I knew that I would no doubt discover the best restaurants in Sayulita while visiting with a big group of food-loving friends, but I wasn’t prepared for just how many amazing restaurants and street stalls this little town would have.
For such a small little town, it’s crazy how many incredible restaurants there are in Sayulita.
I didn’t have a single bad meal during the eight days that I spent exploring this pueblo mágico.
This article lists more than 20 of the best Sayulita restaurants. If you’re traveling around the area, don’t miss our guide to the best restaurants in Bucerias and the best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta so you can eat well wherever you go.
If you want to know more about Sayulita, be sure to check out my article about my favorite hotels and Airbnbs in Sayulita as well as my comprehensive list of the best things to do in Sayulita.
The Absolute Best Restaurants in Sayulita
There are so many awesome places to eat in Sayulita that you won’t want to miss. This tiny town is growing so quickly into quite a big town full of incredible restaurants.
These are just a sampling of some of the best restaurants in Sayulita that you won’t want to miss.
1. El Itacate
One of the best Sayulita restaurants. They have a sign that says “Los tacos mas chidos en Sayulita” and I think they might be right.
It’s a small sit-down place with only about three tables outside, but if you time it right, you won’t wait long at all. Alternatively, you can take it to go (para llevar) and have some yummy tacos on the beach.
The main thing that Itacate is known for is its “itacate” taco. They put a huge amount of cheese onto the grill and cook it until one side is nice and crispy. Then they put your topping of choice inside the cheese and roll it up. It’s like a cheese burrito.
It is indeed as good as it sounds. You can have it simply with all of their spicy salsas or they will also give you some tortillas if you want to put the cheesy meaty concoction inside a taco.
I loved their regular grilled meat tacos. I had the rib eye taco and the shrimp taco. The steak was cooked to utter perfection. The tortilla was packed with meat and served with two tortillas so you can make it into two tacos if you want because there’s enough meat to do that.
The shrimp taco is marinated in mildly spicy dried chili and then grilled on the barbecue. They were so utterly delicious topped with some habanero onions and a little bit of guacamole.
When I revisit Sayulita, this will be the first place I go back to.
The top plate is an itacate and the bottom place is my steak and shrimp tacos. There were so many salsas as well of varying spice levels. I highly recommend all the item menus here!
2. Tacos de Pastor Diaz – Best restaurants in Sayulita for Pastor Tacos
A lot of people recommended the nearby Tacos el Talivan, which were quite nice. However, and I say this as a self-proclaimed tacos de pastor snob, Tacos de Pastor Diaz is the best restaurant in Sayulita for pastor tacos.
If you want tacos other than pastor, by all means, head next door to Talivan, but if you want pastor, you must come here. The taquiero who cooks the pastor on the spit is a real professional. He even puts on a little show by flinging the pineapple onto the taco.
The meat is juicy and well-seasoned. The pineapple is fresh. They top it with a huge handful of cilantro and onion. Then there is a whole table full of salsas and other salad toppings.
These were without a doubt the best pastor tacos I had in Sayulita! This is the chef and he’s a master!
3. Tacos El Talivan
If you are looking for a delicious vegetarian taco, this is the late-night spot you want to head to. This might just be the best restaurant in Sayulita for vegetarians who want to enjoy authentic Mexican food.
They make seriously delicious mushroom tacos that will satisfy any taco lover, vegetarian or not.
They also have pastor tacos as well as great chorizo and chuleta (pork chop) tacos.
Just like Diaz, they also have a nice selection of salsas and other toppings to throw over your meaty taco. If it’s your first time visiting El Talivan, I recommend having one of each of their four tacos to find out which is your favorite.
The tacos here are still well and truly worth the trip! Especially their mushroom and chuleta tacos!
4. Yambak
While Yambak isn’t exactly one of the best restaurants in Sayulita, it can’t be left off this list because you can simply bring whatever food you want to your table here to enjoy with their craft beers.
Yambak is making its own craft beers on-site and they are truly delicious. Order a taco from El Talivan or Diaz and they will bring them over to your table if you are sitting outside at Yambak. So it’s sort of a restaurant, right?
