The 49 Best Restaurants in Huatulco [Updated for 2023!]

Now that you are so well educated on the amazing food in Oaxaca, where in Huatulco can you go to experience the wonderful tastes to be had? As a long-term resident of Huatulco, I have taken on the important mission of experiencing the best food Huatulco has to offer, so I can share that important information with you!

I make a point to come back to this list of the best restaurants in Huatulco every time I try a new place, ownership changes, or something new makes the list so that you always have an up-to-date reference for where your hunger and pesos are best spent!

For your navigation ease, I have sorted this guide of the best places to eat in Huatulco into the following categories, so you can skip to whatever you’re in the mood for!

The #1 Best Restaurant in Huatulco

Mercader

🌟Rating: 4.6/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Santa Cruz | Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Shrimp Empanadas, Lava Cake

Naturally, this is the most difficult category, especially since I am the type of person that would prefer to try something new over re-visiting the same places again and again. But, if there is one restaurant in Huatulco that I will eat at over and over it is Mercader in Santa Cruz, it is absolutely the best restaurant in Huatulco.

Mercader is owned by a local couple (who are now my friends, because I eat there so much) Francia and Braolio. They have fine-tuned a small, speciality menu with a mostly Thai influence, including mouth-watering local ingredients, and a calm, plant-filled, open-air vibe.

Every fall, Francia and Braolio travel to Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and other Asian countries to learn new recipes and bring that authentic taste back to Huatulco!

Mercader Menu Highlights

Starters
All of the appetizers are amazing, but if you want something you probably haven’t tried before, order the Shrimp Empanadas. Instead of baking, this empanada dough is deep-fried to make it puff up, then cut open and stuffed with shrimp, avocado, and salsa. Other favourites are the salad rolls and Taiwan Chicken Bites.

Mains
Every time I visit Mercader I try to have something new, but at the last second default to my favourite dish because it is just so dang good. The Pad kee Mao is probably my favourite dish in Huatulco, with the Udon Noodle Bowl being a close second.

Desserts
Well, my responsible favourite dish in Huatulco is the Pad Kee Mao. My actual favourite is the Vulcan de Chocolate from Mercader. This chocolate volcano cake is made fresh, so I like to order it when I’m about halfway through my Pad Kee Mao and ordering my second glass of wine. 20 minutes later as your revelling in the meal that was, Francia will present you with this gorgeous gift from the gods.

Drinks
Besides a great wine list, Mercader also makes their own simple syrups and concoctions for cocktails and their house-made sodas!

Dietary Needs
One of the many great things about Asian food is that it lends itself more easily to being adapted for vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free diets. Many of the dishes have a rice noodle base, and you can always choose your type of protein.

Francia speaks excellent English, so if you are very sensitive she can let you know which sauces and dishes are gluten-free.

For a vegan option, I would go with the Summer Rolls, the empanadas without shrimp (though the dough might have egg, I’m not sure), the Pad Thai, or ask about any possible alterations to other dishes!

For their variety, authenticity, accessibility and more, I have named Mercader my #1 Best Restaurants In Huatulco!

The Best Oaxacan Restauarants in Huatulco

The best Oaxacan food in Oaxaca will probably always be found in Oaxaca City, but Huatulco has some great contenders for local Mexican food! I find that the climate in Huatulco does not lend itself to a lot of traditional Oaxacan food, which is why the food might seem a little different here.

If you want some hearty, traditional Oaxacan food in the proper climate, I recommend a trip to Pluma Hidalgo! But if you want to try a great variety of traditional food, here are the restaurants I recommend.

#2 Bladu’Yú Restaurant

🌟Rating: 4.7/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Chahue Bay | Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Molotes

The absolutely most authentic Oaxacan dining experience you can have in Huatulco is at Bladu’Yú Restaurant. The name is from the Zapotec language, the culture indigenous to this part of Oaxaca.

I recommend trying a daily special or whatever the server recommends, but I have aquired a taste for molotes – plantain bananas fried and stuffed and served with cheese and cream.

#3 Restaurante La Chicatana

🌟Rating: 4.6/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown | Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Oaxacan Tasting Platter

La Chicatana sits atop the boutique Hotel Nonni in La Crucecita, near the end of Bugambilia street through the hotel. After the glass elevator ride to the terrace, you will feel like you have been transported out of Huatulco and into the forest. The restaurant faces the Sierra Mountains so if you arrive in the early evening for dinner, you are treated to a spectacular sunset and dusk, watching the light fade over the mountains as the parrots flit about the tree tops.

