It’s hard to choose our favorite food city in Mexico because, in a country with such a rich food culture, there’s a lot of incredible food to be had, but Guadalajara food is certainly a contender.
We adore the traditional dishes of Oaxaca and pine for the street food in Mexico City. But, when it comes to a place that’s equal parts classic and creative, we’re obsessed with everything Guadalajara.
We’ve eaten in numerous cities through years of researching for our travel clients and leading group trips to Italy, California, and Mexico. Some have humble dishes, while others are known for over-the-top desserts.
Guadalajara checks many of those boxes with a mix of modern and traditional dishes familiar to any Mexican food lover. A travel planner specializing in food-focused travel to Mexico, I fell in love with Guadalajara food on a recent trip there. Here, we’ll get into eight classic types of Guadalajara food, including birria, Coctel en Catarito, and Carne en su jugo, just to name a few!
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8 Classic Guadalajara Foods To Know
Since Jalisco is historically home to ranchers, charros (aka gentlemen cowboys), and jimadores (or agave harvesters) working on tequila farms, the local cuisine is not diet food. Even so, the local Guadalajara food is so outstanding that we stop counting calories when we visit.
Some of the classic dishes you’ll come across in Guadalajara food traditions are rustic home cooking, while others are street food, which is delicious. If you’re wondering which kinds of Guadalajara food are must-try, then read on:
Birria
Whether dining in a fancy restaurant or scoping out new-to-you street vendors, one classic Guadalajara food you’ll constantly encounter is birria. This braised meat dish is so prevalent in Guadalajara that local restaurants — known as “birrierias” — specialize in the dish.
There are a lot of variations to birria. It can be served as a stew or in tortillas as tacos, and you’ll find various spices and sauces used. The most traditional way to make birria is to coat the meat in a spice rub and a garlic chile paste — using cascabel, guajillo, and ancho chiles — then slow cook the meat until it’s tender.
It’s often served with corn tortillas, onions, cilantro, lime wedges, or even as pictured here in tacos lined with melted cheese and salsa.
There’s an ongoing debate on what type of meat–goat, lamb, or beef–is best for making birria. The best way to weigh in on that debate is to try them all for yourself!
Or, head here if you want tips on how to make a vegetarian version of birria.
Cantarito Cocktail
Tequila hails from the region of Jalisco, so it would be sacrilegious not to include one of the local tequila cocktails in our list of classic Guadalajara food known as the Cantarito.
A medley of lime, lemon, orange, and grapefruit juices and tequila, this classic Mexican cocktail is the perfect way to wind down (or up) after a long day exploring Guadalajara.
And, yes, there is a difference between a Cantarito and a classic margarita. While the margarita includes the iconic trilogy of tequila, lime juice, and agave or triple sec, the Cantarito has citrus juice and is topped with bubbly water.
To find the Cantarito when you travel to Jalisco, look for stands mixing a drink in the telltale traditional hand-painted clay cups.
Carne En Su Jugo
One thing we can confidently say about the traditional Mexican dish carne en su jugo is that its translation of “meat in its own juice” doesn’t do it justice. It is a Guadalajara food you need to try for yourself if we do say so!
From humble origins, the hearty stew features tender beef cut into strips braised in a hearty tomatillo broth, beans, and tocino (bacon).
Variations on carne en su jugo include other ingredients such as potatoes, but we think it’s best served in the traditional Jalisco style, such as sin potatoes. At one point, restaurants began serving this traditional Jalisco food in conventional clay pots adorned with beautiful designs and patterns. It made the dish seem más tapatío or even more local.
One of the institutions in the city that have this dish is Karne Garibaldi, which not only has excellent carne en su jugo but also holds the Guinness World Record for having the fastest food service. The original location is, fittingly, on Calle Garibaldi, but there are now multiple locations.
Jericallas
No meal is complete without dessert, and Guadalajara food does not disappoint. Jericalla is a baked custard pastry flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. While many people mistake it for flan or creme brulee, Jericallas are baked in small ramekins and don’t have the classic burnt sugar topping of creme brulee.
Jericallas were said to have been created by a nun who left the custard in the oven for too long, creating the trademark topping of blackened custard. Ever since jericallas have always been made with a slightly more curdled texture and signature burnt tops. Find them served at more traditional restaurants or street food stands across the city!
Pollo A La Valentina
We’re pretty sure all buffalo wings have universal appeal, but the local version — pollo a la Valentina — is a classic Guadalajara food. This dish takes the traditional recipe up a notch thanks to a spicy and spicy tomato sauce.
Like its American counterpart, this popular kind of Mexican snacks is often served with fried potatoes, making pollo a la Valentina the perfect appetizer!
Red Pozole
We’ve done deep dives into the classic Mexican dish that is pozole before. So you probably already know that while pozole–a stew made with hominy, meat, oregano, and spices–is a dish found in several regions of Mexico, one of our favorites is en Estilo Jalisco, or in the style of Jalisco.
Pozole en estilo Jalisco is made rojo or in a red sauce and is a must-try Guadalajara food. What gives a pozole rojo its distinct red color is the combination of three types of chiles: ancho chiles, guajillo chiles, and arbol chiles.
Served alongside lime, onion, radish, and lettuce or cabbage, this stew is often served during Mexico’s Day of Independence, making it a staple party food in Guadalajara.
Tejuino
From tortillas to tamales and the chile and mayonnaise-coated street food that is elote, there’s a place for corn in every nook and cranny of Mexican food.
