the BEST meal here tonight. Do not miss the poblano pepper appetizer, the barbacoa, the chicken mole....and the absolute best thing on the menu -- chocolate cinnamon cake. We have dined at some of the finest restaurants in the US and Europe and thought this was one of the best meals we have ever had. Go to El Arrayan. Fabulous service and incredible meal. read more

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Steve N.

11 years ago

Ask them what to order. I had lamb and loved it. This is my third time and I would never miss it. Please visit, you'll tell everyone.

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Taylor K.

8 years ago

We love El Arrayan. We had the pleasure of speaking with Regina who was an absolutely great server and such a nice person. We loved talking with her. And on top of that - the food was to die for. We had the pork, the duck, mole and the lamb. The quesadillas with the hibiscus were unique and unforgettable. All were fantastic and we were swapping forks back and forth all night. A lovely atmosphere and great service and food. A must if you're in Vallarta. Don't forget to try the raicilla! read more

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Carolyne C.

9 years ago

We went for dinner last night and really enjoyed it. The drinks, food and service all were excellent. I am a total purist so had to be talked into the mojito made with vodka, grape juice (white) & basil. It was refreshing and wonderful. I ordered the lamb birria and loved it. We were very full, but decided to order the chocolate, cinnamon cake with coffee ice cream, it was also amazing. I asked the waitress if they were open for breakfast since I have been craving chillaquilles. Sadly they only serve dinner. But she recommended a place near where we are staying in the Marina & that was also wonderful read more

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Roy G.

11 years ago

This was my second trip to this restaurant and I have been thrilled both times. Lovely open garden/patio setting, very friendly knowledgeable staff, great food. The appetizers were excellent. I had the duck entree and it was fantastic. The owner came over to chat towards the end of the meal. She gave us some interesting background about the building. Overall a great night. We'll be back! read more

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Suzette M.

11 years ago

The two stars are solely for ambiance. The restaurant is quaint and pretends to be a hip, gourmet spot. But it fails pretty miserably. For example, they have a taco made with crickets, which I've tried before. It's distinctive, but that doesn't mean it tastes good. It doesn't. I went again more recently and came away with the following: servers who didn't want to be there, watered-down drinks, and food that was mostly warmed-over fare you could get on a plane. Do NOT waste your time here. If you're looking for really good food, try Joe Jack's Fish Shack. For upscale, try Barcelona Tapas. El Arrayan has jumped the shark. read more

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Erica R.

9 years ago

Have no intentions on returning. Too many good choices for restaurants in PV to spend another peso here. Too expensive for what they are serving. Service was fine just no tasty dishes out of the 4 different ones our party chose. Disappointed because this place gets such great reviews, makes me rethink yelp and trip advisor for others advice! read more

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Karl D.

11 years ago

Ok so this what happened, I went there today and ordered some aracheras and chicken Mole, when I passed by the kitchen I saw that the waiter actually sneezed in the plates, also in his hands and began to bring the food. I immediately left the restaurant. Plus, us being from Hispanic heritage, my dad went to the restaurant and when the waiter saw him she thought that he and his friend were white, she offered them table for 2, but when he began to talk in Spanish, she on the spot changed her mind and said that the tables are reserved. I wanted to go there and punch that lady. read more

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Rodney B.

9 years ago

Always make a point to have dinner at El Arrayan when I'm in Puerto Vallarta. A little bit of a schlep up the hill if you're walking but easily accessible by taxi. Great atmosphere, friendly staff and a varied menu. Try the El Arrayan Margarita! read more

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Karen V.

10 years ago

Excellent value and food- much better experience than Cafe des Artistes- save your money and have a better meal here.

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Fred M.

10 years ago

Outstanding restaurant. I ate here twice last week with large parties including young children and the staff could not have been more accommodating. Open air courtyard with nice art on the walls. Excellent drink menu - the mexcalitas were quite good. Three salsas are all delicious. Recommend the sopas (both vegetarian and chorizo), guacamole, ceviche and duck tostadas as appetizers. Entrees of note were the cochinita pibil, enchiladas with mole and duck carnitas. And extremely reasonably priced for a restaurant of this caliber. read more

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laura e.

