There are places that simply serve food--and then there are places that become part of your story…read more Pepe's Tacos is exactly that for me. Having come here since I was 10 years old, this iconic taquería isn't just a local favorite--it's a timeless institution that continues to define what truly exceptional tacos should be. Since 1987, Pepe's has built a reputation that extends far beyond Puerto Vallarta, and one visit is all it takes to understand why. The star of the show--their legendary tacos al pastor--is nothing short of extraordinary. The pork is expertly marinated and cooked to perfection, resulting in meat that is incredibly juicy, tender, and bursting with deep, savory flavor. Each slice is carved with precision and layered onto warm tortillas, creating a perfect foundation for what comes next. What truly elevates these tacos is the balance of toppings. The sweetness of the pineapple and the sharpness of the fresh onions cut through the richness of the meat beautifully, enhancing every bite with contrast and complexity. It's a masterclass in simplicity done right--every ingredient playing its role to perfection. Beyond the food, the experience itself is just as memorable. The service is impressively fast and efficient, especially considering how popular this spot is, and there's an undeniable energy in the air that makes it feel alive at all hours. It's the kind of place you can count on for a late-night bite, where the atmosphere is casual, vibrant, and always welcoming. Pepe's Tacos isn't about reinvention or trend--it's about consistency, tradition, and delivering excellence time and time again. Decades later, it still holds its place as one of the best taco spots in Puerto Vallarta, and for good reason. Some things never change--and when they're this good, they absolutely shouldn't.

Thirty five years in the game and Pepe's runs like a well oiled machine. The dining room is its own…read moreecosystem, a natural choreography of service where everything flows without friction. Out front, the trompo spins over charcoal fire, hand turned, on display to the street. The man at the blade is a performer, part craftsman, part showman. He hones his knife between razor thin shavings of al pastor, then in a reflexive flourish nips the pineapple crowning the meat, sending a sliver flying only to catch it with a tortilla. It is theater, but it is also instinct. Inside, the crowd looks like the United Nations. A tour group from India next to a Dutch family with half a dozen kids in tow, the Canadians eye the Americans with deserved suspicion, and a few locals whose plates are piled high while tourists settle for modest portions. It is the natural order of things, and nobody complains. The charcoal scent in the meat makes clear this is al pastor's intended preparation. I have never had the pleasure of eating from a coal fired trompo before, and it is instantly apparent that this is the way it was meant to be. Someday, somehow, I will rig one of these up, because I need this in my life. Pepe's is not just a taco shop. It is a master class in tradition, theater, and flavor, with a dining room that feels like the world gathered around one spit.

I went on a little self-led tour de tacos in Puerto Vallarta last night and made a few stops with…read moreEl Carboncito being one of them. Upon walking in, I immediately had a sense of Deja vu and knew I had been there before, which should have been my first warning since I usually have a good memory for places I've been and enjoyed. It's open (only) late and has both indoor and outdoor seating. The woman working was reasonably nice but nothing to write home about. Unfortunately they didn't have any Al pastor when I went but I ordered a chorizo and an arrechera, both $25 pesos a pop. The chorizo was more like a chopped up hot dog and I found the arrechera to be very dry. Neither taco had a lot of meat. The tortilla was unexciting and under-grilled. The salsa was excellent however. I wouldn't go back - there are so many excellent tacos in the area at or around the same price.

The best al pastor tacos, so yummy! Seating is limited, so go early. I would order a few, there…read morewill be a line. What are al pastor tacos? Al pastor are a beloved Mexican street food featuring thinly sliced, marinated pork. The pork is carved off the spit directly into corn tortillas and topped with fresh pineapple, onions, and cilantro. Definitely going back for more! @norivedanaturals

Our new favorite taco joint. We went there, were seated right away. Service was good and fast…read more We ordered the casa fundido with Al Pastor on top. It's thicker, more cheesy than what I've ever had before and very delicious. We paired that with the prime rib tacos, it was a plate stacked with meat and 4 tortillas under it, more than we could eat. The seasoning was great, it was diced so small that it was easy to eat. I got a virgin strawberry margarita, the wife got a coke. It was very affordable.

