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| Platter of fish tacos, Sayulita. |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
Our mouths water just thinking about the fish tacos in Sayulita. The Riviera Nayarit Pacific coast town is located 35 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta.
Topped with avocado slices and squiggles of chipotle mayonnaise, they were served with lime halves for squeezing over the tacos just before eating.
Sayulita (population 3,000) is best-known as a place for great surfing. The laid-back Nayarit, Mexico community draws both ex-pats and visitors.
Directions to taco stand
Our favorite taco stand consists of a few street-side tables. You sit on high stools under umbrellas next to the shaded outdoor kitchen. Ocean breezes freshen the balmy weather and carry tidbits of conversations from strolling shoppers.
To get there, go to the Sayulita town square and then walk two blocks toward the ocean. Look for a yellow-and-orange sign that reads: The Real Fish Taco.
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| The Real Fish Taco sign. Sayulita, Mexico. |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
There is no written menu. You can order deep-fried fish tacos (the best) or tacos filled with grilled fish or shrimp.
How to make tacos
In addition to people-watching, part of the entertainment is watching Alfreda Monroy Garcia make the tacos. First, she deep-fries either mahi-mahi or marlin (your choice), dipped in batter, until the coating becomes golden and crunchy.
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| Fish taco |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
If you ordered shrimp tacos, she cooks the shrimp on the hot grill until they turn pink. Beside them, she grills fish (if requested) and flour tortillas so that they become puffy and speckled brown.
Alfreda places the deep-fried fish on the tortillas and tops them with a salad of chopped tomato, cilantro, red onion and lettuce. By the time you've had a few swigs of ice-cold Cerveza Pacifico Clara, Alfreda has garnished the fish tacos and served them.
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| Sayulita cookie vendor |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
The contrast of the crunchy-coated tender fish and crisp salad with the soft tortilla and avocado, accented with the tang of acidic lime juice is sublime. To further enhance the flavors, she offers a salsa made from chopped carrots, chiles and soy sauce. Yum!
Mexican cookies
Just as we finished our fish and shrimp tacos, a vendor appeared by our table with a tray of her home-baked Mexican cookies.
They all looked delicious. We couldn't decide whether to order the large polvorones or tiny pecan-topped shortbread cookies, the cajeta (dulce de leche)-filled turnovers or the cocadas (caramelized coconut macaroons). We ordered one of each and shared.
What was the cost of the best fish tacos in Nayarit? Less than the price of a burger and fries at our local fast food restaurant. And the ambiance was far better.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
More things to see & do in Riviera Nayarit:
Mexcaltitan, Riviera Nayarit - Seafood Restaurants and Mexican Culture
Jala Nayarit Mexico - Pueblo Magico (Magic Town)
Salsa Huichol - Hot Sauce from Nayarit Mexico
Riviera Nayarit Ecotours
Birding Tour in La Tovara - San Blas, Nayarit
