Last Updated on January 17, 2023
Everyone who has a true Wanderlust Spirit knows very well that what makes your travel experience not only enjoyable but that it fills you up and really marks you, are those little details that the destination has to offer you and that are unique in the region you are traveling to.
The idea of traveling and discovering the world is that you can preserve unique memories that have left a mark on you, that is why getting those hidden gems in each destination is ideal for an unforgettable experience.
These small details can be very varied. From the treatment, you receive from the locals, the unique landscapes you can find, curious facts about their culture, to the gastronomy of the place.
The latter is actually the most important if the objective is to know your destination or simply to enjoy new flavors, ingredients and cultures, because the gastronomy of a place speaks a lot about it (You don’t know a place until you eat there), so it is the nail you should aim for.
That’s why when you are planning a trip it’s not just the stay and the ticket what needs your attention because doing a little research before the trip on these important details is something you shouldn’t overlook.
Having an idea in your mind about the things you want to do and try in the case of gastronomy gives you an advantage and will help you have better experiences.
With this in mind, let’s go to Baja California Sur, Mexico, where the beautiful desert paradise of Los Cabos has exactly what you are looking for to have this complete traveler experience.
Los Cabos is known to be the ideal destination for many reasons, including its beaches and outdoor activities, its culture, its colonial architecture, its incredible expertly designed golf courses, its endless nightlife, and its dream stay.
However, there is one detail that you can’t miss that will give you a truly unique view of this town. Exactly, we’re talking about their Gastronomy.
Just by talking about Los Cabos being in Mexico, we know that we are talking about a gastronomy rich in varied ingredients, spicy and full of flavor. But, what makes Los Cabos unique is the freshness of its dishes, because its location (between the Cortes Sea and the Pacific Ocean) lends itself to giving you the best flavors of the sea with the best Mexican touch.
In addition, you can not only count on the flavors of the region, but you can also enjoy international cuisine, as this town has a variety of restaurants that offer gourmet international cuisine.
This means that your tastes don’t matter because the gastronomy of this place is perfect for those adventurers who always want to try new things and also for those who want to feel at home when eating.
But based first on the adventurous and curious for new flavors, follow the next lines and you will be able to know the typical dishes that you will find in this beautiful town and that you cannot miss.
Meals not to be missed
It would be a crime to travel to Los Cabos and not try at least one of the typical dishes you can get here. With the freshness of the sea and the Mexican seasoning, Los Cabos becomes a gourmet paradise that delights everyone’s palate.
However, let’s talk only about a top 5 of dishes not to be missed:
- Food of the Poor “Comida de Pobres”
- Chocolatas Clams
- Güemes Tamales and Chicken Strips
- Smoked Marlin
- Fish or shrimp tacos
In short, trying some of these dishes will give you a different vision of Los Cabos and its customs, and you will be able to know it even more than just visiting its beaches.
Let us begin with the “Food of the Poor“. Although it’s a strange name, don’t let it fool you, it’s not at all what it sounds like. This ends up being a typical dish from Los Cabos that consists of a seafood soup accompanied by rice, beans, and flour tortillas.
Now, taking gastronomy to a higher level, another dish that echoes in Los Cabos is the Chocolatas Clams, whose curious preparation (Roasted on a bed of stones covered with a plant called romerillo) gives fruit to an exquisite dish with an incredible aroma.
On the other hand, Tamales and Fajados are a tradition that covers the entire Baja California Peninsula. The Tamales de Güemes, on one side, are prepared with chicken or pork meat, olive oil, raisins, and olives. And on the other hand are the Fajados de pollo with a typical seasoning of the town of La Paz, which consists of corn dough accompanied by chicken stew, wrapped in a corn leaf.
Finally, there is the Smoked Marlin and the Fish or Shrimp Tacos. Both exquisite dishes that will leave you wanting more.
Marlin, is prepared in several ways, but it is usually smoked and shredded to enhance its flavor. It is usually served with tacos, toast with vegetables and cheese, biscuits, among others, and its freshness is indescribable when it comes to Los Cabos.
On the other hand, the Fish or Shrimp Tacos end up being a classic that consists of fish fillets and shrimp breaded in corn tortillas with a delicious salad of cabbage, vegetables, and sauce to taste.
And to avoid drowning on the way, just mention a typical local drink that goes well with any of the dishes mentioned above, and this is Clamato, a refreshing drink based on tomato and clam.
However, if it’s too much for you, you can always opt for a liqueur-like Damiana, one of the most popular in the area.
With such a variety of flavors, it’s hard not to be enchanted by this town and not want to try new things every second of your trip.
Of course, since nothing is impossible, it is likely that one day during your vacation you will wake up wanting a family pizza instead of tacos, or a hamburger instead of a seafood soup.
For this and more Los Cabos is more than ready, as you may even find yourself with the surprise of getting this type of food with a Mexican style and flavor like no other – the best of home abroad!
Where to Eat in Los Cabos
Now you know the dishes you can’t miss if you travel to this little paradise between two seas, but it won’t do you any good if you don’t know where to go.
So it’s a good plan to have a first idea of the locations you can get in Los Cabos and secondly which places are the best places to taste the gastronomy in each of them.