I was honestly surprised to see this place rated so highly because our experience was pretty…read moredisappointing. We ordered the ribeye, al pastor, and chorizo tacos. The ribeye had so much fat that we had to pick through it just to eat it. The al pastor was very average - I've had much better at plenty of other taco spots. The biggest disappointment was the chorizo. It wasn't traditional chorizo at all; it looked and tasted more like chopped-up hot dogs. We barely touched it because it wasn't what we ordered expecting, and it just wasn't good. The presentation also wasn't appealing. The meat was simply piled on top of two tortillas, making everything messy and difficult to eat. They were also pretty stingy with the grilled jalapeños. The salsas didn't do the food any favors either. None of them really stood out, and the green guacamole salsa actually tasted like it had gone bad, so we stopped eating it. Service was attentive, but almost too attentive. Staff kept coming by every few minutes to ask if we were finished or if we needed anything. While I appreciate good service, it made us feel like we were being rushed through our meal instead of being able to enjoy it at our own pace. Overall, I don't understand the high ratings based on our experience. With so many amazing taco spots in Puerto Vallarta, this one didn't come close to meeting the hype. Unfortunately, we won't be coming back.

Tacos Revolución was around the corner from my hotel, so I popped in for my last dinner in town…read more Outdoor seating was filled, but I had a table by the door which ended up being perfect because it essentially gave me a first row seat to a street performer playing classic rock tunes on guitar outside and then later a 3 piece band playing more traditional music across the street. Chips and three salsas come gratis. The pineapple habanero was a little hot for my tastebuds, but it had good flavor. The chipotle salsa was appropriately smoky and might've been my favorite. The green was more mild and fresh and also very good. I ordered three tacos: grilled shrimp, grilled fish, and the hibiscus flower and panela cheese. The waitress let me try a piece of the cheese before ordering since I'd never had panela before which I appreciated. That taco was probably my least favorite of the three- texture, not taste, but I like to try new things, so I'm glad I got it. There was a toppings bar for taco add-ons: limes, cucumbers, cabbage, onions, and cilantro. Nice to be able to customize. Very reasonable cost, good flavor, good service, good atmosphere.

First place we ate dinner in Puerto Vallarta and everything was fine…read more First off important to note it's cash (pesos) only which was slightly annoying. Had to walk for a while to find a working ATM. Started with the guacamole which was good (although we'd had way better in the afternoon from a little cafe near our hotel). Three salsas came with the chips and were ok. The yellow pineapple one sneaks up on you and is very spicy. Ordered two tacos. Wasn't really wowed. Margarita ok. They have outdoor seating, so it's fun to people watch. Service was unmemorable.

This was one of my favorite restaurants in PV! We were initially headed to another restaurant that…read morewe found on Yelp... but after walking by and smelling the most amazing aroma and seeing it packed with locals, we changed our plans and grabbed a table! I went with the Pastor y Chorizo plate - it was absolutely heavenly with mix of Al Pastor, Chorizo, and all of those onions! I ate them on the fresh and delicious corn tortillas they provided until I started getting full and finally just started scarfing down as much as I could before my belly made me stop! SOOOO DELICIOUS!!! I also tried a bit of their carne asada tacos - yum!! I strongly recommend this place when you're in PV (or near PV)!! Overall rating: *****FIVE STARS***** Gluten-free rating: *****FIVE STARS*****

This is one if those places I think about hesitating to review. This is an exceptional…read morehole-in-the-wall place that makes terrific food and at very, very economical prices. If one goes two blocks west, the food is often mediocre and three times the price. This family owned place is an absolute gem and would absolutely recommend and return to.