As for the food, I highly recommend the Oaxacan tasting platter to share with friends. You get an excellent variety of Oaxacan food to sample. I also love the sauteed mushrooms!

#4 El Sabor de Oaxaca

🌟Rating: 4.3/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown | Price: $$$
🍜Favourite Dish: Mole Amarillo

This is widely acknowledged to be the best Oaxacan food in Huatulco, even by my Mexican friends. If you want to have a truly Oaxacan experience, try the Quesadillas con Chapulines, or nopales (cactus).

Best Mexican Food in Huatulco

Before you come at me, yes this is different than the Oaxacan food category. Oaxaca has a lot of unique cultural differences from the rest of Mexico, thanks to its mostly indigenous (as opposed to Spanish) population, and its status as one of the poorest states in Mexico.

I strongly recommend walking into any local mexican eatery you might walk by in Huatulco. In two years in Huatulco, I have been sick twice, and once it was my own doing. The food here is fantastic and on the whole very safe to eat!

There are so many local restauarants it would be impossible to pick a few, so here are some restaurants to help you dip your toe in the water of Huatulco – Mexican cuisine!

#5 Antojitos Los Gallos

🌟Rating: 4.4/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Sector H | |Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Flautas

Antojitos Los Gallos is a little family-run corner restaurant in downtown La Crucecita that is about as authentically Mexican as you can get. Any of their dishes are great, but we love the flautas or the chicken soup if I’m feeling under the weather.

As with many local places, the hours at Los Gallos can vary. You can expect them to be closed for a birthday or family event at any time, and they do not accept cards.

#6 L art’illeria

🌟Rating: 4.6/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Sector H | |Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Panuchos

L art’illeria is one of Huatulco’s newer restaurants, and first that specializes in food from Mexico City. The owner and chef, Otto, is a kindly gentleman who is very involved in all aspects of the restaurant, and really adds to the dining experience.

This restaurant is tucked away in Sector H, only about a 3-minute walk from downtown.

#7 Terra Cotta

🌟Rating: 4.7/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Pan Frances

Located in one of Huatulco’s best hotels, Mision de los Arcos, is Huatulco staple restaurant Terra Cotta. One of the only restaurants in Huatulco to offer air conditioning, Terra Cotta is a great first step into Mexican cuisine for any less-adventurous eaters.

The staff at Terra Cotta are impeccable, and the food is always good. Personally, I feel the flavours are toned down here to be more accessible to people who aren’t used to intense Mexican flavours, but the food is always consistent and delicious!

Huatulco’s Best Tacos

A Mexican food staple, where to find the best tacos in Huatulco is an essential question any traveller will ask. Anywhere else in México and this might be a hotly contested category, but Huatulco is just small enough that most people largely agree that the best tacos in Huatulco can be found here.

Tips from a Local – The best time to get tacos in Huatulco
8:00am – 12:00pm
7:00pm – 2:00am

Mexicans do not eat tacos in the afternoons, so you will have difficulty finding them between 1 pm and 7 pm ish. Tacos are typically eaten in the early morning for breakfast, or late at night with or after a few drinks. You will notice the street carts are not around in the afternoons!

#8 Tacos el Padrino

🌟Rating: 4.3/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Sector H2 | |Price: $
🍜Favourite Dish: Mushroom Tacos

Located in Sector H2 just past the Pemex is Tacos El Padrino’s. This hole-in-the-wall is a favourite among locals and is always full. I love El Padrino’s for their tacos that are less common elsewhere in Huatulco, such as Tinga de Pollo and Chile Relleno.

Beware that El Padrino’s is best during the day though, their menu changes at night and by all accounts is not nearly as exceptional as their morning and lunchtime offerings.

#9 Los Parados

🌟Rating: 4.3/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown |Price: $
🍜Favourite Dish: Seafood Tacos

Literally named “the people are standing” because of its popularity, Los Parados is always full, day and night. Located on Carrizal in the city centre and directly across from Condos Pacifico and Terrazas, Los Parados has all the classic Mexican fare. Tacos, tlayudas, memelitas, sopes, et al.

