($) For a healthy meal at a lean price, check out Loncheria La Especial. Connected to the plant nursery, Viva Vida Vivero, Loncheria La Especial provides you with an assortment of fresh juice options including orange, melon, carrot, guayaba, papaya, nopal and spinach. The breakfast and lunch menu include tostadas, tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, sopes, sandwiches and eggs made any style.

just the facts, ma'am: Loncheria La Especial is open Mondays through Saturdays, 8 am to 3 pm and is located on Paseo de Palmar, between Plaza Kioto and DHL.

don't miss: for a fabulous pick-me-up or a hangover helper, don’t miss the Popeye Super Juice with spinach, pineapple and chaya, and the chicken enchiladas verdes.

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

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($-$$$) With certified organic coffee beans grown in the mountains surrounding Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa, Café Zihuatanejo is a place any coffee lover won't want to miss. For years, they have offered green and freshly roasted beans (both whole and ground) in their small store on Calle Cuauhtémoc. In 2006, they also opened a "proper" cafe in Centro that serves up their coffee, espresso drinks, a wide range of teas, and both breakfast and daytime fare.

just the facts, ma'am: Café Zihuatanejo is open from 8 am until midnight every day with breakfast served until noon. Many menu items can be ordered as entirely "organic" (there is typically a 5-10 peso surcharge due to increased cost in ingredients). Café Zihuatanejo has been certified organic by the USDA, OCIA, and has received awards for their coffee from as far away as Australia. In addition to being committed to organic coffee growing techniques, they also promote recycling by offering a small discount on coffee bean purchases when you bring your bag back to their Cuauhtémoc shop.

don't miss: Wake up the whole family with a pot of coffee for just 40 pesos (a single serving cup of café americano is 10 pesos). There are plenty of options for non-coffee drinkers including a wide range of fruit smoothies and teas. The ginger te (te gingebre) is especially delicious. Breakfast "packets" are a wonderful way to start the day before heading to the beach while the crepes (savory or sweet) taste great with a cappucino at night.

meet me @: the pedestrian street of H. Galeana (between restaurants Jarocho and Nueva Zealandia). Café Zihuatanejo has quickly become a popular meeting place for locals looking for an alternative to bars and clubs.
You can also still buy green and roasted beans by the 1/2 kilo or kilo in their shop at Calle Cuauhtémoc # 170. They offer several roasts/blends including French Roast, Cuban Roast, Americano, Expresso, an anti-depressive blend, and decaffeinated varieties.

filed under: @zihua- cafes 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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($$$-$$$$) A relatively new and stunning retreat right on Troncones Beach, Present Moment is both a spa-like oasis and a place for serious personal work through intensive yoga retreats, guided meditation, dance, and healing arts workshops. With both all-inclusive packages, a la carte lodging services, and open workshops, anyone can experience Present Moment and attain a bit of spiritual calm and physical restoration on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Locals and tourists are welcome for group classes, bodywork and massage, private workshops, and to also dine at their gourmet spa restaurant.

don't miss: the late night drumming circles are one of those liberating experiences you'll remember for a lifetime. Luxury, physical transformation, and spiritual reflection all coexist peacefully at Present Moment's beautiful retreat center.

meet me @: on beautiful and serene Troncones Beach, Present Moment is about 30 kilometers north of Zihuatanejo.

filed under: @troncones- relax & indulge- sport & adventure by Isahrai (Oct 06)

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($$-$$$) Yes, there is a creperia in Zihuatanejo! Café Mandarina specializes in both savory and dessert crepes in addition to being one of the first locations to serve strong-brewed coffee and espresso drinks. The menu doesn't stop there, though! There is a full selection of Mexican tortas and other traditional fare, contintental breakfasts, large entree salads, and cakes. The owners, Carlos and Esperanza, are genuine people who get to know their customers and are constantly working to improve the cafe through menu changes, decor improvements, and training their employees in good customer service.

just the facts, ma'am: open daily from 9 am until midnight. There is free wifi for paying customers; simply ask for the password from any of the staff to log on.

don't miss: the savory crepes are very filling and the dessert crepes are almost too big! In fact, I've never managed to finish one. The chef's salad with a honey mustard dressing is especially satisfying on a hot day.

meet me @: Café Mandarina is located directly across from the Church on Cinco de Mayo, on the same side of the street as the Artisan's Market.