Be sure to try the IPA if that’s your style. They also have a refreshing pale ale, a light lager, and a Black IPA that will send you to bed after one or two.
This poke bowl from Organi-k converted me into a full-blown poke lover. It’s topped with freshly shaved ginger, peanuts and I have an orange and pineapple juice on the side.
5. Organi-k
This was without a doubt one of the best restaurants in Sayulita for healthy breakfast and lunch options. Their green juices kept me going between all of the tequila and craft beer-fueled evenings.
I seriously loved their poke bowls, so much I went back twice in less than a week. They pack the bowls full of rice, quinoa, tuna, veggies, and whatever sauce you want on the side.
They also make fruit-filled acai bowls and thick smoothies. To top it all off, I also think they made some of the best coffee that I had while I was in Sayulita.
Whether you are looking for a healthy option or you simply want a delicious seafood bowl, this is one of my top picks for the best Sayulita restaurants.
6. Public House
Designed to be sort of like a British pub, this is a great place for a juicy burger and an ice-cold beer.
They have a nice selection of craft beers from around Mexico as well as a fantastic cocktail menu.
I loved the burger here and the fries were skinny and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
They also are one of the only places in town where you can get a Beyond Meat burger. Plus they have a house-made veggie burger that I loved, cauliflower wings, and polenta fries so overall, it’s a great option for vegetarians and vegans, too.
This is the poke bowl I had at El Pescador. Lots of rice, a really yummy seaweed salad and a huge portion of tuna. I also covered it in sriracha!
7. El Pescador Poke Bar
If you need yet another place for delicious poke bowls (I never knew how much I loved poke bowls until I got to Sayulita!), get yourself to El Pescador.
I liked their traditional poke bowl (the others all seem to have some sort of mayonnaise dressing which I did not love). However, they also make seriously great sushi.
I think I might prefer the sushi options to the poke bowls, but I would order both again. The seafood was fresh and flavorful and the rolls were packed full of rice, fish, and vegetables.
It’s a strange entrance and seems like you’re about to go to the upstairs area of Chocobanana, but head to the right as you walk up and you’ll find the restaurant.
They have two levels. The second floor offers a nice view of the plaza outside.
8. Ruben’s
I haven’t had a sandwich as good as the one at Ruben’s since I was last in New York. In general, it can be hard to find a great deli sandwich in Mexico, so to come here and find this place was an absolute treat. It is one of the best restaurants in Sayulita if you’re missing a taste of home.
They have a huge menu of sandwiches and salads to suit every taste and dietary requirement. They can also simply make whatever type of sandwich you want. All sandwiches come with a side salad.
There are few tables outside, but I loved grabbing a sandwich from Ruben’s on the way to the beach along with some of their cold pasta salads and regular green salads and having that to pick on all day.
9. Gabi’s Tacos de Pescado
This little street stall in front of Enterprise Car Rental has been making fish tacos in this location for over a decade. Run completely by a group of women, they made what I believe to be the best fish tacos in Sayulita.
The fish they use is Mahi Mahi or sometimes called dorado in Mexico. It’s a firm white fish and you can have it battered and fried or a la plancha (grilled).
They also made a taco that I loved called the Gobernador. It’s either with grilled fish or grilled shrimp which is put inside a flour tortilla with cheese. They then grill the tortilla to a toasted melty perfection.
So it’s kind of like a fish quesadilla but without the cheese. It was my personal favorite, especially with the huge shrimp they filled it with.
Check their Google location here.
These were the big plates of chilaquiles at Chilaqueens and the eggs were perfectly cooked for me. I absolutely loved this breakfast spot.
10. Yeikame
If you want a good local Mexican restaurant, Yeikame is where to head.
They have huge plates of chilaquiles, incredible enchiladas, and a mole that I won’t soon forget.
They are open all day for every meal and their portions are huge, so come hungry.
11. Burrito Revolution
Burrito revolution may not be home to traditional Mexican food, but these are a fusion of Mexican flavors and American-style burritos.
Usually, when you order a burrito in Mexico it doesn’t have a whole lot of filling other than meat and cheese, but these are packed with all of the goods. This is one of the best restaurants in Sayulita for a great and filling meal at a nice price point.
