Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    El Jacalito

    4.8 (39 reviews)

    El Jacalito Photos

    Recommended Reviews - El Jacalito

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Deb R.

    Service was fantastic, friendly and staff were helpful with our questions. Our seafood selections were served in short time and they were beautifully presented and delicious. I had octopus and my partner had a seafood combination meal. Lots of food! We had generous margaritas to start our evening. Highly recommend this restaurant!

    Beers and shots on the road to the botanical gardens
    ED D.

    Stopped in for a beer and a tequila shot. The place has awesome Mexican ambiance. Love the sand floors and excellent service.

    Menu
    Kevin T.

    (4.5/5) We were looking for good after a day at the beach and we were so glad we did - El Jacalito really shows off the freshness of the seafood! Drinks: - Micheladas were good but could stand to be a little bolder flavor Food: - Guac (4/5): personally prefer chunkier guac but great flavor and the chips were delicious - Aguachile (5/5): super refreshing and can really taste how fresh the shrimp was - Pulpo plate (MVP - 5/5): haven't had octopus with such unique texture before - personally would've liked to have the pieces charred just a touch but wow. Must get If we're ever back in the area, we'll absolutely come back for the fresh seafood, great value, and lax vibes :) Salud, El Jacalito!

    Aguachile... delicious!
    Marleny G.

    Wow!!! This place is amazing! The food is delicious and service was great!!! Staff is very attentive and service was fast. We tried the lobster, fish, shrimp, cocktails, margaritas, beer and the desert was a plus! We tried going back two days later for a second round of great food but they were closed. (Wednesday) we will definitely go back.

    Aguachile (shrimp in lime sauce)
    T H.

    This restaurant is at Mismaloya, a 15 minute drive from town. The food is incredibly fresh and well prepared. The pricing is reasonable and the portions are huge. This is one of the best values in town. I challenge anyone to find an Aguachile with as much shrimp as they give (see photo). The owner Thomas used to work in a nearby vacation house. When the house was sold he was let go, and he used his savings to open El Jacalito. His sons are the chef and waiter. Truly a family business that you see less and less as Puerto Vallarta grows.

    Seafood salad, shrimp & octopus

    We had the seafood salad with shrimp & octopus. They were cooked perfectly & tasted amazing. Huge servings, my hubby & I should have shared it. The margarita was just perfect and not sweet. I'll be back next year when I'm return to PV. Very reasonable!!!

    Shrimp Platter
    Jeannette M.

    It's not a fancy place but the food is fresh and fantastic! We stayed at Hotel Mousai and El Jacalito was recommended to us by our cab driver. It's a short 10 min ride from there. Honestly, it was our favorite meat at PV so we went there twice. The prices are beyond reasonable. We ordered, the lobster platter(came with 2-1/2 whole lobsters split, octopus, mixed shrimp platter and several rounds of tequila and it only cost about $80 US. We also ate at ElDorado, Las Palapas, Happy Lobster and we thought the food was the best here.

    Red snapper
    E A.

    This place was recommended by one of the workers at Garza Blanca. A small family owned restaurant, the service and the food are so delicious and very reasonably priced. The very first restaurant that offered chips and salsa at no charge, they even gave us a free dessert

    Pescado frito
    Tati Z.

    BEST, BEST, BEST food with beautiful view and friendly staff. It must go to restaurant if you are in Puerto Vallarta, it's not filled with tourist or tours. The restaurant is located in the middle of garden away from all the bustle and hustle. Don't worry you won't be hot they have many fans blowing air so you won't feel uncomfortable. The food is fresh so they make it as you order it, but they don't take too long. The price isn't expensive. When I come back to Puerto Vallarta this will be the first restaurant I'll come to.

    Octopus

    See all

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Deb R.
    33
    23
    39

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of ED D.
    415
    336
    175

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of T H.
    0
    15
    3

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of JB F.
    0
    41
    3

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Terra C.
    281
    63
    21

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of E A.
    65
    59
    50

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tati Z.
    107
    402
    2524

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David H.
    12
    291
    68

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    An absolute Puerto Vallarta's hidden gem. We asked our tour guide to take us where the locals go, and thank God he did.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    We stayed in Mismaloya and this place was awesome casual great food. Great Margaritas.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dave B.
    37
    11
    4

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gopal R.
    104
    228
    11

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Yad L.
    2
    32
    16

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lorena S.
    54
    81
    43

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    This is the best seafood in mismaloya. Lobster for less than 200 , great food , great authentic food

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Great food, good drinks, friendly service. I have eaten there 6 plus times. The prices are reasonable. The food is delicious.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Wow. Absolutely incredible. 3 lobster tails, 8 shrimp, a mahi mahi filet, rice and veggies was $11!! You can't beat that!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    This is a must for anyone in Puerto Vallarata! The food is fantastic. Portions are great. We're coming back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Helen M.
    125
    49
    0

    8 years ago

    Rustic restaurant with excellent seafood . I love the casual ambiance & unbeatable prices !

