($) Pollos Locos is one of the local favorites for fire-roasted chicken and meat. An order of chicken comes with grilled onion, rice, tortillas, salsa, salad and mouth-watering grilled chicken. Top off your meal with a soda or cold beer. If you prefer wine, feel free to pop across the street to the liquor store as there’s no corkage fee.

just the facts, ma'am: Pollos Locos is open every day, 11am to 10pm. Pollos Locos is located in Zihuatanejo on Nicolas Bravo, #15, or in Ixtapa at the Hacienda Shopping Plaza. Stay in at the restaurant, place an order to go, or call for home delivery.

filed under: @zihua- authentic fare- on the cheap- restaurants by Bev (Aug 07)

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($) If you’re walking down Paseo de la Boquita just past Plaza Kioto on your way to the Centro and you think you smell fried chicken, you’re right. Country Fried Chicken is a small restaurant just across from the canal and serves some of the best fried chicken in Zihua (outside of my kitchen, natch). You can order pieces and side orders a la carte, or you can get a dinner packages with chicken, cole slaw and mashed potato with gravy.

don't miss: For an extra special treat, don’t miss out on an order of chimichangas -- 3 for 30 pesos -- fried tortillas filled with shredded chicken and other yummy stuff.

meet me @: Country Fried Chicken is located on Paseo de la Boquita, #23, Zihuatanejo. They are open every day, 11 am to 9 pm. Buy chicken to eat there, take away, or call for delivery to your home.

filed under: @zihua- on the cheap- restaurants by Bev (Aug 07)

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($$-$$$) A recent dinner at The Captain's Daughter restaurant began quite naughtily with the sinful combination appetizer platter but ended with redemption in the form of entree-sized salads. The appetizers included authentic (and picante!) Buffalo chicken wings, jalapeño poppers with cream cheese, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and french fries accompanied with various dipping sauces. It was more than enough for 2 people and if you're planning on eating an entree, you'll want to share with a whole table so you don't get stuffed. The salads are meals in themselves with ingredients ranging from blackened chicken to mango & toasted pecans to cheeses to a standard (but filling) "house" salad. Don't forget the main courses that include certified Angus beef burgers, BBQ ribs served with sweet corn, pastas, a roasted vegetable sandwich, and tuna steak.

just the facts, ma'am: Enjoy drinks and dinner while checking your email on your laptop with free wifi in the restaurant. This new restaurant is filling up fast but with a dozen tables and 4 seats at the bar, you can usually find a place to squeeze in. Wine is sold at 40-60 pesos/glass and 220-265/bottle. The appetizers run 25-60 pesos (with the massive combination platter for 130 pesos) and dinner can range from a 35 peso vegetarian sandwich to a 10 oz rib eye steak for 160 pesos.

don't miss: As co-owner, Kenny, warned us while hauling over our appetizers, "forget the diet!" Many of the foods on the menu, especially the pub-style appetizers are gloriously breaded and deep fried. However, there are quite a few healthy options on the menu including large complex salads, vegetarian sandwiches, and tuna steak. Margaritas are the house cocktail, made strong but quite reasonably priced at 35 pesos.

meet me @: the brother and sister team of Kenny and Tanya Jones created The Captain's Daughter above their popular downtown bar, La Playa. Enter the restaurant via stairs just inside the bar on Nicholas Bravo between Vicente Guerrero and H. Galeana. Both La Playa and The Captain's Daughter are closed on Mondays.

filed under: @zihua- casual dining- restaurants by Isahrai (Jul 07)

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($$) Chinese food in Mexico, you ask? If you live in Zihua, the answer is “heck yeah”! Man (and woman) cannot live on Mexican food alone, and thanks to places like Mi Chayito, we don’t have to. Mi Chayito’s menu does include Mexican food, but the main nighttime draw is the Chinese food, with familiar favorites such as pot stickers, spring rolls, mushu pork, sweet and sour chicken and Szechwan beef. The menu has recently been broadened to include new dishes such as hot braised eggplant with green beans and ginger beef.

just the facts, ma'am: Mi Chayito is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm. If you prefer to eat at home, they are happy to pack up your food to go.

don't miss: One local favorite is the Shanghai Chicken, which is a dish of battered chicken in a tangy sauce. Also, the new location is airy and beautifully decorated and provides a lovely dining experience.

meet me @: Mi Chayito is located on Vicente Guerrero, #34, Colonia Centro in Zihuatanjeo, right between the laundry and the photo shop, and around the corner from Banamex.

filed under: @zihua- casual dining- restaurants by Bev (Jan 07)

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($$) Hamburgers, ribs, chicken, shrimp, and fish - all sizzling right off the grill! Rufo's is a charming outdoor restaurant with rustic bamboo furniture, Japanese-style lanterns, and... did we mention lots of grilled meat?

just the facts, ma'am: Rufo's is open for late lunches and dinner Monday through Saturday. Dishes are served with vegetables, beans, and french fries.

don't miss: the ribs are slathered in sauce and tender enough to just fall off the bone. Make sure to pace yourself while eating the complimentary smoky chipotle salsa with tortilla chips or you won't have room for your meal when it arrives!

meet me @: the corner of Calle Adelita in Colonia Madera, across from La Ceiba Suites.

filed under: @zihua- casual dining- restaurants by Isahrai (Oct 06)

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($$) Salvador's might be called a "hole in the wall" restaurant - if it had any walls! With just a cluster of tables and chairs under an awning, there is no ostentation about Salvador's - just hearty, authentic Mexican food and cold beer and soft drinks. Fishermen can also bring their latest catch for Salvador to prepare and serve fresh off the grill.

just the facts, ma'am: Salvador's is open from 9 am until 9 am (mas o menos), Monday through Saturday.

don't miss: the enchiladas verde and camaronillas are arguably some of the best in Zihua while the guacamole has a picante kick from an abundant use of chiles.

meet me @: Salvador's is located at the foot of the second pedestrian bridge over the canal on Calle Adelita in Colonia la Madera.

filed under: authentic fare- on the cheap- restaurants by Isahrai (Oct 06)

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($) The official name is "La Cenaduria" but the nickname was coined by a long-time visitor and is now recognized by most locals, cab drivers, and tourists - if only because "Pozole Alley" is just that! A small row of small, family-run restaurants that serve dirt-cheap, extremely good, and wholey authentic Mexican food with little fanfare, save the occasional wandering troubadour, juggler, or gaggle of playing children. Although the prices have risen in recent years, you can still get a hearty meal of enchiladas, sopes, tamales, or tostadas for under 20 pesos (including a glass of agua de jamaica, naranja, o horchata and a large steaming bowl of pozole for about 22 pesos. Pozole blanco with chicken or pork is served every day while the more savory (and spicy!) pozole verde and pozolo rojo are served on the traditional Thursday.

just the facts, ma'am: Although some of the restaurants also serve lunch, most take siesta before the alley comes to life at dusk through the late supper hours. During Mexican holidays and on most Sunday nights, you might have to wait for a table - or be friendly and share!

don't miss: everyone has their favorite restaurant on Pozole Alley so make sure to try each one to find your pick. My favorite is three restaurants in from Nicholas Bravo because of the delicious salsas, including a muy picante salsa verde and a refreshing, chunky ensalada jitomate (tomato salsa). In fact, I often request baggies of the salsa to take home from my eggs the next morning!

meet me @: runs perpendicular into Nicholas Bravo, in between Benito Juarez and Vicente Guerrero

filed under: @zihua- authentic fare- on the cheap- restaurants by Isahrai (Oct 06)

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