My favourite tacos here are the shrimp or fish (battered and deep-fried), as well as my staples: bistec and arrachera.

#10 La Señora de tacos

🌟Rating: NA |📍 Sector/Area: Sector A/ Santa Cruz | Price: $
🍜Favourite Dish: Pollo Con Crema

Yes, the taco lady. Of the dozens and dozens of people selling tacos on the streets, if you ask for La Señora de Tacos, everyone will know exactly who you mean.

The taco lady parks her little bicycle cart outside the Terminal Maritima in Santa Cruz until 2pm (or until she sells out) every day except Tuesdays. My favourite tacos from her are the barbacoa or the pollo con salsa cream. Be sure to get there early before everything is gone!

Where to find the Best Street Food in Huatulco

One of the best things about México has got to be the street food, and yet so many people are afraid of it! In Huatulco, I genuinely don’t believe that the hygenic practices of the street carts are all that different from the restaurants. Food handling is just different in México, but its not all bad.

As I mentioned earlier, sometimes I feel the restaurants try to hard to appeal to foreigners, so if you want real, vibrant flavours, eat from the street carts!

#11 The Shrimp Taco Guy

🌟Rating: 4./5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown|Price: $$$
🍜Favourite Dish: Shrimp or fish tacos

For the best shrimp tacos in town, look no further than this local streetcart on Bugambilia and Guarumbo street in the downtown. As I mentioned earlier, the tacos are just in the morning, so be sure to get there bright and early, he is usually around until about noon or one!

#12 Jalisco’s Hamburguesas

🌟Rating: NA |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown|Price: $
🍜Favourite Dish: Hamburger with everything

At some point or another, we all crave a McDonald’s cheeseburger, whether or not we want to admit it. Thankfully there is no McD’s in Huatulco, but there is Jalisco.

Jalisco sits at the corner of Bugambilia and Guarumbo, in front of the cornerstore, from 7pm – 2am every day except Sunday. For $50 pesos you get a burger with all the fixings and a handful of fries on the side. He makes his burger patties with fresh spices and magic, then cooks them to order for you on his little hot-dog cart while you sit with a cold drink from the store behind.

Jalisco is my go-to guy to squash the fast-food craving. It also helps that Jalisco is just the nicest person.

#13 Elotes and Esquites (Mexican street corn!)

🌟Rating: NA |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown|Price: $
🍜Favourite Dish: Elote for me!

One of my favourite nighttime snacks in Huatulco is to get some corn from one of the street vendors in the central park. The corn is prepared with mayonaise, a dry and crumbly cheese, chili, and lime. I know, it doesn’t sound delicious but trust me, it is!

Elotes (ee -low-tays) are served with the corn still on the cob and a stick on the end, kind of like a big corn popsicle. The spices and mayo is smeared on top.

Esquites (ess-key-tays) are served in a cup, with loose corn and the spices layered and mixed within.

The Best Seafood Restaurants in Huatulco

One of the things you must do in Huatulco eing on the coast, you better believe Huatulco can offer some fantastic seafood! There are not a lot of crustaceans like we have in the Northern Pacific, but the specialities in Huatulco are the marlin, sailfish, mahi mahi, oysters, octopus, shrimp, and some lobsters. You can be sure that most of these things were caught right off the shores of Huatulco, with the exception of shrimp that most likely came from the big ocean crawlers that port in Salina Cruz.

#14 El Grillo Marinero

🌟Rating: 4.3/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown | Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Ceviche

Grillo Marinero is hands down the best place to get seafood in Huatulco. This unassuming restaurant sits across from Los Parados, Condos Pacifico, and Terrazas in downtown La Crucecita. Grillo Marinero is run by a husband-wife fisherman-chef team. Literally, your “Catch of the Day” entree will be what the owners caught that day, and that’s why El Grillo Marinero is the best seafood restaurant in Huatulco.

#15 Rocoto

🌟Rating: 4.7/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown |Price: $$$
🍜Favourite Dish: Anything with Mahi Mahi

Rocoto is a small, family-run restaurant with exquisite presentation of their dishes. Rocoto Huatulco is one of those places that people become regulars at, and its not hard to see why! The owner is heavily involved in the operation the restaurant and makes everyone feel welcome.