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ron R.
    0
    99
    0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Review Highlights - El Jacalito

    It's just across the bridge in Mismaloya past the Barcelo Hotel, spotless restrooms and this year we missed the no-see-ums.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    La Choza Tony's Hideaway - Amazing salsa and guacamole.

    La Choza Tony's Hideaway

    4.7(91 reviews)
    0.3 km
    $$$

    Amazing experience here for my birthday last week. I can't say enough about the wonderful people…read moreand amazing food. This is a MUST VISIT if you're in Mismaloya!

    A great place to have a special dinner outside of the crowded touristy area of Puerto Vallarta…read morewalking distance from mismaloya beach. We took a 20 minute Uber ride to have a beach day outside of zona Romantica where we were staying. We decided to leave because we were hungry and realized that one of the restaurants we bookmarked was just a 10 minute walk and decided to check it out. We were there celebrating a special birthday so we wanted to have one nice dinner and this is the place we chose. We got there around 5 PM and we were the only ones there on a Saturday but it was off-season (Aug) so PV in general was pretty quiet. We were welcome by a friendly man who took us to the top floor with a mountain beautiful view which actually was a nice change from the ocean. The greenery was beautiful. This restaurant is known for their seafood and boy was it fresh. They don't have a specific menu, but rather they bring out a tray of their fresh selection of the day. Everything was beautiful and the shrimp was gigantic. We opted for the red snapper, lobster and the large shrimp. Everything was cooked to perfection and was absolutely delicious. Oh, and I have to make a point of mentioning their margaritas. Fresh fruit margaritas... So yummy. We tried the mango margarita with fresh mangoes and strawberry margarita as well. I just love drinks made with fresh fruits. I think it was my favorite margarita of the entire trip. I do highly recommend you check this place out. The food is phenomenal and the service is wonderful. The 20 minute Uber ride cost about US$15 so well worth it, especially if you do a beach day and make a day of it.

    Photos
    La Choza Tony's Hideaway - Cum over with tony and the family and let us make youre afternoon better

    Cum over with tony and the family and let us make youre afternoon better

    La Choza Tony's Hideaway - Large shrimp!!!

    Large shrimp!!!

    La Choza Tony's Hideaway - Way to the restaurant through the village. Very safe.

    See all

    Way to the restaurant through the village. Very safe.

    Mi Ranchito - Tostada de pescado

    Mi Ranchito

    4.0(6 reviews)
    3.5 km

    This is a tourist trap disguised as a family owned restaurant. Great location right next to the…read morebeach. Asked the owner for a recommendation and she suggested the stuffed mahi mahi for 390 - most expensive item. It was just okay. And I got a bottle of water and was charged 90. Total ripoff. Gave her 500 to cover everything and hope she choked on my 20 peso tip.

    Decent food in a beautiful setting that's also a functioning water taxi and fishing site created a…read moremostly pleasant, but non-amazing experience. Mi Ranchito is part of the growing shoreline in the small village of Boca de Tomatlán at the mouth of an inlet roughly 10 miles south of downtown Puerto Vallarta. Construction was busy in several newish places as we walked from the parking area to the restaurant which sits right on the water. We stopped here for lunch as part of an ATV tour. The cafe is open air and covered, benefiting from a cool breeze blowing in off the pacific. Inside is comfortable, with sand for a floor that feels nice on bare feet. The menu is standard. We ordered ceviche, which came as a very large portion. The Mexican salsa, a tomato, jalapeño, and onion mixture common in this area, was spicier than others we've had. One of our party ordered the Pineapple Surprise, a drink that is served inside a carved pineapple, with a face made of fruit and toothpicks on the front. It was definitely a crowdpleaser. Other dishes we tried were octopus- based and rated fine to not so good. My only minor gripe is the table server used her rapport with us to hit us with a sales pitch for necklaces made of whale bones and shells. Her prices were high and, as always here, negotiating tactics were strong. I typically just wave the vendors off cuz they seem to get pissy if you take an interest then decide not to buy. I'd rather not mix that dynamic with table service. Other than that, three stars for Mi Ranchito. And I expect this area will likely grow in the coming years to have some better competition. The location is great!

    Photos
    Mi Ranchito - Fish Ceviche.

    Fish Ceviche.

    Mi Ranchito - Shrimp Empanadas.

    Shrimp Empanadas.

    Mi Ranchito - Seafood soup.