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

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($$-$$$) Many of the regulars simply call this new Zihua favorite, "World Food," which is an apt description as any. The menu changes nightly with dishes coming from Malaysia, Thailand, India, the Mediterranean, and even the occasional proper British fish and chips. The 3 dishes - typically one seafood, one meat, and one vegetarian - offered each night reflect the freshest local ingredients mixed with owner/chef, Shunik's imagination. Desserts are simple treats - often a homemade ice cream or mousse - made daily by Sabrina that compliment the spicy, complex flavors of the entrees.

just the facts, ma'am: open from 6 until 10 pm, Tuesdays through Saturday. The small restaurant can get very crowded and sometimes the food is devoured so quickly that late-arriving patrons are served last minute concoctions from the leftover bits and pieces. Don't worry, though, sometimes these improvised dishes are even better than the planned menu!

don't miss: on slow nights, Shunik comes out of the kitchen with a bottle of tequila to share and the didgeridoo to pass around. Unfortunately, the restaurant has become so popular, there aren't many slow nights! This season brings a cocktail menu, a wider variety of wines, and occasional guest chefs.

meet me @: another restaurant on the "restaurant street" - Calle Adelita - in Colonia la Madera.

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

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($$$) La Gula is a celebration of gourmet food, beautiful quiet ambiance, and special touches. The restaurant practices the international tradition of "Slow Food" making everything fresh and to order in their open-plan hot and cold kitchens. Every dish is an original La Gula recipe from the empanadas criollas (pasta filled with shrimp, vegetables and string cheese, with pineapple & ginger cold sauce) to the mignon punta madera (filet mignon with "Atoyac" coffee sauce). The menu is filled with surprising appetizers, salads, soups, and entrees, topped off with truly decadant desserts. Most surprising, though, is the generous servings paired with equally generous prices.

just the facts, ma'am: the "Slow Food" practices guarantee fresh, savory dishes but also takes a while to prepare so bring patience, a good conversationalist as a dinner companion, and enjoy a glass or two of wine. Dinner is served Monday-Saturday, 5:30 - 10 pm.

don't miss: the amuse bouche, or "gift from the chef" is a whimsical miniature hor d'oeuvre that will alert you to the culinary delights ahead.

meet me @: La Gula is located on Calle Adelita in Colonia la Madera, a short walk from downtown. Just cross the second footbridge over the canal and look up to see the row of international flags. A narrow staircase on the left will lead you up to the 2nd floor restaurant.

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

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($$) For fans of chili, this recent creation of Canadian Deborah (of "Mamma Norma & Deborah" fame) is the place to be. This colorful restaurant serves a wide variety of Mexican and American/Canadian food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, most of it leaning in the direction of Tex-Mex (which is generally not readily available in Mexico). Vegetarian dishes, including vegetarian chili, are also included on the menu.

just the facts, ma'am: open daily from 7:30 am to 11 pm. Choose between the airy sidewalk or shaded indoor seating with quite possibly the most complete collection of chili- and bean-themed décor!

don't miss: a must-have is Deborah’s clever creation, the chili chili, which is a chili relleño filled with chili. Absolutely delicious! Also, the nacho supreme salad and the BLT salad with honey mustard dressing are quickly becoming customer favorites.

meet me @: Chili Beans is located on Ixtapa Blvd, at Ixtapa Plaza #5, just across the street from the Emporio Hotel.

filed under: @ixtapa- casual dining- restaurants by Bev (Oct 06)

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