10 years ago

Contemporary Mexican. Charming garden restaurant. Flavorful dishes like "beefy" Duck Carnitas (but would have added a more sophisticated preparation - like a carmelized chili-honey glaze - to be on par with other interesting flavor profiles on the menu), Refreshing margarita (I would have added an extra splash of Tequila) and warm, friendly service. read more

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susie h.

11 years ago

This place was sweet. The menu was a bunch of dishes from all over Mexico. I ate yummy posole. It's off the main drag in a real neighborhood where people live. read more

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Lisa K.

10 years ago

This was a fabulous restaurant. The wait staff was excellent and the food exceptional. The duck carnitas and enchiladas in particular were wonderful. There were interesting salsas, pleasant atmosphere - we highly recommend. read more

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Page 3 of 4

Calle Allende 344
Col. Centro
48304 Puerto vallarta, Jalisco
Mexico
Directions
322 222 7195
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.elarrayan.com.mx

Full menu

Hours

What time does El Arrayan open?

El Arrayan opens at 5:30 PM on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does El Arrayan close?

El Arrayan closes at 11:00 PM on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.El Arrayan is closed on Tuesday.

Mon, Wed-Sun 5:30 PM - 11:00 PMTue Closed

Payment methods

Does El Arrayan take credit cards?

Yes, El Arrayan takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does El Arrayan have catering options?

Yes, El Arrayan does have catering options.

Does El Arrayan have a happy hour?

No, El Arrayan does not have a happy hour.

Does El Arrayan serve alcohol?

Yes, El Arrayan serves alcohol. Full Bar

Indoor Amenities

Does El Arrayan allow dogs?

Yes, El Arrayan allows dogs.

Does El Arrayan have TVs?

No, El Arrayan does not have TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does El Arrayan have bike parking?

No, El Arrayan does not have bike parking.

Does El Arrayan have outdoor seating?

Yes, El Arrayan has outdoor seating options.

Does El Arrayan have parking?

Yes, El Arrayan has parking options. Street Parking

Other Amenities

Is El Arrayan wheelchair accessible?

No, El Arrayan is not wheelchair accessible.

Does El Arrayan have free WiFi?

Yes, El Arrayan has free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

Cocina mexicana, Clases de Cocina,Bodas , Prebodas, Familias con niños,

History

Established in 2003.

Bienvenidos a EL ARRAYÁN! ¿Qué quiere decir el nombre? Se refiere a un árbol y a su fruta dulce y ácida que crecen en esta región de Jalisco, México. Aquí tenemos nuestro propio árbol de arrayán creciendo en el patio. EL ARRAYÁN significa que desde 2003 cientos de personas nos han apoyado al regresar y recomendarnos a su familia y amigos; motivándonos así a que probemos otros sabores, combinaciones, retándonos a cocinar comida más rica y atrevida. Aviso: esta comida no es Tex Mex...Nuestro nombre quiere decir que los platillos en nuestra carta forman parte del Patrimonio Intangible de la Humanidad declarada por la UNESCO para la Cocina Mexicana. Lo que se reconoce es la autenticidad y la capacidad de evolucionar, de cambiar, con una base propia: nuestra Cocina Tradicional Mexicana. ¡Por favor disfrute lo que hacemos esta noche, tanto como lo disfrutamos nosotros todas las noches! Claudia Victoria R. y Carmen Porras E. Propietarias

El Arrayan Reviews in Other Languages

Spanish
1 Review

Review Highlights - El Arrayan

“We had the Cricket Tacos (worthy a try!), Shrimp with Peanut Mole, and the Duck Carnitas, both of which were AMAZING!”

Mentioned in 11 reviews

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La Romántica

4.8(196 reviews)

1.6 km

•$$

The moment we found out that this place has vegan churros by default we knew we had to go. Very few…read moreplaces deserve 5 stars, this was a no brainer. First default vegan churros. Clearly marked vegan options. Staff aware of what is vegan and what can be made. The vibe inside is clean and really good. The service was really great. And the best part food and beverages - there is nothing we could find that was off. The mini churros were freshly made and came to us within a minute after that. The two vegan dips - peanut butter and strawberry jelly went so well together. The family tells me the condensed milk was very good as well. The Canadiano (black) was amongst the best we have had. The brew was so smooth and tasted just perfect. No bitterness or sourness and the temperature was perfect. The vegan Iced Chai Latte with soy milk was unlike any chai latter we have had. The spices were warm and drink cold and a hint cinnamon, cardamom and cloves - OMG. We were so impressed that we came the very next day and had the same thing again.