However, Guadalajara food gets creative with a unique beverage, tejuino, made from fermented masa or corn flour.
Made by mixing masa with piloncillo — an unrefined sugar cane — and lime juice, tejuino is fermented for a few days, resulting in a drink with trace amounts of alcohol. Top it off with a pinch of salt, and you’ll have a tart, slightly bitter beverage, making it the perfect way to cool off during the hotter summer months.
Tortas Ahogadas
Pinky promises us that if there’s only one food you try when you visit Guadalajara, it is torta ahogadas.
Translated to “drowned sandwiches,” crisp French rolls (bolillos) are stuffed with marinated pork fried to perfection before being doused in a healthy dose of spicy tomato and chili pepper salsa.
The most classic bread used to make this dish is birote, a type of sourdough from Guadalajara.
Seeing as the origins of tequila sit just an hour north of Guadalajara, it’s no surprise that the locals consider tortas ahogadas the go-to Saturday morning hangover food.
Those are our picks for the classic dishes you must eat in Guadalajara. Have any others to add? Let us know in the comments below!
Why Visit Guadalajara?
Home to mariachi music, charro culture (the Mexican equivalent of rodeo), and the iconic sombrero, Guadalajara brings it when it comes to classic Mexican culture. Add to it that it is Mexico’s second-largest city and the capital of the state of Jalisco, and it’s well worth a visit.
But it’s much more than shtick and entertainment — Guadalajara has a genuine sense of place and is one of the premier metropolitan centers in Latin America.
What always draws us back to Guadalajara is its equal parts modern and classic. Case in point, it’s nicknamed Mexico’s Silicon Valley but also remains majorly tied to its cultural roots.
Whether shopping at the San Juan De Dios market or exploring the food stores of the historic center, you’ll also find a contrast between modern and traditional. And, as you can guess, one of the more conventional aspects we love is the vibrant food scene.
Oh, and did we mention it’s an easy drive to the lovely town of Tequila or the Puerto Vallarta coast? This region of Mexico has a lot to offer!
Frequently Asked Questions About Guadalajara Food
Guadalajara, known for its rich culinary heritage, offers a wide array of traditional dishes that highlight the region's flavors and cooking techniques. In addition to birria, carne en su jugo, jericallas, and pollo a la Valentina, visitors should also consider trying these local specialties:
- Torta Ahogada: Often referred to as Guadalajara's signature dish, this "drowned" sandwich consists of crusty bread filled with tender pieces of pork, drenched in a spicy tomato and chili pepper sauce. The sandwich is typically garnished with onions and served with lime slices.
- Pozole: A hearty soup made with hominy, meat (usually pork), and garnished with radish, lettuce, oregano, chili peppers, and lime. It's a staple during festivities, particularly celebrated on Mexican Independence Day.
- Tejuino: A traditional beverage made from fermented corn, served cold with lime juice and a pinch of salt, often topped with a scoop of lemon sorbet to cool down during the hot months.
Birria is a spicy stew traditionally made with goat meat, although beef or lamb are also commonly used. The meat is marinated in an adobo of vinegar, dried chilies, garlic, herbs, and spices, then slow-cooked until tender. The cooking process is typically done in a pot lined with maguey leaves:
- Ingredients: Goat meat, ancho chilies, guajillo chilies, garlic, cumin, bay leaves, thyme, marjoram, and vinegar.
- Preparation: The meat is marinated in the chili sauce, then slow-cooked in a sealed pot to retain all flavors.
- Serving: Birria is often served in a bowl with some broth, garnished with onion, cilantro, and lime, and accompanied by tortillas.
Carne en su jugo is a savory dish of beef cooked in its own juices, combined with a tomatillo salsa, bacon, and beans. It is a hearty, flavorful soup that combines elements of meat stew and soup:
- Ingredients: Thinly sliced beef, bacon, tomatillo, jalapeño, garlic, onion, and pinto beans.
- Preparation: Bacon is fried until crisp, then the beef is added and quickly seared. Blended tomatillo and jalapeño are then poured in, along with water or beef broth.
- Cooking: The mixture is simmered until the beef is tender, and beans are added towards the end of cooking.
- Serving: The dish is typically garnished with chopped onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime, served with warm tortillas.
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What Is Pozole?
Guadalajara is a culinary treasure trove, offering classic dishes that reflect the heart of Jalisco’s rich food culture. From the savory goodness of carne en su jugo and the spicy, flavorful birria to the refreshing cantarito cocktail and the creamy jericallas dessert, the city’s traditional foods are a must-try for any food lover.
While exploring Guadalajara’s iconic flavors, don’t forget to dive into another Mexican staple: pozole. Our article on what is pozole explores the origins, variations, and cultural significance of this beloved hominy soup, making it a perfect complement to your Jalisco food journey.
Classic Mexican Recipes
Now that you’re a pro on all things Guadalajara food, check out these classic Mexican recipes to cook at home!
Mexico Travel Guide
If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, you’ll want to peruse our Mexico Travel Guide, that is chock-full of travel tips from our time living and working in Mexico.
Have Us Plan Your Mexico Trip
And, of course, if you need help deciding what to do, where to stay or eat in Jalisco, we can help with our travel planning services. After discussing your preferences during a short consultation, we’ll plan your perfect itinerary.
2 thoughts on “8 Types Of Classic Guadalajara Food To Try Now”
Great job of highlighting the city’s rich food culture, and the birria and Cantarito cocktail sound delicious. I can’t wait to try them when I visit Guadalajara!
Have a great trip!