Charcoal fired al pastor tacos are my new obsession, and Pancho's delivers the most overstuffed…read morestreet sized tacos I have ever seen. These things are too big to eat straight. You have to pluck a third of the meat with your fingers just to get the tortilla to structurally hold. There is always a line. On a random Tuesday it stretched down the street long before the door opened. I waited twenty five minutes at four in the afternoon for a seat inside. No to go orders, no doggy bags. You eat what you order and leave behind your self respect. The dining room is packed tighter than a turtle's pecker. A dozen staff members move around each other like bees tending the hive, the rhythm wild and relentless. The tacos themselves are intimidatingly large, the vibe unlike anything I have ever seen. Come for the al pastor, and come hungry. If you cannot finish, no option exists but to weep over the abandoned morsels.

Tried Pancho's Tacos in Puerto Vallarta and really enjoyed it. The tacos were good and the salsas…read morewere delicious. The vibe was fun and lively, which made the experience even better. Ordering was a bit confusing since they give you paper forms to fill out. It's tricky to order for different people in your party, and they tend to rush you, which can be stressful. Despite that, the food is so good that I'll definitely be back.

My first visit here was five years ago and I enjoyed an octopus quesadilla that literally changed…read moremy life with its freshness and delicious taste. I have since returned many times and I feel like an updated review is important because this is one of the best restaurants that I have ever eaten at across the globe for authentic Mexican cuisine, especially Mariscos. The atmosphere is local, authentic, quaint, and welcoming. Abuela can be seen in the kitchen hand making the tortillas so you know it's gonna be an amazing experience. The seafood is fresh and the food comes with a platter of sauces and pico de gallo and hot peppers that complement whatever dish you may order. The prices are fair and quite inexpensive when compared to prices back in the United States. There is a view during the day and at night, festive lights, set the tone for a magical evening. In short, having traveled across this wonderful globe and eaten at many Michelin starred restaurants, as well as local places like this, I can confidently say this is in the top 10 list of my favorite spots to enjoy a meal!

THE place to eat in yelapa if you want delicious food (including made to order tortillas), great…read moreservice, relaxed ambiance with a gorgeous view since it's upstairs (thus more challenging and fun to find!). I adored everything we ate there - fun salad flavors and I'm always a fan of all things seafood... only stayed here for a few days and ate here twice!

The best tacos in town by far. They have been in business for about 38 years now and three…read moregenerations are currently making tacos together. Make sure to stop by and try their tacos - de cabeza, de chorizo and de adobada, and experience real Mexican flavor!

There are places that simply serve food--and then there are places that become part of your story…read more Pepe's Tacos is exactly that for me. Having come here since I was 10 years old, this iconic taquería isn't just a local favorite--it's a timeless institution that continues to define what truly exceptional tacos should be. Since 1987, Pepe's has built a reputation that extends far beyond Puerto Vallarta, and one visit is all it takes to understand why. The star of the show--their legendary tacos al pastor--is nothing short of extraordinary. The pork is expertly marinated and cooked to perfection, resulting in meat that is incredibly juicy, tender, and bursting with deep, savory flavor. Each slice is carved with precision and layered onto warm tortillas, creating a perfect foundation for what comes next. What truly elevates these tacos is the balance of toppings. The sweetness of the pineapple and the sharpness of the fresh onions cut through the richness of the meat beautifully, enhancing every bite with contrast and complexity. It's a masterclass in simplicity done right--every ingredient playing its role to perfection. Beyond the food, the experience itself is just as memorable. The service is impressively fast and efficient, especially considering how popular this spot is, and there's an undeniable energy in the air that makes it feel alive at all hours. It's the kind of place you can count on for a late-night bite, where the atmosphere is casual, vibrant, and always welcoming. Pepe's Tacos isn't about reinvention or trend--it's about consistency, tradition, and delivering excellence time and time again. Decades later, it still holds its place as one of the best taco spots in Puerto Vallarta, and for good reason. Some things never change--and when they're this good, they absolutely shouldn't.