#16 La Tosta

🌟Rating: 4.8/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Santa Cruz/ Sector A |Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: The tostadas and strawberry water

Near the end of Santa Cruz Huatulco, across the street from the Binniguenda Hotel, lies one of my favourite restaurants in Huatulco, La Tosta. Apart from having the usual Mexican fare like fish tacos, what makes La Tosta special is their array of tostadas stacked high with fresh fish, shrimp, octopus or vegetables, and tons of flavour!

Their tostadas are offered hot (caliente) or cold (frio) meaning cooked or raw (cured). My favourites are the Tiradito de Atun (cold tuna) and Carnitas de Atun (tuna cooked in teriyaki sauce).

Even though La Tosta is a seafood restaurant, my favourite tostada might actually be the vegan one! Their vegan option is stacked high with fresh veggies and a mix of flavours to have your palette dancing.

#17 Océan Huatulco

🌟Rating: 4./5 |📍 Sector/Area: Arrocito |Price: $$$
🍜Favourite Dish: Ceviche or a daily special

Located in the Cosmo Residences in Arrocito Bay, Ocean restaurant has a gorgeous location overlooking the small bay of Arrocito. Thanks to its location and elevation, Ocean is probably the closest you will get to having a seaside sunset in Huatulco. Because most of the bays are east-facing, we get amazing sunrises but not much for sunsets unless you can get to some altitude.

Ocean gets full points for ambience, presentation and use of ingredients. I have been many times and every dish I have is fresh and flavourful, and the cocktails are nice too! If you go during the day they also have some beach chairs on the sand that they will serve you at.

If you’re not familiar with the weird politics of Arrocito, you can catch up in my post Where to Stay In Huatulco. You will definitely need to have a reservation if you want to go for dinner in the high season, probably a few days out.

#18 Tunah Hux

🌟Rating: 4.7/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Sector R|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Poke Bowls and Smoked Fish Tacos

Next to Agave is a similarly Hawaiian-themed seafood take-out place called Tunah Hux. Their specialty is poke bowls, and they do not disappoint.

Guests love the high quality of food, the flavourful dishes, and the ambiance is fabulous! You can get your fresh squeezed juices from Agave while you wait for your meal in their jungle-like patio. What more can you ask for?

Huatulco’s Best Breakfasts

#19 Romero

🌟Rating: 5/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown | Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Fruit bowl, anything else!

Another new and exceptional addition to Huatulco’s dining scene is Romero. Open exclusively for brunch, this little cafe somehow turned the little corner on the canal to a romantic breakfast spot.

I really appreciate the amount of attention to detail the owners put into this restaurant. The decor, seating, setting, staff, and food are all exquisite and well thought out. Romero stays true to its Oaxacan roots with traditional barro negro dishware and local flavours.

Romero also had excellent coffee, so I will definitely be coming back!

#20 La Botanita

🌟Rating: 4.6/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown | Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Juices, Bagel & Lox

If you are looking for a fresh, tropical breakfast, look no further than La Botanita. This is my favourite spot when I am craving a European breakfast or feel like a need a detox. They have over 50 different types of juices on their menu, they are bound to have something for your mood!

La Botanita has two things that set them apart from other breakfast restaurants in Huatulco:

1. A beverage list of over 50 different juices, smoothies, and milkshakes.
2. Bagels! They have a full bagel menu with choices ranging from capers and lox to BLT.

La Botanita also has a full mexican breakfast list, but I have found their salsas to be a little bland. Also, the coffee is not fantastic, but I am a huge coffee snob so I don’t fault them too much for that.

The owner of La Botanita is a kindly gentleman who always stops by while I am there and visits every table to make sure they have everything they need. He will help serve without a moment’s hesitation and is always so pleasant. So full points for ambience (great patio) and staff!

#21 Casa del Café

🌟Rating: 4.8/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Santa Cruz |Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Breakfast bowls

Casa del Café is the best restaurant in Santa Cruz. Located in the same block as the Scotiabank in Santa Cruz Huatulco, Casa del Café is open in the mornings until 1 pm and is a great little spot for a healthy breakfast to start your day.

Their breakfast foods are rich, homemade dishes and they are one of the only places I have been to that has all the “substitutes” that many people need such as gluten-free bread, alternate milk for drinks, and vegan options that are actually full meals!