They make burritos much like the burritos that you might find in Chipotle back in the US, except with real Mexican flavors. So basically, it’s probably the best burrito you’ll ever have.
They’re enormous and filled with rice, salsa, a meat of your choice (or make it vegetarian), lots of cheese, and a generous serving of guacamole. This is second on my list for when I return to Sayulita.
12. Don Pedro’s
This is one of the fancier restaurants in Sayulita. But like everywhere in Sayulita, still very casual. There were a few diners at the bar while we were there who had just come from the beach and weren’t even wearing shoes, so worry not about your attire before arriving.
They have a extensive menu of pasta, meats, and soups that made it so hard to choose. I went for the organic pork which was cooked to perfection and topped with a spicy tamarind sauce. It was served with mashed sweet potatoes and cooked greens.
The portions here are pretty big, so if you aren’t a big eater, you may just want to share some of the things on the menu with a group. I consider myself a big eater and still couldn’t finish my plate.
This little hole-in-the-wall spot served up seriously good chilaquiles and nice strong coffee!
13. Coffee on the Corner – Best restaurants in Sayulita for cheap Breakfast
For a casual and very affordable breakfast spot, I highly recommend Coffee on the Corner.
The staff were some of the friendliest people I met in Sayulita and there are a lot of friendly people in Sayulita.
I, of course, ordered a plate of chilaquiles. My friend ordered eggs and toast with chorizo and cheese and both of our meals were delicious. Portions are huge and we even ended up taking the rest of our plates to go.
Their coffee is strong and considering it’s a tiny little local spot, it was so great that they even had almond milk to go with the coffee.
My fish tacos from Si Señor were grilled and topped with tons of salad. Washed down with an ice-cold Pacifico!
14. Si Señor
This is something of a chain along this coastal area in Nayarit and Jalisco, which I didn’t know before going there. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the incredible service and the quality of the food and cocktails.
They have a nice wine selection and most importantly of all, their beers are the coldest in town.
They have a great location right along the coast so you can eat outside and listen to the waves crashing on the beach below.
We ordered the guacamole to share as a starter and they came out and made it at the table. We got one spicy and one not spicy. I think next time I’ll ask for the spicy to be even spicier! However, they did bring out some different spicy salsas to add to our main meal.
I had the fish tacos, which were grilled, not fried, and served in fresh corn tortillas. One order of tacos comes with four and that was more than enough for one person after all of the guacamole and chips I polished off.
Overall, this is a great option for a nicer evening meal or just a great place to come for drinks and appetizers.
15. Northside Cafe – Best restaurants in Sayulita for breakfast sandwiches
This is one of the best Sayulita restaurants for breakfast.
We headed here one morning after a somewhat late night and the Canadian Girl egg sandwich was the perfect cure for my resaca.
The bread is freshly made and then toasted before being filled with a nice runny egg, cheese, and avocado. Other sandwich options include bacon or sausage. It’s served with a fresh green salad to make you feel a little bit better about your meal choice.
They also have pancakes, eggs and toast, smoothies, and fresh juices on the menu. This was another great spot for coffee as well.
This egg sandwich doesn’t look special, but it was delicious. That little spicy mayonnaise on the side added so much to it as well!
16. Achara (Thai Place)
When you have had your fill of tacos and you need a night off of Mexican food, be sure to make a reservation at Achara. Even during the low season, this restaurant fills up quickly.
This is one of the best restaurants in Sayulita for non-Mexican food. It might be one of the best Thai restaurants I’ve been to in all of Mexico.
The menu is extensive and between our group we ordered pretty much everything on the menu. All of the spring rolls are delicious as is the Tom Yum Soup.
I had a huge plate of pad Thai, which was so very delicious. It comes with both chicken and shrimp and there are spicy sauces on the table so you can adjust the spice level to your liking.
I also really loved the panang curry. It was nice and thick and so well seasoned. The green curry was another one of the dishes that I enjoyed.
Our server who also happens to be the co-owner of the restaurant told us that the chef goes back and forth to Thailand as often as he can to learn more recipes, which are then added to the menu. So you never know what you’re going to find on the menu.