Los Cabos has several different areas, San Jose del Cabo, the perfect colonial and quiet place for a relaxing vacation, Cabo San Lucas, where the party never ends, Pacífico, with the best views you can imagine, Todos Santos, the magical little town waiting for you, and La Paz the breath of fresh air you need in your life.
So if Los Cabos is your ideal vacation destination, the first thing you need to do is to choose which area will be the one for your trip, or you can simply make the decision to get to know them all.
In one way or another it is necessary that you know the ideal places to taste the best dishes in each of these:
1. San Jose del Cabo:
Let’s start with the closest area to Los Cabos International Airport. San Jose del Cabo has a wide variety of places where you can lose your head in the flavors of Baja California.
Let’s talk first about the places where you can discover typical Mexican flavors. The first place would be Casianos, located in the heart of San Jose del Cabo, that with a colorful interior decorated in a striking way gives you a unique experience capturing the essence of Mexican cuisine in all its dishes.
On the other hand, there is El Chilar, whose menu is full of succulent Mexican specialties prepared mostly with tasty peppers. In addition to that, to everyone’s delight, it changes its menu monthly and has more than 140 wine labels and 30 Tequila brands, there is nothing more that can be asked of this magnificent place.
And finally, among the highlights of Mexican food is Jazmin’s, which is located just behind the majestic colonial church of San Jose del Cabo. In addition to offering you the best of Mexican cuisine, it also has a variety of vegetarian specialties and its decoration takes you back to the time of the Mexican past, giving you the best experience for your dream vacation.
Now, if you’re looking to try food that reminds you of home or just dig a little deeper into international food, one of the first places you can mention is Baan Thai.
This place is entirely dedicated to taking your palate to another world, or … to Thailand. With fresh, aromatic and slightly spicy ingredients you will be able to enjoy the most exquisite Thai dishes in an almost outdoor environment in which you will feel like you are in the middle of a jungle on the Asian continent, and the best of all is that it is located in the heart of the city.
And you can also find La Dolce Italian Ristorante, also located in the center of the city and where you will find the best dishes of Italian cuisine throughout Baja California. A completely pleasant space that will exceed your expectations.
Finally, to close with a finishing touch, nothing like hamburgers, beer and Rock & Roll, and this is something you can only find in Rock and Brews. It is the ideal place for lovers of American food and the biggest fans of rock and live music.
2. Cabo San Lucas:
Now we’re heading for the place that never sleeps and where the fun never stops. Cabo San Lucas is one of the most visited areas of Los Cabos and therefore is where you will find the largest variety of places to eat.
As in San Jose del Cabo, the places you can find here satisfy both international and Mexican food tastes, so you don’t have to worry about your cravings.
If we start with the international, the first place without a doubt should be the Amarone restaurant. Completely mastering the art of Italian cuisine, Amarone offers you the most exquisite dishes with the freshest and highest quality ingredients. A place you definitely can’t overlook.
Now, if instead of Italian you’re looking for something more Asian, Cabo San Lucas has the modern Arts & Sushi Goyito San for you, a must for all lovers of Japanese cuisine. The best way to spend time inside or outside the restaurant and with a quick service and a completely pleasant treatment.
And from Asia, we’re going to Brazil, where the best meat cut awaits you. With its all-Brazilian style, charcoal-baked skewers are a dish you can’t help but delight in.
On the other hand, there is El Galeón, which after 20 years is still a well-known and successful place in Cabo San Lucas. This beautiful place has delicious Italian dishes and an incredible view of the Los Cabos Marina. The perfect opportunity to enjoy a first-class culinary experience.
And now if you’re looking for a completely international experience, The Gallery is the place for you. In addition to offering you incredible views, it gives you the opportunity to choose from shrimp soup, a classic Italian dish, to Thai mushrooms, giving you an incredible international combination and unbeatable quality.
And to finish with the international, located next to the marina and being an excellent option for a romantic meal is the restaurant Ole Ole, where you will find an excellent service that offers you the best of Spanish and international cuisine.
The Mexican food, on the other hand, can be found in various places in the town. One of them is Baja Cantina, which offers the most representative Mexican and U.S. dishes for more than a decade. With its views and service from breakfast to dinner, it has everything you need to discover the flavors of Baja California.
Country House, by its own, will make you feel like you’re in a cowboy movie. Located in the middle of Los Cabos you will have much more to offer than the experience of country music, as its food will be something you won’t be able to forget.
Now, if we are on our way to a warm and cool place, in Playa el Medano you can find the restaurant Las Palmas, which only with the beautiful view of the Arc has all the positive points at its side. Here you will be able to enjoy the best seafood, which, as they themselves say,
“if the fish and shellfish could be fresher, they would still be at sea”.
And if we are talking about seafood, Lorenzillo’s, the place specialized in lobsters and seafood since 1979, could not be left out. Besides making your palate start to dance, it gives you a complete experience in a marine style place with a vibrant atmosphere and the most beautiful views of the sea.