This place is absolutely phenomenal. The negative reviews are meaningless because my experience was…read moretop notch. The place is cozy and very welcoming. It almost reminded me of restaurants I'd frequent on holiday in Zanzibar before moving to the US. The shrimp ceviche is fresh and wonderfully balanced but the star of the evening was the lobster thermidor. I grew up eating lobster thermidor in Tanzania and this is one of the best I have had outside of my home country. Paired with rice and some fresh fries brought back memories. To put it plainly, it is sublime. Rafael is awesome and his hospitality is an art form. This is officially my go to spot on every Puerto Vallarta layover.

The food, service and ambiance were all great. Very friendly and welcoming. My kids loved the…read moreburger and fries. They were all homemade and tasted delicious . I had an octopus cocktail that was so good!!

The shrimp burritos are incredible! Full of flavor…read more Highly recommended. Very friendly service too.

Consistently one of the best burritos you could ever eat…read more The service is first rate too. Remember to tip the waiters well.

Food is delicious, service on point, customer service wonderful! It's a hole in the wall that…read moreshouldn't be passed up. The coffee was spot on... and oh the salsas plentiful with so much flavor too

So if you're a fan of carnitas (and I know you are) and you're in Vallarta, you're probably like…read moreme. You're constantly searching for the best carnitas in the area. We stayed at the Sheraton hotel and about two streets away we stumbled on this little carnitas taco stand (actually someone recommended it but you get the point). Thank goodness we did... Every morning we had the most succulent, moist, porky carnitas tacos that we'd ever had. We subsequently went on a food tour and were wowed by a carnitas tacos joint in Pitillal. But if you're in the area and you want a good and cheap and satisfying carnitas taco breakfast (which is when they're normally eaten) GO HERE. Note to tourists: this isn't a tourist spot, i.e. NO ENGLISH, PESOS ONLY. But do yourself a favor and take your broken Spanish here and get yourself some.

Don Chava is absolutely the restaurant everyone must go to. Trust me you will love it…read more ‼ The place moved to a new location at Venustiano Carranza 212 in Old Town ‼ Being a first time visitor I didn't know where to get good quality food so I relied on Yelp. The most sincere welcome I received assured me I was in the right place. ALL who worked there were super friendly, patient and helpful with choosing my meal options. I had the best spicy margarita made only there and I don't usually eat or drink anything spicy. I had 2 quesadillas with chicken and steak with 4 different sauces and vegetables. I felt full after that. The ambiance inside was home-like. It was busy but I felt I received the appropriate and prompt attention. Absolutely highly recommend Don Chava!

We freaking LOVE Don Chava. We discovered them over a year ago and have been hooked ever since…read more They recently moved to a bigger location, and somehow it's still just as welcoming and cozy as the original spot. **remember they are cash only. dollars or pesos!** Everything here is seriously delicioso.. They have the best Cadillac margarita I've had in PV... perfectly balanced, smooth, and strong without being overpowering (but can be if you have too many lolll) . And the al pastor tacos? FAV. So flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and always fresh. It's one of those places you think about even after you leave. We return every single time we're in town... it's pretty much a tradition at this point. The staff keeps us coming too! They are the best. So warm, so kind, and we always have fun chatting with them in our little Spanglish mix which just makes the whole experience feel even more personal. If you're in PV, you should go

Tacos for less that $1 USD!?!?…read more You had me at tacos! I went with the chicken, pastor, and churizo tacos. All 3 were solid, If i hadn't just eaten my weight in foood at another returaunt less than an hour ago, I can confidently say that I would have ordred another 2-3 rounds of the pastor tacos and given some of their menu offerings a try as well. Service was very attentive (although we showed up in the middle of the day, and there were only two other tables sat). But if you are able to find them while youre in downtown PVR, it's definetly worth a stop in; they're off the beaten oath a little. You'll have to leave the main strip of restaurants and shops on the main strip and head towards the hills. Bottom line: good food at a really good price, great break from all the tourist traps on the board walk. **** CAUTION: CASH ONLY ****

Shrimp aguachile dinner: 5 stars Ordered it mild. Shrimps…read moreare extremely fresh, perfectly blended with lime, avocado crema with fresh avocado, red onions, cucumber and cilantro. Came with crispy tostadas. All for below Us$10. All local people eat here!