We finished the meal with an ice cream that I won’t soon forget. It was a pandan ice cream. Pandan is a type of leaf that is very common in Thailand and has a flavor that I cannot compare to anything else.
It was so unique and so morish. I couldn’t stop dipping my spoon into the bowl. The ice cream itself was so creamy as well. It was the perfect end to a very delicious meal.
This pad Thai was so nice and salty and spicy and the shrimp in it were so well cooked.
17. La Fogonera
This little street stall on the north side of Sayulita is serving up some seriously good desserts. They make pretty tasty burgers, but that’s not what will bring me back to La Fogonera.
Although my friend who is a vegetarian raved about their veggie burger which is made from jamaica (hibiscus flowers). So if you’re a vegetarian or simply want a vegetarian meal, be sure to head here for their jamaica burger.
For me though, their desserts truly stole the show.
They make churros that are topped with ice cream and cajeta (a type of dulce de leche popular here in Mexico). The hot churros covered in cinnamon sugar paired so perfectly with the cold vanilla ice cream. I will most definitely be returning for a big bowl of those.
As well as making yummy churros, they also make their own paletas or ice pops. The best part? They’re all a little bit boozy. They have a red wine paleta, a mezcal paleta, a tequila paleta, and a bourbon paleta. The mezcal was probably my favorite.
These churros were utter perfection. They tasted just as good as they look.
18. Casa Gourmet
For great pastries, quiches, and fresh bread, Casa Gourmet is the place to go. I picked up a slice of their spinach quiche to take with me to the airport before I left and it was the perfect mid-morning snack.
They also have incredible pastries like a simple croissant or a Danish filled with housemade jam. I wish I had more time to try them all.
My friend who lives in Sayulita raves about their fresh baguettes. She says whenever she wants bread, she goes here and gets their baguettes which they make fresh every few hours.
19. ChocoBanana
There’s a lot to love about this restaurant.
They are trying to become zero waste in the next year. They require all of their vendors to deliver food without any packaging.
If you want a takeaway coffee you can either bring your own mug or you can rent one from them for a week and simply bring it back before you leave Sayulita.
They make absolutely everything in-house, including their sausage and muffins. The only thing that they still haven’t been able to make in-house is their bacon.
I loved their breakfast sandwiches, the housemade sausages are the real deal and I stuffed my face full with their chocolate banana muffin.
The business was originally started by a woman named Tracie who used to walk up and down the beach selling frozen chocolate-covered bananas. You can still have a chocobanana when you visit their restaurant. There are tons of different toppings and they are incredibly delicious.
Much of the profit of this business goes towards supporting Tracie’s passion project which is Ser Su Voz. Ser Su Voz works to end the illegal bird poaching that takes place around Nayarit. She has a conservation center which you can visit during your stay in Sayulita.
You can learn more about it on their Facebook page.
The seafood tacos at La Niña were SO scrumptious. I also had a non alcoholic piña colada which was so refreshing on a hot day.
20. La Niña
With so many great restaurants in Sayulita, you would think it would be easy to find a simple fish or shrimp taco. But it’s harder than it should be thanks to all of the other top-notch restaurants.
Thankfully, La Niña is here to save the day. A little beachside shack about a block from the sand, they are serving up simple, affordable, and delicious grilled shrimp, fish, and octopus tacos.
They have a full menu of Mexican seafood classics like ceviche, aguachile, fish quesadillas, and shrimp al diablo (in a spicy sauce). If you’re with a group of picky eaters or people who don’t want seafood, there are also meat and vegetarian options on the menu.
These are just some of the best restaurants in Sayulita. I truly can’t rave about this beautiful beach town enough. Be sure to let me know in the comments below if you tried any of these best Sayulita restaurants and what you thought of them!
GS
Thursday 15th of February 2024
We’ve stayed near Fogonera for three years now, eaten there multiple times, and have never known about their desserts! We’re heading there next week and will definitely be indulging. Thanks for the heads up!
kuba wojciak
Saturday 19th of June 2021
Hello I am writing to advise an update to your top 20 best restaurants in Sayulita; new comer Xochi on the main plaza is taking the town by storm offering best breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Their vibrant lounge offers live music on select days. Truly a number one in Sayulita. Thank you