The internet is also pretty great, so if you can get a table it is a great place to work remotely in Huatulco for a few hours a day!

#22 Cafe Juanita

🌟Rating: 4.5/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Tangolunda |Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Set-menu Brunch

Another Huatulco classic is Cafe Juanita, known for their excellent brunches! Located across from Dreams Huatulco in the hotel zone, this cute breakfast restaurant is one of the best places in Huatulco to enjoy a Sunday brunch!

They offer a set price for their brunch menu that includes three courses, coffee or tea, and your choice between a mimosa or fresh juice!

Best Fine Dining / Date Night Restaurants in Huatulco

If you are looking for a fancy night out, Mercader , Océan & La Chicatana restaurants are some of my top choices. But, since I mentioned those in other categories already here are some other options!

#23 Vienna Huatulco

🌟Rating: 4.8/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Chahue |Price: $$$
🍜Favourite Dish: The daily set menu

If you are looking for steak and potatoes meal, look no further than Vienna. Located in the Chahue marina, Vienna has a lovely open-air restaurant with a rooftop patio. The owners are from Austria and visit home during the summer, so this is a seasonal restaurant open from October – June.

What I love about Vienna Huatulco is that it has a small, focused menu with only what’s available in the current season. They also often have a special of the day where you can choose a three-course meal from a set menu of classic Austrian dishes.

I love that the owner is also the chef, and is very involved in the restaurant. He can easily be found enjoying a glass of wine and conversing with the restaurant guests. One of their employees is also an artist and sells some of his work through the restaurant – be sure to check out JC´s art while you are here!

#24 Parota Cuisine

🌟Rating: NA |📍 Sector/Area: Tangolunda |Price: $$$
🍜Favourite Dish: TBD

Parota Cuisine is one of Huatulco’s newest restaurants, so new that they don’t even have a listing on Google maps yet! Looking to bring some new flavour to Huatulco’s fine dining scene, Parota Cuisine advertises fresh flavours with artistic presentation.

Best European Restaurants

This category could probably just be called the best Italian food in Huatulco. I’m not sure why, but La Crucecita has some excellent Italian food and a lot of it!

#25 Giordanna’s

🌟Rating: 4.7/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Downtown La Crucecita |Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Any of their cream sauces

Italian restaurant Giordanna’s is well-loved in Huatulco. If you are looking for hearty housemade pasta in a friendly atmosphere, give Giordanna’s a try! Their staff are lovely, and you will be sure to stay late enjoying good company and sipping on Limoncello.

Bonus: Giordana’s is the best place in Huatulco to find gluten-free dining options! You can opt for gluten-free pasta instead of flour for any of their dishes.

It can be difficult to find food that is friendly to those with dietary restrictions in Huatulco, so Giordana’s is a great find!

#26 Maré

🌟Rating: 4.6/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Downtown La Crucecita |Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Tiramisu

This Italian place on Gardenia street could easily be missed, but you would be missing out. After spending some time in Italy myself this year, I can confidently say Maré is the most authentic Italian restaurant I have visited.

You will be sure to enjoy your dinner, tiramisu, and grappa apertivo at Maré Huatulco!

Note: Maré is a seasonal restaurant, open from October to April. They are also cash only.

#27 7 Tavoli

🌟Rating: 4.6/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Sector M|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Pizza

We are very fond of Alexsandro and the staff at 7 Tavoli. I love that they are a little off the beaten path, and offer an adorable dine-in ambiance. Tables are placed under tree boughs and strings of incandescents, making for a very romantic dining experience.

I like to order a pizza from 7 Tavoli and take it to the nearby Chahue Beach for some star gazing and listening to the waves.

#28 Oro Negro

🌟Rating: 4.6/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Santa Cruz|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Calzones & Coconut Shrimp

Oro Negro is right beside Casa del Café in Santa Cruz so, it’s very easy to pop in from the beach or on your way from the bank. They serve fabulous traditional Italian calzones cooked in their wood-fired pizza oven.

Additionally Oro Negro has the best french fries I have found in Huatulco. As a Canadian, I have a very high standard when it comes to fries and Oro Negro delivers on every level. Crispy on the outside, hot on the inside, and served on a plate bigger than my head.

Oro Negro is also famous for their pizzas, but I have yet to try them!