We finally made it in for some churros. We had no idea they existed as their facade seamlessly…read moreblends in with neighboring businesses even though we've walked by numerous times. ATMOSPHERE: Cool and clean intimate cafe with a few seats. MENU: Salads, paninis, churros, cafe-style beverages and some alcohol. DESSERT: Churro Cup Choose a gelato flavor and topping. I opted for vanilla which went well with the generous amount of mini churros piled on top and declined a topping. The churros had good, creamy flavor, but were a bit too firm for my liking either due to their thinness or simply overcooked. SERVICE: Excellent. Very welcoming and friendly with follow up in between. TIP: Closed on Tuesday's; hours are 1p - 9:50p. OVERALL: Nice variety of churro combinations.

Photos

The little kitchenette area

Nutella-strawberry. Yummy!

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Front sign

Coco's Kitchen

4.4(459 reviews)

1.6 km

•$$

Really nice restaurant if you're looking for a breakfast spot in the Zona Romantica of Puerto…read moreVallarta. It's outside mostly either plenty of seating. Theres only street parking except one parking garage but all way on the other side of the town. I got the Chile Relleno Omelette. So glad I got this. Never had it back in the states. It was delicious along with the side beans and sliced avocado and some tortillas. There plenty of eggs around the pepper and the pepper tasted fresh with the cheese. It was also a good size. Service was fast and friendly.

I am kind of sad I had their almond crusted french toast as now no other french toast will compare…read moreto it. The bread is fluffy and stuffed with lemon curd making it silky and sweet, and the almonds provide a nice crunch. Super delicious and i would recommend it to anyone. Icing on the cake (or french toast) is that the restaurant is in a beautiful outdoor setting with plants everywhere and great service. I will definitely go here every time I am in PV!

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Bar area

Epic local breakfast Didh

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Store front sign - outside seating - on a good day this is the way to have breakfast

Calmate Cafe

4.9(85 reviews)

0.7 km

At first glance, Calmate Cafe doesn't look especially impressive, and it's somewhat inflated,…read moretourist-driven ratings may give one pause. True to its name -- Spanish slang for "calm down" or "take it easy" or even "chill out" it is a straightforward cafe with slightly elevated prices and genuinely excellent customer service. That service, more than anything else, is what drives its strong reputation. The space inside is large enough to accommodate some decent sized groups, but due to the lack of ventilation I opted for their limited outdoor seating. It wasn't the most ideal situation, as a sign fell on top of my table, a stray dog was sniffing around, and the next door space was undergoing loud construction. We still made it work, due to the graciousness of the staff and their willingness to stay open past 4pm. Their iced latte ($70MXN), double espresso ($55MXN), and mambo smoothie ($110MXN) was the right thing to order at the time, but nothing too out of the ordinary. The latte had a good amount of milk in it, so much to the point that I was unsure about any coffee. This place is cash only and the lack of additional IVA tax charges came as a nice surprise. When I'm back in PV, I'm definitely interested in trying their brunch. The chilaquiles, breakfast tacos look fabulous, though the rest of the menu seems a bit skewed toward the gringo palate. The ultra friendly staff make this place what it is, which is worthy of many future visits.

I can't say my veggie omelette was super amazing, but it was super fresh! Ingredients and…read morepresentation were awesome! There wasn't anything special about my dish, but I enjoyed it, my belly was happy, and it put a smile on my face, so all good!! Service was great, but do yourself a favor and sit inside if you visit during the midday and you don't want sweat dripping into your food!

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Outside

Peppers and sauces to enjoy with breakfast

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Double Espresso

Organic Select

4.5(13 reviews)

2.7 km

Organic Select has been so helpful for our stay in PV! We were in town for 4 days, dined at their…read morerestaurant twice, and purchased nearly all of our groceries for our stay! The food from Organic Select is not only delicious, but is of such high integrity, that it has supported our bodies all week. We are grateful and will be sharing the good news of their offerings to friends that travel to PV regularly!