Thirty five years in the game and Pepe's runs like a well oiled machine. The dining room is its own…read moreecosystem, a natural choreography of service where everything flows without friction. Out front, the trompo spins over charcoal fire, hand turned, on display to the street. The man at the blade is a performer, part craftsman, part showman. He hones his knife between razor thin shavings of al pastor, then in a reflexive flourish nips the pineapple crowning the meat, sending a sliver flying only to catch it with a tortilla. It is theater, but it is also instinct. Inside, the crowd looks like the United Nations. A tour group from India next to a Dutch family with half a dozen kids in tow, the Canadians eye the Americans with deserved suspicion, and a few locals whose plates are piled high while tourists settle for modest portions. It is the natural order of things, and nobody complains. The charcoal scent in the meat makes clear this is al pastor's intended preparation. I have never had the pleasure of eating from a coal fired trompo before, and it is instantly apparent that this is the way it was meant to be. Someday, somehow, I will rig one of these up, because I need this in my life. Pepe's is not just a taco shop. It is a master class in tradition, theater, and flavor, with a dining room that feels like the world gathered around one spit.

Honestly I'd give it a 3.5 but since I can't and the service was lovely I'll go up. Good tacos,…read morecheap (although honestly not much cheaper than some of the smaller Bay Area taco trucks so...). Norma was very nice and everything seemed fresh.

Was told about this place from a local…read more It's away from town in residential area. Norma cooks out of her kitchen. We tried a few different tacos which were good but the best thing on the meno was the chicken soup. Best soup I have ever had!!! If you go here order the soup and horchata. I will be back next visit for sure!

Hands-down best food we had in San Pancho over 4 days. At there twice. Every type of taco or…read moretortilla was fantastic, especially brisket. They have a tick tortilla, about as tick as a thin pizza, but soft and rubbery, and it's great. Service is fast, staff is friendly. Hang out at the street side tables and enjoy!

The food was awesome!!! The service was quick! Just in time to watch the fire thrower. There's…read moreoutdoor and very little indoor seating it is a taqueria. Its prices are perfect!

Wow what fun place to eat. All the food was great we had a party of 10 people and everyone loved…read morethe drinks, food , and vibe.

This spot was recommended by a friend, and it was the perfect stop after a night out. They have 2…read morelocations, and we went to their smaller one that's outside of the main square. The guys working were super welcoming, and they got tacos out for 4 people in minutes - maybe even seconds. Great prices on everything too. The pastor there was SO good! We thought about trying something else, but just couldn't do it because we wanted a second round of pastor tacos. Love their salsa selection too. Everything had so much flavor. We ended up going back the next night to get it one last time before heading out of town. If you are in Sayulita, you definitely need to give them a try!

Lo que siempre busco cuando ando de visita en México son los tacos. Los restaurantes si son bonitos…read morey buena comida pero yo puedo decir que la mejor cena que tuve en Tequila fue aquí.

Really good tacos and customer service!! Found this place when coming to tequila. It was walking…read moredistance to myAirbnb.