On the other hand, this Mi Casa, located in an old building with an authentic Mexican style and a gastronomic variety that will astonish you. And finally, the famous Pancho’s which is located in downtown Cabo San Lucas. This cozy place is considered the first Mexican restaurant in Los Cabos and offers you the best of authentic traditional cuisine with the seasoning of several of the country’s regions.
Cabo San Lucas and its incredible variety are one of the best options for a perfect vacation.
3. Pacific:
Pacific, is located a few minutes from Cabo San Lucas, if not almost the same location, so if your stay is in this area you can go to any of the restaurants mentioned above without any problem.
4. Todo Santos:
Todo Santos, known as the Magic Town of Los Cabos, will undoubtedly make you feel the magic through the delicious dishes you can find.
Here you can find everything from the typical Mexican dishes that every visitor is dying to try, to international food (mostly Italian).
And, although it may not be as varied as the one we saw in Cabo San Lucas, you’ll have more than enough of the places we’ll mention.
Let’s start with La Garra, one of the best local live music restaurants, which offers everything from the most typical Mexican dishes to all American options (hamburgers), plus the most popular Chilean fillings and fish sashimi in the area. With its colorful and enchanting atmosphere, decorated with film posters from the golden age of Mexican cinema, it will give you an unparalleled experience.
In short, a good option for all tastes. And with the same concept of gastronomic variety are also the options of Beach Club and Surf Cerritos and La Coronela (in the Hotel California).
The Cerritos Beach and Surf Club offer you an ideal coastal environment with a gastronomic variety ranging from the best seafood to fries and hamburgers. It is the ideal place to spend a Sunday afternoon with a beach stage, admiring the sea and watching the surfers between the waves, and all this with jazz music in the background.
And then there’s the famous restaurant La Coronela, which has an incredible menu ready to blow your mind, with dishes made mainly with local organic ingredients. In this wide and colorful place, you can find everything from exotic and unconventional dishes to the most traditional Mexican and American food. And best of all, it is part of the Hotel California, one of the best-known hotels in Todos Santos.
And to finish and rest a bit from the salty food, you’ll find the Café Todos Santos, which is literally a two-faced coffee. This can be accessed from two opposite sides of the street, finding from one side an atmosphere of traditional coffee (cakes, desserts, coffee, etc.) with a completely artistic touch in its decoration, which is to be expected given the current of art that has Todos Santos.
However, on the other hand, you will find a kind of open-air restaurant where you can continue tasting the varied Mexican and Italian cuisine.
With these places in mind, traveling willing to not overlook the delicacies of Mexican cuisine, your trip will be the best you’ve ever done.
La Paz:
And finally, we have La Paz, which is not far behind in offering you incredible places to enjoy the exquisite food. If you are looking for a Mexican atmosphere and good coffee, food, and even alcohol, the first place to mention is definitely Frida Café, one of the most popular among locals.
Another of La Paz’s favorites is the Sorstis Restaurant, the place that offers you the best of haute cuisine with an incredible fusion of the principles of Mediterranean and Mexican cuisine, all to the delight of your palate.
On the other hand, there is the Tailhunter Restaurant, which besides being ideal to appreciate the sunsets of La Paz, has a menu that offers an American version of Mexican food that will make you feel at home.
La Paz also has for you the J&R Ribs, with its exquisite menu and the reputation of serving the best ribs in northwest México, definitely must be on your list. The ideal place to kill any meat craving.
The Nim Restaurant, on the other side, is located in the heart of the historical center. Its menu, which has influences from distant countries, will leave you completely satisfied. This place gives you a perfect sense of balance between a beautiful environment and an ideal dining experience.
There is also the restaurant Las Tres Virgenes. In this place, you will enjoy what is the real Mexican food, from its atmosphere in a beautiful garden to a completely varied menu that offers you from the best cuts of meat to elaborate dishes based on seafood.
And finally, you can also find the restaurant Mc Fisher. Located just three blocks from the famous Malecon, it is a place that will leave you wanting more after tasting its famous fish tacos and other seafood, as well as the “tacos gobernador” a popular of the region.
Considering all these incredible places mentioned, there’s no way you won’t be able to enjoy the best food in Baja California while getting to know this charming town in depth.
Traveler’s Tip
And to close on a high note, the ideal is a tip for all those who are about to travel to Los Cabos.
The way to get to this town is through the Los Cabos International Airport. However, most of the areas are not very close to this airport.
This means that it is important that for your trip to be completely satisfactory and not to ruin the experience you should consider planning your transfer from the airport to the area where you will be staying in advance.
The best way to travel for you to have peace of mind that you will be safe and carefree is through private transportation, which for your fortune is not something that is scarce in Los Cabos.
On the contrary, it is the place where you can get the best private transportation company in Baja California.
VIP Transportation Los Cabos is the ideal service if you want to start your dream vacation on the right foot. With this service, you will get a quality service for a reasonable price, with the guarantee that you will be safe during your trip and you will not lose any of your vacation time as they will be waiting for you at the airport door even if you arrive early.
Don’t let the desire to taste the rich Mexican cuisine be ruined by a bad experience at the beginning of your vacation.
Use VIP Transportation Los Cabos and you will be able to be there sooner than expected starting that dream trip and tasting the richest dishes of the whole peninsula sooner than you think.