Huatulco’s Best Pizza Places

Yes I know, technically this is also Italian food, but I think we can all agree that pizza needs its own category. Here are some of the best pizza joints in Huatulco!

#29 Mamma Mía

🌟Rating: 4.3/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Sector H|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Pear & Gorgonzola Pizza

Mamma Mía earns its spot in this category because it has my favourite pizza in Huatulco – Pear with Gorgonzola. Their fire-oven-cooked pizzas are famous in Huatulco with many regulars both for eating in and ordering for delivery.

Mamma Mia often hosts live music on the weekends as well!

#30 Teresina

🌟Rating: 4.6/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Sector H|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Pizza!

If you want a thick-crust, heavily loaded pizza, look no further than Teresina. Located on a quiet road in Sector H, Teresina boats a beautiful terrace and classic Italian fare. See? More great Italian restaurants. Teresina´s pizzas are huge and full of delicious, fresh toppings.

Unfortunately, I have yet to be able to find a gluten-free pizza option in Huatulco.

#31 La Crema Bar

🌟Rating: 4.5/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: La Crema Pizza

Perhaps Huatulco’s most famous bar, La Crema is famous for their great cocktails and selection of thin crust, saucy pizzas. I am not personally a big fan of the La Crema vibe, but it’s a great place to meet people and enjoy some drinks and a pizza!

Best Burgers & Wings in Huatulco

If you’re here for a longer period of time chances are you’re gonna get a hankerin’ for some good old american bar food. Even I love to go out for a good burger or wings every once in awhile!

There are lots of great burger joints in Huatulco, but wings are a little harder to find.

Here is where you can find the best hamburgers, wings, and other food you in with your hands in Huatulco.

#32 Bonanza

🌟Rating: 4.6/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Sector H|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Seasonal Specials

Perhaps the best burgers I have in my life, let alone Huatulco have been at Bonanza in La Crucecita. This little restaurant is more like a glorified food truck, tucked away on a side street just off of downtown.

The burgers at Bonanza are massive. I often share one burger and one or two appetizers with my dining buddy, just so we can try a bit of everything!

#33 Mama Elsa Hamburguesas

🌟Rating: 4.3/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Chahue|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Classic, Hawaiian

If you are in the mood for just a good old fashioned hamburger, head to Mama Elsa’s in Chahue. This little roadside burger joint is wildly popular among tourists and snowbirds, and for good reason!

#34 La Incondicional

🌟Rating: 4.3/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Chahue|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Tacos, Wings

La Incondicional is the go-to watering hole and pre-game spot for anyone headed to the various night clubs in Huatulco, particularly La Papaya. That doesn’t stop this local bar from having some of the best food in town!

The tacos at La Incondicional are surprisingly delicous, and the wings are great. They also have nightly drink specials and often host events like dance lessons, karaoke, and live music!

#35 El Cajun

🌟Rating: 4.4/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Chahue|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Margaritas, Wings

Offering a diverse menu of Mexican and Canadian food, El Cajun is a favourite among the immigrant and snowbird crowd in Huatulco, largely due to the fact that it is a part of Marina Park Plaza, a very popular place among Canadians and Americans visiting and living in Huatulco.

Many love the margaritas here at El Cajun and rave about the wings, I think its where you will find the best chicken wings in Huatulco!

#36 Wings Army

🌟Rating: 4.2/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Seasonal Flavours

I don’t typically recommend chain restaurants, but a visit to Wing’s Army in Huatulco is a quinessential Mexican experience. Its also one of the only air-conditioned restaurants in Huatulco!

Wing’s Army has some classic fun things on the menu like beer towers, boneless wings, chicken fingers, etc. We like to come here to try the new flavours they bring in every few months!

The Best Asian Food in Huatulco

This is probably my favourite category, I LOVE Asian food! Particularly Thai, but I am a fan of all things Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, you name it. Mercader is the best Thai place in Huatulco, but here are some others I love!

One glaring hole in the Huatulco food scene is Indian food. At this point, there are no Indian food restaurants in Huatulco!

#37 Thai Pei Huatulco

🌟Rating: 4.6/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Wonton soup, Curry

Thai Pei is an Asian fusion place that has mostly Thai influences. One place that Thai Pei shines above even Mercader when it comes to their dishes is their curries! I have tried all three of Thai Pei’s curries and they were all divine.