Yelp Family!!! My apologies for being so MIA. But your boy is back!!…read more With a bomb restaurant recommendation for anyone who happens to be in Sayulita, Nayarit! El Itacate!!! WOW!!! This place is straight fire!! DELICIOUS tacos!! There is not one person who should be giving this restaurant less than five stars. NOBODY! Or I'll take it personally! If you're looking for the BEST and most creative tacos in Sayulita, look no further! Chicken, pork, shrimp, fish, octopus, beef, steak, vegetarian tacos.. you name it, they have it! Something for everyone! Located in downtown Sayulita on Av. Revolución, El Itacate is the perfect lunch spot for large groups! I was with a group of six and really enjoyed how spacious and comfortable it was. The setup is half indoor/ half outdoor, allowing for a lot of seating flexibility. In fact, I noticed a bachelorette party of fourteen seated out front! However, given this was Mexico in October, it was a hot, humid, muggy day. And thus my group and I opted to sit in the inside "half" of El Itacate. Although not fully indoors, having the shade and fans "blasting" towards us made my group feel that much more comfortable and ready to order! And speaking of ordering, I love how creative El Itacate is with their menu. It's plastered right by the entrance in large, bold lettering! Making things VERY easy with no true "menus" required! I loved the creativity and ease in which my friends and I were able to order our lunch! Another thing I love about El Itacate are how generous they are with their SALSAS and Guacamole! Each taco order comes with five "salsas" and a load of limes. Of the three liquid salsas, one was creamy tomatillo based, another smoky chipotle, and the third "spicy tomato." Or at least that's the best way I can describe it lol. The two solid salsas were diced red onions with cilantro and sliced white onions with habanero mixed in. I loved all five salsas equally! They were all spectacular and flavorful, but if I had to pick a favorite it would be the smoky chipotle. The guacamole was absolutely incredible as well. I love how in Mexico when you order guacamole it comes in large, generous quantities! Here in the U.S. restaurants are ridiculously cheap with their guac portions!! And as anyone who follows my reviews knows- being cheap is immoral! So stop that! Lol My only small gripe is I felt the chips were a little "stale," but we also came for lunch at kind of a weird time of the day (like 2pm?) So maybe if we had arrived earlier the chips would've tasted more fresh? Ultimately I was starving after a morning and early afternoon of playing soccer on the beach, so I opted for three tacos (could've had four but dinner was only a few hours away ha!) I opted for arrachera (skirt steak), shrimp, and mahi mahi. Each taco was relatively big and DELICIOUS!! Extremely flavorful and creative. You could also tell the tortillas were made from scratch, which I loved. The mahi mahi and shrimp were both extremely fresh tasting. And while I loved all three, if I had to choose a favorite taco I'd go with arrachera. The steak was seasoned perfectly with just the right amount of char to go with tenderness. And with tons of salsa and guacamole to add to these tacos, I was sad when the meal was over. Overall I absolutely loved the vibe of this spot. It's the perfect taco place for anyone looking for a great lunch! The ambiance is fantastic with the modern "look," fresh paint job, and inside/ outside setup. I also want to thank staff for giving me an El Itacate sticker to bring back for my wife! (She collects stickers). Free of charge too!! If you're in the area you MUST go. I wouldn't steer you wrong. A+++++

Was looking for a highly rated place to eat a quick, late lunch while visiting Sayulita for the…read moreday, and El Itacate popped up as a good option. It's located on a busy street without much of a view, so if you're looking for an oceanfront ambiance, this isn't the place. But if you're looking for decent tacos with big portions and fair prices, it's worth a stop. Would I go out of my way to eat here? No. But the food was freshly prepared in an open kitchen, it tasted good, and the free salsas and toppings (including killer grilled onions and very spicy salsas - even the mild knocked me out) provided with every entree were high quality. We ordered guacamole and chips to start, and it was pretty good. They serve those heavily oiled and thick chips that aren't my favorite, but the salsa had a nice flavor and chunks of jalapenos and tomatoes. Wanting to sample several items, we got 4 different tacos: steak, chicken, poblano pepper, and shrimp. The best was the pepper taco, followed by the chicken (which was all white breast meat). The steak was good, but the shrimp was really bad. The seasoning was very unpleasant on the shrimp, so I'd recommend skipping that one. The meat portions were very large, served on top of a dual corn tortilla. The tacos were very plain though, and they needed the added toppings and salsas. Otherwise, they'd just be piles of meat. Bonus points for three very important things: 1. the restaurant is very clean and well maintained. 2. the prices are clearly posted so you don't have to worry about the "tourist surprise" and overcharging that Sayulita is well known for. 3. there are many vegan and vegetarian options, and they are good! El Itacate doesn't serve bargain street tacos, but they're decent enough as a choice for lunch when you're in town.

I went on a little self-led tour de tacos in Puerto Vallarta last night and made a few stops with…read moreEl Carboncito being one of them. Upon walking in, I immediately had a sense of Deja vu and knew I had been there before, which should have been my first warning since I usually have a good memory for places I've been and enjoyed. It's open (only) late and has both indoor and outdoor seating. The woman working was reasonably nice but nothing to write home about. Unfortunately they didn't have any Al pastor when I went but I ordered a chorizo and an arrechera, both $25 pesos a pop. The chorizo was more like a chopped up hot dog and I found the arrechera to be very dry. Neither taco had a lot of meat. The tortilla was unexciting and under-grilled. The salsa was excellent however. I wouldn't go back - there are so many excellent tacos in the area at or around the same price.

The best al pastor tacos, so yummy! Seating is limited, so go early. I would order a few, there…read morewill be a line. What are al pastor tacos? Al pastor are a beloved Mexican street food featuring thinly sliced, marinated pork. The pork is carved off the spit directly into corn tortillas and topped with fresh pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Definitely going back for more! @norivedanaturals