The café in the back is cozy and delicious as well as healthy. The food takes some time to come…read moreout, so don't go in a hurry but it's handmade with love and all organic, gluten-free, hard to find in Vallarta! The young girl was new (early July 2021) and she brought my latte at the end of the meal when we had already eaten, for some reason, but I took it to go and enjoyed it as well. We came back the next day. The Abeja Reyna products in the front market are amazing - shampoo and conditioners, creams, buy them and take them home with you, they are impossible to find in the US. The owners of Abeja Reyna were on the cover of FORBES Mexico magazine. We took the huge bottles, packaged them in plastic, well sealed and they made it home perfect. Great selection of obleas and honey, nuts, produce, goat cheese, you name it! We come here everytime we visit PV. Don't let the neighborhood scare you away, it's safe, clean and the owner is delightful!

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GF Farm Breakfast with their sprouts! Delicious

Coconut Yogurt Parfait, Coffees, Fig Cookies (GF, DF)

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Tucked away in this beautiful city. A must for the organic food setter

La Comer

4.5(37 reviews)

3.3 km

We were at an AirBnB nearby for a week in PV and went here to stock up day to day necessities. The…read moreparking lot and the store is near and clean. The area itself is better than many areas in PV The store has lots of good fresh produce - veggies, fruits and herbs. Some of it were at a very good price when compared to Canada. Some berries from Mexico were expensive. They had lots of breads, tacos, fajitas made right on premises. Surprisingly there are lots of vegan milks - oat, soy and almond. Vegan Hotdogs, mock meats, sliced seitan-ham, pepperoni etc. Lots of Tofu, vegan Cheeze, ice creams, burgers as such as well. The store has some hats, beachware and some basic clothes and home stuff as well. Most staff don't speak English so it may be a difficult if you need help. All else service are good.

They call it a "hypermarket " for a reason, it's massive and it truly has everything including a…read morecafe. Large aisles and even "sugar free" and "gluten free" aisles. Very well organized and all employees wear green shirts so it's easy to spot them, they are very helpful and most speak English. You have large meat sections, bakery w all kinds of pastries and lots of different breads to choose from. I spotted some vegan items. Just everything that you might need, a true "one stop shop," shop. Little highest prices, large parking lot, next to Costco & CC are accepted.

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O Croissant

4.0(13 reviews)

1.5 km

The pastries at O Croissant are next level. I've only been twice: when I was looking for a condo in…read moreVersalles and then my first day after having moved in. I couldn't stop thinking about the Nueces y Miel pastry. Honey and nut. The cafe Americano is prepared to order, and strong as I like it. Luckily we bought our condo only about a block and a half away. They will get to know me!

Located in Zona Romantica Oh! Croissant Pasteleria is considered by most to be Puerto Vallarta's…read morebest European Bakery, French Ex-pat ownership assuring classic techniques while service is friendly and bilingual to appease tourists. A continuous space from outside seating to checkerboard tiles, items displayed behind glass beneath a chalk menu, early arrival is advised to procure the best bites including three types of Croissant impressively uncompromised by Oceanside humidity. Outperforming expectations with Viennoiserie, a twist around Chocolate and coils surrounding Cranberries both crispy with lots of Butter, fans of Choux will find Oh! Croissant's work nearly-Parisian quality whether they try a classic Hazelnut Brest or Cream-filled Religeuse.

Photos

@endoedibles on Instagram 10/08/24 Blueberry Croissant

@endoedibles on Instagram 10/08/24 Paris Brest

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@endoedibles on Instagram 10/08/24 Religeuse

La Palapa Restaurant

4.3(1.1k reviews)

1.6 km

•$$$$

Great food atmosphere service and most of all Clean and…read moregreat quality A must when in PV FANTASTIC

Slightly fancier place in Puerto Vallarta with great views of the beach and sunset. You can sit…read moreoutside with easy access to the sand! The bread was delicous, as well as tuna tataki, beef, and my Mango Margarita was unique and fruity. Service was attentive and good. Would be back.