I love that Thai Pei serves dishes in a more traditional Asian style, where you order your main dishes and then starches separately. It makes it easy to share with friends!

#38 Restaurante UNO

🌟Rating: 4.6/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Chahue|Price: $$$
🍜Favourite Dish: Shabu Shabu

There is a shortage of great Japanese restaurants in Huatulco as well, but thankfully Restaurante UNO is here for all your sushi and sashimi cravings!

The quality of the food at UNO is leagues above other places in Huatulco, this is the best place in Huatulco to get sushi, but also offers a unique dine-in experience of Shabu-Shabu (Japanese hot-pot).

#39 Sushi House

🌟Rating: 4.8/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Sector J|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Sushi rolls

Head away from the beaten path and explore one of Huatulco’s great neighbourhoods, Sector J.

While Restaurante UNO offers a fine-dining Japanese food experience, Sushi House has a more accessible price point and menu for those looking for a sushi fix. They offer typical Japanese restaurant fare with great value for the presentation and quality of food.

Huatulco’s Best Take Out

I love stopping by some of these top restaurants in Huatulco for take-out when on my way to the beach for the day, or for our weekly take-out Friday lunches. I highly recommend ordering from one of these places before heading out for the day!

TIP FROM A LOCAL
One of the very annoying side effects or ordering anything to go in Huatulco is that it comes wrapped in a mountain of plastic.

But! There is a solution. It is totally socially acceptable to bring your own containers for whatever you are ordering and I love it. I have a couple of nice glasslock Tupperware that keep food hot and from leaking in my bag. Its the best!

#40 Pollo a la Leña Don Tacho

🌟Rating: NA |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown|Price: $
🍜Favourite Dish: Roast Chicken with the fixings

At the corner of Bugambilia and Macuhitle in La Crucecita is Pollo a la Leña, literally Firewood Chicken. This street vendor roasts half chickens rotisserie style for hours over a smouldering wood fire. Just walking by will make your mouth water.

For $150 pesos you get a half chicken with roasted onions and potatoes, rice, macaroni salad, and salsa of course. As you can see from the photo it’s a lot of plastic, so if you have a tupperware container please bring it, and the staff at Pollo a la Leña will happily package your chicken meal in that.

#41 Pollo Imperial

🌟Rating: 4.4/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown|Price: $
🍜Favourite Dish: Carnitas

This is our typical Friday take-out lunch. Carnitas is a type of fried pork on the bone, they are so greasy but so delicious! You can also get roast or Kentucky-style chicken at Pollo Imperial.

This is a great, typical Mexican restaurant that is also great for eating in! You will be in good company among the locals.

Huatulco’s Best Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants

Finding vegetarian food in Huatulco is not always easy, and vegan food can sometimes feel impossible. Here are Huatulco’s best restaurants for feeling confident that the chefs understand what vegan really means!

#42 La Verduzca

🌟Rating: 5/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Lentil Sandwich

Huatulco’s first proper vegan & vegetarian restaurant can be found on Chacah in Downtown La Crucecita. Beautifully decorated and well-thought-out, La Verduzca offers a comfortable cafe vibe with delectable seasonal specials.

This place is run by my favourite vendors from the Saturday Organic Market in Santa Cruz, so I know the food is delicious!

#43 Agave Huatulco

🌟Rating: 5/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Sector R, near Chedraui|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Smoothie Bowl

Another adorable, family-run, vegan café in Huatulco. This one is tucked into a little alley near the Chedraui, it is built into a seacan and features many lush plants, as is required at any vegan café.

Agave makes awesome smoothie bowls and fresh juices in a typical Hawaiian style.

Casa del Café

I already talked about their amazing breakfasts, but this place also offers great vegan options and adaptations to their menu!

Best Coffee in Huatulco

And now for an issue near and dear to my heart, where to find the best coffee in Huatulco!

#44 Ragazzi

🌟Rating: 5/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Downtown La Crucecita |Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Cortado and carrot cake

Where else to find proper espresso in La Crucecita than at an Italian café? Ragazzi has a small location on Chacah street, but is more broadly known for its little Italian coffee truck! You will often find it parked outside Chedraui.

Ragazzi is the only place in Huatulco I have been able to find a proper cortado. So if you care about how your espresso is made, Ragazzi has your back.

