You can eat very well in Sayulita without ever sitting down at a restaurant. Some of the best tacos in Sayulita come from stands and tiny family kitchens a block or two from the plaza — al pastor carved off the spit after dark, fried fish tacos that sell out by mid-afternoon, and birria that only exists on Sunday mornings. Here is where to go, when, and what to order.
The Al Pastor Rivalry
Two stands face each other near the plaza and have been arguing about who is better for years. Tacos al Pastor Tal Ivan serves classic marinated pork with pineapple, onion and cilantro, plus gringas and asada, and stays open very late — it is the town’s post-bar meal. Tacos al Pastor Díaz, directly across the street on Calle José Mariscal, counters with a salsa bar and upstairs seating. Try both on different nights and pick a side.
Seafood Tacos (Daytime Only)
- Tacos Gaby (Calle José Mariscal) — tempura-style fish and shrimp tacos, ceviche and aguachile. Opens late morning and sells out; cash only; expect a line.
- The Real Fish Taco (Calle Delfines, near the beach) — an open-kitchen spot that has been serving fried mahi and grilled shrimp tacos with chipotle mayo for well over a decade.
- Naty’s Cocina (Calle Marlín) — a daytime family kitchen doing guisado tacos since 2010: mole, chipotle chicken, and smoked marlin.
Sit-Down Tacos Worth the Chair
Mary’s Traditional Mexican Cuisine (Avenida Revolución, cash only) is famous for the “Mary’s taco” — grilled shrimp, poblano, cheese and avocado — and for chile rellenos. El Itacate (Calle José Mariscal) does oversized gourmet tacos with steak and chile relleno fillings and a burrito wrapped in crisped cheese. Both are a half block from the plaza and both fill up at dinner.
Late Night, Sunday Morning, and Dessert
- Tacos Toño (Calle Pelícanos) — asada, adobada and tripa; a local late-night favorite.
- Birria Fabiola — Jalisco-style birria served out of a home garden on the Punta de Mita highway, Sunday mornings only. Go before 11 a.m. or it is gone.
- The churro cart on Avenida Revolución near the hippie market — made to order, rolled in cinnamon or filled with dulce de leche, evenings.
Nayarit Specialties to Look For
This coast has its own dishes, and the best tacos in Sayulita borrow from them. Pescado zarandeado is a whole butterflied fish grilled in a basket over coals, a Nayarit classic traced to the island of Mexcaltitán. Marlin tacos made with smoked marlin are a Riviera Nayarit staple. Aguachile — raw shrimp in a lime-and-chile bath — comes from neighboring Sinaloa but is everywhere here, and Nayarit-style ceviche is recognizable by its shredded carrot. Order any of them from a stand where the food is being cooked in front of you.
Practical Tips
- Timing is everything. Taco stands generally open around 6 or 7 p.m. and run late; seafood stands are daytime and sell out. Plan lunch early and tacos late.
- Bring pesos. Most stands are cash only, and the town’s ATMs run dry on busy weekends.
- Pick the busy stand. High turnover and food cooked to order are your best hygiene signals. Tip 10–15%.
Our Tip
The plaza taco stands are a short, flat walk from Villa Vargas — close enough for a late-night run, far enough that you sleep in silence afterward. When you want a proper dinner, our guide to the best restaurants in Sayulita picks up where this one leaves off, and booking direct saves 15% or more on your stay.