Photos

The view from our table

Tortilla soup

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Table on the sand

Florios

4.6(70 reviews)

3.2 km

•$$

I've been to Florio's in its former location and last night was my first at its new Versailles…read morelocation. Beautiful restaurant, ample outdoor seating and indoor design is beautiful. Lighting, wood, seating, wall design. Also there is a playground right next to the outdoor patio... bring the kiddos! Our server Maggie knew the other couple we were with from their previous time dining, so the welcome back greetings were friendly and genuine! Florios is a steakhouse mostly, BUT.... No one at our table ordered a steak! The grilled artichokes are the best I have ever had! Truffle sauce or the cheese, which is a light blue cheese flavored sauce. Neither sauce overpowered the delicious grilled artichoke hearts. Mixed green salad with a balsamic was delicious especially with the pepita topping and flavor in the dressing. Fresh and delicious. Shared the chicken Milanese parm style. Two large panko style pounded breasts with a choice of a side. We chose the green beans that were perfectly cooked with a sprinkle of cheese and a good portion of roasted almonds. Incredibly delicious. Too stuffed for any dessert. Service was very attentive. 100% will remember this delicious dinner and wonderful night at Florios.

All of the food was excellent. The staff was friendly and attentive and had recommendations that…read morefit us perfectly.

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Carne al gancho para cocción lenta

Hamburguesa Florios

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La Dolce Vita

4.1(185 reviews)

0.4 km

•$$

Great service and ambience for Xmas eve dinner. They closed early but we got there in time without…read morebeing rushed. We had lasagna and a pizza (cappriciosa). Both were good but neither was mind-blowing. Calamari was solid. Anyway, it's Mexico, not Italy. Good effort though, and a large menu to choose from. Reasonably priced for the location and very friendly staff. Would return, but also would explore other options.

My daughter wanted pasta for dinner so we stumbled here and saw decent Yelp reviews so thought we…read moretried. I wasn't hungry only she was. She order Alfredo fettuccine for $198 pesos. The bowl was pretty small portion. However she didn't finish it because the cream were made out of a more on the sour end cheese. It didn't taste like usual fettuccine. She also usually eats the bread that comes with meals at Italian restaurant but she took and bite and passed on the bread as well. Service was great but definitely not italian that we've been used too. Needlessness to say, we won't be back and not sure if we would recommend based on the one dish we got

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Seafood pasta

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El Dorado Restaurant

4.4(487 reviews)

1.7 km

•$$

Terrible experience for such an expensive ($300 for a family of four) meal. My children are both…read moreunder 12 years old. We made reservations for 7:30pm. Everything started off great, but then as the evening went on things really turned sour and disappointing! We were offered a table on the beach. When we sat down, there were people using the public part, which is totally ok, but many of them were smoking marijuana, which was a factor that also ruined our experience. My children do not need to be around that when dining. If the restaurant knows the beach crowd is rowdy that's fine! Just warn us! Then as the night went on, a man and woman started fighting and wound up ripping each others clothes off. I and a few other attendees had to be the ones to get involved! No police presence at all. We did not finish our meal as it felt unsafe when they were fighting. We left our steaks and drinks half finished. There was no offer of a partial refund at all. "Oh that's a public part of the beach" is all they could say. What a waste. My children were exposed to this, we did not finish our food or drinks, and still had to pay the full $300 tab. Aside from this, the food was OKOKOK. MID-tier at best! Steak ($1,100 pesos) was tough. Tuna Poke was a terrible attempt and not tender at all. Oysters were extremely salty (not handled properly). AVOID AT ALL COSTS. Server was cool, and funny, he gets the 1 star, but management is terrible and unfriendly. Refuse to accept accountability or to offer ways to make amends. GO ELSEWHERE!

This is always our go-to restaurant for sunset dinner on our first night in Puerto Vallarta…read more Consistently great service, delicious food and drinks, and a view that can't be beat. Our condo rental included a complimentary breakfast voucher good at El Dorado for each day of our stay. The breakfast and location on the beach is a perfect way to kick-off the morning. Also, I have to give a huge shout-out to the manager of the restaurant. He's amazing and always greets us with a smile and kind words. When we arrived toward the end of breakfast service today, they weren't able to accommodate us due to a large party they were setting up for. Rather than turn us away, the manager walked us to the restaurant next door and asked them to honor our vouchers. Now that's how you do it!. Stellar service!! We keep coming back here year after year and can highly recommend El Dorado!

Photos

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Coconut margarita

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