#45 Café Porto

🌟Rating: 4.5/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Downtown La Crucecita |Price: $
🍜Favourite Dish: Iced Chai

Located right on the square, Café Porto does not have the best coffee in Huatulco, but it is pretty good. I love Cafe Porto though more because it is one of my favourite working cafés in the area. The staff are lovely, and the wifi is great. I like to come here because the open-air patio overlooking the centre square is great for people watching, which makes me very productive.

#46 Café Paraíso

🌟Rating: 5/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Downtown La Crucecita |Price: $
🍜Favourite Dish: Iced Chai and Cheesecake

Repeat visitors will know this location as the former Café Dublin, Café Paraíso opened its doors in late 2021 and did a wonderful job! They have a great open, welcoming space and a great menu full of fresh-baked goodies.

One of their more notable menu items is the Café Lemonade. That’s right, mixing coffee and lemonade creates this beautiful drink here, the mixing of the acids creates the foamy header and gives the flavour and effervescent effect. Definitely worth the visit to try!

You can often find me working from the upstairs patio at Cafe Paraiso, and enjoying their baked goods. The best cheesecakes in Huatulco are here at Cafe Paraiso!

#47 Eagle Ray Cafe

🌟Rating: 4.9/5 |📍 Sector/Area: Chahue Bay|Price: $
🍜Favourite Dish: Espresso

New on the Huatulco coffee scene is Eagle Ray Cafe Huatulco. Located in Chahue Corner, Eagle Ray cafe offers well prepared espresso, which is important to me. They also offer orange coffee (similar to Paraiso’s Cafe Limonada), and the chai is great!

Best Places to go for Dessert

If you are looking for a relaxing place to enjoy a nightcap or a small dessert, look no further! Huatulco has some great sweet snacks to enjoy!

#48 That’s Amoré

🌟Rating: 4.3/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown|Price: $
🍜Favourite Dish: Waffles, Crepes

A lovely walk down Bugambilia from downtown La Crucecita will bring you to one of Huatulco’s best-kept secrets, That’s Amoré. This little creperie has gelato, fresh-made crepes & waffles with every topping you can dream off. We also loved their Italian sodas Yoghurtadas!

Thankfully, they are open late so you can fix any late-night sweet tooths!

#49 Café Casa Mayor

🌟Rating: 4.3/5 |📍 Sector/Area: La Crucecita Downtown|Price: $$
🍜Favourite Dish: Chocolate Cake

Located on the second floor, Café Casa Mayor is a small outdoor restaurant that features signature cocktails, coffee, dessert, and some live music! Overlooking the square in La Crucecita it is a lovely place to people watch and soak in an evening in La Crucecita.

Terracotta

Terracotta gets a second mention here for their dessert! love to visit Terracotta for dessert and coffee in the evening, specifically their Pan Frances.

Available as a full or half-order, the “French Toast” consists of huge, spongey soft pieces of bread fried in an egg wash, dusted with icing sugar, and served with fruit. My favourite is with oranges.

Otherwise, I would go to Mercader for a lava cake, or Paraiso for a cheesecake!!

Best Bars & Nightclubs in Huatulco

For its small size, Huatulco has a great bar scene! So much so, it deserved its own list. Read more about Huatulco’s bars & nightclubs here.

Places to go When You’re Homesick

I am not someone who seeks out other tourists and foreign residents, but if you are here for an extended period of time and need to be around some English speakers in a standard sports bar, here are the best restaurants in Huatulco to find them at.

Xipol – A popular place for Canadians, they are always playing a hockey game of some sort.

Ricky’s – a popular restaurant in La Crucecita for Canadians and Americans to gather and play darts.

Habanero Loko – one of the beach restaurants in Santa Cruz, this place is loved for their live music and theme nights for tourists.

Shev’s Summary

This list is intended to share my love of Huatulco and joy of food with you. I hope this list of the best restaurants and places to eat in Huatulco will help you experience some of the best, unique, local fare that Huatulco has to offer.

I have lived in Huatulco for a while I love to try new restaurants, but definitely have not tried them all! Something I feel Huatulco is missing is really good, vibrant, authentic Asian food. I have not found an amazing Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese or Korean place here. Do you have a favourite place in Huatulco that I missed? Let me know in the comments so I can check them out!