    See all

    Seafood soup.

    La Palapa Restaurant - PESCADO ENTERO zarandeado, arroz cremoso, ensalada de jitomate fresco, cebo

    La Palapa Restaurant

    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    9.2 km
    $$$$

    5/5 Our favorite…read moreplace to eat in Puerto Vallarta. The food is delicious, the service is perfect, and you're right on the ocean. Come for the dinner and stay for that gorgeous sunset view.

    So we walked along the beach from our hotel and arrived at La Palapa, and right away it sets the…read moretone. The entire front portion of the restaurant sits directly in the sand, so that's where we chose to have breakfast--under the iconic palapa roof, feet in the sand, overlooking the ocean. From our table you can watch the fishing boats and excursion boats heading out for the day, which gives the whole experience a relaxed, resort-like rhythm without feeling touristy or rushed. Service was excellent from the start--attentive, warm, and genuinely welcoming. They brought out a selection of pastries you can add if you want, like banana bread and cinnamon rolls, which felt like a thoughtful touch rather than an upsell. The coffee was very good, with plenty of options ranging from cappuccinos and café lattes to classic American coffee, all well prepared. For food, I ordered the scrambled eggs with Mexican chorizo, refried beans, and hash browns. It came with a basket of warm corn tortillas and several house salsas, letting you customize each bite. Everything was flavorful, comforting, and clearly made with care. We also ordered the shrimp eggs Benedict with spinach, which was beautifully done--rich, balanced, and fresh, with the shrimp cooked just right. One thing that really stands out is the ambiance. Being right on the beach, hearing the waves, feeling the breeze, and being encouraged (without being told) to slow down and take your time makes the meal feel like part of the vacation itself, not just fuel for the day. They also offer freshly squeezed juices, which pair perfectly with breakfast by the ocean. The menu is extensive, almost overwhelming in a good way--there are so many appealing options that it's genuinely hard to decide. That said, what we ordered was absolutely delicious and satisfying, and it left us wanting to come back and try more. Overall, La Palapa delivers on every level: location, atmosphere, food, and service. It's the kind of place where breakfast turns into a memory, not just a meal.

    Photos
    La Palapa Restaurant - The view from our table

    The view from our table

    La Palapa Restaurant - Tortilla soup

    Tortilla soup

    La Palapa Restaurant - Table on the sand

    See all

    Table on the sand

    Tuna Azul - Shrimp Ceviche

    Tuna Azul

    4.7(431 reviews)
    9.4 km
    $$

    Tuna Azul is a casual but super friendly second floor spot in Zona Romantica for fresh Mexican…read moreseafood dishes. My favorite was the Classic Tuna Montadito, lightly marinated chunks of fresh tuna served over a bed of avocado--so fresh and flavorful! The Green Aguachile was made of raw shrimp marinated in a mildly spicy green sauce; and the Crab Enchiladas were four rolled tortillas stuffed with shredded crab meat and topped with a rich, creamy chipotle cream sauce and avocado slices. For our entrees, the Romantica Fillet was a rare seared tuna filet served over avocado salad and sweet potato puree; the Los Muertos Fillet was mahi mahi topped with shrimp in a creamy red sauce, served with rice and sautéed vegetables; and the Olas Altas Fillet was mahi mahi topped with a mushroom sautee. Each of these entrees was fresh, delicious, and came at reasonable prices. On top of the good food, the service was super friendly and attentive as well!

    Food was fresh and tasty, I got Alfredo pasta with shrimp and the size of the shrimps were really…read moregood and juicy, service was really good as our drinks and food arrived in a timely manner. However, as me and my friends (it was 4 of us) were leaving the restaurant, our waiter chased us down claiming we did not tip enough. Here's a note from my friend detailing more of what happened: "It was 150 pesos which is a little more than 10% of the total. In Mexico, 10% is completely customary, especially for tourist. Locals will give even less and typically leave only about 50 pesos. I don't know if he was expecting for us to give him more just because we're used to giving 15 or even 20% at a time but I always do at least 10. If it's one of the really nice restaurants where they take care of absolutely everything then I do get more than that but this was just a normal place And I did fold the bills because I clipped it into the checkbook, so there is a chance he thought it was just 50. But to flip out and say it's not enough that he deserves more or just to take it away is crazy in my opinion." We may return, but this really turned a perfect visit into a not so great one in the end. The 3/5 is for food and service, would've been 5/5 had we not been stopped as we were leaving for not "tipping enough".

    Photos
    Tuna Azul
    Tuna Azul - Marlin quesadilla

    Marlin quesadilla

    Tuna Azul - Fried shrimp tacos

    See all

    Fried shrimp tacos

    El Jacalito - seafood - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...